Washington Nationals: Shortstop Watch...Adam Everett?

by Patrick Reddington on Nov 28, 2009 11:35 PM EST

There is actually a lot of free agent talk going on out there, it's just that none of it involves the Washington Nationals. You can look and see that the Red Sox, having lost SS Alex Gonzalez to the Toronto Blue Jays, are left with,"...virtually no choice but to sign Marco Scutaro," as FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi pointed out in an update of their article entitled, "Latest buzz from the MLB offseason", narrowing the field of available free agent infielders even further as DC GM Mike Rizzo searches for the player the Nationals intend to replace Cristian Guzman with, if they decide Ian Desmond needs a full year at Triple-A...

Mr.'s Rosenthal and Morosi also provide the reasons the Red Sox have for looking at Scutaro alone, as the FOXSports' writers critique the other remaining free agents:

"...Orlando Cabrera's defense has declined, and many clubs believe that Miguel Tejada needs to move off short. Adam Everett is a terrific defender, but an even weaker hitter than (Alex) Gonzalez."

Everett, one of two SS's Mr.'s Rosenthal and Morosi identified as the Nationals' targets at short earlier this offseason, (alongside Gonzalez), hit just .238 with a .288 OBP, .325 SLG, 21 doubles, 4 HR's and 44 RBI's in 118 games over which he posted a .969 fielding percentage (5th best in the AL), committed 14 errors (6th most in AL) and helped turn 67 DP's for the Tigers. Everett's 13.6 UZR/150 ranks as the second best rating amongst shortstops in the American League, behind only the Orioles' Cesar Itzuris, (14.1 UZR/150) and third overall in baseball behind Itzuris and Jack Wilson (20.4) another light-hitting free agent SS who already signed elsewhere...Will the Nationals go after Everett, the solid defender to play behind their young pitchers, thinking they have enough offense up front? Is Everett an improvement over Cristian Guzman? (Guzman in '09 - .284 AVG, .306 OBP, .390 SLG, .696 OPS, .962 fielding percentage, (-2.6) UZR/150, 20 E's, 65 DP's.)

More and more DC fans are expressing the feeling that it's going to be the "in-house" candidate, Ian Desmond, at short when the season begins...

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Good field no hit, but

Great for team chemistry. I think Tigers want him back, He makes pitchers much better!
Chalk

by redchalkster on Nov 29, 2009 6:56 AM EST reply actions

He definitely makes pitchers better!

I’m hoping we see Desmond next year; in his 21 games with the Nats he hit .280/.318/.561, pretty solid numbers for a shortstop. If only he were a bit better defensively…

by John Quinn on Nov 29, 2009 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

I wish Ian would have stayed longer playing in the DWL......

He really needed fielding practice and was unimpressive with his bat against the marginal pitching down there….
I hope he’s working out hard somewhere…

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Nov 29, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

My folks live in Desmond's hometown. Maybe I'll get my dad to hit him some grounders over at the high school.

by RoscoeNats on Nov 29, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

1000 grounders a day!!!....

maybe just 100…and use a milk carton for the first 25………get out there, Ian!!!

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Nov 29, 2009 9:49 PM EST up reply actions

when I hear Adam everett

I think “oh gosh no!” but then I think about his defense. Maybe he and Desmond can split time at SS through out the year?

by Andrew Davidson on Nov 29, 2009 11:10 PM EST reply actions

Everett or desmond is a tough call.

I say start Everrett during games that Lannan and stammen pitch and Desmond during power pitchers. Desmond can pinch hit better than Everrett, but everrett can still run some and is a great late inning defensive replacement. Maybe they both get near 400 at bats that way.

I would rather Vizquel though, if he is still out there. He could teach Desmond more about defense than Everett.

Both Everett and Vizquel are death to the offense though.

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Nov 30, 2009 1:35 AM EST reply actions

Desmond doesn't need fielding practice...

… as much as me need to field and throw to first. He’s range and fielding aren’t the problem. he’s throws to first, well that’s not to good. As far as, he’s play in the DWL something tells me he was tried. I think Roscoe’s peoples dif need to hit some balls to him at the local H.S. and someone should be at first for him to throw too…

Ian Desmond in 2010 !!!

Believer #1

by Berndaddy on Nov 30, 2009 10:28 AM EST reply actions

Im a huge fan of Desmond...but I still think we need an Everett.

Playing time split between Desmond, Everett and Guz for the SS/2B would be ideal… lot of different options for Riggles and nothing too short on defense/offense. Although I would prefer Desmond to be playing everyday – i’d settle for a combination.

"I love, love, love John Lackey." -- Graysnail.

by Mezza on Nov 30, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions