On the Locked On Nationals Podcast, Ryan Clary brings you the most comprehensive daily coverage of the Washington Nationals. The best place for interviews, conversation, and analysis of the Nationals as they embark on their MASSIVE 2023-2024 Offseason. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, Your Team Every Day.
The Nats won’t be any better in 2025 unless they solve the lack of power from the first base third base and DH positions Don’t assume that CJ will be forgiven and brought back in 2025, I’m guessing that Mike Rizzo reaction was not a one off reaction but the final straw of an ongoing issue
I like Martinez but he has to go. Outside the last half of 2019 and the playoff run, his record is atrocious. Even the years they were supposed to contend, their record was terrible.
The Royals were aggressive in free agency and strategic. They didn’t go big and expensive; but they did go to fill needs. M Rizzo has the capability but does he have the spending allowance. Agree Nats need veteran leaders but the leaders need to be able to perform.
James Wood is the closest thing we have to a Bobby Witt breakout, so that is who would have to break out, I see James Wood doing something like Witt's breakout in 2026. Dylan Crews is solid, but he's not what we thought he was, he's not patient, and has a tendency to chase things, this time last year he was struggling in double A. So I expect Crews to be a very solid major leaguer towards the end of next year, but most of 2025 will be development year for him, just like he struggled in the beginning of double A this year, he will struggle the fist two months of next year. FA and trade (veteran pitcher) like you said should probably put them close to 80 but not playoffs. Crews will be good in 2026, Wood will break out to a top ten OF like Kyle Tucker, and Gore, Irvin, Hertz or whoever will be significantly better on the SP rotation. I see 2026 as the year they make the playoffs. But no, we are not the Royals of last year. But that is why we play the game, anything can happen. CJ is the big wild card, he has a gambling problem and needs to seek help. House will be up sometime next year and will also transition, in 2026 I think House will be solid.
It’s hard for me to get excited about 2025 when Dylan Crews has stunk and nobody else picked up the slack. Our hitting lineup is beyond weak. Minus a free agent signing of Vladimir Guerrero Junior, why would be expected to be better next year? Though I do have high hopes for our starting pitching staff. And james Wood could be a superstar!
Obviously, I haven’t watched the whole video yet. But I think the reason the Royals made the playoffs this year after losing 100 games last year, because they have that “it” guy. Someone who is *him*. Of course I’m talking about Bobby Whitt Junior. Another thing to remember is that it took him a while to get situated so we can’t expect these prospects to be fire off the bat. But being the sport isn’t basketball he also has a team built around him, no doubt about it we have a bunch of guys on this team (who could and are coming up to the Bigs). But we kind of have to build the roster around more than just our prospects, and my opinion is what the royals have done. Last time I checked the Royals also have a fantastic rotation. Four of your guys all have an ERA in the threes (their highest being 3.03. Seth). We just aren’t built like the Royals I guess is what I’m trying to say… sure we have some players who could help us go on that Mickey Mouse run like the Orioles two years ago ago and just miss the playoffs, but from my understanding, I highly doubt it. We have stars, but they need to develop, but they need help too. It can’t just be them. Then our rotation could really use some help😂😂. But that’s just my two cents.
Patrick Corbin will be just fine. He will leave with at least $50 million in his pocket, not bad for a 27-50 win/loss since his world series triumph. Dylan Crews too will be ok. Even if he turns out to be another Keeboom, the $9 million bonus money assures he will get multiple chances to hit major league pitching, which is by the way, better than college pitching. I predict the terrible re-build will net the Nats about 75 wins next year.
before they traded off the veterans at the deadline, they were on pace for around 76 wins. Given that they'll get a new batch of veterans next year, along with the fact that they are almost done with the rebuild and have better young players, I think that they'll easily get over .500, even if they don't really have a shot at the postseason.
Patrick Corbin is the Nationals Doug Williams, Doug had a couple of good games and one of them happened to be the Super Bowl, Patrick had a great year and that year happened to be the WS year, but since the Super Bowl and the WS both were not good.
Patrick Corbin should be celebrated for his contribution in the World Series victory The rest of his performance here is irrelevant because the rest of the team during this time was pathetic
This is clearly not the first time, a source from talknats said this has happened regularly but only at home games, this is the first time this happened at an away game. But what I am disappointed is people think a veteran in the club house would police this. They clearly don't know anyone with a gambling problem, CJ should be made to see actual help, he clearly has a gambling problem, and should be made to see someone. When I played pro sports overseas I did not need a veteran to tell me not to stay up till 8AM the day before a game.
I wonder that Ildemaro thinks of the CJ thing... I'm personally glad they did it, and I'm not convinced that he is a part of our future anyways honestly. Maybe he'll get better but he's a free swinger, bad fielder, and obviously has an attitude issue if he thinks he can pull an all nighter before a game no matter what time of year it is. Frankly, there are better options on the market.
@@kaboomkieboom8777 3 years of control over a mediocre player, young player. Im just saying it could be a good time to trade or move on if hes not worth the monetary / training investment to improve upon. His caliber of play today is not "all star"
@@smackjack how the fuck is he mediocre. How can you consider his second full gear in the majors with a 20/20 season mediocre? He Is only gonna get better especially when this team is competitive for October
@@kaboomkieboom8777 I consider 20/20 mediocre because he was swinging for the fences the entire year to hit those 20 bombs, which resulted in only 65 rbis for our middle of the order shortstop, but probably one of the worst OBPs for a starting SS in the entire league. I definitely would say he had a mediocre season....
Dylan Crews has been really poor at the plate. He has played great defence and runs the bases really well. But have the Nats wasted a #2 pick on a Kevin Pillar type player. Maybe Crews will get some hitting pointers in the off-season? It definitely couldn't hurt.
This probably wasn't the first time CJ has been doing things like this, if it was I think the Nats would have just benched him and told the press he was "Injured". He's probably done stuff like this multiple times and had closed door conversations about this before. CJ doing stuff like this would explain his second half slump. You don't just drop off like this. His second half numbers are just horrid.
@@deanpoets3295 they busted him for that? That's a strict club. Thanks for the info. Edit: i just did a little reading myself and he left the casino only hours before their last game which affected his performance that day. Shame he was the best base stealer on my fantasy team. Oh well I hope h e learned a lesson.
How about a stock up for Robert Cranz? 7th round draft pick this year, and has already pitched 7 SO IN six innings, O ERs, 1 W, and pitched in game 3 of the 1A championship in the 6th inning.
The Nationals could revolutionalize baseball in the next few years. There is so much speed and power potential. Instead of relying just on homers this team could steal games. It will require a demanding manager. I think Davey is capaple? Speed throws off pitchers rhythm.
You should have the Fred Nats guy back on, maybe have someone from Wilmington, Harrisburg, and Rochester for episodes as well to do a minor league recap.
Why arent the Nats giving the young kid Baker a chance? He seems to be one of those players that plays the game differently. Smart/winner like his Daddy.
I like Darren Baker, but there's a clear ceiling for him as a utility guy and I think they'd much rather see Tena play everyday and also have Nunez get reps. Nunez is the much, much better utility option
Re Cavalli, maybe the Nats don’t understand WTF is going on. I accept the basis of your skepticism of Nats management explanation and of course you are free to speculate. Maybe he needs a different doctor or physical therapist who can look at his arm health with different eyes.
I think this is fair, I just feel as if he will be the odd man out when it comes down to making a decision. We shall see what happens in the offseason, I like his stuff!
@@LockedOnNationalsyou talk a lot about a trade this off-season, are you getting inside info. a trade or are you just guessing? Bustin loose Baseball is saying the same thing.
Was at the game last night, Irvin was juiced and flat shoved. Nunez popping a bunt straight in the air with no outs and runners on 1st and second was what cost us that one
He has not drafted well but his trades have been excellent for the most part. This organization could rival the Braves, Orioles or the Astros if they drafted better. Development has a lot to do with it, but it starts with the draft and this organization simply doesn't develop anything outside of the first round especially with position players. Until that changes Rizzo will have to rely on his trading acumen to build the major league roster.
Best Rizzo trade moves: Soto trade & these 2024 moves. Worst: Turner/Scherzer for Gray/Ruiz. Overall best move over time: signing Scherzer as FA. Overall worse moves: not aggressively going after Bryce Harper and overcommitting to Strasburg.
