Nationals new 1B discussion

[hammondsnats]

He might be a Lerner guy though.

i think dunn was too though.  we know how that ended...

[blue911]

Wouldn't Fielder be at the top of the list of "not a Rizzo guy"?

I don't pretend to know what mike Rizzo thinks. 

[Lintyfresh85]

I have believed that they have wanted Fielder from the first, and the Brewers thwarted them time and again. Hence the fascination with Lee.

What qualities do Derrek Lee and Prince Fielder share other than being 1B?

I can't think of many.

[PANatsFan]

i think dunn was too though.  we know how that ended...

Dunn was a Lerner guy, that is true . . .

[PANatsFan]

What qualities do Derrek Lee and Prince Fielder share other than being 1B?

I can't think of many.

Same contract expiration date.

[Evolution33]

Again, this refutes your description of his philosophy unless hope, prayer and finger crossing is part of it.  Morgan, Ankiel and Bernandina are all bad options to one degree or another and this is what's he's decided to go with into the season.  If he can make an exception for the CF position, why wouldn't he make exception for other players at other positions that he's traded/let walk, players who are far, far superior overall than those three but players who aren't quite his type?

It refutes nothing. You are only looking at 2011. I am convinced that Werth is the only outfielder currently on the roster that has a chance to make it past 2011 as a starter. There were no free agent centerfielders on the market. When he decided to let Dunn walk Rizzo probably thought there was a good shot to get Pena and if not Pena then there were lots of options. Even if LaRoche signs elsewhere there is still Branyan and a collection of crap that is still better than the center field crap from free agency this off-season, and even if the Nationals end up with no first baseman from free agency or trade then Morse is a better option at first than anything on the current roster for center. If he just outrighted Morgan then Bernadina plays center and that isn't really that much different than holding onto Morgan and seeing is he can rebound before putting a below average defender in center.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'm not thrilled with the offensive potential of Moreland - what are his <====== splits?

I really have liked him since the firs tcouple of months of 2009 when he started A+ hot.  He tailed a bit when bumped to AA, but was fine in AAA this year and had a terrific stint in the majors.   Even at AA, he kept his OBP over .370.  I'll take his minor league OPS with a grain of salt b/c he's played in some hitter leagues in the high minors, but I don't see why he could not be at least an average OPS first baseman.  He's young (25 next year), and has done well since they decided not to have him pitch.  50 XBH every full season may indicate that his power will come when he gets to 27 and beyond.  Certainly can't complain about what he did in Texas in less than 173 PAs.  Can't tell much about his
<======= splits  because in the majors he only faced lefties 23 PAs and the Minor league splits site is down.  I'll infer that his minor league splits could not have been too bad because he seemed to get full season ABs.   Texas did
<----------- him with Cantu in the majors, but if we signed Cantu or gave Morse the PAs v. LHP, I'd be OK with that.  Also, given how righty heavy our offense is, I would not mind too much if his numbers were better than mediocre v. LHP (I know I don't like LaRoche full time).

[Lintyfresh85]

Speaking of Minor League Splits... can someone please buy the site from the guy? It's a wonderful site... but there's no reason it should be down in the offseason.

One of the major sites like Fangraphs or BA or Baseball Prospectus should snap it up and add it to their site.

Speaking of Moreland... according to his MiLB profile... he hit .272/.344/.457/.801 in 82 AB's versus LHP in 2010 while in AAA.

[PC]

It refutes nothing. You are only looking at 2011. I am convinced that Werth is the only outfielder currently on the roster that has a chance to make it past 2011 as a starter. There were no free agent centerfielders on the market. When he decided to let Dunn walk Rizzo probably thought there was a good shot to get Pena and if not Pena then there were lots of options. Even if LaRoche signs elsewhere there is still Branyan and a collection of crap that is still better than the center field crap from free agency this off-season, and even if the Nationals end up with no first baseman from free agency or trade then Morse is a better option at first than anything on the current roster for center. If he just outrighted Morgan then Bernadina plays center and that isn't really that much different than holding onto Morgan and seeing is he can rebound before putting a below average defender in center.

On the contrary, I’m not just looking at 2011.  Nyjer Morgan is not just a bad player, he’s also a bad person or, at least, a person who’s behaved badly.  Keeping or getting rid of him isn’t just a 2011 roster issue, it’s a franchise statement issue.  What does it say about the Washington Nationals franchise that he stays on the roster?  Are there no negative repercussions to a franchise already with a negative reputation?  What does his presence say about the code of conduct expected from players?  This is much bigger than just 2011.

And I believe, Roger Bernadina’s natural position is CF and Morgan’s presence on the roster is blocking him from playing it.  I have much more confidence in Bernadina’s potential than Morgan’s.  Add to that, Bernadina has done nothing to make us believe he’s a bad person.

[hammondsnats]

And I believe, Roger Bernadina’s natural position is CF and Morgan’s presence on the roster is blocking him from playing it.  I have much more confidence in Bernadina’s potential than Morgan’s.  Add to that, Bernadina has done nothing to make us believe he’s a bad person.

but honestly, has bernadina made you to believe he's a good player? 

[Evolution33]

On the contrary, I’m not just looking at 2011.  Nyjer Morgan is not just a bad player, he’s also a bad person or, at least, a person who’s behaved badly.  Keeping or getting rid of him isn’t just a 2011 roster issue, it’s a franchise statement issue.  What does it say about the Washington Nationals franchise that he stays on the roster?  Are there no negative repercussions to a franchise already with a negative reputation?  What does his presence say about the code of conduct expected from players?  This is much bigger than just 2011.

And I believe, Roger Bernadina’s natural position is CF and Morgan’s presence on the roster is blocking him from playing it.  I have much more confidence in Bernadina’s potential than Morgan’s.  Add to that, Bernadina has done nothing to make us believe he’s a bad person.

Morgan got into a brawl on a baseball field. It has happened numerous times before and it will happen numerous times again. Juan Marichal tried to cave in a guys skull with a baseball bat. it was a moment of anger and weakness it doesn't make him a bad person. I do not think Morgan is a bad person at all. If he were the fight wouldn't have seemed so out of character. I think Morgan is a good guy that tried to do too much last season. He got it into his head after his success in 2009 that he could be a superstar and when he wasn't he got frustrated and everything just went from there. One moment of stupidity doesn't make someone a bad person, and Morgan has done nothing off the field to make anyone think this out of control behavior is really part of his personality. 2010 was a terrible year for Morgan, but he deserves a second chance. I also don't think he deserves that second chance to last past tax day if he can't show something in Spring Training and the first two weeks of the season.

[hammondsnats]

per Ladson :

Talks progressing between Nationals, LaRoche

Talks between the Nationals and free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche are "progressing," according to a baseball source. The negotiations are expected to continue sometime on Monday.

The source said the two parties are not far apart when it comes to getting a deal done.

It was revealed on New Year's Eve that the Nationals have offered LaRoche a two-year deal. Terms of the offer were not disclosed.

Phone messages to LaRoche and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo were not returned.

The Nationals have been looking for a first baseman ever since they allowed slugger Adam Dunn to become a free agent. LaRoche, 31, brings consistency with the bat and glove. He is coming off the best season of his career, hitting .261 with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs for the D-backs. He is also an above-average defensive first baseman. This offseason, the Nationals have put an emphasis on defense, which has been below average the last three years.         
   
If he signs with the Nationals, LaRoche will be reunited with center fielder Nyjer Morgan and reliever Sean Burnett. They were teammates for two-plus seasons from 2007 to 2009 in the Pirates organization. 
       
In early December, LaRoche told MLB.com that he had interest in playing for the Nationals.
   
"If we come on the same page, I would definitely have interest in playing for them," LaRoche said back then. 

LaRoche said he believes the Nationals are going in the right direction after signing outfielder Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million contract.

"I think it shows how serious the Nationals are about getting the organization back on track and become a contender in the National League East," LaRoche said. "They are probably tired of watching other teams [spend money and winning]. With the ballpark [Nationals Park] and a little money to spend, they are looking to start over."

LaRoche has played in the big leagues for seven seasons. He is best known for playing with the Braves, but he has also spent time with the Red Sox. During those seven years, LaRoche is a .271 career hitter with 161 home runs and 569 RBIs.

LaRoche comes from a baseball family. His father, Dave, was a solid relief pitcher for the Angels, Yankees and Indians in the 1970s and '80s, while his brother, Andy, played third base for the Pirates the last three years before becoming a free agent.

http://therocket.mlblogs.com/archives/2011/01/talks_progressing_between_nati.html

[Lintyfresh85]

I blame a lot of Morgan's problems on Riggleman.

He should of benched his ass early in the year for his immaturity and baseball mistakes... yet he'd come out with quotes like "can't sit Nyjer or you might lose him" or "can't hit Nyjer lower in the lineup or you might lose him"... grow up, be a man, and take failure in stride and learn from it.

The Nats babied him in 2010, and they got what they deserved when he went off the deep end.

[hammondsnats]

i've always loves this quote by LaRoche in regards to the Werth signing:

"I think it shows how serious the Nationals are about getting the organization back on track and become a contender in the National League East," LaRoche said. "They are probably tired of watching other teams [spend money and winning]. With the ballpark [Nationals Park] and a little money to spend, they are looking to start over."

amen brother.

[PatsNats28]

i've always loves this quote by LaRoche in regards to the Werth signing:

amen brother.

everyone said when that quote was first posted that laroche just wanted to get paid b/c it was right after the werth deal.

[hammondsnats]

everyone said when that quote was first posted that laroche just wanted to get paid b/c it was right after the werth deal.

not me.  i like how he said we're tired of not spending money and not winning.  the man knows how to speak the truth, at least from a fan's point of view.

[houston-nat]

per Ladson :

Gawd, people, is his name that hard to spell?

[Lintyfresh85]

Que?

[Tyler Durden]

per Ladson :

Git'er done, Rizzo.

[PANatsFan]

Gawd, people, is his name that hard to spell?

Yeah, exacly, P-o-o-p-o-n-o-v-i-c-h.

[The Rock]

not me.  i like how he said we're tired of not spending money and not winning.  the man knows how to speak the truth, at least from a fan's point of view.

So I take it you also agree with LaRoche that "the Nationals are about getting the organization back on track and become a contender in the National League East."  After all, he does speak the truth 

[hammondsnats]

So I take it you also agree with LaRoche that "the Nationals are about getting the organization back on track and become a contender in the National League East."  After all, he does speak the truth 

of course they can be if they keep making moves like werth/laroche/top of the line pitcher.  instead of bargain bin/dumpster diving all the time.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I wouldn't put those things in the same category.  LaRoche might be a suitable stop-gap, but getting him doesn't exactly indicate that the team is going in the "right direction" or anything.

[Tyler Durden]

I wouldn't put those things in the same category.  LaRoche might be a suitable stop-gap, but getting him doesn't exactly indicate that the team is going in the "right direction" or anything.

I dunno - I don't/didn't like the process of getting LaRoche, but if we get average to above average players at every position, I'd be happy with that after the last several years.  Then fill in gaps with stars like Zim, Werth, Harper, etc., and you're going in teh right direction.

[comish4lif]

I wouldn't put those things in the same category.  LaRoche might be a suitable stop-gap, but getting him doesn't exactly indicate that the team is going in the "right direction" or anything.

Agreed.

Werth + LaRoche only slightly better than Dunn + Wilingham.