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US Presswire photo Rick Ankiel was officially added to the 40-man roster today. |
"Barring something out of the ordinary, I think you're looking at the 25-man somewhere in this camp," general manager Mike Rizzo said this afternoon.There are 34 players remaining in big-league camp, though five of those are expected to open the season on the disabled list: Michael Morse, Drew Storen and Chien-Ming Wang on the 15-day DL and Chris Marrero and Cole Kimball on the 60-day DL.
So that leaves only 29 healthy players for Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson to consider when assembling their Opening Day roster. Outfielder Xavier Nady figures to beat out catcher Carlos Maldonado and first baseman Chad Tracy for the final spot on the bench, and Ryan Mattheus is favored over Craig Stammen and Chad Durbin to win the last available bullpen job.
Though it came as no surprise, the Nationals purchased Rick Ankiel's contract today, officially adding the veteran to their 40-man roster. Ankiel is expected to be the club's Opening Day center fielder, provided the quad strain that has hampered him for a couple of weeks heals in time.
Ankiel is out of the lineup tonight, and Johnson suggested the outfielder may miss tomorrow's game as well. "I'm not going to rush that," the manager said, adding he is "a little concerned" about the possibility Ankiel may not be ready for the opener.
Roger Bernadina would be in center field in Ankiel's place tonight, but he's flying home from his father's funeral in Curacao and won't return to the club until tomorrow. That leaves Jayson Werth, Johnson's self-described "third option," in center field tonight against the Marlins, surrounded by veterans Mark DeRosa (left field) and Nady (right field).
Though he was signed less than two weeks ago and only joined big-league camp two days ago, Nady now looks all but certain to head north with the Nationals.
"He's one of the guys we're looking at, and it's getting late in camp," Rizzo. "He's in the competition, and he's playing extremely well in the very difficult, short spring training that he's had. But we knew when he came in here, he was in terrific shape."
One more tea leaf to suggest Nady will make the roster: After wearing his minor-league uniform No. 22 the last two days, he's formally switched to No. 21. Storen already owns No. 22.
35 comments:
No, No!! Craig Stammen in the bullpen!
@MarkZuckerman: That leaves Jayson Werth, Johnson's self-described "third option," in center field
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Davey didn't really say 3rd option, did he? Or is that "emergency" CF?
Anybody else feel like Livo is just going to make our hitters look silly? Good for him getting a job almost instantly after getting released, but I would prefer he was not in the NL East. He will probably get a nice welcome here.
Ankiel may not be ready for Opening Day? He has been injured twice already in less than 30 days. This is typical Ankiel and not the best use of a roster spot. Nady is very unproven but maybe Davey saw something special.
I guess that means giving Aaron Rowand a look-see is out.
Definitely agree with Anon @ 4:49.
Just got home and catching up on reading. Lot's of neg today on Espi in the Encouraging/Discouraging thread.
B25GN! Bang! Gulp!
Unlike natsfanA1a, I love playing gm even though I would be horrible. I would actually bring Durbin north because the other two pitchers have options. I like all 3 but we will lose Durbin for sure if we let him go. He has pitched well, is a veteran and can help this club. This is a win/win in that all 3 are good but we lose Durbin in the process. I realize that is what happens when a team gets better but its just what I would do.
Of course I would also carry 3 catchers but that is a whole different situation.
Gonat, Espi's struggles were discussed by SteveM yesterday in the game post. I think some people think they have to wait for Mark Z. to write something before they jump on a subject. Steve did a projected roster on Tuesday before Mark got around to that also.
Your starting outfield, from left to right:
De Rosa, Werth and Nady.
Wow. Didn't see that one coming.
Just done doing some research, and it looks to me like Kristina Akra will be the rookie of the year.
If the best 25 go north, Craig Stammen should go north!
I wish we pulled the trigger on a Gerald Parra trade...
Drew Storen is hilarious.
I wish we pulled the trigger on a Gerald Parra trade...
Makes no sense since he isn't as good as Bernadina and Ankiel offensively. At least not yet. And he won that gold glove in LEFT FIELD not CENTER.
They've already got Bryce Harper, Corey Brown, Eury Perez, and Destin Hood percolating in the upper minors. There' s NO ROOM. STOP.
Craig Stammen should most certainly go north with the team. He was consistent at the end of last year and during this year in ST.
I wish we pulled the trigger on a Gerald Parra trade...
Harper, Brown, Perez, and Hood all younger and perhaps better? And how long will it be before Brian Goodwin, Michael Taylor, Keyes are ready?
The guy won a gold glove in Left field NOT Center so its likely that Bernadina and Ankiel are better options at this juncture.
There's NO ROOM for Gerardo Parra on the 25 man roster. They should have kept Erik Komatsu and not left him unprotected by your logic.
Craig Stammen should most certainly go north with the team. He was consistent at the end of last year and during this year in ST.
Then Lannan would have to be traded ... or released. They have three starters for one spot Lannan, Detwiler, and Wang. That hasn't changed. That sucks up a bullpen spot or two.
Gulp... BANG!!!!
(MicheleS.... You're making quite a mess! First the Gulp, then the BANG!!!. Look you're....you're getting it all over everything....my goodness.....)
;-D
Unkyd.. I am incoherent right now. FP/Carp/Rizzo keep talking about the 25 going north. It's going to be a long night...
Gulp.... BANG!!!!!! Right with you!!!
If the best 25 go north, Craig Stammen should go north!
Kilgore reports that Wang is ahead of schedule and is going north. Lannan is not a reliever long or otherwise. So, unless you trade, release, or option Lannan you won't see Stammen until there's an injury.
Anon at 7:21 -- Or unless Gorezelanny is released.
Spinner looked helpless tonight. Nady, by contrast, who was not even in anyone's camp a couple of weeks ago, looked solid at the plate. The pitchers do not even bother throwing strikes to Espinoza, knowing he will swing at anything. He is just not going to see a pitch in the strike zone until he develops some pitch recognition and plate discipline.
RZ came to the plate 3 times tonight, hitting in the 3 slot each time, and each time the bases were empty, with Danny producing 3 Ks right in front of him, each time. Spinner does not seem comfortable in the 2 hole, just like last year. Davey needs to put him somewhere else. You can't fit a square peg in a round hole.
Watched the pre-game show and Ray Knight is certain that Chad Tracy will make the final cut. DeRosa, Flores and, probably, Lombo, are locks. If Tracy is the hairy-chested PH that Davey wants, that means either Nady, Carroll or the Shark do not make the cut.
Probably Carroll goes. Shark is another lefty bat, and Nady has looked really good. Or maybe Ray has some bad info about Tracy, but he seemed pretty sure of himself.
Still, it was Werth in CF tonight. Maybe Davey will go with a Werth-Ankiel platoon, with Nady in RF when the Nats face a lefty. We'll know soon. And then another cut when the Beast comes back.
Would they send Spinner back down? They've gotta do something. Danny is lost right now, and needs to find his game. Lombo is an excellent 2b, and has played rings around Espy all ST. Somehow, it looks like Davey has mismanaged Danny. Even Blake Kelso looked more comfortable. Blake, at least, fouled off a couple before his K.
Laddie_Blah_Blah
I've clearly been distracted because I hadn't heard about Roger's father. My condolences. And Roger had been doing so well, too.
What is small batters eye?.......
I am positive that Kristina will definitely be one of the best 25 going north!
Seriously, you have options with Lannan, Stammen and Mattheus and Wang will start on the DL. Unless they drop Gorzolany (which is entirely possible the way Detwiler pitched tonight) I just don't see how they can keep all these guys up. I said it earlier but Durbin has done nothing but get people out and I would stick with him over the guys with options.
Bullpen to start the season
HRod, Lidge, Burnett, Clippard,Durbin, Gorzo, and Detwiler.
I would cut Gorzolany and keep Stammen but I have already mentioned what a bad GM I would be. Not sure what they will do when Storen comes back, but I am guessing that is when Stammen's options start to play or they can ask Durbin to go to AAA but I feel strongly someone will pick him up.
I get so tired reading comments by people that have no clue how the game of baseball is managed on the field or in the office at the ML level.
And sjm308...that was not directed at you.
NatsJack, you make many of these open ended backhanded comments about people that post that don't have a clue.
Give us an example besides Periculum and Feel Woods obsession with who catches after Ramos and Flores.
Could be directed at me. But I really have never heard the phrase, "small battery's eye" before. I googled it and Mark's reference came up. But nothing else looked relevant.
JaneB:
I believe the "batter's eye" refers to a monochrome backdrop that makes it easier for the batter to see the pitched ball than if it's coming out of white shirtsleeves in the bleachers.
Yes, in Nationals Park it's that "grassy" area between the Red Porch and the gated area from which the racing presidents emerge.
With all due respect, they're tying to build a fanbase here. That means you're going to have fans with all levels of knowledge about the game. I expect that you're also going to have some fans who have watched and appreciated the game for decades, but who haven't delved into how a FO is run or other aspects of running a team. imho, there's room for all of them under the big Nats tent. I hope we're gonna gain a lot more fans in the near future. I reserve the right to grumble about bandwagon fans and front runners, but I will welcome one and all.
NatsJack in Florida said...
I get so tired reading comments by people that have no clue how the game of baseball is managed on the field or in the office at the ML level.
March 30, 2012 10:43 PM
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