Archive for the ‘Washington Nationals’ Category

Ian Desmond and the Potential of Power

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Analysis, Washington Nationals on Jan 28, 2013

Things are good in Natsland. The team is laden for talent for the 2013 season, spirits are high among the fanbase, William Howard Taft is onboard and the Stephen Strasburg shutown thing is in the past. Natitude is at an all time high.

With things going as well as they are in D.C., the talk turns to keeping their core in place long term. Pitcher Jordan Zimmerman is the most likely candidate for a contract extension, fielding questions and candidly discussing the matter at this past weekend’s Gnatfest (a celebration of bugs.)

Zimmerman isn’t the only player the team might lock up. Ian Desmond is fresh off a terrific season as the Nats shortstop and into his arbitration years. Like Zimmerman, Desmond isn’t eligible to become a free agent until 2016. Unlike Zimmerman, Ian Desmond doesn’t have the strongest track record to work off.

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Art Imitates Life, Sets Itself Up for Easy Jokes

Posted by Drew Fairservice under HardBall Talkin', Washington Nationals on Jan 28, 2013

Courtesy of the AP

It was nearly 110 years ago when the 26th President of the United States of America Theordore Roosevelt named William Howard Taft his Secretary of War, a move many believed Teddy made with an eye to the future – grooming the heft man from Ohio as his successor in the nation’s highest office.

Fast-forward to this past Saturday when, after some cursory wikipedia-ing, somebody in the Nationals office realized this rich vein of comedy must not go unmined. With more fanfare than just about anything in this world deserves, the Washington Nationals announced William Howard Taft is the fifth president in their famous fourth inning race.

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Nationals Face Biggest Roster Decision Yet

Posted by Drew Fairservice under No. You're A Slow News Day, Washington Nationals on Jan 25, 2013

They added a closer. They added a center fielder. They re-signed their first baseman. They strengthened their rotation, both now and in the future.

The Washington Nationals prepare to enter the 2013 season as the best team in baseball. But they still face the toughest decision of this or any offseason: who gets to join the Nationals Ballpark Presidential Race?

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In Which the BARVES Keep Pace with the Nationals

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Analysis, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals on Jan 24, 2013

91 – 89 – 94. The Atlanta Braves win totals over the last three years. For their trouble, the Atlanta Braves received zero National League East division titles in that time, even though just four teams have more wins in that time.

Last year, the Braves won 94 games but finished second to the Washington Nationals, who won 98. Then the Nationals acquired Denard Span, Dan Haren, and Rafael Soriano. They re-signed Adam LaRoche and traded away Mike Morse. The 98 win team got better, not matter how much regression you forecast for Ian Desmond and Gio Gonzalez.

The Barves lost OLE CHOPPER JONES to retirement but swapped Michael Bourn for B.J. Upton, signing the latter as a free agent but losing the former to the siren song of the open market. They were treading water, still stinging from their experience as the first casualty of the new Wild Card system.

The Braves needed to answer – not just now but for the future. The Atlanta Braves trade two non-insignificant pieces in Randall Delgado and Martin Prado for Justin Upton, a move which does plenty to address both “now” and “future.” There are other pieces — a platoon third baseman for the Braves, three prospects of a fringey nature to the Diamondbacks — but this deal is about Arizona giving up on Upton and Atlanta building an incredible outfield.

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Natitude! The Nats Load Their Bullpen By Signing Rafael Soriano

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Trades And Signings, Washington Nationals on Jan 15, 2013

The news trickled out earlier this afternoon but now the news hose opened all the way up, blasting reports of Rafael Soriano nearing a two-year deal with the Washington Nationals. A move that is surprising to say the least. If you really think about, the move is actually shocking.

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Breaking: Nationals Agree to Two-Year Deal with Adam LaRoche

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Trades And Signings, Washington Nationals on Jan 08, 2013

Well well. After much dancing and playing hard to get and foreplay and heavy petting and trepidation, it appears the Washington Nationals and Adam LaRoche will indeed go all the way. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports the Nats and LaRoche agree to a two-year deal worth $24 million with a mutual option for 2015 and $2 Mil buyout.

The first baseman comes off a strong season in DC, one in which he hit 33 home runs and posted a .361 wOBA in his age 33 season. It will be interesting to see if what kind of options might attach a third year to this deal. LaRoche and his camp wanted it bad, hard to envision them simply walking away from any type of carrot for an extra guaranteed year.

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Rosenthal: Nationals Have Agreement with Dan Haren, Pending Physical

Posted by Scott Lewis under News And Notes, Washington Nationals on Dec 04, 2012

Dan Haren throwing underhand to ease the pain on his broken body

So much for Dan Haren as cheap low-risk investment. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that the Washington Nationals have a one-year, $13 million deal in place for the right-handed starter, pending a physical.

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