What is going on? Why are the Nationals suddenly pounding the ball? 26 runs in three games? It wasn't too long ago when it would take us 7 games to score 26 runs. Whatever the cause, the Nationals beat the Marlins last night 11-7 to sweep the series and ensure that they will do no worse than finish .500.
Nick Johnson and Preston Wilson were the stars, driving in 4 and 5 runs, respectively. Assuming Johnson is healthy next year, it sure would be nice to see him and Ryan Zimmerman anchoring the infield. Zimmerman was 2-4, and he is now hitting .417. His more relevant numbers are awesome: .420 OBP, .604 SLG, 1.024 OPS.
It sure would be nice to pencil in at third base a Marlin who seems to be falling out of favor with the team--Miguel Cabrera. The Marlins seem to be in total disarray and perhaps past the point of a return to tranquility. The team has already banished a very good young pitcher--A.J. Burnett--and may have permanently damaged its relationship with Cabrera, who is one of the game's best young hitters. Cabrera apparently is upset about something, and the Marlins are questioning his work ethic and attitude. It's amazing that a team with so many good young players and such a bright future could let the situation get this bad, but perhaps the Nationals can take advantage of the Marlins' dysfunction and notorious parsimony to get some of the their best young talent.
Another player who the Nationals may rely on next year is Marlon Byrd. That seems incredible given Byrd's pathetic performance before being sent down on August 2, but Byrd came back to the big club a different hitter. We still doubt whether Byrd is good enough to be an everyday player, but he may be good enough to be a reserve outfielder and pinch hitter, and if that's the case then the Nationals would have got some value in trading Endy Chavez to the Phillies.
All in all, it's not a bad finish for D.C.'s new team. With one more series before the season ends, it would be nice to go out on a high note by winning two games against Philadelphia.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
My guess is the game gets a bit easier when the pressure is off. I think the Nats care a bit more than the Fish, at this point.
By the way, it wasn't long ago that much of the talk was about dysfunction in the Nats' clubhouse. I wonder if it's a coincidence that the two clubs with the old schoolers - three if you count Felipe in SF - are having the issues of respect.
Post a Comment