Fire Blake Butera!

[Slateman]

This... seems like what we would want as fans, right? Not sure this is something to criticize ownership over.

Depends on how you feel about always being one and done in the playoffs. Me? Worst place to be in sports.

[imref]

The players had shirts made up to honor Butera's comments about having liquids poured all over him in the shower after his first win:

https://x.com/Scott7news/status/2040060340461826086?s=20

[Slateman]

So, a day of two ago, the home opener starter was TBA. Were they going to use an opener against the Dodgers' lefty heavy top of the lineup? Did the mismanagement of the pen on Wednesday negate that?

[imref]

Waldichuk threw two yesterday so I assume he could have opened if they wanted to go that route.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I love this Golden article so much I may post it in a couple of threads. It goes through the mechanics of what they are trying to get the hitters to do. Golden expresses some shock at how much more they are doing than Dave. here's  the 1st 3 paragraphs, focusing on pregame prep:
https://www.thebanner.com/sports/nationals-mlb/washington-nationals-home-opener-team-reuild-ZPYD6GTOOJB4BMLW3CKHDADEJI/

On Wednesday afternoon, before the Nationals’ series finale against the Phillies, CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr. sat like two schoolkids in their chairs, using their lockers as makeshift desks. With paper and pen in hand, the duo leaned over and wrote on a sheet, occasionally turning to each other for help.

Before each game, the Nationals’ hitters have homework. They each fill out a sheet of paper titled “Go Zones,” which contains two rows of five miniature strike zones. Each zone has a specific area highlighted in green with the word “GO.” Each hitter checks the areas he’s looking to swing at. There’s space at the bottom of the paper for players to leave notes. Then they talk as a group through their game plan.

“It’s a mental thing,” Abrams said. “It starts in practice. Whenever you’re taking BP, whatever your go zone is, just stay there. And, if it’s thrown somewhere else, take it. … And then in the game you just got to go out there and hit, stay disciplined.”

It's CJ and Luis. These might have been the last 2 guys I would have expected to take to this kind of homework. You can't quibble too much with the results for CJ, and Garcia is hitting pretty well too. Whether it's the prep or the natural skill, you can decide.

Golden talks about how several ideas on incorporating data were around under Davey and Rizzo but just not really incorporated. He notes that the hitting coaches used to have to go up to the suites to talk to the analysts before games and the analysts were rarely allowed to talk directly to the players. That changed under DeBartolo.Golden talks about more changes in pregame prep and player reaction. 

The article has a lot and is worth a read.

[Smithian]

I love this Golden article so much I may post it in a couple of threads. It goes through the mechanics of what they are trying to get the hitters to do. Golden expresses some shock at how much more they are doing than Dave. here's  the 1st 3 paragraphs, focusing on pregame prep:
https://www.thebanner.com/sports/nationals-mlb/washington-nationals-home-opener-team-reuild-ZPYD6GTOOJB4BMLW3CKHDADEJI/
It's CJ and Luis. These might have been the last 2 guys I would have expected to take to this kind of homework. You can't quibble too much with the results for CJ, and Garcia is hitting pretty well too. Whether it's the prep or the natural skill, you can decide.

Golden talks about how several ideas on incorporating data were around under Davey and Rizzo but just not really incorporated. He notes that the hitting coaches used to have to go up to the suites to talk to the analysts before games and the analysts were rarely allowed to talk directly to the players. That changed under DeBartolo.Golden talks about more changes in pregame prep and player reaction. 

The article has a lot and is worth a read.

May have to subscribe for that.

Probably not the right approach for a manager of the 2010's Nationals for the current Phillies and Dodgers type team, but certainly the right approach for this current group.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

May have to subscribe for that.

Probably not the right approach for a manager of the 2010's Nationals for the current Phillies and Dodgers type team, but certainly the right approach for this current group.

I don't get why I can access the banner without subscribing, but maybe they restrict links in 3rd party sites? You should be able to navigate directly to the Montgomery Banner to find the Nats section. This is about the 5th or so article down.

Edit: does this link get  you to the Nats section:
https://www.thebanner.com/topic/sports/nationals-mlb/

[varoadking]

I love this Golden article so much I may post it in a couple of threads. It goes through the mechanics of what they are trying to get the hitters to do. Golden expresses some shock at how much more they are doing than Dave. here's  the 1st 3 paragraphs, focusing on pregame prep:
https://www.thebanner.com/sports/nationals-mlb/washington-nationals-home-opener-team-reuild-ZPYD6GTOOJB4BMLW3CKHDADEJI/
It's CJ and Luis. These might have been the last 2 guys I would have expected to take to this kind of homework. You can't quibble too much with the results for CJ, and Garcia is hitting pretty well too. Whether it's the prep or the natural skill, you can decide.

Golden talks about how several ideas on incorporating data were around under Davey and Rizzo but just not really incorporated. He notes that the hitting coaches used to have to go up to the suites to talk to the analysts before games and the analysts were rarely allowed to talk directly to the players. That changed under DeBartolo.Golden talks about more changes in pregame prep and player reaction. 

The article has a lot and is worth a read.

dave is best in all lower case letters and in 6pt...not 4pt...though I do admire the stellar effort... 

adding "dimwit" as an adjective completes the thought... 

[Slateman]

Again, why are Cole and Lord throwing 40+ pitches like this? The game was over. Throw your garbage relievers.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Again, why are Cole and Lord throwing 40+ pitches like this? The game was over. Throw your garbage relievers.

they all are garbage. Need to be more descriptive.

It may be a sign Mikolas is going to the IL with a real or fake injury. They'll call up Ribalta to replace him to have 7 relievers available Friday

[Slateman]

they all are garbage. Need to be more descriptive.

It may be a sign Mikolas is going to the IL with a real or fake injury. They'll call up Ribalta to replace him to have 7 relievers available Friday

Henry, Poulin, and Beeter are the non-garbage relievers. None of them should pitch multiple innings. Henry or Beeter should get save opportunities. Poulin can plug in where he is needed. Beeter should always start an inning clean so he can overcome his walks.

Its one thing to not spend. Its another to not even try. This really isn't that hard. There's a reason every successful team has roles for its bullpen. Even the uber analytically driven ones

Also, Lord as long relief is a waste. He was MUCH better as a reliever last year.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

So you are saying use Lord as 4th 1 inning guy along with the 3 you named?

[Slateman]

So you are saying use Lord as 4th 1 inning guy along with the 3 you named?

Honestly, I'd rather do that than use him as a long reliever.

[imref]

I'm loving Butera's approach so far:
- Aggressive base running and using plays like double steals and squeeze plays
- No such thing as a true off day, everyone could be in every game, even if you don't start
- Not afraid to pinch hit for the starting catcher
- Lineups that are based on the matchup
- Willing to use an opener when it makes sense

Just a breath of fresh air after so many years of "standard decisions"

[OfftheBat]

I'm loving Butera's approach so far:
- Aggressive base running and using plays like double steals and squeeze plays
- No such thing as a true off day, everyone could be in every game, even if you don't start
- Not afraid to pinch hit for the starting catcher
- Lineups that are based on the matchup
- Willing to use an opener when it makes sense

Just a breath of fresh air after so many years of "standard decisions"

Good points you made there, but went it comes to the bullpen, his decision-making is quite horrible, as pointed out by Slate there

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think Butera and Simon lost confidence in Henry. He's been bad 4 out of his last 5 outings and they've been avoiding him in hi-lev unless Beeter, Perez, and Poulin are unavailable

[nobleisthyname]

To be honest Henry struggled last season too. We've considered him an A bullpen guy based on pedigree, not actual results.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

To be honest Henry struggled last season too. We've considered him an A bullpen guy based on pedigree, not actual results.

also usage and the quality of his pitches in the past. Looking at his statcast data, it's hard to see a big drop off and he should be getting better results. Fast ball is a little slower and most of the rest of his stuff hasn't improved, but he's drawing a lot more chase and swings at outsidie the zone stuff. Also getting more misses in zone.

[nobleisthyname]

also usage and the quality of his pitches in the past. Looking at his statcast data, it's hard to see a big drop off and he should be getting better results. Fast ball is a little slower and most of the rest of his stuff hasn't improved, but he's drawing a lot more chase and swings at outsidie the zone stuff. Also getting more misses in zone.

Fair, but the overall point remains the same. He had a 4.27 ERA last season and that was his most promising run prevention stat. His FIP was over 5. He walked batters at an above average rate and struck out batters at a below average rate.

[Slateman]

Clueless at bullpen management. Absolutely clueless.

[Smithian]

Clueless at bullpen management. Absolutely clueless.

I’ve also found his bullpen management odd thus far and the big negative on an otherwise fine report card. On other hand, he’s working with poor parts. Not much “right” to be done.

[IanRubbish]

I'm loving Butera's approach so far:
- Aggressive base running and using plays like double steals and squeeze plays
- No such thing as a true off day, everyone could be in every game, even if you don't start
- Not afraid to pinch hit for the starting catcher
- Lineups that are based on the matchup
- Willing to use an opener when it makes sense

Just a breath of fresh air after so many years of "standard decisions"

I like the opener moves, and of course dino Davey and Tyrannosaurus Rizzo would never do that.  But not being afraid to pinch hit for our fine .180 hitting catchers is not that impressive.  And yes, everyone could be in every game, because it's not like the everyday starters are that good. But so far he seems ok as a manager.  And with this org's history of Mannequin Acta, Davey M, and Riggleman, he's easily in the top half of managers with Dusty Baker and Davey J.

[welch]

I’ve also found his bullpen management odd thus far and the big negative on an otherwise fine report card. On other hand, he’s working with poor parts. Not much “right” to be done.

I think Butera has done well with a bad bullpen. Lord is about the only one I trust. Relievers have improved, and Butera has juggled a weak bullpen well enough. Mikolas, though, needs to go. The farm system has no one who deserves to pitch in the majors, but maybe the team should DFA Mickolas and extend Lord to start.

And Ted Lerner would have told Rizzo to find another starter and a reliever at the deadline. Not the Lerner Family Way now, but Ted usually made sense.

[imref]

Alvarez and conholio have earned starting consideration

[Slateman]

It would have been nice to have Lord available today