tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post3283963185053787920..comments2024-03-27T19:05:25.362-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: Angelos had a better offseason, are the Os now better than the Nats?Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-79584957500755296842011-02-03T10:06:14.399-08:002011-02-03T10:06:14.399-08:00One more important factor in the O's favor is ...One more important factor in the O's favor is at the manager position. It's probably why you note that the Nats did slightly worse than expected and the O's slightly better last year. I don't think that was just luck.Donaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12295227567170577873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-54649977805750556242011-02-03T08:26:19.851-08:002011-02-03T08:26:19.851-08:00JohnC - I still like Weiters in the long run but I...JohnC - I still like Weiters in the long run but I don't see any reason to say he's going to be better than what the Nats put out there in 2011. He's moved into the "prove it" phase of his career.Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-21523208447797718212011-02-03T07:54:37.276-08:002011-02-03T07:54:37.276-08:00@Hoo: If you're going to downgrade acquisitio...@Hoo: If you're going to downgrade acquisition of pitchers from the Yankee organization because of Bruney, you have to bump them back up because of Tyler Clippard. The Nats got Clippard for Jonathan Albaladejo - who was released by the Yankees last year. I'd say that worked out pretty well for the Nats!<br /><br />If I were the Nats I wouldn't concede the catcher position to the Orioles; Wieters has been so blah the last couple of years that there is rumbling that he may be a fizzle.John C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-32261494475473539722011-02-03T07:14:14.361-08:002011-02-03T07:14:14.361-08:00Wally - Nothing to disagree about really. Offensiv...Wally - Nothing to disagree about really. Offensively the Nats don't have the stability of the Os. They could just as easily be much worse as much better. The Desmond/Ramos/Espinosa/Morgan part is just so up int he air. But like I said to hoo about the pitching - I'm just thinking most likely scenario here. <br /><br />As for Weiters He got super lucky with BABIp to get that high average in 2009. Last year was more "right". he's shown no power and if he shows no power and can't hit for average who's going to walk him? I know his minor league numbers all say strongly one thing, but just give me a good half year first. <br /><br />If I were the Os GM I would make that deal, Matusz is very good, Strasburg could be all-time. However, I completely understand why they can't make that deal for an injured Strasburg. <br /><br />hoo - Bruney belongs to the world.Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-58049231566222399702011-02-02T18:49:01.580-08:002011-02-02T18:49:01.580-08:00BTW, I forgot to mention that the Nats got another...BTW, I forgot to mention that the Nats got another Yankees pitcher today! Following in the illustrious footsteps of Brian Bruney, the Yankee-National relationship strengthens. Obviously, Rizzo is throwing some love to Harper with this Yankee fascination.Hoonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-58295644281046172032011-02-02T16:10:14.791-08:002011-02-02T16:10:14.791-08:00Zim/Werth - totally agree that they are much bette...Zim/Werth - totally agree that they are much better, and that should hold up throughout the year. But, when you are counting on just a few, you are really susceptible to injuries. Plus, the other guys except Laroche - they could all suck really bad. I am not predicting that, I like Desi, kinda feeling the love for Morse, and even modestly hopeful on NoMo, but not one of them has demonstrated MLB consistency that you can reduce your worries to just injuries.<br /><br />I dunno, Weiters went .249/.319/.377 (not sure why the slugging was so awful) last year, and although I haven't checked the fielding stats, I think that he generally gets good reviews. That is not bad for a C as is, and Bill James projects .288/.361/.448 for 2011, which would vault him to top 10 probably. He may still be trading off the former prospect luster, tho, so your point about 'why believe' is valid.<br /><br />I am a big Matusz fan though; he was dynamite in the 2d half last year, and looked like he really figured it out. I think the guy is going to take a big step forward this year. I like him better than JZimm for sure (and I like JZimm). Guthrie is solid; Tillman seems lost tho.<br /><br />If you are the O's, would you trade Matusz for Stras? I am not sure they do (and before anyone bans me from the blog, I am obviously talking about an injured Stras with whatever uncertainty you apply to his comeback).Wallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-60204521834249478652011-02-02T14:00:51.454-08:002011-02-02T14:00:51.454-08:00I guess I don't buy that Pudge will get 50% of...I guess I don't buy that Pudge will get 50% of the catcher at bats again. I mean they really can't do that can they? Not with 2 and potentially 3 catchers needing major league playing time... <br /><br />But if Pudge plays the same amount that he did last year then yes, I'd edge the Os back over the Nats.Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-24247701588798217492011-02-02T13:54:45.888-08:002011-02-02T13:54:45.888-08:00re: Wieters. I'd say he's better than Pud...re: Wieters. I'd say he's better than Pudge now (although Flores has been better hitter in limited time). It's more likely that Wieters continues to improve than Pudge improves from last year's numbers. Maybe if Ramos/Flores get substantial ABs...<br /><br />Understand your pt on the rotation. But using the "from many" comes one good arm theory, I'd feel good that one of the O's young guns makes a jump next year. Get much better now that they have big leagues exp. Nats can't expect much improvement except from Marquis and it seems as likely that Livo will be a lot worse than Marquis tons better. <br /><br />But I understand your note on upside. I'd rather have the O's younger staff with a ton of potential rather than the Nats staff of meh, we know what they can do and it's not great but let's cross our fingers on Znn/Maya. <br /><br />Nats do get a huge edge in the pen and I think our future is still brighter b/c we were the worst in baseball at the right time.Hoonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-82697410507651540982011-02-02T13:21:19.839-08:002011-02-02T13:21:19.839-08:00Wally / hoo - I know Weiters was a stud prospect b...Wally / hoo - I know Weiters was a stud prospect but what about the last two years gives you this confidence that he'll get it. He may very well do just that but I don't feel any guarantee that it'll be next year. <br /><br />Wally - it's true after Zimm/Werth it's 6 guys on the Os vs one (LaRoche) for the Nats in the middle area. But it's not just having two guys slightly better than the rest. Werth is much better than those guys, and Zimm is much better than Werth. These are two guys that can contribute even when they are off their game. Because of that I still like the Nats offense just slightly better.<br /><br />Beyond 2011... I guess I like the Nats better but almost exclusively because of point #1. <br /> <br /><br />hoo - I am probably bumping up the Nats pitching a bit in the comparison. I think though looking at strictly the most likely scenario - it's close. When you start thinking about potential - the Orioles have a rotation full of guys that may surprise. It's most likely that they'll only be slightly better, but the chances they'll be much better than the Nats are much higher than the chances that the Nats will be better. If that makes any sense.Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-29245024809094183332011-02-02T13:02:42.855-08:002011-02-02T13:02:42.855-08:00I think the O's are better given that their pi...I think the O's are better given that their pitching staff is younger and pretty much better. The top 2 Nats prospects are coming off blown elbows and we all take for granted they'll be in the 90%+ who make it back.<br /><br />And you left out catcher where I think that Wieters guy could be a bit better than Pudge's corpse and Wilson Flores. <br /><br />I think Nats were on the right path but got bumped the last few years with the elbow injuries and little progress from Dett or other minor league starters. <br /><br />But it's also galling that the O's bit the nats straight up for a few FAs this year. Of course, the Nats have a trump card in that no one of our pitchers in the pen are literally pitchers in the pen and will be for quite sometime.hoonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-57613659628581487712011-02-02T11:12:21.563-08:002011-02-02T11:12:21.563-08:00First off, thanks for posting. With the offseason...First off, thanks for posting. With the offseason mostly played out, I was beginning to feel like the Kramer/Newman 'We've really hit rock bottom' exchange from Seinfeld (the one where Kramer found Merv Griffin's old set furniture and started holding shows in his apartment).<br /><br />It is pretty close, but I think that the O's have a better 25 man roster for 2011. Zim is the best player on the either field, and Werth 2d, but the falloff could be pretty dramatic after that. The O's could put up the next 6-7 guys (Markakis, Roberts, Jones, Weiters, Lee, Reynolds, hardy) before you get to a Nat. I think that you described it well, but I would probably take the deeper overall lineup. And they have probably the best two SPs in Matusz and Guthrie.<br /><br />So I give them 2011, but I would take the Nats position overall instead of the O's. 1) - not in the AL East; 2) more of the Nats guys have a chance to be keepers than Lee, Reynolds, et al; and 3) two huge bullets coming at some point in Strasburg and Bryce.Wallynoreply@blogger.com