D.C. United: Black-and-Red Report - 1/11
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Tue, 11 Jan 2011|
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In dot com. We're back Russ Miller and Sebastien salads are taught in. DC united -- -- he has and Washington dot com analyst draft. Coming up later this week the players start reporting in about a week in the tablets get down in the nitty gritty -- Pablo and and is gone. Terminated contract. Adam Christmas gone LA Galaxy get a supplemental draft pick DC united created no secret that they're going to be looking after attacking players. Probably -- For goods for good reason. Yeah I mean you talked about it when you met up with Ben -- we went out to to arcade in the with the coach and a couple of players. And tell one of the things that and I thought was very adjusting with though they wouldn't tell us that they were specifically looking. Had an attacking player it's clear that there have been wholesale changes. At the front of that top line and you know Pablo and and as for all that he brought with skill just never really delivered for united he is. Contractors is too much to pay for the results on the field and Adam -- and hard working guy but remember when Ben Olson took over last year for a large part of that stretch. Kristen was hurt and he wasn't able to be effective so I think those two guys are kind of a sign of the futility of last year and then moving on not that much of a surprise to me. No this is a transformer to offseason for the black and credit and and for good for good reason I use that phrase again but above all -- for for good need to. Considering what they did last season I've found an interest and when you talk to Ben -- and you ask him about the captaincy. And how pour in the arm and was and he basically said it matters. Who was wearing it right and he felt that he sort of acted as a captain like player even though he rarely wore the -- man. Ben Olsen is that god is leading this team he's not only the manager but he's kind of the captain to right now. No I think you're exactly right in saying that there's definitely a sense of leadership in this team and because of Olson's age and his. Closeness to many of these players they look at him as much as a teammate as a coach obviously that relationship will change over the next twelve months is as it. As they go through a season together with him -- there on question coach not the interim. And not the assistant but as the head guy that relationship will change but Olson is so young. That he really is the captain and he was the captain for DC united last there was an awkward situation with -- Moreno forced to wear the captain's band but not being on the field you can't really have a captain it's not playing he was then handed off to bunch of guys saint you know -- -- took -- on again. But right and also basically said it's not that important unless you've got that really central figure. And he. For better or worse is their central fear because they don't have it. On the field no and we could end up with a situation like we saw early in the season Lester when Carey Talley had the arm bad. And he was a captain like figure under Kurt and I'll follow until he got hurt and then then came in and everything change could Dax McCarty and of being. Ben Olson's voice and Ben Olson's engines sort of on the field this year. You know a lot of people are comparing Dax McCarty and -- I don't know if that's really fair just yet. He's feisty guy he's in midfield player and that he certainly seems to be a big part for me is the most exciting acquisition to date. The off season Olson said he's a lot better soccer player than people give him credit for and I think also has a lot of faith and I mean I don't know that he hands and the captaincy right away of this team although you would figure that with the culture change the united has said they need. One of the things that and also told me. About Dax McCarty is that hey he's a winner he doesn't like to lose and on the next words out of his mouth were we need that around here so maybe he is the captain waiting. It may be or may be sent Tito cry to get to get we saw house and Tito's. Not only play but his spirit lifted when he put the arm and -- heat players about the short. Doesn't quietly to end a club and the fans and he's a guy that takes that see that role seriously. Said -- a guy I'd be curious to see what would happen if he wasn't the captain and it it was somebody else because he took that to heart. Yet did certainly mean a lot since you know I mean he talked about it at blank -- the and the last year that wearing the captain's arm band was a big deal to him and I'll give him credit. I thought he played slightly better I thought the team played better and I thought that the players around him responded to San -- in that role I don't know if it's may be necessarily the best solution for a long and LS season but it's certainly provided a spark. At the end of 2000 intent on out there were playing so badly that it it couldn't have really gotten any worse. I don't think sentinels play I'll go downhill though if he's not the captain I mean he's say he's gone through a lot in his career we know the stories personally or professionally. And I think ya he's one of those guys it's very happy to be in the league cannot eat you know. For all the that has been set about since you know -- -- I think he he brings that that hard hat that lunch pail to work every day and I don't I don't think not having -- -- His work rate is something that really stood out towards the end of last year. Especially interesting mix of older and young coming in this off season including its 44 year old from -- why are we really don't know. A whole lot about who's going to be either in central defense -- -- on the right side. This year I've process got me -- you know I don't know too much about him that also seem to be very confident in his abilities. The last player that they plucked out of the year widely was Pablo Hernandez that didn't exactly work out. But -- you know this guy seems to be a young. Athletic. Defender which you know when you look at the injuries that killed DC united last year one of the things that it exposed -- -- didn't have depth on that back line. They were maybe two or three guys deep. And you need four to start and then you've probably got to have five or six to get through a season with injuries international commitments and all the rest of the stuff that comes down the last. And -- I just think that that this guy is another part of that -- a six man rotation you're gonna have to have you've got probably five of them. And I don't know they even though the talk is to get an offensive player you can get a really good defender. Out of the college ranks in the am not strapped and and get that sixth guy for that rotation I don't know that it's a bad bet for -- And in that or there's still money now out there for an international signing and that could be on the back line as well. Lots to get to with the MLS draft coming up later in the week in Baltimore seven I going to be. -- there we're gonna be bringing back a lot of goodies for you here on CS and Washington dot com so for Sebastien south Art Ross Taylor for now we did you do but who will be -- -- said. More video check out season Washington dot com.
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Beltway Baseball: Why Strasburg will be just fineCSN Washington dot com. Are welcomed the beltway baseball here on CSN Washington dot com on chase Hughes and mark Zuckerman. And mark we've been through a month and a few weeks or overly down here. And the nationals as a team having kinda inconsistent but one thing that is really travelling fans and people around league starting to notice is it consistency of Stephen Strasburg. The numbers aren't that far off from what we've seen but it anyone who's watched him over the last few years and tell maybe there's something something a little bit off he's having trouble finding the strike zone. What do you make of the situation and do you think it is that they concern yeah I mean the thing is like you said the numbers don't look. It that far off feeds the pitching. for big league pitcher but he set such a high bar for so we've come to expect so much. Patted him it just doesn't quite look like what you expected the biggest thing is fastball command. You know he's not. Throwing strikes getting ahead in the count. The way it did it was so amazing about him as a rookie when he came back originally from the Tommy John surgery was the fact that. He could be a power pitcher while still having excellent coming that deadly combination. Just not quite there yet. Curve balls still excellent still excellent. I think you're seeing signs of improvement I think he's getting there but he still working on to think that it's mechanical mostly. And they they seem to determine and it's not physical it's mormons and you can see it on the on the field he's the body language that. He's impatient he gets frustrates easily and this just a matter of him being such a perfectionist. He's not used to not being great. He's used to being great not just good right exactly and I think that's that next step and take if he's really gonna become an ace of the World Series contender. It's about hey it doesn't matter what happens behind him Doesn't matter what run support I the umpire and I'm gonna go out I'm gonna beat no matter We're seeing there and do that right now I think it's time for Strasburg if he really wants to become an elite. Top. The line pitcher. That's what he needs you now quickly another guy who's had trouble as you can also I think might be a little bit more of a concern is his command has been quite there. I think it's curve ball isn't quite as sharp as it was last year this is something that might he might work out the kinks out. But he has been pride stuff yeah I mean an more erratic certainly had some fantastic start and that's really troubling ones I think his last start Pittsburgh may have been a turning point for them. Got a huge jam in the first inning lead off home runs very first pitch then he loads the bases. Nobody out. Battle back and get out six straight after that I can almost see a little something clicked inside and minutes that. Maybe this you Ozzie admitted afterwards and younger version him would have melted there. Let it spiral out control. That might be assigned an comes back next time that made it a big turning point mark let's talk about the catching situation we're moving through May and so far Davey has. Rotated kind of alternated and depending on the edge depending on the he said that at some he's gonna have to make a decision we saw over the weekend go back to back with Ramos. At some point. Maybe you and you think we're gonna see him go with the primary catcher I think so maybe not a true number one in the and a guy you know catching you know once or twice a week and I think he does. Number one wanna play the hot hand whoever it is. I think he hopes its problems he understands that everyone understands. That Wilson Ramos has higher ceilings and Kurt Suzuki put the whole package together offensively defensively he can do more so I think you're gonna start to see that. It Suzuki gets hot they'll play obviously. I think the preference be for to ultimately take over. I went into the numbers last week how the pitching staff has done with Suzuki and For some reason everybody but you done way better with over the past few seasons in their career ERA is. Are better with him in their career marks I don't I don't know I can't tell you why that is but that's the case yeah and I the pictures all insist they'll have both guys I don't know if there even where it. Yzerman tops they had success with Suzuki and it's amazing stats that would certainly something overtime that you have to look him. Now as we're getting close to the middle of may what we take stock with the division first the Braves came out really hot out of the gate. It was it was really at the point were you thinking all right who's gonna slow him down or what's gonna slow them down they didn't seem to have a weakness whatsoever. The nationals. Meanwhile your 500. But as they're starting to get things going they're not that far behind it could be much worse at this point oh absolutely mean if the nationals. Figure that April was their worst month but that's as bad against them they're going to be all right because they hover around 500. And the rays came back to earth and what's it was gonna happen next maybe not. To this extent you're surprised by that we're gonna play 900 ball. All right I think it was twelve and when you start here to me what's interesting is all of a sudden they're closer Craig Kimbrel. Most dominant closer in baseball last year and the first month this year he's blown three saves in days yeah giving up home runs. That's. Staggered problem right there I mean who knows just a blip. Or something long term about but also without Johnny Panthers won their top. Setup men and PG beaches and come back and just came back Heyward been out for a while there. BJ Upton knocked off to a good start the play and they got a lot of weapons are they're going to be good. Long term but they may not be quite easily as we and BJ Upton has been really bad and having having gas was really early on but. he's not looking like the next Mike Capps at this point about one thing I think it's interesting as the two best guys I think in their offense have to look at the numbers today. They've been Justin Upton and Chris Johnson who of course were with the team much yeah exactly they talk on all the offseason moves it made it mentioned Johnson as much damage in the Upton Brothers that night do you think getting Freddie Freeman back to deal with me that isn't fantastic all around first baseman. The Braves are going to be fine long term this can make good race really do believe that. CSN Washington dot com.
