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For as long as we don't have actual Nationals baseball to follow, I'll be keeping up this very long thread to help you re-live the 2019 season, day-by-day, eighth inning meltdown-by-eighth inning meltdown (at least at the start).
Let's dive into the archives then ...
Let's dive into the archives then ...
March 28, 2019
Game 1
Dave Martinez puts in Matt Grace instead of Tony Sipp to face Robinson Canó in a big spot. Canó wins. Nationals lose. Becomes first of many times Martinez has to explain odd bullpen moves. https://wapo.st/39mKB4m
Game 1
Dave Martinez puts in Matt Grace instead of Tony Sipp to face Robinson Canó in a big spot. Canó wins. Nationals lose. Becomes first of many times Martinez has to explain odd bullpen moves. https://wapo.st/39mKB4m
March 30, 2019
Game 2
Trevor Rosenthal faced four batters and did not record an out. Kyle Barraclough balked in a run upon relieving Rosenthal. The eighth inning was a complete disaster, as became a recurring theme. https://wapo.st/3dzUQpr
Game 2
Trevor Rosenthal faced four batters and did not record an out. Kyle Barraclough balked in a run upon relieving Rosenthal. The eighth inning was a complete disaster, as became a recurring theme. https://wapo.st/3dzUQpr
March 31, 2019
Game 3
The bullpen blew a three-run lead in the eighth. Trea Turner hit a walk-off home run. It would not be his last walk-off hit of the season, or his last HR in a very big spot. https://wapo.st/2Us9TKi
Game 3
The bullpen blew a three-run lead in the eighth. Trea Turner hit a walk-off home run. It would not be his last walk-off hit of the season, or his last HR in a very big spot. https://wapo.st/2Us9TKi
Damn. It was a walk-off walk. I said never forget it and I forgot it. Guess that’s how it goes sometimes.
April 4, 2019
Game 6
Stephen Strasburg had the goods. The Mets didn't. Nationals dampen excitement of Opening Day at Citi Field: https://wapo.st/34256m7
Game 6
Stephen Strasburg had the goods. The Mets didn't. Nationals dampen excitement of Opening Day at Citi Field: https://wapo.st/34256m7
April 6, 2019
Game 7
Justin Miller was the Band-Aid fix in the eighth inning until he was overused and his arm got tired. That led to another bullpen collapse, the first of many at Citi Field. https://wapo.st/2wcE8eU
Game 7
Justin Miller was the Band-Aid fix in the eighth inning until he was overused and his arm got tired. That led to another bullpen collapse, the first of many at Citi Field. https://wapo.st/2wcE8eU
Had written before that game about how one Tony Sipp/Robinson Canó matchup showed Sipp's evident value to the Nationals. It's wild how much the bullpen narrative evolved throughout last season. https://wapo.st/347Qth8
April 7, 2019
Game 8
Joe Ross arrived not-so-fresh off the midnight express from Fresno. The Nationals built a huge lead and barely hung on. The Trevor Rosenthal slide continued without a hitch. https://wapo.st/2x4uN9v
Game 8
Joe Ross arrived not-so-fresh off the midnight express from Fresno. The Nationals built a huge lead and barely hung on. The Trevor Rosenthal slide continued without a hitch. https://wapo.st/2x4uN9v
April 8, 2019
Game 9
Usually, once I read the first few paragraphs of these stories, I can remember what happened. This one was a complete blind spot. A casual loss amid a very bad start. https://wapo.st/3aNJDzZ
Game 9
Usually, once I read the first few paragraphs of these stories, I can remember what happened. This one was a complete blind spot. A casual loss amid a very bad start. https://wapo.st/3aNJDzZ
April 9, 2019
Game 10
This was a crazy fun game during an otherwise dismal April. Juan Soto later breaking down his approach against José Álvarez only added to the intrigue. @Sam4TR had the details below. https://wapo.st/34jNcv3
Game 10
This was a crazy fun game during an otherwise dismal April. Juan Soto later breaking down his approach against José Álvarez only added to the intrigue. @Sam4TR had the details below. https://wapo.st/34jNcv3
We wrote the next morning about Dave Martinez's creative bullpen management and how it hinted at evolution. Some early foreshadowing for October: https://wapo.st/3aTdLdd
April 10, 2019
Game 11
I will always remember this as the night @Sam4TR asked Jeremy Hellickson what his speed rating was in MLB The Show. The look on Hellickson's face when he heard "18" was priceless. His guess was 70! https://wapo.st/2xUA1ER
Game 11
I will always remember this as the night @Sam4TR asked Jeremy Hellickson what his speed rating was in MLB The Show. The look on Hellickson's face when he heard "18" was priceless. His guess was 70! https://wapo.st/2xUA1ER
April 12, 2019
Game 12
Patrick Corbin struck out 11 in seven innings. The bullpen blew it and the Nationals lost to the Pirates in extras. Rinse, repeat, from @Sam4TR. https://wapo.st/3aUQB66
Game 12
Patrick Corbin struck out 11 in seven innings. The bullpen blew it and the Nationals lost to the Pirates in extras. Rinse, repeat, from @Sam4TR. https://wapo.st/3aUQB66
April 13, 2019
Game 13
Dave Martinez pieced together a bullpen plan that worked in a tight win. But it still felt way too fragile, counting down to 27 outs in the first month of the season. https://wapo.st/3e78KzA
Game 13
Dave Martinez pieced together a bullpen plan that worked in a tight win. But it still felt way too fragile, counting down to 27 outs in the first month of the season. https://wapo.st/3e78KzA
April 14, 2019
Game 14
When Wander Suero lost a late lead, and Dave Martinez called Suero's curveball — the pitch he lost it on — the reliever's fourth best option. That was a yikes way to end a series loss to the lowly Pirates. https://wapo.st/2XvZyz6
Game 14
When Wander Suero lost a late lead, and Dave Martinez called Suero's curveball — the pitch he lost it on — the reliever's fourth best option. That was a yikes way to end a series loss to the lowly Pirates. https://wapo.st/2XvZyz6
