Plan "B"

[sportsfan882]

then get ready to type a lot of "hammondsnats beating the dead horse" and "hammondsnats sounds like a broken record."

p.s. d-cab was a free agent pitcher

Yeah, a cheap low-risk one. He just basically replaced Perez in the rotation. Big difference between signing someone like Cabrera and signing someone like Lowe or Burnett.

[ronnynat]

p.s. d-cab was a free agent pitcher

I think they were talking about TOP FA pitchers.

[sportsfan882]

Dunn must've spent an offseason in NoVa, maybe visiting Kearns, and banged sportsfan's girlfriend.   

I don't think that enormous ogre does much "banging". 

[sportsfan882]

With a bad rotation, there is a much higher chance that a few relievers will have some terrible games due to overuse. It's not necessarily their fault, but it always seems to happen. I don't mind our bullpen, but they aren't THAT good.

What don't you like about the rotation other than that they are just young?

[KnorrForYourMoney]

@ people saying Adam Dunn won't make this team better

Okay, a nearly guaranteed full-season of 125 OPS+ or better won't make this team better.  Yeah...right...

[hammondsnats]

guys i know i was jk.  i don't think d-cab is a marquee free agent pitcher (although i'm hoping for good things for him this year).

[ronnynat]

What don't you like about the rotation other than that they are just young?

Lannan and Olsen could be a solid 3 and 4, respectively, for years to come. I don't see Martis as a MLB pitcher, and Balester is a #5 at best right now. I want to believe that Cabrera can magically figure something out, but I just know that no matter what his K and walk numbers look like, his ERA will be over 5 and his WHIP will be over 1.50. Add that all together and we have possibly the worst rotation going into the '09 season. We need more help.

I just REALLY hope Zimmermann gets a spot.

[sportsfan882]

Lannan and Olsen could be a solid 3 and 4, respectively, for years to come. I don't see Martis as a MLB pitcher, and Balester is a #5 at best right now. I want to believe that Cabrera can magically figure something out, but I just know that no matter what his K and walk numbers look like, his ERA will be over 5 and his WHIP will be over 1.50. Add that all together and we have possibly the worst rotation going into the '09 season. We need more help.

I just REALLY hope Zimmermann gets a spot.

Me too.

I like Martis. I don't know if he'll be in our rotation this season but I definitely think he could be a long term 3-4 guy in the rotation. He'll still only be 22 starting this season.

Still I like this rotation better than last year's. No more Perez and Redding! I'm not sold at all on Cabrera though. If he's going to turn it around, great, but if he's going to pitch like he did in previous years I'd rather him not be in the ML rotation.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I just REALLY hope Zimmermann gets a spot.

Why?

The guy has never pitched above AA, we've never gotten a good look at him (unless you've seen him a few times at Potomac or something), and there are guys like Martis and Mock who have ML experience who could easily earn a spot instead of him.

I don't see why you should root for that just because he's our top prospect.  When he's ready, he's ready.

[ronnynat]

Why?

The guy has never pitched above AA, we've never gotten a good look at him (unless you've seen him a few times at Potomac or something), and there are guys like Martis and Mock who have ML experience who could easily earn a spot instead of him.

I don't see why you should root for that just because he's our top prospect.  When he's ready, he's ready.

Besides Detwiler, who's obviously not ready yet, he has the best stuff in the entire organization. The fact that he's had success at AA (the highest level in the minors, IMO) means he's as ready as anyone. There's a reason why he was the prospect other teams' GMs were asking about at the Winter Meetings. He'll be 23 when the season starts and we're a crappy team. It makes sense for him to get his shot this year.

[hammondsnats]

what i like about the cabrera signing is he wanted to come here because of st. claire.  he knows - as well as everyone around the league - what the saint is capable of.  add that to him switching to the NL, i think he'll have better numbers.

[Obed_Marsh]

what i like about the cabrera signing is he wanted to come here because of st. claire.  he knows - as well as everyone around the league - what the saint is capable of.  add that to him switching to the NL, i think he'll have better numbers.

Where did you hear this? It would be nice but sounds like wishful thinking from fans.

[hammondsnats]

"Agent Mike Powers said that Cabrera's interest in the Nationals was due in large part to their pitching coach, Randy St. Claire, known for the ability to wring talent from his staff. During his tenure in Baltimore, Cabrera's potential was often offset by inconsistency and wildness."

per nationals journal

[Obed_Marsh]

"Agent Mike Powers said that Cabrera's interest in the Nationals was due in large part to their pitching coach, Randy St. Claire, known for the ability to wring talent from his staff. During his tenure in Baltimore, Cabrera's potential was often offset by inconsistency and wildness."

per nationals journal

Nice. 

I missed this but it is something worth smiling about.

[spidernat]

Not to change up the conversation but let's not forget Clippard.

I don't think that enormous ogre does much "banging". 

That post made you sound too much like you know who.   

[sportsfan882]

Besides Detwiler, who's obviously not ready yet, he has the best stuff in the entire organization. The fact that he's had success at AA (the highest level in the minors, IMO) means he's as ready as anyone. There's a reason why he was the prospect other teams' GMs were asking about at the Winter Meetings. He'll be 23 when the season starts and we're a crappy team. It makes sense for him to get his shot this year.

It's so funny to hear Ronnynat and Hammondsnats, two previously optimistic posters, be so negative about the Nats.

[sportsfan882]

Not to change up the conversation but let's not forget Clippard.


That post made you sound too much like you know who.  

Definitely. Marco Estrada and Garrett Mock could be in the mix too if they move one or both back in to a starting role.

[spidernat]

It's so funny to hear Ronnynat and Hammondsnats, two previously optimistic posters, be so negative about the Nats.

It's one thing to be a blind homer (we have some here who see nothing wrong with our organization and look for every excuse for the Lerners) and another to be realistic. I think those two are just keeping it real.

[ronnynat]

It's so funny to hear Ronnynat and Hammondsnats, two previously optimistic posters, be so negative about the Nats.

I'm still optimistic, but a 100-loss team is a crappy team in my book.

[sportsfan882]

It's one thing to be a blind homer (we have some here who see nothing wrong with our organization and look for every excuse for the Lerners) and another to be realistic. I think those two are just keeping it real.

Good. I hate blind homerism.

I'm pessimistically optimistic. I see things how they are but I also try to remain hopeful in certain areas.

[ronnynat]

It's one thing to be a blind homer (we have some here who see nothing wrong with our organization and look for every excuse for the Lerners) and another to be realistic. I think those two are just keeping it real.

Please don't group me together w/ hammondsnats. I must not be clear enough in my posts if that's how I come across.

[Obed_Marsh]

It's so funny to hear Ronnynat and Hammondsnats, two previously optimistic posters, be so negative about the Nats.

102 losses. We are quantitatively the worst team in baseball. It takes one of SpiderNat's "blind homers" to assert otherwise.

[ronnynat]

I'm pessimistically optimistic. I see things how they are but I also try to remain hopeful in certain areas.

You crack me up, SF.

[spidernat]

Please don't group me together w/ hammondsnats. I must not be clear enough in my posts if that's how I come across.

OK, hammondsnats is keeping it real. ronnynat shaved off the lion's mane for the holidays and will regain his patience once it grows back which coincides with when pitchers and catchers report.

[ronnynat]

OK, hammondsnats is keeping it real. ronnynat shaved off the lion's mane for the holidays and will regain his patience by the time pitchers and catchers report.

I wouldn't put it that way, either.