June 29, 2005
Missing Ryan?
Kevin Sherrington of the Dalls Morning News notes how the Rangers went down hill after releasing Ryan Drese:
Bulletin: Ryan Drese beat Pittsburgh, 2-1, Tuesday. In his three starts for the Nationals, he's gone eight innings twice and given up one earned run in 16 innings.
No wonder Rogers is so mad. Maybe you remember he was the first man in Showalter's office after the news that Drese had been released.
Drese and Rogers were pals. But even teammates who weren't as close were shocked that the club would cut loose its opening day pitcher.
Win now, is how management explained it. Only the Rangers are 6-13 since Drese got the ax, and they're falling faster and faster.
Look at Drese's game log:
He's been nasty pitching in the cavernous RFK Stadium.
And got bombed in Pittsburgh.
I think this trend will hold true for the season. Anyone can pitch in that D.C. ballpark.
Correction -- his first win was on the road at Anaheim not at RFK --- he has had 2 good starts 1 home and 1 road and 1 blow up
Yeah, I was at last night's game in DC, and Drese pitched very well. A lot of 1-2-3 innings, and when he got into a 7th inning jam with men on 2nd and 3rd and no outs, he pitched out of it. It's true that RFK will hold down scores by keeping balls in the yard, it's not impossible to score there; you just have to do it by playing small ball and stringing hits together.
Also, if pitching in RFK is a benefit to a pitcher (and I think it's indisputable that it is), it's just as much a benefit as for the visiting team's pitcher. I don't think it's any accident that the Nats have the third fewest HRs and second fewest runs scored in the majors this year.
27Ks in 89 innings puts a LOT of pressure on your defense. Let's see if the Nats D (besides RFK stadium) helps Ryan over the rest of the season
