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Washington Nationals: Spring Training 2010: DC Bullpen.

Five starters, seven relievers? That's how Washington ended camp in '09. Are Garrett Mock, Craig Stammen, and Collin Balester going to start or pitch out of the pen? J.D. Martin? Miguel Batista?...Brian Bruney, Matt Capps and Drew Storen all want to close, and Eddie Guardado still thinks he's a stopper. That's four of seven...Tyler Clippard is five based on last season's work. Since Guardado's not closing, it's Sean Burnett, Doug Slaten and "Everyday Eddie" as the left-handers skipper Jim Riggleman and his staff will be looking at, with Ryan Speier, Logan Kensing, Jason Bergmann, Tyler Walker and a host of other relievers competing for the long and middle relief roles...If you follow the Nats' players who are on Twitter you know they're already down in Florida...Pitchers and Catchers officially begin arriving tomorrow...Who are you picking for the Nationals' twenty-ten bullpen?

• 2010 Bullpen Picks After The JUMP...

Star-divide

Bullpen: 

When asked their opinion in a recent poll, the readers of Federal Baseball overwhelmingly chose Matt Capps as the Nationals' 2010 closer, with the former Pittsburgh Pirates' stopper receiving 199 of 269 or (73%) of the votes cast. Washington used their second 1st Round pick in the '09 Draft on a pitcher most considered the best reliever available so that he'd be as close to major league-ready as possible, selecting Drew Storen out of Stanford and then sitting back and watching as he dominated at each stop in the system, finishing his first stint in the pros with a (2-1) record, a 1.95 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 11 saves in 28 games and 37.0 IP in which he walked 8 (1.9 BB/9) and struck out 48 (11.9 K/9). Brian Bruney's bringing his wild mid-to-high-90's fastball down from NY to DC after six seasons pitching for the D-Backs and Yankees during which he's recorded (8.9 K/9) and walked (6.2 BB/9), while going (3-1) with a 1.83 ERA (242 ERA+, 3.45 FIP) in 32 games and 34.0 IP in 2008 and (5-0) with a 3.92 ERA (109 ERA+, 5.10 FIP) in 44 games and 39.0 IP in '09. Matt Capps had the highest ERA, WHIP and walk totals of his career last season, and also had career-highs in saves and K's per 9 IP...Capps is expected to close.

Collin Balester and Craig Stammen were mentioned as pitchers who might work out of the bullpen this season, but that seems less likely with all the arms DC GM Mike Rizzo has added. If Miguel Batista doesn't make the starting rotation he could pitch out of the pen. "Everyday" Eddie Guardado brings 17 seasons and 944.2 IP of experience to the DC Bullpen. Tyler Clippard ('09 - (4-2), 2.69 ERA, 156 ERA+, 4.46 FIP, 4.8 BB/9, 10.0 K/9) is in based on last season's work. Sean Burnett ('09 - 2-3, 3.12 ERA, 4.57 FIP, 4.6 BB/9, 7.1 K/9) is all but guaranteed a spot, with Doug Slaten, another left-handed option picked up off waivers this winter down in Florida to challenge Burnett and Guardado for innings. Then pick two right-handers from among Ryan Speier, Logan Kensing, Jason Bergmann and Tyler Walker...

  1. Matt Capps - CL
  2. Brian Bruney - SU
  3. Sean Burnett - LHP
  4. Eddie Guardado - LHP
  5. Tyler Clippard - RHP
  6. Jason Bergmann - RHP
  7. Tyler Walker - RHP  
• ?'s For The DC Faithful...Drew Storen? I know...If he doesn't make it out of Spring Training, he'll be up soon enough. Matt Capps signed a one-year deal, and he's under control for next season, so Storen has time to work his way up to the role. Do you expect more of the same from Tyler Clippard? A setback? Will Brian Bruney correct his control like Mike MacDougal was able to do last season? Sort of. Does Eddie Guardado have anything left? Did DC GM Mike Rizzo get the bullpen mix right?

• Tomorrow: The Washington Nationals' 2010 Rotation.

0 recs  |  Comment 10 comments |

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Capps' deal...

is for one year, but he’s under team control for two, for what it’s worth.

by rfk428 on Feb 16, 2010 8:16 AM EST reply actions  

Thanks, changed that sentence a bit...

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Patrick Reddington on Feb 16, 2010 8:40 AM EST up reply actions  

The out-of-options arms........Slaten and Chico...

The List: Jason Bergmann, Brian Bruney, Sean Burnett, Matt Chico, Tyler Clippard, Doug Slaten, Tyler Walker………

Eddie and Walker better show something…

" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Feb 16, 2010 9:18 AM EST reply actions  

Slaten gone

Chico next after the Wang signing.

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

by Mezza on Feb 16, 2010 6:18 PM EST up reply actions  

I'm counting 40 on the roster, including Wang and Chico....

" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Feb 16, 2010 8:16 PM EST up reply actions  

How?

They have to make room on the 40 – hence, Slaten is gone to make way for Kennedy. So they are back to 40…and they’ll have to drop another for Wang. Im predicting it will be another arm…although not necessary Chico…could be Atiliano?

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=was

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

by Mezza on Feb 16, 2010 8:41 PM EST up reply actions  

I just counted the roster on the left side of the main page here...

Shairon Martis is missing from FB’s roster, compared to the MLB one……….

" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Feb 16, 2010 9:13 PM EST up reply actions  

Ideal Bullpen

I agree that Capps will close, Bruney will set up, Burnett will make it as the lefty and that Clippard earned a spot last season.

That leaves 3 open slots and I think Ed is correct that Walker, Bergman and Guardado are the leading candidates. I hope Storen gets called up in June but if he is lights out and makes the team in the spring I won’t complain. I will complain if Strasburg makes the team.

Personally I’d like to see the Nationals convert one of their young starters into a bullpen role. It seems a bit unconventional but Balester’s fastball would play in the bullpen. The rotation is quickly getting crowded with Marquis, Lannan, Strasburg, Zimmermann and Wang all around in 2011. I’d like to see the team commit Detwiler and Mock to starting but then consider Balester and Stammen in the pen. These guys could anchor a strong bullpen and I don’t see them as starting pitchers in DC. I know some people will flip Mock and Stammen but not me and I’m guessing not Ed. I also think one of the former starters would be suited for a multi-inning relief role that only Clippard can provide out of the initial 7.

The big question for the last bullpen spots will be the contracts. I think Walker and Bergman have guaranteed contracts right? Hopefully the Nats will look to the future because I can envision Balester and or Stammen as young, cheap and effective relievers for several seasons to come.

by HobbsNY9 on Feb 16, 2010 5:05 PM EST reply actions  

I've lost track of who they were converting back and forth........

   At this point, let them duke it out in ST, and for Frank’s sake Riggler, tell them all they’re competing for their jobs…

" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Feb 16, 2010 8:25 PM EST up reply actions  

WANG! WANG!

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

by Mezza on Feb 16, 2010 6:17 PM EST reply actions  

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