THE BELTWAY BOYS: Nats Winning Through Pitching

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Nats Winning Through Pitching

The Dean of the Staff

When the season began, most Nationals observers thought the offense would be strong. The question would be the pitching. Would the Nats have enough arms to not only survive the season, but to thrive in it. I think the Answer to both is yes.

The Nats pitching stats looks good when compared with the other National League teams. The team has a 4.28 ERA, good for 9th best in the league. Much of the baggage in that number, however, comes from early in the season. Things look much better now. Their strikeout to walk ratio is more than 1.5:1, and they are averaging nearly six strikeouts per game. The batting average against is .256 -- all these numbers are good but not great, but getting better each game they play.

Nats pitchers have given up only 16 home runs, second in the league only behind the mighty Marlins. The team's slugging average against is .368, again, good for second behind the Marlins. On base percentage is .330, which places them in the middle of the pack. The team has a slightly high walk total, which plays into that on base percentage. Thanks to Brian Schneider, the pitching staff leads the league in caught stealings, at 54%.

What does this all mean? The pitching is good, but not great, with the capacity to get much better before all is said and done. When the hitting comes around, and if the pitching is still doing well, we have all the ingredients for an 88 win season. If if if.

# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 2:22 PM

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Rasner Rocks For Yanks

What was it that Jim Bowden said when he lost Darrell Rasner to the Yankees through waivers last winter? Wasn't it something like, "C'mon, it wasn't like he was going to make an impact at the major league level?" Well Jimbo, it seems like some of your "minor" transactions are coming back to haunt you.

Rasner, a 6'3" righty from Carson City, Nevada, was waived February 11th by the Nationals, just a couple of weeks before the start of spring training. He was picked up and assigned to 'AAA' Columbus. He had some injuries this year, but it didn't effect his pitching. In 58 innings for the Clippers, Rasner went 4-0, 2.76. But wait. There's more.

Pitching on Sunday against the Twins, Rasner pitched 6 strong innings, allowing just 1 run on 6 hits. In two starts, he's now 1-0, 1.17.

What do you always like to say, Jim, something about "You can never have enough pitching?" Let's see, you waived Rasner, and he's starting for the Yankees. You waived Claudio Vargas, and he's starting for the Diamondbacks. You waived Byung Young Kim, and he's starting for the Rockies. You traded Tomo Ohka for a guy no longer in the major leagues, and he's starting for the Brewers.

Jim, if I were you, I'd stay away from the waiver wire. Seems like you haven't figured it that it's supposed to help the team, not hurt it.

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Big Changes, Little Names

Big happenings? Nah. Just happenings. Zach Day was designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies and Capitol Punishment is reporting that the Nats have claimed him off the waiver wire. So we ended up getting Preston Wilson for nothing. That's nice. Billy Traber, he of the tight leash, was sent down to New Orleans and replaced by Mike O'Connor.

That's all well and good, but don't look to any of these moves making a difference in the play of the team. But hey, it's something to talk about. Right?