May, May come our way...
Hi everyone,
I hope all is well. We are back in D.C., where we just suffered another tough loss. When we left spring training, we knew that our bullpen was going to be our biggest challenge - after all, you just can't replace two back-end bullpen guys like Cordero and Rauch that easily.
The first month has ended, and it has been tougher than we thought, mainly because the two guys we thought for sure were going to hold their own have struggled.
A long time ago, Bill Virdon, a former major league manager doing some spring training consulting for the Houston Astros, told us that wherever you are going this season, from rookie ball to Triple-A, make sure you bring a closer with you.
He kept telling us that there is nothing worse in baseball than winning a ball game for eight innings and then losing it. It is tough, because everyone from coaches to position players, pour all their energy and effort into a game for over two hours (sometimes three hours), and then in five minutes your lead disappears.
Our kids are very young and inexperienced, since we are trying to build toward the future. They are learning at the highest, most competitive level, and they need to stay positive and believe in themselves. Most of them have the stuff to do it, but the mental part of the game is bigger than most people think.
Our offense is another story, while we're not yet where we want to be with the situational hitting, we are scoring enough runs to win a lot of ball games.
Dunn and Johnson are just two human OBP machines, not to mention, Zimm, Guzzie, Dukes, a better Kearns and a steady Flores. It has given us a much improved line-up that the other teams have started to notice.
April is now over and hasn't been very kind to us.
We are the only team in our division who hasn't played a game outside the division. No complaints here, since you still have to play them each 18 times regardless. I feel that without all the blown leads and poor defense, we hung in there against our division... So May, May, come our way.
So long Natstown,
-MA
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Categories (click for archive)MASNblogs | Manny Acta |
In regard to your post-game comments last night, I prefer to think of the stadium as half full, rather than half empty. I know last night was one of frustration, all of us in NatsTown experience that, but I would prefer to refer to home attendance with a "thank you" to the fans who do show up and who do support a last place team. Two teams in Florida, one in Maryland, and several more in MLB would love to have our fan base. Imagine what it will be like when things get rolling.
Good morning Mr. Acta and the coaches and players of the Washington Nationals. I want to thank you all first and for most for the exciting games and your will to win ball games. All of you should be very proud at they way you conduct yourselfs on and off the feild, I'm proud of you. Since the move from Montreal to Washington I have been watching your games as much as possible and just wanted you to know that the Nat's are my favorite NL team and nothing will change that. Keep hitting the ball hard and play the fundamentals, just remember to have fun playing the game and the game will work in your favor. I have faith in you all. God bless and be safe.
Dear Manny,
We were glad to hear about Joe Beimel's progress on TV last night. My son and I live in Front Royal, Virginia, which is a couple of hours west of Natstown, but we watch every game on TV...well, we do switch back and forth for the Caps on their playoff run (: John Paul will be twelve on June 1; he has "grown up" on the Nationals and his blood runs Nationals red. We do live on "Washington Avenue"! Its hard for us to get in for a game, though (I'm disabled), but we'll make a try for this summer. We haven't been since 2006 so we still haven't seen the ballpark except on TV.
We want Joel Hanrahan to know that we think he is great and we are totally behind him pitching on this team. He has the ability and he knows how to use it, but all that has been going on surely has a cumulative mental effect. We think there is a difference between Joel and some of the other guys in Syracuse. His bullpen outings haven't gone well, because of the homeruns, but perhaps that just shows that his role lies elsewhere. Maybe he could be the first guy out of the bullpen? Or as a starter if a spot opens up. Hang in there, Joel.
You are right, Manny. Lets plunge into May. We remember how things turned around in 2007 after the nine wins and twenty something? (John Paul says 25) losses at the beginning. You guys are better than that team and you WILL turn it around. God bless you.
John and John Paul
Front Royal, Virginia
Hello, Mr. Acta. I think the fact that you're writing a blog to share your thoughts with the fans is forward-thinking and admirable. Since you said in previous posts that you'd entertain questions, I thought I'd ask:
Keeping Mr. Virdon's advice that you quote in your post in mind, is there anyone in the system that you see developing into the kind of closer you're both referring to?
and
Are you the one who was behind swiping Jesus Flores from the Mets? If so, thank you, thank you. If not, and if you can say, who in the Nationals' organization had him scouted?
Let's Go Nats Go!!
Manny,
Keep heart man. We are much closer than most think to contending. The starting pitching is solid and sometimes really good. Even Cabrera is solid so far. All you need is a set up man, a closer, a few more guys who can play average defense (other than at 3rd) and this team is a contender.
Some of those gloves could already be on the team. I say give an extended look at Harris in center. Maybe give him a shot at leading off as well. Guzman does not walk enough. Hernandez is supposed to field better than he has, so he should get better, and he seems to hit in the 8th spot. Maybe leading off was stressing him out. Flipping Dunn between LF and RF seems to work to get guys playing time. One thing though, tell Rizzo he has to move Willingham soon. He is costing the others at bats, and does not seem to like his role on the team.
Try to get creative on the bull pen. No one in the current pen is a closer. They have all proven so to me. But most are decent BP arms for other roles. So maybe try Cabrera as the closer. Show him what a closer earns and see if he wont give it a month. Just an idea.
Oh Mike O'Conner's minor league stats make me think he belongs with the major league team again. He had a dozen or so very solid starts for the Nats a couple of years ago. Maybe he could setup? I know, no great pitches, but the craftiness and control is there.
Just some ideas.
Take care,
Brian "Go Nats" Jones
the biggest diehard Nats fan in Memphis!
Manny:
Why does Jason Bergmann keep getting sent down?
Manny,
Saturday's game was a real joy to watch. Thank you for keeping Martis in to complete it. I look forward to many more games like that one.
I wanted to get another ImpACTA Kids Foundation t-shirt, but the team store didn't have them anymore. Any idea why?
Take care, and I'm looking forward to the next Nats victory.