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US Presswire photo The Nationals gambled in drafting TCU left-hander Matt Purke in the third round. |
The other news from yesterday, of course, was the second day of the amateur draft, with 29 rounds completed. The Nationals didn't own a second-round pick (they lost that one to the Phillies after signing Jayson Werth as a free agent) but they did make a splash with their third-round pick: Matt Purke.
Purke, a left-hander from TCU, was widely considered a potential top-5 pick (maybe even the top pick in the nation) before this season began. But like first-round selection Anthony Rendon, a shoulder injury limited the pitcher's appearances and raised question marks for scouts and executives across baseball.
Purke went 16-0 with a 3.02 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 116 innings his freshman year, leading the Horned Frogs to the College World Series. But he was limited to only 11 starts this year, though he did perform well when on the mound (5-1, 1.71 ERA, 61 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings).
Whether the Texas native is willing to sign with the Nationals now -- and whether the Nats are willing to offer him first-round money -- remains to be seen. He could choose to go back to school for his junior season, hoping to regain his top form and make himself a possible No. 1 pick in 2012. Or he could sign this summer and try to ascend his way through Washington's farm system.
"The Nationals are an up-and-coming organization and they are doing a lot of good things," Purke said in a statement released by TCU. "I am excited to do business with them. It's always a good thing to be drafted and there's never a bad day when you are selected."
As for the rest of the Day 2 selections, it's pretty clear what the Nationals were most interested in acquiring: college pitchers. Seventeen of their 31 picks so far have been college hurlers, including eight of their first 11 picks.
Fourth-rounder Kylin Turnbull, from Santa Barbara Community College, is a 6-foot-4 left-hander with a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s who also throws a splitter (unusual for a lefty). Seventh-round pick Bryan Dupra had a strong senior year at Notre Dame.
The only position player the Nationals selected between rounds 3-10 was Georgia Tech third baseman Matt Skole, who carries some baggage. Skole has power (47 homers over three seasons) but he was arrested for DUI in February and twice was suspended by Georgia Tech for violating team rules.
Three late-round picks of particular note: The Nationals drafted two locals in Georgetown catcher Erick Fernandez (25th round) and George Washington left-hander Bobby Lucas (27th round). They also took a left-hander from the University of South Carolina named Bryan Harper in the 30th round. You may know him better as Bryce Harper's older brother.
Here's the full list of all Nationals draft picks to date...
Rd Player Pos School
1 Anthony Rendon 3B Rice
1 Alex Meyer RHP Kentucky
S Brian Goodwin OF Miami Dade College
3 Matt Purke LHP Texas Christian
4 Kylin Turnbull LHP Santa Barbara CC
5 Matt Skole 3B Georgia Tech
6 Taylor Hill RHP Vanderbilt
7 Brian Dupra RHP Notre Dame
8 Greg Holt RHP North Carolina
9 Dixon Anderson RHP Cal-Berkeley
10 Manny Rodriguez RHP Barry University
11 Caleb Ramsey OF Houston
12 Blake Monar LHP Indiana
13 Blake Kalenkosky 1B Texas State
14 Cody Stubbs OF Walters State CC
15 Zach Houchins SS Louisburg JC
16 Deion Williams SS Redan (Ga.) HS
17 Esteban Guzman RHP San Jose State
18 Nicholas Lee LHP Weatherford College
19 Hawtin Buchannan RHP Biloxi (Miss.) HS
20 Josh Laxer RHP Madison (Miss.) Central HS
21 Todd Simko LHP Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
22 Travis Henke RHP Arkansas-Little Rock
23 Khayyan Norfork 2B Tennessee
24 Kyle Ottoson LHP Arizona State
25 Erick Fernandez C Georgetown
26 Shawn Pleffner OF Univ. of Tampa
27 Bobby Lucas LHP George Washington
28 Kenneth Ferrer RHP Elon University
29 Sean Cotton C Tusculum College
30 Bryan Harper LHP South Carolina
69 comments:
Mark,
Two questions.
1) I thought that, once a player enters college (aside from JUCO), he is not eligible for the draft until his junior year. So, why was Purke eligible?
2) Given that Rendon is currently a third baseman, and that that position is -- hopefully -- to be manned for many years by Ryan Zimmerman, and that his "second" position is second base -- which will, again hopefully -- be manned by Danny Espinosa for the forseeable future, can you envision a secenario where, like Ryan Braun, he goes to the outfield? (If Bryce Harper can play center, that would give the Nats an outfield of LF Rendon, CF Harper, RF Werth.)
Thanks.
Listening to the Tom Loverro show yesterday with an analysis by some Baseball junkie of the first three Nats draft picks leads me to the following-
1) Rendon will be ready at second or third by 2013 at the latest. Perhaps picking Rendon is insurance for Zimmerman. Perhaps there is a thought to move Desmond to center and Espinosa to shortstop. Perhaps trading Desmond might be in the cards.
2) The gawky 6'9" Meyer may take a while to get his mechanics down.
3) Goodwin is a wasted pick. Dropped out of UNC for being too stupid. Perhaps an Elijah Dukes reprise. The expert claimed that Goodwin was baseball dumb.
If no-one's read the 'inside story' on the first round of the Draft, it's a must read - from the Nat's head of PR:
http://curlyw.mlblogs.com/2011/06/07/news-and-notes-from-the-2011-first-year-player-draft/?fb-was-news39
Yay, we drafted Kyle Farnsworth.
Nicely done Mark. Thanks!
It's taken a while, but the Nats are starting to build on to a reputable farm system with each draft.
It's not easy putting together a contending team in baseball, even with the cash. Only 3 HS guys.
Let's hope that we have some OFs who can blow kisses to the opposing pitcher as well as Harp!
Anon, players that are 21 years old or older are eligible to be drafted regardless of their time spent in college. That's why Storen was eligible as a sophomore in 2009.
Purke is a RED SHIRT sophmore which means he's been in school 3 years but only played ball 2, hence eligible for the draft, yet still has 2 years of baseball eligibility.
It'd be great if they could get Hawtin Buchanon to sign.
"Goodwin is a wasted pick. Dropped out of UNC for being too stupid. Perhaps an Elijah Dukes reprise. The expert claimed that Goodwin was baseball dumb."
Well; Manny Ramirez wasn't exactly Einstein, but he worked out OK. I agree - you'd want smarts rather than stupids - but if he can play baseball, there's more leeway.
DFL.... Man are you wrong on Goodwin. Would love to see how Rickey Henderson would have done at North Carolina.
Goodwin is extremely personable and a great teammate.
Pete.... I spoke about him on another thread... He's a bonifide diamond in the rough. 6'8" 230 lbs. with good mechanics and just turned 18 in April.
Purke is draft eligible b/c he's an "old" sophomore. If you turn 21 within 45 days of the draft you can go pro after sophomore year. Storen was a similar case out of Stanford 2 years ago.
Inre the Rendon/third base concerns ... you don't draft for "need" in Baseball. Just because you've got Ryan Zimmerman signed doesn't mean you don't draft third basemen. A quality defensive third baseman can easily transition to 2nd, 1st or left field.
If Rendon shot through the minors between now and this time next year, and we still had Zimmerman, Desmond and Espinosa entrenched in their postions, i'd guess Rendon would be learning a new position.
Another alternative would be to trade one of Desmond or Espinosa, move the remaining guy to SS and put Rendon at 2nd.
NatsJack, do we overpay for Purke (because he is that good and the Nats are intent on building through pitching and defense)? In theory, we are one of the teams that isn't in compliance financially. Also a talking head on ESPN explained the Braves' #1 in terms of finances. They won't break the slotting sytem, but we do. Is he worth it with a suspect shoulder?
"I am excited to do business with them. It's always a good thing to be drafted and there's never a bad day when you are selected."
Strange quote by Purke. Business? Strange choice of words.
My bad on Purke... read a Baseball America article last week the referred to him as a "red shirt" that obviously was wrong. I stand corrected.
DFL said... Listening to the Tom Loverro show yesterday with an analysis by some Baseball junkie of the first three Nats draft picks leads me to the following-
3) Goodwin is a wasted pick. Dropped out of UNC for being too stupid. Perhaps an Elijah Dukes reprise. The expert claimed that Goodwin was baseball dumb. June 8, 2011 10:44 AM
Baseball dumb is not Elijah Dukes as he is life dumb but had decent baseball smarts. Baseball dumb is Nyjer Morgan. It is the mindblock to make the same mistakes over and over again.
How is this kids character? I am hoping good because Rizzo has been down the road before with bad character guys who are clubhouse cancers. On the opposite, we have all been down the road with great character guys who are horrible baseball players.
Todd Boss,
You are right on the money. If we can't re sign Zimmerman you are covered with a star level player in Rendon and trade Zim for many assets. If you do sign Zim you can move Rendon to another position or trade him for many assets. You always draft the best player and you will end up with a great team.
Seattle's decision too pass on Rendon will end up as a great bonanza for us. If things had gone as anticipated we would have likely ended up with Hultzen who is a very good pitcher but not seen as a top of the rotation guy; instead we got a superstar bat with limitless potential.
Todd Boss said... Inre the Rendon/third base concerns ... you don't draft for "need" in Baseball. Just because you've got Ryan Zimmerman signed doesn't mean you don't draft third basemen. A quality defensive third baseman can easily transition to 2nd, 1st or left field.
If Rendon shot through the minors between now and this time next year, and we still had Zimmerman, Desmond and Espinosa entrenched in their postions, i'd guess Rendon would be learning a new position.
Another alternative would be to trade one of Desmond or Espinosa, move the remaining guy to SS and put Rendon at 2nd. June 8, 2011 11:02 AM
Well said, and a good problem to have. This is the current positive dilemna the Tampa Rays have now and will continue to have with a well stocked farm system. That is why BJ Upton is available and why they were willing to trade Matt Garza and let Carlos Pena walk.
fpcsteve.... shoulders are real scary and "bursitis" could be anything from calcium deposits to a frayed rotator cuff to just plain soreness.
It would certainly have to be checked out by Andrews or Jobe before extending any contract offer whether it's over slot or not.
Given a clean bill of health from either of those two, I say spend some more Lerner money and go for it.
3) Goodwin is a wasted pick. Dropped out of UNC for being too stupid. Perhaps an Elijah Dukes reprise. The expert claimed that Goodwin was baseball dumb.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What a ridiculous comment. Goodwin was one of the top recruits in the country coming out of high school but simply wasn't ready for the student part of student-athlete. So that makes him Elijah Dukes?
In case you didn't notice, Goodwin is committed to South Carolina, you know, the defending CWS champions.
I'd say he turned his life around just fine.
Purke was shut down for shoulder bursitis; when he came back his velocity and command were markedly worse than 2010 even though his numbers don't look bad.
He was passed up by every team for 2 rounds because there is legitimate concern about his shoulder. The Nats are generally willing to overpay but I don't think he will get 1st round money here. Too much risk. From his point of view he may want to rebuild his marketability with one more year of college; that too is risky because by next year he may be considered old and this is if his shoulder holds up.
In conclusion it might behoove both sides to meet in the middle.
I think that the venomous comment about Goodwin is just a product of the author's sick mind.
NatsJack,
I think Jobe is retired. no?
More like Andrews and Yochum these days I think.
NatsJack in Florida said... DFL.... Man are you wrong on Goodwin. Would love to see how Rickey Henderson would have done at North Carolina.
Goodwin is extremely personable and a great teammate. June 8, 2011 10:54 AM
Good to hear but the clubhouse cancer thing is always a concern so glad NJack that you say it is not an issue. Its one reason I say don't bring BJ Upton here to DC. This team doesn't need another marginal performer who could possibly screw up the chemistry that exists.
I keep hearing what a great clubhouse the Nats have now. It is so cohesive that it may be a reason Stairs hasn't been pulled out since he is the 'senior' leader. Anyone else have some intel on that?
Jd,
Purke will probably pitch in the Cape Cod this summer ala Anthony Ranaudo last year. If he proves he's healthy he'll get a huge bonus - just like Ranaudo did.
I'm surprised no one has mention the picking of Bryon Harper, and the thinking that went behind it. When I mentioned it the other day, someone pointed out that he had what I inferred was a mediocre college career as a relief pitcher. So, what was the thinking behind it?
As far as Laverro goes, listening to him is a huge waste of time when it comes to the Nationals. He's a cynic and it's how he pays his bills. Two years ago, when we got the ten pick after we picked Stros, Laverro was all the Leners because who ever we picked was not going to measure up to letting Aaron Crowe get away and it was going to cost more money and the Nats didn't know what they were doing and the Lerners were abject penny pinchers.
We picked Drew Storen and he signed immediately and went to work to becoming the great player and great person he is today.
So, let's just sit back and enjoy what's happening. And go see these kids play in the minor leagues when we get the chance.
On Goodwin, I heard the same person on the Sports Fix too. He said that Goodwin wasn't paseball smart in terms of breaking wrong on balls ht to him, throwing to the wrong base, etc. Also not book smart with the already covered dropping out of college.
I'm more worried about the lack of baseball smarts, hopefully he never throws his glove down while play is ongoing.
sorry but the Goodwin comparison to Dukes is an idiotic statement in the least. Dukes had 10 times the baggage that Goodwin does. So Goodwin transferred from UNC after his freshman year because he became academically ineligible, big freakin deal. Elijah was too stupid to even become NAIA eligible.
Goodwin is a kid with a ton of upside and a fringe 5 tool player (power is fringe). Considering he probably just became our best CF prospect in the whole system, I wouldnt exactly call it a wasted pick.
Pay To Play, having lived and worked in Texas, I would say that is not an unusual way of assessing being drafted. Another kid might have put it another way, but business is frequently the lens Texans use to understand the world. And if Purke doesn't sign? Nothing personal; it's just business. Just an observation...
@steveM - I have a "source" who is actually in the locker/training room (but not the dugout during games) who says its night and day this year. Not a lot I can put in print but you would be surprised who one of the biggest negatives was (AK), lots of rookie hazing etc and that has ended. I realize we have players not producing but this team does enjoy each other and that is a huge plus for things down the road. I think they will become much younger in the near future when Stairs, Gaudin, Slaten and I guess Pudge as well have been traded/released, but maybe things have been established now and we can keep that positive attitude that has been set.
There's a massive difference between being academically ineligible at a top-end university, and being a "clubhouse cancer." Even the Georgia Tech kid who had the DUI (Matt Skole) shouldn't be labeled a "troublemaker" or whatever.
Sometimes, us middle-aged sports fans have a hard time remembering that these are KIDS. Children even. You can use this same logic for the whole Bryce Harper kissing incident. How many of us know people in their mid 20s who get DUIs? Are they cancerous to be around? No, usually they're just people who made a mistake.
Its sad that 18yr olds aren't allowed to make mistakes in the modern TMZ media world.
sjm308 aka Steve J. M. - Good stuff. Thanks. Is (AK) Adam Kilgore or Austin Kearns? LMAO, you know those journalists!
Hope the Nats bring some of these draft picks to Potomac. They are in last place and need a little pump of adrenaline. I see Dykstra's boy is DHing now. Not good for a high round draft pick
Tyler Moore rolls along. At .286 with 11 bombs and 30 ribbies in 55 games. We might have something in this guy. I mean....this ain't A ball anymore
Signing players that are compromised on their physical exams doesn't seem to bother Rizzo.
On the other hand, let's hope he understands the implications of whatever he is told by the docs.
Would it be legal for the Nats to demand an MRI on his shoulder? When you start getting up around that rotator cuff and labrum, thats serious stuff
"I'm surprised no one has mention the picking of Bryon Harper, and the thinking that went behind it. When I mentioned it the other day, someone pointed out that he had what I inferred was a mediocre college career as a relief pitcher. So, what was the thinking behind it?"
The thinking behind it was probably "Let's do a favor to the Harper family." By Round 30 the draft is basically a crapshoot anyway. It costs the Nationals nothing to draft him and make the Harpers happy, and who knows he might actually turn into something.
Teams do this kind of thing all the time. The most famous example is the Dodgers drafting Mike Piazza in something like the 56th round as a favor to Tommy Lasorda, and then Piazza turns out to have an All-Star, possible HOF career.
Does anyone have access to ESPN Insider? Buster Olney had an article on what the Nats will look like in 2013. Would love to check out what he says
"DCJohn said...
"I'm surprised no one has mention the picking of Bryon Harper, and the thinking that went behind it. When I mentioned it the other day, someone pointed out that he had what I inferred was a mediocre college career as a relief pitcher. So, what was the thinking behind it?"
I have no privileged info (check out my handle!), but I'll hazard a guess. Bryon Harper might have more incentive to work his tail off to make the big club in the Nats' organization than elsewhere. By the time he gets a shot -- if he does -- his brother is likely to be a star here. That might make him slightly more valuable to the Nats than other clubs, even if he had a mediocre college career. As a low-round pick, he won't be expensive, either in cash or lost opportunities to draft other players.
Hope the team doesn't send Purke to the same doctor who checked Adam LaRoche prior to his signing.
Jim Hoy... I posted Olney's take yesterday...Buster Olney projects our line up in 2013 to include Prince Fielder at 1b (not something I particularly relish) with a TBD leading off (Goodwin/Upton? maybe) Bryce 2nd, Zim 3rd, Fielder 4th, Werth 5th, Rendon 6th (and at 2b), Ramos 7th, and Espi 8th (at SS). He envisions Desmond as a roving DeLaRosa type player filling in at ss, 3b, and the outfield.
Big Cat, great question. You would hope they do their own medical evaluatioms.
Bryan also Bryce's teammate in their one JuCo year. Bryan's college numbers are not that good (both at USC and at Cal State Northridge, where he played in 2009).
In terms of why they picked him, I think it's all of the above--a 30th round pick doesn't cost them much, it's a nice thing to do for the family, etc. And as Kilgore pointed out yesterday, maybe Bryan can provide some family support (and restraint) for Bryce as a teammate, at least in the lower levels of the minors. Expect Bryan to hit his ceiling pretty fast, tho.
JD... Thanks... Yochum not Jobe as he is like 86 years old and not to steady with the knife these days.
Lefty Turbull's games are interesting to watch. Even in strong winds he seems able to maintain control. His home field is pretty windy pretty much all the time. And its not warm either. His curve isn't bad its gets over but it hangs high. Major league hitters would crush it. So, that splitter is his out pitch. Fastball looks like Lannan caliber.
Who would listen to Tom Lavarro on baseball. He knows nothing of the game. Just pontificates without any inside info or basis for judging. He may be good on other stuff, but not serious on baseball. There are a lot of those in Washington--radio guys who can only talk Redskins for hours at a time, but they are lost on baseball.
two HS names on our draft list really intrigue me. One is the previously mentioned Hawtin Buchanan, 6'8" 230lb. rh pitcher that just turned 18 in April and Deion Williams, 6'2" 190 lbs. SS from Redan, Ga. just east of Atlanta.
Hope we can sign him and steal one of those guys the Braves seem to always get.
If the Braves passes on Deion Williams, there may have been a reason for it.
Now Hawtin Buchanan is an interesting story.
@JimHoy, here's the synopsis. Sounds pretty much like Ben Goessling when he opined on the topic. And many of us. The Nats could potentially field a formidable lineup that is young and under team control for a long time
What follows is speculation: Imagine what the 2013 Washington Opening Day lineup could look like, if Rendon is moved to second base, Danny Espinosa is switched to shortstop (a move that some advance scouts believe should happen) and Ian Desmond becomes a Mark DeRosa-like super utility guy:
CF TBD
RF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Prince Fielder
LF Jayson Werth
2B Anthony Rendon
C Wilson Ramos
SS Danny Espinosa
P Stephen Strasburg
But let's assume the Nat's get beat out on Fielder because of their record, etc. perusal and that the CF spot might be filled this season:
CF BJ Upton R/R / Brian Goodwin L/L / Roger Bernadina L/L
[ Goodwin may make more sense: left handed bat.]
LF Jayson Werth ; High OBP, speed, R/R
RF Bryce Harper L/L : nothing need be said here.
3B Ryan Zimmerman R/R : finally gets to win?
2B Danny Espinosa S/R : huge potential may even bat 3rd or 4th?
1B Michael Morse R/R / Tyler Moore R/R ; Morse looks pretty athletic at first base and he has significant power potential.
3B Anthony Rendon R/R / Rookie year 2013?
C Wilson Ramos R/R / Derek Norris R/R ; Both great options for this team!
P Jordan Zimmermann RHP
P Stephen Strasburg RHP
P Alex Meyer RHP
P Bradley Peacock RHP
P Sammy Solis LHP
P Matt Purke LHP
Things should be looking pretty good in 2013 even without Fielder or Upton. A lot of young players though ... and they might take time to season ...
So, if we look at last year as Rizzo/Clark/Kline first year. Allow the customary 5 years that it takes to rebuild from well below the expansion franchise minimum. Three years ain't bad?
And another draft before that happens ...
Two things:
- Teams have a long history of drafting the brothers of former top picks. The Twins drafted Joe Mauer's brother; the Rays drafted Tim Beckham's brother. The move has almost no significance.
- I have read a lot of dumb comments on blogs, but the comparison of Brian Goodwin to Dukes is the dumbest.
Other than both being African-American, they have nothing in commoon. Goodwin went to UNC for a year and a half, had a solid freshman year, returned to UNC for his first semester of his sophmore year (so, grades were not an issue at least through his freshman year), he then left UNC this past January after he was "suspended for violating University policy" which may or may not have been related to grades (my guess is that it was not).
Goodwin then enrolled in one of the premier baseball JUCOs (Miami Dada) and had a strong sophmore season leaduing to the Nats drafting him. Looks to me that he that he made the best of a tough situation, something Dukes never did. FWIW, Goodwin wss thought to be one of the best 5 tool prospects coming out of HS in 2009, and would have been a top 50 pick then if not for his solid commitment to UNC.
Brian Goodwin is a solid prospect and by all accounts a good kid. Hate that anyone would try to recklessly compare him to a thug like Elijah Dukes - very irresponsible.
It is always fun looking into the future. I still wonder about Eury Perez and Destin Hood if either will make it to their potential. This Goodwin kid sounds like a good fit if he makes it.
My first order of business for Rizzo/Lerner is getting Ryan Zimmerman inked to a long-term contract. So much of the future hinges on him as well as Rendon.
As far as Prince Fielder goes, JUST SAY NO. I like that he is a vegetarian but this team could eventually move Jayson Werth there and make the outfield even better. Michael Morse may also prove that he is a true diamond in the rough.
James:
r Buster Olney, wrote, "When I covered the Orioles in the mid-'90s, Thom Loverro was on the O's beat for the Times; he went on to become a columnist there, always writing exceptionally, with great integrity."
Loverro's job on radio, is to be opinionated and entertaining. I disagree with him often, but find him immensely entertaining. Your comment, to me gave short shrift, in it's dismissiveness.
'Course... He's no Boz...(as Neganon will tell you)...;-)
Loverro made few baseball comments himself and mainly asked questions. The baseball expert he had on, whose name escapes me right now, was doing the commenting. To add, the expert said Goodwin had raw talent and would likely not be a great base stealer- maybe twenty or so a year- sort of Werth-like. But how do you flunk out of college?
Gonat,
Eury Perez has 3 walks in 158 at bats and an OBP of .278, he's 21 years old - not really anything to be excited about.
Hood is much better.OBP of .371 with 30 walks in 191 at bats , also 21 - there's something there although not really around the corner.
I hate the idea of Fielder. I think Morse is really getting no respect at all. He's hitting for power and average and outside of April this year he has maintained his strong hitting for a year and a half and is looking better all the time with tremendous at bats against Haladay, Lee and Lincecum. Oh and he's playing a very solid 1st base.
We should be plugging holes such as SS and center field not 1st base which appears well covered for the next few years.
JD --
I like Hood's OBP, but it's hard to figure out what kind of player he'll be.
He turned down Bama football, so he's obviously a stellar athlete, but he doesn't seem to have either big power or big SB potential.
Kind of a tweener. Goodwin seems more the leadoff/cf prototype.
Great a guy kicked out of one university and another with a DUI and two suspensions, sounds like someone is trying to form Natsy Boys Part Deux at Nats Park! BAD RIZZO!
Interesting that the Nats drafted Brad Peacock who is doing great at Harrisburg and who the Nats sent to the Arizona Fall League last year in 2006 in the 41st round ...So you never know. I'm sure we all know of lots of other examples, too. Maybe in addition to being a nice gesture to the family and maybe support for Bryce, Bryan Harper could be that LHP the Nats need out of the pen.
Buchanan tweeted this yesterday during orientation at Ole Miss:
"Just got drafted by the Washington Nationals. Thanks everyone for the support, but still can't wait to be in Oxford #pumped"
Anyone who thinks we should take Fielder over Morse said that before we saw that Morse was so great at 1B. We should spend our money where we don't have someone good, like on a leadoff c/f. No Prince! No Prince!
I like Morse as much as the next person but he is a far cry from Prince. Granted if Morse continues to hit and proves to be a solid 1B but Prince is a top middle of the order hitter. We could use the money saved on 1B and spend it on CF or an ace but Morse still needs to demonstrate he can do it after the league has the book on him.
I am hoping Morse is the solution but I am not so quick to dismiss adding a top tier hitter to our lineup.
I realize its a small sample size but I was not impressed with Prince in the field when they played here. Morse has done very well and as long as he continues I see no reason to go after Prince plus we have LaRoche for another year as well. We have other holes to fill so I am voting to stay away.
@steveM - no to both those guesses so I am betting you will have it nailed down now (how many AK's can there be?)
Maya looked great in the first inning but we all will be waiting for that one bad inning to jump up and bite him. Hope I am proved wrong.
Go Nats!
I am hoping Morse is the solution but I am not so quick to dismiss adding a top tier hitter to our lineup.
Made some mistakes in the lineup forgot to move players as Olney and Goessling did:
Projected 2013 Nats lineup:
1. BJ Upton R/R CF
Brian Goodwin L/L
Roger Bernadina L/L
[ E. Perez looks like an Org player right now ]
2. Jayson Werth R/R LF
3. Bryce Harper R/R RF
4. Ryan Zimmerman R/R 3B
5. Danny Espinosa S/R SS
6. Michael Morse R/R 1B
Tyler Moore R/R
7. Anthony Rendon R/R 2B
8. Wilson Ramos R/R C
Derek Norris R/R C
9. Zimmermann, Strasburg, Meyer, Peacock, Solis, Purke.
Morse has hit pretty consistently throughout his career and the light bulb really came on the year back from 2008 (a shoulder injury kept him out) in 2009 where he demolished AAA. His hitting and fielding more than spec out into the kind of lineup Riggleman described.
Prince Fielder is far less athletic than Morse. Pujols would be a better choice ... and in the end Texiera was the best choice of all but they lost him to the Yankees.
into the kind of lineup Riggleman described.
Make that: Rizzo described.
Ding ding ding....Adam Kennedy
Loverro's an ass and Boswell's factually challenged.
For those worrying about Purke's shoulder, he has been to see Dr. James Andrews, who gave his shoulder a clean bill of health:
http://www.mwcconnection.com/2011/4/29/2142147/dr-james-andrews-gives-tcu-pitcher-matt-purke-a-clean-bill-of-health
@DFL - how do you flunk out of college? Seriously? Because you're not ready for it. Dude, I flunked out of college, on merit. It did not define who I am or how my life has turned out. After working my way back to school I graduated from a top 10 law school and have been a successful professional for a number of years now.
It's just possible that someday Goodwin will be able to be a successful professional for a number of years. Not in your world, of course. But in this world.
@DFL: "But how do you flunk out of college?"
By making low grades in your courses. As many people have pointed out, plenty of young adults/older adolescents have flunked out of college only to go on to be high achievers.
A veteran professor in my PhD program at Vanderbilt told me he had flunked out of undergraduate school. As did one of the deans in the College of Arts and Science there.
You probably want to ramp back that rather obnoxious thread of argument against Goodwin.
Seconding JohnC, Dave, and others. Maybe he wasn't ready for the lifestyle of a living away at a four-year college, maybe he wasn't ready for college at all. Maybe it's questionable to automatically lump him with Dukes and Morgan (okay, that last part's probably not in question).
92 mph FB, +CB, good CH...Blake Monar doesn't look like a 12th round pick in this video - and I really like his demeanor on the mound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFpmh-sARmI
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