Wouldn't we love to know what flipped his switch from those dreadful first 2 and 1/2 months to the 2nd half deluge?

It was 2018 in reverse.

Well unfortunately the combination of Bieber not at his best, Santana with the worst defensive play of his life, a bullpen collapse and the top of the order shut down, and the Yankees putting up no competition to the Rays may have just about sunk our hopes for 2019

Mebbe so but win tonite and somehow take all 3 from the Nats and one never knows what might happen.

Well, Civale is doing his best to keep the team in it so far early in the 3rd. What a help he's been.

And that didn't last. Hard to fault the young pitchers who are likely on fumes at this point.

Gonna preach a bit. This is a great example of a team that did NOT win it all, even a division, yet they were fun and I'm proud of their season.

Also - they were able to get some great young answers for their future. No complete teardown (see Miami, Detroit, Kansas City, Baltimore, White Sox and on and on..) and ready to contend again next season.

Already looking forward to next year with the rotation restored!

It's probably sacrilege, but I wish the Twins well and will root for them in the playoffs. Another small market team that went through a painful rebuild but with some smart veteran moves (and front office overhaul) they are quite the hitting team. Goes without saying Houston and NY are the big bullies in the A.L.

For 2019 we have too many! starting pitchers: Bieber, Clevinger, Kluber, Carrasco, Civale, Plesac with Plutko and Rodriguez in reserve.
Catching the same pair.
Need one new IF. Not don't know a lot about Christian Arroyo who's been on the IL since we got him in trade but supposed to be a solid prospect. Although I assume we'll also go for a one year free agent.
Mercado is now set in CF. Luplow is proven as at least a very good platoon OF. Naquin seems to have established himself as the same. Reyes in RF or not? Johnson and Tom have earned solid shots in spring training. Bobby Bradley likewise as a DH candidate.
Not a bad looking team.

I think Tito made it clear that Puig was the major roadblock to Reyes not playing RF this season.

Not sure if he would be full time but for sure he plays some RF next season.

civ ollilavad wrote: Not a bad looking team.

We had a pretty big hole to dig out of this year and basically we weren't fully able to do that.

civ - as you said a pretty good team this time FROM THE START. With some smart additions (and better starting rotation health) could be another fun one with better final results this time.

remember how awful the offense was back in april? Lineups with no one hitting as much as 220. Hanley Ramirez as DH. then Carlos Gonzalez in RF. With Lindor out we had Eric Stamets at SS. Max Moroff at 2nd for Kipnis. If I remember correctly we had no one hitting cleanup; just a lot of lot of guys batting 9th.

Nationals I guess still are fighting for playoff position. They will be facing lineup today that, I assume looks something like:
1. Allen lf
2. Velaszquez cf
3. Bauers 1b
4. Plawecki dh
5. Freeman 2b
6. Zimmer rf
7. Chang 3b
8. Haase c
9. Flaherty 3b

I didn't quite get it. Haase got the start and his first homer. Luplow out there homered twice. Plutko was destroyed.
Zimmer season total now 10 at bats no hits 5 K. Gets another shot today to finish the decade with a hit.

Zimmer doubled and homered. I'd be very happy if it he can return to the promising player he looked like before he started running into walls.

I actually have hope he returns much better. He has lifetime slash of .230/.293. That just don’t cut it. I saw last year that he did away with that horrible crouch batting stance and was standing upright, and I’m hoping that helps him unwind on the fastball much better.

This poor kid Zimmer has been so messed up.

What he needs is some really steady at bats at AAA. Real steady, without injuries for a good few months of good hitting.

If he can actually do that, and I have my doubts, maybe he can finally impact the big league club. With his unreal speed and defense, it would be nice to have him aboard.

10-2 win over half of the White Sox [split squad]. Nolan Jones appeared and did what he does best: 2 walks in 3 appearances. Reyes smacked a pair of doubles. Arroyo homered and singled. Only Sox runs came against minor leaguer Kyle Dowdy ; Scott Moss yielded 2 hits and 2 walks in his 1 2/3. Bieber. Hand, Jared Robinson among those who pitched scoreless innings.