Congratulations on landing Strasburg. Was a pleasure to watch him excel this year at SDSU. I am not going to lie, I was hoping you could not get a deal done. Sorry about that :) We(The Padres) are currently in a pickle in that we don't want to spend money, seems like we never do. After hiring the young Jed Hoyer away from Boston, talk around town is that Adrian Gonzalez may be traded. Consecutive gold glove wins over Albert Pujols, went for 40HR & his BB numbers were astounding. What value does he have to the Nationals? Because I really would hate to see him moved to a team like the Red Sox or ugh Mets.

What do you think the chances are the Padres could put a package together to send A-Gonz to DC & send Strasburg back home. If you noticed last year, the Padres have them self quite a young pitching talent in Mat Latos - Not Strasburg type of course but a talented young player none the less. Padres are also trying to rid themselfs of the towering Chris Young, who has proven when healthy to be a hell of a pitcher. So let me ask you, do you think the Padres got the stuff to put a package together to bring Strasburg back home?

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This is a link to a Facebook fan page for Senator great Dick Bosman, who is still popular in Washington and fond of his days there. Bosman is currently the minor league pitching coordinator for the Tampa Bay Rays. The link also contains many articles on Bosman and Washington/Baltimore baseball history. In addition to his time with the Senators, Bosman also worked for many years in the Baltimore chain. Enjoy and thanks!

Bosman link

This is copy and posted from FanGraphs (Erik Manning).  It shows which players were the best at running the bases without counting steals.  In other words, who were the best at taking extra bases and avoiding outs on the base paths in baseball last year.  Note Two Nats Regulars on the tops in baseball list.  These are significant numbers because by Guzman being worth 6 runs you can add .6 to his WAR which makes him worth 1.5 WAR last season (Dunn was worth 1.2 WAR not factoring in baserunning).  War does not count this type of baserunning just steals and caught steals.  I tried to figure out how Erik Manning got these numbers, so I could list all the NATS, but I am unsure.  I know that among the worst last season were Dukes and Gonzales (worst in the game not just NATS) and I am sure they were in the minus 4 or worse catagory, but I am unsure by how much.  If I figure it out I will post it.

"Feel free to add these numbers in to a player’s total WAR to get a better picture of what these individuals were worth on the diamond.

	         Runs
Michael Bourn	   8
Chone Figgins	   7
Emilio Bonifacio   6
Cristian Guzman	   6
Dexter Fowler	   6
Chase Utley	   5
Ryan Zimmerman	   5
Rajai Davis	   5
Colby Rasmus	   5
Ichiro Suzuki	   5
Brandon Phillips   5

Baserunning matters, but it doesn’t matter a whole lot — at least not for the vast majority of players. Only 18 players contributed 4 or more runs, and only 13 players hurt their teams by 4 or more runs"

From the team's press release:

The Washington Nationals today named Bryan Minniti Assistant General Manager and Jay Sartori Director of Baseball Operations. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Minniti joins the Nationals after spending the previous nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the last two as their Director of Baseball Operations. With the Pirates, Minniti’s focuses included rules compliance, transactions, budgeting and contract negotiations. Minniti graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a double major in Mathematics and Statistics.

Sartori worked for the Commissioner’s Office as Salary and Contract Administration Manager in Major League Baseball’s Labor Relations Department before accepting his position with the Nationals. His expertise included knowledge and interpretation of the Basic Agreement, contract language, salary arbitration and Rule 4 Draft bonus recommendations and analysis. Sartori graduated with a Finance and MIS degree from Boston College and is currently working on an MBA from the same institution.

 Two smart guys, huh?  Bringing on a couple of young numbers guys with good pedigrees in the department will allow Mike Rizzo to concentrate on what he knows best:  finding good baseball players.

From Fangraphs:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/highs-and-lows-of-uzr-2007-9-dunn

Dunn was by far the worst defensive player in the game last season (by more than 20 runs given up over Hawpe).  He has been the worst player in the game over the last 5 seasons combined.  His defense singlehandedly costs his team an average of 4.6 games a season over the last 5 years That is approximately the difference between the talents of Daniel Cabrera and AJ Burnett in 2008.

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By Zach Links [November 14

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/rosenthal-and-morosi-on-willingham-hardy-wedge.html

Washington is drawing strong trade interest in left fielder Josh Willingham, but may not be willing to part with him, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Willingham turned in a slash line of .260/.367/.496 with 24 HRs in 502 plate appearances in 2009.

The post identifies the Braves as a team that likes the 30-year-old, but says that they have concerns about his back and are less than enamored with his defensive play.  Willingham, they suggest, might be a better fit in the American League where he can be a DH.  Earlier this month, Tim took a look at Willingham and other left fielders that could be dealt.

SANTO DOMINGO (Licey.com) .- Los Tigres del Licey forces continue to build an already strong team and for the weekend is expected to include on the roster for a player already in the country: Elijah Dukes.

  Dukes back with the Licey, with whom he played in the 2007-08 season, and it is expected that the prospect now the Washington Nationals to contribute to the national champions.

  The enigmatic outfielder arrived on Tuesday and took batting practice Wednesday. He is scheduled to debut this weekend, reported blue Licey.com management.

  Dukes saw action in 107 games with the Nationals in 2009 and had a .250 batting average with eight homers and 58 RBIs.

  According to projections, Dukes accompany the Licey to the end of the 2009-10 season.

via www.licey.com

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