It doesn’t help that, aside from a couple of guys (e.g., Seaver King, Orelvis Martinez), the kids aren’t hitting. That the Nats have a winning record thus far in the Grapefruit League is almost entirely a function of the pitching (3.00 ERA) – despite walking nearly six per game.
The Nats are poised to have a rotation of four guys 30 or older, so it probably is prudent to have the likes of Andrew Alvarez, Riley Cornelio, and Luis Perales pitching every fifth day instead of a couple of times a week out of the bullpen. [Insert obligatory remark about options here.]
Fifteen games is a little on the low side, but as I’ve always maintained, this is an indulgence.
The taxi squa…er, Rochester opens the season on March 27 in Florida, but the Red Wings’ home opener is on April 1. Harrisburg starts on the 2nd in Altoona and the “A” teams are home from the 3rd to the 5th.
Until then, with a hiccup for the “Spring Breakout” next week, we’re back to offseason mode of waiting for roster moves, a star to fall, and the minors to begin playing.