desthi / skinsraj / nats followers ....

just looking for some insight as to where this franchise is headed for the rest of this season and then the immediate future. this is one team that i really have a hard time handicapping because they are such a damn enigma. i think their series vs. detroit and then the series they just completed with cleveland was a perfect example. theyre apt to look like a fringe AAA team on some nights but they also are gritty and capable of beating anyone in the league later that week.

question has a few parts.

first, from top to bottom, how do you rank their starting pitching (meaning who do you see as their current #1,2,3,4,5, regardless of where the club might see them)? do you see ANY of these guys being in the rotation, say, 2 years from now?

is there any help on the way in the minors? do they have any prized prospects? it has to be a little discouraging to think that brandon phillips could be playing 2nd base right now and grady sizemore could be playing center field for the nats if the expos wouldnt have mortgaged the future when they rented bartolo colon for half a season. a kid like zimmerman looks like an all star in the making. he is a stud. is there anyone else on the way that will legitimize this team?

Fade city.

Heading into the season, everyone was pessimistic about the Nats chance to even compete in games. This is a transition year, as ownership wants to start spending $ to make the team competitive this offseason and in the future, once they move into their new stadium next season. The strategy to essentially throw out a bunch of castoffs and prospects for an entire year was widely criticized. Many worried that they'd alienate the fans by essentially tanking for a year.

They've been very competitive, though, far more than people could've dreamed with the team they're fielding. Guys are playing way over their heads, but they've also been hitting in the clutch.

As for the pitching, I'd be surprised if more than one of these guys was in the rotation in two years. Chico will get every opportunity to prove his worth, but the other guys are just stop-gaps until they can sign some real starting pitchers. Patterson isn't included in this group, as he's already semi-proven himself and will certainly be in the team's future if he can stay healthy. That's a big if, though. Same goes for Shawn Hill.

As far as a current 1-5 goes, I really think they're interchangeable. Chico's really the only one who's assured of a spot, although Bowie has been the most effective thus far. Once they come back, Patterson and Hill will top the rotation, though.

There's help in the minors, but not necessarily in the very near future. They've got some solid prospects, but they've been drafting mostly high schoolers with upside under Bowen.

A lot of these guys, not just pitchers, might not be on the team in a couple years. By 2008/2009, ownership really wants the Nats to compete for an NL East crown, and they're willing to spend the money to do so. Zimmerman is certainly a player they're building around, and Bowen loves Lopez and Kearns (I don't), so you can figure those two will also be around. Church will continue to get opportunities to prove he belongs in the bigs. But other than that, nobody's positions are secure.

In a couple years, their prospects (pitchers especially) should be ready to help. But I'd expect the Nats to be aggressive on the free agent market in the coming years, while also selling off some players for more prospects this season. Cordero and Young should be shipped off this season.

It's a shame that we still don't have Phillips and Sizemore. I blame MLB, though, for leading Montreal to believe that they were gonna be contracted anyway.

One thing about the FA market this season; there are rumors that the Nats are gonna be in the bidding war for Andruw Jones. I am praying they don't overpay for him, but ownership and Bowden want to make a splash, so I wouldn't be surprised if they shelled out some serious coin for him. Not good.

As far as wagering on/against them, it seems that everyone still isn't sold on them. On paper, they're horrendous, but they've shown a knack for coming up big in the clutch, and are playing much better than expected, especially considering that everyone thought they could be the worst team in MLB history. Glad they've shown some pride. And even the worst teams in MLB still win almost 40% of the time, so there's value there. But if you can't get a feel for 'em, ya might as well just avoid 'em all together, I suppose. I really like taking 'em +1.5 when I bet 'em, simply because I'm a p ussy.

I'd try to go a little more in-depth, but I'm about to head out for a bit. I'm also an idiot, so yeah. Sorry, this was a bit rushed.

I like Bergmann, shame he had to get injured but he will be back on the mound tomorrow

I think the NYY bats are supreme, but their pitching is very suspect.

I can't recall a team, rather (a playoff, WS winner) going to the gig event without good, solid pitching. It is everything.

I, personally, don' thhink the Yanks have enough of the good stuff - otherwise, they are loaded in the batting/fielding dept.

but, baseball is a 'pitching' game.

US

how did the yanks sneak into a thread about the nats and their farm system?

:think2:

thanks for the info skins. really surprised that kearns has been mediocre at best at this point in his career. the indians constantly tried to swing deals with the reds for him but couldnt put the right package together. now, the best thing for cleveland is that the deals fell through. massive potential but a mediocre player. zimmerman looks like the cornerstone of their franchise offensively but he needs help.

With Guzman to the DL, I think the offense will start struggling again. Lopez will move to short, Belliard will play 2b until Guzman is back.

Dsethi...

Do you have any information about Bergmann? This will be his first start back from elbow inflamation, funny cause his last start before going on the DL was vs. the Braves; 8ip-2h-1er-1bb-10k. His other start vs. ATL was 6ip-1h-0er-4bb-8k...Given Hudson's success vs. Nats, the loss of Guzman, and the Braves inability to hit anyone, I like the Under here.

Is he going to be on a pitch count? How did his rehab start(s) go?

prodigy said:

thanks for the info skins. really surprised that kearns has been mediocre at best at this point in his career. the indians constantly tried to swing deals with the reds for him but couldnt put the right package together. now, the best thing for cleveland is that the deals fell through. massive potential but a mediocre player. zimmerman looks like the cornerstone of their franchise offensively but he needs help.

Click to expand...

I actually hated the trade for Lopez and Kearns (although Bray and Majewski have been injury-riddled ever since)...Bowden was in love with those two guys when he was in Cincy, refused to include them in trades, but the bottom line is both have been painfully mediocre with exception of about one full season.

Both are talented, but both can't put it together consistently. I really feel like Bowden has those two way overvalued.

Hopefully one day the light bulb will go off, but I have my reservations.

Zimm really needs help...at this point, I'm just hoping Nick Johnson takes him time coming back so he's 100% healthy for 2008. If they can add a bat or two, and add some starting pitching, they'll be much improved next year. But this offseason is going to be extremely important.

<TABLE class=tborder style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=thead colSpan=2>06-24-2007 06:06 PM</TD></TR><TR title="Post 4245403" vAlign=top><TD class=alt1 align=middle width=125>joeyfitzclick</TD><TD class=alt2>Fade city.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


HONESTLY???

HERE ARE THE NL $$ STANDINGS FROM COVERS
2nd best to team to bet on in the NL in 2007:
1. D-BACKS $1150
2. NATS $1006
3. BREWERS $839
4. ROCKIES $691
5. DODGERS $606

"just looking for some insight as to where this franchise is headed for the rest of this season ........................."


Post #1


I was not talking about so far this seaon, in fact you'll see if you check my thread I have bet and won on them here and there and great odds.

Just think in the second half of the seaon they will fade away and lose a ton of games.

Bergmann's back today or tomorrow against the Braves.
He's really been a huge surprise for the Nats, after a pretty pitiful year last year and a poor start this year.
You also have to remember that Matt Chico is the only starter from their opening day rotation that's still pitching (until Bergmann gets back).

They have 3 kids in their minor league system that really seem outstanding.
Their best prospect is rookie Chris Marrero. He just got promoted to the Potomac Single A team and they are REALLY high on him. The Post actually just did a large article on him recently.
I can't remember the names of the other two guys, but they should be in position to help out the big league squad within 2 years.