Spring Training Thread

[CJames0569]

Maybe they just wanted to be rid of Dukes? This season was never really about competing, our best pitcher is in the minors and our second best pitcher is still recovering from Tommy John, we have a terrible rotationa and a bad bullpen. I'll worry if they don't get the hole plugged next year.

So if we aren't concerned about competing why throw a player out there who has already proven he is crap and has nothing to offer us now or in the future? If we are going into the season with the mindset that we aren't competing (which I don't believe we are) than why not give bernadina a legitimate shot and give him a chance at an entire season in the majors? It just doesn't make sense to me, this reminds me of the same old nationals moves that they've made in the past.

[HalfSmokes]

If we are going into the season with the mindset that we aren't competing (which I don't believe we are) than why not give bernadina a legitimate shot and give him a chance at an entire season in the majors?

If we're actually competing, why was our 1 big offseason acquisition Marquis, and why are our best starter and reliever in the minors? I'm not saying I have a problem with this being another building year (hopefully the last or near to it), but to say the front office has any expectation of winning this year would be saying they are delusional.

to pull from the vegas thread

The Nats odds of winning the NL East are listed at 50-1.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/04/nats_have_longest_odds_to_reac.html?wprss=dcsportsbog

That doesn't seem like competing to me

[JMW IV]

"we're not going to compete anyway" is not a suitable excuse for letting horrible players start and/or get significant playing time.

maybe the Nats should cut ticket prices down to a "we're not competing anyway" price as well then.

[CJames0569]

If we're actually competing, why was our 1 big offseason acquisition Marquis, and why are our best starter and reliever in the minors? I'm not saying I have a problem with this being another building year (hopefully the last or near to it), but to say the front office has any expectation of winning this year would be saying they are delusional.

to pull from the vegas thread

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/04/nats_have_longest_odds_to_reac.html?wprss=dcsportsbog

That doesn't seem like competing to me

I guess part of me just wants to believe that the front office actually gives a crap and doesn't field a 100+ loss team for the 3rd straight year. What I meant by denying that we aren't going to compete, was we were actually looking to be competitive in our league but not necessarily compete for a playoff spot. Like strive to finish the season around .500, and get out of the cellar.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

"we're not going to compete anyway" is not a suitable excuse for letting horrible players start and/or get significant playing time.

maybe the Nats should cut ticket prices down to a "we're not competing anyway" price as well then.

If you're "rebuilding" or "building" why in the blue hell would you waste time on someone like Willy Taveras?

[CJames0569]

If you're "rebuilding" or "building" why in the blue hell would you waste time on someone like Willy Taveras?

That's exactly what I'm asking, without going all SF...err ASSCLOWN and calling him a bum. The dude sucks though, has no bat. He shouldn't be starting in RF for any major league team, it's embarassing.

[HalfSmokes]

If you're "rebuilding" or "building" why in the blue hell would you waste time on someone like Willy Taveras?

no one in the minors ready and no better options in the majors. They probably don't want to pay Wells what he wants for 1 year (not saying they are cheap, why pay a fortune for a marginal player on a 1 year deal?) and don't see any other options.

[shoeshineboy]

If you're "rebuilding" or "building" why in the blue hell would you waste time on someone like Willy Taveras?

I can't believe Willy Taveras is even under consideration. He's not a major-league calibre player. It's a joke to have him on the roster.

[HalfSmokes]

I think it will end up being Harris; he's earned it

[Lintyfresh85]

It's going to be both. Riggs said they are platooning.

It makes my head want to explode.

[Lintyfresh85]

Actually... things are about to get a whole lot worse.

washingnats - Cristain Guzman is willing to play the corner outfield positions. He is going to see playing time at six different positions in 2010.

washingnats - Cristian Guzman said it felt like a "long" inning playing right field in the ninth. Guzman is expected to see more time out there.

Brilliant. Lets turn a guy who was considered a weak hitting SS with limited range... and put him in the corner power positions! That'll do the trick!

[shoeshineboy]

Actually... things are about to get a whole lot worse.

Brilliant. Lets turn a guy who was considered a weak hitting SS with limited range... and put him in the corner power positions! That'll do the trick!

That's lunacy. Gotta be an April Fools joke.

[cmdterps44]

Actually... things are about to get a whole lot worse.

Brilliant. Lets turn a guy who was considered a weak hitting SS with limited range... and put him in the corner power positions! That'll do the trick!

wtf? Whats the difference playing him, taveras, or harris? They are all something we don't want in right. This is dumb. I still want Harris starting out of the 3.

[Evolution33]

Does Dye still look bad?

[blue911]

Does Dye still look bad?

If you want to stress defense then yes he still looks bad. If you don't care then play Morse.

[PANatsFan]

Why the hell is Guzman on the team? what does he bring to the table that a replacement player cannot, most especially in the outfield.

[DPMOmaha]

We're gonna throw a ton of guys out there.  Why not give him a shot and see what happens.  Unless someone comes out and puts a strangle hold on the position, the whole idea is to take a big run at one of the big FA's next winter. 

[Evolution33]

The Dodgers released Jason Repko.

[Lintyfresh85]

The Dodgers released Jason Repko.

He should be on the team tomorrow as the Right handed part of the platoon.

Hell, where in the world is Josh Phelps at? That guy destroys LHP.

Career line of .297/.364/.495/.859

[blue911]

We're gonna throw a ton of guys out there.  Why not give him a shot and see what happens.  Unless someone comes out and puts a strangle hold on the position, the whole idea is to take a big run at one of the big FA's next winter. 

I think what you are seeing is Mike Rizzo's philosophy of how to build a winner. He brings in Morgan,Rodriguez,Kennedy and promotes Desmond and Harris.In the year Rizzo been the GM he's upgraded the defense of catcher,short, second and center. No matter how we feel about Taveras as a hitter, the man can cover some ground.

[DPMOmaha]

I think what you are seeing is Mike Rizzo's philosophy of how to build a winner. He brings in Morgan,Rodriguez,Kennedy and promotes Desmond and Harris.In the year Rizzo been the GM he's upgraded the defense of catcher,short, second and center. No matter how we feel about Taveras as a hitter, the man can cover some ground.

Absolutely he does.  Tavarez, I think could actually be a great pinch runner/defensive replacement guy with an spot start on occasion.  He's not a valueless guy.  I'm fully expecting NYY and/or Boston to go after the big RF FA's next year, but we need to make a run at someone like Crawford next year who does also fit the Rizzo mold.  I'd love to see them think outside the box and make a mid-season trade for the guy if Tampa gets into selling mode around the deadline because I wouldn't be shocked if they move him before the deadline, even if they're only a few games out.

[shoeshineboy]

He should be on the team tomorrow as the Right handed part of the platoon.

Repko?

[Lintyfresh85]

Sure. Why not. Career OPS of .762 against LHP.

[shoeshineboy]

Sure. Why not. Career OPS of .762 against LHP.

That's against left handed starters. His career line against LHP is .240 .312 .422 .734. That's not worth any level of excitement, especially since his overall line is so horrible.

I'm all for a platoon with what we have, but given that Mike Morse's numbers against LHP and left handed starters are

.324 .376 .449 .824
.316 .362 .437 .799

respectively, I don't see any reason to even think that a guy like Repko is going to add much value.

[Lintyfresh85]

Look again... Repko has more plate appearances against LH Starters than he does Left handed pitchers. That would be impossible as left handed starters would be included in the entire lhp set. Thus, the starters one is his complete set.

Plus, if you add up his at bats against RHP 'starters' and LHP 'starters' it equals to his career number of at bats.