Washington Nationals Deal Matt Capps To Minnesota Twins For C Wilson Ramos And LHP Joe Testa.
by Patrick Reddington on Jul 30, 2010 2:04 AM EDT
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PrintBack on July 18th, Boston Globe.com writer Nick Carfado wrote in a note about the Minnesota Twins' plans heading into the July 31st Non-Waiver Trade Deadline in an article entitled, "Gonzalez likely is gonzo, it’s now a matter of when", that, "The Twins have been dangling catcher Wilson Ramos in trade for a prime pitcher, but with possible concern over [Twins' catcher Joe] Mauer they have become slightly more hesitant." Late Thursday night, FOXSports.com's Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) had Tweeted that the, "#Twins seem more confident about adding [a] reliever than starter," just moments before the announcement was made that the Washington Nationals had, in fact, dealt closer Matt Capps, (who the Nationals signed as a free agent this winter after the Pittsburgh Pirates had non-tendered the 26-year-old 5-year veteran), to Minnesota in return for the top catching prospect in the Twins' system, 22-year-old Wilson Ramos. ESPN.com's Tim Kurkjian had reported earlier this week that the Twins were interested in Capps, but as MLBTraderumors.com's Tim Dierkes wrote, Mr. Kurkjian noted that, "...he feels that the Nats would want catching prospect Wilson Ramos in return,":
"...and the Twins would be unwilling to make that deal. I wouldn't blame them - they may be aiming to replace Jon Rauch, but Capps is not a shutdown stopper either."
The Twins were apparently willing, as MLB.com's Bill Ladson confirmed shortly after Mr. Morosi's tweet in an article entitled, "Nats land prized Ramos from Twins for Capps", where Mr. Ladson wrote that:
"The Nationals traded closer Matt Capps, the team's lone All-Star representative, and cash to the Twins for catcher Wilson Ramos and left-hander Joe Testa..."
Ramos, ranked the no.2 overall prospect in the Twins' system by Baseball America's John Manuel in the Jan 2010 preseason rankings, is also labeled the "Best Power Hitter" and "Best Defensive Catcher". The 22-year-old 6'0'', 220lb Ramos was the 42nd overall prospect (11 spots behind Nats' catcher Derek Norris) on ESPN.com's Keith Law's list of the "Top MLB Prospects 2010", with Mr. Law describing the backstop as a player who, "...has had trouble staying healthy,":
"...but when he plays he hits, and he plays a premium position at which bats like his are hard to find. He missed time in 2009 with a broken finger and a partially torn hamstring, which makes his .317/.341/.454 line in 54 games at Double-A even more impressive."
Twins' GM Bill Smith appeared on MLB Network Radio with Minors and Majors host Grant Paulsen (@minorsandmajors) shortly after the deal was announced, and had this to say about the player the Nats were acquiring:
"They're getting a very talented young catcher who's got severe power, you know, big-time raw power, he's got a strong arm, he's got all the skills you look for in a young catcher. We've had him, we signed him as a young man in Venezuela, he's come through our system, and it's a tough decision to give up a good young player like that, but again, to get an All-Star closer, that's the price you have to play."
Ramos has hit .241/.280/.345 in 71 games at Triple-A Rochester this season, but he's compiled a .284/.331/.427 slash line over five seasons at all four levels of the Twins' system with 83 doubles, 36 HR's and 211 RBI's, impressing in a seven-game stint with the Twins earlier this season when he put up a .296 AVG and .729 OPS in 27 at bats. Joe Testa is a 24-year-old left-hander who's (10-7) with 10.7 K/9 over three seasons and four stops in the Minnesota organization. Ramos will reportedly start at Triple-A Syracuse with Testa is ticketed for Potomac.
Not to put a damper on things, but as I was finishing this up, Buster Olney appeared on ESPN to talk about the Nats' newest catching prospect, here's Mr. Olney's quick report:
Buster Olney: "At the beginning of the year, [Wilson Ramos] was actually very highly regarded, he has not had a good season, his stock has fallen, but maybe going to the Nationals will help light a fire under him."
Matt Capps, who narrowed his options down to a choice between two teams this winter and chose the Nats over the Cubs, signing for 1-year/$3.5M because he saw a quicker route to a closer job, saved 26 games after earning the job this Spring, and posted a 2.80 ERA, 3.51 FIP, and 7.40 K/9 over 45.0 IP for the Nats, earning an All-Star selection during which he struck out the Boston Red Sox David Ortiz in front of a national audience, setting himself up to earn a substantial raise should he go to arbitration, As for Capps' replacement, the Nats beat writers are reporting that relievers Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard and Sean Burnett will form a closer by committee for the time being...
In Rizzo We Trust.
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Sorry have to say this
if John Testa becomes relevant in any way, shape or form, and we all become fans of his, will that make us Testacles?
I will gladly eat crow if Brandon Jones does well for the 49ers in 2010.
by Andrew Davidson on Jul 30, 2010 2:59 AM EDT reply actions
Don't make me come over there!
[shakes fist]
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
I will be his fan JUST so I can have that nickname.
I’ll remember to give you credit for it.
heal, Lulu, heal!
by sweetpearacer on Jul 30, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Suddenly I'm REALLY worried about what souldrummer might use as his strikeout icon...
…remember gaiz, family-friendly!
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
Family-friendly innuendo:
Use a baseball as the strikeout icon.
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
What about an SAT book?
Because Testa will pass all Natstown tests. And, uh, because it will help remind the kids to follow their goals and reach for the stars. Yeah. It’s all about the kids. Remember the children. Remember the children.
/half sarcasm’d
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park.
by souldrummer on Jul 30, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
TruckNutz
“The ultimate truck accessory!”™
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
They're, "an expression of truckliness."
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
Yes. Awesome.
""Imagine if you go there to see Miss Universe and you end up having Miss Iowa..." - Miguel Batista
Deal they needed to make..
A second catcher, with some decent ability, was needed to replace Nieves. An improvement over Nieves is very likely here. Since Capps is not a ‘lights out’ reliever, and Storen is gaining more confidence as we go along, this deal will likely turn out well.
Testa is unknown to me, but if he can get out lefties, which is absolutely needed out of the bullpen, then the deal will add another plus sign.
The moment this dude show he can hit...
…he’s the everyday catcher. You’re not getting him to replace Nieves. You’re getting him to ease out the cratering Pudge who is fast starting to look like his bat his slowed beyond return. Watching Nieves crater and flail is tragic and sad in an “aw shucks” kind of way. Watching Pudge flirt with the Mendoza line next year (certainly possible) would be sad in a Willie Mays playing in New York kind of way.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park.
by souldrummer on Jul 30, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Great trade
Good luck to Matt Capps in Minnesota, I’ll be pulling for him.
Thanks to Capps for what's he's done for us.
He is a great guy but I want Storen to be our closer right NOW!! I was listening to 106.7 the fan break the news last night and they talked about Ramos a bit…. he sounds pretty good to me. Looks like we have our future catcher.
RIZZO IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now sign Donkey PLEASE.
I just turned on the Sports Fix.
They are at Redskins Park. Doc Walker’s on instead of Kevin Sheehan and there’s no mention of this trade, the Nats, or any impression that they will talk about. I’ll change to 106.7 today based on your comment and maybe a good call-in show on TV or radio somewhere is next the move for me. I can’t stand Mike Wise because of his Caps stuff, but I’ll try him for a little while. Background music Sports Talk radio can still be improved.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park.
by souldrummer on Jul 30, 2010 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I will miss Capps but I'm thrilled that he gets to go to a playoff race in a great baseball town.
And I love the haul Rizzo got in return.
I have been on the trade Capps wagon for a while
And this turned out better than I could have hoped (knock on wood).
by The Herndon Kid on Jul 30, 2010 8:20 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Capps was great for us
But this is one of the reasons we got him. We flipped him for someone he is supposed to be one of the best catching prospects in baseball. I hope everything works out for both sides.
undecided.
If we can see this kid come up at the end of the year and see how he plays in the bigs, I will be happy. I will miss Capps though.
For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow,
For he’s a jolly good fellow…
Which nobody can deny!
Gonna miss Mr. Capps, but I approve of this trade. Still, gonna wear my Clipp and Save shirt to the game I’m going to Saturday.
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
Oh, God, my Clipp and Save shirt is now irrelevant! Crap!
Maybe I’ll scratch out Capper’s name and put Storen’s in instead. Clipp and…Sunbeam?
heal, Lulu, heal!
by sweetpearacer on Jul 30, 2010 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Clipp and Burn
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
I wouldn't mind seeing that.
Peralta’s been a pleasant surprise and he’s ridiculously consistent. Here’s hoping we don’t burn him out.
heal, Lulu, heal!
by sweetpearacer on Jul 30, 2010 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Clipp and Peril!
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
Clipp and Robot!
In honor of Beamer’s interesting mechanics.
heal, Lulu, heal!
by sweetpearacer on Jul 30, 2010 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup.
All dreams of seeing Batista start again are shattered.
heal, Lulu, heal!
by sweetpearacer on Jul 30, 2010 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions
I just hope MASN shows the Miss Iowa first pitch tonight. They tend to get stuck and not stray from their normal production.
It’s a funny story, and it has national attention. Make the most of it.
I'm curious to see it, myself.
I bet Batista will be catching for her.
heal, Lulu, heal!
by sweetpearacer on Jul 30, 2010 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Bust written all over it
Ramos has been an okay minor leaguer. It seems that most of the complements refer to his plus power (which is undeveloped yet) because of his body type. Body Type? That just means fat guy who can potentially swing a stick. That reads bust in my book.
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~Rogers Hornsby
In mine, that doesn't read "bust." But it does read "short career"
He’ll be around till he’s 35, not till he’s 40.
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
He's young and he has good numbers for a catcher.
He only has 30 PA or so in the majors, but he wasn’t horrible. A 729 OPS is 250 points better than Wil Nieves is hitting this season. Even it drops down to his 2010 AAA OPS of 650, that’s a big improvement over Pretty Wil. He’s even Venezualan—Jesus Flores 2.0?
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
I'd rather "Pudge Rodriguez, Jr." than "Jesus Flores 2.0"
If the shoe fits.
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
Can every minor league prospect be a bust then?
Pretty please, pretty pretty please?
Sunshine will come to Nats Park, I promise.
Godspeed, Capper!
I warmed up to the big ole dude and I’d be lying if I said I won’t miss him. Still, we needed a catching prospect BADLY and it seems (knock on wood) that Ramos is just the guy we’re looking for. A good deal all around.
heal, Lulu, heal!
Derek Norris
I wonder if they move him to first and have him compete with Marrero for the job in two years?
by JefferyWGardner on Jul 30, 2010 9:24 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Ours?
Because we have them. They’re all at single-A.
And that’s because Jim Bowden was too pitcher-obsessed to go for hitting prospects much.
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
BOWDEN!!
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
Bowden
Bowden’s vision for the Nationals 2010 outfield included Willie Mo Pena, Dukes and J-Max
by JefferyWGardner on Jul 30, 2010 9:45 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yep!
He loves his defense!
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
NTAC strikes again. He should get a show with Steve Phillips.
There could be many mean and nasty names for that show.
The Cheats
The Cheaters
The Sucky ex-GMS
Arse Clowns
Segway and the Adulterer
The “DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS WORTHLESS SHOW” Show
"Baseball Airheads"
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
Or "Baseball Windbags"
Take your pick.
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
Harper...here we go...
jimcallisBA Bryce Harper’s Facebook Wall says he’s “probably going back to CSN” http://ht.ly/2iNzq Silly negotiating ploy, he’s going to sign. #mlbdraft
Other headline from Bill Ladson
Lannan to Replace Strasburg in Rotation.
Ouch.
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
Good Lord.
Well, uh, minor league stats don’t matter. He’s just working on his pitches against weaker competition. And, uh, he’s earned our loyalty. And he’s, uh, going to bring major league grisson to a tough environment. Hope Cool Hand can bounce back, but he’s been so so in AA. Matt Chico will never break out of jail.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park.
by souldrummer on Jul 30, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I tried to reread that sentence,
and I just couldn’t make sense of it. It SEEMS like it’s trying to say that Lannan is going to replace Strasburg, but… uh, no, that just can’t be right.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
RobBob, I just wanted to express my condolences.
Seeing Lannan back will be tough for you, I know. Perhaps 15 days of Lannan will help point how much likely it is that we’ll see him the rest of the year. Not my first choice for the replacement starter this time around, but I hope that he bounces back and rediscovers a fraction of his magic to play Fangraphs Houdini.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park.
Lannan...
so, does he have plenty of options left for when the better pitchers come back? Or will they have to do the dfa to get him out of DC when Strasburg, Zimmermann and (chuckles) Marquis come back?
They used an option on him for the year,
so they can send assign him anywhere they want as often as they want until the end of the season.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
Lannan to face Phillies?
Goodness… The Phillies destroy Lannan. I guess he can injure of of them like he did the last time he came from the minors…
Plunk the $125M man
Oh whoops, like that would have mattered.
Sunshine will come to Nats Park, I promise.
I think what would be more...interesting
Is to see Oswalt get himself ejected AGAIN against the Nats tonight.
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
He was screaming at himself. Not the umpire. HA HA.
Man, I’d love to win this game.
Phillies brought up their stud prospect to replace the Flyin’ Hawaiian?
It is done
Heyward, Davis, Strasburg, Stanton, and Brown have all debuted in the NL East this year.
by David Huzzard on Jul 30, 2010 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Most Likely
Managers just seem to love veterans over younger players. Especially in a pennent race. Ibanez would have been the one they would have benched or traded Werth to make room, and I just don’t think they would have done that. I also believe that getting Ibanez right makes the Phillies a better team than trusting a rookie who might have an adjustment period at the exact wrong moment.
by David Huzzard on Jul 30, 2010 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe, maybe not. We're not going to get top-15 picks, or even -20, so E Jax may be worth it
But only if we also receive more pieces in return. If we could pull one of the White Sox prospects as well in a three-way, then I’d be perfectly fine with E Jax as a centerpiece for us.
Sunshine will come to Nats Park, I promise.
So you know, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reporting that...
The White Sox and D-Backs are close on a deal for Edwin Jackson…no word on what they’re giving up but the rumors last night had Daniel Hudson included, but not the Nats…should kno shortly if the Nats are really out of this talk…
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 Jul 30, 2010 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Daniel Hudson for Jackson is smart
It doesn’t mitigate the Haren epic fail, but Jackson’s not that good and close to FA, and Hudson’s a mid rotation starter for the next 6 years.
""Imagine if you go there to see Miss Universe and you end up having Miss Iowa..." - Miguel Batista
White Sox get a guy who can be a really good start in the now and the future though, and they can afford him seemingly
Sunshine will come to Nats Park, I promise.
Thank god
9:46am: Sox GM Kenny Williams has something big cooking, tweets Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, and if he gets it done the Jackson deal is off.
Strasburgeddon approaches, the savior is almost here.
by StrasburgSavior on Jul 30, 2010 11:38 AM EDT reply actions
Sadly, most of our AAAA pitchers are really AAA pitchers people
Mandel, Chico, Martis, Arnesen, and Marquis plus his contract are not the stuff of greatness in Syracuse. Atilano, Mock, Lannan, Martin, and Stammen ain’t attracting but so much interest either. Martin and Lannan seem to be the only guys who might be AAAA out of that group and if things play as expected I hope we’re fielding a legit big league rotation next year.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park.
by souldrummer on Jul 30, 2010 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
+1, unfortunately this is the Real World and not MLB 2K10
Where I traded Andy Sonnastine, Lance Courmier, and Gape Kapler for Ubaldo Jimenez
Sunshine will come to Nats Park, I promise.
That's interesting.
Every time I try to trade piece parts for stars, I keep adding more and more junk, and the interest level caps off at about 30%.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
I just gutting every major league contract on my minor league roster
And acquired Ubaldo, De La Rosa, Butler + other pieces that I later flipped (for Pena), the flipped pieces for Josh Johnson and Jorge Cantu, Bartlett and others for Kelly Johnson and Stephen Drew, and some others for Martin Prado, and the heavily overrated BJ Upton for Hunter Pence and .
Win win win. And my Rays still had a payroll under $65M
Sunshine will come to Nats Park, I promise.
Oh, that's the problem.
I was thinking of the Show 2010. I’m pretty sure I’m right: you can’t trade for Albert Pujols with junk, no matter how much junk you offer (in The Show).
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
You would need Stras Plus Zim.
Which is stupid because he goes onto the FA market 75% of the time in franchise mode.
Screech's Godson
Good-bye Matt Capps! We hardly got to know you.
I’m going to be optimistic, which is hard for me, given the way the Nats are managed,
and I’m going to agree that we must trust Mr. Rizzo. At first, I thought,“Wow interesting trade”.
But then I read the fine print on this trade, hinting that Capps might have asked 7-8mil over his present 3.5mil at arbitration for next year. Then I got pessimistic again. Does this mean that any player with the Nats, who makes the All-stars, is a league leader in saves, and is only 26 years old, will be traded for an untried, usually injured, having a bad minor league season 22 year old rookie catcher? Of course, not to mention that a left handed reliever, who was on his way down from AA to A league, was thrown in for some reason (Did the Nats need a new batting practice pitcher?) And on top of this we give the Twins 500K to boot. I believe Capps was becoming a real leader and role model for the group of clowns we call the Nats bull pen. We got crap for him. We got wishful hopes for him.
It just, unfortunately, reinforces my belief that the Lerner crew has no inkling of making the Nats a contender. I’ve said this before, but no really good ballplayer will want to go with the Nats, if they know that if they have a good season, you won’t get a raise. Think about this, Dunn will be a free agent, Willingham will be a free agent next year, and Zimmerman will be up for arbitration in the next couple of years.
Now our great hope of a pitcher is joining the ranks of busted arms. Maybe the Committee for a closer, bull pen idea will work. It usually doesn’t. I think with time, Storen will be a great reliever, not necessarily a closer.
If the Nats are interested in being a winner, instead of the Pittsburgh/Kansas City/ Florida business model, pay as you go, low salaries, be like the Twins/ Phils , etc.,spend money for a couple of blue chippers, as an investment for the future.
I firmly believe the Lerner’s are drinking the coolade of Angelos, and think the DC area will not really fill the stands. We are 3/4 in TV radio market, yet we have only 3 weak stations including the home base AM static filled station, and a TV contract designed to benefit another team. To my knowledge, there is no stations in the Richmond, Tidwater, or Roanoke areas. But get the real, proven players and we will sell out every game. We have the people, who have the money to spend to come and see a contender.
We did not go after Lee, or Oswalt, or Haren, so please convince me that the Lerner’s really care! It’s been 5 years and I just don’t see any changes in their business model.
I’m anxious to see if they sign Bryce in August, and don’t be surprised if Dunn , one of the fans favorite, gets traded for more promising minor leaguers. This is 2010 not 1980’s. Free agency is king, and it is extremely hard to build a ball club with just promising minor leaguers and draft picks.
I love the Nats, really!
wxguy
Hmm.
You seem to imply that “making the All Star team”, being a “league leader in saves”, and “being 26 years old” are reasons to value the player. I believe these things are reasons to TRADE a player, because they are mostly useless factoids, not a measure of a player’s worth. Capps is over-valued because of his saves mark; Rizzo did EXACTLY what he should have done: he sold high.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
Advanced stats like WAR, FIP, and UZR (wins above replacement, FIP's ERA adjusted for context, and UZR's better for defense than error totals)
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park.
wOBA (slugging % on steroids), FIP (measuring what a pitcher can control scaled to ERA), tERA (FIP on steroids), UZR, and ultimately WAR and $ value
Sunshine will come to Nats Park, I promise.
Well wOBA is essentially OPS weighted to reflect the true value of each type of batted ball
I’m sure you’re aware that slugging % counts 4 for a HR, 3 for a triple, etc. But that’s not necessarily to true average run value that action brings to a team.
And also since OBP and slugging are added, hits are double counted (not like it matters because, yes, stats are arbitrary things).
So it’s just a figure that gives us a more accurate representation of how valuable a player is, because it can easily be translated into an amount of runs a player contributes to a team.
Sunshine will come to Nats Park, I promise.
Regarding WAR, I'm somewhat skeptical on it
It’s a lot like a really faulty “overall” stat. I first find it problematic because its cumulative (although the stat can be adjusted, but then sample size is always an issue), and I’d rather know the specifics (think like Madden: speed, carry, agility, acceleration; rather than an overall).
Sunshine will come to Nats Park, I promise.
Most people in baseball like this deal from the Nats perspective.
Free agents aren’t going to want to come here if we don’t win either. Capps as closer is as good as he is right now, but the team can’t give him enough opportunities to close if the offense is weak and they have no starting position. Independent of the arbitration issues, you make this deal. Catcher is awful for us, unless Pudge magically discovers his bat and someone steps up to take Nieves bat away. Ramos is a good defensive catcher who deserves regular time by midway next year.
We drafted Storen to close. He’s been very good so far. If you’re going to spend a top 15 pick on a reliever, you better be prepared to aggressively promote him into the closer’s role to make closer an affordable internal option rather than an expensive free arbitration or aribitration option. Many a team has fallen astray by spending too much money for closers on the free agent market. Selling high was the move here and I’m glad they did. Lee, Oswalt, or Haren are moves that teams who are within 5 games of first place, not teams that are 12 games out. Padres, Giants, and Braves are competing largely due to strides of home grown options.
We aren’t Florida because we were able to pilfer Willingham from Florida because they didn’t want to pay arbitration. We aren’t any of these other teams you mentioned because they wouldn’t even spend 20Mil on Dunn and we did. Lerner’s are willing to pay, but they won’t overpay. I’m sorry that Marquis hasn’t worked out because if he had people would say the Lerners would be given credit for spending smart to make significant improvement.
Free agency is not king. 3 of the past 4 World Series teams have one largely with home grown talent. For the Phillies, Rollins, Howard, Utley and Hamels are 5 home grown major pieces. For the Rays, they got to the World Series by drafting well and can’t spend bit money on free agents. And they are contending again with a starting rotation that is entirely home grown and a core piece in Longoria who is home grown.
You’re right to want to hold the Lerners accountable to spending even more at some point, but I encourage you to focus on significant improvement for the near term but a goal of contention in 2012. Ramos certainly helps us for 2012, when we would have either had to rush Norris or go after another free agent at catcher.
Panic on Strasburg is not necessary yet, either. They are just being extremely cautious with him. If we were in a pennant race and he wasn’t a rookie, his current injury probably wouldn’t be worthy of a DL stint.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park.
Couple errors in my speed typing.
I rattled off four home grown cornerstones for the Phillies not 5 and there’s a bunch of typos. Trust y’all to get my drift.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park.
+1
Unfortunately, we’re going to hear a lot of panic from people who casually follow the team or the sport. It’s going to take some time, and we’re going to need more Rizzo jedi-mind tricks (like how the Thunder somehow steal every team’s 1st round pick), or in one rare case of credit, Bowden heisting Hammer away from the Marlins
Sunshine will come to Nats Park, I promise.
I'm not going to say this wxguy "casually" follows the Nats
He’s taken the time to find his way here and he’s posted a lot here. He just comes at it from a different perspective. He wants to see a team that will win now as opposed to a team that will win later.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park.
No foul or jabs intended, just an observation along the same lines
Sunshine will come to Nats Park, I promise.
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- Mitch Mustain puts football behind him, signs reported rookie deal with White Sox
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