Washington Nationals News: Stephen Strasburg solid, but Nats rained out again
By Pablo Roa
Today’s District Daily features stories on the Washington Nationals’ most recent rainout and the questions surrounding the team’s bullpen heading into the 2016 season.
Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on today’s Daily with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.
In today’s District Daily, MLB.com’s Bill Ladson discusses how the Nationals have been rained out four times in the last 10 games. The team’s most recent rainout was today’s game against the Cardinals, which was postponed after lighting intervened in the fourth inning.
Starter Stephen Strasburg was dominant in the game, striking out five batters over three innings of work.
Here’s what manager Dusty Baker had to say about the postponements, via Ladson’s article:
"“You still have to deal with it. You have no choice,” Baker said. “You don’t like it. … Mother Nature don’t care if you like it or not. The way I look at it, we have been very fortunate. [At one point,] we didn’t have any rain until now. “"
Also in today’s Daily, The Washington Post‘s James Wagner discusses the uncertainties surrounding the Nationals bullpen this season.
As Wagner writes, the Nationals could have an issue at every position in the ‘pen. Some pitchers are aging veterans, some are inexperienced youngsters, and all are players who aren’t guaranteed to succeed at their positions. But the bullpen is deep this year — perhaps deeper than last year’s — and there’s reason to be optimistic that they’ll do well in 2016.
Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.
Nationals weather 4 rainouts over 10 days
JUPITER, Fla. — A Jose Lobaton sacrifice fly had just given the Nationals a 1-0 lead over the Cardinals on Tuesday afternoon when lightning flashed at Roger Dean Stadium in the top of the fourth inning, halting the game. About 30 minutes later, the game was called.
It marked the fourth time in the last 10 days a game involving the Nationals had to be cancelled because of inclement weather. There was nothing the Nationals could do about it, except work inside the Cardinals’ Spring Training complex.
Manager Dusty Baker has to find a way to get work for his bullpen during the rest of the week. Jonathan Papelbon and Oliver Perez were scheduled to pitch Tuesday, but they could throw in a Minor League game or pitch against the Mets on Wednesday. Read full article here.
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Nationals’ bullpen is … something, but no one is quite sure what
(Thomas Boswell, Washington Post)
VIERA, Fla. — Of all the red-flag, buckle-your-seat-belt, duck-the-subject phrases in sports, maybe none serves more purpose and gives a clearer warning of turbulence ahead than these five words: “It is what it is.”
So, Nationals, what do you think of your bullpen? The chorus here, from team executives to players: “It is what it is.”
Context is everything with our new friend IIWII. Sometimes you’re so awful you refuse to make yourself more miserable by talking about your team’s problem. Hey, it is what it is. Read full article here.