Nationals 2014 Game 19: Victoria Ritus Sacrificii

Highest Leverage PA:     5.4, PA#80, Span sac fly vs Maness, Nationals 9th.
Highest LI Win Value:    .155, PA#60, Espinosa single vs Martinez, Nationals 7th.
QMAX rating:             (3,3) for Strasburg (Success Square).
Bullpen Award:           Hero's Palm for Rafael Soriano.

Batters' Aggregate LI Win Values:

Espinosa       0.268
Lobaton        0.252
Walters        0.136
McLouth        0.120
Desmond       -0.005
Werth         -0.012
Strasburg     -0.037
LaRoche       -0.067
Harper        -0.070
Rendon        -0.083
Frandsen      -0.086
Span          -0.150

Jerry Blevins vs Adams was the moment where I thought the game would turn. Manager Matt Williams had the chance at the platoon match-up with Carpenter, but risked it to ensure that he would preserve the advantageous platoon for Adams. This was the call I would have made, because there was always the chance Blevins could get Carpenter out. I'm firmly of the belief that a reliever who enters the game in the middle of an inning has a harder job, and that risking having to do it twice is doubling the jeopardy.

2014 Game 1: Denard of Menthon?

My intentions to write a few posts during the Spring Training season were undone when my mother developed a grave illness. Posting may be erratic this season, as usual.

Highest Leverage PA:     5.5, PA#69 Span 2B vs Parnell, Nationals 9th.
Highest LI Win Value:    .363, PA #69, Span 2B vs Parnell, Nationals 9th.
QMAX rating:             (3,3) for Strasburg (Success Square zone).
Bullpen Award:           Goat's Head for Tyler Clippard.

Batters' Aggregate LI Win Values:

Span           0.431
Rendon         0.205
McLouth        0.109
Lobaton        0.106
Espinosa       0.081
LaRoche        0.057
Desmond        0.013
Werth         -0.004
Strasburg     -0.024
Harper        -0.043
Ramos         -0.087
Zimmerman     -0.277

Not only did Denard Span have the highest-leveraged plate appearance of the game, he also had the second-highest, in the 7th against Rice. He delivered both times. Denard rescued a floundering Nationals' effort. Let's toast him with a cask of brandy!

Despite a difficult start, Stephen Strasburg still managed to keep his appearance in the QMAX Success Square, just. So he did his job.

Matt Williams showed great confidence in rookie hurler Aaron Barrett, who entered the game with the highest leverage at stake of any of the relief pitchers the Nationals used. However, he was facing some of the weaker hitters in the Mets' lineup at that point, so the risks were lower than they might have been.

(My title alludes to the patron of a certain breed of rescue dogs.)