SB Nation - Elijah Dukes

Washington Nationals: Weekend Rumors - Jon Garland And...Randy Winn?

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:29:24 -0000

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

Free agent outfielder Randy Winn was linked to the Washington Nationals by anonymous sources who say that Washington likes the 35-year-old outfielder's versatility. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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• That the Washington Nationals are interested in free agent right-hander Jon Garland is not news, then ESPN-writer Peter Gammons spotted Garland's agent talking to the Nationals on the first day of the just-completed Winter Meetings, but the fact that they're talking dollars and years is a revelation, as FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reported this morning in an update of FOXSports.com's, "Buzz: Latest from the MLB offseason", subtitled "Sources: Nats eye Garland" that an unnamed source of his says, "Garland, 30, is seeking a three-year contract...(but)..the Nationals would prefer to sign him for two years." If the Nationals are unable to reach a deal with Garland, Mr. Rosenthal's source believes, "...the Nats could turn to another free-agent starter, possibly right-hander Jason Marquis or lefty Doug Davis."

• Garland was in the final year of a 3-year/$29M dollar contract when he was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the LA Angels for SS Orlando Cabrera in November 2007. Following the '08 campaign, the right-handed starter signed a 1-year/$7.25M dollar free agent deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks in late January of 2009, and he was subsequently traded by the D-Backs to the LA Dodgers in late August '09, with Los Angeles declining to pick up his option after the season, making him a free agent once again. ESPN.com's Keith Law, in an update of their Rumor Central reports (for Insider's Only) entitled, "Nats in on three starters" says, "Giving Jon Garland more than one year is overpaying." Mr. Law believes that if the Nationals simply, "...hold firm and make the most lucrative 1-yr deal they get the player."

• Mr. Law's colleague at ESPN, Jerry Crasnick sent out two Nationals-related Tweets this afternoon, in which he claimed that Washington was interested in free agent outfielder Randy Winn. The first Crasnick Tweet simply linked to another ESPN.com Rumor Central post entitled, "Crasnick: Winn on Nats' radar", and the second Crasnick Tweet explained why the Nationals are looking at the 35-year-old free agent outfielder:

"The Nationals like Winn's versatility, and think he could be a positive influence on Elijah Dukes. Do they have enough ABs for him?"

Mr. Crasnick cites Winn's weak '09 OPS and his .158 AVG against left-handers as the reasons why he's having a hard time finding a starting job as a free agent coming off a 3-year deal with the San Francisco Giants which paid the outfielder $8.25 million last year. Though Winn couldn't touch left-handed pitchers, (.158 AVG, .184 OPS in 120 AB's), Winn did manage to hit .292 with a .751 OPS in 418 AB's against righties last season, in which he hit 32 doubles, 2 triples and 3 HR's. Defensively, in 146 games (104 in RF, 54 in LF, 22 CF), Winn was error-free in '09, with the second-best UZR/150 rating in the NL amongst outfielders, behind only the Nationals' CF Nyjer Morgan.

Does Winn make sense in DC though? With Roger Bernadina and Justin Maxwell thought to be ready to challenge for at least a roster spot this season, and Willie Harris due $1.5M in the second-year of a two-year deal, does signing a solid 4th outfielder make any sense?

(ed. note - "Speaking of Nyjer Morgan...FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reported in an update of FOXSports.com's, "Buzz: Latest on the MLB offseason", subtitled, "Cubs 'not leaning toward' any particular CF", that in their search for outfield help, the Chicago Cubs, according to "a source", "....have asked the Nationals about Nyjer Morgan...but Washington officials want to keep him." Are the Cubs nuts? Find your own base-stealing Tony Plush, Chi-Town!")

Washington Nationals: Elijah Dukes/DWL Update.

Ed Chigliak — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:00:27 -0000

by John Bazemore - AP

Washington Nationals' Elijah Dukes (34) is supposed to return to the DWL's Tigres del Licey this week...(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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• Elijah Dukes: Lost in Translation?

I spent a little while last night feeding the following paragraph --(taken from a Licey.com article by Dionisio Soldevila entitled, "Captain America" arrives Thursday", about the Dominican Winter League's Tigres del Licey's announcement that they would immediately add MLB outfielder Eric Byrnes to their roster)-- into online translators (since I don't read/speak Spanish) to try to figure out exactly what the Tigres were saying about their plans for Washington Nationals' OF Elijah Dukes, who played four games for Licey before leaving the team in mid-November to be with his father who had fallen ill and eventually passed away:

"De igual manera, los Tigres desistieron de traer de vuelta al jardinero norteamericano Elijah Dukes, quien partió hacia los Estados Unidos por la muerte de su padre, pero dejó plantado al Licey en varias oportunidades.

"Ya al Licey no le interesa tener de vuelta a Elijah Dukes", informó Busto."

The last line is what caused the translators fits...

(cont.)...

Here's how it translates:

"Similarly, the Tigers desisted to bring of return to the American outfielder Elijah Dukes, who left toward the United States by the death of its father, but left planted to the Licey in several opportunities.

"Already to the Licey does not interest to have of return to Elijah Dukes", reported Bust."

"Licey does not interest to have of return to Elijah Dukes"? Dukes isn't interested in returning? Dukes' return is interesting for the team? Somebody want to help us out here? Is something lost in translation or is Licey saying that they're not interested in having Dukes return?

• Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin, in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nationals notes: Dukes, L. Hernandez", reported that DC Skipper Jim Riggleman had traveled to Florida to visit with Dukes and his family after Dukes' father had passed away and Mr. Riggleman is quoted in the article stating:

"It hit him (Dukes) hard," Riggleman said, "because Elijah was really looking forward to his father seeing him play -- and then after a few weeks, he's gone."

Mr. Sheinin goes on to say that Dukes is, "...expected to return to his winter ball team this week," which is why the quote from the Licey.com article above is even more confusing...

I'll update in the comments section whenever further information is available...

Washington Nationals: Winter Meetings Wrap.

Ed Chigliak — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:28:33 -0000

More photos » by Haraz N. Ghanbari - AP

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo found the catcher he wanted at the Winter Meetings, now the Nationals need to add some pitching. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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Before the Winter Meetings, the Washington Nationals made clear that they did not think it was absolutely essential that they add the pitching help they need from the top of the free agent class or within the three-day span of the Indianapolis Winter Meetings, as DC GM Mike Rizzo explained to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, who wrote in a 12/2/09 article entitled, "Pitching the focus for Nats at Meetings", that fans shouldn't, "...look for the the Nationals to attempt to break the bank," in pursuit of free agent help, as they did last Winter in their pursuit of Mark Teixeira, who we've been told, time and again, was seen as a once-in-a-generation talent, but instead should accept the fact that it's more, "...likely that Rizzo will make trades."

(cont.)...

BACKPAGE:

• The LIST.

• Oh...AND LIVAN HERNANDEZ!

• Guzman To Second, Desmond At Short?

• Bally To The Bullpen? WT...

BACKPAGE:

• The LIST as the DC Faithful are calling it, (ed. note - "No one is calling it that."), that Rizzo gave to Washington Post writer Chico Harlan for an article entitled, "Reading Material, Shopping Lists", of pitchers that the Nationals were interested in this winter, started with 14 names, but as the Winter Meetings officially end following tomorrow's Rule 5 Draft, the list has been shortened some, from, "Jason Marquis, Randy Wolf, John Lackey, Cliff Lee, Jon Garland, Kevin Millwood, Tim Hudson, Brad Penny, Joel Piñeiro, Braden Looper, Jarrod Washburn, Brandon Webb, Brett Myers, John Smoltz and more..." to, as the Post's Chico Harlan wrote in two Nationals Journal posts entitled, "The starting pitching shopping list", and "The starting pitching, Pt. II":

"(Jon Garland and)...almost every established free agent starting pitcher except the A-lister, John Lackey. So, the Nats would entertain the possibility of Jarrod Washburn, Joel Pineiro, Vicente Padilla, Jason Marquis, and John Smoltz."

• Oh...AND LIVAN HERNANDEZ!

After Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin wrote about Elijah Dukes' winter, he added a note to the end of an article entitled, "Nationals notes: Dukes, L. Hernandez", about the Washington Nationals making contract with the agent for Mr. National Himself, Livan Hernandez, the original Nationals' Ace, who has openly expressed his desire to return to the nation's capital since the end of the '09 season. Mr. Sheinin writes that Hernandez's agent, "(Barry) Praver would not characterize the talks", but in the Washington Post writer's opinion it would take, "...a one-year contract with a low base and ample performance incentives."

-- (ed. note - "Do you want to see Livan Hernandez return to the Nationals? From what I've read in the comments, it's pretty much split amongst the DC Faithful...Should the Nationals let Livan teach Strasburg the eephus?")

• Guzman To Second, Desmond At Short?

MLB.com's Bill Ladson was Twittering throughout the Winter Meetings, letting Nationals' fans know what was going on long before it went into print (as were the Washington Times' writers), and the biggest revelation out of the final day in Indianapolis was that the Nationals had made up their minds about what to do with their twenty-ten middle infield:

"It appears the Nats will take a chance with Cristian Guzman at second base. That means Orlando Hudson is not coming to DC."

Does that mean that Ian Desmond is officially a "Go!" at short? Are the Nationals still going to try to find another option at short?

• Bally To The Bullpen? WT...

The other interesting thing that MLB.com's Bill Ladson Twittered was the idea that:

"The Nats may rely on some of their youngsters in the bullpen. Luis Atilano, Collin Balester and Craig Stammen are candidates."

As the Nationals' system produces more pitching, some of the older starters who haven't established themselves are going to have to make the move to the pen to make room for the next wave of pitchers. Is Balester on that list in your mind? (ed. note - "Not mine.")...What about J.D. Martin? Shairon Martis? Atilano? Stammen? Ross Detwiler? Is this Washington's way of saying why sign relievers when we have all these arms under contract?

Washington Nationals' Elijah Dukes To Return To DWL...

Ed Chigliak — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:30:21 -0000

More photos » by Tom Gannam - AP

Washington Nationals' Elijah Dukes is due to return to the Dominican Winter League's Tigres del Licey early next week. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

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The Dominican Winter League's Tigres del Licey, who are currently tied with the Toros del Este, 1.0 game out of first behind the Leones del Escogido in the DWL standings, will get a boost from the return of Washington Nationals' outfielder Elijah Dukes to their lineup next week. Dukes left the DWL to go home before Thanksgiving and spend time with his father who was gravely ill and eventually passed away on November 23rd.

(cont.)...

In just 4 games played before he left the club, Dukes was 3 for 10 with 2 HR's, 4 walks and 5 RBI's. The Nationals' 25-year-old outfielder is in the DWL to learn to hit breaking balls before he heads to Spring Training and attempts to secure the starting job in right field for 2010. According to MASNSports.com's Byron Kerr's article on Dukes entitled, "Elijah Dukes 'went to bat' for Riggleman", the 25-year-old outfielder (who'll turn 26 this June) was vocal in support of the man who'll manage the Nationals in twenty-ten, Jim Riggleman, whose agent Burton Rocks told Mr. Kerr that while Washington was conducting a search to see if Riggleman was the best man available for the job on the DC bench:

"Dukes recommended to the Nationals that they resign Riggleman and enthusiastically encouraged the team to retain him..."

Dukes hit .250 with a .337 OBP, a .393 SLG, (.729 OPS), 20 doubles, 8 HR's and 54 RBI's in 107 games in 2009, and as of now, he's penciled in as the Nationals' starting right fielder in 2010.

Should the Washington Nationals Spend $20 Million This Winter Just Because They Have It?

Dave at Nats News Network — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:52:50 -0000

More photos » by Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

4 months ago: FILE - In this July 13, 2009 file photo, Washington Nationals vice president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo, left, and president Stan Kasten, speak during a news conference discussing the team's managerial situation in Washington. After 5 1/2 months of doing the work of the Washington Nationals' general manager, Mike Rizzo is getting the title, too, sources in Major League Baseball familiar with the Nationals' plans said Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

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There are plenty in the Natosphere that want Mike Rizzo and the Washington Nationals to make a big splash and sign a bunch of free agents this winter to improve the product on the field.

After two-straight 100-loss seasons, I'm sure Rizzo is tempted to make a run at Matt Holliday, John Lackey, etc. But prudence, rather than exuberance, should rule the day.

If you take a good look at the Nats 2010 lineup, the hitters are credible enough to imitate a wild card caliber team.

But should the brass spend $20 million this winter just because they have it?

The answer, after the jump...

If Nyjer Morgan can replicate his season from last year (minus the season-ending injury) and Cristian Guzman has one .300-hitting season left in him, those are decent enough table setters in front of All-Star 3B Ryan Zimmerman and sluggers Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham.

The six-seven-eight hitters are going to be a combination of Elijah Dukes in right field, Jesus Flores (once healthy) at catcher, and Ian Desmond at shortstop.

Solid at the plate, and somewhat better in the field with Desmond replacing Guzman at short, and the Guz sliding over to second base.

And as long as "Running" Jim Riggleman doesn't call for a suicide squeeze every other game they should score enough runs to field a fairly competitive offense, just like last season.

Combine that with the prospect of having a couple of really decent trade chips at this year's deadline (Dunn, Willingham), and some of the minor league talent starting to show (Espinosa, Norris), the Nats have a reason to feel somewhat optimistic about the future of the lineup.

The problem is pitching, both starting and relieving.

Rizzo went on record last summer stating a preference for finding two starters to take some of the pressure of youngsters John Lannan, Ross Detwiler, Garrett Mock, Collin Balester, J.D. Martin, Craig Stammen at the major league level, while not rushing the more highly regarded prospects still in the minors, such as Stephen Strasburg, Aaron Thompson, Brad Meyers, et al.

And there's even more talent in the lower minors, with '09 draftees Trevor Holder and A.J. Morris just coming into their first full season as professionals.

Should the Nats spend $20 million this off-season, just because they have it?

Already one of the lower payrolls in the big leagues, the Nats see at least that much coming off the books this season, as the contracts of Dmitri Young, Ronnie Belliard, Nick Johnson, and Austin Kearns all either expired, were traded, or bought out.

They could even afford to offer Scott Olsen arbitration, get stuck with a 25-year old lefty recovering from shoulder surgery, and still have monopoly money to throw around.

But again, should they?

There are two "Type A" free agent starters available this season, John Lackey and Randy Wolf. Signing either would require the Nats to surrender their second round draft pick in the 2010 draft.

For a club whose best players are still several years from their prime, this doesn't seem to be prudent to me.

There are a bunch of "Type B" starters available that might be interesting, costing the Nats a little less, a second round pick. But most of these players are either injury cases (Erik Bedard, Justin Duchscherer, Rich Harden, Carl Pavano), old (Randy Johnson, Andy Pettitte), of questionable pedigree (Doug Davis, Braden Looper, Jason Marquis, Joel Piniero), or just bat-guano crazy (Vicente Padilla).

Do the Nats give up a chunk of the future to acquire any of these gentlemen? There's not a name in there that doesn't scare me to one degree or another.

And if the Type B's frighten, you can imagine what the rest of the list looks like. Reclamation projects, one-hit wonders, and former Nats (Odalis Perez or Daniel Cabrera, anyone?).

My advice to Rizzo? If you want to take a chance rolling the dice on Doug Davis, Joel Piniero or Jarrod Washburn, and can do it reasonably, via con dios.

Otherwise, let the stable of young guys that you have fight it out again this season, bolster your bullpen with the rest, wait for Jordan Zimmermann to recover from Tommy John surgery and Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen to arrive next season, THEN supplement with a veteran starter.

Just because you have $20 million to spend, doesn't mean you should.

Poll

Should the Nats spend a lot of money this off-season on players that won't be around when their core of young players are in their prime?

Yes, we still have to watch (and pay for) these games!

69 votes

No, I'm willing to stay the course until the young talent is ready.

62 votes

131 votes | Poll has closed

Washington Nationals: AFL Wrap-Up...

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:06:07 -0000

The Peoria Javelinas are the AFL's '09 Champs after beating the Phoenix Desert Dogs 5-4 Saturday in Scottsdale, Arizona. (ed. note - "Picture above is from an AFL outing earlier this month by DC pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg, who missed today's start with a knee injury.")

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The Arizona Fall League's '09 season is over. Peoria Javelinas' second baseman C.J. Retherford, an infield prospect in the Chicago White Sox' system, hit a two-run HR to left and out of Scottsdale, Arizona's Scottsdale Stadium, taking Phoenix Desert Dogs' reliever Josh Perrault, (a Baltimore Orioles' prospect who also spent time in DC's system) deep in the bottom of the eighth inning of a game the D-Dogs led 4-3 just a moment earlier...Nationals' fans were preparing for a ninth inning appearance by future-DC-closer Drew Storen, but Javelinas' (and Detroit Tigers') reliever Robbie Weinhardt retired the Desert Dogs in order in the top of the ninth, and made the 5-4 lead stand up as Peoria, Arizona's second-favorite team ended Phoenix's five-year reign as the AFL Champs, claiming their first AFL title since 2002.

• Final Score - Javelinas 5, Desert Dogs 4. MLB.com GameDay.

BACKPAGE:

• AFL Championship Notes.

• Dukes Leaves DWL For The Week...

• Drew Storen On MLB Network: On His AFL Experience.

BACKPAGE:

AFL Notes: Faced with a team that threw one reliever after another out on the mound, the Desert Dogs were forced to adjust to a new arm each inning, and ended up striking out 15 times in 35 at bats against a Javelinas' staff which didn't allow a single walk. DC and Desert Dogs' right-hander Jeff Mandel's leadoff walk in the fourth eventually came around to score after a sac bunt, a throwing error by the pitcher and a run-scoring groundout followed. Nationals' infield prospect Danny Espinosa was 0 for 4 on the afternoon, but his first-inning groundout drove in a run...Chris Marrero had a rough day at the plate as Washington's first base prospect K'd 3 times and flew out to center to leave him 0 for 4 in the AFL final...The good news...it was other teams' prospects and not Storen, Stephen Strasburg et al on the bottom of the ridiculous pile-up in front of home that followed the Javelinas' win, which must have had GM's league-wide pulling their hair out and holding their breath until it broke up...with, luckily, no injuries reported...

• Dukes Leaves DWL For The Week...

In an article announcing Erick Aybar's arrival in the Tigres del Licey lineup entitled, "Erick Aybar Debuts This Sunday", Licey.com writer Alexander Gomez notes that Blake Dewitt, Mike Rabelo and DC outfielder Elijah Dukes have left Licey and the Dominican Republic, though Dukes' departure is reportedly only temporary as he returns to the United States to be with his father, who has fallen ill. According to Mr. Gomez, Dukes will be returing to the Tigres on November 30th. Dukes is 3 for 10 with 2 HR's and 5 RBI's so far in his first 4 DWL games...

• Drew Storen On MLB Network: On His AFL Experience.

Drew Storen was interviewed by the MLB Network before today's AFL Championship game, and was asked what it was like to pitch alongside his fellow 1st Round pick Stephen Strasburg:

Storen: "I mean not only Strasburg but you know all of the fielders that we've got here and Mandel and Wilkie in the bullpen with me down here, it's been a lot of fun throwing with these guys, and, you know I played with most of them this summer and not to mention the guys from the other teams that I get to play with, it's a lot of a fun..."

...And what if any expectations he has for himself:

Storen: "Actually, I'm trying not to...I'm a big guy on not having expectations. I just want to go out and make adjustments and get better, and I was kinda, that's what I'm trying to do down here, and you know, i've found some success, and hopefully can carry that on today..."

(ed. note - "MLB.com has a Strasburg/Storen video up, linked HERE, which has part of the quick interview with Drew Storen and some AFL highlights of the Nationals' two 1st Round picks in action. Take a look, you won't see Storen or Strasburg pitch again until March...")

Washington Nationals' Prospects Finish AFL Regular Season.

Ed Chigliak — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:56:14 -0000

Washington Nationals' prospect Chris Marrero (1B) waits in the on-deck circle at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona.

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The box score for Thursday's Phoenix Desert Dogs/Surprise Rafters game doesn't mention the most important development out of Arizona, Stephen Strasburg's knee injury and subsequent removal from the starter's role in Saturday's nationally-televised AFL Championship, but it does wrap up the regular season for all of the Nationals' prospects participating in the Arizona Fall League, with SS Danny Espinosa, first baseman Chris Marrero and relief pitcher Josh Wilkie all appearing in the D-Dogs' 7-4 loss. Espinosa was 0 for 2, leaving the 22-year-old infielder with a .345 AVG, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR and 14 RBI's in 24 games, over which he posted a .434 OBP, with a .460 SLG and an .894 OPS. Marrero, 21, goes 2 for 4 with his 10th double and 21st RBI in 20 games and 83 AB's in which he's collected 29 hits, (7 doubles and 3 HR's), for a .349 AVG with 8 walks, 16 K's, a .402 OBP, .542 SLG and a .944 OPS. Wilkie, 25, a right-hander out of George Washington University who signed with DC as an undrafted free agent, gave up a hit in a scoreless inning of work in the fifth, and shortly thereafter received news that could (potentially) change the course of his career...(cont. after the JUMP)...

Final Score - Rafters 7, Desert Dogs 4 - MLB.com Gameday.

Desert Dogs finish AFL Reg. Season: 19-13.

BACKPAGE:

• Washington Nationals Set 40-Man Roster...

• Elijah Dukes Goes Yard...Again...

BACKPAGE:

• Washington Nationals Set 40-Man Roster...("but not Wilkie")...

Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin wrote a Nationals Journal post this afternoon entitled, "Nats add three to 40-man roster, but not Wilkie", in which he reported that the Nationals had added Juan Jaime, a 22-year-old right-hander out of San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic, Atahualpa Severino, a 25-year-old left-hander out of Cotui in the DR, and LHP Aaron Thompson, who'll turn 23 in February, and who is also known as The Nick Johnson Return, the Florida Marlins' '05 1st Round pick out of Houston, Texas, who was acquired by DC GM Mike Rizzo in return for old "Two-Spot" himself, Nick Johnson in a deadline deal that broke some Nats' fans' hearts...But after sending Josh Wilkie out to the Arizona Fall League, the Nationals have left the 25-year-old right-hander off the 40-Man Roster, leaving him unprotected in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

Wilkie, who pitched for Double-A Harrisburg and the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs in 2009, (compiling a (7-5) record with a 2.64 ERA, 67 hits, 22 R, 21 ER and 17 walks allowed with 65 K's collected, a 1.17 WHIP, 10.1 K/9 and a 6.25 K/BB in 51 G and 71.2 IP), went out to Arizona and pitched 12.2 innings more over 10 AFL games in which he surrendered 17 H, 12 R, 6 ER, and 4 walks while striking out 12 and suffering just one loss, (0-1, 4.26 ERA)), will now, Mr. Sheinin notes, "...be subject to the Rule 5 Draft, where another team can claim him for $50,000." Will Wilkie slip through? Will some jokers up in Toronto take a chance on the righty? Maybe a certain manager out in Cleveland? The Rule 5 Draft is December 10th...Will Josh Wilkie be a National on December 11th?

• Elijah Dukes Goes Yard...Again...

Elijah Dukes was the Tigres del Licey DH in Thursday's Dominican Winter League game against Aguilas Cibaenas. After lining out to left in his first AB, Dukes homered (for the second time in 3 games) sending a two-run blast out to left in his second at bat after Dodgers' and Tigres' infielder Blake Dewitt was hit by a pitch to leadoff the fourth. Dukes collected his 3rd RBI in the 5th with a sac fly, and ended the game with a swinging K in the eighth. Dukes goes 1 for 3 with a walk, HR and 3 RBI's as the Tigres cruise to a 12-4 win.

Washington Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo Adds Davey Johnson To Front Office.

Ed Chigliak — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:47:41 -0000

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

FILE - Davey Johnson has joined the front office of the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, Nov 18, 2009. The 66-year-old Johnson will work as a senior adviser to general manager Mike Rizzo. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo Adds Davey Johnson To Front Office:

On June 7th 2006, then-Washington Nationals' GM Jim Bowden brought Davey Johnson on board in DC as a consultant to the GM, describing the former major league infielder and New York Mets' manager in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Bowden reunited with Johnson", as a "tremendous evaluator of players" with a "tremendous understanding of building a championship organization," who would be tasked with, in Mr. Ladson's words, "...evaluat(ing) other team's prospects."

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's 11/18/09 article entitled, "Nats name Johnson senior advisor to GM", amongst his other contributions during his first stint in Washington, Johnson, "...told the Nationals to select catcher Jesus Flores in the 2006 Rule 5 Draft." The current DC GM, Mike Rizzo, who's announcing that he's brought Davey Johnson in as his own senior advisor, heaps similar praise upon the skipper of the 1986 World Series winning Mets, explaining that, "Davey makes me a smarter general manager,'" :

"'He is a deep thinker. He has done every aspect you can do in the game. Just to be around him, it makes me all that much better.'"

This time around with Washington, Johnson, according to Mr. Ladson, "...will attend Spring Training as a coach, and he will most likely be a scout and roving instructor during the season."

BACKPAGE:

Riggleman Brings Back Rick "You Have No Integrity" Eckstein, Steve "McChatty" McCatty and Pat Listach.

Dukes In The DWL: Elijah Dukes In The Dominican Republic.

BACKPAGE:

Riggleman Brings Back Rick "You Have No Integrity" Eckstein, Steve "McChatty" McCatty and Pat Listach.

In a post at his blog earlier today entitled, "Nats add McLaren, retain Eckstein, Listach and McCatty", which confirmed yesterday's reports that DC Skipper Jim Riggleman had brought former Mariners' Manager John McLaren to DC as his bench coach several years after McLaren hired Riggleman for the same role in Seattle, MLB.com's Bill Ladson, who was all over the breaking news today, reported that Mr. Riggleman had also decided to bring Rick Eckstein back as the Nationals' Hitting Coach, Pat Listach back as the third-base coach and Steve "McChatty" McCatty back as Washington's Pitching Coach, with a decision on the first base and bullpen coaches still pending...

Dukes In The DWL: Elijah Dukes In The Dominican Republic.

Elijah Dukes started in center for the Tigres del Licey on Tuesday against the Leones del Escogido, going 1 for 2 with 2 walks before being replaced by Houston Astros' OF prospect Yordany Ramirez after Dukes' second walk in the sixth. The Tigres took an 8-3 lead with a run in the top of the sixth, then proceeded to surrender runs in each of the last four innings as the Leones fought back and won it with a walkoff sac fly in the ninth after a leadoff walk by former Major League reliever Yhancy Brazoban and back-to-back bunts, one a sac attempt that an error made a single and a succcesful sac bunt which set up the winning flyout...

• Final Score - Tigres 8, Leones 9. MLB.com Box Score.

Washington Nationals' Elijah Dukes Gets Ejected...+ Rumorville.

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:33:32 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

After homering in his first DWL game last night, Elijah Dukes K'd three times and got ejected yesterday in his second game with the Tigres del Licey. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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Day 2 In The DWL For Dukes...

• Elijah Dukes had three at bats to try to make sense of the junk that veteran MLB lefty John Halama was throwing this afternoon in the Sunday Tigres del Licey v Aguilas Cibaenas Dominican Winter League matchup. Dukes never did figure out Halama's offspeed and breaking balls, and after the third straight K, this one backwards, he got himself tossed for arguing about where the bottom of the strike zone was with home plate umpire Justin Vogel. The Nationals' 25-year-old cannon-armed outfielder's down in the DWL to learn how to hit the sort of stuff Halama was throwing. In his first DWL game last night, Dukes hit a two-run HR in his second AB with the Tigres, but today, Halama and a few questionable strikes got the best of the enigmatic outfielder...

• In what, at times, felt like an franchise-history-spanning intra-squad game between current and former Washington Nationals with Dukes, Halama, Wily Mo Pena, Bernie Castro, Daniel Cabrera, Emilio Bonifacio, Anderson Hernandez, Kory Casto and pitching prospect Atahualpa Severino all seeing action, the Tigres took and then immediately blew a 2-1 lead when Bernie Castro hit a two-run triple in the top of the fifth, followed quickly by Aguilas' first baseman Kevin Barker's RBI single and second baseman Hector Luna's three-run HR that made it 5-2 Aguilas after the home-half of the frame...

• Final Score - Tigres del Licey 2, Aguilas Cibaenas 8. MLB.com Box.

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• Rumorville (A Suburb Of NatsTown™): Trading The Untradeable.

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• Rumorville (A Suburb Of NatsTown™): Trading The Untradeable.

In MLB.com's Bill Ladson's latest, "Inbox: Riggleman right man for job?", Mr. Ladson talks to several readers with ideas about how the Nationals can improve their middle infield, (Ronnie Belliard? Jamey Carroll?), and then entertains a question from a fan who wants to know if the DC fans should just expect an Ian Desmond/Cristian Guzman middle infield combo this season, with Mr. Ladson responding that he finds it hard to imagine the Nationals going with an Adam Dunn/Cristian Guzman right side of the infield, leading him to believe, in his own words:

"...that the Nationals will try to trade Guzman. It will be hard, because he will make $8 million next year.

As far as Desmond goes, I'm getting mixed signals. I know that Riggleman likes him, but there are other people in the organization who believe he needs more seasoning in the Minor Leagues."

Mr. Ladson quoted Jim Riggleman, in an article entitlted, "Riggleman: Guzman a second baseman" after Riggleman was promoted to full-time skipper, saying that in his opinion and Mr. Ladson's words, "...he wouldn't mind going into the season with Desmond at (short)", though the 24-year-old infielder will have to earn it, and Washington Post writer Thomas Boswell addressed the complaints about Guzman's defensive play and the possibility that someone out there will take an $8 million dollar deal off the Nationals' hands in a chat with readers back on September 24, 2009 entitled, "Ask Boswell: Redskins, Nats, Orioles and More", where Mr. Boswell responded to another Nats fan who brought up Jamey Carroll as an option before suggesting that Guzman's, "...poor on base percentage, marginal range and lack of power," should lead the Nationals to trade the soon-to-be 32-year-old outfielder, "...even if they have to eat half his contract," by stating that:

"Critism of Guzman's fielding is overdone. He has a strong arm, remains agile and WILL be part of the Nats middle infield next year, almost certainly. His $8-million contract makes him semi-untradeable. He's not worth that much. But he is worth having. Almost every SS who has moved to 2nd base has immediately been perceived as a much-improved fielder. Every great defender is put at SS. Those who aren't good enough move to 2nd. So, Guzman's competition is easier. Good Lord, Dan Uggla plays 2nd. Also, almost every play is easier at 2nd. Going left or right (especially left), you can leave your feet and slide to make a stop and still have time to throw out the hitter a high percentage of the time."

Another important consideration Mr. Boswell points out is the fact that Guzman's playing for his next contract this season, which is all the more motivation for Guzman to stay healthy and productive while projecting the image of a team player who's willing to do what's necessary for the good of the ballclub. The year before Guzman signed with Washington, the then-Minnesota Twins' infielder parlayed a .274 AVG, .309 OBP, .384 SLG, 31 doubles, 8 HR's and 46 RBI's into a 4-year deal with Washington worth $16.8 million dollars, (ed. note - "BOWDEN!!"), and after hitting .219 with a .260 OBP in 2005, missing all of 2006, hitting over .300 in 46 games in 2007 and posting a .316 AVG, .345 OBP, .440 SLG, 35 doubles and 55 RBI's in 2008, Guzman inked a two-year extension with the Nationals (in July of '08) for the $8 million he made last year and the $8M he's due in 2010...(ed. note - "BOWDEN!!") Should DC fans expect a lucrative bounce-back campaign from the Guz...?

(ed. note - "Guzman better be solid at second if he stays in DC and switches to the other side of the infield, because Adam Dunn, in the opinion of one Fangraphs.com writer, is the worst defensive player in the Majors. Fangraphs.com writer Matthew Carruth posted an article last Friday entitled, "Highs and Lows of UZR 2007-9: Dunn", in which Mr. Carruth looks, "...at the best and worst defensive performers over the last three seasons combined," and concludes that DC 1st baseman Adam Dunn has cost him team (-108.1) "runs against average" over the last three seasons...granted, most of the Dunn stats examined in this article would have been for him as an OFer, and there's little or no chance he's going back out there any time soon...")

Washington Nationals World News: Stephen Strasburg, Elijah Dukes, Josh Willingham

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:55:19 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Why Would You Trade Willingham? (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Browse more photos »

Josh Willingham In Rumorville:

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi start their latest column entitled, "Saturday's latest news and notes", by writing that the Washington Nationals, "...are again drawing strong interest in left fielder Josh Willingham," though the only team Mr.'s Rosenthal and Morosi mention by name as having interest is Atlanta, and they immediately note that the Braves, "...harbor concerns about his defense and past back trouble." The writers also note in the report that the Nationals aren't necessarily looking to deal Willingham since he's under their control for the next two seasons, just as DC GM Mike Rizzo mentioned last July in Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's Nationals Journal post entitled, "Rizzo Has No Plans For A Fire Sale", in which he was quoted asking rhetorically:

"Why would you want to dump Willingham? We control him for two years, he's [30] years old, and he's a good hitter," Rizzo said. "I still think it's a young team. Willingham and Zim, those are guys in their primes or entering their primes. Including Dunn."

MLB.com's Bill Ladson cites "two baseball sources" who say that the Nationals are interested in free agent late-inning lefty Mike Gonzalez, a former Pirates' draft pick who's spent the last three years in Atlanta and IF/OF Mark DeRosa, who started his career in Atlanta and has played for the Rangers, Cubs and last year the Indians and Cardinals.

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• Stephen Strasburg Wins In Phoenix

• Elijah Dukes Homers In Licey

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• Stephen Strasburg Wins In Phoenix

In front of 656 fans in Phoenix Municipal Stadium, the Washington Nationals' '09 No. 1 overall pick, Stephen Strasburg, struck out 6 of the 14 Peoria Saguaros' batters he faced, throwing 64 pitches, 36 for strikes in 3.2 scoreless innings pitched, over which the 21-year-old right-hander allowed just 1 hit and 2 walks, while recording 4 ground outs and one fly ball out. According to Project Prospect.com's TwitterFeed, in addition to throwing a fastball in the high-90's all day, topping out at 99, Strasburg also had the change working as they wrote early in today's outing that, "Strasburg's change is a plus-pitch too," and then later summed up the start with the following Tweet:

"projectprospect: Stras done after 63 pitches. Top speed was 99. CB movement was exceptional. No balls hit to outfield. And CH was VERY good."

(ed. note - "If you haven't checked out Project Prospect.com yet, you should. The AFL coverage they've done over the last weeks has been expectional.")

With Strasburg's 4th win in the balance, his fellow DC 1st Round pick, future Nationals' closer Drew Storen was called upon in the eighth inning, giving up a one-out single before a doubleplay grounder ended the frame, and allowing the Saguaros' to load the bases with one down in the ninth before he got back-to-back K's to close out the win over Peoria, Arizona's second-favorite team. Storen throws 30 pitches, 18 for strikes, and gives up 3 hits in 2.0 IP over which he walks one intentionally, strikes out 2 and lowers his AFL ERA to 0.71 after 11 G and 12.2 IP in which he's now earned 3 saves while giving up 14 hits and 3 runs, 1 earned, with 11 K's collected.

Notes: No Nationals' prospects on the field today, only the mound.

• Final Score - Desert Dogs 1, Saguaros 0 - MLB.com's GameDay.

• Elijah Dukes Homers In Licey

Elijah Dukes made his DWL debut tonight, starting in center and going 1 for 2 with a walk in his first at bat and a two-run HR in his second, (no word on if it was a curve that he hit, coverage was spotty), after which he flew out to left the third time up and was replaced in center after three innings with Dukes' Tigres del Licey already up 9-3 over Estrellas de Oriente, (who started Nationals' IF prospect Michael Martinez, who split the '09 campaign between Potomac and Harrisburg, at short). The Tigres end up with a 15-5 win, and the coverage at Licey.com focuses on Dukes, with an article by Dionosio Soldevila entitled, "Dukes se sitio en Oriente!!!" (which translates roughly as "Dukes was felt in the East!!!, Spanish-speaking readers please correct me, I studied French.") in which Mr. Soldevila writes, (and pardon the computer translation):

"Elijah Dukes played his first game of the Dominican season on Saturday and he caused a roar immediately, with a two-run HR as Licey squashed the Estrellas de Oriente, 15-5."

(ed. note - "There's a nice pic of Dukes being greeted at the dugout in his Licey blues if you check that link to Licey.com.")

Elijah Dukes is a front-page story in Licey!!!

• Final Score - Tigres, 15 Estrellas, 1 - MLB.com Box Score.