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Washington Nationals: 3 players who disappointed against the Yankees

By James Simmons

Josh Bell #19 high-fives Starlin Castro #13 of the Washington Nationals after his home run during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 07, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Josh Bell #19 high-fives Starlin Castro #13 of the Washington Nationals after his home run during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 07, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Nationals first baseman Josh Bell is striking out too much in the early going.
Josh Bell #19 of the Washington Nationals reacts after striking out against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 11, 2021 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Josh Bell

Josh Bell hit a home run in the first game. That’s about all he did. Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber aren’t who we thought they were. They are playing like they did a year ago, which caused one to be traded and the other to be non-tendered, but they are not playing like we want them to. At least Schwarber mixes in a single, every now and again.

Sure, Bell had the home run, in what turned out to be a seven run game, and a double in game three, which allowed the Nationals to tie the game with Schwarber’s home run, though he did nothing else.

Right now Bell is feast or famine, with a lot more famine. Players are going to make outs. Bell is not making productive outs, however. He is striking out too much, and looking foolish at the plate. He’s hitting .141 with an OPS of .517. In comparison, Ryan Zimmerman is hitting .304 with an OPS of .893.

While manager Davey Martinez says he needs Bell in the lineup for this team to win. Bell being in the lineup is costing this team wins. Time to pencil Zimmerman’s name on the lineup card from here on out. At least until his old body can’t take it anymore.

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