Tex and the Nats...

[sportsfan882]

Haha this is such a load - Manny's happy attitude hasn't gotten us jack - neither did Boone playing for the team his dad works for, or Chad Cordero's charity work

We need a GD power hitter from the left side who gets on base all time. That's it. And a guy who can scoop grounders at 1st and throw 1st-to-3rd. Completeness be damned, I don't care how fast he runs the bases - he'll be driving in AHern and Milledge who can go.

I'm not talking about happy attitudes I'm talking about learning how to win freaking baseball games which we as a team do not know how to do yet. We need a player who is used to winning and will not accept losing (see: Derek Lowe, etc.).

It sounds silly but it is NOT. This team needs to learn how to WIN.

[PANatsFan]

Far from the case. Runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, what does a walk accomplish?  Better than an out for sure but a single scores 2 runs.

Hits > Walks every single time.

Ok fine - then you have "a force at every base" - or a setup for a grand slam - but hits put the ball in play and risk potential outs.

[hammondsnats]

We need a GD power hitter from the left side who gets on base all time. That's it. And a guy who can scoop grounders at 1st and throw 1st-to-3rd. Completeness be damned, I don't care how fast he runs the bases - he'll be driving in AHern and Milledge who can go.

+1 / THIS / I'M IN AGREEMENT.

[PANatsFan]

I'm not talking about happy attitudes I'm talking about learning how to win freaking baseball games which we as a team do not know how to do yet. We need a player who is used to winning and will not accept losing (see: Derek Lowe, etc.).

It sounds silly but it is NOT. This team needs to learn how to WIN.

So sign up Millar then - he was on the Sawx - or how about Barry Bonds - those Pirates were great back in the day - or trade for Marquis (the Cards were GOOD) - Maybe David Eckstein is available

You win games by scoring more runs than the other guys do - hitting homeruns is a surefire way to increase your run total - everything else is the realm of Dmitri's smile

[PANatsFan]

+1 / THIS / I'M IN AGREEMENT.

 

So you can separate wishful thinking from practicality - I see why spider likes you even though you want to sign Mussina for his Orioles glory days

[sportsfan882]

So sign up Millar then - he was on the Sawx - or how about Barry Bonds - those Pirates were great back in the day - or trade for Marquis (the Cards were GOOD) - Maybe David Eckstein is available

You win games by scoring more runs than the other guys do - hitting homeruns is a surefire way to increase your run total - everything else is the realm of Dmitri's smile

You don't understand. I never mentioned any of those crappy players that you listed. I'm talking about legit players that know how to win.

Why don't you go ask Reds fans how they feel/felt about Dunn? They despised that overrated p.o.s.

[MrMadison]

Ok fine - then you have "a force at every base" - or a setup for a grand slam - but hits put the ball in play and risk potential outs.

so putting the ball in play is a BAD thing now?

so then we're signing Dunn because he doesn't put the ball in play, and not because he hits HRs?

what exactly is the point of saying this, PA? since "putting the ball in play risks potential outs" then why bother signing hitters at all? we've got TONS of players who don't put the ball in play already.

I agree that we do need a power hitter from the left side, and again I'll say, I'm not opposed to Dunn.  I just don't understand why people seem to worship the guy. he's not really anything that special.  but I suppose the Nats really aren't in the market for elite players yet anyway. *shrug*

if you sign Dunn and also sign Hudson and maybe a FA pitcher, I'll be a happy camper regardless. sign Dunn, and then say "that's it" and I am not impressed at all.

sign Tex and a FA pitcher and maybe Hudson, and I'm also a happy camper.

I'm pleased either way as long as the team shows marked improvement.

[hammondsnats]

So you can separate wishful thinking from practicality - I see why spider likes you even though you want to sign Mussina for his Orioles glory days

haha!  sad to see moose hang it up. 

oh and Jeffrey Hammonds was a first round pick of the Orioles after all! 

[HalfSmokes]

You don't understand. I never mentioned any of those crappy players that you listed. I'm talking about legit players that know how to win.

Why don't you go ask Reds fans how they feel/felt about Dunn? They despised that overrated p.o.s.

So I guess Tex is out, aside from 1/2 a season on the Angels he's never been on a 'winning' team, and even they bowed out early in the playoffs - S'c'hilling is a FA, lets get him

[PANatsFan]

so putting the ball in play is a BAD thing now?

so then we're signing Dunn because he doesn't put the ball in play, and not because he hits HRs?

what exactly is the point of saying this, PA?

I agree that we do need a power hitter from the left side, and again I'll say, I'm not opposed to Dunn.  I just don't understand why people seem to worship the guy. he's not really anything that special.

if you sign Dunn and also sign Hudson, I'll be a happy camper regardless.

I'm trying to explain subtlety to SF - bear with me. But if a guy who is far more likely to walk, strikeout, or HR than DP gets up to bat with the bases loaded, I'm a happy man.

Hudson is one of my favorite players - he's a bit old for 2B, but he rules.  I won't complain as long as we get a masher too. I think signing Tex would put us in a spot like the Giants with Bonds. where he would be the be-all-and-end-all of the team and we'd suck for years.

I think we have 3 intriguing young options for 2B: Alberto Gonzalez, Ian Desmond, and AHern. So the masher is priority 1.

[PANatsFan]

So I guess Tex is out, aside from 1/2 a season on the Angels he's never been on a 'winning' team, and even they bowed out early in the playoffs - Shilling is a FA, lets get him

Best spelling error I've seen in a while

[sportsfan882]

I don't care how fast he runs the bases - he'll be driving in AHern and Milledge who can go.

I don't know about that. Dunn blows with runners on base. 25 of his 40 Homers were solo shots.

Some Dunn numbers from last season:

-"Close and Late" He hit .206 (14/68) with 12 RBIs and 23 Ks.
-"Runners in Scoring Position" He hit .241 (32/133) with 65 RBIs and 45 Ks.
-"Men On, 2 out" He hit .200 (19/95) with 33 RBIs and 32 Ks.
-"With a Runner on 2nd" He hit .163 (7/43) with 9 RBIs and 14 Ks.

[MrMadison]

 I think signing Tex would put us in a spot like the Giants with Bonds. where he would be the be-all-and-end-all of the team and we'd suck for years.

I don't understand this. how would signing Tex make us "suck for years"? signing him shouldn't be the only move we ever make to improve the team for the next 10 years.  the Giants went to the playoffs 6 times during Bonds time there.  the Giants sucked for the past few years because they got old and their management did nothing about it. not because Bonds was the "end-all, be-all".

I don't see how signing Tex for 10 years with an out at 5 horrifically cripples this team.

I think we have 3 intriguing young options for 2B: Alberto Gonzalez, Ian Desmond, and AHern. So the masher is priority 1.

Ian Desmond. 

[PANatsFan]

I don't know about that. Dunn blows with runners on base. 25 of his 40 Homers were solo shots.

Some Dunn numbers from last season:

-"Close and Late" He hit .206 (14/68) with 12 RBIs and 23 Ks.
-"Runners in Scoring Position" He hit .241 (32/133) with 65 RBIs and 45 Ks.
-"Men On, 2 out" He hit .200 (19/95) with 33 RBIs and 32 Ks.
-"With a Runner on 2nd" He hit .163 (7/43) with 9 RBIs and 14 Ks.

Now you are in the realm of facts  - I question your runners in scoring position conclusion because clearly he got a ton of sac flys or there were a lot of 2nd and 3rd opportunities, look at his RBIs there - the other numbers ain't great, but the Reds were treating him like crap with his option and all

[MrMadison]

Now you are in the realm of facts  - I question your runners in scoring position conclusion because clearly he got a ton of sac flys or there were a lot of 2nd and 3rd opportunities, look at his RBIs there - the other numbers ain't great, but the Reds were treating him like crap with his option and all

this isn't an excuse.

[PANatsFan]

Ian Desmond. 

Give the kid a chance- he's just that, a kid. And what do Flores' hitting numbers in the minors look like - pretty terrible.

[PANatsFan]

this isn't an excuse.

You are right - ManRam was awesome when he was dissatisfied on the Sox

[MrMadison]

You are right - ManRam was awesome when he was dissatisfied on the Sox

I don't excuse him either.

Manny was clearly dogging it in a ridiculous fashion, and everyone knew it. are you saying that Dunn was dogging it too? if so, then I don't want him. I've had enough of that from Lopez last year.

or is Dunn just genuinely not good with RISP?

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I don't know about that. Dunn blows with runners on base. 25 of his 40 Homers were solo shots.

Some Dunn numbers from last season:

-"Close and Late" He hit .206 (14/68) with 12 RBIs and 23 Ks.
-"Runners in Scoring Position" He hit .241 (32/133) with 65 RBIs and 45 Ks.
-"Men On, 2 out" He hit .200 (19/95) with 33 RBIs and 32 Ks.
-"With a Runner on 2nd" He hit .163 (7/43) with 9 RBIs and 14 Ks.

Dunn has a career OPS of over .850 in virtually every clutch situation.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=dunnad01&year=00#situa-clutc

In fact, his weakest area is hitting when the game has a margin of 4 runs or more.

[PANatsFan]

I don't excuse him either.

Manny was clearly dogging it, and everyone knew it. are you saying that Dunn was dogging it too? if so, then I don't want him. I've had enough of that from Lopez last year.

Name on front >>>>>>> Name on Back.

You can't tell me that mental state and overall happiness have no effect on job performance. Sign Dunn, put him with his best pal Kearns, he'll get back rubs from Bowden, and he'll perform better.

[MrMadison]

Dunn has a career OPS of over .850 in virtually every clutch situation.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=dunnad01&year=00#situa-clutc

In fact, his weakest area is hitting when the game has a margin of 4 runs or more.

alright, so the Dunn Cult is now officially in full effect.

[MrMadison]

You can't tell me that mental state and overall happiness have no effect on job performance. Sign Dunn, put him with his best pal Kearns, he'll get back rubs from Bowden, and he'll perform better.

that would require keeping Kearns. 

[KnorrForYourMoney]

alright, so the Dunn Cult is now officially in full effect.

Cult?  I stated a fact.  Dunno how that makes me a cult member.

[sportsfan882]

Dunn has a career OPS of over .850 in virtually every clutch situation.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=dunnad01&year=00#situa-clutc

In fact, his weakest area is hitting when the game has a margin of 4 runs or more.

He has a career .214 BA with 2 outs and RISP spanning 429 ABs.

He has a career .225 BA with RISP spanning 969 ABs.

Walks don't drive in runs, hits do.

[spidernat]

I'm sure it was a mistake.    

Do you want to hold hands and sing "Kumbaya"?          

I stand by the post.