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How the Nationals can solve the Jonathan Papelbon conundrum
- Updated: July 29, 2016
11:55 AM ET
Happy anniversary, Jonathan Papelbon. One year to the day after he was acquired by the Washington Nationals, the veteran closer received … a quick hook from manager Dusty Baker.
With a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning of Thursday’s game against San Francisco, the Nats’ skipper pulled Papelbon after watching him put two of the first three batters he faced on base (single, walk). The early exit comes on the heels of two straight blown saves in which Papelbon allowed a total of 10 baserunners and six earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning. On the season, the 35-year-old righty is carrying a bloated 4.41 ERA and an even more bloated 1.47 WHIP.
Yikes.
Following the game, according to MASN’s Mark Zuckerman, Baker told reporters that it was too soon after the implosion to make any decisions, but that “we certainly have to figure out something there.” Although I’m not fluent in subtext, my 16 years of wedded bliss have rendered me somewhat conversational in this often-misunderstood language. And I’m pretty sure that Baker’s subtext here was something along the lines of: “Right now, I absolutely don’t trust Jonathan Papelbon.”
In other words, a shiny silver hook might not be the only thing that Papelbon gets for his anniversary. He also could be in line for an all-expenses paid trip out of the closer’s role. Or out of town. Or both.
Jonathan Papelbon’s quick hook on Thursday night showed that the veteran closer doesn’t have the trust of Nationals manager Dusty Baker. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
With just over two months left in the season and only four days left until the trade deadline, here are four possible solutions to the Nationals’ closer conundrum:
1. Keep Papelbon as the closer. Given Washington’s recent history with closers, this seems highly unlikely. Right now, the Nats have a five-game lead in the NL East and are on pace to finish with 95 wins. That’s three fewer W’s than in 2012, when D.C. fans …
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