Plan "B"

[spidernat]

We're going to need a 4th outfielder at some point and if Kearns is it, then I'm fine with it -no matter what we're paying him. 

True. Once the season begins it doesn't matter what players are making. That is the sort of stuff that should only be a concern in the offseason.

[natsfan4evr]

Boras was on MLB Network. He said that he was shocked by how competitive the Nationals were. He said if Tex only cared about the money, he would have signed here.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

that's why we're the joke of MLB.  our front office makes these idiotic decisions and if that were the case, it's a shame our owner wouldn't just bite the bullet and eat the money.  most other teams will take the stance of a) just bench that player and make them a fourth outfielder/etc (the dodgers did that w/ jones after admitting he was a mistake) or b) the owners would just cut their losses.

QFT

That's really been my only problem and why I've actually supported the "Lerners are cheap" refrain to some extent - this team simply will not cut its losses when it should if it'll cost money.

[UMDNats]

this is semi-related, but shawn hill was on some radio show that was being simulcasted on MASN yesterday. he basically said dr. andrews said his arm is 100% and fully recovered. shawn himself said he thought the team will be a lot better this season, if they stay healthy.

he said that he has no pressure like the last couple years in ST. he's felt like he's needed to step up and stay healthy and be the ace and that messed some stuff up with him..forcing too much on the mound, trying to be too perfect. he knows that it's now or never but he also knows that the team is planning on him not being healthy, so he feels like he has a chance to relax and just pitch like he's capable of. hopefully he takes adavantage, we could use a guy like hill on our rotation (well, the old hill)

[PANatsFan]

If we got Kotsay I would take a year off of baseball.

[cmdterps44]

this is semi-related, but shawn hill was on some radio show that was being simulcasted on MASN yesterday. he basically said dr. andrews said his arm is 100% and fully recovered. shawn himself said he thought the team will be a lot better this season, if they stay healthy.

he said that he has no pressure like the last couple years in ST. he's felt like he's needed to step up and stay healthy and be the ace and that messed some stuff up with him..forcing too much on the mound, trying to be too perfect. he knows that it's now or never but he also knows that the team is planning on him not being healthy, so he feels like he has a chance to relax and just pitch like he's capable of. hopefully he takes adavantage, we could use a guy like hill on our rotation (well, the old hill)

Damn, that sounds good. But its more like hes saying a "what-if" statement. As in, the doctor says im healthy and im hoping this pressure off my shoulders will still allow me to pitch great!

But hey, we've seem to allow JP do that to us and NJ so far is still on it, why not give him a shot! Id like to see his old self back pitching for us.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I don't believe him.  If he was pressing in the past, he'll just press even more now.  He used to have an easier path to the rotation.  Now he'll be fighting for a spot in the rotation - can you imagine how hard he'll try?

[Air Zimmerman]

haha mlb.com is reporting the nats will let dukes and milledge compete for the job in centerfield.  if that is their way of saying kearns is the RF i will walk away from the nats and pick up a new baseball team far away from here.  (dodgers sound good)  

i share in your disgust (except not to the extreme of abandoning my beloved Nationals). Austin should not be part of the equation, period. i think the best thing for the Nationals to do is to rid themselves of Kearns (and Wily Mo) and eat the money. Kearns and Wily Mo are unnecessary, useless clutter and they need to be kicked to the curb like the garbage that they are.

if this competition for center did actually materialize, Dukes would obviously prevail (he's the superior ballplayer). i would love to see Dukes patrolling center everyday but i would hate to see it come at Milledge's expense.

i don't know why there has to be a competition at all--Willingham in left, Milledge in center (he has the tools and ability), and Dukes in right. i would be completely content with that.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I think Kearns could possibly make for a decent platoon-mate for Willie Harris, but that's it.

If he doesn't soundly outplay Dukes and Milledge and gets handed a starting job over them, I'll be pissed.

But I suppose I'll have fun as a D'Backs fan.

[Air Zimmerman]

i would fully expect that the loser (Milledge, sorry) of this supposed "competition" would be placed in one of the corner outfield positions. i refuse to even acknowledge the outlandish possibility of Kearns starting and Milledge being benched.

[MrMadison]

It could also mean that one will earn the CF spot and the other will play LF or RF.

that's pretty much what it means, as far as I can see.

[spidernat]

If we got Kotsay I would take a year off of baseball.

But I suppose I'll have fun as a D'Backs fan.

i will walk away from the nats and pick up a new baseball team far away from here.  (dodgers sound good)   

Some of you are so full of crap. But it's funny.   

[Minty Fresh]

welcome to the dark side!

I didn't say I wanted him.  I just said that if your intent is to sign a big bat, Dunn appears to be the only candidate left.

[hammondsnats]

i was kidding about abandoning my Nats (what would i do with my season tickets?  i couldn't pay people to take them), but i would be very disgusted.  especially how our front office has been slamming down our throats ''oh we're going young, it's all part of the plan" then we give up a spot that should go to dukes/milledge to a guy like wmp/kearns. 

imo, kearns has done nothing to prove he is worthy of a starting spot.  but i would be okay with him being a 4th outfielder, a decent depth option coming off the bench and getting a spot start here and there.

[PANatsFan]

Some of you are so full of crap. But it's funny.   

At least I was loyal

[The Chief]

I won't be going anywhere, but I'm not going to pretend that I'll do much more than check the nightly box score if we plod into another season full of injuries and washups after an offseason of big talk and little action.  It's not worth breaking any more bones over

[natsfan4evr]

I won't be going anywhere, but I'm not going to pretend that I'll do much more than check the nightly box score if we plod into another season full of injuries and washups after an offseason of big talk and little action.  It's not worth breaking any more bones over

I'm addicted to the team. I'd like to say that I won't go to the games and watch them on TV, but I know I can't follow through with that. I watched almost every game last season in some fashion, even when we were getting blown out by 10.

[hammondsnats]

Dave Sheinin says the Rays deal w/ Burrell is a positive for the Nats in regards to the Dunn Derby.  As usual, can't say I disagree with him.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/baseball-insider/2009/01/tuesday_triple_play.html

1. So there you have it: a new market standard has been established for the remaining plethora of hulking, bad-glove, big-bat corner types in this recession-wary, post-New Year's, post-Yankees-spending-spree marketplace. And you have to conclude it looks good for teams like the Nationals. If Pat Burrell is only worth $16 million over the next couple of years, Adam Dunn, to name the most prominent example of the type, ain't gonna get that monster deal he's looking for. There must have been some high-fiving going on over in the executive offices at Nationals Park after the Burrell deal went down. It's no secret the Nats are focused on Dunn these days, and now they must be thinking they can get him at closer to their price than his.

[tomterp]

this is semi-related, but shawn hill was on some radio show that was being simulcasted on MASN yesterday.

The interview is available on the MASN site, note that it is in two parts:

http://www.masnsports.com/ml/index.php?q=nationals

[tomterp]

QFT

That's really been my only problem and why I've actually supported the "Lerners are cheap" refrain to some extent - this team simply will not cut its losses when it should if it'll cost money.

They cut a number of guys during last season that cost money - Mackowiak and Estrada for two.

[natsfan4evr]

They cut a number of guys during last season that cost money - Mackowiak and Estrada for two.

We're forgetting FLOP and LoPuca

[HalfSmokes]

We're forgetting FLOP and LoPuca

my worry is that they hold onto and give playing time to guys (LoDuca) hoping there is some trade value to be gained when all they are doing is displaying just how terrible they are and hurting the team.

[Minty Fresh]

I won't be going anywhere, but I'm not going to pretend that I'll do much more than check the nightly box score if we plod into another season full of injuries and washups after an offseason of big talk and little action.  It's not worth breaking any more bones over

Might I recommend the MLB Network.  In watching the "Hot Stove Report" last night, the crew alluded to a show they'll be running this season that sounds like it will mirror the "NHL On The Fly" on the NHL Network.  A show that does live look-ins to all the games going on that night along with commentary.  I really like the "On The Fly" show and cannot wait to watch the MLB version.

[Minty Fresh]

my worry is that they hold onto and give playing time to guys (LoDuca) hoping there is some trade value to be gained when all they are doing is displaying just how terrible they are and hurting the team.

Other than Kearns, can we really say they're going to do that this season?  I can't possibly see them playing WMP at all.  If Kearns starts and Milledge or Dukes is benched, I still have to think WMP is a fifth OFer at best ont his roster unless he has an unbelievable Spring Training.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

Some of you are so full of crap. But it's funny.   

And yet you wonder why I mention how Yank and Baltimore is looking for fans. Gee, where do I even get the idea of saying such things?