Random take Tuesday

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There will be some rules changes coming to Major League Baseball in 2023 and among them is essentially the elimination of infield shifts. Starting next year, two infielders must be on each side of second base and they have to be no deeper than the back-edge of the infield which touches the outfield. Also, teams cannot switch defenders and for instance move a shortstop to the second base spot on the right side against a pull lefty batter.

This change should add some offense and some defense to the game.

The shift takes hits away from batters that are pull happy with groundballs and mostly unable to hit against the shift. Had they been able to do that, they would see fewer shifts. But we know how that turns out.

I went back and looked at the MLB number for Batting Average of Balls in Play (BABIP) every year since 2010. For most of the seasons between 2010 and 2019, the final BABIP was between .297 and .300. But teams kept shifting more and more and that number dropped to .292 in the shortened 2020 season and in 2021. The BABIP was .290 last season.

Now that lefty batters won’t face a seeming picket fence on defense on the right side moving forward, some hits will be added to their up-to-now sinking batting averages. That could create more scoring in the game in general and more scoring chances. More runners can mean more pressure on pitchers, who then make more mistakes in some of those spots and more runs are scored.

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Despite tough loss, Fedde finishes with seven strong innings

Despite tough loss, Fedde finishes with seven strong innings
Erick Fedde did a lot of things right on Wednesday night, minus a couple of pitches to Bryce Harper. The right-hander ended up finishing the season strong, going seven innings in a hard-luck loss to the Phillies. Fedde allowed two homers to Harper, but overall just three runs on five hits. He walked one batter and struck out five. The Phillies salvaged the final game of the four-game set over the Nationals 12-3, scoring six runs in the ninth to pull away. Andrew McCutchen also doubled and came...
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No words: A look inside Austin Voth's first complete game win

No words: A look inside Austin Voth's first complete game win
After the sixth inning of the Nationals' 5-1 seven-inning win over the Phillies in the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader at Nats Park, starter Austin Voth knew he had enough left in the tank to pitch one more frame. His pitch count had reached 91 - the most he had thrown this season was 88 - and that was in five innings one week ago versus Tampa Bay. But the right-hander didn't care. The Phillies had only two hits off of him, and he still felt strong enough to go for the complete game. So the...
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Kieboom suffers bone contusion in left hand, listed as day-to-day

Kieboom suffers bone contusion in left hand, listed as day-to-day
In the bottom of the sixth in tonight's 5-1 Nationals win, third baseman Carter Kieboom was hit by a pitch on his left hand from a 95-mph sinker by Phillies starter Zack Wheeler. Kieboom went down holding his hand. He then walked over to the top steps of the Nats dugout with assistance from Nats director of athletic training Paul Lessard. Kieboom appeared to be attempting to flex his hand and Lessard checked the bones on the back of his hand. Manager Davey Martinez told his third baseman to...
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Scherzer executes curveball and changeup to perfection in 6-1 win

Scherzer executes curveball and changeup to perfection in 6-1 win
Nationals starter Max Scherzer commanded his fastball well, mixing in an improved curveball and changeup for seven shutout innings in a 6-1 victory over the first-place Rays at Nationals Park. "I always want to get through seven innings," Scherzer said during his postgame Zoom video session with reporters. "If I can get out there and get deep into a game, seven innings, it allows our bullpen guys to only have to try to get six outs. That's always a huge goal of mine, to get deep into a ball...
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Despite tough loss, bullpen again gives Nats a chance at victory

Despite tough loss, bullpen again gives Nats a chance at victory
Overshadowed a bit in the 6-5 10-inning loss for the Nationals at Philadelphia on Thursday was the overall effectiveness of the Nats bullpen. Starter Aníbal Sánchez lasted only 3 1/3 innings. From there, the Nats relievers compiled 6 1/3 innings, allowing the Phillies only two runs on just two hits. The bullpen struck out 10 batters. Both Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey struck out the side. It all started with Wander Suero, who worked 1 2/3 innings after Sánchez's struggles. He kept...
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Martinez moves Eaton to leadoff spot to try to energize lineup

Martinez moves Eaton to leadoff spot to try to energize lineup
In an effort to jump-start an offense that has not scored a run in two games, Nationals manager Davey Martinez has moved right fielder Adam Eaton into the leadoff spot for today's series finale in Philadelphia. Martinez hopes that this will create more opportunities for his two hottest hitters, Trea Turner and Juan Soto, to drive in runs. "I talked to him last night," Martinez said during today's pregame Zoom video call. "I wanted to see if we could get somebody up there, get something...
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Martinez gives Robles two days of rest with busy schedule looming

Martinez gives Robles two days of rest with busy schedule looming
Tonight's Nationals lineup again has Michael A. Taylor playing center field, replacing starter Victor Robles. Manager Davey Martinez said he noticed Robles appeared to be a bit fatigued during the weekend series at Boston. "I just wanted to give Victor a couple of days off," Martinez said during today's pregame Zoom video call. "I talked to him. Victor is a high-energy guy. We all know that. I just wanted him to get two days off. I look at some of his numbers and his bat speed has gone...
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Soto enjoys playing against, chatting with J.T. Realmuto each at-bat

Soto enjoys playing against, chatting with J.T. Realmuto each at-bat
Juan Soto has popularized the "Soto Shuffle" between pitches as he sizes up the pitcher and what he might throw him during each at-bat. But a lot of times between pitches, it looks like Soto is having a conversation with the umpire or the catcher. Is he talking to them, asking where the pitch was? What is he saying to them during the at-bat? Are they having actual conversations during each at-bat? Soto says he exchanges nothing more than "hellos" with the umpires. But against the Phillies,...
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Turner and Soto on fire, now the Nats try to get everyone else going

Turner and Soto on fire, now the Nats try to get everyone else going
Trea Turner is beyond the zone. He's on a different level. So is Juan Soto. Now if only the Nationals could figure out how to get everyone else in the lineup to join them on the same night. Turner went 4-for-5 with a homer and a run scored in Monday's 8-6 loss to the Phillies, extending his career-best hitting streak to 16 games. His average is a league-best .377 and his OPS is 1.077. According to statistics compiled by Ryan Spaeder, Turner is hitting .515 over his last 72 plate...
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Game 32 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 32 lineups: Nats at Phillies
The Nationals continue their 11-game road trip in Philadelphia tonight as they open a four-game set against the Phillies. The Nats went 1-2 in Boston and 0-2 last week against the Phillies in D.C., and are now 6-6 on the road. Tonight's pitching matchup features right-hander Erick Fedde (1-2, 3.57 ERA) opposing the Phillies right-hander Spencer Howard (0-1, 6.17). Last week against the Phillies, Fedde took the loss in an 8-3 setback, giving up four runs on seven hits over five innings with one...
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Corbin solid for six-plus innings, but one defensive miscue changes game

Corbin solid for six-plus innings, but one defensive miscue changes game
Patrick Corbin put together a quality start for the Nationals on Wednesday night that resulted in a no-decision because of a defensive miscue late in the game. The Phillies won the game, scoring two runs in a decisive seventh inning comeback, 3-2. With the Nats up 2-1 and Corbin in the mound, the seventh inning started on a triple by Didi Gregorius to left field that Juan Soto made a play for, but the ball got away and rolled toward the warning track. What could have been a single turned into...
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Fedde getting closer to his goal, appreciates normal routine

Fedde getting closer to his goal, appreciates normal routine
Erick Fedde did a nice job of keeping the Nationals in the game Tuesday night, coming within one pitch of getting out of a major jam in the third. In the end, though, the Phillies beat the Nats 8-3. Fedde was saddled with his second loss in six appearances this season. But in the third, with the game tied at 1-1 and two men on and two outs, Fedde had a shot to get out of the frame with just one more pitch. J.T. Realmuto drove that next pitch, a 93.7 mph four-seam fastball, to deep right field....
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MLB faces new coronavirus crisis early on in abbreviated schedule

MLB faces new coronavirus crisis early on in abbreviated schedule
Less than a week into the season, baseball is dealing with a coronavirus outbreak, leaving the most important question unanswered: What is the line of demarcation for calling off the 2020 season? That decision is a subjective one. The agreement between owners and players to start this season amid a pandemic gives that decision to Commissioner Rob Manfred. If at any time he thinks travel is too dangerous and the schedule takes an integrity hit, then Manfred can end the season. And after at least...
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Does signing Gregorius remove Phillies as suitor for Rendon?

Does signing Gregorius remove Phillies as suitor for Rendon?
SAN DIEGO - The Philadelphia Phillies have signed free agent shortstop Didi Gregorius and that's both good and bad news for the Nationals. One, it makes the Phillies lineup stronger, especially if Gregorius can shake off his struggles with the Yankees from a year ago. But it also helps the Nationals in that it likely takes away one less team speculated to be in the competition for signing free agent third baseman Anthony Rendon. The Phillies believe they have taken care of their two biggest...
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Fans could see a new Braves world in 2020

Fans could see a new Braves world in 2020
Last offseason, the Nationals' Mike Rizzo went to work early on building his roster, getting catchers Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes and relief pitchers Trevor Rosenthal and Kyle Barraclough. This offseason, it is the Braves, defending National League East champions, that are roster-building early. The Braves signed free-agent lefty pitcher Cole Hamels to an $18 million contract, adding to a list of transactions. They spent $98 million this offseason by signing three relievers - Will Smith, Chris...
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Game 159 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

Game 159 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies
Nationals manager Davey Martinez rested stars Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon on Wednesday and the Nats still won 5-2 over the Phillies. Second baseman Brian Dozier led off for the first time this season and delivered a late homer in the win. Now the Nats go for a five-game series sweep of the Phillies with the idea of resting another one or two players as Tuesday's wild card game draws near. The Nats (89-69) want to keep winning to make sure they host that game. They lead the Brewers (88-70)...
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Sánchez solid part of the Nats' big four after his third straight win

Sánchez solid part of the Nats' big four after his third straight win
It is easy to see why fans go back and forth about which Nationals pitcher should start the upcoming wild card game Tuesday night. Max Scherzer? Most likely. Stephen Strasburg? Solid choice. Patrick Corbin? Very effective. But Aníbal Sánchez has also demonstrated he can keep the score down and go long into games. The right-hander did that again Wednesday night with seven strong innings in the Nats' 5-2 win over the Phillies. The Nats have won nine of their last 10 games against the...
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Harper nets extra-base hit early off Sánchez (Nats win 5-2)

Harper nets extra-base hit early off Sánchez (Nats win 5-2)
Phillies left-hander Drew Smyly has not allowed the Nationals a hit in the first three innings, striking out six. The Nationals have yet to get a runner on base. Nationals right-hander Aníbal Sánchez gave up a single to Adam Haseley in the second inning, but nothing else. He has struck out three. The first three innings took 40 minutes. Bryce Harper doubled to begin the fourth inning. Rhys Hoskins followed with an RBI single, snapping an 0-for-26 skid. Mid-fourth, the Phillies lead the...
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Martinez on rest for Turner and Rendon; how lineup looks next five games

Martinez on rest for Turner and Rendon; how lineup looks next five games
As expected after clinching a postseason berth Tuesday, the Nationals starting lineup looked a bit different for Wednesday night's game against the Phillies with Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon getting the day off. But Juan Soto, Adam Eaton and Howie Kendrick remain in the lineup. "I still want to play these games to win," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "But we got to be smart about giving guys some days off. Today is no Anthony, no Trea. Both deserve days off, obviously. We'll see...
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