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If you frequent the comment sections around NatsTown, you know that there is a large contingent of fans who would prefer the Washington Nationals find another option at first base after Adam LaRoche's disappointing season in D.C. in 2013. In an article by the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore Tuesday night, however, Nats' GM Mike Rizzo told the WaPost reporter that he was confident the 34-year-old first baseman would rebound in 2014. "'Adam LaRoche is our first baseman,'" Rizzo tells Kilgore. "'I think he’s going to bounce back to have one of his career-norm years.'"
Can LaRoche get back closer to the .271/.343/.510, +3.4 fWAR LaRoche of 2012? The 2013 +0.6 fWAR LaRoche who put up a .237/.332/.403 line won't cut it. The Nationals have Tyler Moore as a backup at first, but while he crushed left-handed pitchers at Triple-A Syracuse last season (.366/.451/.707), he has a .222/.276/.383 vs LHPs over 92 games and 181 PAs so far in his major league career. Not an ideal split for a platoon...
Links and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:
• THE BIG STORY!!!:
• "Despite a report to the contrary over the weekend, the Nationals are not considering trading Span. The Nationals have neither made nor received a call from another team about Span." - "As winter meetings begin, Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo open to upgrading roster" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
• NATS BEAT:
• "A day after losing their third base coach, the Nationals have lost a key member of their front office." - "Nationals Pastime: Report: Roy Clark leaves Nationals for Dodgers" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "A day after seeing third base coach Trent Jewett leave to join the Mariners, another Nats official is moving west." - "Nats assistant GM Roy Clark leaving to join Dodgers" - Chase Hughes, Comcast SportsNet Washington
• "Roy Clark, a Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel who helped overhaul the organization’s drafting and farm system, has left the team..." - "Nationals assistant general manager Roy Clark hired by the Dodgers" - James Wagner, Washington Post
The rich get richer - Roy Clark has left the Nationals for the Dodgers.
— keithlaw (@keithlaw) November 12, 2013
• "The Nationals can’t begrudge Trent Jewett for leaving the organization and accepting a job as the Mariners’ new bench coach." - "Washington Nationals need to start working on coaching continuity" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "Known for his outgoing personality, DeRosa helped provide veteran leadership to a Nats team coming into its own." - "Former Washington Nationals player Mark DeRosa retiring" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
• "One team to which Haren will not be linked is the Nationals, for whom he played this past season." - "Dan Haren has high hopes for Nationals' rotation" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "Under normal circumstances, there's a chance Nationals might be willing to let Solano and Leon battle it out in spring training to see who earns the backup catching job." - "Nationals Pastime: Catching up on another possible offseason need" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "A talent evaluator confirmed a report from CBSSports.com that the Nationals are listening to trade offers for the left-handed-hitting outfielder." - "Nationals could be willing to trade Span" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "The Nats like Solano and feel he can be a major league catcher, but given Ramos’ tendency to get hurt, they will probably look for a more than adequate number two." - "Washington Nationals roster review: Jhonatan Solano" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
• "When the Washington Nationals tabbed Matt Williams as their new manager earlier this month, the club joined a growing trend among Major League Baseball teams..." - "Rookies in the dugout: Experience no longer mandatory for MLB managers" - Brian McNally, Washington Times
• "In other news, former Nationals utility man Mark DeRosa has decided to retire after spending parts of 16 seasons in the big leagues." - "Nationals Pastime: A hodgepodge of morning notes (instant update)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "Well, any trade proposal for Price or Scherzer is almost certain to begin with Anthony Rendon..." - "Washington Nationals would have to give up a lot in trade for pitcher" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama):
We need to strengthen such inner values as contentment, patience and tolerance, as well as compassion for others.
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) May 21, 2013
• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
• "[J.P. Howell] said Tuesday that 15 teams have expressed interest in him and that he hopes to sign a three-year deal." - "Dodgers: J.P. Howell looking for three-year deal" - Bill Shaikin, latimes.com
• "The Dodgers have made an addition to their front office, hiring Roy Clark away from the Nationals per Keith Law of ESPN." - "Dodgers reportedly add Roy Clark to front office" - Eric Stephen, True Blue LA
• "Towards that end, the Dodgers have reportedly lured Roy Clark away from the Washington Nationals to an unspecified front-office role." - "Dodgers set to beef up front office?" - Bill Plunkett, Dodgers Blog: Orange County Register
• "By the time the general manager meetings started, Samardzija’s name had already been linked to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals in what figures to be a winter of speculation about his future." - "Cubs: Samardzija trade rumors will keep popping up" - Patrick Mooney, CSN Chicago
• NATSTOWN/MINORS:
• "Best Fix for the Streaky Offense" - The Nationals Review
• "So anyhow, here’s what Rob Dibble said recently, when word leaked about Matt Williams being the Nats’ new manager." - "Rob Dibble is still talking about Mike Rizzo" - Dan Steinberg, D.C. Sports Bog
• "One of the biggest reasons why right-hander Richie Mirowski is pitching in Arizona Fall League now is a spring training introduction." - "Pitching prospect Mirowski building confidence in three pitches in Arizona" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
Adrian Nieto, Jr. was the only #Nats' prospects in action in the @MLBAZFallLeague today: 1 for 3 w/ a walk, 2 runs scored in 8-1 win. #AFL13
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) November 12, 2013
• "It has taken time, but the Nationals’ farm system is slowly recovering from big trades and graduations to the major leagues that depleted its minor league talent." - "Baseball America names Lucas Giolito the top Nationals prospect" - James Wagner, Washington Post
• "Left-hander Sammy Solis (4-2, 2.25 ERA) is tentatively scheduled to make Thursday’s start, which could potentially put fellow Nationals southpaw Matt Purke (3-1, 3.91) on the mound for the Championship Game." - "Arizona Fall League, Week 5 (11.5–11)" - Mike Feigen, Curly W Live
• "Now, as much as we all loved Michael Morse, aren’t you glad we traded him this past offseason?" - "Baseball America’s Top Ten Nationals Prospects for 2014 - Part Two" - Andrew Flax, The Nats Blog
• "Then this week, the Angelika Film Center announced it would open an eight-screener next to Union Market. These would go along with a planned development by Showplace Icon of a 16-screen theater near Nationals Park." - "All of a Sudden, Everyone Wants to Build a Movie Theater" - Jason Dick, Roll Call After Dark
• "What is the 'ceiling' of various Nats pitching prospects? (Updated for 2013)" - Todd Boss, Nationals Arm Race
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Phillies: "The notion that the Phillies overpaid for Byrd first discounts how much money is in the game and how that money is being spent." - "Marlon Byrd and the price of power" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post
• Phillies: "In 2005, the Phillies traded Byrd to the Washington Nationals for Endy Chavez." - "Marlon Byrd returns" - Ryan Lawrence, Philadelphia Daily News
• Mets: "Curtis Granderson likely bid farewell to the Yankees (for now, at least) when he rejected the team’s one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer on Monday." - "Mets to speak with Granderson after he rebuffs Yanks" - Ken Davidoff, New York Post
• Marlins: "The Marlins thought they solved their problem when they acquired Brantly in their 2012 trade with the Tigers." - "ORLANDO: Marlins in pursuit of upgrade at catcher" - Clark Spencer, MiamiHerald.com
• Braves: "McCann has drawn interest from about 10 teams, his agent B.B. Abbott said." - "Free agent McCann declines Braves’ qualifying offer" - David O'Brien, www.ajc.com