Everybody remember that old SNL feature back in the 90’s, Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey. My favorite went something like…”I think it would be funny that if you were skydiving and your parachute didn’t open that you pretend that you were swimming.”
Anyway, since it seems like I don’t have the time to be too creative or lengthy in my posts, I figure I could at least put a thought or two down for people to ponder.
Nick the Greek is taking sometime away from his new job to take a look at an old hobby. Life gets busy sometimes, but that doesn’t mean we should take some time for baseball, right? We are at the halfway point of the season (well technically a little more than halfway), and before I blink, the rest of the season might be over and I will have missed my chance to say so many things.
Anyway, Home Run Derby got some fan mail the other day, and it basically beckoned me to return. HRD reader Ted writes:
“Hey guys, how about an update about your prediction that the Nationals would be the worst team in baseball. It’s the All-Star break and guess what? They are the worst! Let their fans know it.”
Well, Ted…ask and you shall receive. Not that this shocks anyone, well except the delusional Nats Fans that were pissed by my prediction of them being the worst team in baseball, but the Washington Nationals are exactly that. THE. WORST. TEAM. IN. BASEBALL. Before going to the stats, let’s review the Greek’s preseason prediction for the Washington Nationals.
Reader’s Digest Version of my predictions: The line-up stinks; the pitching sucks; the team will win 65 games; Elijah Dukes will outperform Home Run expectations, Austin Kearns will underperform them and my personal favorite, the team will go 0-18 vs the Mets.
Well starting at the end, the have 4 wins against the Mets so far with 9 more games to play. So much for bold predictions. Austin Kearns? 4 HR in in 185 ABs. Check. Elijah Dukes? not much better 6 HR in 172 ABs. Injuries kept out the entire month of April and he is now again on the DL. Missed that one.
Now to the meat and potatoes. 65 Wins. At 36-60, the Nationals are on a torrid pace for 61 wins. Ugh. 61 Wins. While the MLB record of futility is safe, there is a real chance this team won’t win 60 games.
The game might have been between two of the worst teams in baseball (the Nationals hosted the Pirates in Washington) … but neither team looked like the Pirates or Nationals.
Literally and figuratively.
First of all, both teams wore the uniforms of the Homestead Grays - one of the most storied teams in the history of the Negro Leagues. both teams wore the old duds because the Grays (who were based out of Pittsburgh) played their home games at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh and also adopted the DC area as their home turf, playing many “home” games at Griffith Stadium in Washington DC.
And Cristian Guzman had a game worthy of the uniform, hittng a first-inning home run and eventually driving in six of the Grays’ ( Nationals) 9 runs to beat the vistiting Grays (Pirates) 9-8.
There are a few things we like to track here at Home Run Derby. Sometimes we focus on all that is good in baseball, like 3 Home Run nights and Milestone Home Runs. Sometimes we are not so nice, as is the case with Golden Sombreros.
Now I would never call Richie “selective” in his postings about said events given we both have day jobs, but I find it a little puzzling that Geovany Soto’s weekend has not graced this page as of yet. He isn’t a blatant homer for the Cubs, given he called out Aramis Ramirez’s lack of defense.
Soto didn’t just have a Golden Sombrero on Saturday. No, No, he has a Platinum Sombrero (5 at bats, 5 strikeouts) and he did it in a nine inning game.
To put it in perspective, that feat has only been matched 47 times in the history of the game. It does seem to be occuring more frequently with quite a few current players on the list (Jim Thome, Andruw Jones, Adam Dunn, Scott Rolen, Richie Sexson, Preston Wilson).
Dick Allen is the only player to achieve the Platinum Sombrero twice in his career (1964, 1970).
So we can agree that the Platinum Sombrero is pretty damn embarassing, but it gets worse for Soto. He actually achieved this feat against the Worst Team in Baseball, the Washington Nationals. Let’s make it even more embarassing. Four different pitchers on that vaunted staff, each struck out Soto during that game (Matt Chico, 1st and 3rd; Joel Hanrahan, 5th; Chad Codero, 7th; Jesus Colome, 9th). FYI, the Nationals are the 14th ranked pitching staff in the NL.
But wait, there’s more. Soto, actually almost had a Golden Sombrero on Friday night, when he went 0-3, 3K, 1BB. So in his last 8 at bats, Soto has 8 strikeouts (all against the Nationals - Odalis Perez got him all three times on Friday). His only saving grace is the one walk he got in his last plate appearance on Friday Night. But not let’s give him too much credit. He didn’t even earn that walk - because it was intentional to load the bases to set up a potential inning ending double play.
Update: I see ESPN’s Rob Neyer has a post up about this. First of all, I am flattered that he highlighted the post on his blog. Second, just a quick retort to this paragraph from Rob.
“Like I said, this is all good fun, and I enjoy talking about the Sombrero as much as anybody. I still remember where I was the night Sam Horn struck out six times. But I’m thinking we should probably take this moment to mention something I noticed this morning: Soto’s having an awesome season. “
Rob is absolutely right. Soto is having an outstanding season so far. The purpose of the post was to highlight the feat (albeit at Geovanny’s expense), not his season. He would get a lovely expose on this blog if he had hit three Home Runs in a game as well. It was the Sombrero that mattered. Awesome season or not, 8 straight strikeout is really hard to do.
I am also reminded of something Neyer points out all the time. It’s not really that Soto is having an awesome season as much as he is having an awesome April, his last two starts nonwithstanding. But 22 games is an awfully small sample size, don’t you think Rob?
In honor of your feat Geovany, here are some famous Sombreros for you. Now Richie, I think we need an El Guapo post.
During the Cubs-Nationals game on Sunday, Aramis Ramirez put on a defensive display which can only be described as Matador-like. Because he totally got out of the way of a fast approaching bull … ball.
Bottom of the sixth, Nationals trying to extend a two-run lead. Christian Guzman leads off with a sharp grounder to the third base side.
Aramis Ramirez gets in front of it … but not for long.
Guzman was credited with a hit on the play, but I’d call it a Fielder’s Choice.
Because Aramis RamirezCHOSE to go nowhere near that ball.
Roger Dorn couldn’t have gotten out of the way of that ball any faster than Ramirez did.
The Cubs’ TV broadcasters (Len Kasper and Bob Brenly) did their best Harry Doyle impersonation and made it sound like Ramirez had no chance at that ball … unless he wanted a fat lip.
They put a lot of blame on the hard dirt at Nationals Park - but hadn’t Ramirez just played 23 innings there? I’m kinda surprised they didn’t say anything about Ramirez’ lack of technique there.
Steve Stone would have.
In your first season of little league, one of the first things you learn is how to field a ground ball - because half the kids can’t hit one in the air.
You’re taught to get square your body in front of the ball with your glove down and your other hand above it to help cover the ball and protect your face in case it takes a weird hop.
Worst case, the ball hits you in the chest and you can still pick it up for the throw.
Now that we’ve identified some characters from Major League on the 2008 Cubs … I want to know who’ll play the role of Jake Taylor and have the following conversation with Aramis Ramirez.
Jake Taylor: What I was concerned with was why you didn’t come up with that grounder that Rockert hit in the 9th Roger Dorn: It was out of my reach, what do you want me to do dive for it? Jake Taylor: Rog, it could have meant the game! Roger Dorn: oh come on cut the rah rah shit Taylor! Year after this I go free agent. Plus me and my agent got a couple of plans for life after baseball. So I am not about to risk major injury or displace this property for a collection of stiffs! Jake Taylor: Ya know Dorn, I liked you so much better when you were just a ballplayer. If you wanna be an interior decoratorcockfighter - now that’s none of my business.
But some of us still need this team. Now you listen to me! This is my last shot at a winner and for some of the younger guys it could be their only shot. I don’t know what happened to you. But if you ever, ever tank another play like you did today, I’m gonna cut your nuts off and stuff em down your f*ckin throat!
Which Cub has the stones to do it?
Maybe Cubs Manager Lou Piniella should just channel his inner Lou Brown and tell Ramirez to get in front of the damn ball and cut this “olé bullshit.”
Friday night … the Washington Nationals hosting the Chicago Cubs
In his 70th major league game (over seven years) and in his 163rd career at-bat, the Nationals’ Wil Nieves hit a two-run walk-off Home Run off Bobby Howry to beat the Cubs.
OK, the season is now 22 games old for the Nationals (13.6% of their games are already played), and as of today, they are the worst team in baseball (as the Greek predicted in our 30 in 30 feature) with a record of 6-16. For a team that won it’s first three games this season, that record is “remarkable” for all the wrong reasons.
How scary is it, by the way, that Christian Guzman leads the team in Home Runs, Runs Scored, Batting Average, OPS, SLG, Total Bases, Hits and Triples. Let me repeat, Guzman leads the team in Home Runs with two (Shared with Nick Johnson, Austin Kearns and Ryan Zimmerman). Uggh.
A quick perusal of Nats team stats.
Last in the NL for Batting Average, Slugging, OPS.
14th for Runs, OBP, and Quality Starts.
13th for ERA, WHIP, Saves.
Where does that leave this team? Straight to Suckville. Just another name for the Worst Team in Baseball !
This team needs to break out the Bull Durham special.
Start breathing through some eyelids, wear the garter (just remember, the flower goes in front, big guy), and when all else fails get Crash to deliver a rain out.
By the request of Nationals Nation (wow that takes alliteration to a different standard), I am going to take a look at the Nationals from time to time and see how they are progressing against my “worst team in baseball (WTinB)” tag I hung on them in our 30 in 30 segment.
Now that the season is through its first 10 game segment, let’s take a look at team and the status of my predictions.
Needless to say, while the poetic 3-0 start was nice, the seven game losing streak shows this team has its work cut out for it. The Nats are struggling at the plate (Team has a 90 OPS+ and 14th in the NL in OBP) and on the mound (Team has a 85 ERA+ and is 14th in ERA and runs allowed).
Funny thing is the starters, while not good, hasn’t been as bad I thought. Collectively, they have 5.00 ERA, 2 quality starts, a 1-6 record, 1.50 WHIP, and 2.1:1 K/BB ratio. Don’t get me wrong, by all definition that is bad, but I was thinking even worse.
The “Strength” of the team, as Nats fans told me, was the bullpen. Unfortunately, they have been bad too. 4.05 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 1:1 K/BB ratio (20 walks in 33 innings!!!! BTW the starters have 18 in 54).
It early in the season, maybe things will pick-up for them. For a good laugh (strictly for the picture and headline), check out the Nationals Enquirer post from yesterday’s game.
Break-out Home Run performer: Elijah Dukes. He’s been on the DL and will be for some time still.
Disappointing Home Run performer: Austin Kearns. None in 33 at bats. He is playing all the time with Dukes out but needs to warm up.
Bold Statement: 0-18 vs Mets. first game vs NY on Tax Day at Shea.
Best Case Scenario:Win the inaugural game at the new park…and they did in fine fashion with Ryan Zimmerman’s walk-off. Which, while unposted, is the first Home Run of the Day selection for the 2008 season (Photo credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais). So we check that one off. Woo-Hoo!!!!
I took a lot of heat from Nats fans for my preview where I predicted they would be 2008’s Worst Team in Baseball. Through the season, I will be taking a look at the Nationals to see how they track against my preview (partially at the behest of the commenters who want to make sure I am held accountable when if the Nats outperform).
One of the key premises of my prediction surrounded that state of the starting pitching:
“The team hit a measlely 123 Home Runs last year, but more telling is their fundamental lack of pitching. No starter had more than 7 wins last year (Matt Chico), and the leader in games won was reliever Jon Rauch (Kenny Williams’ favorite player) with a seismic 8 wins.”
Lets visit a couple of comments on the starting pitching assertion I made.
Charlie from March 10th:
“I think their pitching is no doubt a problem, but if Hill and Patterson can stay healthy, they are both better than 4/5 pitchers. Health has been their problems, not ability.”
Thorne from March 14th:
“if Hill & Patterson stay healthy they could be “average”…”
Meaning the likely starting five are now: Jason Bergmann, Shawn Hill, Matt Chico, Tim Redding and Odalis Perez
UGGGH! I want to say it again. Even with a decent bullpen, it is very difficult to win more than 70 games when your team is down 3 or 4 runs by the end of the fifth inning. I have to say I am feeling pretty good about my predictions today.
Entries (RSS)