We got Dunn

[blue911]

If Nick is back to playing form then he's at 1st.  If Nick is still limping and Dmitri has slimmed down and has his diabetes under control then he's at 1st.  Dunn will spend most of his time in left.

Meathook's gone. There isn't any room for him on the 25 man roster. If he isn't with the Nationals on opening day, then he can walk with his entire salary.

[tomterp]

This is correct, we don't have a true leadoff hitter. Milledge gives us the best option with our current roster.

With an OBP of .330?  I agree we don't really have one (unless Hernandez turns out not to be having a fluke) but we need somebody who can get on base more than Milledge does.

[blue911]

With an OBP of .330?  I agree we don't really have one (unless Hernandez turns out not to be having a fluke) but we need somebody who can get on base more than Milledge does.

Yes. His OBP over the last 2 months was over .370. He doesn't turn 24 until the first week in April. I'll go with the potential.

[DCFan]

Meathook's gone. There isn't any room for him on the 25 man roster. If he isn't with the Nationals on opening day, then he can walk with his entire salary.

They dropped him from the 40 man but if he's slimmed down and Nick is still hobbling, he'll not only be back on the team but starting at 1st.  His bat is too good.

[JMUalumni]

That's probably what my guess would be too. They say he doesn't have the arm to play SS.

Maybe they'll move Desmond to 2B since he commits so many errors at SS..

Yeah, it does not appear that Desmond has much of a future at the SS position in this organization.  A-Gonz would certainly get the PT before him.  If I remember correctly, they had Desmond trying out 2B in the AFL for a few games, but he was still making the errors.  Of course, making a switch in positions isn't always the easiest thing and he may just need some time.  This is probably Desmond's last season to prove he is worth something to the club.

[blue911]

They dropped him from the 40 man but if he's slimmed down and Nick is still hobbling, he'll not only be back on the team but starting at 1st.  His bat is too good.

No room. Unless Nick's starts the season on the DL.

[ronnynat]

I actually don't want us to trade anyone. Sometwo WILL get injured by the end of April, so we're going to need all of these second starters.

[Roarin Storen]

[DCFan]

No room. Unless Nick's starts the season on the DL.

I believe that was my point. 

[sportsfan882]

I actually don't want us to trade anyone. Sometwo WILL get injured by the end of April, so we're going to need all of these second starters.

true I suppose but even then we still have too many outfielders/1B-man. Kearns-Harris-Pena-Dukes-Milledge-Willingham-Dunn-Johnson-Young

And we have Bernadina, Davis, and JMax waiting in Syracuse.

We should deal Johnson and whoever else for pitching.

[blue911]

Yeah, it does not appear that Desmond has much of a future at the SS position in this organization.  A-Gonz would certainly get the PT before him.  If I remember correctly, they had Desmond trying out 2B in the AFL for a few games, but he was still making the errors.  Of course, making a switch in positions isn't always the easiest thing and he may just need some time.  This is probably Desmond's last season to prove he is worth something to the club.

Check out http://senatorsfansunite.blogspot.com/ He knows a ton about the Harrisburg players. He thinks that Desmond's future is a 2b/utility type role.

[UMDNats]

start the parade

[eckseid]

Holy crap.. we got Dunn? Wow.

[sportsfan882]

Check out http://senatorsfansunite.blogspot.com/ He knows a ton about the Harrisburg players. He thinks that Desmond's future is a 2b/utility type role.

Watching the video that JMU posted earlier showing the Nats players in the AFL, Desmond at the plate reminded me of Jose Guillen.

I think Desmond has some power. He hit 14 Doubles and 12 HRs in 323 ABs in AA last year.

[ronnynat]

true I suppose but even then we still have too many outfielders/1B-man. Kearns-Harris-Pena-Dukes-Milledge-Willingham-Dunn-Johnson-Young

And we have Bernadina, Davis, and JMax waiting in Syracuse.

We should deal Johnson and whoever else for pitching.

Pena will probably be gone by the end of ST, Young will be on the DL, and Harris will be our utility man. Having a rotation going with the rest of the guys isn't that bad of an idea.

[sportsfan882]

Ladson's projected lineup:

1. 2B Anderson Hernandez:
  .333 BA, .407 OBP, .383 SLG, 0 HRs, 17 RBIs in 2008
2. SS Cristian Guzman:
  .316 BA, .345 OBP, .440 SLG, 9 HR, 55 RBI in 2008
3. 3B Ryan Zimmerman:
  .283 BA, .333 OBP, .442 SLG, 14 HR, 51 RBI in 2008
4. 1B Adam Dunn:
  .236 BA, .386 OBP, .513 SLG, 40 HR, 100 RBI in 2008
5. RF Elijah Dukes:
  .264 BA, .386 OBP, .478 SLG, 13 HR, 44 RBI in 2008
6. CF Lastings Milledge:
  .268 BA, .330 OBP, .402 SLG, 14 HR, 61 RBI in 2008
7. LFJosh Willingham:
  .254 BA, .364 OBP, .470 SLG, 15 HR, 51 RBI in 2008
8. C Jesus Flores:
  .256 BA, .296 OBP, .402 SLG, 8 HR, 59 RBI in 2008

There is no way we will be a bad team with that lineup. Man this is the most excited about the Nats I've been in quite a while.

[tomterp]

Meathook's gone. There isn't any room for him on the 25 man roster. If he isn't with the Nationals on opening day, then he can walk with his entire salary.

You don't think they keep Dmitri if they have traded Nick?

[ronnynat]

Ladson's projected lineup:
There is no way we will be a bad team with that lineup. Man this is the most excited about the Nats I've been in quite a while.

Hernandez shouldn't be our leadoff hitter, IMO. He's lucky to even be on a Major League team. He shouldn't be getting the most ABs.

[JMUalumni]

Watching the video that JMU posted earlier showing the Nats players in the AFL, Desmond at the plate reminded me of Jose Guillen.

I think Desmond has some power. He hit 14 Doubles and 12 HRs in 323 ABs in AA last year.

It seems like from this guys comments on the website that Desmond has continued to show MLB flashes, but it seems as though he will fail to ever live up to it.  If Desmond can continue to hit for some power at AA this season, then he may find himself with the utility role one day down the road (maybe even next season).  The fact that the Nationals placed him on the AFL team shows that they still have hope for him.  Without much competition around him in the minors (Rogelstad is the closest one to him), they could afford to let him experiment at 2B for the next season.

[sportsfan882]

Hernandez shouldn't be our leadoff hitter, IMO. He's lucky to even be on a Major League team. He shouldn't be getting the most ABs.

Did you watch him last year after he was traded here? He gave up in NY because he was stuck behind Reyes and Castillo.

AH was rated the 8th best prospect in the Mets organization in 2005 and was rated the best defensive infielder in their entire system at that time.

[houston-nat]

I like Ladson's lineup (though Hernandez should not be at the top of a lineup yet...). The question is, what can we get back for Nick Johnson in a trade?

[tomterp]

Hernandez shouldn't be our leadoff hitter, IMO. He's lucky to even be on a Major League team. He shouldn't be getting the most ABs.

If he keeps that OBP up around .400, he's the guy we are looking for.  If not, he'll be moved out of the role quickly, if Manny even puts him in the role.  But based on his incredible winter season on the heels of his very successful Nats debut, that's where he belongs.

[Mathguy]

Sorry, but I like Tom Boswell - he's the dean of baseball sportswriters.

So do you think he'll wimper back to the front office and get his season tickets ?

Don't forget cranky pants boswell

[spidernat]

  Way to get it done.

I don't understand why people think this is going to send Dukes to the minors.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

  Way to get it done.

I don't understand why people think this is going to send Dukes to the minors.

I think they're just trying to rile up his #1 fan.