The Most Underated Nat of All Time?

[imref]

Zuck was asked this today in his chat, here's his response:

I think there's probably a lot of underrated Nats who would make this list, but I'm going to go with someone who never seemed to get as much credit as he deserved: Nick Johnson. Here's Nick's slash line for his Nats career: .280/.408/.460, adding up to a robust .867 OPS. (That includes the 2004 season in Montreal.) Here's the list of guys who took at least 2,000 plate appearances for the Nats and had a higher OPS: Juan Soto and Bryce Harper. That's it. Yep, Johnson had a higher OPS as a National than Anthony Rendon (.859), Trea Turner (.842) and Ryan Zimmerman (.816).

Why isn't Nick thought of in that same category? His unfortunate injury history certainly figures into it. It just felt like he was perpetually hurt. And he didn't play for any good teams during his time here (beyond the first half of 2005, which included - you guessed it! - a stint on the IL).

But man, Nick Johnson's ability to get on base, to hit doubles and to play a really smooth first base was really, really good. And it's too bad he's not remembered for that as opposed to his body breaking down.

[HalfSmokes]

Jordan Zimmermann was my favorite nats pitcher and because they didn't resign him, there was no decline to witness in a nats uniform

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'm kind of surprised that Johnson had more than 2000 PAs with the franchise.

I kind of lean towards JZ, too. My fav on the early good teams.

Denard Span had 1500 PAs with the Nats and was the original White Whale. He timed his best year of his career for 2014. In my mind, that makes him an important contributor to maybe the best team without looking at the playoff results.

[Dave in Fairfax]

He had 1746 PAs for the Nationals and 295 for the Expos.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

That collision with Austin Kearns when he broke his femur was pretty gruesome.  Lots of bad things happened when the Nats were at Shea back in those days...I think it was the following season when a Mets fan killed his mother after the Nats won a game. 

[Senatorswin]

Dude never struck out 100 times in a season. Was an OBP animal. Seems I remember him getting hurt stepping on home plate.

One thing I think is embarrassing. Pudge Rodriguez was bad for the Nationals for two years. Yet when I go to my first game in 2024 in Nats Park I'm going to look up at the Ring of Honor and see the name Ivan Rodriguez. Nationals - Have your own stars, don't steal some other teams star. Most over-rated Nat.

[imref]

Dude never struck out 100 times in a season. Was an OBP animal. Seems I remember him getting hurt stepping on home plate.

One thing I think is embarrassing. Pudge Rodriguez was bad for the Nationals for two years. Yet when I go to my first game in 2024 in Nats Park I'm going to look up at the Ring of Honor and see the name Ivan Rodriguez. Nationals - Have your own stars, don't steal some other teams star. Most over-rated Nat.

[GburgNatsFan]

What I remember of Pudge is he was a GIDP machine.

Dude never struck out 100 times in a season. Was an OBP animal. Seems I remember him getting hurt stepping on home plate.

One thing I think is embarrassing. Pudge Rodriguez was bad for the Nationals for two years. Yet when I go to my first game in 2024 in Nats Park I'm going to look up at the Ring of Honor and see the name Ivan Rodriguez. Nationals - Have your own stars, don't steal some other teams star. Most over-rated Nat.

[imref]

I'll throw Kyle Finnegan into the 'underrated' mix. Dude has been a solid reliever for four years now. Last 3 years he has thrown 60+ innings a year and amassed 50 saves. 3.7 BB/9, 9.1 K/9.

[Mattionals]

Adam Dunn

[IanRubbish]

I would agree with Jordan Zimmermann.  He played a big role in the team's early 2010s resurgence and didn't miss a start from 2012 to 2015.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'll throw Kyle Finnegan into the 'underrated' mix. Dude has been a solid reliever for four years now. Last 3 years he has thrown 60+ innings a year and amassed 50 saves. 3.7 BB/9, 9.1 K/9.

took a step back last year

His inning load and length of time doesn't really compare to JZ. I think we over-rate him because he is "The Closer" at the end of every year.

[Senatorswin]

I'll throw Kyle Finnegan into the 'underrated' mix. Dude has been a solid reliever for four years now. Last 3 years he has thrown 60+ innings a year and amassed 50 saves. 3.7 BB/9, 9.1 K/9.

Talk about consistency. The last three years he's pitched to: 

an ERA of - 3.55, 3.51 and 3.76
Innings Pitched - 66.0, 66.2 and 69.1
WHIP - 1.485, 1.140, 1.298

He always posts.

[GataNats]

Adam Dunn.  Every single fly ball had a chance of leaving the park

[imref]

Adam Dunn.  Every single fly ball had a chance of leaving the park

Yep: 76 HRs in 1,316 PAs (.264 / .378 / .533) over 2 seasons

LaRoche was a downgrade: 79HRs in 1,823 PAs (.256 /.346 /.458) over 3 seasons.

Dunn did fall off a cliff after leaving here, but his contributions while here were definitely underrated.

[varoadking]

Trent Grisham...

[Senatorswin]

Yep: 76 HRs in 1,316 PAs (.264 / .378 / .533) over 2 seasons

LaRoche was a downgrade: 79HRs in 1,823 PAs (.256 /.346 /.458) over 3 seasons.

Dunn did fall off a cliff after leaving here, but his contributions while here were definitely underrated.

Dunn became Dave Kingman after leaving the Nats. Couldn't hit for average but the long ball was still there.

[aspenbubba]

One of my fav Nats was here for only 2 1/2 seasons and it seems like he always came thru with a clutch hit is Daniel Murphy. I can’t recall that he ever failed to deliver for me. I haven’t posted his stats but I feel that he should be in the conversation.

[rileyn]

One of my fav Nats was here for only 2 1/2 seasons and it seems like he always came thru with a clutch hit is Daniel Murphy. I can’t recall that he ever failed to deliver for me. I haven’t posted his stats but I feel that he should be in the conversation.

Would agree with his although I'm not sure he was underrated.  I may go with Tanner Roark.

[blue911]

Craig Stammen.

[Natsinpwc]

Trent Grisham...

[aspenbubba]

Would agree with his although I'm not sure he was underrated.  I may go with Tanner Roark.

Under appreciated ?

[imref]

One of my fav Nats was here for only 2 1/2 seasons and it seems like he always came thru with a clutch hit is Daniel Murphy. I can’t recall that he ever failed to deliver for me. I haven’t posted his stats but I feel that he should be in the conversation.

still can't forgive him for not coming through in game 5 of the 2016 NLDS with one out in the ninth and Harper and Werth on 1st and 2nd. He popped out and then Difo struck out, ending the season for us.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Trent Grisham...

[OfftheBat]

"Here's Nick's slash line for his Nats career: .280/.408/.460, adding up to a robust .867 OPS. (That includes the 2004 season in Montreal.) Here's the list of guys who took at least 2,000 plate appearances for the Nats and had a higher OPS: Juan Soto and Bryce Harper. That's it. Yep, Johnson had a higher OPS as a National than Anthony Rendon (.859), Trea Turner (.842) and Ryan Zimmerman (.816)."


Wow, awesome stats! Then my vote goes to Nick. I remember seeing him playing a few games in 04, though he did miss most of that season due to injury.