tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post6681534503207802632..comments2023-10-20T04:28:04.547-04:00Comments on Nats320 -- A Washington Nationals Blog: Like Old TimesScreech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-31204489367181820962009-08-27T13:03:26.237-04:002009-08-27T13:03:26.237-04:00It was great to see Livo back in a Nats jersey!It was great to see Livo back in a Nats jersey!natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-72302112279237974532009-08-27T13:02:18.903-04:002009-08-27T13:02:18.903-04:00It looked to me that Dukes was jawing at the ump, ...It looked to me that Dukes was jawing at the ump, given that he was looking towards him and pantomiming taking the ball out of the glove.natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-57701934305668226822009-08-27T11:25:04.178-04:002009-08-27T11:25:04.178-04:00Dukes is a project that has not worked out - as sa...Dukes is a project that has not worked out - as said, his path to the ball is often Milledgesque and his Church-like swinging at sliders falling off the outside table is maddening. Rizzo intends to shore-up right field with best available free agent in all probability. Team is equally frustrated with Gonzo - he is unlikely to be on the team next year, due to his lack of progress at the plate. Again, Rizzo definitely intends to go after best young superb defensive second baseman available who can also play short to bat 8th, but be a longterm upgrade - akin to Morgan in center.<br /><br />Bullpen 2010: Beimel getting $2 million proves team can shore up this disaster by budgeting $3-5 million to get two solid relievers. I would plan on Stammen replacing Bergmann, too, as long reliever, and pencil in Storen to join team after the All-Star Break. Keeping Burnett and MacDougal (only), team could actually show the most improvement in an area where it has been the weakest, weaker even than defense and starting pitching (which is saying a lot!).<br /><br />Starters 2010: presuming team is willing to go $8 million, combined, for right fielder and second baseman, and $4 million for two relievers, leaves $8 million for two starters, based on my presumption that they have a net of $20 m to work with and still keep payroll about the same as this year (Cabrera; Johnson; Young; Beimel; Belliard; Kearns, Bard, etc. $28-30 m minus Z and Strasburg's pro rated K's, etc.) or a bit more.<br /><br />Team had success this year with emerging solid longtime star at third; powerful first-baseman; exciting lead-off hitter and excellent centerfielder; wonderful perfect 6th hitter in left in a great line-up; and terrific younger starter returning strong for 2011 (pray) with third baseman's surname.<br /><br />Team failed: young starters did not emerge or show any real promise other than the one seriously injured; relief corps will need to be built from the ground-up; no right-fielder or second baseman and a shortstop with increasingly limited range contributing to worse overall defense in the Majors.<br /><br />Team promise: Flores returns to man catching; Riggleman likely to return as manager with his .450 career leadership, which looks like up from here; Storen may be the real deal; Strasburg likely to get a few 2010 starts; Olsen could return to form in 2010; Lerners appear to want to do more than merely make 20% ROI and they will write checks based on Kasten/Rizzo recommendations, up to a point, to help field a team which is credible. Team effort and defense should improve by 20% or more, too.<br /><br />Team will be negotiating with Boras for that young man Harper in Las Vegas to boot. All fun.SenatorNathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10049860385485455410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-88680586638627960752009-08-27T08:52:10.940-04:002009-08-27T08:52:10.940-04:00On the Dukes thing, I got the impression he wasn&#...On the Dukes thing, I got the impression he wasn't yelling at the ump, but at Gonzo for not backing off when he called the ball and had priority for it.Chris Needhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10455692848328638937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-53514622962750805852009-08-27T08:08:30.010-04:002009-08-27T08:08:30.010-04:00"Elijah Dukes needs to remember to control hi..."Elijah Dukes needs to remember to control his temper"........good one SBF!<br /><br />Rizzo is going to ship Dukes out as soon as he can. Dukes is just not the type of player Rizzo likes. Dukes is too concerned with looking cool as he goes after a ball that he should catch easily....Too Milledge like for Rizzo's taste.JayBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11448827055342357809noreply@blogger.com