I've been in and out of the backcountry in amazing southeast Alaska for the last few days and haven't watched a Nationals game in a week or so. I'm barely able to check in, as even Internet access is a dicey proposition where I am.
So how amazed am I to click in and see that since I got on the plane at BWI last Saturday for the first leg of my trip that they haven't lost a game.
I obviously have few insights, but consider: the Scats have won seven in a row. The Pirates have lost seven in a row and the Royals have won just three of ten. And still, they are four and a half behind the next worst team in the league.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
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15 comments:
Yes, but life with the Nats is never sunshine and lollipops. On the day that we win our 7th in a row we here that Dr. Andrews is looking at J. Zimm's arm. Losing the Bryce Harper sweepstakes or fending off 100 wins isn't getting us closer to the playoffs.
J. Zimm's right arm is. So please start a vigil for the Z Mann.
All that says just how wrong you were about Acta and how managers do not matter. Clublhouses do not matter, work on defense does not matter and leadership does not matter.....wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong.
Anon, not everyone feels that way: http://mvn.com/oleanders/2009/08/please-dont-credit-riggleman.html
Not saying it is Riggs....it is just a competent, experenced MLB manager that IS NOT ACTA!
Change from the norm is what was needed....someone who communicates that losing is not part of the plan....errors are not just accepted and that Dunn is expected to work on defense and focus on his defense not Manny's famous....he is what he is and we should not expect him to try to improve.
Also worth considering: Morgan and Willingham are playing way above anything they can be assumed to do on any sort of a regular basis.
Oh yea that must be it and as Steven predicted AK will regress to his mean and be the most improved Nat.....sometimes you just have to watch the games boys.
We just saw why Riggs or anyone is better than Acta.....He just took out Clippard after two straight walks to his first two batters.......It is about winning games now not teaching and preaching
Manny Acta had a seven game winning streak in 2008, still third best in Nationals history behind F Robby's 10 in 2005 and Riggleman's current streak.
Shouldn't Manny's next self help book be When Bad Things Happen to Good Managers?
8 in a row now. You must be the problem. Please stay in Alaska.
OMG view conveniently leaves out the number one reason this team is now respectable and winning.
DEFENSE....Count the errors in last 20 games.....This is where ACTA completely dropped the ball by not understanding good old fashion hard work....NOT 20-30 ground balls during BP.....What an Ass......But infield outfield drills everyday before BP....make the throw, set up the situations, practice makes perfect and that is the number one difference in this team...defense with all the same guys Acta had.
Acta should have been fired with Jimbo at the end of last year....then May 15th this year......Nobody who has watched the games would even suggest this is the same effort Acta teams put out day after day.
I think the winning streak the law of averages than anything else, but it should be noted that they were 6-10 under Riggleman before the trade deadline. They're 8-1 since the post-deadline. My suspicion is that getting Dunn out of the outfield and Dukes back in RF has a lot more to do with the recent wins than any games of pepper that Riggs is making the team play. When he was a coach under Acta, he easily could have had the team doing whatever defensive drills they're doing now. The defense probably improved more due to the personnel changes more than coaching, but at least Riggs has the good sense to put the best OF out there, but let's not give him too much credit for that. For Christ's sake, he toyed with putting Anderson Hernandez in the OF.
As soon as the club fired Acta, I've had this "fear" that the Nats would go on a brief tear, and that they would throw a multi-year deal at Riggs. It's seems like just the kind of foolish move this club seems to make on a regular basis. He may have invigorated the team after they basically threw in the towel during the final days of Acta, but based on his track record, how long can we expect that to last? But whatever, I'm just enjoying watching the team beat up on opponents for a change.
I think we should take a moment to consider that Rizzo was true to his word in regard to Dukes. He sent him down and said it was so he would have consistent playing time, and when the logjam that limited his playing time was gone, he came right back up and is getting the at bats here.
Steven I think your worst fears in that particular case did not come true. Rizzo did what he said. I also think that this answers a bit of the questions you have had about Rizzo wanting only good guys on the team.
You want Dukes because if he Dukes does what you project him to be be, he is a stud, and studs can be a little anti-social. You don't want Lastings because if he is what you project him to be he is a fourth outfielder who does not field well enough for center or hit well enough for RF or LF. Anti-social troublemakers who can't crack the starting lineup get shipped out.
That dichotomy works for me.
Michael, good point. I forgot about the post deadline nature of the winning streak.
Dukes certainly deserves credit for some clutch situational hitting, and it's good to see him taking advantage of his opportunity.
I'm also hoping that the give Rizzo an opportunity because he seems to be making sensible, though not sensational moves.
Wow... you must be back... 3 runs in 3 games...
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