Front page – Good Corbin:
Davey Martinez spoke to Patrick Corbin this winter as he reflected on the 33-year-old lefty’s (6-19) run in 2022. A 6.31 ERA, 4.83 FIP, 49 walks (2.89 BB/9), 128 strikeouts (7.55 K/9), and a .321/.374/.513 line in 31 appearances/year with the club A $40 million deal and 152 2⁄3 innings.
It was Corbin’s third consecutive rough season after Washington won his first World Series with the team in 2019.
But he went out and kept working to figure things out.
His determination and dedication impressed his manager.
“The fact that he had a ball every five days — I talked to him a lot about doing things with him, probably put him in the bullpen, and he wanted a ball. And I am grateful to him,” Martinez told reporters.
Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images
He started five games this season before Saturday afternoon’s game in the capital against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he didn’t have the numbers yet (5.88 ERA, 5.31 FIP, 2.77 BB/9, 6.58 K/9, .313/.355/.496 lines vs. 26 IP), but said the Knott’s sixth-year skipper was arguably the better pitcher so far.
“At that point, I think he was really attacking the strike zone and really moving forward,” Martinez said. I think you’re looking at the same Patrick Corbin now.
“I think he’s throwing the ball really well. It’s the best I’ve seen him in years. Also, what can I say about Patrick Corbin, the defense is much better. We is defending behind him and that makes a big difference.
“He really worked hard [Pitching Coach Jim] Hickey back in the truck, some mechanical stuff, his arm position and everything.
“He didn’t win the last game, but he threw the ball well and gave us six innings, so I hope he can play the same way today.”
Despite having the most hits of any eligible starter last year, recording allowable earned runs and losses in each of the past two seasons, and never leaving the game with a phantom limb injury. , the fact that he has been stealing the ball. The excuse is something Martinez admires, and he said it provided an example of a young member of a rebooting ball club.
![MLB: Game 1 with Washington Nationals - Pittsburgh Pirates](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/E91j0rnge2PZeq0b6io_KdkaHoM=/0x0:6594x4396/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:6594x4396):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24622441/usa_today_20562004.jpg)
Brad Mills – USA TODAY Sports
“It’s two things to me,” Martinez said of the idea that Corbin could have been injured, took some time and escaped the struggle.
“One is he’s a competitor. He’s going to bring the ball every five days,” Martinez said. , Do you want to skip the start, do you want to enter the bullpen?
“We tried everything with him and just had a conversation with him. No.
“He wanted to go there. He wanted to figure things out. He wanted to take the ball every five days.
“He wanted to show young kids that this is part of it. He’s going to deal with it.
“And I think that’s the second part. Young kids admire him for what he did. He got out there and took the ball no matter what.” He took the ball every five days it was great yeah he could have bailed us out but he didn’t go out there no matter what I sucked it up too, and was in the video room every time it started, looking for where it could get better.
“He was working out like he always does between starts to prepare for the next start.”
As Martinez said earlier, Corbin may have been trying too hard, putting pressure on himself and spinning his own wheels. The coaching staff tries to keep veterans out of their heads too much.
“He will be searched, so we have to keep a lot of information away from him,” Martinez told reporters on Saturday. “But like I said, as long as he’s attacking his fastball, his fastball is alive, he’s throwing strikes, he’s holding the ball down. Downs, sliders, changeups, all play with his fastball, and if he’s pointing the ball down, he’s going to be in great shape.
“He does his routine better than anyone else, ready to come on the pitch every five days and try to help us win.”
![MLB: Game 1 with Washington Nationals - Pittsburgh Pirates](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eQQr_grZX9M12tLx--pJs2Rtg34=/0x0:6697x4465/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:6697x4465):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24622443/usa_today_20563219.jpg)
Brad Mills – USA TODAY Sports
BACK PAGE – Nuts that drop both ends of the double header:
Corbin was only 5 1⁄3 In the first game of a doubleheader against the Pirates in DC, he gave up seven hits, three runs and a walk while striking out two in a 91-pitch outing.
“Early on, I thought I was pitching decently, but I wasn’t getting called,” Corbyn said after a 3-6 loss to the Bucks in the first half of a doubleheader. “I think the pitch count went up a little bit in the second and I was able to get out of there. But I felt a lot better after that.”
“Patrick threw the ball well,” Martinez said. Words by Mark Zuckerman of MASN.
“Look, [Corbin] Throw 27 pitches twice. He was there in pitching numbers. “
The Twinville nightcap was a disaster for the home team.
Martinez’s ballclub ended up giving up 17 hits, 7 walks and 16 earned runs in a 16–1 loss to the Pirates.
![Pittsburgh Pirates v Washington Nationals](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2JKOyfi8MLC3HUVFwAcdKl9vREw=/0x0:3405x2270/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3405x2270):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24622445/1486422436.jpg)
Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images
‘Everything was tough,’ said the manager about digging deep into the bullpen and losing big in just three innings 2⁄3 Starter Chad Kuhl’s IP (7 H, 4 BB, 8 ER).
“I have to forget about today and come back tomorrow and play good baseball,” he said.
“Hopefully we can get some length [Sunday starter] Josiah [Gray]And go from there.
“Today was not a good day. The first game was a walk [seven]The second game was delayed, walked, and the game got out of hand. “
The Nats went 3-16 on aggregate, with runners in scoring position in back-to-back Ls, and only three in scoring in the 16-1 loss. He got off to a disappointing start to his current homestand after taking 4 of 6 on trips to Minnesota and New York (NL).
“I hit some balls hard, but I couldn’t string the hits together,” Martinez said. “It was like that. We come back tomorrow and we have to win tomorrow. , Let’s play to win tomorrow.”
[ed. note – “At least Jeter Downs finally played.”]