Just a vent. Feel free to ignore
Really wish Rizzo adopted the philosophies that others are adopting. Sure, pitching is a premium, but it's also the most unpredictable. When it hits, it's the most cost-effective way to run a pitching staff, with reserves throughout the season.
Thing is, we've said "you can buy a bat," yet Riz/Lerners have continued to strikeout of FA signings. In fact, the big FA signings have mostly been pitchers... So they're signing pitchers to large deals, while "developing" young pitchers, yet continuing to ignore offense. They haven't draft a bopper since... Harper (does that even count)? The Nats have 3 or so major holes in the lineup now, and could not even reach down into AA for something to help the ML squad. The Cubs continue to call up bats, which are only helping them strengthen their division and #1 seed (an aside: I don't see them "playing tired" or "playing like they've already won," FP...). To hell with this notion that pitching wins in the playoffs. KC scored 25 runs in the ALDS (5 runs/G), 38 in the ALCS (6.33/G), and 27 in the WS (5.4/G). The Nats are currently at 4.83 runs/G, but as anyone who watches knows, this team is prone to being shutdown, then having the occasional blowout. I just don't understand why it hasn't started from the ground up -- drafting, developing, and trading for young bats. The Nats will have another hole at catcher this year. I guess they hope Pedro is able to fill that. Maybe they will re-sign Ramos, but who knows. Werth's contract will be up. There's not a single bat close (within 2 years) that could take over his spot immediately, or at least be a contributor (same can be said about CF, but Robles is supposed to be that guy -- to be seen). Outside of Kieboom, who was just drafted, the prospects look pretty bleak at 3B. For all the SS the Nats have piled up in the farm, they've moved them off SS to other spots. Not including Difo/Turner, there's not a SS prospect in the system that is worth a damn. 2B is pretty similar (Schrock is looking like a solid prospect though -- still, many years away). The org has NEVER developed a 1B bat. Never. Chris Marrero is the best 1B prospect the Nats have ever had. C is just as much of a blackhole, but Pedro did look good (he's also hit .264 in AAA, which would be very passable in the ML, but who knows how that translates).
Sorry for the long vent. Just wondering how others who follow the farm feel about this.