Plan "B"

[sportsfan882]

Don't tell that to Sportsfan. He's got the high hard one for Roger. 

And Hammondsnats despises him for no good reason.

[hammondsnats]

Wait, you mean Lowe isn't a savior

No he's not.  But he would've helped some. 

(fwiw, i wasn't even a big supporter of bringing in Lowe.  Of course I wouldn't mind him here, but wasn't a priority)

[sportsfan882]

Wait, you mean Lowe isn't a savior

Nope. Decent pitcher that is coming off practically a career year cashes in on a 4 year deal worth $60 Million. Far too much. I hope he crashes and burns in Atlanta.

[HalfSmokes]

Sorry, but your response precludes an answer because it presumes that finishing as the worst team in baseball is okie dokie and no improvements are needed. 

What improvement would you make then, its a reasonable question. Your response presumes that there are enough guys on the market to make us a contender.

[hammondsnats]

And Hammondsnats despises him for no good reason.

No I don't.  I said I think he has a good shot to be a 4th/5th outfielder.  But coming from a guy that bashes almost every player on our team - yes we remember the gameday threads - I just think it's funny how you have high hopes for a guy who in his time up here hasn't done much.  Granted, it's a small sample, but as of now I think we have three better outfielders in Willingham - Milledge - Dukes. 

And you give grief to those that want to add a slugger, but when someone brings up Bernadina you get ticked.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

What improvement would you make then, its a reasonable question. Your response presumes that there are enough guys on the market to make us a contender.

"Reason" isn't anywhere in the guy's vocabulary and nor does he have an ounce of it. Be forewarned he likes to bait others. He really has no thoughts or answers of his own.

[sportsfan882]

No I don't.  I said I think he has a good shot to be a 4th/5th outfielder.  But coming from a guy that bashes almost every player on our team - yes we remember the gameday threads - I just think it's funny how you have high hopes for a guy who in his time up here hasn't done much.  Granted, it's a small sample, but as of now I think we have three better outfielders in Willingham - Milledge - Dukes. 

And you give grief to those that want to add a slugger, but when someone brings up Bernadina you get ticked.

Because he's done nothing to warrant you hating him. If he blows this year and shows that last year was a fluke then by all means rip him and laugh at him. But until he does that I don't see how you can condemn as a minor league bum.

I never said that Roger was better than Milledge, Dukes, and Jwill. I've said all along that he'll start the year in Cuse but is only one injury call-up away from being promoted.

[R-Zim#11]

I know.  I'm used to it.  The thing that gets me is the Nats are the worst team in baseball, by far. It's indisputable.

So why do posters continue with these inane questions of "what would you do" or "who would you sign" as if maintaining the status quo is perfectly acceptable and trying to improve the roster is some bizarre, off the wall strategy that's too fraught with danger. You know, the player could get hurt and we'd be out all that money so why bother, let some other schmuck take that risk.

Trotting out the same roster year after year with a smattering of new acquisitions from the dumpster is not the way to win games or fans.

Yes, the Nats were the worst team in baseball last year. No kidding. They might be again. We shall see.

However, if you don't think the same roster this year won't improve, you clearly don't know a thing about baseball. First off, Dukes only played 81 games. Is he another NJ? Maybe -- we shall see. But is potential is there, and he's only 24. Milledge missed several games also, and is only 23. Zimmerman is already a top 10 3rd baseman and is 24. Lannan has been a very solid pitcher and is only 23. Olsen is 24. Flores, 23. Zimmermann is very close, 22. Balester, 22.

This team ended the year with the youngest roster in the league. That's how you build a constant contender. Build through the draft, supplement with FA. Otherwise you have consistant mediocrity like the blO's. Or, at best, you go to the playoffs every year and lose with a $200 million payroll like the Yankees.

No thanks, you can whine and moan and complain all you want about what we don't have. I will enjoy what we do.

I am going to take the Andy Dufrense approach: Hope.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

YOU'RE IN DUNNIAL!!!

DUNNCE.

[DCFan]

Your response presumes that there are enough guys on the market to make us a contender.

There are.  It's a matter of prying open the Lerner checkbook and signing them.

Face facts, the radio hosts in the XM thread were bang on about the almost complete lack of talent on our roster. We need improvement at just about every position.  No one is advocating a complete roster overhaul in one offseason but to sit by year after year without making any serious moves is sheer idiocy, unless you like watching the Nats lose more often than not and having more fans from the visiting team in attendance than Nats fans.

[hammondsnats]

Because he's done nothing to warrant you hating him. If he blows this year and shows that last year was a fluke then by all means rip him and laugh at him. But until he does that I don't see how you can condemn as a minor league bum.

I never said that Roger was better than Milledge, Dukes, and Jwill. I've said all along that he'll start the year in Cuse but is only one injury call-up away from being promoted.

Dude once again I'm not saying I hate him.  I have never said that.  I was there for his first game as a Nat when he got his first hit and seeing him fly around the bases, it's a fun thing to watch.  I hope he can cut it as a MLB player, I have my doubts, but still doesn't mean I'm not rooting for him. 

And I didn't say you thought he was better than our current options, I was just simply pointing out there really isn't room.  What hurts him is, while he may be a better centerfielder than Milledge, Lastings has more pop at the plate and probably more tools overall. 

And I didn't call him a minor league bum.

[R-Zim#11]

There are.  It's a matter of prying open the Lerner checkbook and signing them.

Face facts, the radio hosts in the XM thread were bang on about the almost complete lack of talent on our roster. We need improvement at just about every position.  No one is advocating a complete roster overhaul in one offseason but to sit by year after year without making any serious moves is sheer idiocy, unless you like watching the Nats lose more often than not and having more fans from the visiting team in attendance than Nats fans.

See now you're just being an idiot! An upgrade at every position? Are you serious? The O's have tried this, and have not had even a .500 season in 12 years. 12 YEARS! Is that what you want?

[HalfSmokes]

There are.  It's a matter of prying open the Lerner checkbook and signing them.

Face facts, the radio hosts in the XM thread were bang on about the almost complete lack of talent on our roster. We need improvement at just about every position.  No one is advocating a complete roster overhaul in one offseason but to sit by year after year without making any serious moves is sheer idiocy, unless you like watching the Nats lose more often than not and having more fans from the visiting team in attendance than Nats fans.

I say there aren't  - prove me wrong - who would you sign?

[hammondsnats]

DUNNCE.

I can't wait to hear everyone complain when Casto/Belliard/Orr is our first basemen. 

If anyone has seen the movie "Family Man" you'll know what I mean when Don Cheadle says, "you've brought this on yourself Jack".

[DCFan]

See now you're just being an idiot! An upgrade at every position? Are you serious? The O's have tried this, and have not had even a .500 season in 12 years. 12 YEARS! Is that what you want?

Who knew that anyone dipping into free agency had to follow the O's business model!?!  

[HalfSmokes]

I can't wait to hear everyone complain when Casto/Belliard/Orr is our first basemen. 

If anyone has seen the movie "Family Man" you'll know what I mean when Don Cheadle says, "you've brought this on yourself Jack".

Probably, but I'd complain more if we traded Milledge or Lannan for Konerko for the sake of a marginal short term boost

[Minty Fresh]

We're not talking about giving Albert Belle 8 years and 100 million dollars. 

You're right.  Joey belle was a better hitter than Dunn ever was and averaged that same 40 HR's/season.  We are looking at the same amount of money/year Belle got and Belle was much better.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

I can't wait to hear everyone complain when Casto/Belliard/Orr is our first basemen. 

I dread the day Dunn finally signs with some other team and shocking reality comes crashing down on some and we are going to have to hear the tiring whining and cries of the Cheap Crowd.

As Tom Hank's states in the immortal "A League of their Own": "There's no crying in baseball!"

"You zip it, Doras!"

[hammondsnats]

Probably, but I'd complain more if we traded Milledge or Lannan for Konerko for the sake of a marginal short term boost

Yes, I'm with you and I agree.  And what NOTLD is giving me crap for - for no reason - is that we have an option right in front of our eyes.  One who won't tie us down for five years financially or by blocking one of our "prospects".  One who is a proven run provider and home run threat.  One who won't require us giving up anyone.  One who is still out there and available.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

Yes, I'm with you and I agree.  And what NOTLD is giving me crap for - for no reason - is that we have an option right in front of our eyes.  One who won't tie us down for five years financially or by blocking one of our "prospects".  One who is a proven run provider and home run threat.  One who won't require us giving up anyone.  One who is still out there and available.

Which I have never denied him being. But unlike you, I look at ALL my options and prepare for eventualities instead of becoming obsessed.

[hammondsnats]

You're right.  Joey belle was a better hitter than Dunn ever was and averaged that same 40 HR's/season.  We are looking at the same amount of money/year Belle got and Belle was much better.

Belle signed a five-year, $65 million dollar deal.  And nowadays, that translates into probably $75 million, seeing how that was 11 years ago.  Yeah we wouldn't be giving that to Dunn ... which is smart.

And NOTLD, yeah I'll be upset because we lost a good option.  He's not a savior, but he's better than what we have.  Stats don't lie. 

[Minty Fresh]

I can't wait to hear everyone complain when Casto/Belliard/Orr is our first basemen. 

None of them will be our everyday 1B.  You need to let it go.  Willingham can play first if we don't get anyone to back up NJ.

Before you advocated Barton or Swisher.  So if either of those guys get hurt and are replaced by your trio, are you goinna be the first in line for 

  ?

[R-Zim#11]

You're right.  Joey belle was a better hitter than Dunn ever was and averaged that same 40 HR's/season.  We are looking at the same amount of money/year Belle got and Belle was much better.

Some morons are -- and that's why they're the 1st on the ignore list!

Really -- I don't see a problem with waiting out FA until we know what we need -- lest we give $9.6 million to someone who hit as many homeruns and RBI in 153 games as Dukes did in 81. Or Milledge did in 138. Or Zimmerman did in 106.

[hammondsnats]

Which I have never denied him being. But unlike you, I look at ALL my options and prepare for eventualities instead of becoming obsessed.

I'm not obsessed ... isntead of insulting me, let's see all the options being reported.  C'mon let's see them.  I showed you the four I think are out there.

1) Keeping what we have ... good we know what kind of production we got last season from our 1st base crew.

2) Fielder/Gonzalez ... say goodbye to Zimmermann, Milledge, Burgess, Detwiler ... you see the pattern.

3) Barton/Swisher ... IMO, neither one does anything for me.  Barton hasn't showed much power in the minors and I find it odd that he is being tabbed as a slugger.  Swisher, the Yankees gave up nothing for and now are asking for an arm and leg, and his power numbers went down.

4) Dunn ... I'm not obssessed w/, I just see him as the best option in the time being.  If something else opens up, sure great.  But we're 29 days away from spring training and I'd imagine the club would like to get their roster set ASAP. 

But somehow you're going to turn this around and into a joke, when you need to answer the question, at the time being what are your options?

[hammondsnats]

None of them will be our everyday 1B.  You need to let it go.  Willingham can play first if we don't get anyone to back up NJ.

Before you advocated Barton or Swisher.  So if either of those guys get hurt and are replaced by your trio, are you goinna be the first in line for 

  ?

Do you read? 

If Willingham plays first, then we're forced to play Kearns or WMP.  Can't wait for that!