Worst to First - The Sequel

[NYY #23]

The return of Maximino Laterano was both a good and bad thing. Last year Laterano hit .307 with 29 RBI before his injury, but with the addition of Richie Bennett he doesn't have a home in the starting lineup. But my manager shifts half my infield and outfield around, making us weaker defensively. So we gave Laterano a better chance, shipping him off to the Red Sox along with starting pitcher Leonardo Perez while getting back 24 year old first baseman Remon Oomsen and 18 year old reliever Jesus Cedeno.

The Nationals finished the month with a 14-13 record, and a 2 1/2 game lead over the Reds. We got bad news at the end of the month with injuries to closer Luis Carrillo and right fielder Rafael Gonzalez. While I think we have the bullpen depth to make up for Carrillo our outfield depth is suspect. While Gonzalez should be back in September I don't want his injury to cause any problems, so we made a trade for an outfielder on an expiring contract.

The Nationals sent three prospects - starting pitcher JJ Rogers, 2B David McCoy, and 2B Miguel Santa Ana to the Pittsburgh Pirates for RF Melvin Lambert. Lambert is 35 years old and making $21 million in the final year of his contract. While he's hitting just .246 this year with 8 home runs he hit .301 with 22 home runs last year. He's won three MVP Awards during his career, and should help provide some veteran leadership in his quest to get his first ring.

Denie Abeele won his 200th game of his career for the Expos this month, while the Astros traded Yong-jun Ch'oe to the Padres. While Ch'oe was hitting just .256 this year he was one of the keys to our World Championship teams.

[NYY #23]

July was both a rough month, and good month for the Nationals as we went 18-5 on the field, but were forced to dig deep to field an outfield. While we were forced to recall three non-prospects we've seen good results with Raul Lopez (.529/.556/.824), Francisco Ruiz (5 HR), and Miguel Contreras (.364 OBP). They've all outplayed my big trade acquisition, Melvin Lambert who has hit just .244 in limited duty since being acquired, although he's spent a fair amount of time in the disabled list.

The Nationals have opened up an 8 game lead in the NL East, so we are in good position for the playoffs. The Nationals saw Hal Ramey, Jeremy Blake, Richie Bennett, and the injured Rafael Gonzalez make the All-Star team. Bennett was 0-3 in the All-Star game, but Blake did pitch a hitless inning in relief.

Hopefully we'll be able to take advantage of a favorable schedule in August to move closer to our goal of returning to the postseason.

[boogeyboard1]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

The second round my scout was pushing for Tim Wakefield, but there is nothing like adding a knuckleball pitcher to a team who already has a poor catcher. I went with second baseman Will Rhymes instead.

I know this is from forever ago but I'm just reading through now and saw this and had to comment that I know Will Rhymes

Also, I was wondering how you handled minor leagues in this game. Do you just have AAA?

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by boogeyboard1

I know this is from forever ago but I'm just reading through now and saw this and had to comment that I know Will Rhymes

Also, I was wondering how you handled minor leagues in this game. Do you just have AAA?

Nice! I had to go back and look, but it looks like Rhymes was solid for a few years. He won a Gold Glove, and was pretty solid until I traded him.

Right now I've got the full level of minor leagues. It's something that has changed throughout the history of this dynasty, but I believe I went to full minors around 2014, and I think it's worked out well.

[NYY #23]

The Nationals played well in August going 18-9 and have an 11 1/2 game lead in the NL East. Melvin Lambert had a big month in August hitting .294 with 9 home runs and 16 RBI. As we look forward to September we'll hopefully wrap up the NL East, get some of our starters some rest, and bet back Rafael Gonzalez and Richie Bennett from the disabled list in time for the playoffs.

While I hope this is the year for the Nationals, we did sign Culley Warren to a one year $13.6 million extension. While he's 35 he's pitched well at the back of the rotation going 11-4 with a 2.85 ERA with 137 strikeouts in 158 innings.

39 year old Bill Dunbar of the Indians, and one of my former Expos' players, hit the 400th home run of his career this month. 35 year old Cesar Espinoza of the Pirates hit his 300th home run, while our own Melvin Lambert hit his 300th home run of his career.

[NYY #23]

The Nationals will be heading back to the playoffs after a 16-10 month that allowed us to clinch the NL East. With a 104-54 record we'll have four games left in the season before the playoffs, and the Nationals have gotten back both Richie Bennett (.303, 30 HR, 98 RBI, 7.9 WAR) and Rafael Gonzalez (.310, 21 HR, 51 RBI, 4.1 WAR).

I feel like we're as ready as we can be for the playoffs, we're just waiting to see who our opponent is.



Pascal Sisto made history for the Astros with the 3000th hit of his career in September. I'll always remember Sisto fondly from my time in Houston as he was the first player I ever signed to a $40 million plus contract, and probably the first high priced free agent that worked out. He's made $216 million during his career, and was an international amateur free agent from Italy. He's definitely a first ballot Hall of Famer, and still looks to have plenty left in his tank at 36, hitting .315 with 30 home runs and 100 RBI so far this season. With 381 career home runs it's not likely he'll join the 500 home run club, but there is a shot. With 3029 career hits he's got an outside chance of reaching career hits leader Hector Sanchez and his 3715 hits.

The only other milestone this month was 32 year old Jim Crawford of the Rangers who picked up career save number 300.

[NYY #23]

After a 106 win season I think that the Nationals are ready for the postseason. That road won't be easy with the 105 win Brewers our main competition in the National League. I don't know if we'll win it all, but I think we have a team capable of winning it all at least.

Maximo Gonzales did something that hasn't been done in 21 years, won the Triple Crown. The 26 year old White Sox catcher hit .352 with 57 home runs and 148 RBI. There have been four Triple Crown winners since the 2014 season:

2015 - Mark Teixeira - .337, 57 HR, 149 RBI
2019 - Eric William - .342, 45 HR, 125 RBI
2035 - Carlton Hatfield - .353, 37 HR, 117 RBI
2056 - Maximo Gonzales - .352, 57 HR, 148 RBI

In the National League it was another catcher, 30 year old Cesar Montoya who won the batting title hitting .360, adding 33 home runs and 118 RBI.

The Nationals will now await the winner of the Wild Card:

[NYY #23]

With the Braves sweeping Mexico City 3 games to none our opponent is set and we'll be taking on the Braves in the Division Series. There is still a lot of familiar names on the Mexico City roster, so I'm happy we'll be taking on the Braves instead.

We won the season series against the Braves 7-5, and hold a big advantage with our pitching, while the Braves offense is slightly better. On paper at least it's a winnable series, so we'll see what happens on the field.

[NYY #23]

With a first round bye the Nationals had the advantage of getting some rest, and lining up our pitching for the Division Series. That meant that our ace, Hal Ramey would be taking the mound for Game 1, against the Braves number three starter, Danny Collins (11-9, 4.86).

Ramey would deliver today too, going 8 shutout innings while striking out 10 batters and allowing just 4 hits. It was exactly the type of performance we'd want from our ace, and the reason why we traded for him.

Our offense was great today, but we did manage to score a few runs. In the fourth inning we got on the board when Mei-shio Li walked, moved to second on a groundout, stole third base, and scored on a wild pitch. Not conventional, but a run is a run. We added our second run of the game in the fifth inning when Gabriel Flores walked, Sung-hwan O doubled, and Melvin Lambert hit a sacrifice fly.

The Nationals scored our final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh when O doubled and scored on a single by Mei-shio Li.

With Luis Carrillo on the disabled list our manager went with Clarence Young to close out the game in the ninth. Young is one of our top pitching prospects and was called up in late August and went 0-2 with 2 saves and a 3.50 ERA in 18 innings out of the bullpen. His future is hopefully as a starting pitcher, but tonight he earned his first postseason save with a 1-2-3 ninth to preserve the Nationals 3-0 victory in Game 1.

[rjl518]

Lets go Nats!

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by rjl518

Lets go Nats!

Thanks! As both a Mets and Marlins fan that must have been painful for you to say!

[rjl518]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

Thanks! As both a Mets and Marlins fan that must have been painful for you to say!

true that...but i just watched a great game between the Mets and the Marlins today.
Marlins led 6-0 and the Mets came back to win the game 8-6!
Great game for the 4th of July.
And to clarify...im not rooting for the Nationals...im rooting for YOU!!!
So get im NYY#23, and move onto your next club.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by rjl518

true that...but i just watched a great game between the Mets and the Marlins today.
Marlins led 6-0 and the Mets came back to win the game 8-6!
Great game for the 4th of July.
And to clarify...im not rooting for the Nationals...im rooting for YOU!!!
So get im NYY#23, and move onto your next club.

Thanks! I hope I'm not overly optimistic, but I do like our chances this year, and think maybe we can move on.

[NYY #23]

When I took over the Nationals Miguel Martinez wasn't really on my radar. Luis Velazquez was our starting first baseman, and hit .303 with 15 home runs in 2054. But injuries paved the way for Martinez to be added to the roster, and he hit .250 with 3 home runs that first year. In 2055 Martinez would come back and hit .277 with 25 home runs and 73 RBI and force the trade of Velazquez mid-season. Although Martinez produced I still wasn't convinced he was the answer at first base. After he hit .257 with 3 home runs in June I even went out and traded for Remon Oomsen, hoping he may be the long term answer.

Martinez picked things up and finished the year with a .284 with 25 home runs and 94 RBI to prove that maybe I was wrong about him. Tonight Martinez made me regret doubting him, hitting a two run homer in the first, and a two run homer in the fifth. With Melvin Lambert adding a two run homer in the fifth the Nationals would score 6 runs today.

On the mound 23 year old Bruce Moody was making his playoff debut after going 12-9 with a 3.46 ERA in his first full season in the rotation. Moody would turn in 7 shutout innings today while striking out 4. While Clarence Young ran into problems in the ninth giving up a two run homer the Nationals would hold on for a 6-2 win to take a 2-0 lead in the Division Series.

[NYY #23]

The Nationals hit the road with 36 year old Culley Warren on the mound for Game 3 of the Division Series against 26 year old Javier Silva (11-10, 3.84). The Nationals struck first in the top of the first with an RBI single by Sung-hwan O to give us a 1-0 lead, but Warren struggled in the bottom of the first with control, walking two batters and allowing the Braves to tie up the game at one run apiece.

Then the pitching took over until the fifth inning, when Richie Bennett hit a solo homer to give us a 2-1 lead. Warren would exit after the fifth, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits, while striking out 4 but walking 5.

Shawn Cain would be first out of the pen and pitch the sixth and seventh while giving up a solo homer. That came after Miguel Martinez connected on a two run homer in the top of the seventh to add to his brilliant series, and give the Nationals a 4-2 lead heading into the eighth.

Clarence Young would come on and start the eighth, and walk the only batter he faced. That runner would score the 3rd run of the game for the Braves after Jose Castillo gave up two hits while finishing the eighth inning.

The Nationals got an insurance run in the ninth on a double by Melvin Lambert then Jeremy Blake came on to retire the Braves in the ninth, earn the save, and preserve our 5-3 victory. We're now up 3 games to none, and I feel good about our chances to head to the NCLS.

[illeracula]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

The Nationals offseason is beginning to take shape.

Just catching up on things and I am looking forward to seeing how the season is going, but wow you had a busy and risky off-season. Some major changes in Washington... hopefully it all works out... Guess i will find out now.


Edit: Just caught up, congrats on the great regular season... and hopefully the Nats can stay hot and take on the prize. Good luck!

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by illeracula

Just catching up on things and I am looking forward to seeing how the season is going, but wow you had a busy and risky off-season. Some major changes in Washington... hopefully it all works out... Guess i will find out now.


Edit: Just caught up, congrats on the great regular season... and hopefully the Nats can stay hot and take on the prize. Good luck!

Thanks! It definitely was a risky off-season. While it's worked out well so far I do worry about the amount of prospects that I've given up, and how that can come back to haunt me. We've got a short window now, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Nationals will continue to play well in the postseason, and I'll be able to move on to the next team!

[NYY #23]

The game started out well for the Nationals, who scored four runs in the top of the first inning with RBI singles by Mei-shio Li, Richie Bennett, Miguel Martinez, and an RBI double by Jose Sanchez. The Nationals would add a run in the second inning, and with Hal Ramey on the mound we were in good shape to sweep the Division Series. Ramey would strike out 10 in 6 2/3 innings while allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and after a Nationals run in the eighth we headed into the ninth with a 6-2 lead.

That's when things would get a little hairy. Jorge Rivera would come on to pitch and allow a single, induce a flyout, and watch as Chris Lee reached on an error. With two on and one out Jose Castillo came on to pitch and retired the second batter of the inning. And with the first pitch to Mile Walton the Braves were suddenly within one run after Walton hit a three run homer in the stands.

While the game was suddenly too close for comfort Castillo was able to retire the final batter to preserve the win and send the Nationals to the NLCS after our sweep of the Braves.

[NYY #23]

After sweeping through the Division Series the Nationals have a much more challenging opponent in the National League Championship Series in the 105 win Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers offense was ranked one slot behind the Nationals in runs scored, scoring 726 runs this year. Their pitching allowed the fifth fewest runs in the National League.

This season we faced the Brewers six times and lost four of those games.

[NYY #23]

The Nationals would take a 1-0 lead in the NLCS after a solid start by Hal Ramey, and timely offense. Ramey would last 7 innings while allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and striking out 8 batters while walking 2. He'd pick up the win after leaving with a 4-3 lead, with the Nationals going on to win 6-4.

Luis Carrillo earned a save in his first appearance since being activated from the disable list. After being out since the end of June I didn't want to throw him back into the fire, but our bullpen has been a little shaky in the playoffs. Carrillo allowed one run on two hits.

Offensively Melvin Lambert hit a two run homer in the fifth inning, while Rafael Gonzalez drove in 3 runs on 3 hits, and Sung-hwan O drove in a run with an RBI double.