Resolved

A team that gets better in the second half has a good GM. A team that gets worse in the second half has a bad GM. The Nationals have a bad GM. (Then again, Tampa has been winning, too.)

Sunday's game was just unbelieveable. I mostly blame the players for only getting four hits in 14 innings, but Frank Robinson's managing was just terrible.

1. In the 8th inning, Jamie Carroll -- not Kelly -- should have ran for Bennett. If the only thing Kelly can do is pinch run, he shouldn't have a roster spot.
   
2. With a day off on Monday, Chad Cordero only pitched 12 pitches. He definitely could and should have come out in the 10th inning, saving Ayala until the 11th.
3. If Ryan Drese was going to be employed as an emergency pinch runner in the 9th (which seemed okay, given the terrible roster and all the injuries that further limit the team's choices), why wasn't he ready to go onto the field sooner? Where was he?
4. Majewski, not Stanton, should have relieved Ayala in the 11th. However, once the decision to bring in the inferior pitcher was made, he should have finished the inning so Carassco didn't have to throw 50 pitches in relief.

This team is losing because it's not scoring enough runs. When it was winning, it did so because Jose Guillen and Nick Johnson were doing all the work. Lately, Guillen has been terrible, and Johnson has been injured. So, there are no hitters left on this team. I'm a total and complete pessimist. When my first-of-the-month predicted standings are released, I might have the Nationals in last.