Comments on Nats Insider: What's left to do before spring training?

Bourn WILL be available soon. He is a Boras clien...

2012-01-26T22:44:05.365-05:00

Bourn WILL be available soon. He is a Boras client and the Braves refuse to deal with Boras. There won't be an extension and he'll be on the open market, then we'll see what the Nat's do.

Why has the trail gone cold on Upton?

2012-01-26T21:56:16.136-05:00

Why has the trail gone cold on Upton?

If he kicks butt, given our current options, I rec...

2012-01-26T13:39:57.128-05:00

If he kicks butt, given our current options, I reckon he'd stay right where he is, and kick more butt! Wouldn't be the first time the lightbulb unaccountably just clicked on.....

curious - if bernie comes up and kicks butt until ...

2012-01-26T13:05:42.301-05:00

curious - if bernie comes up and kicks butt until july, does he have trade value?

Gutierrez might be a worse hitter than Bernadina. ...

2012-01-26T11:56:48.099-05:00

Gutierrez might be a worse hitter than Bernadina. Great outfielder though.

Agreed, Steve M. Before they ran into problems get...

2012-01-26T11:53:08.062-05:00

Agreed, Steve M. Before they ran into problems getting a CF, the teamspeak was that they wanted Harper to show mastery over each level before promotion. While he improved after the initial adjustment time in AA, and had fine AZ league numbers, three homers and a 256/329/395 line do not demonstrate mastery over that level.

If Lidge can get the ball over the plate in ST (od...

2012-01-26T11:50:46.096-05:00

If Lidge can get the ball over the plate in ST (odds, 50-50) then I think HRodgriguez gets traded. I always thought Rizzo acquired him as a future trade chip. Look for a team that thinks they need a set-up guy and has an underachieving CF. Seattle and Franklin Gutierrez?

blovy8 said... Flawed as he is, Bernadina is t...

2012-01-26T11:48:14.710-05:00
blovy8 said...
Flawed as he is, Bernadina is the best option right now. He's actually getting fairly decent projections - for some reason it seems like at least one system think he can hit .260. If that happens, you can live with him against righties until June and go with Werth as plan B. They really could use Fukodome, but I would think he's holding out for more certain playing time and are hedging about when Harper should arrive. Still, Fukodome never had much power or speed, and it looks like he's not drawing as many walks if last year is any indication. Something like a DeJesus level player, useful, but not going to change your team's outcome much.

January 26, 2012 11:02 AM

I tend to agree with you and have said the Bernadina/Cameron could work as an ok option until Harper comes up and Werth moves to CF

dfh, i don't think the nats will be buying out...

2012-01-26T11:47:13.027-05:00
dfh, i don't think the nats will be buying out any of harper's FA years. that's just not how boras lets his clients roll. granted, he could be the exception, but those are rare and it doesn't seem like harper is that kind of exception (from what i've seen/read).

NatsLady, you are assuming Bryce Harper will play ...

2012-01-26T11:40:42.448-05:00
NatsLady, you are assuming Bryce Harper will play better than replacement. He is still 19 years old. I personally don't think he is ready but if Davey thinks he is on March 29th than I go with Davey's assesssment.

Here are the problems with leaving Harper behind f...

2012-01-26T11:08:40.122-05:00
Here are the problems with leaving Harper behind for April and May:

1) Games lost in April count just as much as games lost in August;
2) If Harper needs time to adjust to major-league pitching and fielding, April and May are better months to do that than June and July;
3) We need to see what the outfield situation is before--well before--July 31; we also need to see if we are above .500 at that point. And, most important,
4) Davy wants him up, and what Davy wants, Davy will get.

I totally grasp the "business reasons" for keeping Harper down for a few months based on the future "return," as was done with Stras. But we could afford to do that then--a last place team, etc. We can't afford to do that now.

If we are in the wild-card race for 2012, the payback will FAR FAR outweigh a lost year of Harper (who could, let's face it, get injured anyway). As has been noted, this is the year for the Nats to make their mark as a pro sports team in this area.

Gio and Harper have "charisma." We need them plastered all over billboards. Can't do that if Harper is in the minors. We need them all over this city and its suburbs, yakking with kids, etc.

Also, you can't assume that you can plan and promote a big debut for Harper and it will sell platinum DVD's like Stras' did. Two different animals. Harper could flub his debut and STILL be a great player.

Unless the Nats go 1-12, Harper will be up by Tax Day.

Debbie Taylor and me only pawns in game of life. ...

2012-01-26T11:08:15.016-05:00
Debbie Taylor and me only pawns in game of life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKRma7PDW10

Lidge isn't an 8th or 9th inning guy anymore, ...

2012-01-26T11:06:15.767-05:00
Lidge isn't an 8th or 9th inning guy anymore, and I'm assuming his contract will reflect that. I'd see him as Henry Rodriguez insurance.

um, see you in the new post.

2012-01-26T11:05:51.851-05:00
um, see you in the new post.

Well, at least then he wouldn't be a Nats-kill...

2012-01-26T11:03:08.194-05:00
Well, at least then he wouldn't be a Nats-killer then. :-)

Interesting about Lidge. A veteran presence, certainly. Would hope for the "lights out" version, of course.

greg said...

a random thought, what about ibanez as the bench PH/OF? he had a down year last year, and i wouldn't necessarily want him to be a starter all year, but the four years before that he was pretty consistent. not very good defensively, but he would be a good bat off of the bench with a little pop, which is something that doesn't really exist on this roster right now.
January 26, 2012 10:47 AM

Flawed as he is, Bernadina is the best option righ...

2012-01-26T11:02:34.807-05:00
Flawed as he is, Bernadina is the best option right now. He's actually getting fairly decent projections - for some reason it seems like at least one system think he can hit .260. If that happens, you can live with him against righties until June and go with Werth as plan B. They really could use Fukodome, but I would think he's holding out for more certain playing time and are hedging about when Harper should arrive. Still, Fukodome never had much power or speed, and it looks like he's not drawing as many walks if last year is any indication. Something like a DeJesus level player, useful, but not going to change your team's outcome much.

Storen to hte Twins for Span? dfh21

2012-01-26T11:01:41.612-05:00
Storen to hte Twins for Span?

dfh21

If Harper can play in the bigs on day 1, then he s...

2012-01-26T11:00:35.742-05:00
If Harper can play in the bigs on day 1, then he should play in the bigs. They are going to buy-out some of his free agency at some point anyway. The whole discussion is about leverage for ownership over the Dollars they'll pay this kid years and years down the road. They need to just start playing the game to win.

dfh21

Hah!!! I ask what to do for the bullpen, never thi...

2012-01-26T11:00:11.485-05:00
Hah!!! I ask what to do for the bullpen, never thinking that signing Brad Lidge was an option! I have to think that should put everybody in a better mood about Mr. Rizzo, huh?

Now, I can't imagine Lidge being anything but an 8th or 9th inning guy. Does this set up a big trade?

+1/2St.

Nice touch on the "Bourn again" line, Pa...

2012-01-26T10:55:02.766-05:00
Nice touch on the "Bourn again" line, Pay To Play. Will "Bourn again" turn out to be the way to heaven (i.e, "playoffs")? Also agree with N. Cognito on keeping Harper down until June. Dollars and cents/sense... Selling short-term sucess to buy long-term success instead.

Nice, like the Lidge add if it happens. dfh21

2012-01-26T10:54:06.342-05:00
Nice, like the Lidge add if it happens.

dfh21

I am fully in the JayB camp, not that anyone cares...

2012-01-26T10:52:40.180-05:00
I am fully in the JayB camp, not that anyone cares.

The club is looking MUCH better, but stiill has some obvious and significant flaws, and Rizzo comes over to me as fairly satified with himself. His internal optiosn for CF are not that good, they just aren't. The club has pieces that have value in trade: Flores, Desmond, Storen, etc.; and the Nats can take on salary if they need to. I'd like to see Rizzo be agressive and try to get that long term CF or a substantial upgrade at middle infield (Espi to SS if need be) before ST starts.

dfh21

Umm, sounds like the bullpen is about to get a lit...

2012-01-26T10:48:57.691-05:00
Umm, sounds like the bullpen is about to get a little more crowded . . .

Losing Nix really screwed things up for the bench ...

2012-01-26T10:48:05.501-05:00
Losing Nix really screwed things up for the bench actually. I know he's close to done, and would want more than he's worth for pride's sake, but I would sign Vlad so he could retire with his original franchise. He certainly could still be a viable pinch hitter, there's no one more aggressive up there, he could probably hit hard liners until he's 40, anyway.

a random thought, what about ibanez as the bench P...

2012-01-26T10:47:37.341-05:00
a random thought, what about ibanez as the bench PH/OF? he had a down year last year, and i wouldn't necessarily want him to be a starter all year, but the four years before that he was pretty consistent. not very good defensively, but he would be a good bat off of the bench with a little pop, which is something that doesn't really exist on this roster right now.