Sickels Readers: Nats System the Worst

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Nov 23, 2005 9:45 PM EST

Over at John Sickels's place, the commenters (with John's concurrence) have dubbed the Nats' minor league system the worst in the majors.

Here's the discussion:
Worst Farm System Poll

And here's the announcement of the results:
1st Annual S.S. Poseidon Award

I don't know enough to nitpick about other systems, but it's pretty hard to argue with the conclusion. I'm looking forward to seeing Zimmerman next year, but there's nothing else to get even a little bit excited about. Maybe Casto, but he's a ways away at this point.

And as an astute commenter pointed out, the system will get even better when Bowden costs us our early picks by signing Juan Encarnacion and Matt Morris (or someone similar).

(Given the Nats' record, I'm not sure whether signing an "A" player -- Morris is, but Encarnacion isn't -- would cost a first or second round pick; the top 15 teams surrender a 1st, while the bottom 15 surrender a 2nd, and the Nats and Brewers tied for 15th with a .500 record. In any case, though, the Nats aren't in a position to be surrendering any kind of pick for crappy, overpaid and overrated free agents. But it looks like that's the route we're going.)

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Type A's would cost....

Since we stunk enough in 04 to narrowly edge out the Brewers, our first-round pick is safe this year. Morris, or another Type-A, would cost us our second round pick instead. (The Cardinals would also get the supplemental pick in the first round, as well.)

I'm not sure that Morris is worth that, but I wouldn't let the loss of one second rounder keep us from signing someone. It's one thing when it's someone useful; it's another when it's Vinny Castilla.

http://dcbb.blogspot.com -- Stealing Hits From Basil's Blog since 2005.

by Chris @ Federal Baseball on Nov 24, 2005 12:42 AM EST reply actions

True

A second rounder for the right free agent wouldn't be an obstacle at all. I just wish I had the slightest confidence that Bowden will find the right guy.

I don't even worry so much about the Guzman- and Castilla-esque disasters, since everyone knows those are crap, and anyone who knew anything realized that from the beginning. I worry more about the Morrises and Encarnacions of the world -- deals that would be superficially defensible (I'm stretching the idea of defensible by including Encarnacion) but that would ultimately result in the team standing in place when what it really needs to do is build for the future. That's exactly the kind of short-term deal the current ownership situation seems to encourage, but that might not be obviously bad enough to lose Bowden the job under new owners.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Nov 24, 2005 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

I don't see any point to Juan En-car-nar-cion. [/Dave Shea] Well, any point other than your typical toolsy outfielder/ex-Red justification . .

Thanks for posting the list/poll, Joltin' Joe. I was aware of its existence, but hadn't followed through to see if the Nats "won."

[PS: I've always been fond of Bill James' observation that if you repeat "Orsulak" really fast, it sounds like a choo-choo train, whereas as if you do the same with "Quisenberry," it sounds like windshield wipers.]

Washington Nationals 2006: Now Without Vinny Castilla!

by Basil on Nov 26, 2005 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

Not a problem, Chris

Bodes blew our second-rounder this year, but he signed some sort of secret Dominican guy, right? ;-)

Washington Nationals 2006: Now Without Vinny Castilla!

by Basil on Nov 26, 2005 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

Farm System

This is no surprize given that our farm system has been and continues to be the fiefdom of the National Disgrace and before that it was his friend Loria, current owner of the Marlins.

I think we need Theo to come to DC and rebuild our franchise, with new ownership as soon as possible, please.

by Razr on Nov 24, 2005 1:35 PM EST reply actions

Hmm, bears repeating

National Disgrace.

One more time! National Disgrace!

Washington Nationals 2006: Now Without Vinny Castilla!

by Basil on Nov 26, 2005 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

Hate to Break Up the Groupthink

The Nats/Expos farm system did produce or acquire Chad "The Chief" Cordero, Ryan "Orthodox" Church, "Dutch" Zimmerman, Jason "Harvey" Bergmann and Brendan "He Hate Me" Harris this season, with potential contributions from Bill Bray, Armando Galarraga and Larry Broadway in 2006. Certainly not the best system in baseball, but it doesn't sound like the worst either.

Nats Triple Play... on any given day 1 out of 3 ain't bad.

by Nate @ Federal Baseball on Nov 26, 2005 6:27 PM EST reply actions

Right, but . . .

. . . Cordero doesn't really count as a 2005 prospect, and outside of Dutch, the other guys are rated way higher in our system than they would be in almost any other. If it's not the worst system, then it's 28th or 29th-best, or something.

Washington Nationals 2006: Now Without Vinny Castilla!

by Basil on Nov 26, 2005 6:49 PM EST up reply actions

It's not that those guys are useless

It's that none of them besides Zimmerman (Church and Cordero don't count since they've graduated) projects as anything more than a useful spare part. And those are the best guys in the system.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Nov 27, 2005 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

Farming

The Nats Farm System is quite like farming in Nevada. You might squeeze out a crop if you're lucky and have water but mostly all that grows there is grass and cacti.

We need new ownership now - the National Disgrace should make a decision now and stop f***ing this team over.

Even with new ownership and a smart GM, we will need 4-5 years to have a quality farm system . Too bad Billy Beane isn't available. Maybe Theo?

by Razr on Nov 30, 2005 5:30 PM EST up reply actions