photos by Claudia Holwill
by Richard Holwill
For more articles in this series, see previous posts about spring training, the infield, and the outfield.
Two years ago, the Nats’ starters had an average ERA of 5.00. Last year it was down but still well over 3.00. This year, many observers seem to think that that number could be among the best in baseball even though the numbers from Spring Training don’t look good at all.
Manager Davy Johnson says that we should not worry about these numbers and I don’t. You can manage in order to win or manage in order to prepare. Johnson is leaving his starters in for only three or four innings tells them to hold back on their best pitches. He wants them ready for opening day, less than two weeks away. However, over the weekend, he told them to win and they did, 12 to nothing over Baltimore.
One of the starters, Jordan Zimmermann (known as “Baby Zim” to some at Space Coast Stadium) returned last year after Tommy John surgery to earn one of the best ERAs in the majors. This year, Stephen Strasburg is coming back from the same elbow-ligament repair surgery and has his fastball clocking 100 MPH in spring training.
During the off-season, the team picked up lefty Gio Gonzalez from the Oakland A’s for four minor-league players. Gonzalez, 26, won 16 games and had a 2.27 ERA with the A’s. Gonzalez throws a 94-MPH fastball, a change-up and a 10-4 curve ball that is said to be “wicked.” He is under contract through 2016.
Toward the end of Hot Stove League, World Series starter Edwin Jackson became available and the Nats grabbed him. He has an impressive record with a no-hitter in 2010 and several post-season wins under his belt. However, his lifetime ERA is 4.46 and he has only two pitches: a fast ball and power slider. We watched him give up 7 hits and 4 runs in 4 innings against the Detroit Tigers a week ago and to lose again this last weekend. Although management is excited about Jackson, I’m reserving judgment. He is here on a one-year contract for $11-million. If he earns his pay, I’ll be more than happy.
The other starter was to have been Chien-Ming Wang who won 19 games for the Yankees in 2006. He has been out due to experimental shoulder surgery for the last two years but started against the Yankees a couple of weeks ago. He looked good until he strained a hamstring while trying to field a slow-rolling bunt. He had to be helped off the field and is out until the end of April.
John Lannan, a stalwart last year, won the last starting position. Ross Detwiler, who also started in 2011, will head to the bullpen as a long reliever. The others in the bullpen make it possibly the best in baseball. All Star set-up reliever Tyler Clippard is back along with last-year’s closer, Drew Storen. The team also picked up Brad Lidge who set records as a closer with the Phillies last year.
The starting catcher will be Wilson Ramos, back from his ordeal as a hostage in Venezuela. Ramos shared catching duties with Pudge Rodriguez last year and showed himself to be the equal of that hall-of-fame catcher. His backup is Jesus Flores, who has the potential to be a starter himself.
Notwithstanding my reservations about Jackson and the questions about Wang’s ability to snap back from injuries, Nats pitching will be strong. Don’t expect the starter’s average ERA to break 3.0 but do expect them to dominate the early innings from opening day on.