I didn't watch much of the World Series at all, mostly because it was the final steps in the completion of a money-fueled almost predetermined plan. Though money doesn't guarantee championships, it sure does make it easier to make mistakes. Most teams could not survive the disasters of Carl Pavano and other failed free-agent signings a few years ago, but the Yankees can turn right around and sign CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira in one offseason and basically buy a championship. If the Nationals had signed Sabathia, Burnett and Texeira last winter, they would probably have been one of the top teams in the league.

I suppose if you have the money and you're willing to spend it, then you should go ahead. But I don't think it will be good for baseball in general if the Yankees begin to dominate the league again the way they did at the end of the last decade. There was so much hope for opening up the playoff club to smaller-market teams when Tampa made it to the World Series last year but maybe that was just a fluke. It's not impossible for small-market teams to win but it takes a lot of luck. Most of the playoff perennials are the big spenders/large-market teams while the bottom tier of the league (Kansas City, Pittsburgh, et al.) is made up of small-market teams.

I'll still follow the Nats and watch the games next year but I'll probably watch even fewer national broadcasts than I did this year. I only watched a couple national games all year as it was (those not involving the Nats). I barely watched any of the playoffs. I hope baseball changes its economics in 2011 (?) when the next round of collective bargaining is supposed to begin.

Did you guys see the latest accolade given to Ryan Zimmerman on account of his 2009 season in the field?  Bill James 2009 Fielding Bible award for all of MLB--makes me think his chances are even greater of winning the NL Gold Glove.  The other winners--Pujols, Aaron Hill, Jack Wilson, Carl Crawford, Franklin Guitierez, Ichiro, Yadier Molina and Mark Buerhle.  Congratulations to Ryan.

I will be shocked now if he doesn't get the NL Gold Glove!

(ed. note - "In case you didn't see this in the comments section, VA Slim also points out that Ryan Zimmerman is up for the This Year in Baseball Fielding Awards writing:

"...perhaps a fielding bible and being the best ‘this year in baseball’ in fielding(or up in the top 3) would make him a lock? It’s an accomplishment just to be in the final 10 or so that mlb nominated."

The 2009 Web Gem Award, the 2009 Fielding Bible Award, the TYIB Fielding Award...Next Stop Gold Glove, c'mon DC Faithful, let's get another VOTE FOR ZIM rally going!!! We all know how skilled he is in the gloved arts, let's make sure all of baseball recognizes...Thanks, for the heads up, VA.")

• This Year In Baseball Fielding Award -- VOTE FOR ZIM HERE!!!

I have started started a free fun dynasty league in which each person takes control of a MLB roster & minor league system, drafts, signing free agents....

If this sounds interesting to you, go check out the league message board & league rules and sign up. There is no prize for the winner for each season, it is all just for fun, so join!

http://jt20.proboards.com/

thought people here would be interested sign up soon!

And still need a GM for the NATIONALS

As my beloved Nats plummeted to their second consecutive 59 win season (just think if they hadn't won the last seven!), it's clear to me that the old "lipstick on a pig" band-aid isn't going to work this offseason.  Mike Rizzo and Co. have a lot of work to do, and though I'll have absolutely nothing to do with it, I'm going to brainstorm some ideas.  I'm not the first member of this support group to do so, and I doubt I'll be the last.  While I'll certainly comment on others' thoughts when they post them, I'm not necessarily saying my ideas are better or worse than anyone else's... sometimes they're just different (I remember feeling like I was coming off a bit antagonistic around the trade deadline in here, so.........).  At any rate, my detailed ideas on what the Nats should do this offseason.  I guess I'll begin by naming most of the current core:

C - Flores, ?????

1b - Dunn

2b - Desmond/Guzman

SS - Desmond/Guzman

3b - Zimmerman

LF - Willingham

CF - Morgan

RF - Dukes

Bench: Justin Maxwell, Willie Harris, Alberto Gonzalez, Pete Orr, Mike Morse

SP - Lannan, Detwiler, Olsen, and then the glut of Stammen/Mock/Balester/Martis/Martin and hopefully not Livan

RP - Clippard, Burnett, MacDougal, and no... I don't trust any of the rest (come to think of it, I don't trust MacDougal)

Primary Needs: A dependable starting middle infielder, two or three starters (at least one near the top of the rotation), and about 25 bullpen arms!  I'd say closer, but paying top dollar for a closer is a waste when you can't get the game to him.

Continue reading this post »

I am looking to ditch Comcast and receive only over-the-air channels. Do I have any options that will let me continue to watch the Nats?  MLB.tv won't work because I am in market. So what is a non-cable/satellite subscribing Nats fan to do?  Are any games carried over the air, or is there any (legal) way to watch online?  If anyone has any ideas, I'd greatly appreciate it - thanks!

Top Two Starting Pitchers to Target:

John Lackey (Type A Free Agent) - Lackey is a big game pitcher, and had yet another effective postseason with the Angels (2.29 ERA, 1-1 W/L).  Lackey is a Type A Free Agent, meaning the Angels will be compensated with 2 draft selections should he sign with another club (the Nats second rounder and compensatory selection).  The big righty has 102 career wins, with a 3.81 career ERA; most importantly he's only allowed 20+ HRs in a season once in the previous 5 seasons.  Lackey doesn't walk a lot of hitters, but his career SO/BB ratio is a shade under 3:1 for his career (2.7:1).  Putting Lackey in a rotation with Lannan, Zimmermann, Strasburg and J.D. Martin certainly wouldn't be a bad addition.  He'd certainly have the veteran experience and big game ability to be the team's ace.

Jason Marquis (Type B Free Agent) - Marquis isn't quite the pitcher Lackey is; The former Brave walks a lot of batters and struggles with his SO:BB ratio (1.5:1 for his career).  Marquis also gives up a lot of home runs historically; however, last season he allowed just 15 while playing with the Rockies (and with the Cubs in 2008 he allowed just 15 as well).  He's started in 30+ games the past 5 of 6 seasons and has topped 200+ innings 3 times in his career.  With his improved ability to keep the ball in the yard, Marquis would make a fairly solid middle of the rotation addition to the Nats staff.  The Rockies will be compensated with a draft selection should Marquis sign with another club, due to his Type B Free Agent tag. 

Top Two Relief Pitchers to Target:

Mike Gonzalez (Type A Free Agent) - Gonzalez was the best part of the Braves bullpen, being reliable and durable pitching in 80 contests in 2009.  Being a Type A Free Agent (along with Braves closer Rafael Soriano) make it a possibility that Gonzalez could be wearing new colours in 2010.  The Nationals need a solid, reliable arm in the bullpen (as we all know), and making Gonzalez the set up man would make the 7th or 8th inning a little more relaxing for fans.  Gonzalez also makes a good closer if pressed into duties, but thrives as the set up man.  Allowing just 22 HRs in his career is impressive, and Gonzalez can mow down hitters, striking out 90 in 74.1 innings last season.  Did I mention he's a lefty? 

Bob Howry (Type B Free Agent) - Howry is a grizzled veteran that would add a great presence to our bullpen.  He's pitched in 60+ games the previous 5 seasons (4 were 70+ game seasons).   Howry allows the long ball on occasion, despite holding opponents to 5 in 2009.  His 23 walks in 2009 were the most he's had in a year since 2002, and our bullpen definitely needs someone to keep runners off the base paths.  Howry doesn't strike out a lot of batters, but with his low walk totals he's an effective "ball-in-play" pitcher recording outs. 

The problem with my list:

I've listed Type A and B free agents, meaning these options may not exist should these players accept arbitration from their current clubs.  Further complicating matters is the fact that these players may have absolutely no interest in joining a 103-loss ball club.  However, since the Nationals own a top 15 draft selection, they will only have to yeild a second round choice to the team they sign a Type A free agent from.  In this case, I think signing Mike Gonzalez over John Lackey would be the better choice and targeting Marquis to anchor the middle of rotation instead.  It's fairly unlikely that the Nationals will sign any of these players on the list, but I can dream, can't I? 

Last but not least, Where to trade the Big-Walkie:

Baltimore - How about Brad Bergeson and Ty Wigginton for Adam Dunn?  If the Orioles would part with Michael Aubrey (instead of Wiggy), I say find a way to get the deal done.  It's not likely that the Orioles would part with Bergeson, but what if we packaged Smartie in the deal with Dunn?  The Orioles would have a solidl lineup with Roberts, Markakis, Mora and Dunn in the middle of the order and would receive a fairly promising Martis to help Guthrie out in an otherwise terrible rotation.  So what do you say Baltimore Adam Dunn and Shairon Martis for Michael Aubrey and Brad Bergeson?   

Oakland - Remember the splash Oakland made acquring Holliday last offseason?  Why not make another by trading for Adam Dunn?  The Athletics would certainly be able to land some prospects at the deadline for Dunn (like they did Holliday).  I propose Adam Dunn and Shairon Martis for Brett Anderson, Craig Beslow and Daric Barton.  The Nationals would get a solid young arm in Anderson, a pretty good relief man in Beslow and a project at 1B with Barton.  Further more, the move would hardly deplete the Athletics rotation of young arms (Braden, Cahill, Gonzalez).  While the trade is not likely, it's less of a rip-off than the Baltimore trade I've proposed.

Do I get the job as Nationals GM?  Discuss what you think the Nationals should do this offseason. 

What do players wear in the AFL? Is there a "Desert Dog" uniform, or do players players wear the jersey of their parent club? I've seen the PDD cap, but any time I've been photos of Strasburg, he is wearing something that says "Washington" or "Nationals."

I know Strasburg and Storen are only there for a short time, but I'd love to get my hands on some PDD caps or t-shirts.

Why is the baseball draft limited to residents of the U.S. or Canada? Other pro sports include prospects from other countries in their drafts. Limiting the baseball draft in this manner negates the attempts of the league to create more parity among the teams. After all, only the very wealthy teams can afford to shell out tens of millions of dollars just to negotiate for the rights of someone like Daisuke Matsuzaka. I don't think you'll be seeing the Pirates, Twins or Royals doing that anytime soon.

Why don't they make the draft a worldwide one? I can't see why the players' union would be opposed to this. As Boras said during the Strasburg negotiations, overseas players benefit from this system far more than U.S. prospects do. Not that I'm agreeing with everything Boras says, but I think the loophole should be closed. The current system limits the process of signing top foreign players to just a handful of teams, the usual suspects of the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Cubs, and a few others.

I admit to not following the amateur prospect scene too closely but I've started hearing more and more about Bryce Harper as a potential no. 1 overall pick in 2010. He plays a few different positions but his primary position is catcher. Jesus Flores has not proved to be durable for the Nats so maybe it would be a good idea to get someone who could compete with Flores for the starting job in 2011.

There aren't any "once-in-a-lifetime" pitchers (a la Strasburg) in next year's draft, are there? Who else might the Nats pick next year?

Just curious, has anyone complied the amount of innings the Nats lost to rain outs this year? For awhile it seemed like every home stand at least one game was lost. The attendance would have been down anyway with their record, but all that rain surely had an impact as well. I used to feel sorry for Charlie and Dave on the radio having to fill all that time! They did it very well though