Rick Ankiel signs with Nats

[hammondsnats]

On a serious note, I think this is a good indication that we're signing Lee instead of LaRoche.  How would this lineup look?

LINEUP

Morgan CF
Espinosa 2B
Zimmerman 3B
Werth RF
Lee 1B
Bernadina LF
Desmond SS
Rodriguez C

BENCH

Ramos C
Gonzales IF
Ankiel OF
Morse IF/OF
Stairs PH

desmond will bat 2nd.  i don't know, i really am not digging that line-up.  some noticeable holes and would def be worst in the NL East.  hopefully the young guys progress.

[Tyler Durden]

Here is Morse against LHP - highlights are .374 OBP, .625 SLG, and .999 OPS. 

Season Split BB% K% BB/K OBP SLG OPS ISO BABIP wRC wRAA wOBA wRC+
2010 vs L as R 11.1 % 28.4 % 0.44 .374 .625 .999 .330 .327 19.4 8.1 .423 168

A Morse and Ankiel/Bernie platoon in LF would be fine with me, with the either Ankiel or Bernie pushing Nyjer for playing time in CF.

[DPMOmaha]

thats what ladson said.  i'm just saying one could be the starter the other OF backup.

So, we've come full circle and are trusting him as a reliable source now?  I think he'll be a nice backup OF, but I don't see him taking starts from the Morse/Bernie platoon unless one of them gets hurt or Bernie wins the starting job over Morgan, in which case, a Morse/Ankiel platoon would be decent and would give you three cannons in the OF, which would be fun.

[PANatsFan]

So Ankiel has a .200+ ISO against righties? Rizzo did good.

[EdStroud]

A Morse and Ankiel/Bernie platoon in LF would be fine with me, with the either Ankiel or Bernie pushing Nyjer for playing time in CF.

Thats more like it

[blue911]

In case the Nationals play a doubleheader against a team throwing two righthanders

I like the way you think. 

[hammondsnats]

So, we've come full circle and are trusting him as a reliable source now?  I think he'll be a nice backup OF, but I don't see him taking starts from the Morse/Bernie platoon unless one of them gets hurt or Bernie wins the starting job over Morgan, in which case, a Morse/Ankiel platoon would be decent and would give you three cannons in the OF, which would be fun.

did i say that ... all i said was that's what ladson reported.

and ankiel has played 44 games in LF, Morse just 12 and Ankiel is the better defender.  i think Morse draws starts in RF when Werth moves to center.

[DPMOmaha]

i think Morse draws starts in RF when Werth moves to center.

That could be.

[hammondsnats]

Not sure about that since that would mean four righties in a row.  If we sign LaRoche instead of Lee, then I agree with you for sure.

Also, why would it be the worst lineup in the NL East?  I think it's better than the Mets or Braves.

:spidernat bat signal:

desmond's numbers were good batting 2nd (.326/.359/.489 in 46 games) and riggleman has gone on record saying he likes him batting in that spot.

and no i'm pretty sure it's we have a worse line-up in NLE, imo.

[Baseball is Life]

Ankiel is insurance against any combination of Nyjer, Morse and Bernie flopping.

Look, the only proven outfielder we have is Werth. Nyjer is unproven; the best stretch he had was six weeks or so after he became a Nat in 2009. Yes, Morse, had one good year last year but I still consider him unproven. Same with Bernie.

[imref]

This actually could lead to Morse at 1B

that was my first thought as well.

[hammondsnats]

Ankiel is insurance against any combination of Nyjer, Morse and Bernie flopping.

Look, the only proven outfielder we have is Werth. Nyjer is unproven; the best stretch he had was six weeks or so after he became a Nat in 2009. Yes, Morse, had one good year last year but I still consider him unproven. Same with Bernie.

i'm cool with it and agree on your points (i'm as high on morse as everyone else, but he/bernadina/morgan have plenty to prove).  i wanted hawpe's bat, but ankiel has a solid glove that's for sure.  hopefully he can regain his 2008 form.

[Evolution33]

For reference.

Mets

Reyes
(Is Castilla still on the team?)
Wright
Davis
Bay
Beltran
Pagan
Thole

Braves

Prado
Heyward
Jones
McCann
Uggla
Freeman
McClouth
Gonzalez

Marlins

Coghlan
Infante
Ramirez
Stanton
Morrison
Sanchez
Buck
Bonifacio

Phillies

Rollins
Polanco
Utley
Howard
Victorino
Ruiz
Ibanez
Brown

[imref]

hey, Ankiel was a #1 starter once, was he not!

[Tyler Durden]

I can't believe Emilio Icantfeelmyfacio is still in the league.

If we get Derrek Lee, we can pass the Mets and Marlins.  I'll be even more sure of that if we upgrade the rotation.

[Lintyfresh85]

hey, Ankiel was a #1 starter once, was he not!

Bingo!

There's our ace baby!

[hammondsnats]

hey, Ankiel was a #1 starter once, was he not!

lol wow.

and thanks for posting evo.  i just don't see what makes us better than those, just my honest opinion. 

get lee and pavano/garza/shields and we can gear up for 2011 season.

[The Chief]

I can't believe Emilio Icantfeelmyfacio is still in the league.

So ultimately Bonifacio got us Brown and Rodriguez, right?  Olsen flamed out and Hammer is gone, neither having made any appreciable difference.  Am I forgetting anyone?

[The Chief]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3694827

The Marlins received second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers: second baseman Jake Smolinski and right-hander P.J. Dean.

Have Dean or Smolinski amounted to anything?

[Evolution33]

So ultimately Bonifacio got us Brown and Rodriguez, right?  Olsen flamed out and Hammer is gone, neither having made any appreciable difference.  Am I forgetting anyone?

If you want to put it that way then Jon Rauch got us Brown and Rodriguez and Jose Vidro got us Michael Morse.

[DPMOmaha]

Didn't Dean retire 20 minutes after the trade?

[The Chief]

If you want to put it that way then Jon Rauch got us Brown and Rodriguez and Jose Vidro got us Michael Morse.

True.

[hammondsnats]

So ultimately Bonifacio got us Brown and Rodriguez, right?  Olsen flamed out and Hammer is gone, neither having made any appreciable difference.  Am I forgetting anyone?

If you want to put it that way then Jon Rauch got us Brown and Rodriguez and Jose Vidro got us Michael Morse.

haha this is some trippy crap

[PANatsFan]

Didn't Dean retire 20 minutes after the trade?

Yes.

[Evolution33]

haha this is some trippy crap

Actually Rauch (along with Majewski) was aquired from the White Sox for Carl Everett.