July 7, 2024 [LINK / comment]
Nats celebrate on Fourth of July!
After two absolutely horrendous extra-inning losses to the New York Mets to open this week's four-game series in Washington, the Nationals bounced back in handy fashion. On Wednesday Luis Garcia hit two home runs, helping the Nats to beat the Mets, 7-5. And on July 4, with the game starting shortly after 11:00 in the morning (to make room for all the other festivities later that day in Washington), Jake Irvin pitched eight full innings while only allowing one hit, a phenomenal performance. In the bottom of th eighth Jesse Winker came in to pinch-hit, and knocked a solo homer over the wall in right-center field. That was all the Nats needed to win, and thus split the four-game series with the Mets.
I was in Washington on the last Fourth of July, but missed the game on account of other activities. (The Nationals lost that day's game to the Cincinnati Reds, 8-4, so I didn't miss much.)
On Friday night, the St. Louis Cardinals came to town. The Nats had a 5-0 lead after three innings, but the visitors began to close the gap. Kyle Finnegan came in to close the game in the top of the ninth inning, but Wilson Contreras tied the game 5-5 on a solo home run. The Nats kept blowing scoring opportunities, and it was just embarrassing. The Cards ended up winning 7-6 after 11 innings. In Saturday's game the Nationals again piled up runs in the early innings, but Mackenzie Gore was replaced in the fourth inning after walking three batters in a row. The real highlight of that game was rookie James Wood's first career MLB home run; he had five RBIs in that game, which the Nats won easily, 14-6.
Game 3 of the four-game series with the Cards starts at 1:35 this afternoon, with the Nats' amazing rookie starting pitcher D.J. Herz on the mound, and I'll be there!
Welcome to Washington, James Wood!
The arrival of the young slugger James Wood has been anticipated ever since he was part of the big trade with the San Diego Padres for Juan Soto and Josh Bell nearly two years ago. (Nothing against Juan Soto, who's an All-Star again, this time with the New York Yankees, but in retrospect that trade has proven to be highly advantageous for the Nationals.) Wood (note the singular) is quite tall (6' 7", I think) and happens to be a "home town boy," growing up in suburban Maryland. In his first at bat with the Nationals (on Monday, against the Mets) he hit a single, and on Wednesday's game he hit the go-ahead RBI. No doubt he will be a huge boost for the Nats, even if they don't end up as postseason contenders this year. I read on Facebook that the pitcher who gave up Wood's first MLB home run yesterday (Lance Lynn) was the very same pitcher who gave up the game-winning home run to Jayson Werth in Game 4 of the 2012 NLCS. What a coincidence!
Other roster changes
The Nationals' starting pitching (and their closing pitcher Kyle Finnegan) have been simply splendid this season, with the obvious exception of Patrick Corbin. (He pitches well enough about half the time.) But the Nats' repeated failure to get hits when they need them has had serious consequences: Victor Robles was designated for assignment several weeks ago. He was one of the few remaining Nationals from the 2019 World Series championship team, so that was sad. Too many base-running errors and mental mistakes. This week Nick Senzel has been designated for assignment, however, and the Nats might have to pay over $900,000 remaining on his contract without getting anything in return. That's a bummer. Also, first baseman Joey Gallo has been on the injured list for a few weeks, and it's uncertain if and when he will return to the starting lineup. He has really not panned out at all for the Nationals.
I was stunned to learn that one of my favorite New Nationals, first baseman / designated hitter Joey Meneses, has been sent back down to the minors in hopes that he can work himself out of prolonged batting slump. He has been doing just fine defensively, and he still gets clutch hits with some regularity, but his batting average (about .230) has lagged behind last year's mark.
As I gradually get caught up with web page maintenance, the Washington Nationals page is now updated with the team's position players and pitching rotation, new contracts for the 2024 season, win-loss records for the first three months of the baseball season, and the "memorable moments" (thus far) of 2024.
RFK Stadium demolition looms
Elsewhere in Our Nation's Capital, the days of RFK Stadium are fast drawing to a close. The National Park Service announced in early May that the final procedural steps authorizing the demolition of the Nationals' former home have been completed. I assume that means the physical demolition could take place any time this summer. It will be a gradual process, not a sudden implosion, but because of the unique way that the upper deck is suspended (by cables), there will be a very sudden collapse at some point.