Nationals vs Orioles, Game 1

[tomterp]

(In spite of a little over-managing the bullpen)

You think he should have just kept Varland in?

[rbw5t]

You think he should have just kept Varland in?

Should’ve given Varland a clean inning.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Should’ve given Varland a clean inning.

post game Butera said he wanted to have Alvarez face Bassallo, the lefty. Said Alvarez was a starter so he was used to the innings. Once 2 got on and righties were up, he had Varland ready, and when Gunnar was up, he went to the lefty. The logic is ok, it just didn't work as cleanly as we'd want

[imref]

post game Butera said he wanted to have Alvarez face Bassallo, the lefty. Said Alvarez was a starter so he was used to the innings. Once 2 got on and righties were up, he had Varland ready, and when Gunnar was up, he went to the lefty. The logic is ok, it just didn't work as cleanly as we'd want

I was fine with the move until he brought Lovelady in to face Gunnar. Franny noted that Lovelady has reverse splits. This season LHB's are hitting .321 against him vs. .216 for RHB. Could be a small sample size as he has been slightly better against LHBs in his career.

[English Natsie]

Game No 45 - given this year's anniversary, shouldn't this have been played on 4th July?....    

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Game No 45 - given this year's anniversary, shouldn't this have been played on 4th July?....    

I figured you'd want to commemorate the original big battle in this area, the battle of Bladensburg.

[welch]

You think he should have just kept Varland in?

Yes. Lefty-lefty and righty-righty matchups for one batter are not as effective as keeping the reliever who has been effective. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Yes. Lefty-lefty and righty-righty matchups for one batter are not as effective as keeping the reliever who has been effective. 

Henderson's career splits:

LHP - .230 / .307 / .369 (17 HR over 675 PA)
RHP - .280 / .352 / .519 (78 HR over 1652 PA)

I get that numbers are more even now, that Lovelady has reverse splits this season, and Varland was already in. Effective? He had  walked the lefty PH, struck out the  righty, and given up a sac  fly to the next righty to make it 3-1 with runners on 1st and 2nd. Henderson is not just any lefty hitter. He's literally a rookie  of the year, silver slugger, all star level player. I don't see wanting to have that sort of hitter face a lefty as unreasonable. It's not like lifting Mason Miiller or prime Mo Rivera to gain a platoon advantage; it's Gus Varland in the middle of an outing that's close to OK.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Thank you to friends old and new who participated by viewing or posting comments.

With the posted, we honor the memory of our friend Old Chelsea with the traditional post that tracks the Nats wins to date, in Anglophile style.

THE RACING PRECEDENTS - Comparative dates on which the Nationals notched their 22nd win, each season:

2017 - 10th May (34th match of season)
2018 - 11th May (40th match)
2016 - 13th May (35th match)
2012 - 14th May (35th match)
2026 - 15th May (45th match)
2013 - 16th May (41st match)
2014 - 16th May (41st match)
2015 - 17th May (39th match)
2005 - 18th May (40th match)
2025 - 20th May (49th match)
2010 - 22nd May (44th match)
2024 - 24th May (49th match)
2008 - 25th May (51st match)
2023- 26th May (51st match)
2019 - 26th May (53rd match)
2011 - 27th May (50th match)
2006 - 31st May (54th match)
2007 - 31st May (54th match)
2021 - 1st June (51st match)
2022 - 10th June (60th match)
2009 - 25th June (71st match)
2020 - 22nd September (54th match)

Only team with a slower start by games played that finished above .500 is the 2019 WS winners. Only team with a faster start that finished with more  than 81 losses  is the 2010 team. The 2025s were in the middle of an 11-4 streak.

[imref]

And 27,570 hot dogs eaten.