Beltway Baseball Live part II: Projecting the rotation's future-8/2
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Tue, 2 Aug 2011|
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I -- switched gears here over to some reader questions. We got a lot of for Smith once again on that's insider dot com the first question is from Chicago nets girl who wants to know about Roger bit Bernadine. And specifically Wendy's. Him coming back well there's a little bit of a timeline here He was optioned down. To Syracuse on I believe Friday. Making room for -- want to have to move somebody from the roster for won't come back. The problem there's. Once you go when -- an option you have to be down for at least ten days unless there's been an injury you're accurate place. So I do think once those ten days -- up is probably good chance we see him back up here. That said Rick Ankiel played there for what how the last. A month really and hit 200 last night. Not to suggest that Ankiel as the long term answer that opening but He believes that. But Bernard you know he's gotten his chances and He has his moments that you say. What maybe this guy is would give him maybe He can be that guy and then He goes for two weeks where does He do anything offensively or defense that. I think the organization as evidenced by how much they focus on trying to acquire center fielder at the trade deadline. Understand the -- -- probably isn't the answer I think we'll still see him some before the year's over. Moving forward I think it's pretty safe stated by next year they really want to have something on the outside and it. -- second reader question is from Don and it's about missing another national Sparano hasn't been around for a little while. Pudge Rodriguez wants to know what is pledges status and what is your best guesses to win. He will yet he's been on the DL with a strained oblique since I believe right before the all star break. In -- just case He thought initially wouldn't be that long -- back very quickly. Had some setbacks along the way it was trying to take batting practice and clear to still bothering him so they shut him down completely sent home to Miami he's been there for over a week now. We're open and get an update may -- today -- -- we should know little bit more. But it would sound like it's going to be a little while He comes back and now. He's been out what 23 weeks that it's been I think that it's a case of even once He is finally ready. He's gonna need to go place -- -- game -- comes back you can't just come back off the DL for three weeks cold. It's unfortunate. He just floors -- picked -- -- the last few days it's nice to see him back -- have a chance. But I doubt the brings a lot else that is. Just what does on the field but really almost like another coach and I got. In the third greater question is going back to the trade deadline and there's results from the trade players coming in and players that without Ringo. And then leave you must know about Laynce Nix we surprise that Laynce Nix wasn't traded since He walks in two months if not extend. Yeah it's funny his name didn't -- -- a whole -- that you -- -- it makes sense for guys that are played pretty well he's been winning teams in the past. The reds last season. Why wasn't there -- a lot of interest maybe you'd have to do with the fact that. Nix has been deal with this Achilles injury all year He played through it he's been. Really tough that out hasn't had missed more than a couple of days here in -- time. Maybe teams -- little scared off by that I don't know but I really wasn't hearing a lot of chatter about all. Over the course of the trade deadline periods. Interest. Now is He gonna after the season He certainly could be that could decide to keep them. It would seem to me that he'd been affordable option to keep as a bench player I don't think that looking at him as being somebody would be playing. Every -- -- system next year because. In left field you're probably gonna have more back left it would gross at first base you have harper up some points I think. Playing time in demand but nick but certainly you guys have off your bench as an extra outfielder and tentative. Absolutely maybe better than Matt Stairs for a younger better of her I mean at this point anybody would have an -- -- it's safe to say it but I'm sorry that. -- -- a final reader question is looking forward to September affect the Strasburg is coming back. He cold snow what do you envision our rotation looking like on September 1 it's definitely going to be some changes were already seen it here a little bit with Markey getting traded. -- one up now Gorzelanny and -- in the bullpen -- -- starting game later this week. A couple of the guys that Davey Johnson really want to seed for the -- up. I'm alone and Brad peacock both Tripoli right now I think we're gonna assume at some point I'm not sure how soon certainly by September -- would be a lot to candidates. He called up I think you concede that obviously Strasburg hope -- that we'll see him in September. Guys who -- come out of the rotation Jordan -- And about four starts left before -- his maximum under sixty innings so he'll be shut down probably before September. So that could be a little gap there were some real and it starts in those young guys. Before Strasburg comes up. Thank -- Nancy Landon all the way through it I. Levon -- and is an interest in question could come to a point where they'd say hey. You know. We need to see some young guys we know what -- -- and do. It would be what they didn't -- with him attending long ops and wants him the rest of the season as long as he's healthy. He makes his second start tomorrow since coming off the DL option at first on the disappointment as far as the first inning when He really after that start look a lot better. Enough to say hey we need Seymour this -- because they need to evaluate. A lot of these guys -- in order next year who was on the rotation and well yeah what about looking forward to 2012 in the rotation. All things considered possibility of free agent. What do you see the rotation looking like on opening day well let's let's start with the locks Julio Strasburg. There are going to be there lanes and that's. Now what do you do after that -- could come back He be affordable He wants to be here they love them. Even if he's number five starter for nine dollars and cents and -- on one more spot. So. That to go to anyone number guys I think you look at some younger guys. Malone. Brad Meyers -- -- I think he's probably step below those other guys. Got -- again He would get his chance here and see what can do when you change the -- is He still neck and there's long. And really this is a tryout for a lot of these guys especially for -- over the course of the next two months. He'll be a free agent but. If He shows enough I think there's some loyalty there after the at stuck with them for two years watching rehab they would want to bring him back. So there's only a couple spots to deal with there to play around with there and Scott street which -- it could go after someone at some point. As we've seen this is how they're gonna win the only chance of winning with a good starting pitching got it for a lot of season. You can see more next here between there Strasburg the top rotation. They've got thought the -- that -- patient with guys that you feel like -- Not just hold their own anymore but now actually be good enough to win. Real quick before we go rust that while that could obviously use another. What an arm in the rotation. If He doesn't show more signs that here's a starter I think he's ball in the bullpen long term well it's a good question they had an effort the last couple weeks but in this sort of strange long reliever role -- I think that feeling still is let's see what He can do as a starter if it's clear that not happen maybe bad and the next year spring training start on orbit for relievers schedule and see if He can't be one. While the nationals like we said of 13 in a row there four games under 500 so we'll see things get there. They play the Braves against and against night for all your nationals coverage -- CSN Washington and that's answer dot com. No idea why you would go anywhere else honestly and the US thanks for watch and beltway baseball life.
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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. 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