Author Topic: Nationals Want To Improve Middle Infield (Read 4907 times)

amanuel · « **on:** September 07, 2009, 02:58:10 pm »

Quote

MLBlogs Network - The Nationals are focused on improving their middle infield defense.

Washington would love to sign Orlando Hudson if he becomes a free agent this winter, but could move Cristian Guzman to second base if they are unable to acquire the Dodgers infielder.

Ian Desmond, one of the team's top prospects, is a possibility to play shortstop in 2010.

The Nationals have been concerned about Guzman's ability to go left all season, something they believe a foot injury has hampered.

"Looking back on it, I think that the problem that he has had with his foot has probably been there longer than [what we thought]," interim manager John Riggleman said. "I think he has played with some discomfort. ... I have to admire him. He has played through it."

Looks like Guz been playin with a bad league. But besides his defense Guz is a solid number 2 guy behind Nyjer and moving him to second base might be the best thing for both him and the ball club.

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 07, 2009, 03:00:26 pm »

http://www.wnff.net/index.php/topic,14356.100.html

Either move Guzman to 2B or dump him.

RL04 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2009, 02:58:37 pm »

I've said it several times here (and elsewhere) - if a team can pitch and catch, they've got a chance to win.

And "catching" is most important up the middle.

OldNatsFan · « **Reply #3 on:** September 09, 2009, 06:17:51 pm »

Get Hudson for 2nd base and use Guzman for utility infielder and pinch hitter like they used Belliard. He is just not good enough defensively to play every day any more. And no, I don't want Alberto Gonzalez to be a regular either.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #4 on:** October 08, 2009, 03:43:26 pm »

New Elias rankings came out on 10/7.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/10/elias-rankings-update-1.html

Free agent (option) for middle infielders in the AL - Type A, - Scutaro, O-Cab, and Polanco. O-Cab may have a deal with MN not to offer him arb. Type B - Figgins, Jerry Hairston. I'm including Figgins because he's played 2d some in recent years and was originally a 2d baseman. Wilson (option), Everett, Gonzalez (option) and Vizquel would be no compensation middle infield gloves.

NL middle infielders - Type A - O-Dog, Miggy, De Rosa. Type B - FLop, Freddy Sanchez (option), and Belli.

Other than figgins, I've eliminated 3d basemen.

cmdterps44 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 08, 2009, 03:45:18 pm »

Id go Figgins, Polanco, Hudson, De Rosa. Thats bout it, well anyone else thatd play better than Gonzalez and Hernandez did.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #6 on:** October 08, 2009, 04:09:35 pm »

Figgins, without losing a draft pick, would be very interesting. Can you imagine him and Nyjer at the top of the order?

Polanco at the cost of a 2d round pick falls off my radar. Scutaro is going to cost too much.

Everett, Jack Wilson, and Alex Gonzalez would be defenisve upgrades. I'd be happy with an all-glove SS if Flores were healthy. We can carry one weak starting hitter. Otherwise, I might look at John McDonald as purely a back up who can field at 3 positions and run a bit.

cmdterps44 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 08, 2009, 04:24:05 pm »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on October 08, 2009, 04:09:35 pm

Figgins, without losing a draft pick, would be very interesting. Can you imagine him and Nyjer at the top of the order?

Yea, hes my top pick easily. Two speedy, solid hitters at the 1-2 is heaven for Zim and above. Zimmerman, Desmond, Figgins, Dunn in the infield doesn't seem to bad.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #8 on:** October 08, 2009, 04:25:59 pm »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on October 08, 2009, 04:09:35 pm

Figgins, without losing a draft pick, would be very interesting. Can you imagine him and Nyjer at the top of the order?

That would be a lot of fun...

NatsDad14 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2009, 04:42:53 pm »

Would Figgins want to switch positions and come onto a loser?

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2009, 04:46:06 pm »

Money solves a lot of problems.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #11 on:** October 08, 2009, 04:47:35 pm »

Quote from: GMUNat on October 08, 2009, 04:42:53 pm

Would Figgins want to switch positions and come onto a loser?

Figgins has played all over the field in his career, litterally every positon on the field but P, C and 1B. I don't think the position switch would be a big deal. I'm pretty sure he's a fan favorite in Anaheim, so honestly, I expect him to stay there, but if he gets to be a FA, I think he would follow the money, just a hunch. Plus, if the Riz is worth his weight in salt, he'll be able to give a pretty good sales pitch that we'll be pretty competitive during the time he's a Nat and that he'd be an important part in doing that. I'm not sure if he'd come here though. He is from Georgia, so I wonder if the braves or Tampa or Florida might be in the mix for him. Getting back east and getting closer to home might be a consideration. I'm not sure.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #12 on:** October 08, 2009, 04:51:46 pm »

See if 3 years, $36m does the trick.

NatsDad14 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 08, 2009, 05:33:39 pm »

Quote from: DPMOmaha on October 08, 2009, 04:47:35 pm

Figgins has played all over the field in his career, litterally every positon on the field but P, C and 1B. I don't think the position switch would be a big deal. I'm pretty sure he's a fan favorite in Anaheim, so honestly, I expect him to stay there, but if he gets to be a FA, I think he would follow the money, just a hunch. Plus, if the Riz is worth his weight in salt, he'll be able to give a pretty good sales pitch that we'll be pretty competitive during the time he's a Nat and that he'd be an important part in doing that. I'm not sure if he'd come here though. He is from Georgia, so I wonder if the braves or Tampa or Florida might be in the mix for him. Getting back east and getting closer to home might be a consideration. I'm not sure.

He's played on a contender for basically his whole career, why would he want to come to the team with the worst record in each of the last 2 years? We would have to significantly overpay and I just don't see the Lerners doing that.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #14 on:** October 08, 2009, 05:43:52 pm »

Quote from: GMUNat on October 08, 2009, 05:33:39 pm

He's played on a contender for basically his whole career, why would he want to come to the team with the worst record in each of the last 2 years? We would have to significantly overpay and I just don't see the Lerners doing that.

I know, I was mostly intending to comment on the positon switch thing and followed a rabbit trail from there. But as was mentioned before, sometimes, money talks. I do think he definately fits the mold of what Rizzo wants. I'm not sure if his golve is good enough to be one of those up the middle guys though that he's mentioned he wants to be solid defensively. I think he'd be good, but probably not great defensively. He does get on base a lot though, creates a lot of mayhem and is a good baserunner.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #15 on:** October 08, 2009, 05:51:59 pm »

While he has a great glove for a 3B, his 2B numbers are all over the place. He's really only played about 200 innings over the past 4 years there, so you'd expect his defensive stats to be worthless. He was behind Kennedy so never played that position full time in the majors. Thus he first became a Tony Phillips utility guy, then settled into 3d post-Glaus. Rizzo would have to use his judgment on whether he could make the switch.

As for what he's worth as a free agent, I'm not sure how many teams would be looking at him as a 3d baseman without pop. The Orioles would be really smart if they did.

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2009, 08:08:28 pm »

Figgins isn't worth that much. pass.

we should strive for better

cmdterps44 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 08, 2009, 09:00:31 pm »

Quote from: sportsfan882 on October 08, 2009, 08:08:28 pm

Figgins isn't worth that much. pass.

we should strive for better

Whos better now? I mean I agree with money, but hes still a solid player. Quick, Decent hitter, perfect for 2 hole, good defense, better than what we got now.

blue911 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 09, 2009, 06:53:42 am »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on October 08, 2009, 05:51:59 pm

While he has a great glove for a 3B, his 2B numbers are all over the place. He's really only played about 200 innings over the past 4 years there, so you'd expect his defensive stats to be worthless. He was behind Kennedy so never played that position full time in the majors. Thus he first became a Tony Phillips utility guy, then settled into 3d post-Glaus. Rizzo would have to use his judgment on whether he could make the switch.

As for what he's worth as a free agent, I'm not sure how many teams would be looking at him as a 3d baseman without pop. The Orioles would be really smart if they did.

Shouldn't that tell you all you need to know about Figgins playing second?

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #19 on:** October 09, 2009, 08:52:05 am »

Kennedy actually was very good offensively in 2002, and there were no glove problems with him through 2005.

Looking at '05, when figgins got his most games (42) at second, it does not look like his fielding was what Kennedy had done. Small sample, but probably with Callaspo and Kendrick in the system, they wanted to explore another way to get Figgins in the line up by 2006. that year, he played a lot of CF, but eventually, with Glaus breaking down, they made him the 3d baseman, where he is above average defensively.

Like I said, the Os should be the ones who go after him hard. They don't have to have him shift away from a position he plays well.

dirtynat · « **Reply #20 on:** October 09, 2009, 08:01:29 pm »

Dan Uggla.

Nathan · « **Reply #21 on:** October 09, 2009, 08:04:43 pm »

Quote from: dirtynat on October 09, 2009, 08:01:29 pm

Dan Uggla.

They want to improve the MI.

houston-nat · « **Reply #22 on:** October 09, 2009, 09:58:12 pm »

Placido Polanco?

aspenbubba · « **Reply #23 on:** October 09, 2009, 10:36:04 pm »

If in fact the FO wants Guzman to move to 2B they need to pursue a SS. We saw this last year with Bonifacio , AHernandez and Gonzales playing well as September "call-ups "or acquisitions. ID has not proven anything as a long term solution to the MI. He should start the year in "Cuse and be called up if he does well again there and if there is an injury or poor play by Guz or the SS or the three back-ups (Gonzalez , Orr , Harris).

It appears that there maynot be a FA available and that would necessitate a trade for a young SS.Rizzo has his work cut out for him

PANatsFan · « **Reply #24 on:** October 10, 2009, 01:24:44 am »

Quote from: houston-nat on October 09, 2009, 09:58:12 pm

Placido Polanco?

Hell Placido Domingo is an upgrade.