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Washington Nationals: Takeaways From The Cardinals At Home

By Ron Juckett

Apr 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) reacts after grounding out against the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth inning at Nationals Park. The Cardinals won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) reacts after grounding out against the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth inning at Nationals Park. The Cardinals won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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BULLPEN, BULLPEN, BULLPEN

Except for two innings from Matt Albers this week, the bullpen is flat out awful. If there is an issue derailing the Nats chances of back-to-back playoff chances, it is this. The problems are real and they go beyond the closer.

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In order to correctly judge Blake Treinen, the Nats have to give him games to save. Either they blow out opponents or are blown out, Wednesday being the exception. It is too early to call the bullpen a failure.

It is not too early to send the dreaded progress report home to the parents.

Here are the WHIP and ERA numbers this week for the bullpen. Koda Glover, 1.25 and 4.50. Joe Blanton, 0.94 and 5.06. Enny Romero, 3.00 and 7.71. Treinen, 2.14 and 7.71. Shawn Kelley, 1.75 and 9.00. Oliver Perez, 2.00 and 13.50. Finally, Sammy Solis, 2.57 and 15.43.

The bullpen over the last seven days has allowed eight home runs. Overall, 20 earned runs have crossed the plate in 22.1 innings. Folks, you cannot win games in April with those numbers, let alone October. Signing Joe Nathan to a minor-league deal solves nothing.

So does trading for an established closer. If this slump continues, the pitcher Baker trusts most will get overworked and we go back to square one.

Next: Nats Hamstrung At SS

How it gets fixed is anyone’s guess.

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