Nats Drop Fifth Straight, 4-2
A 2-0 lead early went bye-bye in the middle innings as the Nats were once again unable to answer in a 4-2 loss to the Mets – their fifth straight defeat and seventh in eight spring training games.
Erick Fedde was easily the brightest spot, as the erstwhile starter went two and 2/3rds scoreless inning, allowing one hit, two walks, and striking out two. He threw 60 pitches, 36 for strikes.
Lane Thomas accounted for both Washington runs and two of the four (4) hits on the afternoon, with a two-run HR breaking the 0-0 tie in the top of the 4th. Keibert Ruiz also singled as did Jake Noll off the bench.
No watchlist players appeared in the game.
The Nats return to action on Monday afternoon as they host the Marlins in West Palm Beach. Patrick Corbin is expected to make his second appearance of the spring while Miami has yet to announce its starter.
The game will be broadcast on MASN and MLB Audio.
Not an encouraging start to the spring, to say the least. Every game they’re trying pitchers I’ve never heard of. Too bad some of those chances aren’t going to internal guys. Of course there wasn’t much quality pitching in the upper levels of the organization last year. Plus Seth Romero got sent out in the first cut, which is really telling when they’ve got so many bullpen slots open.
Robles still doesn’t have a hit. I just checked, and he still has one option. Plus he’s now on Rizzo’s naughty list after taking them to arbitration. He may be joining Garcia in Rochester.
Tampa Bay is 1-6 and the Yankees are 2-6, so who cares about the record.
There are just so few of our guys playing this year. There are far more than usual players brought in on minor league contracts, should make for an interesting roster in Rochester.
All that happy talk of Robles; he’s 0-11 so far and making dumb plays in the outfield again. KW, you’re right about arbitration and Rizzo. If Victor wins he’s probably a goner.
It’s early and things may change, but the Nats don’t seem to know in what direction they want to head. The lack of spending to add talent other than the middle-aged Nelson Cruz screams rebuild (which is logical given the lack of talent on hand), but then, it sounds like the Nats are unwilling to go with their younger players as Luis Garcia is going to sent down, and Robles may not get regular time. If this is a rebuilding year, don’t understand why the Nats are playing Alcides Escobar and Makiel Franco everyday and including Anibal Sanchez in the rotation. FWIW, it’s border-line negligence to go into the season with Franco as essentially the only 3rd base option.
Dammit – Rizzo bringing ex-Nats was supposed to distract from that kind of commentary on the emperor’s new clothes!
Borderline negligence? It’s total negligence!
Not many FAs still available, but of the few available so many are ex-Nats; so, the Club may not be done signing re-treads:
Asdrubal Cabrera
Wilson Ramos
Jose Marmolejos
Brian Goodwin
Adam Eaton
Ross Detwiler
Ryne Harper
Wander Suero
Brandon Kintzler
Oh yeah, Starlin Castro
Shows what little the rest of MLB thinks for former Nats’ talent