GDT 5/28 - The Fried Men bringing fly swatters

[CyYoung31]

Swarzak sucks.

[UNCBlue012]

Unreal. This is literally a bad team. We’ve got to grow a pair.

[CJ9]

New guy fits in well.

[CyYoung31]

Nats are not gonna be a .407 team. They're finally healthy, and they will make a run

Keep saying it and maybe, eventually, it will come true.

[GeorgiaGirl]

Back to Fried. The league has all the data. They know he is a two pitch pitcher with very few changes and sliders. Poor execution plan or he just afraid to throw them.

The slider is a legit 3rd pitch for him. He's throwing it at least at a 10% rate (it might have been less this game). It's not any different from Soroka who doesn't throw his changeup much really at all (he throws it just at a 10.5% rate, he's primarily sinker/slider). The main difference is it might really, really help to have a real, legit changey pitch with Soroka instead of having an elite curve, a good fastball when spotted up, a pretty good slider, and a completely and totally unusable changeup (it's used very very rarely, and yet it's -2.4 on fangraphs, it is THAT dang bad) that has been put on the shelf with that slider actually being a legit deal for him this year.

[USMA76]

Nothing like a night of getting pimp-slapped by Howie-effing-Kendrick.

[sturg33]

This sucks, but I just knew it would happen... nats will get right vs us

Starting your panic mode early early this year?

[jpx7]

Nothing like a night of getting pimp-slapped by Howie-effing-Kendrick.

He’s been one of their better hitters this year.

[Jay212033]

Just here to say we stink right now!

[msstate7]

Keep saying it and maybe, eventually, it will come true.

So you think they'll be a sub-.450 team? I'll take the over... name the stakes

[nsacpi]

This team needs Bud Norris

[msstate7]

I still think it'll be...
1. Phillies
2. Braves
3. Nats
4. Mets
5. Marlins

Nats dug too big a hole to win the division, but I do think they will close this gap considerably

[CyYoung31]

So you think they'll be a sub-.450 team? I'll take the over... name the stakes

Look, I’ve been on the Nats bandwagon since last year. But when I look at them now I see a team with a bad bullpen (though it shouldn’t be on paper), bad defense (which makes sense), and an okay offense with no hope for reinforcements. They’re not a good baseball team, and I think it’s time we all accept that. Sub-.450? Probably not. Sub .500? Very possible.

[bravesfanMatt]

The slider is a legit 3rd pitch for him. He's throwing it at least at a 10% rate (it might have been less this game). It's not any different from Soroka who doesn't throw his changeup much really at all (he throws it just at a 10.5% rate, he's primarily sinker/slider). The main difference is it might really, really help to have a real, legit changey pitch with Soroka instead of having an elite curve, a good fastball when spotted up, a pretty good slider, and a completely and totally unusable changeup (it's used very very rarely, and yet it's -2.4 on fangraphs, it is THAT dang bad) that has been put on the shelf with that slider actually being a legit deal for him this year.

Soroka is sinker, slider, four seamer. But his pitches all tunnel the same. Fried has fast ball and curve. Those two are completely different planes and easier to identify right off. So without something offspeed on the same tunnel as his flat FB, hitters can sit on one and react to the other. If he throws a rare slider or change then you tip your cap if he gets you. But for the most part you can eliminate those pitches and wait on your pitch. Fried needs something that looks like one of his other pitches. And then actually use it.

[msstate7]

Look, I’ve been on the Nats bandwagon since last year. But when I look at them now I see a team with a bad bullpen (though it shouldn’t be on paper), bad defense (which makes sense), and an okay offense with no hope for reinforcements. They’re not a good baseball team, and I think it’s time we all accept that. Sub-.450? Probably not. Sub .500? Very possible.

I think if they show signs of life, they'll go get help. Some of that giants' pen could end up in dc

[msstate7]

Come on acuna

[bravesfanMatt]

3 run deficit going into the ninth might be where the Braves wanted them.

[msstate7]

3 run deficit going into the ninth might be where the Braves wanted them.

Doolittle?

[nsacpi]

3 run deficit going into the ninth might be where the Braves wanted them.

yup...setting up nicely for a Culberson special

[CyYoung31]

Good idea to challenge this to at least break up Strasburg’s rhythm.