⚾️⚾️ The Morning Briefing: At least it is Friday
Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, April 5.
Good Morning, Washington Nationals Fans,
Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, April 5.
Welcome to the Morning Briefing! Haden here. Let’s talk about yesterday’s game!
Leading this Morning’s Briefing: Rain delay loss before weekend series against the Phillies
Josiah Gray did not look like a major league pitcher in the first two innings of yesterday’s game, allowing five runs while walking two and striking out one batter. He settled in for two scoreless innings where he struck out two, but in the top of the fifth after recording the first out he walked Jack Suwinski ending his night. Derek Law, his replacement, immediately gave up a home run, putting the Nats down 7-1. Gray’s line ended up at 4.1 innings pitched, allowing six runs and seven hits, with three walks and three punchouts.
His two best pitches last night were his sliders; the sweeper and the traditional gyro slider. The real issue was a lack of command. Sure, he threw over 60 percent of his pitches in the zone, but a lot of his misses were non-competitive pitches.
I disagree with the way his start was handled by Davey Martinez though. Everyone knew Gray was struggling and I am all for letting pitchers face as many hitters as possible when the bullpen is weak or it is a game that matters. But it is the first week of April, and the Nationals are supposed to have a strong bullpen this year. Gray should not have been out there in the fifth inning if they intended to wait until he allowed a baserunner.
The team and management should know by now that the pitchers struggle to be efficient in their outings, so there should be more than one multi-inning reliever. Let Law get a clean frame and work two innings, which would get the team to the sixth inning, and let your one-inning guys get you the rest of the way there.
As frustrating as it is, this is modern baseball. Expecting our guys to just simply go six innings every time is not possible, so the way the team is managed and the roster is built needs to adapt.
Maybe it is because of their approach to the game offensively that they think their starters will make it deeper into the game. Martín Pérez got through nearly seven innings and threw just 85 pitches. That is frankly unacceptable.
Parts of the team did well offensively. Jesse Winker did a good job working the count, barring his first pitch double play groundout in the sixth. I have been impressed with CJ Abrams’s approach so far, who went 2-5 with a home run. But when Lane Thomas and Joey Meneses see just 17 pitches across six plate appearances, then the problem begins to appear. Winning cures all, but they went a combined 1-9 with a walk yesterday against a soft-tossing lefty. It is their job to crush this guy and they did not do it.
Then you have plays like these, where, I am sorry, but Trey Lipscomb should not be beating Ildemaro Vargas to second base. You wonder in part why Gray does not make it deeper into starts, and this leads to Gray having to throw four more pitches. At least attempt to get the out.
Now the Nats will host the also 2-4 Philadelphia Phillies. The Phils will have Aaron Nola on the bump while the Nats trot Patrick Corbin out there. The first pitch is supposed to be at 6:45 pm ET and the game is on MASN.
Down in the Minors
Triple A: The Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings had their game against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs rained out yesterday. As long as the weather permits, today should be their home opener.
Double A: Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators' season will start on Friday, April 5th, against the Erie SeaWolves in Harrisburg. The first pitch is at 7:00 p.m.
High A: Wilmington Blue Rocks
The Wilmington Blue Rocks will kick off their season on Friday, April 5th, in Wilmington against the Brooklyn Cyclones. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Single A: Fredericksburg Nationals
The Fredericksburg Nationals will kick off their season on Friday, April 5th, against the Delmarva Shorebirds in Fredericksburg. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Featured Stories of the Day
Voters reject sales tax for Chiefs, Royals stadium projects, raising questions about future in KC via The Athletic
Phillies reveal City Connect uniforms via MLB.com
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I have said this since Martinez was manager: his Achilles heal is his poor handling of the pitching staff and the staff has not improved under Hickey as Pitching Coach. Time for a change there; Doolittle to Pitching Coach and let Hickey go. I know he's Davey's pal but I was amazed he didn't get fired when Davey got extended.
Another problem with Gray is that there is no real change in velocity between his pitches. Everything is basically 87-92, which means hitters can time it all up pretty easily and do damage on any type of pitch, even if it's not a true mistake.