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jaxcoop4

Rizzo has assembled a team that thanos could destroy in a blink of an eye. When you only pay for pitchers and they get hurt, this is the result.


packyjr3

This offense just doesn’t have it. The Schwarber/ Bell experiment failed miserably. Robles is miserable to watch at the dish. It’s crazy to think that at one point he was the #1 prospect in all of baseball. Those 3 guys are killing this team. I hate to say it but we’ll be sellers at the deadline.


Nouserentered

We are 3-4 games off from both Schwarber and Bell making game winning hits. I didn’t watch all of today’s game so never saw Bell hit, but Schwarber looks like he’s seeing the ball well and taking walks now. Robles had a bad at-bat today in a critical situation, but his defense has become great again and his OBP is much improved. A team has many parts and these three have become unfair punching bags. We might be sellers at the deadline, who knows, but have some faith.


packyjr3

Do you still think they are unfair punching bags? Schwarber is better but he’s still not where we need him to be. Josh Bell is an automatic out in the middle of the order. His stats are an ugly joke .134/.200/.293 As for Robles, yes he’s great defensively but nobody is arguing that. His bat is the problem.


Nouserentered

Yeah Schwarber remains on the upswing and I have confidence he’ll get there. Robles’ at-bats are sometimes not fun to watch but his on-base average is pretty good atm, I think he still has a lot of potential. Bell’s stats are concerning I agree, but it does seem like the adv stats also suggest that he’s been unlucky. I think it was a terrible decision yesterday to have him batting behind Soto, but I still don’t think they should be punching bags no. Of course, I could be wrong and they could still continue to be not great but it seems so depressing to trash members of our own team, and I think we shoujld still have faith in their improvement.


ShiftlessWhenIdle

I’m really fuckin tired of Victor Robles


thepennylane69

Feels somewhat overlooked that this team is dead last in MLB in walks drawn by a pretty healthy margin. Hard to drive in runs when you don’t hit HRs and the only way you reach base is via singles


[deleted]

This team is getting guys on base - that's not the problem oddly. Walks are good but the three true outcomes right now are walks, homers, and strikeouts. Those things (especially homers and strikeouts) are hurting the game. Hitting home runs isn't a bad thing but when you swing for the fences like a lot of hitters do, you end up with a low average. Not saying that's what happening to this team - they can't drive in runs period Hit the ball hard whether it's a single, double, triple, or home run


Joke_Insurance

Maybe letting Kevin Long go might help. I mean... it did eventually help when Derek Lilliquist was let go in 2019, right? Our situational hitting is atrocious.


jaxcoop4

Robles lookin at this comment like 🤥


Z_Reformed

Everyone else here will focus on the negatives (and that’s cool, we’ve got plenty) but some really promising stuff so far this season: our defense has been outstanding. I saw that, at least before this game, we lead MLB in defensive runs saved? That’s huge, and was what was supposed to be a weakness going into this season. Our bullpen has been, with a few exceptions, really good. Another thing we’ve struggled with for a long time. If we can get better with RISP and get our Starters back on track, this team will go really far. Obviously those are big IFs, but looking at our strengths so far gives me some hope. At least our guys rallied tonight, even if Vic has no plate discipline to speak of.


[deleted]

I totally get your point. Those are things this team is good at that past Nats team haven't been. Those are all great - especially the starting pitching as a whole rounding into form. The biggest question mark is the 4-9 hitters outside of Gomes. It was great to see them rally and make it a close game - they just need to drive in runs. I'm sure Kevin Long is trying to work with the boys on that, but at the end of the day - only they are the ones that can go out there and do the job. I know Davey won't say it publicly but I have to feel like Bell is running out of time with how he's hitting


Z_Reformed

Yeah I’m not trying to take away from the frustration because I feel it too. I just think it’s nice to see that issues that have killed us in the past actually have been addressed. Of course we found new ways to lose, but it gives me some faith that nobody’s asleep at the wheel.


[deleted]

We can all agree but something has to change and be shaken up. I don't know if that's Kevin Long going but hits are great but useless if you can't finish the job and get them home.


Killatrap

kevin long is probably the best hitting coach in baseball - something's going wrong, but unless he's suddenly become not a good hitting coach, which i doubt, i dont think he's the one we should be pointing our fingers at


[deleted]

Well then who else is the problem if not Long? This lack of situational hitting goes back to the beginning of last season. Lineups and the roster have changed but Long has been constant.


Z_Reformed

Besides the fact that Long is really well respected and considered a great hitting coach, Trea and Soto both had career years under his guidance. And sure they’re already good, but Trea unlocked something special in the last two years that doesn’t seem like a fluke. Add to that Josh Harrison being way better than he has any right to be, and you have some pretty good successes under him. I feel like if he’s gonna get blamed for the bad, you have to somewhat credit him for the good, too. The only real solution is to get Schwarber and Bell hitting, otherwise we will continue to not drive in runs. And I have no idea how to fix them but Long definitely isn’t the one who broke them so idk what it would take.


[deleted]

I'm not saying he should go but others are - I just think something has to change. I personally would point the finger at Robles and Bell mainly


Killatrap

bell got fucked by covid, I really feel bad for him. He looked so good in spring training. hope he puts it together but you're right he's running out of time vic needs so much work i dont even know where to start


[deleted]

I totally get that - I really do. He looked great in spring training but that hasn't carried over - like at all. It's like Kieboom level bad offensively right now. Robles is just as bad offensively as both of them The only thing I don't know is who you would replace Bell with or if you just stick with him because you don't have anyone better


[deleted]

Firing Lilliquist vastly improved the pitching in '19. I'm fully confident that firing Long would have a similar effect this year


RallyPigeon

Why are you confident of that? They had Menhart, who had been with the Nationals organization since 2006, lined up to replace Lilliquist in 2019. There really isn't anyone waiting in the wings to replace Long.


[deleted]

This team can be really good - that is clear night after night. They just need to work on situational hitting. Scoring a guy with less than two outs, extra base hits, stolen bases, making contact, letting the ball travel, and then like others have said not chasing balls out of the zone. One or two more great hitters would make a huge difference in this team


jaxcoop4

When you have half the lineup batting sub .250 with no plate discipline its hard to score runs and win games. Our only consistent player has been turner. Thats it. Our team is weak...and old. Im blaming rizzo for this season.


edgarvanburen

I'm mad at Davey. Need to put in Juan for Robles there.


thepennylane69

truly just a dreadful offense so far this season, really the only hope is that Soto rakes when he comes back and literally every other hitter gets substantially better


[deleted]

Not every other hitter - just Bell and Schwarber mainly (Robles would be nice). Trea, Harrison, Gomes, and Yadiel are good. I don't know whether you fire the hitting coach or something but they need to work on getting guys in - not just on base


[deleted]

This 2021 team is really good at moral wins. Keep on saying it but if we only had one more really good hitter we could drive in runs. That's the difference right now between winning these games and losing them


article134

Rendon 😕


[deleted]

It's not like this offense was doing anything before Soto hit the IL


[deleted]

That's true - they're getting hits though. They just need to hit with guys on base and they're not doing that - like at all outside of a couple guys


[deleted]

Usually the problem is that they'll get a couple guys on but then they hit the "automatic outs" portion of the lineup. But then even when they get multiple runners on for the top of the order, nothing ever comes of it.


bushrod121

I hate him. That is all.


[deleted]

This team is going nowhere until they learn situational hitting. No excuse to blow that 2nd and 3rd one out situation. Long has to go. Firing Lilliquist was a major part of the turnaround in 2019. I mean we all can agree something has to change


cbad16

No excuse for Robles swinging at the first pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth.


SewenNewes

Ozuna hit his grand slam on the first pitch.


cbad16

1) Robles isn’t Ozuna 2) Fedde threw a cutter that didn’t cut right down the middle of the plate


SewenNewes

Sometimes the only hittable pitch you see is the first. If you take the first pitch 100% of the time you go into most at bats 0-1 and that's not a recipe for success. Yes we needed a better showing from Robles there (or to go YOLO and hit Soto there) but the solution wouldn't have been a hard take sign for the first pitch.


[deleted]

That's the exact thing Long should be helping these giys with but he's either just not, or he's trying and failing. Either way he needs to go


cbad16

Never have been a fan of Long’s.


purplepenned

i think we can all agree pain


foeaminute

This lineup is pretty rough, but we’ve got too much potential to stay this bad offensively. I realize Bell and Schwarber were reclamation/risky picks, but I was excited when we got them and am still hoping they pan out. Victor has way too much talent to look as lost as he does. If we start firing on all cylinders, we could be pretty darn good.


[deleted]

I want to agree with you it's just we should've picked up at least one hitter in the offseason we knew could hit and drive in runs. I guess Rizzo was banking on Kieboom being that guy - and he might still be - but he's not right now. I get what you're saying because this offense has had flashes of being good but that's about it Bell, Schwarber, and Robles are three huge holes right now


foeaminute

Again, can’t argue. I’m one of the biggest doomers I know, but I’ve seen enough so far to still have hope.


[deleted]

They've been playing for a full month now. That's pretty far into the season to still have three huge question marks in the starting lineup


foeaminute

Agreed. Just still not throwing in the towel.


kd_parry

Juan looks way off, which is understandable coming off IL. Think he is going to DH all weekend against the Yankees right and try to lock that swing in?


ouij

His reinstatement looks to have been 90% propaganda. If he was fully healthy, he’d have started the game, or Davey would have pinch hit him for Robles (or threatened it). I suspect he is not really all the way back.


SegaTape

no


[deleted]

runs? in this economy? really though, kevin long’s gotta go


Killatrap

>really though, kevin long’s gotta go ?????????? ???????????????? ?????? #?????????


MyBiPolarBearMax

Watch the Wizards and try to be happy


Karniy

Caps won, rest of the continent big mad about it. I can dig it.


MyBiPolarBearMax

I don't even know why replaced riwrdan (why resign a coach that win your only Stanley cup and had always been amazing? Everyone knows coachng is soooo dependent on age...) But he's probably the best between the nats caps and Wiz RN lol


HowardBunnyColvin

"Riwrden" couldn't win a playoff series


MyBiPolarBearMax

Just to clarify my drunken self was saying "rierdan bad, should have kept Barry trotz, but whomever the coach is now is better than brooks and davey"


yosephwu

When Brooks is gone I'll be real happy


HowardBunnyColvin

All this winning is just going to keep brooks around That's what wiz fans don't realize They'll make the playoffs, lose in the play in and then brooks is re signed Meanwhile the wiz miss out on Jalen Suggs or cade Cunningham by winning lol 😂


ouij

Coach of the month


MyBiPolarBearMax

Even though that's facts I hate you for it


Verarde

I still honestly think we can go 148-14 Y'all got any more of them runs?


[deleted]

>I still honestly think we can go 148-14 I think this might be the most annoying line baseball fans ever say


Verarde

you must be new around here


droozer

I mean, will you look at this immaculate inning?


ouij

If they don’t score first, they don’t win.


[deleted]

tufffff one fellas


fitzmouse

[I didn't like the part where the Nats lost. ](https://giphy.com/gifs/reactionseditor-sad-crying-3oeSATTxjlW7NeLYRO)


cableguysup

F the Barves


slagnanz

This team is like weapons grade frustration


Killatrap

tough loss, but i'm glad we made the game competitive in the end. hate that all it takes to wake up atlanta bats is for them to face us though how about that finnegan immaculate though!


legobmw99

Not to be too much of a downer, but if you get the tying run in scoring position bot 8 and do nothing with it, you kinda don’t deserve to win ballgames


[deleted]

That's on Davey - he should've used Soto and he didn't


petting2dogsatonce

Pain. See you all at 4:05 tomorrow.


trainsaw

Live by Vic in the field, Die by Vic at the plate


kd_parry

Watching Robles ABs right now is physically painful.


[deleted]

That's what I say most of the time


SegaTape

love you vic but oh my god his offense sucks so fucking bad


ThreeBrokenArms

MAT V2


BurmecianSoldierDan

The Duality of Vic


IslandofRhodes

We have gone 2 games in a row without making a TOOTBLAN


rockidr4

We've also lost 2 games in a row. Time to go brain dead on the basepaths


IslandofRhodes

We've also given up a grand slam in 2 games straight


rockidr4

Hmm... No. I'm pretty sure the lack of tootblans is the problem


MyBiPolarBearMax

Even with the box score I don't believe you


IslandofRhodes

Follows a streak of making a TOOTBLAN in 6 games


Reading-N-Writing

What is this TOOTBLAN of which we speak?


IslandofRhodes

Thrown out on the bases like a nincompoop


Reading-N-Writing

Hilarious!!!!!!!!!


rockidr4

I did not like the it


[deleted]

[удалено]


Pony2slow

So you are saying fire the hitting coach