All of you have been listening to me bitch complain about the Nats' seeming inability to get opposing pitchers out.  Up until now that has just been anecdotal - it seems like every game that I go to or watch on TV, the opposing pitcher gets at least one hit.  I've been nagging Natstats to break down the numbers, but if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing yourself.  I've been home sick today, and just to make me feel better (?) I decided to go ahead and run the numbers.  The verdict?  Opposing pitchers are doing very well at the plate against the Nats.  According to Yahoo sports, the league batting average overall is .264.  Opposing pitchers are hitting .253 against the Nats. 

Nats position players with lower batting averages this season than the opposing pitchers:  Nyjer Morgan; Adam Kennedy; Willie Tavares; Wil Nieves; Willie Harris; Justin Maxwell.

The total numbers:  in the Nats' first 86 games, the opposing team has sent their pitcher up 181 times.  Those pitchers have K'd 43 times, walked (how humiliating!) 3 times, and sacrifice bunted 23 times.  With 40 hits in 158 official at bats, plus the three walks, pitcher have a .267 OBA.  With four doubles and 2 HR's in the mix (Chacin of Houston and Latos of SD), pitchers have an AVG/OBA/SLG/OPS of .253/.267/304/.571.  That's lousy, right?  Well, yes.  For a position player (TAWH has an OPS of ... .571).

I don't know why the Nats struggle so much against opposing pitchers ... but I wish they'd cut it out!