Our future looks good to me

by PhDBrian on May 23, 2009 2:33 AM EDT Comment 8 comments

When I look at the young starters on the NATs, I see more depth and talent than I saw on the Braves in 1991 (the year before the last to first swing that started the 14 year streak). Lannen, Zimmermann, Detwiler, Stammen, and Martis all look like major league starters with the potential to be stars and have long careers. And baelster could put his name on that list as well. As a result, I am unsure we need Strassburg to win unless we convert him to a closer (blasphemy I know).

If we could find a legit Closer and setup man in free agency then this team could go very far next season. Luckily, that is very possible in the offseason (or maybe Cabrera's new found foot placement will change him). Bull pens are often the easiest part of a team to fix. Tavares, Biemel, Hanrahan, Bergman, Mock, and Hinckley all have enough talent to be in a major league bullpen, but none seem to have the talent to setup or close. So if we fill those two glaring holes, then the other guys will fall into place and be decent. Then we will have a good enough bullpen to back up our starting pitching.

Our other glaring hole is in the middle infield. We need a photo copy of Ryan Zimmerman who can play either SS or second (or both). IE a gold glover that can hit. AH is proving to be better than I expected this season, but I have this nagging doubt that he will return to his 2007 form soon. Gonzalez is a 'maybe he can learn to catch and throw', with a solid bat, but surely no sure thing. Bellaird is nearing the end. Guzman's bat has been a shock so far this season, but the defense is not as good as needed. I see no one in the minors who stands out. So I think this team needs to draft or trade for a dominating middle infielder or two.

I feel, with a legit setupman, closer, and a dominating middle infielder, this team is talented enough to go last to first with or without Strassburg (with NJ). But obviously strassburg would help.

Comments welcomed

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A domino theory of flawed pitching management.....

The starters of the future do seem to be taking shape. I hope they don’t overthrow their arms this year. The dicey choices out of ST and the slow to react FO, until they went all guillotine on the guys is/was not a good strategy.

Bullpens can be less glaring if the starters go longer than 5 innings and you don’t see everyone out of the pen every night, thus finding the one guy (or more) to blow it.

Despite Manny’s public positiveness, I think the young bullpen guys pitched with the fear of “blow it and you’re gone.”

I’m still mystified that management appeared to have little in-game influence over pitch selection.

I still have hopes that Anderson and the AG will emerge. Hudson would have been nice, in retrospect, but that wasn’t the biggest problem at the time. I would like the 10A pick to be the best SS or 1B available, in that order.

"It's just too bad, because it reflects on us, the coaching staff." -Manny Acta
"No. I don’t manage like that" -Frank Robinson

by cat daddy3000 on May 23, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I see it too.

I think this team has enormous potential – which is why I find it so upsetting to see them have such a terrible record that they have. I think there is plenty of work defensively that still needs to be done – but I think we lineup we need to make an impact. The rotation is fantastic – im not concerned that the starters are not going too deep in the game yet (although it annoys me sometime) – clearly Acta et al are conscious of keeping the starters from overdoing it on the pitch counts and that might save us in many years to come.

Completely agree that we dont need Crow or another starter at the 10th pick. Unless we view it as a tradeable position for some infield talent. I think a SS/2B would be ideal and power hitting 1B.

"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."

by Mezza on May 23, 2009 7:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ross Detwiler tonight.....

IP.. H R ER BB SO HR ERA
6.0 1 1 ..1… 4… 4 ..0 ..2.45

IP.. H R ER BB SO HR ERA
6.0 1 1 ..1… 4… 4 ..0 ..2.45Bergmann and Hanrahan pitched a perfect inning each…

"It's just too bad, because it reflects on us, the coaching staff." -Manny Acta
"No. I don’t manage like that" -Frank Robinson

by cat daddy3000 on May 23, 2009 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mate, these young guys look great

They’ll get the odd touch up as they are learning – but im really impressed at what the kids in the rotation are doing.

"Baseball is like church. Many attend; few understand."

by Mezza on May 24, 2009 5:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is impressive, especially because it's a whole rotation full of them now.

I suppose this 42-game path had to be navigated this way to arrive at this point, including the casualties along the way. If it’s not a mirage and the others can feed off this success, then perhaps the pitching will be less of an issue going forward.

"It's just too bad, because it reflects on us, the coaching staff." -Manny Acta
"No. I don’t manage like that" -Frank Robinson

by cat daddy3000 on May 24, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can never have too many quality starters

Injuries are a part of the game, unfortunately, so it’s always good to have “too many” quality starters. Some guys may have one good year and fade away after that, so I think we’ll still need Strasburg for 2010 or 2011. One or two of these pitchers could be converted to a set-up role or closer a la John Smoltz or Dennis Eckersley. Both of those guys began their careers as starters.

Maybe Cabrera will figure it out with the new foot placement. If so, he could take on an important role from the bullpen. I don’t think he has the mental makeup to be a starter but if he can work out his mechanics, he might be a good set-up man.

I hope the bullpen is as easy to fix as you say. We need an awful lot of work there.

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Washington, first in war, first in peace, last in the NL East :(

by Potomac Fan on May 24, 2009 6:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

You can’t have too many young starters, or pitchers in general. Especially because, lets face it, a couple of these guys won’t pan out, although it may end up that they shore up the bullpen. Another bonus is payroll management – stockpiling young starters keeps down the cost of acquiring journeyman veterans. This is a situation, actually, where I think having a quality character guy to go at the top of the rotation is a boon to a team. You know, the Grizzled Veteran type, but somebody who can go out and just take a beating now and then from other top of the rotation types, and show the kids how to condition, prepare themselves, etc.

by Expatcardfan on May 25, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs