tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post5443314848133830003..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Can Morse do it again?Mark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-34538524686306714242011-12-16T15:07:59.471-05:002011-12-16T15:07:59.471-05:00the nationals never said they bid on Darvish. just...the nationals never said they bid on Darvish. just media speculation. theyve said all along that they like him... that's it.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12920783017558168652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-31453469759423509402011-12-16T15:05:45.143-05:002011-12-16T15:05:45.143-05:00" CBinDC said... Look every player is a crap ..." CBinDC said... Look every player is a crap shoot but also the best odds in the casino is on CRAPS."<br /><br /><br />Loser game. Bet on sports, you can control the outcomes.Pete R.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-17252202624377230342011-12-16T14:59:31.045-05:002011-12-16T14:59:31.045-05:00To clarify -I think it's more likely than Lann...To clarify -I think it's more likely than Lannan progresses, (or Milone does eventually) as a finesse pitcher in the 4/5 slot for nothing but money, than some fictional harder-throwing left-hander from another team that costs the Nats prospects will. I suspect the White Sox will be asking PLENTY for Danks. More than RIzzo will agreed to.blovy8https://www.blogger.com/profile/06888192019412533415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-55603392545473853952011-12-16T14:51:23.049-05:002011-12-16T14:51:23.049-05:00You can complain all you want, but Lannan has been...You can complain all you want, but Lannan has been effective and a great bargain. While I agree that they will now be paying him what he's worth, they do not have to get overly concerned about having a left-handed start who throws over 93 mph. The idea that some fictional left handed pitcher is going to put them into the World Series next year is idiotic.blovy8https://www.blogger.com/profile/06888192019412533415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-42023231179685511292011-12-16T14:46:04.450-05:002011-12-16T14:46:04.450-05:00Look every player is a crap shoot but also the bes...Look every player is a crap shoot but also the best odds in the casino is on CRAPS. I am upset at their claiming to know the risk and would be playing in this game what ever the merits but to NOT at the final hour is playing with the fans and just reinforces the impression that money is the rule. They take no risks? Really much money was wasted in the Bowden years on his "PROJECTS". The point made year after year in spite of contracts such as Werths the over all payroll is lower year to year and WAY below market. Only TWO major contracts in 7 seasons is not a break the bank position. But they have been the most profitable team all those years so where goes the money go?CBinDCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-72691625036480026802011-12-16T14:44:49.691-05:002011-12-16T14:44:49.691-05:00222 - good point on LaRoche and his historical slo...222 - good point on LaRoche and his historical slow starts - nice to have the option of Morse as cleanup and the r-l-r thing isn't probably that big a deal either. <br /><br />Count me on the bandwagon that not bidding on Darvish was a good move IF they knew that someone else was going to throw over 100 million at him. I guess my question is, did anyone really know what it was going to take? We all speculate here but I am wondering if the "big boys" get that kind of information before hand. If no one had an idea what the bid would be, I am not sure why a bid in the 30 millions would not have at least shown the fans you were interested. Again, its not my 30 million and if the bids do come out then you might look bad as well. I am not sure Rizzo ever commented that we were definitely interested, he just mentioned what a great prospect Darvish was and that we had scouted him.<br /><br />All that being said, I hope it is Toronto and that he has a great career in the AL with the Blue Jays and Rays sending the Yankee's and Red Sox home early.sjm308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-26369493075803745282011-12-16T14:43:24.838-05:002011-12-16T14:43:24.838-05:00will, i think there are just too many moving parts...will, i think there are just too many moving parts to convince beltran to sign here. if he was still capable of being an every day CF, i'm sure he could see a place for himself here. but with the potential of two guys who really ought to be corner OFs long term (werth/harper) before the end of the year and morse already occupying a CO spot (until/unless laroche is traded), it's a crowded place for a corner OF to sign if he expects to play every day for multiple years.greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13848419973469239512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-37467985335724681362011-12-16T14:41:03.642-05:002011-12-16T14:41:03.642-05:00and if they'd have bid less than 90% of the wi...and if they'd have bid less than 90% of the winning bid, they'd have been called "cheap" by all of the same people calling them cheap for not bidding.greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13848419973469239512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-88408964529567662322011-12-16T14:26:12.771-05:002011-12-16T14:26:12.771-05:00For anti-fans (some would call said group "ha...For anti-fans (some would call said group "haters"), the Nats would've lost on the Darvish situation either way:<br /><br />1) Spent too much money on an unproven pitcher when other Japanese pitchers have been marginal, at best.<br /><br />2) Cheap<br /><br />I was hoping the Nats would be in the running, but I understand why no bid was submitted. Why bid $10M if you know it's not going to win. Also, Darvish mentioned that his preference would be to pitch on the west coast and dropping $100M on Darvish is a big gamble, especially when there are other holes to fill.CNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04808935519543162932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-87826021786276289172011-12-16T14:17:50.664-05:002011-12-16T14:17:50.664-05:00Refusing to throw money away on a crap shoot isn&#...Refusing to throw money away on a crap shoot isn't CHEAP. It's smart. There are far better ways for the Nats to spend the $100 million (posting fee+contract) that it would have taken to get Darvish. <br /><br />Also, folks, it's the middle of December. Spring training doesn't really start for another 2-1/2 months. Of the top free agents available this winter, 2 have signed (Reyes and Pujoles). Plus a scattering of other guys. Rizzo doesn't need to HURRY UP AND SIGN SOMEBODY ZOMG BECAUSE TIME IS RUNNING OUT AND WE STILL HAVE 4 SPOTS OPEN ON THE 40-MAN ROSTER AND WE WON'T EVEN HAVE 9 STARTERS FOR OPENING DAY ARRRRGH!!!!!!!<br /><br />Relax. It's Christmas. There's plenty of talent still out there and plenty of time for Rizzo to wheel and deal. He's better off letting the market come to him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-83593961620455558652011-12-16T14:15:38.715-05:002011-12-16T14:15:38.715-05:00Why all of a sudden is this year so important? We...Why all of a sudden is this year so important? We have improved each of the last 3 years. We should improve this year no matter what moves are made and next year is the year to pounce.(Harper up full time, SS & JZ with no innings limit, Rendon hopefully up as well and our young pitchers all nearer to being ready). I would not mind another pitcher for this year and we definitely need to bolster our bench, but when people are paying Cuddyer over 10 million a year for 3 years its just silly. <br /><br />I would like to see them resign Ankiel and also sign Keppinger as a utility guy. They still have Bernadina and Flores and if they send Lombardozzi down I guess they need one more piece, especially if Marrero is not ready (and I don't think he will be). <br /><br />I also agree that LaRoche will bat 4th breaking up the righthanded hitters and again, if he can just get back to his numbers for the last 6 years we will get a big boost in our offense. If Werth can improve and we get minimal improvement from Ramos, Espinosa and Desmond then we will be at worst an average offensive team instead of below average. I just hope they work somehow on cutting down on the strikeouts but as I am not a coach, I am not sure how that is done.sjm308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-45257579868728094102011-12-16T14:12:03.786-05:002011-12-16T14:12:03.786-05:00I may be late on this, but Kilgore reports what ma...I may be late on this, but Kilgore reports what many of us has been suspecting over the last 24 hours, Nats did not submit a bid on Darvish:<br /><br />http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/the-nationals-did-not-bid-on-yu-darvish/2011/12/15/gIQA4pXayO_blog.htmlCNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04808935519543162932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-14006660541300742892011-12-16T14:08:51.211-05:002011-12-16T14:08:51.211-05:00I've been a proponent of bringing up Harper wh...I've been a proponent of bringing up Harper when he is ready, regardless of Super 2 status. But there is NO WAY that he is on the 25 man comming out of Spring Training because that would mean that he becomes a free agent one year earlier. It would be GM malpractice to let that happen, and managerial malpractice by DJ to suggest it. <br /><br />That means we still need a CF to start the year. Can Rizzo trade for someone, or are we going to see Bernadina out there for at least a few weeks? Only about two months left to find out. <br /><br />Unless LaRoche has a monster spring (and remember he is supposedly a slow starter as well as coming off a serious injury), I woudln't expect him to displace Mickey Morse from the cleanup spot. He probably shouldn't bat 5th either.Section 222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-42419556876772785052011-12-16T14:06:49.011-05:002011-12-16T14:06:49.011-05:00"Officially"? I'm good, either way, ..."Officially"? I'm good, either way, but let's not etch anything in stone, just because some unamed folks are reputed to have whispered it in Kilgores ear...UnkyDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10427401050130317607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-976428002873698852011-12-16T13:41:42.453-05:002011-12-16T13:41:42.453-05:00So it is Official THE LERNERS ARE STILL CHEAP .......<i>So it is Official THE LERNERS ARE STILL CHEAP ......wow you make noise that you serious to play in the game called player acquisition and stop the dumpster diving for players</i><br /><br />I think there's a HUGE difference between Chris Marerro and Michael Burgess the kind of players that Bowden liked. Now its Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon, AJ Cole, and Sammy Solis. If you aren't see the difference CBinDC then you don't know baseball?<br /><br />The Nats WANT A LEFT HANDED STARTER; tis why they went after Buehrle. In fact given the elbow soreness Solis is dealing with they probably want multiples. Its what Davey Johnson asked for along with a different bench.<br /><br />Ask yourself, does Yu Darvish throw left-handed? NO! So why would the Nats be looking to pay out $$$ for a right hander when they already have Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg, AND Bradley Peacock? All power pitchers ... all coveted by every team in major league baseball? Which is why I wasn't a big fan of this particularly since they are already dealing with Wang. And I still don't know why they still have Wang except they spent so much on him when they were desperate for starters 2 years ago. <br /><br />I am telling you the Nats are in the market for left-handers. Preferably power-pitchers under the age of 30. That means Gio Gonzalaez, John Danks, and even David Price if they could get him? They aren't happy with Lannan. Lannan's neutral stats are horrible. They aren't happy with Detwiler. He's shown small improvement, and his stats were miserable. We'll have to see how he does with a full year of Davey. Gorzelanny had injury problems and was a more effective long/short reliever. His stats were about average.<br /><br />Doesn't anyone follow along, watch and listen? Sheesh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-9810281861011247292011-12-16T13:35:20.533-05:002011-12-16T13:35:20.533-05:00The Lerners were told that they can build a good b...The Lerners were told that they can build a good baseball team without spending too much money.(draft, build from within). They're businessman, as long as they are making money, all is good.Exposremainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-40272668750803454082011-12-16T13:34:16.618-05:002011-12-16T13:34:16.618-05:00CBinDC
You need something much, much stronger tha...CBinDC<br /><br />You need something much, much stronger than a tylenol. <br /><br />And the Nats need something much different from a $100M Yu Darvish. This is not bad news.HHovernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-2100074064783140962011-12-16T13:29:00.738-05:002011-12-16T13:29:00.738-05:00Looks like Rosenthal is reporting the Nats interes...Looks like Rosenthal is reporting the Nats interest in Danks. They want left-hander[s]. Not righties like Darvish. <br /><br />Its been a fairly pretty consistent pattern: see drafting Matt Purke and Kylin Turnbull back-to-back at the top of the draft.<br /><br />Again, this appears to speak volumes about what they think off Lannan. And advanced stats appear to support their concerns.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-8456793579083199092011-12-16T13:28:16.004-05:002011-12-16T13:28:16.004-05:00Regarding Morse - he is a big guy, but he doesn...Regarding Morse - he is a big guy, but he doesn't look unnaturally bulked. He was previously playing an awkward position(ss), for his body type. Unfortunately, I think 1b is really his best position and he just kind of found himself this year with the comfort level on defense and the regular playing time. He can probably learn left, he really hasn't spent much time there. Seemed like he did ok in right the previous year. I just love the way he always has a smile on his face and just seems so happy to be here. He was a great ambassador for mlb and the Nats in Taiwan and it was great to see those fans showering him with attention. I know it's supposed to be all about winning and play-offs, but as a fan I am happy to have players on the team that seem like good guys.gonatsgonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-73604760515814314342011-12-16T13:26:27.169-05:002011-12-16T13:26:27.169-05:00The Nationals did not bid on Yu Darvish
So it is ...The Nationals did not bid on Yu Darvish<br /><br />So it is Official THE LERNERS ARE STILL CHEAP ......wow you make noise that you serious to play in the game called player acquisition and stop the dumpster diving for players that was the hallmark of this organization but now you are just frozen in place DOING NOTHING. YOU DO NOT EVEN BID. Truly you have bought nothing but ill will. Why should anybody believe anything this FO says when planing what or if at to go to games next season. Your one shot you get out bid by a margin you could have spent BUT NO you were holding on to make a NO BID ON DARVISH. What is the plan REALLY. Just lie and say you are going to be serious and then sign minor leaguers to minor league contracts or trade for anothers teams player for your player, deck chair for deck chair. This is the BIG OFFSEASON you said you were prepared for this year?? OHHH were is the TylenolCBinDCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-13983256435264665502011-12-16T13:26:14.318-05:002011-12-16T13:26:14.318-05:00Well with Kilgore's announcement that tells me...Well with Kilgore's announcement that tells me that either they are going for Oswalt possibly Saunders OR sticking with the kids. Maybe now they will concentrate on the Bench or get another bat. I think the Cubs end up with Fielder.MicheleSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-53517521078933541352011-12-16T13:21:06.379-05:002011-12-16T13:21:06.379-05:00Kilgore has announced that the Nats did not bid on...Kilgore has announced that the Nats did not bid on Darvish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-2451804686572189192011-12-16T13:11:42.574-05:002011-12-16T13:11:42.574-05:00For the first half of 2012 I'd use Werth in CF...<i>For the first half of 2012 I'd use Werth in CF, occasionally playing Beltran and Bernadina/Ankiel there. Then around July, trade/release/give away LaRoche, and move Morse back to 1B, where he seems more comfortable defensively.</i><br /><br />They are not going to sign Beltran. Johnson will convince Rizzo and get his way and Harper will make the 25 man out of ST 2012. There is no room for a Beltran unless its on the bench.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-5640264435775299612011-12-16T13:09:43.406-05:002011-12-16T13:09:43.406-05:00Anonymous 923, Morse will NOT be batting cleanup, ...<i>Anonymous 923, Morse will NOT be batting cleanup, LaRoche will be to break up the RH lineup. Werth will be hitting 2nd and Zim 3rd, so who bats 6th!? Ramos? Espinosa? Random OF not on the roster right now!?</i><br /><br />It could be Prince Fielder. Who knows? Besides you never know what Davey might decide to do. Especially if he decides to bring Harper along for the ride starting in April. There are a lot of permutations possible. And apparently Rizzo is starting to get comfortable with that idea ... along with Werth in CF.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-16353772209603155142011-12-16T13:08:29.553-05:002011-12-16T13:08:29.553-05:00Greg, I certainly wouldn't use Beltran solely ...Greg, I certainly wouldn't use Beltran solely as a CF. I agree with the injury concerns, it's probably not advisable to do it frequently. However, he could be used there in a pinch, which is definitely useful.<br /><br />For the first half of 2012 I'd use Werth in CF, occasionally playing Beltran and Bernadina/Ankiel there. Then around July, trade/release/give away LaRoche, and move Morse back to 1B, where he seems more comfortable defensively.<br />If Harper is deserving of a call up at that point, I'd move Harper to LF, and keep Werth in CF.<br /><br />I also agree that Werth is not a long-term solution at CF, but I think that over the next 1-2 years, he'd be good enough there (moderately below average, something like -5 to -8 UZR). But to me, there just doesn't seem to be better options. Rizzo values his prospects too much to move any of them for Span or Bourn (or Bourjos or Upton).<br /><br />There's also little in the pipeline. It would make A LOT of sense to start playing Harper in CF, but that doesn't look likely. Eury Perez and Goodwin are still a few years off (if they ever arrive at all). Thus, I don't think it's a bad idea to add a big bat in Beltran, and get what we can out of the Werth albatross, especially if we could address our OBP problems at a cut rate (Beltran was worth $21.1 mil just last year alone, that could be what the Nats would have to pay him for the next 2 years).Willnoreply@blogger.com