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Washington Nationals: Good, bad, and ugly from Phillies series

By James Simmons

Josh Bell #19 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with Kyle Schwarber #12 after he hit a grand slam home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the sixth inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park on June 23, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Josh Bell #19 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with Kyle Schwarber #12 after he hit a grand slam home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the sixth inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park on June 23, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer needs no foreign substance to perform at a high level.
Pitcher Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals bends to have his hair checked for sticky substances by umpires Tim Timmons #95 and Alfonso Marquez #72 during the fourth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 22, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

The ugly

Well, on the first night the foreign substance abuse of Max Scherzer reigned supreme. Phillies manager Joe Giardi called for Scherzer to have his hair checked as Max was going to his head too often. The on field harassment was only topped by the belligerent Girardi calling for Kevin Long to meet him midfield for a brouhaha.

We spoke about Kevin McGowin’s performance a little bit in the Bad section. The pitch he threw to McCutchen was flat, out, ugly. You hang ’em, Cutch will bang ’em. I’m pretty sure any hitter sends that pitch over the fence. McGowin was in a tough spot. Bases loaded and a three ball count. He had to come with a strike. The hanger, hung, and got stung.

Next. Joe Girardi is no Billy Martin. dark

Jordy Mercer’s error. Brought in as a defensive replacement before the inning started, Mercer booted what should have been the final play of the game. He then made a nifty catch on a line drive smoked his way by the next hitter. The Nationals employed the defensive replacement in both games of the series, to which I am a big fan. Kyle Schwarber doesn’t need to be lumbering around the outfield in any ninth inning games the Nationals are leading. The defensive replacement can’t be giving extra outs though. This time the error didn’t cost the Nats. Next time they may not be so fortunate.

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