Computers

Former N C State Shortstop Trea Turner has been called up to the Washington Nationals as another Nationals player is on the 15 day disabled list.  He got the call up in September last year after Syracuse fell out of the AAA playoffs.  He almost made the opening day roster back in April but the Nationals sent him back to the Chiefs for defense.

If Turner gets sent back to Syracuse you would have to wonder what in the world is the management thinking.  So far since his recall he is hitting 308.  He has played short and second and could be used in the outfield if needed.  Wednesday night Turner stole home for  only the third time in Washington Nationals history however short that history might be.

Where Turner has turned  on Major League baseball is what he did before the steal of home.  These days computers check and time everything.  Tuesday night Turner tripled and the computer said his 270 foot  run from home to third base was at 22.4 miles and hour.  Now as a fan that watches baseball and have seen turner run live at  N C State I know he is fast but how fast is fast?  The computers clocked him running at 22.4 miles per hour.  Still what does that mean to me an you.  22.4 miles an hour is the third fastest any player has run a triple in Major League Baseball this year.  That was Tuesday.

The reason Turner was on third Wednesday night was he got another triple and this time the computers say he ran at 22.7 miles and hour which is the fastest anyone has made it to third on a triple this season.  If you go on MLB.com and watch both the triple and the steal of home there is no doubt speed kills.

Trea Turner is the fastest man in major league baseball.  Much like just a couple of weeks ago we talked about Whit Merrifield  getting the folks in Kansas City excited, DC is koo koo for Trea Turner.  His speed can get to grounders that other players let go as hits.  Pop ups are catchable almost any where on the field  for him. 

I doubt that Trea Turner will ever visit a minor league baseball field again unless it is an injury rehab assignment. Turner's good fortune is hindering our very own Brian Goodwin.  Brian is tearing up pitching since he has returned from the AAA All Star game.  His average is back up to 293 after having dipped to 282 two weeks ago.  Brian is an outfielder so Turners who is an infielder/outfielder just may take any opening that could go to Brian.

When you look at the shortstop and centerfielder that have played for the Nationals  all season their  batting averages are dismal.  There is no reason that Turner should not be at short and give Brian his shot in center.  Just maybe Turner's success will open the eyes of Washington's management to see why in the world to you keep guys in starting jobs in the majors when your AAA club has replacements to do better than the starters they have now.

Michael Taylor has been the main centerfielder for most of the year.  He is hitting 226 while Brian  is 293.  Brian has driven in 52 runs while Taylor 14.  Brian has one triple and none for Taylor.  doubles Brian leads 23-10.  Stolen bases is 13 out 16 for Goodwin and 10/13 for Taylor.  I truly think something is going to happen for  Brian Goodwin before the trade deadline August 1st..  He is either going to get traded or they have to bring him up.  He's playing a whole lot better than what they have in centerfield now.