The Balitmore Orioles set a league record for going 0-21 to start a season, but don't let the fact that the Nationals have only won one game so far this season fool you. The hitting is dramatically better than last year and should end more losing streaks then had occured last season. Unfortunately for Manny the starting pitching has been relatively poor. The relief pitching on paper is even worse than last year.
Similar to the Wizards, look for the Nationals to monitor Acta closely through the first 20 games especially before a series on the road as the 20 game mark approaches. Eddie Jordan's team was beset by injuries. The Wizards started poorly and shortly there after he was let go. Jordan helped take Washington to consectuive playoff runs which Acta doesn't have on his resume.
Add to the fact that Manny Acta doesn't like to train his starting pitchers to pitch deep into games and you have an unreliable bullpen stretched even further. Manny admits he likes his pitchers especially the young ones to leave on a good note. This is all very nice, but Beadreau doesn't take his rookie goaltender out after two periods and no head coach takes a rookie QB out at halftime. They have a job to do as a starting pitcher and it's not to learn how to be a strong middle reliever starting a game.
The starters need to learn how to go a third time through the batting order, make adjustments to the batters the 3rd & 4th time they see batters, and monitor their own pitch count. Having the starters master these qualities allow the bullpen to be properly used and have more defined roles i.e. who comes in versus a lefty in the 7th or 8th, who comes into the game in the 8th and closes in the 9th.
The next few series will be crucial for Manny before the pressure of too many losses goes to far for him to overcome.
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