The Nationals were humiliated 11-0 Friday in the opener of a doubleheader against the Mets. That dropped the Nationals a season-high-tying five games under .500, 8 1/2 games out of first place and further into the conversation for biggest underachievers of 2013.
A few days earlier hitting coach Rick Eckstein had been fired, a decision manager Davey Johnson opposed so much he told Mike Rizzo that the GM could fire him instead. Later that night struggling former closer Drew Storen was optioned to Triple-A and teammate Tyler Clippard came out and blasted the organization for how Storen was treated.
So the Nats were a story of disappointment, discord and despair.
But here is something also to remember — a story of talent. That was on better display as Washington won the next three games against the Mets, allowing three runs in total.
An opposing scout, in fact, said Washington is the most obvious team currently with a losing record capable of “pulling a Dodgers,” which is to say putting together a sustained run of excellence to get from below .500 to the top of a division. When reached yesterday by phone, Rizzo offered the same observation, saying, “We haven’t had our run yet, and I think we are talented enough to have a Dodger-type run.”
That is why with the trade deadline approaching the Nationals are still in buy mode — but mainly for bench help. Because their frontline players — at least on paper — still look so good.
Washington, however, remains one of six teams that began the year in go-for-it-mode that reached trade deadline week in crisis. The Yankees, Blue Jays, Giants, Phillies and Angels are the others. You could arguably add the Rangers, who have endured big pitching injuries and have had their offense shut down.
Of that group, the sense is Toronto will sell, and over the weekend the Phils and the Angels pushed into that group, as well — at least for pieces such as Philadelphia’s Michael Young (the Yankees have some interest still) and Los Angeles lefty reliever Scott Downs. The Giants were also leaning that way, particularly to see if with so many clubs in dire need of righty power (the Yankees and Rangers among them), some team might be willing to make a big bid for free-agent-to-be Hunter Pence.
The Yanks and Nationals are the only members of that group showing no inclination to sell. Yes, the Yankees would move Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes if they could get a positive return, but they would not see that as surrendering on 2013. Rizzo said the Nationals also could potentially sell, but only to enhance the current team. He did say his policy at the deadline has been that any acquisition should not be a rental and, thus, could help Washington beyond this year.
“We are certainly not giving up on this season,” Rizzo said.
The Nats were widely viewed not only as the NL East favorite, but the NL favorites and — because of young talents such as Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper — a club that could dominate the NL East for years. So this stumble has to hearten the Mets that Washington is vulnerable in the next few years.
Scouts and executives believe that the Nats did not do a good job emotionally handling going from the hunter to the hunted. Still, they have a third of the season to see if they can honor their talent, pull a Dodgers and actually surge to the NL East title.
Tino resigns Marlins post amid abuse allegation
The first ex-Mariner, ex-Yankee who found himself out of a major league job was not Alex Rodriguez.
Tino Martinez resigned as the Marlins co-hitting coach yesterday amid accusations he was physically and verbally abusive to players. The Miami Herald was the first to report the Commissioner’s Office and the Players Association were alerted and looking into Martinez’s behavior, particularly over an incident in which he allegedly grabbed the neck and the neck chain of since-demoted second baseman Derek Dietrich, the Herald reported.
In his time with the Yankees, Martinez was known as fiery and emotional, but also an especially well-liked teammate.
Martinez was in his first year with the Marlins. I was told owner Jeffrey Loria, a personal friend of Martinez, actually contacted him during last season to set up the hire for this year.
“First of all, I want to apologize to the Marlins’ organization for my behavior,” Martinez told reporters in Miami. “I want to state that I never physically grabbed anyone by the neck. That never happened. I have made some comments to some players at certain times that I thought was more constructive criticism on certain occasions.
“Obviously, they didn’t feel that way, and it kind of backfired on me.”
Signs point to Peavy going West
Jake Peavy packed his belongings from the White Sox clubhouse and told the media he thought yesterday was going to be his last day with the team.
The perception of executives spoken with yesterday was that Oakland was pushing hard for the righty. I was told the A’s stealthily finished second for Matt Garza, who was traded from the Cubs to the Rangers. So if Peavy does get dealt to Oakland that would mean the two best starters likely to be moved in this market both went to the AL West.
St. Louis, Boston and Baltimore also were believed to be pursuing Peavy. The Braves like Peavy, but have shown no inclination to surrender a significant package.
* The last time Garza was traded, before the 2011 season from the Rays to the Cubs, Tampa Bay was insistent Chicago included Double-A righty Chris Archer, who two-hit the Yankees on Saturday. The runner-up for Garza that time around was the Rangers and one of the key pieces that Texas was going to give up for Garza then was Chris Davis, who is now leading the majors in homers.
* The Indians remain focused on adding a lefty reliever and have held serious talks with Colorado about Josh Outman. The Giants’ Javier Lopez, the Marlins’ Mike Dunn and the Angels’ Scott Downs also are available.
* An executive from another team confirmed the report of Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports.com that Texas is willing to move Joe Nathan as a way to find a bat. Texas was shut out for the fourth time in its last seven games yesterday. You know how terrible you think the Yankee offense is? Well, the Yanks have scored two or fewer runs 36 times and are 3-33 in those games. Texas is the exact same — 3-33.
If Nathan were traded, Texas could move Joakim Soria into the closer role or perhaps use its former closer Neftali Feliz, who is still a few weeks away from completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery.