Yesterday, Yahoo's Jeff Passan raised the spectre of what all of us Washington Nationals fans are dreading: an epically bad season. It's not far-fetched to think so. The Nats are coming off three consecutive last place finishes, and this year are without our only superstar, Alfonso Soriano. (You broke my heart when you left, you bastard!) We are minus our cleanup hitter, Nick Johnson, out with a broken leg indefinitely. But worst of all, we are without a pitching rotation.
I'd give $10 to anyone who can name a Nationals starter besides John Patterson (our putative #1, he would make a decent #3 on a good team). Manager Manny Acta would match my offer, because it's not like he knows either. We opened camp with the goal of sorting through 37 pitchers in the hopes of finding some warm bodies to eat innings this year.
Ok, so everyone knows we're in for a long, difficult year. But are we making progress toward rebuilding into a quality team? One thing we have going for us is that we don't have the Orioles' ownership--the Lerners have got Stan Kasten (architect of the '90s Braves) and I trust Kasten to do a terrific job.
My favorite column on the Nationals was Tom Boswell's comparison of the Nats right now to Kasten's early Braves teams--and apparently we're on track, even ahead of schedule. Yeah, the rotation's still lacking, but at least the lineup is coming together nicely.
All indications are that Ryan Zimmerman is going to become one of the league's next superstars, and he's going to be with us for years to come. A healthy Nick Johnson brings more power to the lineup. Last year's trades for Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez also fill key positions with competent players. Then there's Brian Schneider, who Nats fans love. I wish he hit better, but he is a good defensive catcher and the perfect guy to manage a pitching staff.
Boswell also identifies Chad Cordero, our solid closer, and Patterson as the remaining core Nationals players this team will be built around. There's also a host of young players on this squad that have a lot of potential. Also, with the new stadium on pace to open next year (check out this sweet site tracking the progress), the Nats have money to spend on attracting quality free agents.
This team is just two good starters away from being a competitive team, and only a few more pieces beyond that from being a top-flite contender. The Nationals bandwagon hasn't started rolling yet, but I'm fully confident in a couple years everyone's going to want a piece of that curly 'W'!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Nationals: Bad Now, But Maybe Good Soon?
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Yeah, the Alfonso Soriano situation is a drag for Nationals fans. As hard as it sounds and would been for Nationals fans to swallow last year, they should of traded Soriano for starting pitching instead lose him for just a sandwich draft pick between the 1st and 2nd round.
As for the rotation, yes it's a total mess behind Patterson. At least he's back, or it would be even more of one. A nice arm I think would of helped Washington would been Mark Redman, who's always been an under the radar pitcher and always been nice in the NL. He's better than Steve Trachsel(who got $3.8M) and a lot of other pitchers who got guaranteed deals.
Next, the lineup in parts is a mess. Logan has no place in a MLB lineup. With Ryan Church, who wields way more power, and Logan who has no has no offense whatsoever, I fail to understand why Acta wants him as a starter, yes I understand he can steal, but with his lackluster OBP, it isn't like he's getting much chances, you have to get on base first to steal second.
Next, I can't understand what the Nationals fixation is with Christian Guzman, he's also another no-hit infielder. You think they want to move Felipe Lopez over to short and then start non-roster invitee Ron Belliard at second, which would help them leaps and bound offense wise.
Like I said last year, I love the trades for Lopez and Kearns and Bowden needs to keep those types of trades up. More of the reason why he should of pulled the trigger on a Soriano trade, there was no way he was staying with his market value. Should of cashed in on him.
Next, I find a lot of problems with handing a job to Dmitri Young, and sending down prospect Larry Broadway who probably is on the way out with Washington. Remember this is the same Young, who faded away and was released with Detroit, I have no reason to believe he will outhit the talented Broadway why Johnson is out.
Next, switching to Nationals ownership, the Lerners need to do something, though in my mind should of did more over the winter to sign more than six year free agents to patch the starting rotation.
Though this should come as a good sign for all Nationals fans, Jose Rijo and the Nationals have acted quickly in the Caribbean signing numerous talented youngsters this winter. Something I wish Orioles management do more of.
Switching to Orioles management, yes I agree it has been a frustating nine years, but I think that there management finally has bought a clue. And we more than all know who the culprit of the mess in Charm City is, Peter Angelos.
Though, Washington has a very talented core group of youngsters: Ryan Zimmerman, Felipe Lopez, Austin Kearns, Nick Johnson(when he gets back), John Patterson, and Chad Cordero.
As for those other starters: Matt Chico, Jason Simontacchi, Jerome Williams, Jason Bergmann
Also, Pedro Astacio plans to play a role sometime down the line, but at least will spend a month in AAA Columbus to get underway and get innings under the belt
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