tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post1713644658152035866..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Position analysis: RotationMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-54440672280408296352011-10-08T21:17:45.364-04:002011-10-08T21:17:45.364-04:00or I guess he's a possibilty for super 2. has ...or I guess he's a possibilty for super 2. has that been announced yet? not till after the WS, I think.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14109288910583404941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-32217790728150086642011-10-08T21:07:34.929-04:002011-10-08T21:07:34.929-04:00Zimmermann isn't arb eligible this year.Zimmermann isn't arb eligible this year.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14109288910583404941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-27893668327954495322011-10-06T23:05:38.402-04:002011-10-06T23:05:38.402-04:00or Tegwar
FS
They would sign him to a 5 year con...or Tegwar<br /><br />FS<br /><br />They would sign him to a 5 year contract extension at around 85 to 90 million.<br /><br />I take Rizzo at his word he wants an impact pitcher. We saw what he reportedly was going to give up for Greinke and Cain has post season experience and he has tried to get him before.<br /><br />Outside of Espinosa or Desmond The Nats would not give up any current roster players and they may be able to fill that position with with Lombo. Cain is still young 27 and Rizzo would have the trio of pitcher he says he wants. The pitching staff would be set for the next 3 or 4 years barring injury and Cassandra could tell us about that if we would only listen to her. <br /><br />The Giants would like a better bat than the Nats can offer and I was going to suggest Morse except I did not want to hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth. If you look at the Halladay trade that the Phillie's made with Toronto it would have to be close to that. <br /><br />There are only a few impact pitchers that the Nats have a chance of signing next year. CC is not coming here, Oswalt might but he would cost as much as Cain is 8 years older and C.J. Wilson is going to want a long term contract and is 3 years older and does not have the same track record as Cain. <br /><br />It will take a lot to pry Cain from the Giants and it might not make the Nats better next year but if Harper and Rendon make it up by 2013 the Nationals would be a playoff caliber team.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-46488464577822931282011-10-06T22:30:44.850-04:002011-10-06T22:30:44.850-04:00FS said...
What amazes me most is about the range ...FS said...<br />What amazes me most is about the range of confidence shown in the offense. Some have written us off like we are Padres of '11 and some are banking on us to produce like the Yankees of '09.<br />------------------------------<br /><br />The 2011 Nats scored 624 runs. Even if we get that high OBP outfielder and LaRoche returns to his career norms, I'm thinking we're still a lot closer to the Padres of '11 (593 runs scored) than the '09 Yankees (915 runs scored).Eugene in Oregonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-27212338382142498062011-10-06T22:05:42.648-04:002011-10-06T22:05:42.648-04:00I believe Japanese players have to go through post...I believe Japanese players have to go through posting system to get signed by a MLB team. I can't imagine the amount of money it will take to sign this guy. Don't think Nationals could afford that.<br /><br />It does not make sense to give up too much for one year rental of Matt Cain. He will soon hit free agency, we should wait for that if interested.<br /><br />What amazes me most is about the range of confidence shown in the offense. Some have written us off like we are Padres of '11 and some are banking on us to produce like the Yankees of '09.FSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-37015254233335048462011-10-06T21:52:03.915-04:002011-10-06T21:52:03.915-04:00or Tegwar
The Giants are going to go after Reyes ...or Tegwar<br /><br />The Giants are going to go after Reyes big. No contending team needs a SS more than they do. If the Giants don't get Reyes the Nationals may be able to pull off the big Rizzo trade that will upset most of the people on this board. Who will they get from the Giants? Matt Cain! Sounds impossible, The Giants payroll is starting to get too high Cain is getting a 10 million dollar raise next year and it will be his walk year, Lincecum becomes a FA in 2014 and they will need to lock him up sometime next year. Matt Cain is an elite pitcher that Rizzo covets. Rizzo has tried to trade for him before.<br /><br />What will it take to get him? The Giants will get to pick either Desmond or Espinosa and a good young pitcher maybe Peacock or Cole someone with upside and low cost, the Nat will probably throw Bernadina in. The Giants will ask for Storen but Rizzo probably won't trade him.<br /><br />The Giants will get a SS next year and they will need to reduce payroll somehow. The pieces for this trade are there and Rizzo really likes Cain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-2675889399057115282011-10-06T21:34:17.149-04:002011-10-06T21:34:17.149-04:00It gives me no pleasure to predict this, but -- ju...It gives me no pleasure to predict this, but -- just like last year with LaRoche and Zimmerman -- someone we expect to produce will spend significant time on the DL next season. Get some more bats.Cassandra, yet again,noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-51067482176337644552011-10-06T21:26:25.181-04:002011-10-06T21:26:25.181-04:00This years rotation was 7th in the NL and put the ...This years rotation was 7th in the NL and put the team in position for its first winning season in DC. And it's going to improve. Pitchers are never 100% after their first year coming back from Tommy John so Znn who at one point had a 2.6something ERA will be even better than he was this year while pitching a full year. Then you have Stephen "Jeezus" Strasburg who will be better than Znn coming off TJ. <br />Lannan has always put this team in position to win. And he is a clubhouse leader. The only reason to trade him would be if there is someone else better. That means Peacock, Milone, Detwiler if they are ready for the rotation.<br />Wang satisfies as the free-agent acquisition. He's a former #1 starter, Cy Young, and 19-game winner. yeah he's coming off of injury but he's better than Jackson and Wilson will resign with Texas. What more do you want?<br />What needs to improve is the offense. But it doesn't necessarily need a free-agent. The offense missed its best player (Zimmerman) for half the season. And Laroche will come back next year. <br />Lineup:<br />Desmond: in his third year and he gets better every year<br />Espinosa: first half NLROY frontrunner<br />Zimmerman: face of the franchise for good reason<br />Morse: 31 HR, almost 100 RBI, .303 average=Beast Mode<br />Laroche: had 25 HR past 3 seasons<br />Werth: will pick it up after a down year<br />Ramos: one of baseballs best catching prospects<br />CF: position may still need to be filled but Ankiel or the Shark may be alrightAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-57786975162892452572011-10-06T21:00:00.696-04:002011-10-06T21:00:00.696-04:00Anon 7:43: Reyes could be a consideration for the ...Anon 7:43: Reyes could be a consideration for the Nationals, but not at the salary terms you state. He'll be looking for a long-term agreement (5-8 years), with a likely AAV of between $13-20M. Do you really think Rizzo & the Lerners are willing to sign off on another 7-year contract in excess of $120M for a leadoff hitting SS with no power and a spotty health record?BinMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-52301940574133249922011-10-06T20:38:37.367-04:002011-10-06T20:38:37.367-04:00NatsLady: Here's the return data on the LR can...NatsLady: Here's the return data on the LR candidates; I mixed & matched between 2011 & career numbers to make it look more like a standardized set. <br /><br />Long Relief prospects - 2012<br />(all stats via Baseball-Reference.com) <br />Gorzelanny, Tom (L) - 2011 <br />vs RHB - 349PA, .287/.351/.476, 13HRA, 2.36:1K-W.<br />vs LHB - 98PA, .157/.216/.281, 2HRA, 5.80:1K-W. <br />Balester, Collin (R) - career <br />vs RHB - 399PA, .271/.332/.469, 16HRA, 3.00:1K-W. <br />vs LHB - 342PA, .275/.364/.490, 15HRA, 1.32:1K-W. <br />Hernandez, Livan (R) - 2011 <br />vs RHB - 398PA, .286/.324/.431, 9HRA, 2.75:1K-W. <br />vs LHB - 353PA, .297/.352/.438, 7HRA, 1.69:1K-W. <br />Maya, Yuniesky (R) - career <br />vs RHB - 132PA, .313/.394/.473, 3HRA, 1.00:1K-W. <br />vs LHB - 128PA, .307/.357/.456, 3HRA, 1.75:1K-W. <br />Stammen, Craig (R) - career <br />vs RHB - 547PA, .273/.332/.475, 17HRA, 2.24:1K-W. <br />vs LHB - 501PA, .283/.320/.427, 10HRA, 1.83:1K-W. <br /><br />Long story short, Gorzelanny killed it against LHB, but gets mashed by RHB. The best compromise Long Relief candidate is probably Stammen, then Livo, IMHO.BinMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-14336014711724405312011-10-06T19:55:50.831-04:002011-10-06T19:55:50.831-04:00I agree with BinM on Antonelli, and I'm a fan....I agree with BinM on Antonelli, and I'm a fan. He's a minor league free agent and with his background and a strong season in Syracuse he may well have earned a spot on a 40 man roster someplace. Unless there's a trade, I can't see the Nationals making that space for him at this point. They already have eight IF on the roster (not counting Cora, who is a FA, or Morse).<br /><br />Given Antonelli's age (he turns 27 in April; Lombardozzi just turned 23 a couple of weeks ago) I'd like to see the Nationals give him a shot at the Cora/Hairston role. I think they were grooming him for that at Syracuse - he played 25 games at 2b, 44 at 3rd, 19 at SS and 6 in LF. But I have no idea how effective he was at those positions, and the Nationals may want a veteran in that role. I do hope that he gets a chance somewhere, though. And if no one offers him a spot on a 40 man roster, I hope the Nationals invite him to ST to compete for a spot on the roster.<br /><br />On pitching, I'm surprised that no one has yet mentioned Yu Darvish as an option. Doesn't even cost a draft pick! :)John C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-48748129653359084842011-10-06T19:55:26.369-04:002011-10-06T19:55:26.369-04:00NatsLady: The jury is still under deliberation on ...NatsLady: The jury is still under deliberation on Gorzelanny; He's arb-eligible (again) and as MarkZ noted, the Nats might choose to opt-out on what they see as a long reliever earning $2.5M+ for 2012. <br /><br />For the Long Relief, "Miss Iowa" job, I'd look for a pitcher with better-than-average BAA/WHIP splits against hitters from either side of the plate, capable of 30GP+ & over 2IP per appearance. Current candidates would include Livo, Maya, Balester, Stammen, & Gorzelanny, or reaching out to the FA market. I haven't done the supporting research, but there's a starting list at least.BinMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-37403241062789687662011-10-06T19:43:45.738-04:002011-10-06T19:43:45.738-04:00Back to Reyes.
As has been mentioned 100 times in...Back to Reyes.<br /><br />As has been mentioned 100 times in this threat; our pitching is OK, our starters good for 5, our bullpen excellent.<br /><br />Our offense has been weak. Lot of reasons. LaRoche disaster. Desmond disaster. Werth disaster ...<br /><br />but the fact remains that we need to improve our offense. A stud CF or a stud SS(or 2nd baseman) are the best places to look. CF because our production was so bad; SS because there is a good free agent class to mine. 2nd because Espinoza did slump and could move to 2nd or be traded.<br /><br />It would be advisable to not let our defense deteriorate. So that's another bullet in favor of keeping Espinoza another year.<br /><br />How are you going to get a CF in this market? Trade Desmond/Espinoza/Peacock+<br /><br />How are you going to get a SS in this market? Write a check.<br /><br />I hear that Reyes is a head case; I hear that Reyes is oft-injured, I hear that Reyes is only playing well because its a contract year.<br /><br />Guess what. Bad Reyes is better than good Desmond both at the plate and in the field. Good Reyes is really, really good.<br /><br />Davey can handle Reyes. If Reyes is hurt, you try to plug the gap with Desmond (if not traded), Lombardozzi or a Bixler/Hairston. Not really much different than keeping Desmond imho.<br /><br />How can I improve the team the most? Reyes!<br />How can I give up the least? Reyes!<br />How can I hurt division foes the most? Rollins :) Though Reyes is a close 2nd!<br /><br />It would be insane not to try to bid up both Rollins and Reyes. If they don't come here, we'd like both to leave the division.<br /><br />One more point, there is alot of concern about payroll on the thread. Get real. In the short term, we have a really, really cheap pitching staff. What are the Phillies paying for Halladay,Lee,Oswalt, Hamels? Top dollar all. Stras, JZim, Peacock, Clippard, Storen, Detweiller, Wang all promise to be bargin basement.<br /><br />What are the Phillies paying for Howard, Utley, Rollins? Top dollar; we are paying top dollar for Werth. Zimmerman is due a raise; but that's really it. <br /><br />Sign Reyes for big money upfront (3 years*20M + 2 years at 15M) mutual options. By the time Rendon is ready and Espinoza is proven, we are either ready to flip Reyes or keep him. In other words, spend on Reyes now when Payroll is artificially low and move him or at least watch his salary drop when our young guns start getting raises.<br /><br />I am screaming it from the rooftops; get a shortstop!<br /><br />Reyes will like the idea. Money upfront is the best money, and few teams structure deals that way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-37068810019283649182011-10-06T19:42:59.612-04:002011-10-06T19:42:59.612-04:00Tragic, that is.
Cassandra said...
You don&#...Tragic, that is.<br /><br />Cassandra said...<br /><br /> You don't have to listen to me -- my dad never didThe Chorusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-68086506464367834902011-10-06T19:14:20.787-04:002011-10-06T19:14:20.787-04:00I think the Nats are going to have to keep Gorzy d...I think the Nats are going to have to keep Gorzy despite his high price for a long reliever, and that will let out Livo, i'm sorry to say. I don't think another team will take him, as evidenced by his clearing waivers, and I think he is just marginally enough valuable not to be released. Teams might trade for Lannan, but they aren't going for Gorzy, IMO.<br /><br />Gorzy will take the Miss Iowa job, rain delays, starter gets lit up early, platoon for a pitcher comming off the DL if/when that happens. I don't think you can even think of beginning the season with Gorzy in the rotation, there are too many other solid candidates.NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-108863377893665612011-10-06T18:31:38.386-04:002011-10-06T18:31:38.386-04:00Cassandra: You raise a very good point. A team can...Cassandra: You raise a very good point. A team can't be thinking only 5-6 pitchers deep for a starting rotation anymore (see BOS-2011), but needs to have a reasonable comfort level down to ten starters deep if they think they could contend. <br />The 2012 Nationals might be close to that depth level, with what they had in-hand at the end of 2011 (Strasburg, JZimm, Wang, Lannan, Detwiler, Milone, Peacock, Livo, Maya, Gorzelanny & Stammen). You're rarely going to be capable of replacing an 'ace' with another 'ace', but if the pipeline contains talent, the dings & dents that a season brings don't look as bad.BinMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-79113290382201505992011-10-06T18:16:09.279-04:002011-10-06T18:16:09.279-04:00Anon@5:55 said: "I don't know what games ...Anon@5:55 said: "I don't know what games you have been watching but Peacock looks to be the real deal, why waste money on guys who are going to give you a mid 4 ERA. Peacock will give me that and his upside is a lot higher. If he develops one more pitch he's your #3. "<br /><br />I think that the Nats consider Peacock to be trade bait. I keep thinking about what Johnson said when he was shut down at the end of the season: There was no reason for him to pitch again, because we've seen what he can do, and the rest of the clubs have seen it as well. <br /><br />Sounds to me like Peacock was being showcased, and it would not surprise me at all to see him included in a package for a CF, big name starter, or whatever.Nats Outsidernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-57348385190612248742011-10-06T18:15:30.355-04:002011-10-06T18:15:30.355-04:00Antonelli was mentioned above in the Jamey Carroll...Antonelli was mentioned above in the Jamey Carroll post.Gonatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-18176721571751660302011-10-06T18:13:33.492-04:002011-10-06T18:13:33.492-04:00Anon 5:59: Antonelli had a good season in SYR, but...Anon 5:59: Antonelli had a good season in SYR, but got lost in the shuffle between Bixler's early season start (.314/.439/.407) that earned him the callup, and Lombardozzi's climb (.309/360/.430 in HAR/SYR). He'll be a minor-league FA this off-season, so maybe the Nationals will bring him back, but his future may lie elswhere.BinMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-20756274006318690282011-10-06T18:09:23.789-04:002011-10-06T18:09:23.789-04:00You don't have to listen to me -- my dad never...You don't have to listen to me -- my dad never did -- but remember that a typical rotation is going to lose at least one full starting pitcher-equivalent to the DL each season. Such a loss may come in little chunks or it may come all at once, but that's the norm. And it could easily be more. The Nats need to be prepared with a six (or seven) man rotation. Two of those should probably be Milone and Peacock, starting the year in AAA and ready to be called up (and sent back down) as needed.Cassandranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-50036450027816519912011-10-06T17:59:44.774-04:002011-10-06T17:59:44.774-04:00Just a question? Why is no one talking about Mat...Just a question? Why is no one talking about Matt Antonelli? His OPS is .390 with Syracuse. Does he deserve a look or not?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-64080250941605483922011-10-06T17:57:29.321-04:002011-10-06T17:57:29.321-04:00The starting rotation is finally showing some real...The starting rotation is finally showing some real depth percolating up from the minors, after six years in the wilderness. While Rizzo still states his desire for another SP to add to the mix, at least it's no longer an imperative. As 2011 showed, the combo of Marquis & Strasburg coming back from injury basically covered the inability to sign a pitcher in the 2010 hot-stove season.<br /><br />This off season, should an SP with a reasonable-length contract (2 year +/-) become available through trade or via Free Agency, Rizzo should grab him. Otherwise, play the hand he currently holds (including Wang, Gorzelanny & Livo), and focus on adding to the offense; A gain of 1/2 run per game could go a long way toward making the existing staff better in wins & losses.BinMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-60269797367413596562011-10-06T17:56:12.233-04:002011-10-06T17:56:12.233-04:00Smart, a 2 year rental of Alex Gordon for all of t...Smart, a 2 year rental of Alex Gordon for all of that? I would almost consider that trade but I would try not to include Lombo. Better chance to get Alex Gordon on July 31st as a trade deadline deal. I would do that exact deal for Gordon and Lorenzo Cain. <br /><br />By the way, that's the best trade name I have seen in a while. I would love to see Rizzo be that creative.Anonymous8noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-35503893287599610802011-10-06T17:55:15.711-04:002011-10-06T17:55:15.711-04:00I don't know what games you have been watching...I don't know what games you have been watching but Peacock looks to be the real deal, why waste money on guys who are going to give you a mid 4 ERA. Peacock will give me that and his upside is a lot higher. If he develops one more pitch he's your #3. The Nats problem is not pitching, it's finding someone who can drive in a runner from third base with less than two outs. How many games did we lose because of strikeouts in that situation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-2601089276836057572011-10-06T17:35:20.037-04:002011-10-06T17:35:20.037-04:00Ok, Max, that's a little more reasonable than ...Ok, Max, that's a little more reasonable than trying to get Ellsbury from the Red Sox, but I still think you're feeling the effects of that 'cocktail' that CHAOS slipped you. Why don't you take Agent 99 out for dinner? She'd like that.The Chiefnoreply@blogger.com