Nationals Archives - Jane Heller

On a Roll

May 13, 2018

The Yankees dropped the opener in this weekend’s series against the A’s, but they came roaring back in games 2 and 3. Game 2, especially, was a thrilling affair with Walker’s walk-off single in the 11th inning and all the drama that led up to it. (Chapman’s inning was especially nerve-wracking.) Today was more of a long, drawn-out contest because of the rain delay. With the Yanks scoring early and Severino on the mound, the game had an air of inevitability about it; I felt the win was likely. But Stanton’s 4-for-4 day was a nice touch. I’ve been waiting for him to heat up and maybe today was the beginning.

After tomorrow’s off-day, the boys will play the Nationals in D.C. Oh, the irony. I haven’t been to D.C. in years, but will be there on Tuesday and Wednesday for business – the same days they’ll be in town. I hope my mere presence in the vicinity will bring them luck.

Putrid

May 21, 2015

It’s not that Chase Whitley is having TJ surgery. It’s not even that Jacoby Ellsbury is on the DL for however long it takes for his latest injury to heal. It’s that the Yankees have stunk lately. It was the road trip from hell, that’s what it was. The two-game set against the Nationals could have gone either way – the games were that close – but somehow you just knew the Yanks would end up on the losing side.

They’ll win again, just like the sun will come out tomorrow and all the other hopeful things people say at times like this. What’s more serious for me is that I’m not attached to this team the way I’ve been to teams in the past. I have to be honest: there’s no one I truly root for. I’m not into Beltran or McCann. I think Headley, who was supposed to be this great defensive third baseman, has been pretty awful. Didi is either not ready for prime time or simply not a stand-out. Tex has shown flashes of his former glory but you never know what you’ll get. And A-Rod is, well, A-Rod. Brett Gardner’s the spark plug of the team, no doubt, and if I were going to go all in on a player, he’d be it. Or maybe Miller and Betances. They’re worth rooting for. As for most of the relievers, the ones who come and go on the shuttle from Triple A, I have no idea who’s who.

I need to get my mojo back as a fan, just like the Yankees need to get their mojo back as a team. I’m glad they shaved off the mustaches, but now they’ll probably go out and get matching tattoos or something. Maybe a team meeting with Girardi would work better or one of his famous meltdowns on the field.

Three Sweeps In A Row!

June 17, 2012

Okay, I know there’s no way to prove this theory but I think Nova and Hughes have become different pitchers since Pettitte re-joined the team. Kuroda has been great too, and it’s our starting pitching in general that’s been the difference in the Yankees’ amazing run. I just think Pettitte has served not only as a mentor to the younger guys but has been an example to them whenever he goes out to the mound. All they have to do is watch him, listen to him, observe him, and they’re just better. What I’m saying is that it’s not a coincidence that the whole staff has improved since he came back.

We needed length from Nova today and he provided it.

We needed a save from Soriano and he got us one.

We needed a go-ahead run and, as he’s done so many times before, Granderson drilled a homer. What an amazing acquisition he’s been for this team. I knew he’d be good, but I didn’t know he’d be this good. I’d just like to see him get more days off, but without Gardner that’s unlikely.

Anyhow, it’s all good right now, people.

Talk About A Kick

June 16, 2012

I missed the game live because I had a screening. (See my Mainly Jane blog post.) But I kept tabs on the score in the theater and then watched the action when I got home. All the action. Yikes, that was a lot of baseball and I was tired just thinking about how the Yanks will feel tomorrow.

But aside from Jeter’s error, Cory Wade serving one up and Soriano making things interesting in the 14th, this was a huuuuge team effort. Pettitte gave us another quality start in a growing list of quality starts by the entire staff and even Sweaty Freddy put in an appearance.

Mostly, I just have to say how much I loved Tex’s game-winner. It wasn’t a homer – yes, the Yankees won a game without one! – but did he ever drill that ball. No warning track fly or cheapie bloop single. That ball was shot out of a cannon, and it was great to see.

I hope I didn’t jink Swisher in last night’s post when I wrote, “And nobody got hurt.” Today somebody got hurt and I’m crossing all fingers and toes that the bruise will heal fast because Swish has been a big part of this team (and because I don’t want Ibanez used in the outfield any more than necessary).

Nice day for Harper, the Nationals’ rookie sensation, wasn’t it?

Perhaps he was pressing.

Anyhow, we won another series. Yay. Now let’s finish the job tomorrow.

Philthy (With Update)

June 15, 2012

Whether the change in Hughes has been the result of Andy Pettitte’s mentoring or just being healthy, the guy has turned his career around in his last starts and he’s making me eat my words about him. I still wish he’d go deeper into games, but he was great tonight. The Nationals came into the series with all the hype, but they got schooled by Hughes, who didn’t give up a homer for the first time this season.

For awhile it looked like the Yanks as a team were going to win their first game of the season without a homer, but Granderson nixed that with his blast. It was a satisfying victory. The offense, the defense, the pitching, the pen (welcome back, D-Rob!) were all fantastic (not counting Swisher’s ungraceful leap at the ball early on).

I got the game on the MLB Network and had to listen to some mind-numbingly boring stats (“The Nationals and Yankees play best on Friday nights”). And judging by people on Twitter, John and Suzyn were unhappy that their broadcast booth was so high up at the Nats’ ballpark. But it looked like a beautiful night for baseball and we won and nobody got hurt for a change. Plus, Girardi got his 500th “W” as our manager – deservedly. Oh, and Justice Sotomayor was at the game just like we predicted she would be. Love her.

Update: Hey, look who met up at the game! Friends of the Blog, Dave and Ruth, with a very excellent sign! Thanks to Dave for coming up with it and for Ruth for sending it along. Here they are…

On The Eve Of Having To Endure HarperMania…

June 14, 2012

I thought it was only fitting that I join the chorus of those mocking the 19-year-old Nats phenom’s fateful comment to the Toronto TV reporter. (After the Nationals’ win over the Blue Jays during which Harper hit a long homer, a Canadian reporter had the gall to ask the rookie what sort of local beer he might celebrate with. Harper’s response, now the stuff of T-shirts, was: “That’s a clown question, bro.” He’s a Mormon, you see, and doesn’t drink, much less tolerate stupid questions from well meaning media types.) Anyhow, Twitter was abuzz with the catchphrase and now there’s a T-shirt collection as well as a mashup video. It gets very repetitive but here it is….

If You Missed The Game, Raise Your Hand

June 13, 2012

Yup, I missed it. I had a party to go to, and while I checked the score periodically I didn’t watch. Sounded like a tight one though, with Granderson playing the hero and Kuroda turning in another fine performance, helped by the bullpen. If you’d told me the Yankees would be depending on Cody Eppley, I wouldn’t have believed it.

Two back-to-back sweeps for the boys. Sweet. I know this run can’t continue indefinitely but it sure is fun while it lasts.

I wonder what the players will do with their off day tomorrow in our nation’s capital. Some of the guys have already been to the White House, so maybe they’ll try the Pentagon or even the Supreme Court this time. I can just picture them hanging out with this group. Talk about tough umpires.

The Justices of the US Supreme Court sit — Photo: Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images

While We Sat Idly By Today ….

May 7, 2012

…there was lots of non-Yankees news.

Cole Hamels was suspended five games for hitting Nats rookie sensation Bryce Harper. (I agree with the Nats manager who cursed out the plunking. What kind of a message does a veteran pitcher need to send to a newbie? So lame.)

The Rangers (NHL) beat the Caps in overtime. (Yay. Michael’s ecstatic.)

And Adrian Gonzalez seems to be assuming the role of Red Sox scapegoat. Is the venom warranted? No idea, but take a look at Pete Abraham’s column on Boston.com:

KANSAS CITY — As the Red Sox sink further into the abyss (they are 18-36 since Sept. 1), Adrian Gonzalez has started to receive some of the fan backlash usually reserved for Josh Beckett.

So let’s look at the numbers and determine whether that’s warranted. For the purpose of this discussion, RBIs are not going to be a major talking point because they are too contingent on things out of a batter’s control. And there will be no harping on the 27 games played this season. That’s 16 percent of the season.

Here’s a look at sample sizes that do mean something:

Gonzalez since he joined the Red Sox: .327/.398/.522 over 186 games with 29 home runs and 132 RBIs. Hard to argue with any of that. You’d like to see more home runs, but a .920 OPS is impressive. Since the start of the 2011 season, only 12 players in the game have a higher OPS.

Gonzalez at Fenway Park since he joined the Red Sox: .332/.395/.488 over 94 games with 11 home runs and 58 RBIs.

This is a little odd. Gonzalez has hit for a higher average at Fenway but his slugging percentage drops by 6.5 percent. When he was acquired from the Padres, it was widely expected that Fenway Park would be a haven for him and all those balls that died on the warning track at Petco Park would be home runs.

That has not been the case. Gonzalez averaged a home run every 24.7 at-bats at Petco. He is averaging a home run every 34.2 at-bats at Fenway.

Gonzalez since the 2011 All-Star break: .302/.382/.455 with 12 home runs. Here’s a problem. Gonzalez has an .837 OPS in his last 97 games and that is well below expectations. He is 70th in baseball in slugging percentage since last July 15.

That’s right, 70th.

Gonzalez at Fenway Park since the 2011 All-Star break: .284/.357/.381 with 3 home runs and 22 RBIs in 50 games.

Bingo. Here is why people are so mad. Gonzalez is averaging one home run per 65.66 at-bats at Fenway Park since last July 15. You have a better chance of getting a moderately priced beer at Fenway than you do of seeing a $21 million player hitting a home run.

Gonzalez likes to say that he doesn’t try to hit home runs. And of course, that makes total sense. No hitter should go up to the plate trying to hit home runs.

But he did average just over 32 home runs in his five seasons with the Padres whether he was trying to or not. At the moment, he has hit 29 in 186 games with the Red Sox.

Here’s a few ideas about what’s going on:

1. Health: Gonzalez had shoulder surgery after the 2010 season and it’s probably no coincidence that his power has dropped since then. Last season seemed to wear him down and the power has not returned this year.

Why the Red Sox allowed him to participate in the 2011 Home Run Derby remains a mystery. That was an amazingly dumb decision.

2. The opposition: Gonzalez is facing better pitching on a daily basis in the American League than he did in the National League. That should be offset by his being in a better lineup, however.

3. The pressure of expectations: It’s crushing Albert Pujols, so who’s to say it’s not weighing on Gonzalez? He exudes an outward calm, but his trade to Boston and subsequent contract extension came with the pressure to perform and live up to the hype.

4. A different culture: San Diego is not Boston. Baseball is not part of the daily fabric of life in San Diego like it is in the Hub. If Gonzalez went into a slump in San Diego, it was not a matter of civic concern. In Boston he probably has people flipping him off at traffic lights.

I also think the clubhouse culture bothered him last year. Gonzalez is a quiet guy who spends a lot of time watching video and preparing for games. Then he suddenly found himself in a place where “rally beers” were acceptable. He wants to be a leader and can’t seem to figure out how best to do that.

So what happens now? Did the Red Sox give a $154 million deal to a first baseman who is going to hit like Wade Boggs?

Probably not. Gonzalez is only 30 and still very much in his prime. He’s going to figure it out and produce. But it’s fair to say that those lofty numbers at Fenway Park everybody was envisioning may prove to be just a fantasy.

And that’s just Abraham’s two cents. In another piece on the site, writer Chad Finn said this:

Gonzalez has the charisma of a rosin bag.

Ouch. Is “charisma” really necessary for a ballplayer to succeed? Or is the word just a euphemism for lack of effort? If I were a Boston fan, I wouldn’t write off A-Gon just yet. Good players don’t suddenly go bad unless they’re hurt. Well, not usually.

The Ecstasy And The Agony

March 15, 2012

Today’s Yankees-Nationals game went in that order for C-W Wang.

Here’s the ecstasy.

Wang.Natds — Photo: Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE

And now the agony.

The Wanger looks like he’s doing a variation of the downward dog pose I do in yoga. Poor guy. At least he didn’t suffer another Lisfranc thing but rather a strained hammy. Still, I feel for him. He should be one of the elite pitchers in baseball by now, and yet he’s been derailed by injury after injury.

Speaking of which, I guess Pena suffered a sprained ankle in the game? So if Nuneee is out with his aching hand and Ramiro is hobbled by the ankle, who’s our backup infielder? Please not Bill Hall.

At least Pineda was pleased with his changeup and the Yankees won. Woohoo.

The Marlins Are Like Kids In A Candy Store

November 10, 2011

Last winter the Nationals surprised everybody by spending big on Jayson Werth. Are the Marlins this year’s Nats? According to MLB.com, they’re on a spending spree or are about to be.

Pujols to meet with Marlins, possibly Saturday
By Matthew Leach

The wooing of Albert Pujols is about to get under way in earnest.

An industry source told MLB.com on Thursday that Pujols’ camp is scheduled to meet in Miami with the Marlins within the next few days, possibly as early as Saturday. Pujols is a free agent for the first time after he and the Cardinals were unable to reach an agreement last winter.

Pujols, 31, is the biggest-name free agent on the market this offseason, but one of several that Florida (soon to be Miami on Friday) is considering. The Marlins move into a new ballpark next season, and their payroll is expected to increase dramatically.

They have already met with pitcher Mark Buehrle and shortstop Jose Reyes, and a Marlins contingent traveled to the Dominican Republic to see Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes this week as well. The Marlins have Gaby Sanchez at first base, but Pujols is the kind of unique talent who could certainly cause a team to rethink what it has in-house.

Normally, I wouldn’t pay any attention to what an NL team does. But with the Yankees having a quiet off-season so far (yes, it’s early, but still), the entitled fan in me is getting itchy. Aside from locking up CC, all we’re hearing about is how Cashman is placing calls to various agents, acknowledging that he wants to add a starter but reiterating that the Yankees don’t have “a need” for much else.

I admit it. I like when we go shopping. Nothing against any of our guys, but it’s not as much fun when we stand pat while other teams are wheeling and dealing.

Maybe I just need to go buy a pair of shoes or something.

Three Questions

March 12, 2011

#1) Have the Yankees ever beaten the Nationals?

I’m not just talking about spring training. I mean like ever. In the history of life. Because I honestly don’t remember a victory over the worst team in the majors. I realize today’s game was meaningless and the point was to give A.J. another opportunity to practice his new delivery. But it just feels like we can’t squash the gnats Nats and it’s a little disconcerting.

#2) Why is it a given that Eric Chavez will win a roster spot over Jorge Vazquez?

Yes, I know Chavez is a former Gold Glover and the far more experienced player. But Vazquez has gotten hit after hit (not to mention homer after homer) and I think he should get a shot at the job. A bona fide shot. Girardi keeps saying stuff like, “He’s giving us a lot to think about,” meaning Vazquez. But what he’s really saying is, “He’s going to the minors and we’ll call him up if Chavez gets hurt or doesn’t perform.” Am I right?

#3) Could Mo please pitch sometime soon?

I’ve read that his spring debut will be any day now. But until I actually see him on the mound with my own eyes, all will not be right with the world.

I’m Glad Amber Sabathia Thinks It’s Funny

March 5, 2011

By “it” I mean CC’s lousy outing today against the Nationals. According to LoHud, he couldn’t wait to share the news with the missus.

“I just called my wife and she started laughing,” Sabathia said.

Laughing Woman — (courtesy: olaughingpress.com)

I guess if I were the Sabathias, I’d laugh too. Today wasn’t the first time he’s gotten knocked around in spring training and it won’t be the last. What’s more, the significant point is that his knee feels good.

I listened to the last four innings of the game – my first of the season with John and Suzyn, who were cracking jokes about the mistakes John kept making with his calls. (He’d say somebody was safe and the ump would say otherwise.) The pitching wasn’t exactly stellar for either side, and aside from Gardner’s heroics it was pretty dull.

Which brings me to spring training games in general. While I enjoy seeing the young guys who are actually battling to make the club, I honestly have little-to-no interest in the kids that are just there to… to what? Everybody knows they’ll be cut any second, so is it a perk to be out there for a few innings with the big boys? Is it sort of a rehearsal so they’ll know what it’s like if they ever get to the majors? Is it to showcase them for scouts because they’re trade bait? Or is it just an opportunity for them to play, period? Somebody help me here.

I'm Glad Amber Sabathia Thinks It's Funny

March 5, 2011

By “it” I mean CC’s lousy outing today against the Nationals. According to LoHud, he couldn’t wait to share the news with the missus.

“I just called my wife and she started laughing,” Sabathia said.

Nothing The Yankees Do Makes Sense To Me Right Now

February 2, 2011

As my friend and fellow Yankee fan, Brad Schreiber, said on my Facebook wall today, “Nothing makes sense.” Brad, btw, is the co-author of a fascinating new book about Jimi Hendrix. If you’re a music fan, check it out.

Today the Yankees traded for a kid named Justin Maxwell – an outfielder and once-prized prospect who struggled with the Nationals.

He was hurt and is now coming off Tommy John surgery and would, presumably, be a backup OF-er along with Andruw Jones (if the Yankees ever get around to officially announcing his signing). But don’t we already have guys like Greg Golson and Colin Curtis who could serve the same purpose? I mean, if you don’t make it as an outfielder with the Nationals, why would you suddenly become Bernie Williams?

I know, I know. Cashman has some sort of Plan. He’s stockpiling players so he can make a big trade for a starting pitcher down the road. We’ll see. For right now, however, I remain mystified.