All right, so think about how frustrating some parts of the 2018 season has been for the Chicago Cubs. OK, now multiply that by 1,000 and you kind of have an idea of how Washington Nationals fans feel. You can’t ask for a team with more talent and yet the Nationals are currently outside of the playoff picture and things don’t seem to be getting any better.
They were one strike away from a great series win at Wrigley Field, but David Bote and the Cubs might have just finished breaking Washington’s bullpen.
The Nationals already have Kelvin Herrera and Sean Doolittle on the disabled list and that comes after trading away Brandon Kintzler to the Cubs and Shawn Kelley to the Oakland A’s.
After Bote’s walk-off grand slam on Sunday, Ryan Madson did something that you don’t usually see many pro athletes do, at least not immediately after blowing a game like that. Madson basically blamed his struggles in the ninth inning against the Cubs on an injury.
Madson said Contreras didn’t bother him. Instead, revealed he’s been dealing with back pain that sends shooting pain down his leg, made it hard to finish pitches and maintain accuracy.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) August 13, 2018
Yet, all that was news to Washington’s manager Davey Martinez too, as he later said he was surprised.
Davey said he was “very” surprised to learn Madson was hurt. Wished he had told him sooner, or even in the middle of the inning when he could have brought in Miller.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) August 13, 2018
And hey, just like I haven’t questioned Yu Darvish during his recovery, I’m not going to question how hurt Madson was and is, but he doesn’t think he’ll need to go on the DL.
Regardless, the Nationals’ bullpen is in complete disarray. It was a tough spot during Friday’s game against the Cubs, but they couldn’t hold on to a 2-0 lead and of course there was the blown save on Sunday.
Then came Monday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. After tying the game in the top of the ninth inning, Martinez went to Koda Glover and in his third relief outing of the year…
DeJong DeLivers the mic drop! 🎤 pic.twitter.com/mOyVyl6baM
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 14, 2018
Before that, the Nationals’ bullpen blew a 4-2 lead in the eighth inning.
It was already looking bad, but that David Bote walk-off grand slam might have just derailed the Washington Nationals.
