Friday, June 17, 2011
Beltway Baseball Live - 6/17/11
Thanks for watching today's live edition of Beltway Baseball, and thanks for your questions. If you missed the show, here it is in its entirety.
In Part 1 above, we discuss the Nats' winning streak, the impact of Ryan Zimmerman's return and the emergence of Michael Morse as an offensive force.
In Part 2 below, we take your questions on possible trade bait, possible upcoming roster moves and the possibility of the Nats needing to significantly increase payroll in a few years.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
22 comments:
Mark.. do you think that they would trade Coffey and Clip away? Seems like they have a lot of buzz about other teams raiding our bullpen. I DON'T want that to happen. That bullpen has been one of our strengths and if we want to get to respectability and eventually content.. we HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD PEN!!!!
Who do the Nats make a roster move on Sunday to make a spot for Gorzelanny?
Ankiel to the DL, Bixler to AAA or Stairs to coaching? Or do they surprise us and send Balester back?
There always seems to be a sense of detachment by the ownership group but I always notice Mark Lerner in his box behind the ondeck circle.
Who is seen as the primary spokesman for the ownership group and are they deemed as accessible?
When will the Nats offense get back on track? I don't think I can eat another wing.
Any update on Chien Ming Wang? Last I heard they shifted him to the DL.
Any chance Morse goes to the HR Derby?
Once Marquis gets traded, will they resume the Maya experiment? Or have Rizzo et al learned the lesson, and who will they move on to?
What are the odds that Marquis and Livan are Nationals on August 1, 2011 and April 1, 2012?
NeatoTorpedo.... I saw Wang's last outing in extended ST 2 weeks ago and it was pretty bad. It wouldn'y suprise me that they assign him to the Gulf Coast Rookie League for his initial rehab starts, altough I haven't seen his name moved anywhere yet.
All the excitement with the winning lateley has taken Harper off the front page. What's the latest projection for him for this year? Potomac by the end of the month? Might he end the season there? Could they move him straight to Harrisburg? When? What's your best guess at this point for him next year?
Looking down the road: how many BIG contracts do you see the team carrying? When it's time to extend a lot of these youngsters, given the growing plethora of talent in the system, obviously you can't extend everybody (Espy, The Zims, Ramos, Harper, Morse, Stras...). Do you see what I'm getting at? If ALL these guys are the real thing, how do you decide who to keep? Werth is prolly here for seven years (tough to trade that contract).
I see two factors in play: who can you replace, from the system, and who markets the team the most effectively. Trading stars, for high level prospects, would seem to perpetuate the talent level.
Been kicking it around, to myself....
What do you think about extending contracts for Jason Marquis, Pudge, and Ryan Zimmerman? I would throw in Laynce Nix but that seems a 'Bowdenesque' move or does it?
Jesus Flores isn't making great strides in Syracuse and Pudge has fit so well into the backup role. When he looks fresh, he produces. He fits in well here and if the Nats trade him they only get a 'Cutter Dykstra'.
Jason Marquis is a more interesting situation as he won't get much in trade value as a short term rental and most likely won't qualify as a Type B free agent after this season but if the Nats extend him and average his 2011 and a good 2012 then you possibly turn him into a Type A free agent and his value skyrockets at that point. All a lot of "ifs" but should be worth the gamble as the Nats will need a #3 behind Stras and JZim in 2012 regardless.
Ryan Zimmerman is still under contract for 2 1/2 more years and if you extend him now, the picture becomes clearer on his future. I think regardless, Rendon has to in the short run be treated like he will be here in late 2012 or 2013 unless he needs shoulder surgery. Since you have Zim under contract through 2013, I don't see Zim at his age making a position change just yet although I agree with Mark Z's comment last week that Zim at some point will be a 1st baseman. It would be nice to place Rendon in the system at a position that we know he will play for a few seasons. I don't see why you mess with changing Danny Espinosa's position at 2nd either so I see Rendon as a Leftfielder of the near future. I could also see Jayson Werth as a future 1st baseman depending on the future of Michael Morse who is also here through 2013.
Mark
What is the likelihood that Rizzo makes a move for a CF this trading deadline? And if he does, who are the likely targets - Bourn and Upton as rumored, or someone else below the radar?
"I don't see Zim at his age making a position change just yet although I agree with Mark Z's comment last week that Zim at some point will be a 1st baseman."
Why? Did Cal Ripken become a first baseman? Did Brooks Robinson become a first baseman? Will Alex Rodriguez become a first baseman? What's the inadequacy in Ryan Zimmerman's game that's going to force him to become a first baseman? Competition from Rendon, who at this point is a totally unproven commodity? It seems much more likely that they'd make Rendon a first baseman rather than Zim if they ever need to find a spot in the lineup for both of them.
Mark.. how nice is it to have us posting comments on the board that are fun and positive (instead of nashing our teeth over every move)! I am sure it must be fun for you to watch this team vs the teams of the last few years...
Thanks, Feel Wood! If I have a guy who is on the (very) short list for best in the game @ his position, O&D, he stays there, until that's no longer the case. Rendon has at least a year, maybe more to find a place to play defense. If his bat works as advertised, and that shoulder is ok, he'll fit in somewhere. And, I really am a fan of tall, rangy types, at first base...
Rendon is an advanced player. Why would you want to hold him back longer than you have to. The book on him is 'quick track to the Majors'. Not sure how quick that is but a position change will slow that down.
Ryan Zimmerman was quick to the Majors also. Signed quick in 2005 and spent 6 weeks in the Minors and bypassed AAA. Rendon is in that same mold so unless his should needs surgery, you get him to his MLB position right away.
Agreed Feel Wood. I commented on National Prospects that I thought Rendon might be the future first baseman. At the time nobody had suggested this possibility and my comment was received in a lukewarm manner. But then, I hold Ian Desmond in higher regard then many others do. And, of course, Espy is fast becoming a mainstay.
Now it appears that Morse might be a major factor too. (well deserved, I might add)
Good problem to have though.
Look- he ain't playin 3rd. If you want him to start playing yesterday, give him an out fielders glove, and show him how to track down fly balls. Boras won't let him sign until the end of summer, so I just think he'll play infield in some fall league, and next year they'll have an idea of where to train him. I'm sure he's a terrific prospect, but I can't see them moving heaven and earth to put him on the bog club, from the get go. Maybe Desi spends the winter learning CF... It'll take some time to put it together.
I guess I'm just saying that... While the chances may be really good that Rendon will be able to contribute to the big club soon, the chances he will be as good, or better at 3B as Zim are slim. Zims the best.
It's the bat, that we drafted, right? Morse is a force, isn't he Jeeves?! I love Rendon more at first if he were taller than 6'... Ideally see him at MI, or OF...
I agree with Feel Wood that Rendon is more likely to be made a first baseman than anything else. Perhaps left would work as well. As a Boras client, Rendon won't play anything other than maybe Arizona this year making it most likely that he will be ready to start no sooner than 2013.
I agree with Steve M that re-signing Marquis would be beneficial. That is a minority view on this board, however.
Lombardozzi has made great strides this year and will likely jump up to AAA in July. When he's ready for 2013, what do the Nats do with him? Trade him? Make him a utilityman?
Looking at 2013, the following line-up is a possibility- 1) Bernadina CF, 2) Werth RF, 3) Zimmerman 3B, 4) Morse 1B, 5) Harper LF, 6) Desmond SS, 7) Espinosa 2B, 8) Ramos C, 9)Pitcher. Rendon, Lombardozzi, Nix, Rodriguez on the bench.
DFL, you are putting Rendon on the bench? I do not know much about the kid but he has gotta be better than that if he is drafted at #6 overall. I do not see Bernie as part of that lineup unless he becomes an everyday leadoff hitter that Nats desperately need. I agree with having Nix and Pudge on the bench in 2012, not sure about 2013. Anyways, what our lineup is doing now gives us a much better picture of what to expect in 2012. Also I wanted to ask Mark about the possibility of us being buyers, instead of sellers at the trade deadline?
I would prefer a line-up with Rendon in left and Harper or Werth in center. Bernadina as fourth outfielder and Nix as fifth.
Well i guess that sometimes there are situations where the player can control the mind state and affect performance in any area, the problem is that in north america no one cares about this, the only in north america is money.
Post a Comment