Alan May talks the Caps' plans for the offseason
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Sun, 1 Jul 2012|
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CSN Washington dot com. Joining me now on the phone is -- analyst Alan may in May Day fans always want that big splash early on in free agency but we haven't seen anything yet. From the capitals why do you think that is. Well I think a couple of the markets. You know settled down and they wanna make sure that they don't -- overspending they've got a lot of accomplished players right now. They don't have to get ridiculous but in some of the players that are buying them. In some places and they find it appropriate or not in other players that are buying what you mark but they don't want to get caught in that I think after couple days. Players that they you have but I out of are still available they want -- overpaid player battle and not find the appropriate dollar without crippling it came. The George McPhee has said he's not a huge fan of throwing big money -- players especially early on in free agency. They there hasn't been any word yet on the big guys Zach Parise and Ryan suitor if the captain -- -- do you think the caps get involved in that nick not. Do you think they stand pat what happens the team next year. I'd be surprised that they got involved with those guys because right now you're looking at each or are going or commitment to not knowing how -- EPA is going to go there be a tough spot the the team in. And it wouldn't hurt and a quieter guy but when you're talking about a quarter million dollars right now with the way things are. It'd be tough to do that to what those two players they wanna make sure that they're going to be you know can win now the capitals are certainly in that category. But right now those where they'll have to wait what's best for them. So the -- do you stand pat. What is your team look like next season. -- very good game pitcher mark the barrel. -- wouldn't be surprised the fumble -- -- became a tree that was Bobby would be addicted to start an actual serve what. And based on a lot of good players and adding mercker over the back wind. They can make -- eight if they want you and there are going to be some older players available out there and make it one year contracts and seeing a lot of all the player right now they -- that Becker -- the year deal and can don't want it that right now. Dennis Wideman gets traded to Calgary signed a five year deal over 26 millions of five million dollar plus Europe. Player surprised by that. There Berrian and I would have been shocked at the capital that ever done it like step toward a surprise. The fact that you you wanna bet expected they'd pick it back kind of money but when -- of John Carlson Mike Green it had to be there no way to pay a third. It defenseman that every dog has been need for a right -- offense that can move the pocket net that this sport -- The defensive out of pocket got other players maybe they can. Kamal not regard they're really that would have been wait for the Washington Capitals but think about giving him term and dollar amount. Made and I -- in your home in Texas -- and Edmonton boys -- for -- let -- go let me just say. Canada day. Well thank you very much. -- -- -- -- Allen made that so much. CSN 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.
