Friday, August 07, 2009

Prank Bet Update: Nats on Fire

Whit, in case you're not closely monitoring Riggleman's Rough Riders, the fellas notched win number 5 in a row last night, and now stand at 37-72 for the year (wow does that look atrocious in print). Somewhat amazingly, Jim Riggleman is 11-11 in his first 22 games as Nationals manager. Get that guy a medal. Or at least a pastel-colored participation ribbon.

Despite how freakin' sad their overall record is, let's take a look at how the Nats stand compared to the other dregs of the league (we'll be using the loss column to track Washington's progress up the slippery slope of sucktitude):
  • Baltimore Orioles, 45-63, 9 up
  • Pittsburgh Pirates, 45-63, 9 up
  • San Diego Padres, 45-65, 7 up
  • Kansas City Royals, 42-66, 6 games "up"
  • Washington Nationals, 37-72
(Cleveland, Cincy and Oakland, all 10+ games better than the Nats right now, avoid the list this week. But the way Dusty Baker skippers a club, don't be surprised to see the Reds giving the Nats a run for their money very soon.)

I need to avoid getting my hopes up though, just wait...Dunn might clear waivers, so he'll be gone. The young arms might stink it up even more than Craig Stammen yesterday (1.2 IP, 5ER). Elijah Dukes might physically assault Rob Dibble over the weekend (we can only hope). Somehow, someway, these guys are gonna tie one of these shit teams in a couple weeks, then tear off an epic losing streak to end the year, costing me a case of Golden, CO's finest beverage. Because, after all, they are the Nats.

21 comments:

TR said...

I would love to understand the waivers and trade waivers rules one of these years. But as long as the Yanks don't get stuck with Canseco this year, I'll be happy.

Other sports things I want to understand better: What a team rebound is in a basketball box score, The two-line pass rule in hockey, how anybody could have fun playing the O-Line in football, the NBA salary cap, and why it's considered a good thing that Rex Ryan is a chip off the old block.

T.J. said...

I still don't understand how guys can get a save when their team wins 11-0.

zman said...

As I understand it, every missed shot has to have a rebound. So if a shot hits the rim and goes out of bounds, the team that gets the ball also gets the rebound, and that's a "team rebound" because no single person actually recovered the ball. But I defer to Mark.

Mark said...

That's how I understand the team rebound concept as well. The NBA salary cap isn't that complex either. Once you understand the implications of the luxury tax, it's pretty straightforward.

TR said...

"Once you understand the implications of the luxury tax, it's pretty straightforward."

Hey Mark, I got an idea for a new post from you.

Mark said...

Also, now that Florida has begun fall camp, well, my life is pretty much over. I'm likely to spend 3-4 hours every day reading articles and scouring message boards from now until the season starts in a little less than a month. Then things should get really out of hand as I've already got plans to attend a minimum of 5 games this year. Why did I have to attend Grad school during the Zook era again?

rob said...

i'm just starting to think about football, and i can't see any way florida doesn't go undefeated in the regular season. that doesn't make me happy in the least.

mayhugh said...

For 97% of running plays, the O-Line is a lot more fun than D-Line, in my opinion. You know where the play is going and who to hit. D Line and linebackers don't (or at least, shouldn't) know who is hitting them/where the hit is coming from. That's not much fun, especially when you think you've been left unblocked and then you get cut by a full back or nailed by a pulling guard. There's nothing generally complicated with pass block assignments - it's usually hat to hat - so the plays where it is a clear passing situation are just an exercise in some big and/or fast guy running full speed at or around you.

T.J. said...

"There's nothing generally complicated with pass block assignments - it's usually hat to hat"

Did Mark Schlereth steal Mayhugh's login?

Whitney said...

Buddy Ryan was a Grade A douchebuckle (and one of Rob's Hall of Fame "fat dick" guys), but his players adored him limitlessly. His guys would lie down in traffic for him. He took his guys into battle in a way that few do; it's hard for a guy in a sweater (two sizes too small) on the sideline to give the sense that he's actually on that field hitting, tackling, living and dying alongside the 11 helmeted warriors, but he managed to do it. I could never stand the prick, but for those guys who were good enough, tough enough and thick-skinned enough to be a part of his defenses, there was no general they'd rather helm the effort than Buddy Ryan.

I assume this is what people mean when they credit Rex Ryan as such. Keep in mind, though, Buddy's success didn't 100% translate to the head coaching spot. You can be a blood & guts chew 'em up & spit 'em out kind of character as D-coordinator, but when it comes to the head coach, much of the time you need some of the cerebral thought, tact and diplomacy that Buddy Ryan happily threw out with the Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes mailings.

zman said...

rob has a Hall of Fame for "fat dick" guys? I had no idea he was so into evaluating penile girth.

Mark said...

Rob...I see what you're trying to do, and I don't like it one bit.

TR said...

As we've seen the last couple years, SEC teams can lose 1 or 2 games and still get a crack at the title. The depth in that conference means there's a trap game somewhere. And the SEC championship game looms out there as well.

I am rooting for Stephen Garcia and the Gamecocks to make a run, but that's only because I got drunk on scotch with his brother, who is a very nice guy.

Jerry said...

Pedro Guerrero first ballot.

The NBA salary cap is fairly complex when you get into mid-level exceptions, Bird Rights, base year compensation, etc. My feeling that it's worthwhile to learn the basic concepts, but immersing oneself in the details is overkill.

rob said...

as much as i'd like to jinx the gators, i really think they'll be awesome. entire defense returns, as does the best player in the country. lsu might, might get them, but i wouldn't bet on it.

T.J. said...

Sports gambling in Delaware begins September 1. Get excited.

Whitney said...

Hey, TJ, Dale's Pale Ale is brewed in Lyons, CO. Oskar Blues Brewery.

TR said...

So it must be 5 o'clock somewhere, at least according to Whitney.

Mark said...

TR...I think you may be a bit disappointed in your boy. Garcia certainly has the physical tools but the word is (and has been since high school) that he's not really up to the task mentally. Both for the abuse he must endure under SOS and the responsibilities he'll have as a full-time starter in the SEC.

And yes, the Gators are loaded BUT they have some questions at WR (Harvin's a big loss and Louis Murphy was very underrated as well) going into the season and I'm sure they'd like one of their tailbacks to step up and grab the starting spot (I'm looking at you Emmanuel Moody).

I'm not as worried about LSU right now (I've never thought Miles was a very good coach) but Arkansas worries me as does the trip to Starkville (going back to Spurrier's earliest days, the Gators always seem to struggle with an under the radar SEC West team or two and their record in Mississippi is terrible over the last 15 years or so).

rob said...

right you are, timmy. it's 5 o'clock in reykjavik. skal.

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