Washington Nationals

As of now we have 5 position players (Espinosa, Lombardozzi, Tracy, Moore, and Bernadina) who have an on base percentage of under .250. Of these, only Lombardozzi is hitting above the Mendoza line. You may be thinking (as I have) that players putting up such putrid numbers have no business on the roster of a contending team. They certainly don't belong in the starting lineup. However, there are problems with replacing most of these underperformers from the standpoint of position flexibility. An obvious candidate for AAA or the DL is Danny Espinosa. There are 3 in AA and AAA who would be likely to put up better offensive numbers (Rendon, Kobernus, and Rhymes). The problem is that Danny is also our backup shortstop. Can any of these guys give Desmond an occasional blow? I wonder if he'd still be with us if he couldn't also play short. Otherwise, Ryan Theriot might be getting a call from the 202 area code. If Danny goes, we need someone who can play shortstop. Maybe Rendon? Seems he would have enough on his plate learning to play second at a major league level. What about sending down Lombardozzi? Even for a good field, no hit utility player his offensive numbers are pretty weak. Kobernus offers as much defensive flexibility, but would he be a better alternative? He, like Lombo, strikes out more than he walks. Still, it would be hard to walk less than Lombo. He isn't likely to hit .300 against major league pitching, but maybe he could put up good numbers until the league figures him out. It would be a crap shoot, but possibly one worth trying. Giving Chad Tracy his walking papers would take away a left handed bat off the bench who can fill in at the corner infield spots. Who in AAA can play the corners and bat left? Will "Batman" Rhymes has played some third, and bats lefty. However, he isn't a threat to do what Tracy did against the Padres. If Lombo stays, or Kobernus is called up, they can also fill in at the hot corner. There are other options at first, including Moore (if he and his .120 average stay) and Marrero. I was afraid Tyler Moore would be exposed if he were put in the starting lineup. It looks like he has been exposed even without starting. If he swung at one of Livo's 65 mph curves they'd probably need a corkscrew to get him out of the ground. At first I thought bringing up Marrero to replace him was a no brainer. He hit around .250 with gap power during a callup in 2011. He seems to be regaining his power stroke at Syracuse. But wait; he's strictly a first baseman. Moore can play the outfield, even if he doesn't play it that well. I think if Moore is sent down for Marrero maybe it should be after Werth returns. Another possible replacement would be Micah Owings, but he has struck out at a rate almost as high as Moore's. On the other hand, his lifetime average against major league pitching is higher. Bernadina, even though he seems completely lost at the plate this year, is a valuable defensive replacement. I don't see this as being as complicated now that Corey Brown is off the DL. Maybe it's time to give him a shot to see if he can make it as a fourth outfielder in the Nation's capital. As you can see, replacing our underachievers isn't an easy task. We have guys who are producing in the minors, but there are complications when it comes to filling positions. Of course there are folks who are paid a lot more than me to make these decisions. What say you? As of now we have 5 position players (Espinosa, Lombardozzi, Tracy, Moore, and Bernadina) who have an on base percentage of under .250. Of these, only Lombardozzi is hitting above the Mendoza line. You may be thinking (as I have) that players putting up such putrid numbers have no business on the roster of a contending team. They certainly don't belong in the starting lineup. However, there are problems with replacing most of these underperformers from the standpoint of position flexibility. An obvious candidat

I prefer the American League brand of baseball. Maybe it is because I grew up an Orioles fan and it is just what I am used to watching. I just think with a starting rotation like the Nats have they would be better served pitching with American League rules. Many times the Nats starters could be left in the game an inning or two longer but, are not because of the need to pinch hit. Many times a starting pitcher who is on the ropes in the NL can get out of the inning with less damage because of there being no DH. Rallies can be shortened because a NL 8th spot hitter often doesn't make the lineup on some AL lineups and besides a select 10-15 or so starting pitchers, pitchers are automatic outs. It just never made sense to me to have separate rules in the two leagues especially with the amount of interleague games now today. The NBA doesn't have different rules for the Eastern or Western Conference. The NFL doesn't have different rules for the NFC or AFC. I would prefer if Bud Selig just made the DH in both leagues. He should too because the offensive numbers overall in baseball would go up. Which would mean more TV ratings and attendance. It more than likely will never go back to not having a DH. Players Unions in sports and in Baseball are too powerful to let that happen. Getting rid of the DH means getting rid of jobs. Some would say by putting the DH in the NL would mean getting rid of pinch hitters. Not really the preparation that it takes to pinch hit isn't that different than to DH. A DH much like pinch hitter has to keep prepared by taking swings in the cage or whatever it takes to stay in the game mentally. The DH just gets more at bats to do this than a pinch hitter. How does everyone here feel about the DH rule? I prefer the American League brand of baseball. Maybe it is because I grew up an Orioles fan and it is just what I am used to watching. I just think with a starting rotation like the Nats have they would be better served pitching with American League rules. Many times the Nats starters could be left in the game an inning or two longer but, are not because of the need to pinch hit. Many times a starting pitcher who is on the ropes in the NL can get out of the inning with less damage because of there being no DH. Rallies can be shortened because a NL 8th spot hitter often doesn't make the lineup on some AL lineups and besides a select 10-15 or so starting pitchers, pitchers are automatic outs. It just never made sense to me to have separate rules in the two leagues especially with the amount of interleague games now today. The NBA doesn't have different rules for the Eastern or Western Conference. The NFL doesn't have different rules for the NFC or AFC. I would prefer if Bud Selig just made the DH in both leagues. He should too because the offensive numbers overall in baseball would go up. Which would mean more TV ratings and attendance. It more than likely will never go back to not having a DH. Players Unions in sports and in Baseball are too powerful to let that happen. Getting rid of the DH means getting rid of jobs. Some would say by putting the DH in the NL would mean getting rid of pinch hitters. Not really the preparation that it takes to pinch hit isn't that different than to DH. A DH much like pinch hitter has to keep prepared by taking swings in the cage or whatever it takes to stay in the game mentally. The DH just gets more at bats to do this than a pinch hitter. How does everyone here feel about the DH rule?

I don't know how many of you get the MLB Network , but it has an interesting show called MLB Now. It is a pardon the interruption style debate show. Brian Kenny and Harold Reynolds argue baseball topics based on two distinctly different positions. Brian Kenny comes from a sabermetrics "new school" point of view and Harold Reynolds comes from a scouting "old school" point of view. They seem to actually vehemently disagree on some topics not just staged to take a certain side like PTI or Around the Horn seems to do. I tend to lean more towards Harold Reynolds point of view especially today. Brian Kenny went as far lately as saying baseball should get rid off the wins and loss records for pitcher. He also said that baseball should get rid of errors for fielders, batting titles, and the triple crown. I think WAR is a good statistic to measure all around performance of a player, However, many people from the sabermetrics camp see it as an end all be all statistic. In 2012 Alex Gordon is the tenth best player in the majors with a 6.2 WAR. Darwin Barney would be the 23rd best player in the majors with a 4.7 WAR. Darwin Barney strictly when it comes to WAR is better than Albert Pujols, Dustin Pedoria, Prince Fielder. Joe Mauer, Brand Phillips, Adam Jones, Josh Hamilton and many more. To say that WAR is the best way to determine the overall value of a player is going way out on a limb. Baseball as much as it has always loved statistics. Is still a game where you need to use your eyes to evaluate. I am not saying one way is better than the other. A combination of both using your eyes and statistics to evaluate a player is probably the best way. What you guys think about the show if you have seen it? Also what do you think about sabermetrics in general? I don't know how many of you get the MLB Network , but it has an interesting show called MLB Now. It is a pardon the interruption style debate show. Brian Kenny and Harold Reynolds argue baseball topics based on two distinctly different positions. Brian Kenny comes from a sabermetrics "new school" point of view and Harold Reynolds comes from a scouting "old school" point of view. They seem to actually vehemently disagree on some topics not just staged to take a certain side like PTI or Around the Horn seems to do. I tend to lean more towards Harold Reynolds point of view especially today. Brian Kenny went as far lately as saying baseball should get rid off the wins and loss records for pitcher. He also said that baseball should get rid of errors for fielders, batting titles, and the triple crown. I think WAR is a good statistic to measure all around performance of a player, However, many people from the sabermetrics camp see it as an end all be all statistic. In 2012 Alex Gordon is the tenth best player in the majors with a 6.2 WAR. Darwin Barney would be the 23rd best player in the majors with a 4.7 WAR. Darwin Barney strictly when it comes to WAR is better than Albert Pujols, Dustin Pedoria, Prince Fielder. Joe Mauer, Brand Phillips, Adam Jones, Josh Hamilton and many more. To say that WAR is the best way to determine the overall value of a player is going way out on a limb. Baseball as much as it has always loved statistics. Is still a game where you need to use your eyes to evaluate. I am not saying one way is better than the other. A combination of both using your eyes and statistics to evaluate a player is probably the best way. What you guys think about the show if you have seen it? Also what do you think about sabermetrics in general?

In low-Class A Hagerstown right fielder Brandon Miller’s first full season of professional baseball, he’s starting to show the same power that made him a Division I home run champion. Miller, a fourth-round pick last June, has four home runs … Continue reading →

As FOXSports.com's Jon Morosi noted on Twitter this morning (@JonMorosi), so far this season the Washington Nationals, "... have [the] worst OPS at second base of any team in MLB." The Nats have a .504 OPS from their second baseman in 47 games in 2013. After a 2 for 30 (.067/.097/.067) ten-game road trip, 26-year-old second baseman Danny Espinosa has a .163/.196/.291 line with nine doubles and three home runs in 39 games and 149 plate appearances. 24-year-old Steve Lombardozzi, the only other infielder to see time at second, has a .220/.245/.286 line in 37 games and 96 PAs. The two have provided strong defense at second, and as Nats' GM Mike Rizzo pointed out in a recent MLB Network Radio interview, the defense Espinosa, in particular, provides both at second and short if necessary should not be overlooked by those questioning why the struggling infielder remains in the lineup. "I think that we need to see a consistent approach," Rizzo said, "not only physically, but preparation-wise and the thought process. And once he gets that, I think that his talent should be able to take over." - Mike Rizzo on MLB Network Radio on Danny Espinosa "When people discuss his value," Rizzo told the MLB Network Radio hosts, "I think that's sometimes lost. When you have a guy that's playing second base that's your backup shortstop and you can throw at shortstop and not miss a beat defensively, that's [an] extremely important player to have. And he's a tough player, he's tough on himself and a little bit stubborn. He needs to make some adjustments, and I think [Hitting Coach Rick Eckstein] and Davey [Johnson] are going to get to him eventually and he's going to get through this little malaise that he's in with the bat and start hitting like we think that he's capable of doing and he thinks he's capable of doing." The Nationals' general manager wasn't ignoring the offensive issues Espinosa, who's playing with a torn rotator cuff, has experienced early this season. In fact, he stated quite clearly that the '08 3rd Round pick needed to make adjustments. "I think that we need to see a consistent approach," Rizzo said, "not only physically, but preparation-wise and the thought process. And once he gets that, I think that his talent should be able to take over." "'We like him – we like him a lot,' [Davey] Johnson said of Rendon. 'But putting him at second at the major-league level, he’s not there yet.'" - Davey Johnson on Anthony Rendon to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal FOXSports.com's Mr. Morosi's colleague, Ken Rosenthal, putting 1+1 together and getting 3, noted earlier this week, after seeing top Nationals' prospect Anthony Rendon's named penciled into the Harrisburg Senators' lineup at second at the same time Lombardozzi was in the Nationals' lineup at second instead of Espinosa, that the, "... obvious conclusion, now that Ryan Zimmerman is back playing third, is that the Nationals might be grooming Rendon to take over for Espinosa at second." But, when he asked Davey Johnson about that possibility, the Nats' 70-year-old skipper shot the idea down. As Mr. Rosenthal wrote, "Davey Johnson said that the team is not yet considering such a plan.": "'We like him – we like him a lot,' Johnson said of Rendon. 'But putting him at second at the major-league level, he’s not there yet. He’s not (playing second) specifically. He’s just occasionally going over there.'" If, and that's a big "IF," the Nationals were to replace Espinosa at second, Johnson told the bow-tied FOXSports.com reporter, "... both Lombardozzi and Triple A infielder Zach Walters rank ahead of [Rendon] as candidates to replace Espinosa." As Mr. Rosenthal countered, however, "Espinosa, Lombardozzi and Walters aren’t hitting. Rendon is," and the Nationals need an "offensive boost." Rendon, the Nats' 22-year-old, 2011 1st Round pick has crushed Double-A pitching so far this season, especially after returning from a short

Photo by USA TodayBy Steve RoneyCSNwashington.comThe Cardinals are holding strong as the top dog in the league, and the Braves are trending back upwards as the Marlins and Astros duke it out to see if there will be a challenger to the '62 Mets. Here's how Nationals Insider Mark Zuckerman, Nats writer Chase Hughes, and I see the rest of the league shaking out:1. St. Louis Cardinals (29-16; LW: 1) - Zuckerman: Every member of the rotation boasts an ERA under 3.60. That's how you win night in and night out.2. Texas Rangers (29-17; LW: 2) - Roney: Baseball America No. 1 prospect Jurickson Profar has finally made the show -- it'll be interesting to see if he's up for good.3. Cincinnati Reds (28-18; LW: 4) - Zuckerman: Shin-Soo Choo might prove to be the most important acquisition of 2013 across the big leagues.4. Atlanta Braves (27-18; LW: 10) - Hughes: Atlanta is getting hot while the Nats are having trouble. Evan Gattis is back to hitting homers and Kris Medlen is looking like the ace he was last season.Read more »

The struggles of the Nationals’ bullpen reached a calamitous low this week, not all a result of their own doing. Ross Detwiler couldn’t make his start Monday because of a slight oblique strain and left-handed long reliever Zach Duke took his place … Continue reading →

At the end of each month of play last season, I remember sitting down along side some of my fellow Nats bloggers and chatting up a storm about how we just couldn't believe how well this team was doing week in and week out. No one wanted to get ahead of themselves by predicting a possible extraordinary outcome in fear of jinxing the team. Now the team that proved itself worthy of the postseason (despite an early exit in the first round), is struggling to find its footing. The Nationals are riddled with injuries that seem to keep on coming, they're trying to break out of an offensive slump and the bullpen is having a hard time closing games out in save situations. How the Nationals will fare in 2013 is impossible to predict. The team looks great on paper, but translating that to the playing field has proven to be far more difficult for this roster than expected. Manager Davey Johnson remains confident in his players' abilities and the talent they posses, but confidence will only go so far. The trade deadline is a ways away at this point, but I wouldn't be too surprised if general manager Mike Rizzo made a few moves if the Nats are still struggling to win games in the middle of the summer. It's tough to say who, if anyone, would be a chip to deal in such a case but if this team doesn't rise to their potential soon it may come down to that. Rachel Levitin blogs about the Nationals for We Love DC, and will be sharing her observations about baseball in the nation's capital as part of MASNsports.com's season-long initiative of welcoming guest bloggers to our little corner of cyberspace. All opinions expressed are those of the guest bloggers, who are not employed by MASNsports.com but are just as passionate about their baseball as our roster of writers.

Despite going to Madison, I've never seen this seal until googling it. Vienna High School baseball continues its dominant ways, with the #1 DC-area Ranked Madison Warhawks and their next-door neighbor rival Oakton Cougars both taking home district tournament titles on 5/20/13. http://www.northernvasports.com/fairfax/madison-oakton-win-district-baseball-tourneys/article_99d411a8-c20e-11e2-9f6b-001a4bcf6878.html Madison blew through the Liberty District, getting a bye into the semis, winning in the semis against Stone Bridge 11-0 (with their starter taking a perfect game into the 7th) and then beating the #2 seed Langley Saxsons 11-2 in the final.  Oakton beat a couple of Northern Virginia heavyweights in Robinson and Chantilly, the latter in walk-off fashion, for their Concorde District title. The wins for Madison lately have vaulted them into some national prominence.  They’re #20 in the latest Baseball America top 25 poll (mostly b/c so many upper-ranked teams were dropped after losing in their state playoffs).  Honestly though I have a hard time putting Madison over Great Bridge HS (#22 in Baseball America), knowing what I know about that Chesapeake team (namely, Conner Jones).   USAToday’s latest ranking (dated May 8th so its way out of date) has Great Bridge #17 and Madison as a honorable mention.  I’m hoping for a Madison-Great Bridge state final. Both Madison and Oakton advance to the Northern Regional tournament, along with their fellow district quarter and semi-finalists.  No schedule yet but the pool of teams looks like this: District champs: Madison, Oakton, South County, Washington & Lee District finalists: Langley, Chantilly, Lake Braddock, Yorktown District qtr finalists: Stone Bridge, Marshall, TC Williams, West Potomac, Centreville, Robinson, Edison and Stuart The Regional tourney kicks off tomorrow night with this slate (home teams are the higher seeds, here’s the bracket): T.C. Williams (11-10) @ Oakton (17-4): a tough matchup for Oakton if TC Williams throws their ace Alec Grosser. Stone Bridge (11-11) @ Yorktown (17-5) Stuart (15-6) @ Langley (13-9) Robinson (10-12) @ South County (14-8) Edison (12-10) @ Madison (21-1) Chantilly (11-12) @ Lake Braddock (17-4) West Potomac (12-8) @ Centreville (15-4) Marshall (8-14) @ W&L (13-10); also a tougher matchup here if Marshall throws its lefty ace Mitch MacKeith Guessing on the seeds: Madison #1, Oakton #2, South County #3 and Washington & Lee #4.  Centreville #5, Langley #6, Yorktown #7, Lake Braddock #8.  This is slightly different from the district final results (Centreville and Chantilly seem switched if I’m reading the bracket correctly).   Madison gets an advantage by virtue of hosting its entire half of the draw plus the Regional semis and Final next week.  Regional Final set for 5/31 at 6:30pm at Madison. Predictions for the tournament: all the home teams hold serve in the first round, then Oakton, South County, Madison and Centreville into the regional semis with an all-Vienna regional final next friday.

Photo by USA TodayBy Michael HubermanCSNwashington.comThe Nationals got a much needed win in San Francisco on Wednesday to cap off their longest road trip of the season. Here’s a look at five players who were hot, and five players who were not over the past week.HOT:Stephen Strasburg, SP – 1-0/1.20 ERA/15 IP/11 SO/0.93 WHIPStrasburg started his week off with a bang, beating his hometown Padres and going a career-high eight innings for the win. Then, after pitching seven strong innings of one-run ball against the Giants, Strasburg was in line for his third win before his bullpen blew the lead in the ninth. Either way, over his last 20 innings Strasburg has been dominant, giving up just two earned runs and striking out 18. He has a 2.00 ERA through 27.0 innings thus far this month.Ryan Zimmerman, 3B – 7-24/2 HR/7 RBI/.414 OBP/.997 OPSThe rest of the team may be struggling to hit, but Zimmerman continues to produce at the plate. Zimmerman had himself a very good series against the Padres, going 5-for-14 with two home runs, six RBI, and two walks. After a slow start to the year Zimmerman has gotten into a groove offensively, and is now hitting .313/.421/.484 in May.Read more »