During the Manny Acta portion of the postgame show, he handled the question of "will he continue as the closer" pretty well. He didn't want to make a decision in anger/frustration/whatever. They'd sleep on it and make some sort of decision.
Johnny and Ray kicked that around some and Ray closed the program by saying, "Someone else will be out there closing."
I'm down with that. Who's with me? The question? Who will it be now?
I don't see anyone in the current pen I'd trust any more than I do Hanranhan right now. Kip Wells? Julian Tavarez?
Syracuse's six saves are spread among several, including Garrett Mock and Ryan Wagner. Zech Zinicola has Harrisburg's only save (How much does H-burg suck - it is 2-13! Ugh).
This is where I need the experts' help. Am I missing someone? Is there someone somewhere in the system they ought to throw out there? Is there a still-unsigned free agent worth giving a shot? When does Beimel come back? Can he close?
Manny had a point when he said there's no Rollie Fingers or Mariano Rivera down there. It is a very obvious problem. I just don't see an obvious solution.
Five home runs and 11 runs ought to be enough, every single time. Four runs up with two to play ought to be enough, every single time.
LATE UPDATE: This Nationals.com story indicates they'll go with Beimel when he returns next week. I hope they're not putting him in a position for which he's not suited. He's the one thing that has been right about the bullpen thus far and I'd hate to see him go to hell in a handbasket with the rest of them.
13 comments:
Mike - Jesus Colome cannot be recalled until May 15 but I'm not sure he's the option either. Ron Villone has seven saves in his 14-year major league career. Tyler Clippard has been shifted to the bullpen in Syracuse but as more of a long reliever.
I'd hesitate to suggest anyone from Harrisburg but the most likely options there are Zinicola, Josh Wilkie and Yunior Novoa.
So, there's no one?
I'd give Colome a try ahead of any of the others at this point, I suppose. Hurts just to type that.
Yeesh.
You got any gas left in the tank, old man? If you can get it over the plate and manage not to give up two slammies in one game, you'd be an upgrade.
The fact that the Nats have NO ONE to close is embarrassing. Flat-out embarrassing. How the hell does this happen? Seriously, how?
Hell, let Z double N close.
The P-Nats had someone closing last year, and I'm totally blanking on his name...I was sitting behind home plate, so I checked out the scout's guns. He was throwing low-90's with a tail. He had some control issues, but he also went 1-2-3, usually after the count went full. Dang, I wish I could remember his name.
Yeah, the control issues give me pause, but they can't be any worse than what we've been seeing.
Victor - That was Josh Wilkie
I'd say walking two guys and then grooving one for Ibanez to hit to Atlantic City qualifies as control problems. He'd fit right in.
Wasn't Zech at one point seen as the answer at the spot? Is that still the case or has he regressed?
Mike - Zinicola is not a no-doubt-about-it guy. He was simply the best pitcher among a poor performing menu of choices in the year he was drafted. He could turn into a serviceable middle reliever but considering him a closer of the future is setting yourself up for disappointment
And we've had quite enough of that, thank you.
Anyone have any thoughts on Beimel in that role?
Andrew Cain has suggested Jason Bergmann. Any chance Nick Johnson can be traded for some a starter and a decent reliever?
"How the hell does this happen? Seriously, how?"
One word answer (repeated): Cheap. Cheap. Cheap. Cheap. Cheap. Cheap. Cheap. Cheap.
The woes of the entire pitching staff come down to one thing: the team's unwillingness to spend money. They let Redding go over a pittance; humiliated Hill in arbitration over a measly couple of hundred K; fumbled on signing Aaron Crow, who if he'd been any good at all would have been in the majors THIS SEASON instead of hoping he doesn't get lowballed on his bonus this year because of the collapsing economy; and failed to even attempt to sign any decent veteran replacements other than Biemel.
fact of the matter is, this team is too bad to spend moeny on a top notch closer. it would have been a poor allocation of resources.
Beimel is already being over-used as a full-time set-up man. his history says he's much better suited for LOOGY use.
either Hanny gets over his temporary allergy to throwing strikes, or the Nats are just going to have to play match-up in the pen.
there is no "one" else.
"either Hanny gets over his temporary allergy to throwing strikes, or the Nats are just going to have to play match-up in the pen"
What "temporary" allergy to throwing strikes? I recall a game in May 2008 where Manny pulled O'Connor with the bases loaded and a 2-0 count on the batter and brought in Hanrahan. First pitch? Wild, scoring a run. Second pitch? Ball four to re-load the bases. Third pitch? Grand slam.
Like the Bears, Hanrahan is who we thought he was.
I am not a great stats man, but I have just done a little stats searching on MLB.com.
So the Nats are tied for 8th in the MLB for OBP. That says to me that they should, in theory, be scoring runs.
I then did runs per game, and they are 20th in the MLB. I know the pitching sucks, but that's not good either!
I am more than happ to be shouted down by more stats minded folk.
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