people are forgetting these vets could also be playing a lot to try and increase their trade value.
I'd like it if the vets who were playing had a chance of obtaining modest trade value. I'm certainly not griping about Nick Johnson, Joe Beimel, Josh Willingham and Guzman playing. In fact, I'd be angry if Nick and Beimel aren't dealt and I'd be ecstatic if we can deal Villone or Guzzy for something. Dealing Guzzy for the sake of someone paying his contract would be enough for me. Why worry about dealing old players for talented young players if you aren't going to play young players anyways?
What can we expect for Willie Harris, Kearns or Ronnie Belliard? Almost every Nats fan loves Willie Harris. I think Nats fans love Willie Harris much more than non-Nats GM's. Are you going to get a low A ball junk reliever for him? Can you imagine a team trading for him for his bat or his defensive abilities at 2B? If you want to play him, give Nick a rest once a week and put Dunn at 1B. I don't see how Willie can gain value by playing 2nd base for a team that is carrying 2 other younger players capable of fielding the position better than him.
Hernia may be a lost cause, but Alberto needs major league at bats! I think he should be starting, but if you're gonna keep him on the bench for Harris or Belliard, then move him down to AAA with Dukes. You'd think a bad team would be somewhat focused on improving their young players.
Step 1: play young players. Step 2: Use draft picks obtained via compensation picks to select players who are not supposed to be picked in the 10th round. Wasn't that easy?