Nationals new 1B discussion

[ronnynat]

Jerry Crasnick: The Washington Nationals are on Carl Pavano "pretty hard,'' according to a baseball source

[Sharp]

Jerry Crasnick: The Washington Nationals are on Carl Pavano "pretty hard,'' according to a baseball source

[houston-nat]

Don't give him three years.

For Carl Pavano my maximum would be 2/20.

[The Chief]

All this cross-posting is making me twitch but eh, whatever.  If nobody else cares, I suppose I don't *twitch* care either *twitch*

[EdStroud]

All this cross-posting is making me twitch but eh, whatever.  If nobody else cares, I suppose I don't *twitch* care either *twitch*

sign Adam Dunn's left-eye for 7 years  

[ronnynat]

All this cross-posting is making me twitch but eh, whatever.  If nobody else cares, I suppose I don't *twitch* care either *twitch*

I'm an idiot. For some reason I thought that was about LaRoche, not Pavano.

[The Chief]

I'm an idiot. For some reason I thought that was about LaRoche, not Pavano.

Eh you're hardly the only one guilty of it.

[daveb32]

I really wished we had gone after Shaun Marcum. 5th best SO/BB, 3rd best WHIP in the AL last year. He'll be good with the Brewers if he can stay healthy.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I really wished we had gone after Shaun Marcum. 5th best SO/BB, 3rd best WHIP in the AL last year. He'll be good with the Brewers if he can stay healthy.

Lawrie is a pretty high price.  I don't know what the equivalent would be here.  Probably Norris.  If you view our catchers of the future as Flores and Ramos, then maybe you do the deal.

[RD]

Yeah, I was surprised they gave up Lawrie for Marcum. Talk about a panic move ... Marcum is solid, but I don't think he had that type of value.

Lawrie was the type of position player that could've been a key to landing Greinke.

Id rather go all in on the ace like Greinke, than trade an upper echelon prospect for a solid 2/3. I know the prospect may not amount to anything, but we know the value they possess in trades.

[Smithian]

How about bringing back Nick Johnson for a rotation with Pena or Morse...?

[RD]

If you're platooning someone with Pena, then obviously Morse is the guy. He's right handed, he hits well in certain situations ...

Doesn't make sense to bring back another lefty to platoon with Pena, in Johnson.

[Potomac Cannons]

Don't give him three years.

For Carl Pavano my maximum would be 2/20.

I'd offer a 3rd with a team option 2m buyout or something to that effect.

[PANatsFan]

Johnson as a bench bat would make me happy. I love the guy.

[GburgNatsFan]

For about 2/5ths of a season.

Johnson as a bench bat would make me happy. I love the guy.

[Minty Fresh]

I'd offer a 3rd with a team option 2m buyout or something to that effect.

STFU and stay on topic!

[EdStroud]

Johnson as a bench bat would make me happy. I love the guy.

He can't play enough positions with Captain Switch-A-Roo in charge.

[Potomac Cannons]

He can't play enough positions with Captain Switch-A-Roo in charge.

MLB should institute 10 day contracts, like the NBA, for guys like Johnson.

[Potomac Cannons]

Now here's a question.  Let's say we landed Cliff Lee or another stud starting pitcher that requires a huge salary.  Do we give Chris Marrero a legitimate shot at winning the first base job?  He had a heck of a year in Harrisburg.

The only problem for Chris is that he hits from the right side.  Our lineup would be almost completely devoid of lefties if our new first baseman is also a right-handed hitter, and that's assuming that Willingham is dealt and Bernadina is our every day LF.

He did not have a heck of a year in Harrisburg.  I'm a big fan of Marrero but he should start next year in AA again.

Marrero put up a .800 OPS at AA.  He's currently got a .775 OPS in Puerto Rico through 23 games.  He's still decently young, 23 next July, but either the power numbers have to jump or the glove needs to move to above average before he's ready.

[Potomac Cannons]

.290, 18 HR, 82 RBI seems pretty solid to me.  While I can certainly understand your point that he may not be ready for the big leagues, I don't see how he doesn't at least move up to AAA next year.

Those are result stats and both BA and RBI are pretty useless.

OPS gives you a combo of how much a player gets on and how many total bases (power) they have.  A .800 OPS in AA is not good enough for a 1B.  Danny Espinosa, whose bat profiles to a MLB SS, put up a .798 OPS at the same level and had the same number of HRs in 42 fewer games.  Espinosa is 16 months older than Marrero.

I'm more positive than most here about Marrero.  I think he'll be an above average everyday 1B eventually.  Someone posted about players with opposite field power developing more slowly.  Not sure if it's true but it would be nice if he suddenly breaks out around the time he turns 24 or so.  Breaking his leg at Potomac slowed his development down and he doesn't yet seem fully back to where he was.

I just don't see a chance for Marrero next year.  The middle to end of 2012 is much more likely.

[UnkleWheez]

washingnats William Ladson
#Nats' first-base focus likely shifts to LaRoche http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101207&content_id=16276016&vkey=news_was&c_id=was

[PANatsFan]

The injury was a major setback, no doubt, but I think the Nats are very pleased with the year he had at Harrisburg.  I think you'll see him Syracuse after spring training, unless the first base search goes disastrously (seems unlikely and that we'll end up with either Pena or LaRoche).  Glad that you're high on the kid, I think there is some big potential there.

I think it's sink or swim time with him, so AAA makes sense to me. I guess he could be a Ryan Howard but I think he's more like a Brad Eldred. We'll have to see.

[PANatsFan]

washingnats William Ladson
#Nats' first-base focus likely shifts to LaRoche http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101207&content_id=16276016&vkey=news_was&c_id=was

Good, I think he's the superior player. He could use some security, he's bounced around too much.

Boo on the Pavano deal, they have to pay SOMEONE.

[JMW IV]

i would be happier with laroche than pena.

[wpa2629]

I'd be happier with Laroche than Pena too. I like Laroche's stick your nose in the muck attitude