Month: March 2015

The Marlins?

Pete "Hit 'n Run" Wood 3 Comments

As MLK once said, “I have a dream.”  Well, I had one last night and it wasn’t pretty:)

The Marlins ended up winning the NL East!  By only 2 games, mind you, but what a shock.  Actually I’ve had the thought in the back of my head for a couple of weeks, but refused to acknowledge it.  What happened?  The Nats offense and bull-pen ended up being the problems I predicted. Take a look at the BP’s collective ERA today, March 30.  Look at how the offense has been performing.  Yes, It’s only spring training, I know.

I think I know where Bryce Harper’s ring will be, come October:)

BTW—Tom Boswell’s article in the POST today is another gem.

Offense and Bullpen Suck!

Pete "Hit 'n Run" Wood Leave a comment

Yesterday I mentioned my concern about the lack of offense, no stranger to the 2014 Gnats.

Today it’s the Pen I’m commenting on; it has been terrible in Spring Training.  You out there who have been following ST results know very well what I’m talking about.  Good starting pitching is important, but with a weak offense and a shakey pen, the Nats are set to lose a lot of games after the first 6-7 innings.

Yoiu heard it here.  nuf said.

 

Color Me Concerned

Pete "Hit 'n Run" Wood Leave a comment

As we get closer to opening day, The Nats are now without their 4 best hitters from last year.  Span, Rendon, and Werth will not be able to play in the opener.  Laroach has been traded.  So their already suspect offense, could slide to “mediocre” at least for part of April.

Rendon worries me most, because knee ligaments can be very hard to rehabilitate.  I suspect the team may be withholding the full story on Anthony’s injury.

Further, I would put Tony Gwynn in CF until Span returns.  Michael Taylor is just not ready for major league pitching.  Ian Stewart and Clint (?) Robinson have really impressed me in Spring Training.

I am still spending huge amounts of time with moving to Gaithersburg, so have been unable to say much since the start of ST.

Spring Training Comments

Pete "Hit 'n Run" Wood 1 Comment

In case anyone was wondering, I am still alive:)  I’m extremely busy with trying to sell my house, however.  Hoping to move across town to Gaithersburg, Md, closer to my grandkids.

I have been keeping an eye on the Nationals.  I am not nearly as “all in” that they are a lock to get to the World Series as the media appears to be!  The reasons for my scepticism revolve around the following:

  1. their poor post-season results in recent years;
  2. I am not convinced their offense is as good as most appear to expect;
  3. their new bull-pen has yet to prove itself as post-season-ready.
  4. the makeup of the bench is not at all clear this early in Spring-Training.

Having said that, I do think they will win 90-94 games and the division title.  The starting pitching will be awesome, Ryan Zimmerman will be fine at first-base, Rendon will be the star that we all expect, Cabrera at 2B will be average, Harper will be no better than many other average corner-outfield sluggers, Desi will continue to be one of the very best shortstops in the game.