'09 Player Projections: Jesus Flores

[natsfan4evr]

Unless the bases are loaded, expect whoever the 8th hitter is to get walked 99% of the time on the days that Cabrera's pitching. It could work to our benefit, though, if we put someone w/ more speed down there.

We've also seen what happens when a pitcher intentionally walks the #8 guy to face the pitcher. It isn't always so easy to regain your rhythm after throwing 4 straight balls.

[blue911]

Unless the bases are loaded, expect whoever the 8th hitter is to get walked 99% of the time on the days that Cabrera's pitching. It could work to our benefit, though, if we put someone w/ more speed down there.

Careful there, you'll get PA telling how good he is because he doesn't hit into doubleplays 

[Nat of the Living Dead]

I said IDEAL
Your post made me ROFL though

Good because that was it's intention.

[natsfan4evr]

I'm not so sure Flores is #8 though. If we don't get Hudson, I think he is 7th, ahead of Hernandez.

I'd do Guzman, Milledge, Zimmerman, Nick (until he is hurt), Dukes, Willingham, Flores, and Hernandez
If we get Hudson: Hudson, Guzman, Zimmerman, Nick or Dunn, Dukes, Willingham, Milledge, and Flores

I prefer scenario #2 obviously.

[ronnynat]

I'm not so sure Flores is #8 though. If we don't get Hudson, I think he is 7th, ahead of Hernandez.

I'd do Guzman, Milledge, Zimmerman, Nick (until he is hurt), Dukes, Willingham, Flores, and Hernandez
If we get Hudson: Hudson, Guzman, Zimmerman, Nick or Dunn, Dukes, Willingham, Milledge, and Flores

I prefer scenario #2 obviously.

I'd prefer #2, too, but with Milledge hitting second, Flores hitting seventh, and Guzman hitting 8th.

[natsfan4evr]

I'd prefer #2, too, but with Milledge hitting second, Flores hitting seventh, and Guzman hitting 8th.

Interesting. I guess I always pegged Guzman as a top of the lineup guy.
I like Flores 7th, especially after last year. Milledge might not be such a great 8 hole guy either, because his lack of patience at the plate.

[HalfSmokes]

Interesting. I guess I always pegged Guzman as a top of the lineup guy.
I like Flores 7th, especially after last year. Milledge might not be such a great 8 hole guy either, because his lack of patience at the plate.

A lot depends on whether or not last year was an aberation for Guzman. He put up better numbers than anyone could have expected- can he really do it again. I really don't see him doing what he did last year again. If Guzman falls by the wayside, I wouldn't mind experimenting with Dukes as a lead off guy if he can keep his OBP up

[natsfan4evr]

A lot depends on whether or not last year was an aberation for Guzman. He put up better numbers than anyone could have expected- can he really do it again. I really don't see him doing what he did last year again. If Guzman falls by the wayside, I wouldn't mind experimenting with Dukes as a lead off guy if he can keep his OBP up

Dukes is a masher. I mean it works for Soriano, but our team needs all the power we can get.

[HalfSmokes]

Dukes is a masher. I mean it works for Soriano, but our team needs all the power we can get.

Everyone has him batting 6th, think of the number of extra abs per season. He is also probably the best obp guy we have and he has the speed to go first to third.

[ronnynat]

Everyone has him batting 6th, think of the number of extra abs per season. He is also probably the best obp guy we have and he has the speed to go first to third.

If NJ can stay healthy, I'll be pretty confident in our 3-6, regardless of who's where. If Flores can put up the numbers that I posted before, we could sneak into the top 15, offensively, this year.

[hammondsnats]

.264/.323/.402/14 HR/67 RBI

[sportsfan882]

From Ladsun:

Nationals catcher Jesus Flores has fully recovered from his left ankle sprain, according to manager Manny Acta.

The ankle feels so good that Flores received permission from the Nationals this week to play for the Licey Tigers of the Dominican Winter League. Flores arrived in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.

Flores hurt his ankle on Sept. 2 against the Phillies at Nationals Park. In the top of the third inning, with runners on first and third and two outs, Nationals left-hander John Lannan tried to pick off Jayson Werth. As the throw was going toward first baseman Ronnie Belliard, Chase Utley tried to steal home.

Utley crashed into Flores shoulder-first at the plate and was tagged out. Flores tried to get up, but went down to the ground in pain. He would miss the rest of the regular season.

A couple of months later, Flores played for the Magallanes Navigators of the Venezuelan Winter League. In 32 games, Flores was 21-for-85 (.247) with three home runs and 15 RBIs.

While his ankle was 100 percent, Flores was hesitant about blocking the plate. But he finally got over it before the Navigators were eliminated from the playoffs recently. Flores then went to the Tigers to get more at-bats.

"He said he is completely pain-free," Acta said. "He was a little tentative. He was thinking about the injury whenever there was a play at the plate. He got over it. The only reason he is still playing winter ball is because of how good he feels.

"In Venezuela, he didn't play every single day and his team was eliminated in the [playoffs], which took away one month of winter ball. He went to the Dominican Republic to get some at-bats. He is going to split some time with Ronny Paulino."

[sportsfan882]

CBS Sportsline's '09 predictions for Flores:

428 ABs, (.262 BA/.310 OBP/.404 SLG), 25 Doubles, 12 HRs, 70 RBIs, 30 BBs, 110 Ks

[PANatsFan]

CBS Sportsline's '09 predictions for Flores:

428 ABs, (.262 BA/.310 OBP/.404 SLG), 25 Doubles, 12 HRs, 70 RBIs, 30 BBs, 110 Ks

Don't worry, that's a good enough BA for you

I like the power numbers if nothing else.

[HalfSmokes]

CBS Sportsline's '09 predictions for Flores:

428 ABs, (.262 BA/.310 OBP/.404 SLG), 25 Doubles, 12 HRs, 70 RBIs, 30 BBs, 110 Ks

Better than Bill James, .250 with 12 hrs, 26 doubles