tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post6218159913921702826..comments2024-03-27T19:05:25.362-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: No Holes?Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-46088329429587073232011-06-29T12:23:57.032-07:002011-06-29T12:23:57.032-07:00Is it crazy to consider in a few years having Rend...Is it crazy to consider in a few years having Rendon at 3rd and moving Zimm to 1st? Everytime Zimm throws to first I hold my breath.hihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10283493594260842941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-53055585088602809362011-06-29T07:18:26.456-07:002011-06-29T07:18:26.456-07:00139 - if you feel confident everywhere else you pr...139 - if you feel confident everywhere else you probably run with Bernadina until you find something better. <br /><br />Wally - I can't deny ZNN has come back exceedingly fast from injury. It'd be silly of me to do so just to be right about this being a slow comeback. Of course if he does start tanking...<br /><br />Dezo - agreed but it must be nice for Nats fans to have a "this one guy probably shouldn't be startin" problems as opposed to their usual "these few guys shouldn't be in the majors" issues.Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-59043806302258567502011-06-28T19:22:01.153-07:002011-06-28T19:22:01.153-07:00I think you've summed it up nicely and the oth...I think you've summed it up nicely and the other commenters have filled in the gaps. Desmond isn't useless (except batting) but it's a position of weakness. Nix or a Nix/Morse platoon is adequate in LF, but only adequate. Bernardina in CF is doubly a problem, because his bat is a shade under average even when doing well and his defense isn't going to make me overlook his hitting deficiencies. He's our best current option, though. And Morse's numbers--even the reduced numbers you suggest, are adequate at 1B so there's no reason to play games there unless it's where Harper ends up or we sign Fielder in the offseason or something (and frankly, if we're going to be throwing major cash at a free agent, better to make it Reyes.)<br /><br />CF seems to be the best place to improve via the trade, simply because we have some possible org depth in the middle infield plus the possibility that Desmond isn't genuinely *this* bad of a hitter, Werth will probably hit better (I suspect the Zimmerman and LaRoche injuries are the major causes of his first-half failures, plus the burden of the contract, putting too much pressure on a guy who's never been more than the #3-4 option in a lineup) and sooner or later Harper will take over 1B or a corner OF spot anyhow.DezoPenguinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-83949037085563360642011-06-28T13:21:11.775-07:002011-06-28T13:21:11.775-07:00Good post. I mostly agree, although I would add a...Good post. I mostly agree, although I would add a wrinkle that I think is in there (sort of). CF is the biggest hole, because we really have no one in the organization that we can realistically dream on to take it in 1-2 years. Everywhere else we have options that we can live with as a contender, if we fixed something elsewhere. For instance, Desi is acceptable at SS IF we get a good CF, and a Nix/Morse platoon in LF and Werth returns to form. That kind of thing.<br /><br />So I get back to CF - I have mentioned guys that ought to be available - Span, Bourjos, Bourn. They are the better defenders in CF, which I think is critical for us with Werth/Nix/Morse/Harper at the corners. Of course I don't know who actually is available, but I would pay fair price here, not try to get something on the cheap. I would definitely pay them on Tuesday for a hamburger today - meaning give up real prospect value to get one of those guys.<br /><br />PS. don't think this slipped by me: 'They have 5 starters that can hold their own (or better in the case of ZNN).' I knew that you would come around.Wallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-23570886691611104362011-06-28T10:22:50.670-07:002011-06-28T10:22:50.670-07:00I'd have to switch CF and SS if I were doing t...I'd have to switch CF and SS if I were doing the assessment if only for organizational depth. I know you and Boz are writing about the now, so indulge me (but you speak to it at the end of your post too). <br /><br />So...<br />Regarding SS, we could get creative and move pieces around the infield with Espi, Lombardozzi, and Rendon in the (future) mix. I think that can work itself out. But what is the option if we don't make an offseason move in CF? Harper (as Donald suggests) probably wouldn't be ready defensively. So maybe Werth? All that does is create another hole (albeit one more easily filled).Section 139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-84801682076346501702011-06-28T10:22:37.874-07:002011-06-28T10:22:37.874-07:00GO NATS - people been saying Bourn is available bu...GO NATS - people been saying Bourn is available but all I hear is people from teams who think he should be available. Nothing saying the astros are looking to deal.Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-66589891625745631662011-06-28T10:17:57.989-07:002011-06-28T10:17:57.989-07:00Donald
For SS - let Desmond have the year to see ...Donald <br />For SS - let Desmond have the year to see if he can hit any better. Even last years numbers given everything GONATS points out, would make a case for a 3rd go round. If not, then yeah Lombardozzi is probably the way to go in '12. Don't want to break him in in '13 if you are making a serious run. <br /><br />For CF - Upton would be interesting. The potential is huge. He's probably not better than Bernadina in the field though. About the same? It's an offensive move. Harper isn't great in LF forget about CF. Morse next year would be the goal with Bernie as the 4th guy. <br /><br />At 1B, don't see anyone coming in with the team the Nats have now. LaRoche takes it back next year for 2 resaons $$$, and upping trade value if next year doesn't go as planned. Morse can move. LaRoche can't. <br /><br />10:05 AMHarperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-24950611762381795582011-06-28T10:12:44.690-07:002011-06-28T10:12:44.690-07:00I feel I musty add that I essentially agree with a...I feel I musty add that I essentially agree with all your other comments though. I think Nix was born to platoon in LF and is young enough to get better than that and prove me wrong. <br /><br />If advanced defensive metrics have any value, then we have a dreadful defensive OF including Bernadina (including that one catch). But we always have dreadful defensive OFs. it is kind of our thing as a team (Joke). I think Bernadina has far to big a platoon split to ever be a regular starter. Eventhough has hit much better lately, he has a season long BA of .113 against left-handed pitchers. <br />Personally, I think "NOT WERTH IT" will get better, but he will never be as good as he was in that hitters paradise called Citizens Bank Park. Nonetheless, he is far better all round in RF than we have had in several seasons. We vastly overpaid, but did improve in RF.<br /><br />Michael Bourn is available for trade from Houston, and he is one of the best CFs in baseball. He played his first full season in 2008. Since April 2008 he has generated the 5th most Wins Above Replacement among all Cfs in the game. We should trade for him right away<br /><br />WAR since April 2008 (fangraphs data);<br /><br />Name WAR<br />Shane Victorino 15.7<br />Josh Hamilton 15.5<br />Curtis Granderson 14.9<br />Matt Kemp 13.6<br />Michael Bourn 12.8<br />Denard Span 12.6<br />B.J. Upton 12<br />Andrew McCutchen 11.2<br />Franklin Gutierrez 11.1<br />Torii Hunter 10.8<br />Marlon Byrd 10.5<br />Chris Young 10.1kick me in the GO NATSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-73514399839710437252011-06-28T10:10:16.131-07:002011-06-28T10:10:16.131-07:00Natty - to lead the league in DPs you need to have...Natty - to lead the league in DPs you need to have a lot of baserunners, a lot of ground balls but be good enough to pitch a lot of innings. That's Lannan in a nut shell. <br /><br />GO NATS - to be perfectly literal I didn't use the wrong number. That's why I said "hitting" but point taken. He's been great on the basepaths and you'd clearly rather have him on your team than.. well Tejada. Probably a couple other guys too including fielding (though fielding numbers are more subject to change than hitting ones year to year) I see him at 21st in WAR at fangraphs but I know that can differ depending on where you look at it. let's agree as a complete player the Nats could do worse. <br /><br />He's young but not very young (he'll be 26 before the season ends) Use that if you want to diregard his hitting so far but I see a guy that peaks out as a bad hitter who uses good (but not great) fielding and great baserunning to give the Nats scrapingly acceptable performance for a couple more years before his legs start to go. I think he should get the rest of this year to prove me wrong but after that Lombardozzi makes too good a case not to try something different.Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-32005771549821535102011-06-28T10:05:23.516-07:002011-06-28T10:05:23.516-07:00I agree with your assessment. The question is what...I agree with your assessment. The question is what to do about it?<br /><br />For SS, if we could get Reyes in the off season to a long term contract I'd do it in a heart beat. I wouldn't take him as a rental. If that doesn't work out, which it won't, I'd consider a middle infield of Espi and Lombardozzi.<br /><br />For CF, the Nats seem serious about BJ Upton, which doesn't thrill me, but could happen. I'd rather see Harper in CF and Morse or Bernadina in LF. LF seems like one of the easier holes to fill, though.<br /><br />At 1B, there are rumors we'd pursue Fielder but I think that's a long shot at best. Barring that, I'd stick with Morse until Marrero or someone else from the Minors grows into the position.Donaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12295227567170577873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-33793321127432561292011-06-28T09:44:04.459-07:002011-06-28T09:44:04.459-07:00" He's the worst hitting SS in the MAJORS..." He's the worst hitting SS in the MAJORS. By a good amount too. BIG OL' OBVIOUS hole." your using the wrong number here. OPS is a less than ideal measure of a players offensive worth because it leaves several things out including SB/CS in which Desmond excels this season.<br />http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/avgobpslg-in-an-age-of-woba/<br /><br />Using wOBA which includes more he is the 21st best offensive SS. <br /><br />http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=ss&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2011&month=0&season1=2011&ind=0<br /><br />But I would like to point at that Desmond is still very young, so he has far from peaked. He is a sophomore and having bad sophomore seasons offensively is common. Plus, he is among the better defensive SS in baseball (UZR/150 is over 4 and been slowly climbing all season). So I do not see him as a hole or a star. Using Wins above replacement, which factors in everything a player does, he is the 16th best starting SS in the majors. Not terrible considering 30 teams, and upside clearly exists.kick me in the GO NATSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-31683599228995132232011-06-28T08:29:57.262-07:002011-06-28T08:29:57.262-07:00Great stuff.
Boswell is like popcorn. Tastes g...Great stuff. <br /><br />Boswell is like popcorn. Tastes great, not that filling, buttery, not very nutritious. I love popcorn, I love reading Boswell.<br /><br />But after reading Tommy B, you have to re-enter the reality of Washington sports where the Nats have been ridiculously bad for what, a decade? Thanks for the ride Boswell, but this team is STILL mediocre. Gotta appreciate his ability to make it SEEM like things are okay.<br /><br />As for Lannan, did you notice that he leads the league in having batters ground into DP's? 15! That's two entire starting pitching performances of DP's. Interesting stat that helps explain the Lannan phenom.Nattydreadnoreply@blogger.com