On Monday, the Washington Nationals went into their game at Houston with an exhausted bullpen. The relief crew had thrown 241 pitches over the past three days, and asking them to pitch much Monday night would be inhumane.
On the way to the game, Nats manager Davey Johnson asked that night's starting pitcher, Jason Marquis, to merely pitch a complete game, a feat that, in today's game, only the best accomplish more than a few times in a season. Marquis responded with a dazzling eight-inning, nine-strikeout, one-walk gem.
He was clearly inspired to that performance, and he admitted as much after the game. This leads me to two observations. First, he must believe in this team. And second, especially if the first is true, it makes me think less of the idea of trading him. I get why we'd trade him--we have more pressing areas that we could fill by dealing a back-of-rotation starter--but if we can sign a good extension with a guy who has won at least 10 games five of the past six seasons and shows that level of character, the Nats should be looking only at deals that knock our socks off.
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