The Keys to the Nationals' Success

by thebigpictureguy on Jun 15, 2009 12:15 AM EDT Comment 17 comments

For Washington Nationals fans, it may seem like all hope is lost. After a three game sweep by the Tampa Bay Rays, the Nationals fell to a major league worst 16-45. With attendance declining faster and faster with every home date and with rumors of Manny Acta's firing flying about, it is hard to see a bright spot if you are a Nationals fan. Not so fast. There are a few simple ways to turn this sinking ball club around. Small ball and the farm system.

About six or seven years ago, the Colorado Rockies' management decided to do things the very cheap way after what happened with Mike Hampton. The Monforts simply did not want to risk signing another big name star and not having him perform. Thus, the farm system was the center of attention. The Rockies would draft decent players out of college, develop him in the minors and he would end up turning out all right. The farm system of the Colorado Rockies is one of the best in the major leagues and it is starting to finally pay off. If the Nationals ever hope to get out of the cellar of the East, they must develop their farm system. Draft solid players that have good potential, sign him for a reasonable amount of money and develop him. If the Nationals would take a stab at this strategy, they will improve. This certainly is not an "Easy Button" for fixing a team and it will not happen overnight. However, in two or three years when the players have developed, the Nationals are going to have a decent team.

The Nationals must develop speed and a little bit of power. Not all players are meant to drive the ball 400' to dead center field. This is where small ball comes into play. The hit and run, the suicide squeeze, it's all part of a master plan to score runs. Small ball incorporates timely hitting as well as discipline at the plate. Taking a fastball down the alley while the man on first swipes second. Being able to hit the ball to the outfield with a man on third to score the run. Very basic things that lead to sparks in an otherwise lifeless offense. Small ball is one of the more entertaining ways to score runs effectively. The Nationals must incorporate small ball into their offense if they ever hope to regain any ground in the East, or if they ever hope to even regain some of their fan-base.

Poll

Would you go see a Nationals game if they started using the form of baseball known as "Small Ball"?

Yes

14 votes

No

5 votes

19 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 17 comments

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Comments

Trade em all and start again

Except the young guys. Time to start looking for speed and playing the small ball. Signing Adam Dunn would have been fine if we could lay a bunt down and move runners into scoring position. Now the lack of defense and the ability to manufacture runs is all to apparent.

We should have been playing small ball all year. Its not like we’re the Yankees of old with a heap of power bats. We have like 1. Sad part is we dont have any speed either. Leaving us with… a 16-45 record.

"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."

by Mezza on Jun 15, 2009 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Trade em all and start again

While you do make a good point, the Nationals don’t have anyone in the minors capable of producing yet. If they would work on their farm system, the team will be good in a few years. Like I said, this doesn’t happen overnight. Keep faith in the Nats and hopefully they will hire a more aggressive manager. (One who likes small ball.)

by thebigpictureguy on Jun 15, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We've got to get sometimg for guys in the prime

Guz, Dunn and Johnson all have to go to get some of that talent. Guz is sadly in decline as a fielder and might fetch something in return. Dunn could easily get us something from an AL in need of a bat and Johnson probably the best chance of prospects.

Holding these guys isnt going to pay a big dividend in the future (despite all being good players this year and maybe next). I agree we dont have much in waiting to replace them but if we dont sell high, we’re going to be left with guys that just leave with little in return (unless we get compensatory draft picks).

If you’re going to lose, you might as well start bringing through some of the young guys like we are in the rotation. I think we’ve got a very good base for the starters.

"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."

by Mezza on Jun 15, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Excellent point. Experience is key to success. If the Nationals can bring up the youngsters and let them get a feel for what next season will be like, they are going to be successful. However, everything starts with the small ball and the defense.

by thebigpictureguy on Jun 15, 2009 12:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Small ball is not a cure-all...

It has its place, but it can’t be your only tactic—do we really want a team full of Nook Logans? In the long run, small ball only works if you have an air-tight defense and excellent pitching. The Giants are more-or-less a small-ball team this season, and they’re doing well enough; but does anyone seriously think they’re going to catch the “big-ball” Dodgers? On average, “big ball” gives you more runs and more wins. There are certainly circumstances that call for small-ball skills (close game/extras, etc), but it can’t be your central tactic if you want to win. Trying to guarantee 2 or 3 runs per game won’t get you to .500 when everyone else in the NL East is putting up 4 or 5. You gotta swing the bat to win modern baseball. And with a healthy lineup, we have 4 or 5 legit power hitters (out of Dunn, Dukes, NJ, Zim, Willingham, Flores). Should Dunn be able to put a bunt down the 3rd base line to give us a baserunner if there’s no one on and they play the shift against him? Yeah—but not if there’s someone on base.

We are all jinxed in NatsTown™.

by Doghouse on Jun 15, 2009 1:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

mmm...

I know what your saying Doghouse but I think some small ball would help. Ive seen this team strand more runners at 2nd or 1st with no outs time and time again. Its not just about manufacturing runs – its playing simple percentages about moving runners over, sac flys (which I havent seen the Nats do…), bunting, and hitting behind runners. Its simple stuff to get guys into scoring position. No doubt I wouldnt want Dunn + Zim to be bunting but the big inning isnt coming and when your team is always in close games (which you always lose) you need to keep the pressure on the opposition. That win the other day against the Reds (the booted DP ball), was helped by a hard slide into 2nd…simple yet gutsy play to put pressure on the throw.

Our big guys arent putting the opposition under any pressure and it shows. I dont think guys are intentionally walking Dunn with guys on base. The only time we did was when Zim was on fire with a 30 game streak. If we played some more small ball we might keep the opposition off guard.

"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."

by Mezza on Jun 15, 2009 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Small ball" can be part of "smart ball."

I can’t recall which manager coined the term—when asked if he played “small ball” or “big inning,” he replied that he played “smart ball.” I agree that the fundamentals important for playing good small ball are lacking on the Nats, and that those fundamentals (competent bunting, speed, “situational” hitting) are important for playing good baseball. My argument is that small ball for small ball’s sake will not help all that much. But I certainly agree with being better at the elements of small ball, because it means being better ball players—who can argue with wanting the team to play better? If we define “small ball” as “sweat the small stuff,” I’m with you 100%.

We are all jinxed in NatsTown™.

by Doghouse on Jun 15, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen said the tactic should be called "smart ball","

I don’t know if this helps the argument….

"It's just too bad, because it reflects on us, the coaching staff." -Manny Acta
"So it's clowns for the next two months, then?" by Graysnail on Jun 7, 2009

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 15, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not saying that the small ball is right for everyone. If they use this strategy and get on base and into scoring position, Dunn and Zimmerman have a lot more chances to score them. It cannot be a two man team though. The Nationals need to have everyone get on base, move people over, drive in guys. The Nationals have potential to be a very good team. They just need to lock down on defense and move guys into scoring position. Simple things.

by thebigpictureguy on Jun 15, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This team scores plenty

And we now have 8 guys in our system that will have decent to great careers as starting pitchers if they stay healthy: Lannan, Zimmermann, Martis, Detwiler, Stammen, Baelster, Olson, and Strassburg (in no order). Frankly that is almost to many, and they each will need 2-4 years to get good to great. Remember Olson and Lannan are still very young and about two years from typical peak years.

What this team needs badly is gloves. Middle infielders that can play above average defense AND hit. (I was strongly hoping we would draft one with the 10th pick) In other words, we need the new Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins. We also need a great defensive CF with speed and can get onbase. We get those in place (ideally through the draft) and this team will dominate for years just like the Braves did in the 90s. We look a heck of allot like the 1990 braves to me. Kasten has rebuilt that pitching heavy system, we just need the gloves to back them up and time for it to fall in place.

We do not need a different offensive philosophy, we need new defensive talent, and our farm system is making good pitchers. They just have not matured yet. Give them time!

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Jun 15, 2009 2:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

But we have one or the other

I dont have any issue with the pitching to be honest. The bullpen still sucks but im generally of the belief that its something that can be fixed.

BUT, I dont think we have balance with the offense – and despite some good offsenive numbers it tends to be not at key times (Id like to see the relevant stats with LOB).

Would you trade Dunn for a better glove? Or Guzman (who is solid but has dropped off)? Or Move Dukes out of CF for a better one? We definitely need to get better defense up the middle. The Braves of the 90s had Lemke, Belliard and Grissom/(Sanders from memory). I dont think I saw Belliard get a hit for 4 seasons (over dramatization) but he was an outstanding defensive SS. Lemke was better with the bat but was also great with the glove. The CFs speak for themselves.

I hope your right Brian… if its a case of 3-4 players (CF, maybe some good gloves up the middle and some bullpen) we would be right…I hope so…because no one is going to be left after a 120 loss season.

"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."

by Mezza on Jun 15, 2009 4:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know a middle infielder we could have used....

ORLANDO HUDSON….

I harped on it all winter! PLEASE PICK UP HUDSON. But I like hernandez if he continues to improve. Great game against the yanks today.

by VA SLIM on Jun 19, 2009 3:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s funny that there are enough reports of a failed physical by Orlando Hudson, that I actually believe he failed a Nats physical. My question is, who conducted this physical? Dr. House? Found some mystery illness? Hudson doesn’t seem to be failing physically this season in LA for 5 million dollars.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 20, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is this the same team medical/conditioning squad where "day to day" = "out for season"...

…and half the roster ended up on the DL at some?

"It's always ridiculous in NatsTown™." --ROSCOEtheNATSfan

by Doghouse on Jun 20, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

From the Magic 8-Ball Medical Group...

Is this guy healthy? Signs point to NO.

FAIL

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 20, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I read some time back that Hudson is hurt, and LA is baffled how he can play with his wrist injury.

Dodger Dollars are gambled more freely at the FA Casino, than are Nats Bucks…

Nats prefer Discount General, home office Miami Florida….

Olsen’s two game sample:
IP: 6.2
H: 11
R: 7
ER: 6
HR: 2
BB: 5
SO: 4
ERA: 8.10

"It's just too bad, because it reflects on us, the coaching staff." -Manny Acta
"So it's clowns for the next two months, then?" by Graysnail on Jun 7, 2009

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 20, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, I don't believe any of the D2D doctors and trainers were retained.... New guys and gals.

"It's just too bad, because it reflects on us, the coaching staff." -Manny Acta
"So it's clowns for the next two months, then?" by Graysnail on Jun 7, 2009

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 20, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs