Plenty of progress is possible in only a short time
As the season winds down, try and stay positive and build for tomorrow.
I know it sounds cliche, and maybe it is; but it's how we deal with failure and stay grounded in this game.
No matter how the season ends in DC, there will be some who wish to break down the season into numbers and how the team finished.
Once again, I will remind people that it only takes a year to turn a negative into a positive.
Let's take Tampa in 2007. They finished the year with 66 wins and 96 losses and finished 30 games back in last place. But they didn't let 2007 stand in the way of 2008, and they went out, stuck together, improved 31 games and won 97 en route to winning the toughest division in Baseball, the AL East.
This year's great story has to be the Texas Rangers: 79-83 in 2008 and they finished in second place in the AL West, 21 games back of the AL West winning Los Angeles Angels. They had the best offense in 2008 and the worst pitching staff in the American League.
They hired pitching coach Mike Maddux from Milwaukee and now they are ranked fourth in the AL in pitching. They have one veteran starter, Kevin Millwood (371 starts), and four young starters with around 140 starts combined. One of the best of the Young Bucks, Scott Feldman is 16-4 and has 51 career starts.
The offense is fifth this year. The Texas Rangers of 2009 and the Tampa Bay Rays of 2008 learned a lot from failure and chose to be positive and focused the following year.
It's not just adding talent to rosters that helps winning (although it can't hurt); it's learning every day, being prepared for every obstacle, applying tough lessons to future games and not letting a few rough patches get in the way.
I like a lot of what I've seen this year, but it's not up to me. It's up to everyone involved with the team - the coaches, the media, the organization, and most of all the fans. If everyone stays positive, it can be done.
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Categories (click for archive)MASNblogs | Rob Dibble |
Ron,
Zimm going into a slump is/was predictable. He has 5 walk-off's and he ALWAYS blows his mechanics and goes into a slump afterwards. He appears to be looking for his 'power' zone, attacking it with an uppercut swing, and raising his head to see how far out in the stands it's going to land. And that's only when/if he sees something he likes. More often, he is ignoring the umpire's strike zone and getting himself in a hole with called strikes then swinging at balls for easy strikeouts. Hopefully he will settle back down soon.
p.s. I'm glad you liked my suggestion for "Hoss" but unfortunately the Virginian was a different TV show. The Cartwrights were: Adam, Hoss and Little Joe with papa Ben.
rick
Unlike the above mentioned teams the Nats farm system is ranked (21st) in the lower third by Baseball America and much lower by others, namely Keith Law. Tampa Bay had the highest rated system when they broke out in 08' and it was the same this year with Texas, they have the current highest rated farm sytem. The infrastructure needs to be more complete before there is a realistic hope of contending here. This will take years to fix and the Nats brass should be honest about it but its hard to do that and sell season tickets I guess.
Where do visiting teams stay when they come to play the Nats? When the Senators were here, teams stayed at the Shoreham(now part of Marriott's Wardman-Park hotel complex) except for the White Soxs who stayed at a Dupont Circle hotel. I was once told the team's traveling secretary decides where his team will stay when on the road, and books the hotel as soon as next year's schedule is released. Would you share your knowledge on subject and feel free to use on Nats telecast should you desire.
LARRY SELF
DALE CITY, VA
ROB, HOW ABOUT THE NAT'S TRADE FOR ZAMBRANO AND SIGN UGGLA. I WOULD BET WE COULD GET THE CUBS TO PAY PART OF ZAMBRANO SALARY AT LEAST FOR NEXT YEAR. UGGLA 30 HRS. WOULD ROUND OUT OUR INFIELD, WITH DESMOND PLAYING BOTH 2B AND SS IN RELIEF AND TAKING OVER SS IN 2011. SOMEONE NEEDS TO WAKE UP THE OWNERS OR ANOTHER 8,000 SEASON TICKETS HOLDERS WILL SPLIT NEXT YEAR. JUST SIGNING OUR 2 NUMBER 1'S IS JUST NOT ENOUGH. WE WANT AN IMPROVE CLUB NOT FIVE AND DIME STUFF, AND OPENING LATIN AMERICA BASEBALL SCHOOL THAT'S VERY LONG TERM(years) WAITING FOR THOSE PLAYERS.
Ron: Any thoughts on possibly Kirk Gibson (Bench coach w/D-Backs) or Alan Trammel (Bench coach with Cubs) being given consideration as manager for next year? I think Gibson would be outstanding, fiery and intense, just what this club needs. Also, Trammel should not be judged by his three years as manager of Tigers in 2002-2004. Rotten team, and Leyland in 2005 benefited from Trammel's hard work. Another name who apparently wants to return to baseball is Mike Hargrove. Just a few names to kick around. Any thoughts?
You have my admiration of working with Mr. "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda, If, Maybe" Carpenter. Some of the "I'm not superstitious" comments drive me up the wall. It's obvious he never played professional ball. I'm sorry to say that if I were in the booth with him and he would say something like "With a man on second, we shouldn't have any problem scoring this run", he would come flying out of the booth - without a parachute!
I enjoy your inside analysis on pitching - I was a 2nd baseman. Keep up your excellent work and patience with Mr. C.
I've enjoyed your work with Bob Carpenter this year. I think you make a great team. I've appreciated all of your insights this year (and the laughs didn't hurt, either).
I too would like to say that I enjoyed your work this year too...now that I've gotten over that you are not Don Sutton...I find I like you better than Don Sutton...you're very knowledgeable and you speak the mind of/for a lot of fans!
Thanks...hope you don't get traded in the off season :>)!
I have supported the Nationals all season but I will miss you and Bob Carpenter as well. You really made watching the games wonderful and very knowledgeable - I learned so much! Look forward to seeing you, Rob, and Bob next season!!
I think Carpenter is an excellent play-by-play announcer and you are the best of the color commentators bringing a lot of insight to the broadcasts. Ron Darling consistently annoyed me and while I had high hopes for Tom P., he seemed to lose interest in games. Sutton was an favorite of mine from my days as a Braves fan and I hated to see him go. But you won me over and I really look forward with your second year with the team.
Guy,
I was one of those fans that watched all 162 games...either on MASN or on radio or XM. It was a very very long season but I must say that both Dibb and Bob made the season bearable and as enjoyable a 103 loss season can be. You always had me smiling or laughing and I was always shaking my head in agreement with your comments about the team. Great JOB and have a great off season and hope your contracts are signed for next year.
PS Dibb go ride your Harley and find a spot for a new tatoo.....