Nats Roundup: Dukes of Hazard
The Nationals have won 3 of their last 13 games, and possess the second worst record in the National League. The team is currently batting .235, have an OBP of .310, are slugging .357, and have an OPS of .667. They also have 229 total RBIs and 781 total bases. What is amazing about all of these statistics is that the Nationals trail all other NL teams in each of them. In fact, these numbers would be the worst in the MLB, if not for Seattle's .305 OBP and Kansas City's 227 RBIs. It is really amazing how bad this team's offense is. If you filter any of these statistics using runners in scoring position, or runners on, etc., you just need to look at the bottom of the list to find Washington.
The team's inability to score runs goes along nicely with a bullpen that likes to give them up. The bullpen, which was once considered the strength of the team, has quickly become a liability. Nats pitchers have given up the second most number of runs and earned runs in the National League with 114 and 108 respectively. They have also walked a total of 107 batters, which is the second highest total in the NL. Their 4.37 ERA is the worst era in the National League, and have the worst percentage of save opportunities converted in to saves at 48 percent.
There are not a lot of good things to say about this team. Thomas Boswell thinks that the ownership should have signed at least one free agent just to give fans something to root for. All I know is that a team with Ryan Langerhans on the bench is a team in trouble. At least they got rid of Rob Mackowiak.
The Trouble with Dukes
The Nationals signing of Elijah Dukes was controversial. Dukes is best known for sending a picture of a gun to his wife, and that is not the only incidence of bad behavior in his brief career. He has been mostly quiet so far this year, although he has spent most of the season injured. He did get ejected from a minor league game. On Tuesday, there was the first sign of Dukes-related friction in the dugout when manager Manny Acta got into an argument with him. Apparently, Acta was not happy about Dukes showing up an umpire last week, and was not happy about Dukes showing up pitcher Matt Capps. Nationals batters have not really had the opportunity to show anyone up this year, but it is clearly behavior that Manny will not tolerate.
When the Nationals signed Dukes this year, they said that he was going to be given a short leash. Contrary to many expectations, Dukes started in his normal spot last night after the incident. Dukes, Acta, and Bowden had a meeting after Tuesday's game and according to Acta, "We talked it out after the game, and we're cool, we're fine." As Mark Zuckerman points out, this is not an issue that is likely to go away anytime soon.
Photo by Flickr user randomduck
Zimmerman Slow to Recover
This season has had the curse of the bobbleheads. So far the team has released Dmitri Young and Ryan Zimmerman bobbleheads, and both players have been on the DL on their day. Zimmerman started exercises on his shoulder on Monday. He has not been given a timetable to return. According to GM Jim Bowden, Zimmerman will be out for at least four to six weeks. If his shoulder does not respond to rehab, he could have a season ending surgery. Orthopedist Tim Kremchek says that there is about a 70 percent chance that Zimmerman can avoid surgery.
Zimmerman is frustrated with not playing, particularly considering that this was supposed to be his breakout year. He had a slow start to the season, but was beginning to turn things around before he got injured. As Chico Harlan points out, Zimmerman currently makes $465,000 this year and is entering arbitration this coming off season. Sitting out the rest of the season will complicate his negotiations with the team.
Game of the Week
This is a tough week to pick a game of the week. The team is away for the whole week, and thus have no promotions. They are playing the Pirates and then start interleague play against Seattle and Minnesota. I would probably pick Thursday's game against the Pirates. It will be Jason Bergman's first start after being shelled by the Giants in his last outing. Bergman had been pitching well after returning to the team from AAA Columbus, and it will be interesting to see how he responds to giving up five earned runs in three innings.
Briefly Noted
Major League Baseball is going to celebrate this year's All Star game by embarassing America. Although I think the Blue Jays statue is uglier, and I don't understand selling the Statue of Liberty to a bunch of Canadians... The first product from D.C. public schools to play in the major league since 1972, Emmanuel Burris, made his hometown debut on Friday as a Giant... The Capitol Riverfront BID has started showing baseball themed movies on a building near the ballpark on Wednesday nights... The Nats selected right handed pitcher Aaron Crow with their first pick this year's amateur draft.
Meaningless Statistic of the Week: Garret Mock is leading the National League in balks committed by a right handed rookie pitcher in a day game with one.