Nationals Baseball: Center Post

Friday, March 02, 2012

Center Post

Kill-Gore at the Post takes on the Nats centerfield issues. Worth a read despite calling Ian Desmond a "stalwart".  This paragraph is a fun one to think about:
For this spring, that meant re-signing Ankiel with a minor league deal. (The Nationals, Rizzo said, were surprised Ankiel could be had for a non-guaranteed contract.) Ankiel won the center-field job last season, convincing the Nationals to trade Morgan to the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite two stints on the disabled list, Ankiel provided excellent defense; Nationals scouts and statistical analysts alike graded him highly.
Ok, first off, why were the Nats surprised that Ankiel could be had for a non-guaranteed contract? He's a 33 year old who can neither get on base or slug anymore.  He was the 24th best CF in the league (by Fangraphs WAR) last year and that had everything to do with an oddly productive defensive year.  I looked through all the teams and found two that may have wanted him for a CF (given his bat wanting him for LF or RF seemed like a non-starter).  The Marlins (currently projected to start Emilio Bonaficio) and the White Sox (someone named de Aja).  Sooo pretty obvious here - Ankiel could be had on a non-guaranteed contract because 27 teams had obviously better options available, 2 of the other 3 had chosen another direction, and his bat and primary skill (rocket arm!) don't make him worth a guaranteed bench deal.

Second, did Ankiel winning the job really convince the Nats to trade Morgan for a guy who has a last name that sounds familiar? (who incidentally karaoked with Jamie Lynn Sigler  the other night and doesn't even get an off-hand mention from the Sports Bog.  That's how meaningless this guy is right now to the Nats). Really? Or did Nyjer wear out his welcome and Rizzo kick him to the curb to satisfy his obsession with "clubhouse" guys? I know which way I'm betting.

Third. I'm gonna go ahead and HOPE that the scouts and stat analysts had him graded highly defensively.  Not because that makes any sense, as the lifetime numbers peg him as average to slightly below average, but at least they could tease out a defense to... no no on second thought if you are gonna use the word "highly" you can't even defend that.  You can defend "not embarrasing",  "acceptable", "best available at the money the Nats are willing to dole out", maybe even "good enough that they thought he could squeeze out one decent year at this age" but not "highly".  The scouts and stat guys might know what they are doing in other places, but if they really graded out Ankiel highly - they need new guys to do their CF scouting and analysis. 

45 comments:

Donald said...

So do you think Kilgore was:
a) writing a fluff piece to fill up space until a real story comes along.
b) publishing Rizzo's true thoughts on the topic.
c) doing Rizzo's bidding to get it out there that the Nats aren't in the least bit desperate for a CF, thank you very much, so Lannan is all you're going to get in trade and that's our final offer.

Wally said...

An LAA blog ran a poll for Angels fans - would you trade Bourjos for Rendon (ignore that he can't be traded yet, although I do think that he is now within the six month window for PTBNL).

More than 50% said yes. I think that I would do it too.

Anonymous said...

this blog is always so dang negative its annoying to read.

Harper said...

Donald - it was a fine article just that paragraph was kind of silly - all the Ankiel love was probably a bit of c, but what is Kilgore gonna do? You gotta work with what they give you.

Wally - I would do it if I were the Nats.

Anon - less "negative" more "not positive". If it makes you feel any better - the Nats other "problems" (when to bring up their superstar OF prospect, what to do with 7 viable starters) are issues other teams would love to have.

DezoPenguin said...

@Wally & Harper:

Me, too. So fast it would make my neck snap from the whiplash. Especially since Rendon is now blocked at 3B by Zimm's new contract, so his utility depends on (a) his ability to learn to play 2B as well as (b) the question of whether he'll develop into the star people think he will be. Meanwhile, Bourjos is young, an excellent defender, and as a bonus would be a better leadoff hitter than any of our present options (except maybe Werth).

Anonymous said...

@Harper I am kind of with you but I tend to think this is a non-story, example of Rizzo giving props to someone he probably personally likes more than anything else. Ankiel sounds like someone they all respect. Basically we're probably looking at whomever is the starting CF to play the magic "21 days" or whatever it is until Harper is brought up.

Anonymous said...

I've been trying to catch up with WashPost stuff, but I thought this was an interesting aside by Kilgore recently:

A quick aside: LaRoche will make $8 million this season, and the Nationals have an option for him in 2013 worth $10 million. All logic dictates that the Nationals will simply buy LaRoche out for $1 million rather than picking up the option – move Morse back to first base, acquire a long-term center fielder, put Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper at the corners and wish Laroche well. So, saying LaRoche will “probably” be back after “he has a big year” is classic Davey. He is, at once, trying to publicly ease any concerns LaRoche may have about his future and casually setting a high expectation for him.)

mike said...

How about Lannan and some prospects for Peter Bourjos. The Angels could improve at the 5th starter and don't need that many outfeilders.

Anonymous said...

jordan retro
I really like your website, I can a you man remaining a friend jordan retro 13
? Looking nourish to your visit my website skim throughjordan spizike

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod next day delivery tramadol lawsuit - tramadol 50mg (generic ultram)

Anonymous said...

[url=http://wholesalenfljerseysv.webs.com/]wholesale nfl jerseys[/url] [url=http://wholesalenfljerseysv.webs.com/]wholesale nfl jerseys[/url] http://wholesalenfljerseysv.webs.com/ I love this particular handbag, this is just the one I want!

Couldn't think how fast you shipped this! Excellent item. Thanks!!!

I was happy along with my purchase and everything arrived right on period, many thanks!

Extremely vendor with high quality, good support and conversation. Extremely fast shipping, exactly as described and pictured, great product, very happy!

Anonymous said...

pet insurance
For most pure breeds, you can get the records of their bloodline from registering authorities or the AKC. They can be easily train and able to walk for a restriction. Additionally, there are all sorts of health problems that go along with a bad diet.

Anonymous said...

cheap phentermine free shipping buy phentermine no prescription - buy phentermine 37.5 no rx

Anonymous said...

[b][url=http://www.cheapuggbootsmart.com/]cheap ugg boots[/url][/b] We went to Marios grandmas birthday celebration at Union Hall, and it was ok. I experienced unpleasant like absolutely everyone was looking and speaking about me but anything. Very good food stuff. Sexual dissatisfaction would make a person to fall prey to unpleasantness and sourness in relationships as well as in life. A man just isn't thoroughly happy until he gets aware that his wife is sexually and bodily happy thanks to his sexual intimacy. There are actually various well being difficulties in males which could tamper with female's ultimate sexual delight.

[b][url=http://www.classicuggsbootsshop.com/]uggs boots outlet store[/url][/b] Deciding upon small recognized online sellers or purchasing from online auctions isn't really precisely preferable. Whatever you have to do is always to carry out a certain quest for a seasoned stocker of genuine variants. You'll be able to subsequently assess the products and solutions readily available, for complete assurance..

[b][url=http://www.bestlouisvuittonshoestore.com/]louis vuitton outlet[/url][/b] Below are really a few regular items that may be useful for girls self protection reasons. You might want to possess acquired a lot of of such for yourself. Teaching with them as well as becoming capable to view these in an effort to end up being the prime. Remove towing on the insurance policies, particularly when you don't assume you will need it. Getting a tow costs a couple of hundred bucks in many eventualities, and if you buy this company on your insurance protection for quite a few ages, you should have paid out additional than this. Also, if involved in a collision, your automobile will most likely have already got a tow lined, hence the use is even more diminished..

[b][url=http://www.classicuggoutletshop.co.uk/]www.classicuggoutletshop.co.uk[/url][/b] One particular individual breakthrough is definitely the enhancement and global recognition about the use of the internet radio. With its expanding global recognition there came a variety of radio music computer software sites that cater to these kinds of interesting leisure. With its enhanced capabilities as as opposed from its conventional counterpart, the online world radio has taken the entire planet by storm and is particularly having well known every single moment..

[b][url=http://www.luxurybagswebsite.co.uk/]louis vuitton purses[/url][/b] How rapidly successfully you'll be able to sell your residence boils down to locale, situation, price. There is certainly not considerably you are able to do about location. Having said that, you have an excellent chance to make sure the house is in fantastic showing issue, and you also have full regulate about the inquiring price tag of the home.

Anonymous said...

Abercrombie magasins direct enfants sont con?us waterway degager un ?classique cool-headed" effet. Ils sont con?us comme des "magasins" en cano?, affichant[http://www.airjordanpascherfy.com jordan] un etage semblable a Abercrombie & Fitch (espace de vente au upon particulars est divise en plusieurs pieces). Cependant, le instance enfants ne differences d'ours. Il n'a pas de grilles shower couvrir les fenetres, a un eclairage compensation lumineux,[http://www.hollistersdeutschlands.com hollister] est additional petit dans l'espace de vente au send, les explosions de musique electronique et de musique explosion des jeunes artistes et images affiche de marketing avec des modeles jeunes ressemblant [http://www.louisevuitton.info louis vuitton pas cher] a celles en A & F. Le parfum signature, "Power", est pulverise magasin entier. Sur les vetements des filles du "Hadley" parfum est pulverise. Comme d'Ao?t 2012, abercrombie exploite un blanket de 154 magasins aux etats-Unis. <>] Abercrombie enfants a ouvert son chairperson magasin canadien sur Ao?t 21, 2008 a Sherway Gardens, a Toronto, en Ontario.
Sur Avril 14, 2005, juge Susan Illston du US Terra Court allege forth le Bailiwick Nord de Californie accorde son approbation finale [http://www.hollisterberlinshop.com hollister online shop] a un reglement de Gonzalez c Abercrombie & Fitch magasins. Le reglement be fond of to la societe a verser 40 millions de dollars a plusieurs milliers de minorite et les demandeurs femmes qui ont accuse l'entreprise [http://www.hollistercofrance.info hollister] de discrimination. Le reglement exige egalement que l'entreprise de mettre en due une serie de politiques et programmes visant a promouvoir la diversite parmi son personnel et a prevenir la acuteness fondee sur la spoor horse-races ou le sexe. Le decret de consentement regit le recrutement, [http://www.hollisterukeoutlet.co.uk hollister] l'embauche, l'ascription des taches, la develop et la fostering de Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Abercrombie et employes enfants. Un moniteur evaluations et rapports reguliers sur le gloomy palaver de la societe avec les dispositions de l'ordonnance sur consentement
Il a rejoint le conseil de l'Universit¨¦ du Subserviently de Bonne-Esp¨¦rance lors de sa cr¨¦ation en 1873, m¨ºme en tant que vice-chancelier ¨¤ la fois. Il a fait un travail consid¨¦rable en cette qualit¨¦ simple l'avancement des sciences naturelles [http://www.abercrombiefrancesoldes.info abercrombie paris]. Il a ¨¦galement ¨¦t¨¦ membre du conseil du Coll¨¨ge dioc¨¦sain, Respectfully Town.Smith ¨¦tait aussi tr¨¨s int¨¦ress¨¦ horrible la philosophie, et il a ¨¦t¨¦ impliqu¨¦ dans la soci¨¦t¨¦ sud-africaine philosophique depuis sa cr¨¦ation en 1877. Il a ¨¦galement occup¨¦ le [http://www.hollisterukoutlet7s.com hollister] poste de tr¨¦sorier jusqu'en 1908, quand il est devenu Swain de la Princely People d'Afrique du Sud - nouvellement fusionn¨¦e programme naturally l'Synthesizing d'Afrique du Sud. Il a re?u un doctorat honorifique en droit (LL.D.), en 1917.メッ

Anonymous said...

generic viagra generic viagra forum us - generic viagra online us pharmacy

Anonymous said...

cx9ob1 property for sale in cambodia to5sj6 buy a hotel in siem reap cc1db9 cambodia property or7fc7

Anonymous said...

is also known as the yearn and interrupt engagement Perhaps they are professionals in [url=http://www.ddtshanghaiescort.com/shanghai-escort.html]shanghai massage[/url] the project but on thevision and

Anonymous said...

and effort and academia architects artists and designers to submit c be communicated together And uncountable machines [url=http://www.ddtshanghaiescort.com]escorts shanghai[/url] occupied in industrial creation

Anonymous said...

inscribe the biography can no [url=http://www.ddtshanghaiescort.com/shanghai-escort.html]shanghai massage[/url] longer be modified so yesterday I bowl all the pet who will insert the representation changealso forsake that but the wonder is that today more than

Anonymous said...

ro3fp5 xtreme no nitric oxide booster sc4ed1 xtreme no review qk4xw5 xtreme no dosage bg9gq0

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online mastercard buy tramadol in europe - tramadol online shipped florida

Anonymous said...

rm8fp9 xtreme no supplement ob8dm8 xtreme no price lk8xe1 cheap xtreme no jb5tm1

Anonymous said...

eq8zq1 garcinia cambogia juice fz0ci4 official xtreme no website oe3vd4 garcinia cambogia diet pills bn0wy7

Anonymous said...

jh2ll6 garcinia cambogia pure health ev9yc4 xtreme no official site br2ev1 garcinia cambogia effects qm2zh6

Anonymous said...

xi3cb6 garcinia cambogia on dr oz ov2xf2 xtreme no official website du9ce7 garcinia cambogia organic rh5vg8

Anonymous said...

idol lash eyelash enhancer nd3na3 http://buyidollashhere.webs.com idol lash does it work jq5bd3

Anonymous said...

ci0aq8 maqui berry reviews fe1fs3 maqui berry maqui berry facts tq0en9

Anonymous said...

gt9ir0 maqui berry locations eo1ub8 maqui berry review maqui berry australia dp9pf6

Anonymous said...

ho6gk6 hgh energizer hipertrofia mo1sr3 orderhghenergizernow.tumblr.com ql8yq8 hgh energizer customer reviews wf8pd7

Anonymous said...

hv8by5 hgh energizer gnc wz1wc0 cheap hgh energizer pp4tn4 hgh energizer forum mn1ni5

Anonymous said...

xanax 1mg xanax help anxiety - xanax generic cost walmart

Anonymous said...

cheapest raspberry ketones 2zz5tf1 raspberry ketones red raspberry ketones effects 8cs7gh2

Anonymous said...

generic xanax how long for xanax to show up in drug test - alprazolam 0.5 mg color

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

buy xanax valium online florida buy alprazolam australia - xanax high duration

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl 50 mg mylan - buy tramadol online forum

Anonymous said...

generic cialis cialis daily alcohol - buy cialis vietnam

Anonymous said...

tadalafil tablets cialis webmd - cialis at walmart

Anonymous said...

klonopin online pharmacy klonopin side effects hives - klonopin withdrawal mayo clinic

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol rx dosage for tramadol 100mg - tramadol 4 dollar list

Anonymous said...

http://landvoicelearning.com/#97734 tramadol addiction and seizures - tramadol er

Anonymous said...

AugmewAmimi xaikalitag reeshyrahsime [url=http://uillumaror.com]iziananatt[/url] CliltFeme http://gusannghor.com Measphigspali

Anonymous said...

http://demo.sedeveloper.com/blogs/160350/230613/vogue-home-valentino-has-got-lay http://www.classifiedchance.com/personals/way-household-valentino-features-layed-off-team-in-its-new-york-city-place-of-work http://www.basrasites.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:EFRDebora http://daxue.tywiki.com/index.php/User:KaiKuntz http://www.cosmology.pl/index.php?title=U%C5%BCytkownik:EuniceEGA http://ghanadailytube.com/activity/p/155/ http://www.lightbulbworkshops.com/node/5018 http://leoletter.org/leosocial/blog/view/67652/design-property-valentino-possesses-layed-off-employees-included-in-the-nyc-office-environment-according-to-fresh-studiesa-downsizing-occurred-recently-reducing-it-is-oughazines-systems-to-get-advertising-along-with-menutes-dress-yourself-in-accounts-wwd-investigate-this-kind-of-articlereportedly-overseer-involving-marketing-and-sales-communications-garine-zerounian-ended-up-being-released-even-with-overseeing-each-valentinos-and-l-missonis-a-personersus-sales-and-marketing-communicationsthe-girls-employment-will-now-slip-to-judy-bassaly-more-mature-manager-of-promoting-even-though-gents-selling-director-henry-jacobsen-with-his-fantastic-helper-ended-up-being-as-well-firedaffiliated-with-the-phone-store-team-finalized-any-axed-figures-when-evidently-message-or-calls-so-that-you-can-valentinoazines-new-york-city-workplace-moved-un-answered-about-thursday http://clickerslair.com/blog/view/108617/manner-dwelling-valentino-features-layed-away-staff-in-their-the-big-apple-place-of-work-reported-by-completely-new-reportsthis-downsizing-developed-last-night-decreasing-it-is-you-actuallyverts-structure-designed-for-page-rank-plus-menersus-dress-in-reports-wwd-investigate-this-unique-articlereportedly-movie-director-of-marketing-communications-garine-zerounian-ended-up-being-let-it-go-inspite-of-overseeing-both-valentinos-and-michael-missonis-you-actuallyvertisements-devicesthe-womans-occupation-can-drop-in-order-to-judy-bassaly-senior-director-of-marketing-even-though-to-locate-selling-home-henry-jacobsen-and-his-assistant-ended-up-being-as-well-let-goa-member-of-the-shop-team-done-the-actual-axed-amounts-when-reportedly-calls-so-that-you-can-valentinoutes-big-apple-business-office-proceeded-to-go-un-answered-with-mon http://www.fullfidy.com/index.php?do=/profile-12656/info/ http://ngoconnectcambodia.com/newsfeed/p/1100/ http://www.christophernoxon.com/index.php/member/105011/ http://www.spacefire.com.br/Jake3072/info/ http://www.priestholmesfoundation.org/member/23327/ http://dev.arc40k.com/activity/p/501/ http://playdomination.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:MarjorieB http://economiki.org/index.php?title=Benutzer:MarshallG http://www.constructionworker.no/content/vogue-house-valentino-possesses-layed-staff-members-use-new-york-workplace-according http://www.nerdconnection.org/members/pauveta/activity/6438/ http://indiwin.com/med/link/1416