Call to the pen
Fansided

Washington Nationals: filling the All-Time Nats roster

By James Simmons

VARIOUS CITIES, - MARCH 12: A general view of FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches during a Grapefruit League spring training game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees on March 12, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The MLB suspended the remaining spring training games due to the ongoing threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
VARIOUS CITIES, - MARCH 12: A general view of FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches during a Grapefruit League spring training game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees on March 12, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The MLB suspended the remaining spring training games due to the ongoing threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Jonathon Paperlbon hasn't appeared in the league since 2016.
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Washington Nationals/Getty Images) /

The Beleaguered Bullpen

Ray King, Julian Tavarez, Ron Villone, Felix Rodriguez, Joe Blanton, Dan Jennings, Brad Lidge, Jonathon Papelbon

What’s worse, saying Ray King didn’t miss too many team meals, or saying I’m not sure what is bigger Ray King or his ERA. King was a serviceable lefty specialist for many years, just not the last one he pitched in Washington. He allowed 13 baserunners in six innings and was sent packing, never to resurface on a big-league team again.

In 2009 Tavarez joined his eleventh major league franchise when he signed on with the Nationals. Tavarez finished his career with a winning record, which was not helped by the 3-7 he posted for the Nats.

Another reliever who’d been tossed around the league, the Nationals were Ron Villone’s twelfth franchise. In fact he shared a bullpen with Tavarez in ’09 and won five games at the age of 39.

Felix Rodriguez, not to be confused with K-Rod, had a 7.67 ERA for the 2006 Nationals team. This proved he wasn’t the dominant version he was earlier in his career with the San Francisco Giants. No wonder he wasn’t able to find a big league suitor the following season.

If I had a dollar for every time I screamed Joe Blanton’s name in vain. Early in his career, as a starter with the Oakland A’s, he was a pitching machine. His 2016 year out of the Dodgers bullpen was promising as well when he posted a 7-2 record with 2.48 ERA. The Nats took the bait and he rewarded them with 51 games of middling relief work.

Dan Jennings was a part of the 2019 bullpen which was one of the worst in history. He lasted eight games, was wild, and gave up runs nearly every time out. After the Nats cut him the Yankees signed him to a minors deal, then cut him before he returned to the majors. He may resurface this season, I’m thinking not.

I was a big “Lights out Lidge” fan when he was closing for the Houston Astros. Then he was an All-Star with the Phillies. Then he was 0-8 in 2009 with the Phillies. By the time 2012 came around even I knew there was nothing left in the tank. Eleven games and ten earned runs later, the Nats agreed.

Had Jonathon Papelbon not chocked out Bryce Harper in the dugout, he’d still be closing in this league. Someone hire Matt Williams to manage so he can employ Papelbon again. He infamously sent the hurler to the mound the inning after the Harper debacle so you know he’d do it again.

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