thelesterlee
On Saturday night, the Washington Nationals lost 7-8 to the Colorado Rockies. Nationals closer, Kyle Finnegan, made a bit of an error. Stepped on rake, if you will. With the bases loaded and the count full, Rockies third baseman, Ryan McMahon, was awarded a free base, resulting in a walk-off victory for Colorado thanks to Kyle Finnegan violating the pitch clock.
WALK-OFF PITCH CLOCK VIOLATION! pic.twitter.com/77Y0HiM6Nd
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 23, 2024
The Washington Nationals fall to 37-39 after handing the Rockies a free W. Fortunately, every team makes the playoffs so Washington is still only 1.5 games out of getting a wildcard spot.
Here’s what Finnegan said about blowing the game:
“I thought I picked up the clock. I guess by the time I picked up and looked at the catcher and delivered the pitch, I was just a hair too late. Those situations, it just can’t happen. We deserved to win, and I wasn’t able to do my job.”
But no one should be shocked by what happened out there. Kyle Finnegan leads the Majors with 9 pitch clock violations. No one else has more than 5. And Finnegan’s just the closer. He pitches 1 inning a game a couple times a week and he is getting absolutely jumped by the pitch clock.
You never want to suffer a historic loss against a last-place team but this Nationals team is at a crossroads. With the trade deadline coming up, Washington has to decide if they’ll be adding talent to make a big postseason push or selling talent to kick the can down the road and get more lotto tickets in their farm system.
Should the Nationals be buyers or sellers?
Let’s use a recent Washington sports example to help paint the picture here. In 2020, the Wizards traded John Wall and a first-round pick for Russell Westbrook. The circumstances were a little different considering John Wall was physically unable to play basketball but the Wizards have been in hell all for a first-round exit.
I want every team to go all in for the championship but if the Nationals can get some top prospects for, say, Kyle Finnegan, then they should consider that option.
Finnegan is third in all of baseball with 21 saves with a 172 ERA+.
Maybe if a contender brings in Finnegan, he’d be more comfortable pitching the 7th or 8th innings, allowing him to relax a little more and get the ball out of his glove before the pitch clock runs out.
Trade Finnegan and you win Saturday’s game. *wipes hands clean* my job is done here.
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What is wrong is Kyle Finnegan? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee. Let me know if you think the Nationals should be buyers or sellers.
