The Nats Thread (old thread link inside, too many load issues)

[skinfan2k]

Strasburg's comment after the game tell everything

Strasburg, after 77 IP, on limit: "I try not to think about it, but w/the direction we're going in, it gets even harder not to think about."

---------- Post added June-13th-2012 at 04:34 PM ----------

[/COLOR]Desmond should be an all-star.

What you talking about Willis :P

[MLSKINS]

I don't know if you all discussed it, but how would it work if we were to pull Stras now and bring him back late in the season? I heard somebody on 980 mention something like this...

[Tulane Skins Fan]

I don't know if you all discussed it, but how would it work if we were to pull Stras now and bring him back late in the season? I heard somebody on 980 mention something like this...

It would not work. He would be going through spring training in mid-October.

[Sticksboi05]

There is literally no sense in stopping him for a month and then thinking he'll be back to normal in September.

[BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93]

Looking forward to the series this weekend...I got tix for Friday's game. Here's to a good, competitive series

[Popeman38]

Ian Desmond was panned here as worthless. He is hitting .266 with 9 HR and 32 RBI. That is a borderline All Star first half.

Strasburg, , Gio, Harper, Stammen deserve spots. Desmond is borderline.

[MattFancy]

Clown question, bro!

[Sticksboi05]

Ian Desmond was panned here as worthless. He is hitting .266 with 9 HR and 32 RBI. That is a borderline All Star first half.

Strasburg, Harper, Stammen deserve spots. Desmond is borderline.

Yeah I guess Gio doesn't hmmm.

[Tulane Skins Fan]

Ian Desmond was panned here as worthless. He is hitting .266 with 9 HR and 32 RBI. That is a borderline All Star first half.

Strasburg, Harper, Stammen deserve spots. Desmond is borderline.

Desmond is not worthless, but he is being severely overrated now. He is probably what I would call an average SS. All his value comes from his power right now, and frankly, I don't think that is going to continue. He never hit for power in the minors or the majors before. It appears to be a fluke to me. He makes outs over 70% of his plate appearances, and he plays good defense. He is not an all star. I'm sorry.

[Buford]

Just like Chinese Acupuncture. You can tell me that its all about fire and water points....but I don't care. 2,000 years of doing it....and the thing works.

Same goes for the Nats. I just am happy that its working right now. Even if they come back to earth some. This is a well put together squad that isn't dealing with a closing window. If anything, youth is ruling the squad.

[StillUnknown]

Desmond is not worthless, but he is being severely overrated now. He is probably what I would call an average SS. All his value comes from his power right now, and frankly, I don't think that is going to continue. He never hit for power in the minors or the majors before. It appears to be a fluke to me. He makes outs over 70% of his plate appearances, and he plays good defense. He is not an all star. I'm sorry.

Desmond, for whatever reasons, seems to get more love than his numbers suggest he should. Now that he's not batting lead-off he's not such a liability, but talk of him being an All-Star is a bit much. There are 3 SS's in the NL who definitely deserve to be there over him and 2 or 3 more that you could debate.

[Dan T.]

It would not work. He would be going through spring training in mid-October.

He was awesome in spring training.

[Popeman38]

Yeah I guess Gio doesn't hmmm.

I forgot Gio!

---------- Post added June-14th-2012 at 10:57 AM ----------

Desmond, for whatever reasons, seems to get more love than his numbers suggest he should. Now that he's not batting lead-off he's not such a liability, but talk of him being an All-Star is a bit much. There are 3 SS's in the NL who definitely deserve to be there over him and 2 or 3 more that you could debate.

He is hitting .266, with 9 HR and 32 RBI. He has a .966 fielding %. Half his errors have come on plays most SS don't even get to. His range is ridiculous, he has a cannon for an arm. He is panned as a defensive liability, yet we are 9th in the majors in fielding (.985). He is second in the NL in both HR and RBI for SS, and 7th in AVG. He is 6th in steals with 8, 3rd in slugging, 6th in OPS. But let's be realistic, the All Star game is all about publicity. Rafael Furcal is in second at SS? Every complaint about Desmond applies to Furcal. He has more HR and RBI than the leading vote getter (Troy Tulowitzki). He stacks up with the NL's best much better than is implied, but since he made a bunch of errors last year he sucks.

[Dan T.]

I think the outpouring of "love" for Desmond is more a backlash toward the criticism he got in the past from Nats fans. People also criticised Davey Johnson for sticking by him when he wasn't doing so well. To me, his patience paid off and he's been vindicated in his backing Desmond through some rough times.

[StillUnknown]

I forgot Gio!

---------- Post added June-14th-2012 at 10:57 AM ----------

He is hitting .266, with 9 HR and 32 RBI. He has a .966 fielding %. Half his errors have come on plays most SS don't even get to. His range is ridiculous, he has a cannon for an arm. He is panned as a defensive liability, yet we are 9th in the majors in fielding (.985). He is second in the NL in both HR and RBI for SS, and 7th in AVG. He is 6th in steals with 8, 3rd in slugging, 6th in OPS. But let's be realistic, the All Star game is all about publicity. Rafael Furcal is in second at SS? Every complaint about Desmond applies to Furcal. He has more HR and RBI than the leading vote getter (Troy Tulowitzki). He stacks up with the NL's best much better than is implied, but since he made a bunch of errors last year he sucks.

Tulo has played 13 less game and has 1 less HR and only 5 less rbi's. Furcal has a better batting average and an overwhelming edge in OBP (a far more important stat), those are my complaints with Desmond.

I have no issues with Desmond's defense this season, he's been quite good in that respect. I definitely won't complain if Desi makes the roster, but I just don't view him as having an all-star season. He's having a decent season, which is much more than I expected so I'm satisfied with that.