{"id":1052,"date":"2011-04-17T17:41:10","date_gmt":"2011-04-17T21:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/?p=1052"},"modified":"2011-04-29T15:42:14","modified_gmt":"2011-04-29T19:42:14","slug":"nats-rotation-cycle-3-goodbadmediocre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/?p=1052","title":{"rendered":"Nats Rotation Cycle #3: good\/bad\/mediocre"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_1088\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/ZimmermannJordan2009_0810_zimmermann.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1088\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1088\" title=\"ZimmermannJordan2009_0810_zimmermann\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/ZimmermannJordan2009_0810_zimmermann-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/ZimmermannJordan2009_0810_zimmermann-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/ZimmermannJordan2009_0810_zimmermann.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1088\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jordan Zimmermann is starting to look like a very valuable starter.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Good<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Livan Hernandez<\/strong> kicks off the 3rd turn through the rotation with a great start against the NL favorite Phillies (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/blogs\/nationals-journal\/post\/game_10_discussion_thread_phillies_at_nationals\/2011\/04\/12\/AFvc3WSD_blog.html?wprss=nationals-journal\">running blog<\/a>\/<a href=\"http:\/\/mlb.mlb.com\/mlb\/gameday\/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_12_phimlb_wasmlb_1&amp;mode=recap&amp;c_id=was&amp;partnerId=rss_was\">gamer\/box<\/a>).\u00a0 Final line was 6 2\/3, 7h, 1er, 6Ks and 0 BBs.\u00a0 His one run was on an opposite field smash by <strong>Ryan Howard<\/strong> on a pitch that wasn&#8217;t that bad (remember; Howard is a dead pull hitter so for him to put a ball out to left is an aberration, not a sign).\u00a0 Livan&#8217;s line would have looked even better had he not given up 3 straight singles in the 7th inning, leaving a bases loaded jam for <strong>Tyler Clippard<\/strong> to get out of.\u00a0 Livan was in control all night, following his typical pattern of hitting the corners and frustrating hitters with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.brooksbaseball.net\/pfxVB\/pfx.php?month=4&amp;day=12&amp;year=2011&amp;game=gid_2011_04_12_phimlb_wasmlb_1%2F&amp;pitchSel=115817&amp;prevGame=gid_2011_04_12_phimlb_wasmlb_1%2F&amp;prevDate=412\">ridiculously slow curve balls<\/a>.\u00a0 (Side note on this start; I had a real problem with the way Riggleman handled the bullpen this night; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/?p=1075\">see this post<\/a> for my thoughts).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Jordan Zimmerman<\/strong> was perfect through 5 innings on 4\/14 (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/blogs\/nationals-journal\/post\/game_12_discussion_thread_phillies_at_nationals\/2011\/04\/14\/AFADzqeD_blog.html?wprss=nationals-journal\">blog<\/a>\/<a href=\"http:\/\/mlb.mlb.com\/mlb\/gameday\/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_14_phimlb_wasmlb_1&amp;mode=recap&amp;c_id=was&amp;partnerId=rss_was\">gamer\/box<\/a>) before hanging a curveball for a homer in the 6th and loading the bases in the 8th.\u00a0 It wouldn&#8217;t matter; his counterpart <strong>Cliff Lee<\/strong> threw a 3-hit shutout.\u00a0 Final line: 7ip, 5hits, 0bbs, 4rs (only 1 earned) with 4ks.\u00a0 When he was removed in the 8th he had only thrown 85 pitches, showing the best efficiency of any starter yet this season.\u00a0 His one earned run line slightly flatters what happened to him in the 8th; the two guys who scored both got on base via hits.\u00a0 Either way, the most dominating pitching performance of 2010 from our starters.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Doug Slaten<\/strong> pitched very effectively in his lefty-lefty matchups against Philadelphia, getting <strong>Ryan Howard<\/strong> and <strong>Raul Ibanez<\/strong> very effectively when presented with opportunities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tom Gorzelanny<\/strong>&#8216;s 4\/15 start (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/blogs\/nationals-journal\/post\/game_13_discussion_thread_brewers_at_nationals\/2011\/04\/15\/AF7kYzkD_blog.html?wprss=nationals-journal\">blog<\/a>\/<a href=\"http:\/\/washington.nationals.mlb.com\/mlb\/gameday\/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_15_milmlb_wasmlb_1&amp;mode=wrap&amp;c_id=was\">gamer\/box<\/a>) indicated to me that  he&#8217;s still not quite in his mid-season groove.\u00a0 He cruised through 4  innings with just two weak hits (an infield bouncer and a liner to left  that <strong>Michael Morse<\/strong> really should have caught).\u00a0 Then in the 5th he gave up a hard-hit double to weak hitting former Nat <strong>Wil Nieves<\/strong> and then <strong>Richie Weeks<\/strong> just pulverized a ball that Gorzelanny left over the plate for a 2-run  double.\u00a0 Gorzelanny seems to really lose his typical rhythm when runners  get on base; he slows down his normally fast tempo, pays too much  attention to the runners, and suddenly loses his ability to command his  pitches.\u00a0 Final line: 6ip, 5h, 2runs, 2bbs and 4ks.\u00a0 A quality start for  sure, but I&#8217;d still put it as a slightly inconsistent outing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Jason Marquis<\/strong> went against Milwaukee&#8217;s ace <strong>Yovanni Gallardo<\/strong> on Sunday 4\/17 (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/blogs\/nationals-journal\/post\/game_14_discussion_thread_nationals_vs_brewers\/2011\/04\/17\/AFvORluD_blog.html?wprss=nationals-journal\">blog<\/a>\/<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnwashington.com\/04\/17\/11\/Espinosa-Rodriguez-hit-3-run-homers-in-N\/landing.html?blockID=505741&amp;feedID=280\">gamer<\/a>\/<a href=\"http:\/\/washington.nationals.mlb.com\/mlb\/gameday\/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_17_milmlb_wasmlb_1&amp;mode=recap&amp;c_id=was\">box<\/a>) and came away an 8-4 winner.\u00a0 Marquis pitched like a veteran for his team, knowing that they needed a long outing so as to save the bullpen for the 2nd game and the rest of the week.\u00a0 He scattered 9 hits and a walk through 7ip plus, got a couple of double plays from his defense and watched the offense get to one of the better pitchers in the league for a win.\u00a0 Final line: 7ip, 9hits, 2runs, 1bb and 4ks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Bad<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There really wasn&#8217;t anything &#8220;bad&#8221; to report out of any of our relievers on the week.\u00a0 <strong>Todd Coffey<\/strong> was placed on the DL with a calf strain, clearing the way for <strong>Collin Balester<\/strong> to join the team for 10 days or so.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mediocre\/Inconclusive<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>John Lannan<\/strong>&#8216;s 4\/13 (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/blogs\/nationals-journal\/post\/game_11_discussion_thread_phillies_at_nationals\/2011\/04\/13\/AFqyVcYD_blog.html?wprss=nationals-journal\">blog<\/a>\/<a href=\"http:\/\/mlb.mlb.com\/mlb\/gameday\/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_13_phimlb_wasmlb_1&amp;mode=recap&amp;c_id=was&amp;partnerId=rss_was\">gamer\/box<\/a>) outing versus Philly ace <strong>Roy Halladay<\/strong> was always going to be a tough game to win.\u00a0 His line ended up looking better than his performance (6ip, 3r, 2er, 6hits and 3bbs).\u00a0 He struggled with his control all night, throwing 100 pitches but only 55 for strikes.\u00a0 He gave up a lead-off double but scattered 5 other singles throughout the evening.\u00a0 He worked around multiple mental mistakes and errors from shortstop <strong>Ian Desmond<\/strong> (including; an obstruction call, hesitation on a grounder in the first that turned a routine ground ball into a hit, dropping an easy grounder, and then failing to throw home on an infield-in situation, allowing one of the runs to score).\u00a0 Some would look at the end result and claim this is Lannan effectively working through a very strong lineup and working around defensive mistakes to keep his team in the game.\u00a0 And I wouldn&#8217;t be able to argue against it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Thoughts on the offense<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Nats are being carried right now by the two rookies <strong>Danny Espinosa<\/strong> and <strong>Wilson Ramos<\/strong>.\u00a0 With <strong>Ryan Zimmerman<\/strong> on the DL we&#8217;re now missing our 3-4-5 hitters from last season, and it is showing.\u00a0\u00a0 Zimmerman&#8217;s replacement <strong>Hairston<\/strong> is (as of 4\/15) 1-22 at the plate.\u00a0 The Nats really pulverized a #5 pitcher (<strong>Joe Blanton<\/strong>0 but were completely shut down by better pitching.\u00a0 We seem to have no answer to replace struggling hitters like <strong>Morse<\/strong>, <strong>Desmond<\/strong>, and <strong>Ankiel<\/strong>.\u00a0 Ankiel in particular seems completely overmatched against lefties right now.\u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/WSN\/2011.shtml\">5 of our 9 starters<\/a> are at or near the mendoza line.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Overall Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Well, Its a miracle we&#8217;re even near .500 as a team.\u00a0 Our starters have really been stepping up.\u00a0 MASN had a pretty startling stat comparing the team ERA of our staff through the first 13 games of this year (3.55 versus something north of 6.5).\u00a0 Unfortunately, we just have to wait for the lineup to come around, since we don&#8217;t have much of anything in the minors to help out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Good Livan Hernandez kicks off the 3rd turn through the rotation with a great start against the NL favorite Phillies (running blog\/gamer\/box).\u00a0 Final line was 6 2\/3, 7h, 1er, 6Ks and 0 BBs.\u00a0 His one run was on an opposite field smash by Ryan Howard on a pitch that wasn&#8217;t that bad (remember; Howard is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mlbpitching","category-natsrotationreview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1052","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1052"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1052\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1228,"href":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1052\/revisions\/1228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}