Nats Chat

The Nats blanked St. Louis 6-0 on Wednesday afternoon to win their first series of the season. Mark & Al react to Joe Ross' second straight scoreless outing. What are realistic expectations for Ross in 2021? What do we need to see to no longer think of him as the 5th starter? 

(12:55) Josh Harrison had 6 hits in St. Louis after missing the first 6 games of the season due to COVID protocol. The guys look at how the organization has a crafty knack for finding veterans that have been passed on elsewhere. While on the subject of veterans, Ryan Zimmerman took Adam Wainwright deep for his first homer since the World Series.

(23:18) Juan Soto was thrown out trying to steal 2nd despite him having a great series. Is it worthy of a TOOTBLAN?

(26:52) Al is quite fired up about the decision to hit Joe Ross 8th and Victor Robles 9th. What led to the lineup card decision to have the pitcher hit 8th?

(33:07) We close with an update on Stephen Strasburg and preview the rotation for the 4 game series in D.C. vs. Arizona.

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The Nats were routed 14-3 by the Cardinals Tuesday evening as Stephen Strasburg had one of his worst career starts, allowing 8 runs in 4+ innings. Al & Mark run through Strasburg's outing and the camera controversy in the tunnel that dominated the postgame conversation. Anything physically wrong with Strasburg or was it just poor mechanics?

(13:37) The 5th inning was a nightmare for Washington reliever Luis Avilan and the guys recap the 9 run frame for the Cardinals. On the bright side, the bullpen was effective in the final 3 innings of work, including a memorable bottom of the 8th pitched by a position player. 

(22:56) Finally, a preview of the series rubber match Wednesday afternoon as Joe Ross takes on veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright, and an update on Will Harris.

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The Nationals topped St. Louis 5-2 as Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber, and Josh Harrison returned to the field and added a much needed punch to the struggling offense. Mark & Al go through what we finally saw from the intended Opening Day lineup and the positive trickle down effect to pinch hitting options.

(13:16) A breakdown of Nats pitching on Monday night, starting with Erick Fedde who was much more effective than his last outing. Did we also just see what Davey Martinez's preferred late inning bullpen setup looks like?

(21:02) Mark gives an update on Jon Lester's status and when to maybe expect him to take the mound for Washington.

(23:22) Finally, many members of the Nationals were given the Johnson & Johnson vaccine while in Missouri. The guys explain what this means in a baseball sense in both the short & long-term.

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The Nationals were swept over the weekend in L.A., and were shutout in the series finale 3-0 for a fifth consecutive defeat. Clayton Kershaw blanked the struggling offense, despite a strong outing by Max Scherzer.

Al & Mark shine a spotlight on how Washington has been held scoreless 3 times in their first week, and discuss how much of it is related to them being shorthanded. Just how much bad luck has the franchise been dealt so far in the young season?

(13:17) Scherzer was impressive and did not allow any homers like on Opening Day. Mark breaks down what he saw from Max's cutter & slider. 

(17:40) Tanner Rainey gave up a 2 run HR in the 7th that seemingly put the game out of reach. How concerned should fans be that he has allowed a homer in both his appearances this season? This leads into a conversation on where the unofficial bullpen hierarchy currently stands for the team.

(22:05) They close with a look at the upcoming 3 game series in St. Louis. Will Kyle Schwarber & Josh Bell be back in the lineup?

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The Nationals fell 9-5 at the Dodgers as Patrick Corbin's season debut did not make it a full 5 innings. Al & Mark dig into his start and wonder how much cause for concern there should be due to the decreased velocity on his fastball. Is it rust or a continuation from his last season?

(15:30) L.A. swelled their lead in the 7th on a liner that got past a diving Andrew Stevenson in the outfield. Should Stevenson have left his feet or approached it differently with the bases loaded? They then focus their attention to the offense, as Juan Soto and Ryan Zimmerman are carrying more than their fair share for the lineup at the moment.

(25:37) Sunday afternoon will see a combined 6 Cy Young Awards on the mound as Max Scherzer takes on Clayton Kershaw to avoid the sweep. How important is it for Scherzer to have a strong opening frame after allowing 4 solo homers on Opening Day?

(28:42) Finally, we circle back to the Universal DH debate after so many listeners chimed in from our previous episode. Our twitter poll resulted in 57% supporting for current NL rules to keep starting pitchers in the lineup.

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The Nationals were blanked 1-0 by the Dodgers in their first road game of the season. It was Washington's first time back in L.A. since the 2019 NLDS, and ironically the pregame festivities were marked by the Dodgers receiving their 2020 World Series rings with the Nats (and fans) there to watch.

Mark & Al look at Victor Robles' crucial base-running miscue in the 8th with Trea Turner in the batter's box, and the extent to which it cost the team. While chatting on stolen base attempts, an examination of what led to Juan Soto's aggressive steal attempt in the 4th (and why that part of his game might be short-lived). 

(14:56) Joe Ross had an excellent outing, as he meaningfully took the mound for the first time since the World Series. Was he pulled too early, as LA scored in the 6th after his exit? 

(19:09) Ross' strikeout in the top of the 5th prompted a conversation on the merits of Universal DH vs. pitchers hitting in the NL. Where do you stand on this age old debate? This leads into an update on the rotation, where Patrick Corbin is likely slated to make his season debut Saturday night.

(28:08). They close by chatting about D.C. approving an attendance increase for the next home-stand at Nationals Park.

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The Nationals were shutout 2-0 by Atlanta to lose both games of the Wednesday doubleheader. Mark & Al look at how the shorthanded lineup was unable to give Stephen Strasburg any help, despite his dominant day on the mound. Should Ryan Zimmerman have started both games to provide an offensive lift?

(15:18) The guys close the episode by previewing the weekend series in Los Angeles and what to expect rotation-wise. Will any of the players that have been held out due to the virus return to the field? 

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The Nationals dropped the opener of their Wednesday doubleheader vs. Atlanta 7-6, as starting pitcher Erick Fedde was pulled in the 2nd inning. What led to the decision to hold Joe Ross until Friday night?

Al & Mark give their stances on the 7 inning doubleheaders that were introduced last season before looking at what went wrong for Washington, despite getting to Max Fried in the bottom of the 1st.

(11:52) They discuss the solid performance by the bullpen, headlined by southpaw Sam Clay, making his Major League debut. Finally, a look at the top of order so far on the young season, as Trea Turner already has gone deep twice.

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The Nats opened their 2021 season with a 6-5 victory over the Braves, capped by a Juan Soto walk-off hit.

Al & Mark recap the very busy Opening Day in D.C., which included fans in the stands for the first time since Game 5 of the 2019 World Series. Mark gives a firsthand account of what the 5k attendance felt like, and the role they played in the rally. The guys also praise the contributions from a slew of Nationals not originally expected to be on the Big League roster.

(17:31) A look at Max Scherzer's outing which had its share of both HRs and Ks in the no decision, before an examination of how the shorthanded bullpen debuted vs. the Braves.

(25:49) Finally, where the pandemic-affected roster stands and when to potentially expect some regulars to return to the field.

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Mark & Al break down the team’s postponement of Opening Day, why it happened, and when they expect the Nats to finally take the field in 2021.

(21:41) For an update on the latest phase of the pandemic, the guys turn to expert (and Nats fan) Dr. Anthony Fauci, NIAID Director. He shares when fans might be able to return in larger numbers, when he started rooting for the Nationals, and more. 

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