What Do We Do With The GUZ??

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In the Inaugural 2005 Washington Nationals Season, he was easily their most vilified player. Couldn't hit a lick, terrible in the clutch, and certainty couldn't bunt. Overweight, this shortstop's range was not as good as his previous years playing on the slick artificial turf of the Minneapolis Metrodome.

Number 15--Cristian Guzman, I couldn't stand the guy. Until the total second half collapse after the terrific 50-31 start, there could not been anyone following the Washington Nationals that did not believe the Nats may well have won 55 of those first 81 games, if Guzman had just carried his own weight. No one in the Majors, with his 450 at bats had a worse year.

The Guz did Finish fast though, raising his average above .200 in the final weeks of the season--I remember vividly, MickNats, NatsDelNegro and I pounding the seats in front of us, cheering wildly on September 4, 2005, in yet another loss to the Florida Marlins. Cristian getting 3 hits, keeping a rally going in the 9th during the 8-4 loss, but getting his average to
.203 at the end of the night. We made so much noise about it (screaming TWO OH OH!! over and over), the video guys put us up on the scoreboard for most of the inning.

Still, Guzman was terrible, and with General Manager, Jim Bowden, giving him a 4 year, $16 million contract, we were stuck with him. The Guz was so bad, that for 2006, the Nats brought in veteran retread, Royce Clayton, in an effort to spark some life into Cristian. Guz came to camp 10 pounds lighter, with off season laser eye surgery. Guzman claiming that he had vision problems in 2005 that effected his hitting. "THE NEW GUZ" as he called himself. Too his credit, Cristian did come to camp with a good attitude, wanting to help and deliver in 2006, something he never provided for the Nationals in 2005.

But, like so many other players involved with the Nationals under MLB ownership, a "so called" minor arm ailment, thought to keep him out for only a few days, led to a week, then two, and finally the doctors opinion that Guzman had a torn labrum and needed surgery--out for the season.

Guzman out for the season, which, except for The African Queen and NatsDelNegro, brought smiles to just about every Nationals fan. Sohna and NatsDelNegro supported that man through thick and thin. GUZ WAS MY PERSONAL 2005 Whipping BOY!! There could not been many that rode him as badly as I did. Royce Clayton started 2006 at short--and was mediocre at best. Later, Clayton was traded to Cincinnati in the big trade that brought Felipe Lopez, Austin Kearns and Ryan Wagner to Washington.


FLop proved to be a talented but incredibly erratic fielder. Lopez making some of the most mindboggling errors both fielding and making throws than I have ever seen from a Major League Player. At the same time, Jose Vidro was proving that his range at second base is now, nonexistent. Bernie Castro, terrific range and speed, replaced Vidro down the stretch, but Castro has no arm and no power at the plate. When Nick Johnson was so horribly injured, breaking his leg in New York in September, Vidro moved over to 1st base for the remainder of the season.

Now, as the off season begins, the Nationals have 3 major decisions to make concerning their roster.

1--Need Starting Pitching Badly
2--The Resigning or Letting Alfonso Soriano Walk
3--What do the Nationals do with The Guz??

Guzman is the most perplexing, as whether or not Cristian is with the Nats in 2007, he changes the makeup of the team, on the field drastically. Vidro can not play second anymore, that was proven undeniably in 2006. FLop has terrible range for a shortstop. But, is better suited for 2nd base. One thing that Guzman did have in 2005 was good range, and a nice ability to make the difficult play in the field, especially hard one hop smashes.

Guzman is untradeable--unless the Nats pick up most all of his remaining $8million salary. I just can't see The Lerner's doing this. At the same time, I can't see Jimbo trading one of his boys--Felipe Lopez. So, it comes down to whether the Nats can trade Vidro for something of value. As surprising as it is for me to say--Cristian Guzman will most likely be the Nationals Starting Shortstop in 2007. FLop the Starting Second Baseman.

Jose Vidro may come in handy, if Nick Johnson is not available at the beginning of the 2007 season, which I see as a good possibility. So Jose could play first, for a while. If Johnson comes back, and Vidro or Guzman get hot during the early part of the season, maybe one or both would be better suited for a trade--then.

Team President, Stan Kasten and GM, Bowden, have alot of player decisions to make over this winter. The Guzman Saga will play out until late next spring--and, whatever final decision these two come to, it might be their most important decision of the upcoming year.