ihavechappedlip
07/13/09, 10:07 AM
I love a good underdog (as does the rest of America) and I love stats. I like seeing the good in something that has had such terrible results.
Enter the Washington Nationals.
The Nationals are in the top half of the league in hitting. A .264 average for the whole team, and they are young, so they will only get better. Hitting is not a problem for this team by any means. (Although, they could use more power and stolen bases)
Key stats for the Nats:
They are tied for 8th in the league in Complete Games!
Their 4 complete games have all come from different pitchers (Detweiler, Martis, Hannan, and Stammen)
The Indians are the only team with a higher ERA
They only have 14 saves! No team has less saves than they do.
Think the starting pitching is the problem? Their bullpen has had 34 save opportunities. If MacDougal can find some consistency, then the biggest problem is solved because they do have some decent relievers. Injuries have played a part in it, so it's always a revolving door.
MacDougal is 5 for 5 in Save Opps. though. We shouldn't write him off by any means.
13 pitchers have had save opps. for them this year.
Only the angels have less innings pitched than the Nats
They have forced the 6th most ground outs in the league with 927
They have allowed the 9th fewest home runs in the league.
3 starters have under a 5 ERA.
At one point, the team had 15 wins, and 5 of them were from Shairon Martis (who has had an ERA of over 5 all year)
-------
They got rid of Hanrahan, and he accounted for 5 BS's, so the biggest problem has been fixed
Bottom line: 2nd to last in strike outs, and they lead the league in walks. A consistent bullpen, and continuing progression from their 4 productive starters (Hannan, Stammen, Zimmerman and Martis) and the addition of one more (Strasburg?) will make this a winning team in years to come.
Enter the Washington Nationals.
The Nationals are in the top half of the league in hitting. A .264 average for the whole team, and they are young, so they will only get better. Hitting is not a problem for this team by any means. (Although, they could use more power and stolen bases)
Key stats for the Nats:
They are tied for 8th in the league in Complete Games!
Their 4 complete games have all come from different pitchers (Detweiler, Martis, Hannan, and Stammen)
The Indians are the only team with a higher ERA
They only have 14 saves! No team has less saves than they do.
Think the starting pitching is the problem? Their bullpen has had 34 save opportunities. If MacDougal can find some consistency, then the biggest problem is solved because they do have some decent relievers. Injuries have played a part in it, so it's always a revolving door.
MacDougal is 5 for 5 in Save Opps. though. We shouldn't write him off by any means.
13 pitchers have had save opps. for them this year.
Only the angels have less innings pitched than the Nats
They have forced the 6th most ground outs in the league with 927
They have allowed the 9th fewest home runs in the league.
3 starters have under a 5 ERA.
At one point, the team had 15 wins, and 5 of them were from Shairon Martis (who has had an ERA of over 5 all year)
-------
They got rid of Hanrahan, and he accounted for 5 BS's, so the biggest problem has been fixed
Bottom line: 2nd to last in strike outs, and they lead the league in walks. A consistent bullpen, and continuing progression from their 4 productive starters (Hannan, Stammen, Zimmerman and Martis) and the addition of one more (Strasburg?) will make this a winning team in years to come.