Nats sign Jason Marquis

[Minty Fresh]

Just because he got excluded from the playoffs roster means he is not a winner?

You don't think being part of that many winning teams counts for anything?

In the past when the Nats lose games they are just like freak it, who gives a crap. No one ever got mad or pissed off and held each other accountable.

Now with guys like Marquis and Bruney in the locker room, bullcrap losing and playing awful baseball is no longer acceptable.

They will not let it happen.

I guess we'll just have to disagree and see how it plays out.

Won't be the first time for that. 

[DPMOmaha]

He's won 94 games in 10 seasons.

80 in the last 6.    He's not the Marquis (sorry, couldn't help it) signing we'll need to get over the hump, but we're not shooting for the hump this year.  A 15 game improvement is the goal for this year and it's out there for the taking.  He CAN help with that.  A more effective rotation will lead to a more effective bullpen (something we all know) which will give us the opportunity to go and get that #1 starter that can put us over the hump next year.

He was on the roster the last two years in the playoffs, btw, fwiw...

[Potomac Cannons]

Now with guys like Marquis and Bruney in the locker room, bullcrap losing and playing awful baseball is no longer acceptable.

They will not let it happen.

LOL.  This is unintentional humor at its worst.  Bruney?  He's got a good arm but the control of a dog in heat.  NYY couldn't get him out of town quickly enough and traded him for a freaking rule 5 pick.  He "won't allow" jack.  I'll put money on him not being on the 40 man roster when the season ends.

[houston-nat]

which will give us the opportunity to go and get that #1 starter that can put us over the hump next year.

Always with the hope in mind that we will be able to home-brew our own #1 starter at the same time. A one-two punch should be the ultimate goal...

[DPMOmaha]

Always with the hope in mind that we will be able to home-brew our own #1 starter at the same time. A one-two punch should be the ultimate goal...

That'd be ideal!

[Potomac Cannons]

Always with the hope in mind that we will be able to home-brew our own #1 starter at the same time. A one-two punch should be the ultimate goal...

Get to the point of being respectable this year and next year you look at bringing up SS while going after Cliff Lee, Brandon Webb or Javier Vazquez if they actually hit the market.

[PANatsFan]

Get to the point of being respectable this year and next year you look at bringing up SS while going after Cliff Lee, Brandon Webb or Javier Vazquez if they actually hit the market.

Lee is dying to be a FA.

[wpa2629]

Well, in 2011, we'll have Strasburg and JZimm, that's not exactly shabby. But man oh man would I love to see Cliff Lee on the mound in a curly W hat

[DPMOmaha]

Lee
Stras
Lannan
Marquis or Zmann
Zmann or Marquis

Yeah, I could deal with that.

[UMDNats]

Lannan
Lee
Lester
Lackey
Lincecum

[DPMOmaha]

Lannan
Lee
LeStrasburg
Lackey
Lincecum

Fixed

[KnorrForYourMoney]

For the record, I don't think the signing is HORRIBLE, I just fail to see how throwing Marquis up against Halladay, Johnson, Nolasco, Vazquez, or Lowe is going to benefit the Nats in terms of wins.

I think it will.  It's about averages.  Sure, the Nats still have the odds stacked against them in these match-ups, but the odds are better than they would have been.

[wpa2629]

Lee
Stras
Lannan
Marquis or Zmann
Zmann or Marquis

Yeah, I could deal with that.

        

[Potomac Cannons]

Get to the point of being respectable this year and next year you look at bringing up SS while going after Cliff Lee, Brandon Webb or Javier Vazquez if they actually hit the market.

Can't believe I skipped over potential FA Josh Beckett.  There's even a potential group of 2nd tier guys that are better than this year:  Blanton, Bonderman, Correia, De La Rosa, Lilly and Pavano.  Even a couple of ex-Reds could surface in Arroyo (11m with 2m buyout) and Harang (12.75m with 2m buyout). 

It seems like just the right time to short term 2 SPs, make the young guys force their way on to the roster and then go into 2011 with our two best in house prospects, Lannan, the 2 FAs and hopefully a top tier FA next season battling it out for the rotation spots.  That lets us package some of the almost guys for filling other holes.

[PANatsFan]

Fire Jim Bowden making all kinds of sense on Fangraphs:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/nationals-sign-jason-marquis/#comment-115602

This is a great example of a bad post by a non-DC person who doesn’t follow this team closely and assumes you know what’s wrong without bothering to find out.

First, this team has ample money to spend on guys like Marquis and still sign all their picks and draft above slot. Their payroll in 2010 even with this move is still under $70 million. This money won’t stop them from doing anything to win down the road.

Second, their biggest problem with their youth is that they have no veteran stability to help ease the transition of young players to the majors. It’s not so much about “mentoring” and all that. It’s just that you don’t want to have to send Stephen Strasburg to the mound with a 9-game losing streak and a burned bullpen. If you do, you’re asking for injury. Guys will hide pain they should report. That’s what happened with Craig Stammen and Jordan Zimmermann this year.

Third, this is a two-year deal. His salary comes off the books before the team has any chance of contending.

Finally, grabbing free agents like Marquis has nothing whatsoever to do with why the Nationals are bad. Because they haven’t signed free agents like this since 2005. In the past, they’ve filled their rotation with 50% minor league contract guys like Mike Bascik and Jason Simontacchi.

[Nathan]

Fire Jim Bowden making all kinds of sense on Fangraphs:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/nationals-sign-jason-marquis/#comment-115602

QFMFT!

No one expects this to make us a contender.  It's supposed to be a step in the right direction.  And it is.

I also don't get all the "now they can't afford to do X" hype.  The team has plenty of money.  Have they even gone past last years payroll with the current signings after contracts like Kearns and Young are off the books?

[cmdterps44]

I like this episode of How I Met Your Mother far better than Skins. Robin is really pretty.

I HATE YOU!! for jealousy reasons. I didnt tape this weeks or last weeks and I'm behind. Robin is HOT AS crap!!

[natsfan4evr]

I've been busy lately, so hopefully someone can answer this for me. Are we still going after Garland, or are we going to settle for Olsen or Livo? If they get Capps the bullpen will be even better, and most sites don't mention anything about Drew Storen.. is there any reason to doubt that he's the real deal? From his personality, to his drive, to his insane K:BB ratio... I can't help but feel giddy.

[sportsfan882]

I've been busy lately, so hopefully someone can answer this for me. Are we still going after Garland, or are we going to settle for Olsen or Livo? If they get Capps the bullpen will be even better, and most sites don't mention anything about Drew Storen.. is there any reason to doubt that he's the real deal? From his personality, to his drive, to his insane K:BB ratio... I can't help but feel giddy.

Garland is out of the equation. So are any other noticeable starters. Either they get nothing the rest of the way in terms of SPs or they settle for Livan.

[PANatsFan]

I've been busy lately, so hopefully someone can answer this for me. Are we still going after Garland, or are we going to settle for Olsen or Livo? If they get Capps the bullpen will be even better, and most sites don't mention anything about Drew Storen.. is there any reason to doubt that he's the real deal? From his personality, to his drive, to his insane K:BB ratio... I can't help but feel giddy.

All I doubt is the amount of research these so-called experts do on the Nats. Keep your fingers crossed on all of the above.

Garland is out of the equation. So are any other noticeable starters. Either they get nothing the rest of the way in terms of SPs or they settle for Livan.

It makes sense now -the reason you call guys trash and idiots is that you actually ARE Mike Rizzo

[Minty Fresh]

Garland is out of the equation. So are any other noticeable starters. Either they get nothing the rest of the way in terms of SPs or they settle for Livan.

Ben Sheets.  That's what I want now.

Then address 2B and SS.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Fundamentally, the writer on Fangraphs had the Nats confused with the Pirates. The Pirates should not signn a guy like Marquis because they have severe budget restraints on top of their lack of current MLB talent.  The Nats really don't (LANC) or shoudln't (LAC). 

I'm amazed at FJB / SBiel2.  This guy has put a lot of effort into becoming analytically sharp over the past 2 -3 years.  The quality of his postings have gone way up from his initial anti-Bowden rants.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Ben Sheets.  That's what I want now.

Then address 2B and SS.

Absolutely.

I would like to see an injury recovery candidate as the only other veteran starter brought in.  It could be any of Bedard, Sheets, Wang, etc. . .  I'm talking about a type, not specific players, although Sheets is the probably the one I want most.  That way, the rotation sets up with two mid-rotation, average to above league average, heavy innings load guys in Marquis and Lannan, Olsen and the other recovery candidate fighting it out for one or two slots and providing insurance for each other, and our collection of young 4/5 starters given a shot at that role and serving as plan C in case neither Olsen nor recovery candidate works out.  I don't see a need for a Garland or a Davis at this point.

[doubler]

How can anyone not like this signing? Fangraphs are off their rocker. Its a 2 year deal, the guy will eat innings with above average stats and will save the bullpen from being wiped out by the All-Star break.

We still have money to spend, so we arent hamstrung....so basically fangraphs is saying that if you suck, you really should just suck as hard as you can and hope to get better?

[PANatsFan]

I'm gonna get flamed for this - but Marquis is a team-first guy, a good guy in the clubhouse, and a nice guy. MOST IMPORTANTLY, he gets the job done, but those "peripheral" qualities add a lot.