Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 25, 2008 19:00:27 GMT -5
Last season: 73-89, 4th in N.L. East
Manager: Manny Acta, 2nd season, 73-89 (.451) career record
New faces: RHP Rob Bell (BAL), 3B Aaron Boone (FLA), RHP Tyler Clippard (NYY), C Humberto Cota (PIT), OF Elijah Dukes (TB), C Johnny Estrada (NYM), IF Willie Harris (ATL), LHP Ray King (MIL), C Paul Lo Duca (NYM), OF Rob Mackowiak (SD), OF Lastings Milledge (NYM), C Chad Moeller (LAD), C Wil Nieves (NYY), IF Pete Orr (ATL), LHP Odalis Perez (KC), RHP Jason Stanford (PHI)
Left town: RHP Jonathan Albaladejo (NYY), RHP Micah Bowie (COL), RHP Hector Carrasco (PIT), OF Ryan Church (NYM), 1B/C Robert Fick (SD), IF D'Angelo Jimenez (STL), OF Nook Logan (LAD), C Brian Schneider (NYM), LHP Billy Traber (NYY), OF Brandon Watson (PHI)
Overview: The franchise formerly known as the Expos finished out of the basement for the first time since moving Washington. While no one will confuse them with a contender, the Nationals did make improvements last season and move into their new ballpark, the 41,222 seat Nationals Park, with optimism for the first time in years. But the best they can hope for is fourth place ahead of the triple-A Marlins and far behind the Phillies, Mets and Braves. General Manager Jim Bowden has been renowned for finding reclamation projects and turning them into useful parts. This season, he brings in a talented head case in Elijah Dukes and hip-hop, gangsta rap outfielder Lastings Milledge to help prop up the Major Leagues worst offence. If these two can live up to their vast promise, the Nationals will turn the corner. But they still can't pitch and that will, ultimately, hold them back.
Stat to ponder: How bad was the Nationals pitching last season? Manager Manny Acta wore out the grass between the dugout and mound making a major league record 588 pitching changes in 2007. Top prospect: LHP Ross Detwiler: Rocketed through the Nationals minor league chain and made his major league debut last September. Has three above-average pitches but might need to put on some beef to add to his stamina. Could become a mainstay in their rotation after the all-star break.
Hitting
2007 AVG: 256 (26th), RUNS/GAME: 4.15 (30th), HR: 123 (27th)
The move to the new ballpark should help score runs. Playing in RFK Stadium, a vast pitcher's ballpark, they scored the fewest runs in the majors and only three teams hit fewer home runs. It will be interesting to see how the log jam at first base is handled if Nick Johnson can finally stay injury-free. Incumbent Dmitri Young drove in 74 runs last season while hitting .320, good for tenth in the National League and is looked up to by the younger player. His most valuable role for this team might be as a surrogate big brother to Dukes and Milledge. Across the diamond Ryan Zimmerman is on the verge of superstardom after driving in 91 runs while playing in all 162 games. Veteran catchers Paul Lo Duca and Johnny Estrada will share the catching duties.
Pitching
2007 ERA: 4.58 (19th), OPP AVG: .269 (17th)
The two new catchers will have their hands full. The rotation doesn't have one starter who has come even close to pitching 200 innings in a season, which is a prerequisite to keep a bullpen fresh. Canadian Shawn Hill, if he can stay healthy, is the ace of this rag-tag rotation, followed by a bunch of castoffs and retreads. In 2007, the starters averaged just shy of 5 1/3 innings per game, second-worst in the majors. That led to an overworked bullpen. Two relievers, Jon Rauch and Saul Rivera finished 1-2 in appearances last season. Chad Cordero saved 37 games and was much sought after in the off-season but remains as the Nationals closer.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: Fourth place, but closer to last than first. The Nats have brought in several players this off-season hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.
Manager: Manny Acta, 2nd season, 73-89 (.451) career record
New faces: RHP Rob Bell (BAL), 3B Aaron Boone (FLA), RHP Tyler Clippard (NYY), C Humberto Cota (PIT), OF Elijah Dukes (TB), C Johnny Estrada (NYM), IF Willie Harris (ATL), LHP Ray King (MIL), C Paul Lo Duca (NYM), OF Rob Mackowiak (SD), OF Lastings Milledge (NYM), C Chad Moeller (LAD), C Wil Nieves (NYY), IF Pete Orr (ATL), LHP Odalis Perez (KC), RHP Jason Stanford (PHI)
Left town: RHP Jonathan Albaladejo (NYY), RHP Micah Bowie (COL), RHP Hector Carrasco (PIT), OF Ryan Church (NYM), 1B/C Robert Fick (SD), IF D'Angelo Jimenez (STL), OF Nook Logan (LAD), C Brian Schneider (NYM), LHP Billy Traber (NYY), OF Brandon Watson (PHI)
Overview: The franchise formerly known as the Expos finished out of the basement for the first time since moving Washington. While no one will confuse them with a contender, the Nationals did make improvements last season and move into their new ballpark, the 41,222 seat Nationals Park, with optimism for the first time in years. But the best they can hope for is fourth place ahead of the triple-A Marlins and far behind the Phillies, Mets and Braves. General Manager Jim Bowden has been renowned for finding reclamation projects and turning them into useful parts. This season, he brings in a talented head case in Elijah Dukes and hip-hop, gangsta rap outfielder Lastings Milledge to help prop up the Major Leagues worst offence. If these two can live up to their vast promise, the Nationals will turn the corner. But they still can't pitch and that will, ultimately, hold them back.
Stat to ponder: How bad was the Nationals pitching last season? Manager Manny Acta wore out the grass between the dugout and mound making a major league record 588 pitching changes in 2007. Top prospect: LHP Ross Detwiler: Rocketed through the Nationals minor league chain and made his major league debut last September. Has three above-average pitches but might need to put on some beef to add to his stamina. Could become a mainstay in their rotation after the all-star break.
Hitting
2007 AVG: 256 (26th), RUNS/GAME: 4.15 (30th), HR: 123 (27th)
The move to the new ballpark should help score runs. Playing in RFK Stadium, a vast pitcher's ballpark, they scored the fewest runs in the majors and only three teams hit fewer home runs. It will be interesting to see how the log jam at first base is handled if Nick Johnson can finally stay injury-free. Incumbent Dmitri Young drove in 74 runs last season while hitting .320, good for tenth in the National League and is looked up to by the younger player. His most valuable role for this team might be as a surrogate big brother to Dukes and Milledge. Across the diamond Ryan Zimmerman is on the verge of superstardom after driving in 91 runs while playing in all 162 games. Veteran catchers Paul Lo Duca and Johnny Estrada will share the catching duties.
Pitching
2007 ERA: 4.58 (19th), OPP AVG: .269 (17th)
The two new catchers will have their hands full. The rotation doesn't have one starter who has come even close to pitching 200 innings in a season, which is a prerequisite to keep a bullpen fresh. Canadian Shawn Hill, if he can stay healthy, is the ace of this rag-tag rotation, followed by a bunch of castoffs and retreads. In 2007, the starters averaged just shy of 5 1/3 innings per game, second-worst in the majors. That led to an overworked bullpen. Two relievers, Jon Rauch and Saul Rivera finished 1-2 in appearances last season. Chad Cordero saved 37 games and was much sought after in the off-season but remains as the Nationals closer.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: Fourth place, but closer to last than first. The Nats have brought in several players this off-season hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.
