2012/13 Offseason Discussion Thread

[hammondsnats]

If we sign Brandon McCarthy he will instantly be my favorite Nat.

Sorry, he's just that awesome.

it's a great story and his twitter is pretty funny.  rizzo has been linked to him before.  he's a #4/#5

[DPMOmaha]

i'm talking about the LAC and SSS posters.

if they don't know that now is the time to strike and add that extra bat or arm that will take us to the next round, you have to do it.

can't go a step backward.

Again, this team won 98 games last year with largely the same roster, especially if LaRoche comes back.  Not really a whole lot of improvement necessary.  Complementary pieces, especially if you're thinking guys like Goodwin and Rendon are going to be centerpieces soon.  Let the other teams sign players to bad deals and fill in where you need to from there.  B.J. Upton and Greinke not worth what they'd cost for this team.  Justin's not worth selling the farm.  This team was a strike away from the next round, they don't need to treat a scraped knee by going to surgery.

[nobleisthyname]

Fans of this team has been misled and abused and taken advantage of over the years (2008-2009 were bad but let's not think that 2006 and 2007 were much better), the wounds are still fresh.  Giving the impression of standing pat, brings back a lot of bad memories.

I just don't think we're going to be in a better position in 2014 by finishing behind the Braves and Phillies in 2013 because they're hellbent on overtaking the Nationals.

They've got a lot of ground to cover, especially the Phillies. By standing pat we get better while they get worse. Now obviously they know this and aren't standing pat but that doesn't change the fact that they're looking up at us, not the other way around.

[nobleisthyname]

it's a great story and his twitter is pretty funny.  rizzo has been linked to him before.  he's a #4/#5

An excellent #4/#5. Hopefully he has no issues coming back from the head injury.

[DPMOmaha]

Fans of this team has been misled and abused and taken advantage of over the years (2008-2009 were bad but let's not think that 2006 and 2007 were much better), the wounds are still fresh.  Giving the impression of standing pat, brings back a lot of bad memories.

I just don't think we're going to be in a better position in 2014 by finishing behind the Braves and Phillies in 2013 because they're hellbent on overtaking the Nationals.

So let them try, I just don't see much out there that will really make this team that much better.

[houston-nat]

it's a great story and his twitter is pretty funny.  rizzo has been linked to him before.  he's a #4/#5

Stras Gio JZ Ross McCarthy? Heck yes.

Having Strasburg for an extra 40-60 innings will make this team better, lest we forget.

[hammondsnats]

Again, this team won 98 games last year with largely the same roster, especially if LaRoche comes back.  Not really a whole lot of improvement necessary.  Complementary pieces, especially if you're thinking guys like Goodwin and Rendon are going to be centerpieces soon.  Let the other teams sign players to bad deals and fill in where you need to from there.  B.J. Upton and Greinke not worth what they'd cost for this team.  Justin's not worth selling the farm.  This team was a strike away from the next round, they don't need to treat a scraped knee by going to surgery.

k so if we're in the same position next year, i don't want to hear you nag.

[DPMOmaha]

k so if we're in the same position next year, i don't want to hear you nag.

In what position?  Coming off a 98 win season?

[PC]

They've got a lot of ground to cover, especially the Phillies. By standing pat we get better while they get worse. Now obviously they know this and aren't standing pat but that doesn't change the fact that they're looking up at us, not the other way around.

So let them try, I just don't see much out there that will really make this team that much better.

Let's not get crazy here.  The Braves were breathing down the Nationals necks for most of the season.  They're not that far from overtaking us and they're actually pursuing good players to improve their team.  They're not standing still.

The Phillies, admittedly, have a steeper hill to climb, mostly because of age.  The core of the Phillies team is very old and even with the way they played late in the season, I would expect them not to be as good because they're a year older.  But they are trying to add to their roster.  They're not standing still.

[PC]

Stras Gio JZ Ross McCarthy? Heck yes.

I'd rather have Strasburg, Greinke, Gio, JZ and Ross.

[Lintyfresh85]

Standing pat for the Nats is re-signing BOTH LaRoche and Jackson. That won't happen.

So, we're not standing pat, we're getting worse.

[hammondsnats]

In what position?  Coming off a 98 win season?

with no world series!  it's how you finish the season ... that's what matters.  how did we finish?  not even making it out of the first round.

and i meant to add a to my previous comment

[DPMOmaha]

Let's not get crazy here.  The Braves were breathing down the Nationals necks for most of the season.  They're not that far from overtaking us and they're actually pursuing good players to improve their team.  They're not standing still.

Well, yeah, they kinda are.  They're looking to replace Bourn with Upton or someone similar.  Upton would give them more power, but Bourn was better just about in ever other category.  I'd be thrilled if the Braves "upgraded" Upton for Bourn.

Speaking of the Braves, they basically did what the Nats are perceived to be doing this year and did, in fact improve.  This is a plan that has worked in the past for young teams.

[DPMOmaha]

Standing pat for the Nats is re-signing BOTH LaRoche and Jackson. That won't happen.

So, we're not standing pat, we're getting worse.

Maybe, unless LaRoche does sign and they get another pitcher like they did Jackson last year.  Or Moore is the player he's appeared to be in the small sample size we got from him last year.  It's not quite as simple as throwing a "we're getting worse" tag on it if neither or one of those players doesn't come back.  It's way too early in the process to declare we're getting better or worse.

[Lintyfresh85]

I'm pretty confident if the Nats don't re-sign LaRoche they will be worse, regardless of what in house player they use.

The more you backfill, the worse each position gets.

Fill LaRoche, LF gets weaker. Fill LF, bench gets weaker.

[HalfSmokes]

It usually takes  a year or two for a team like the Nats to learn to win in the post season.

or not, the 2010 Giants were young and inexperienced, so were the 05 white sox and the 03 Marlins. Look at the rangers, they made it to the series twice, experience didn't help there. It's about getting into the post season and getting hot/lucky at the right time. There is no way you can convince me that the series winners for the past few years were actually the best teams, there is just more randomness in the post season than most will admit.

[DPMOmaha]

I'm pretty confident if the Nats don't re-sign LaRoche they will be worse, regardless of what in house player they use.

The more you backfill, the worse each position gets.

Fill LaRoche, LF gets weaker. Fill LF, bench gets weaker.

I personally, don't think there's that much difference between Morse and Moore at LF, and there are bench players that can be had.  That shouldn't be a huge obstacle. But I understand your point, I'm just not convinced it's a huge issue for this team.  Perhaps Skole is next year's Moore.  Eventually, Moore's bat is going to need to find it's way into the lineup every day.

[HalfSmokes]

The more you backfill, the worse each position gets.

like the way they backfilled center field this year? Or second last year, or short the year before? 'Backfilling' is the way rookies become starters and the way most teams improve

[Lintyfresh85]

If anyone just expects you can pencil Tyler Moore in for 30/100 with stellar defense... more power to you.

[HalfSmokes]

If anyone just expects you can pencil Tyler Moore in for 30/100 with stellar defense... more power to you.

what about 25/85 and penciling in Harper for the extra 5/15- 27/84 seems reasonable for him

[imref]

If anyone just expects you can pencil Tyler Moore in for 30/100 with stellar defense... more power to you.

25/80, average defense isn't something I would turn down.

I'm more concerned about having an all RH middle of the lineup except for Harper.  RH pitchers won't give Harper anything to hit.

[DPMOmaha]

or not, the 2010 Giants were young and inexperienced, so were the 05 white sox and the 03 Marlins. Look at the rangers, they made it to the series twice, experience didn't help there. It's about getting into the post season and getting hot/lucky at the right time. There is no way you can convince me that the series winners for the past few years were actually the best teams, there is just more randomness in the post season than most will admit.

There are exceptions, sure, but experience does matter, too.  Going through what this team did will serve it well if they get to the post season again.  It doesn't guarantee anything, not trying to argue that, but experience is significant.  It certainly helped both the Cardinals and Giants this year, I firmly believe that.

[Slateman]

They've got a lot of ground to cover, especially the Phillies. By standing pat we get better while they get worse. Now obviously they know this and aren't standing pat but that doesn't change the fact that they're looking up at us, not the other way around.

Who is getting better in this division?

25/80, average defense isn't something I would turn down.

I'm more concerned about having an all RH middle of the lineup except for Harper.  RH pitchers won't give Harper anything to hit.

Then it's up to the rest of the lineup to make them pay. IE, everyone after Harper.

[HalfSmokes]

It certainly helped both the Cardinals and Giants this year, I firmly believe that.

So the first time a team makes a run, it's an exception, but when the team repeats, it's experience? got it

[hammondsnats]

let's just win the whole f'n thing next year