The Nationals pitching is starting to get sloppy at the same time their hitting is starting to get inconsistent again. With the 7-3 loss today behind the poor start of Tim Redding the Nats have now dropped three out of their last four games, and are looking more like the team that lost so many in a row then the team we’ve seen the last two weeks. Today the team combined poor fielding, poor hitting, and just bad pitching in front of a small crowd at Nats Park. It’s nights like these that make it hard to see the bright future we keep telling ourselves this team has.
Containing Hanley-Part 2
As I had mentioned earlier this season the key to beating the Marlins is by containing the best all around player in baseball Hanley Ramirez. Hanley came into the series hitting 333 (4/12)BA, 5 R, 3 RBI, 2HR, with 3 SB against the Nats this season, and he continued to produce tonight as
Redding had no answer for this young talent.
Hanley recorded only one hit, but showed what makes him great by producing without simply driving in runs. His first at bat he put the Marlins on top with a sacrifice fly, and in his second at bat he slapped a double to right putting himself an Jeremy Hermida in scoring position, which allowed them both to eventually score. Ramirez would also later walk and score again. Once again a Nats loss came at the hand of a player that may haunt us for years…but then again he does play for Florida.
Florida Marlins…A place for second chances
We spoke earlier this year about Wes Helms getting a second chance in Florida after the Phillies swallowed his salary and traded him to the Marlins for only one dollar. He’s not the only one finding new life in the sunshine state however, as former all star Jorge Cantu has found a rebirth as his career had seemed permanently derailed.
Cantu blasted onto the scene in 2005 for the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays as a 23 year old second
basemen who was surprising everyone with his unprecedented development and production. Cantu batted .286 with 28 homers and 117 RBI’s which surprised many as scouts considered him a player not ready for the big leagues. He became a star and a focal point in the development of a young Tampa Bay team, and even a major spokesperson for Major League Baseball in their World Baseball Classic campaign.
Things turned around fast for Cantu however. He didn’t manage to hit even .250 the next year hitting only 14 homers and getting on base only .295% of the time. Tampa Bay wanted to send him down to Tripple A, but Cantu didn’t like the idea. He refused to report to Durham and demanded a trade…he eventually found himself unable to stay on the big league club for the Reds in 2007…and by the end of the season was cut. It looked to most baseball fans that the once bright rising star was already burnt out. The Marlins signed him to a small deal to see if he could fill in at third for the departing Miguel Cabrera. It was one of those “why not,” situations for the Marlins; much as Dimitri Young was for the Nationals. Cantu however has disproved many as he is producing at a high level for a team that has found its way to first place. So far this season Cantu is batting .287 with 5 homers and 16 RBI’s, he went 2-4 tonight with 2 RBI’s as well.
Next second chance Marlins to be covered this series: Luis Gonzalez and Matt Treanor.
GUZMAN WATCH!
Containing Hanley-Part 2
As I had mentioned earlier this season the key to beating the Marlins is by containing the best all around player in baseball Hanley Ramirez. Hanley came into the series hitting 333 (4/12)BA, 5 R, 3 RBI, 2HR, with 3 SB against the Nats this season, and he continued to produce tonight as
Redding had no answer for this young talent.Hanley recorded only one hit, but showed what makes him great by producing without simply driving in runs. His first at bat he put the Marlins on top with a sacrifice fly, and in his second at bat he slapped a double to right putting himself an Jeremy Hermida in scoring position, which allowed them both to eventually score. Ramirez would also later walk and score again. Once again a Nats loss came at the hand of a player that may haunt us for years…but then again he does play for Florida.
Florida Marlins…A place for second chances
We spoke earlier this year about Wes Helms getting a second chance in Florida after the Phillies swallowed his salary and traded him to the Marlins for only one dollar. He’s not the only one finding new life in the sunshine state however, as former all star Jorge Cantu has found a rebirth as his career had seemed permanently derailed.
Cantu blasted onto the scene in 2005 for the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays as a 23 year old second
basemen who was surprising everyone with his unprecedented development and production. Cantu batted .286 with 28 homers and 117 RBI’s which surprised many as scouts considered him a player not ready for the big leagues. He became a star and a focal point in the development of a young Tampa Bay team, and even a major spokesperson for Major League Baseball in their World Baseball Classic campaign.Things turned around fast for Cantu however. He didn’t manage to hit even .250 the next year hitting only 14 homers and getting on base only .295% of the time. Tampa Bay wanted to send him down to Tripple A, but Cantu didn’t like the idea. He refused to report to Durham and demanded a trade…he eventually found himself unable to stay on the big league club for the Reds in 2007…and by the end of the season was cut. It looked to most baseball fans that the once bright rising star was already burnt out. The Marlins signed him to a small deal to see if he could fill in at third for the departing Miguel Cabrera. It was one of those “why not,” situations for the Marlins; much as Dimitri Young was for the Nationals. Cantu however has disproved many as he is producing at a high level for a team that has found its way to first place. So far this season Cantu is batting .287 with 5 homers and 16 RBI’s, he went 2-4 tonight with 2 RBI’s as well.
Next second chance Marlins to be covered this series: Luis Gonzalez and Matt Treanor.
GUZMAN WATCH!
This is going to be a new addition to the Nats blog. Guzman is slow, poor in the field, and incredibly overrated. His contract expires at the end of this season and it would just be plain foolish to resign him. So I’m officially starting the rallying cry to ship him out so we can get something for him at the break as opposed to nothing at the end of the season. Some team will want a .300 hitting short stop at the break, even if its an empty .300. So here goes:
Guzman had a solid day at the plate today racking up two more hits and raising his batting average to .310. Guzman also recorded a run and RBI in the Nats losing effort.
Guzman also continued his amazing defensive prowess by missing two line drives that seemed catchable as well as missing a pick on what was not a terrible throw from Wil Nieves (which led to a run).
Guzman had a solid day at the plate today racking up two more hits and raising his batting average to .310. Guzman also recorded a run and RBI in the Nats losing effort.
Guzman also continued his amazing defensive prowess by missing two line drives that seemed catchable as well as missing a pick on what was not a terrible throw from Wil Nieves (which led to a run).
1 comment:
On the two "catchable line drives" his range showed clearly.
Or more correctly, lack thereof.
Is he wearing concrete overshoes?
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