elliottditman

The Kids are Alright

Nationals
The Kids are Alright
One of the weak spots for the Nationals since they moved to DC has been their pitching; but there are a couple of youngsters who are going to change all that. Jordan Zimmermann and Shairon Martis are two of the best young pitchers I've seen in the last 20 years. Now, I won't compare them to Hall of Fame pitchers, because I think that just adds too much pressure. They are good enough to stand on their own. I will tell you - believe the hype. Jordan has great command of all of his...
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Jordan Zimmermann Nationals Rob Dibble Shairon Martis
elliottditman

Small goals to get to big finishes

Nationals
Small goals to get to big finishes
Last season the World Champion Phillies won the NL East by three games over The NY Mets. The Phillies finished 2008 with a 92-70 record. My wife Jonna helped me do this, so if my math is wrong, blame her, she has the Masters in teaching. The Nats can finish 92-70 if they set small goals the rest of the season. First, the Nationals have to put April in a box, put it on a shelf, and never open it. The 5-16 start....Not good. However, a 4-2 record in May is good. Not counting Saturday's...
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Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

Instant replay creates confusion in place of clarity

Nationals
Instant replay creates confusion in place of clarity
Instant replay was supposed to review possible game changing home runs. What it did last night in the Nats' 5-2 Loss to the NY Mets was anything but. Gary Sheffield apparently hit a three-run HR in the bottom of the sixth inning off of Nats lefty John Lannan; Adrian Johnson who was working third base in the game called the fly ball to left field a home run. As all good managers should do, Manny Acta challenged the call, and the four umpires got together and decided to watch the replay....
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Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

Don't get it twisted

Nationals
Don't get it twisted
I've seen a few things lately that have nothing to do with baseball and more to do with politics. There are some local writers and bloggers that would like to try and twist what I say as to why the Nationals are not playing well. To me thats about as low as you may want to go. My street cred comes from experience, and though I sometimes might not come across as kind and gentle the way some people might think it should, let me try and get you up to speed with MY experience. I was a member...
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Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

Never take the job lightly

Nationals
Never take the job lightly
Part of what makes up a big league pitcher is learning the major league hitters. It's as big a part of your game as mastering off-speed pitches when you are behind in the count. You have to know when they aren't catching up to your fastballs and when they're setting you up to throw another breaking ball. What makes this such an important part of your game is that all hitters want to be the hero; all hitters get paid to beat you; and they don't care if you lose your job. Baseball...
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Tags:
Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

Sorry if I hurt your feelings...

Nationals
Sorry if I hurt your feelings...
I've been told on more than a few occasions that I'm a little rough around the edges, that maybe I'm a little harsh. I'm sorry you feel that way, but get in line. My wife has told me that, so has my mother--and they love me. But I'm going to tell you about five baseball players who were 'harsh' with me, but helped me become less selfish and more of a team player in my playing days. Let's start in the minor leagues. A man, a very good player and my pitching coach in Triple-A...
0
Tags:
Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

A true Team is a powerful thing

Nationals
A true Team is a powerful thing
Baseball is a roller coaster of emotional and physical issues. It's how you deal with them as a unit that sets you apart. The Washington Nationals took about 80 games to realize they could play with anyone--Not that they didn't have the team they have now, but they didn't have the TEAM they have now. I'll take you back to 1989. That spring turned to be the craziest time of my young career, with issues that began for us as a unit in Cincinnati. Pete Rose was being investigated for...
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Nationals Rob DIbble
elliottditman

A message for Stephen Strasburg

Nationals
A message for Stephen Strasburg
The Nationals have done their part, now it's time for Stephen Strasburg to do his. Nationals President Stan Kasten and owners Ted and Mark Lerner have offered the 21-year-old more than the record amount given to then Cubs 1st round pick Mark Prior back in 2001. We are talking about $10.5 million. Not only is that more money then 99.9 percent of the rest of the world, but we are talking about wanting to play professional baseball. Strasburg can choose to listen to an agent that is...
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Nationals Rob DIbble
elliottditman

Forget age - Great mechanics should dictate a promotion to the Bigs

Nationals
Forget age - Great mechanics should dictate a promotion to the Bigs
One thing that has bothered me since I retired after the 1996 season is the way pro baseball pitchers have been handled--or should I say mishandled. Not many people will ever be blessed with the skills necessary to pitch at the Major League level. When the Washington Nationals drafted and signed Stephen Strasburg, it marked a new beginning for them and the start of Stephen's pro career. He is a very special young pitcher, just like Tim Lincecum, Tommy Hanson, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood....
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Nationals Rob Dibble Stephen Strasburg
elliottditman

Plenty of progress is possible in only a short time

Nationals
Plenty of progress is possible in only a short time
As the season winds down, try and stay positive and build for tomorrow. I know it sounds cliche, and maybe it is; but it's how we deal with failure and stay grounded in this game. No matter how the season ends in DC, there will be some who wish to break down the season into numbers and how the team finished. Once again, I will remind people that it only takes a year to turn a negative into a positive. Let's take Tampa in 2007. They finished the year with 66 wins and 96 losses and...
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Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

This year's Nats know what they're playing for

Nationals
This year's Nats know what they're playing for
In another couple of weeks the Nats will start Spring Training for the 2010 season. What you, as loyal fans, really want to know is how is this team going to play? Well, me too! What I will tell you first, is that everyone, from the Lerner family to Drew Storen and Danny Espinosa, care very much about what is going on in DC on and off the field. As I and the players - Zimm, Dunn, Willingham, Morgan, Lannan, Stammen, and Clippard, to name a few, as well as manager Jim Riggleman, GM...
0
Tags:
Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

A true Team is a powerful thing

Nationals
A true Team is a powerful thing
Baseball is a roller coaster of emotional and physical issues. It's how you deal with them as a unit that sets you apart. The Washington Nationals took about 80 games to realize they could play with anyone--Not that they didn't have the team they have now, but they didn't have the TEAM they have now. I'll take you back to 1989. That spring turned to be the craziest time of my young career, with issues that began for us as a unit in Cincinnati. Pete Rose was being investigated for...
0
Tags:
Nationals Rob DIbble
elliottditman

Never take the job lightly

Nationals
Never take the job lightly
Part of what makes up a big league pitcher is learning the major league hitters. It's as big a part of your game as mastering off-speed pitches when you are behind in the count. You have to know when they aren't catching up to your fastballs and when they're setting you up to throw another breaking ball. What makes this such an important part of your game is that all hitters want to be the hero; all hitters get paid to beat you; and they don't care if you lose your job. Baseball...
0
Tags:
Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

'Pitching and defense win championships'

Nationals
'Pitching and defense win championships'
When the Washington Nationals sent Lastings Milledge down to Triple A, it helped to loosen up the log jam in the outfield; but it should also help the pitching. You always hear the phrase "pitching and defense win Championships," but why? Pitchers are very simple creatures. We just want to know that when we make a mistake, there will be a teammate out there on defense who can run it down. If we know that mistakes will be caught, we can take more chances, meaning, we will challenge...
0
Tags:
Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

Plenty of progress is possible in only a short time

Nationals
Plenty of progress is possible in only a short time
As the season winds down, try and stay positive and build for tomorrow. I know it sounds cliche, and maybe it is; but it's how we deal with failure and stay grounded in this game. No matter how the season ends in DC, there will be some who wish to break down the season into numbers and how the team finished. Once again, I will remind people that it only takes a year to turn a negative into a positive. Let's take Tampa in 2007. They finished the year with 66 wins and 96 losses and...
0
Tags:
Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

Japan replaces Cuba as the Best Team on Earth

Nationals
Japan replaces Cuba as the Best Team on Earth
When Japan won its second straight WBC title last night, it sent a message to the rest of the baseball world--"We are The Best"--Japan may not have the stars Major League Baseball has during its regular season, but when Japan puts on its international baseball uniform, it is way above The rest of the baseball world. In 2006, in winning it's first WBC Championship, Japan outscored its opponents 57-18 while only committing seven errors in six games. Not much has changed in three years, as...
0
Tags:
Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

Instant replay creates confusion in place of clarity

Nationals
Instant replay creates confusion in place of clarity
Instant replay was supposed to review possible game changing home runs. What it did last night in the Nats' 5-2 Loss to the NY Mets was anything but. Gary Sheffield apparently hit a three-run HR in the bottom of the sixth inning off of Nats lefty John Lannan; Adrian Johnson who was working third base in the game called the fly ball to left field a home run. As all good managers should do, Manny Acta challenged the call, and the four umpires got together and decided to watch the replay....
0
Tags:
Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

Small goals to get to big finishes

Nationals
Small goals to get to big finishes
Last season the World Champion Phillies won the NL East by three games over The NY Mets. The Phillies finished 2008 with a 92-70 record. My wife Jonna helped me do this, so if my math is wrong, blame her, she has the Masters in teaching. The Nats can finish 92-70 if they set small goals the rest of the season. First, the Nationals have to put April in a box, put it on a shelf, and never open it. The 5-16 start....Not good. However, a 4-2 record in May is good. Not counting Saturday's...
0
Tags:
Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

Sorry if I hurt your feelings...

Nationals
Sorry if I hurt your feelings...
I've been told on more than a few occasions that I'm a little rough around the edges, that maybe I'm a little harsh. I'm sorry you feel that way, but get in line. My wife has told me that, so has my mother--and they love me. But I'm going to tell you about five baseball players who were 'harsh' with me, but helped me become less selfish and more of a team player in my playing days. Let's start in the minor leagues. A man, a very good player and my pitching coach in Triple-A...
0
Tags:
Nationals Rob Dibble
elliottditman

Forget age - Great mechanics should dictate a promotion to the Bigs

Nationals
Forget age - Great mechanics should dictate a promotion to the Bigs
One thing that has bothered me since I retired after the 1996 season is the way pro baseball pitchers have been handled--or should I say mishandled. Not many people will ever be blessed with the skills necessary to pitch at the Major League level. When the Washington Nationals drafted and signed Stephen Strasburg, it marked a new beginning for them and the start of Stephen's pro career. He is a very special young pitcher, just like Tim Lincecum, Tommy Hanson, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood....
0
Tags:
Nationals Stephen Strasburg Rob Dibble



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