SB Nation - Mike MacDougal

Closers as synonym for Relievers

DanUpBaby — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:00:30 -0000

^^ is a closer.

The Matt Holliday Question—I like thinking of it that way, as though its ramifications for Singapore are about to be discussed in an unsigned piece in The Economist—has kept us from freaking out about the bullpen. In some ways this is a good thing; there's nothing less satisfying that worrying about The Bullpen Question, which is never answered to our satisfaction on a year-to-year basis. But with Holliday in Flux, we've got no choice. As a prompt, this headline from Ken Rosenthal: "Too many closers, not enough jobs":

For some closers, the free-agent game of musical chairs is not likely to end well...

Two more closers -- Pirates righty Matt Capps and Nationals righty Mike MacDougal -- became free agents when their respective teams declined to offer them salary arbitration.

The availability of the Padres' Heath Bell in trade only adds to the squeeze. Bell is more affordable than some of the closers on the open market...

Four teams already have found closers. The Braves signed left-hander Billy Wagner. The Orioles signed left-hander Mike Gonzalez. The Rays traded for righty Rafael Soriano and the Astros signed righty Brandon Lyon...

This article is why the term "closer" is worthless. I'm done trying to convince people any other way—no more decrying the overrated concept of "closing experience", of "the closer's mentality", of anything else that can be measured statistically. Mike MacDougal, Heath Bell, Billy Wagner, and Mike Gonzalez are all described here, by a well-regarded baseball reporter, as closers. If that is the case—then this term is completely without meaning.

Does labeling this set of relievers "closer" tell you anything more about them than labeling them relievers would? Just one thing: they have all pitched in the ninth inning for at least one season. This information is completely worthless.

That aside—this is not an extremely promising crop of relief pitchers. Jose Valverde is the best free agent, but as a Type A free agent who was offered arbitration he'd cost the Cardinals a draft pick. The Cardinals haven't been linked to Matt Capps's list of finalists, and that he's in such demand following a really ugly season—Jason Motte with fewer strikeouts and walks?—is condemnation enough of the remaining prospects. (Though, seriously, where are they on Kiko Calero? Where is everybody on Kiko Calero?)

For these prospects are, in grand La Russa/Duncan fashion, interesting-but. My favorite, and probably Duncan's favorite, is Mike MacDougal, but my interest is purely as a spectator; his fastball is awesome, his nickname is awesome, and he gets a ton of groundballs and doesn't give up any home runs, which would be awesome if he were still striking batters out. (Bizarre, possibly related Fangraphs fact: he almost totally stopped throwing his once-vaunted slider last year, going with the fastball more often than Jason Motte.) MacDougal's not likely to be a good reliever, and my taste in bad relievers aside he's of interest mostly as a Dave Duncan lottery ticket. But he's also a closer, so there's that.

What this means for the Cardinals is that barring a trade their improved bullpen will have to come from within. Is anybody here willing to nominate someone other than Motte as the bullpen savior in 2010? Relievers are so difficult to predict that I've almost stopped doing it; it's the last baseball territory in which my emotions are basically sovereign over my common sense, and it would definitely be my weakness if I were a GM. Francisco Samuel? Certainly this is the year he puts it all together, perhaps under the steady tutelage of a veteran closer like Mike MacDougal. Casey Mulligan? He's apparently got no stuff whatsoever, but he's dominated four levels in two years, so why not? Gary Daley? Well, he got to AAA, and he didn't walk 25 batters per nine innings this year.

I thought about ending this entry with a poll, but there are just too many choices, even though in the end my tastes run, conventionally, toward Mitchell Boggs, whose fastball looked nearly as good as Mike MacDougal's in the bullpen, and Eduardo Sanchez, the only blue-chip reliever left in the high minors. It's just that in the bullpen it's harder than any other corner of the roster to discount the possibility that someone who I was not counting on at all in March is carrying the team in July.

Washington Nationals: Midday Rumors/Links.

Ed Chigliak — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:55:03 -0000

More photos » by Luis Alvarez - AP

DC GM Mike Rizzo was in Texas on Tuesday to see free agent pitcher Aroldis Chapman throw...Rizzo was the only out-of-town GM to make the trip...Hmmm?(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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LINKS AND LINKS AND...

• It appears as if Mike MacDougal is seeking employment outside of the District, but not too far, as his name comes up in a Baltimore Sun article by Dan Connolly entitled, "New targets flying low on O's radar, for now", which quotes the former Nationals' closer's agent stating that MacDougal is looking for late-inning work:

"'Mike will listen to anything. He likes to close, and he's willing to consider any important role late in the game,' said MacDougal's agent, Rex Gary. "He's in a position to help a club looking for bullpen help.'"

• Want to know what DC GM Mike Rizzo thought about free agent lefty Aroldis Chapman? Want to know why Rizzo was the only out-of-town GM to attend the bullpen session yesterday? You can ask him...The DC GM will be live on the Washington Nationals fan forum at the Nats' official site tomorrow for an afternooon chat with fans. You can submit your questions ahead of time if you won't be able to follow along...

• Washington Times' writer Mark Zuckerman notes, in an article entitled, "Selig appoints committee to address on-field issues", that both LA Angels' Manager Mike Scioscia and former DC Skipper Frank Robinson were amongst 13 "current or former managers" named to a panel appointed by the Commissioner to look at a variety of "baseball's most important issues." Maybe Mr. Robinson can finally bump Scioscia back...

• All anyone who's talking about the Nationals is talking about today are the Marquis to DC rumors...Check out the Latest Nationals-related TWEETS. (ed. note - "One twitterer says, 'I feel like the Washington Nationals is where careers go off to die.' Yes...well said, nice grammar. NEXT.")

• More news when and if there is anything to report....

Washington Nationals Re-Sign Lefty Scott Olsen.

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:36:09 -0000

More photos » by Luis Alvarez - AP

If Washington Nationals' starting pitcher Scott Olsen is healthy, he'll be one of two left-handers in the twenty-ten rotation, as he signed a 1-year incentive-base deal to return to DC Sunday. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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• Scott Olsen was on the free agent market for less than twenty-four hours following the Nationals' decision to non-tender the 25-year-old left-hander last night, but they quickly decided to re-sign Olsen at a discounted rate, giving the 5th-year pro a $1 million dollar incentive-laded deal which, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick's "baseball source", could earn Olsen as much as $4 million next year should he make as many as 33 starts. Acquired in a November '08 deal with the Marlins, Olsen started just 11 games for Washington before a torn left labrum abruptly ended his first season in DC. Told of his non-tendering, Olsen was quoted in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article last night entitled, "Nats cut ties with hurlers MacDougal, Olsen", stating that he didn't, "...have any plans to go anywhere else since I got traded over there. I think Washington is a great place to play. I would love to go back there."

• Last season, in 11 starts and 62.2 IP, Olsen, a Kalamazoo, Michigan native, was (2-4) with a 6.03 ERA, 42 K's, (6.0 K/9), 25 walks, (3.6 BB/9) and a 1.72 WHIP, following four seasons with the Marlins, over which he posted a (31-37) combined record with a 4.63 ERA combined ERA and an average of 9.4 H/9 and 3.6 BB/9 allowed and 6.7 K/9 inning recorded...

• After non-tendering Olsen and '09 closer Mike MacDougal Saturday, DC GM Mike Rizzo told Washington Post writer Chico Harlan, in an article entitled, "Nats non-tender Olsen, MacDougal", that he'd, "...be very comfortable if they're (both) wearing the Washington Nationals uniform next season," so there's still a possibility that MacDougal, if he wasn't as insulted as he seemed in some articles, could return to DC, where the 32-year-old right-hander last season recorded his first major league save since July 16th 2006, and converted 20 of 21 save opportunities, all after June 17th.

Non-tender roundup: Miller and Reyes signed to minor league deals

Jay — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:10:39 -0000

Vaporstarter Adam Miller and the oft-injured Anthony Reyes were not tendered contracts by the Indians yesterday, rendering them free agents, but both pitchers signed minor league deals with the Indians just hours later. These transactions remove both pitchers from the 40-man roster while retaining their services for at least one more year. In the (admittedly unlikely) event Miller's career gets back on track this season, this series of moves avoids using up one of his option years, and should the Indians choose in the next year to restore him to the 40-man roster, he will have at least one option year left and will remain under club control at least through 2016. Reyes remains optionless, of course, but still hypothetically could remain under club control through 2013.

The Indians also declined to offer a contract to reliever Jose Veras, who was arbitration eligible, rendering him a free agent, and there is no indication he will be re-signed. Cleveland's 40-man roster now stands at 37, with 18 pitchers and 19 position players.

The Indians did tender a contract to pitcher Rafael Perez, who is eligible for arbitration (and to the other 28 players on the 40-man roster who are not yet eligible). The non-non-tender to Perez was non-unexpected, despite a disastrous season in which he was the fourth-worst reliever in the majors (min. 30 IP) per WXRL, which estimates a reliever's actual impact on the chance of his team winning or losing games. (That's "Win Expectation above Replacement, Lineup-adjusted," if you must know. BP rates Perez as merely the 10th-worst reliever at preventing runs from scoring, but because he blew more runs than his peers in high-leverage game situations, his negative impact on wins and losses was more substantial.)

Perez spent almost two months in the minors but still qualified for arbitration as a Super Two player with several weeks to spare. As a relief pitcher coming off a terrible season with barely enough service time to qualify, Perez is in line to be awarded perhaps the smallest salary of any player going to arbitration, probably less than $1 million. It's worth recalling, at this point, how outstanding Perez was in his truly super two-plus seasons prior to this one. He had a 2.89 ERA (and 152 ERA+) over 149.1 IP. He struck out 9.8 batters per nine innings, with 3.7 strikeouts for every walk. He held lefties to a .241 slugging percentage and allowed them only nine extra-base hits in 249 PA. As long as we keep tendering him contracts, he remains under club control through 2013, and there is a reasonable chance he will re-emerge as an impact reliever, or at the very least a useful one, at some point in that span.

Other notable non-tenders include former Indians Ryan Garko and Ryan Church. Garko of course was traded to the Giants only months ago for a decent enough pitching prospect. Just 115 abysmal AB later, Giants GM Brian Sabean is now saying he doesn't want to pay upwards of $3 million to a guy who isn't really an everyday player. I'm not saying he's wrong, but it's a pretty hilarious statement to make for a guy who will still owes $83 million to Barry Zito for the next four seasons. McCovey Chronicles has a pretty dead-on take on Sabean's curious sequence of decisions. My theory is that you just can't understand how slow this guy is on the basepaths until he's actually on your team, and maybe Wedge actually deked the Giants with respect to Garko's athleticism by playing him in the outfield.

Expect the cleveland.com crowd to clamor for Garko's return, oblivious to the fact that two teams have now deemed him unworthy of an everyday role in the space of just a few months. Despite high regard for his character, I would be surprised if Shapiro brought him back, even at a substantially reduced salary. I rather expect Garko will be signed by a GM who scouted him as a college player and was impressed with his stroke. As a lefty batter, Church doesn't really fit in with the Indians' plans. Other interesting non-tenders include Pirates closer Matt Capps, Yankees sinkerballer Chien-Ming Wang, and third baseman Garrett Atkins. Atkins is perhaps best remembered as the guy that the Indians never even considered trading Aaron Laffey to get. I wouldn't be surprised if the Indians took an interest in Mike MacDougal; they seem to like guys who used to be closers.

As for Miller, these moves were unusual, reflecting an unusual situation. The "non-tender" deadline traditionally involves only players who are arbitration-eligible, as there is little reason not to tender a contract to any player on the 40-man roster who isn't eligible, since the most the team can be compelled to pay such a player is the minimum salary, which will remain $400,000 for the 2010 season. Many such players will make less than half that much, if they don't spend much time in the majors.

The latest in Miller's deathless progression of rehab setbacks occurred after rosters were frozen for the Rule 5 draft. Otherwise, the Indians might have chosen to DFA Miller prior to that point, exposing him to waivers. That might have cost the Indians the rights to Chuck Lofgren — but then again, maybe not. The Indians might have protected some other on-the-bubble prospect like Yohan Pino, in which case, Miller's delayed setback actually saved the Indians from burning an option year on whoever-that-would-have-been. And even if Miller clears waivers (and later, presumably, also clears the Rule 5 draft), he would have been granted minor league free agency anyway, since he was originally signed more than six years ago.

In that sense, non-tendering Miller, while unusually, was actually a more straightforward path to the same destination. Either way, he ends up as a free agent, free to sign with any club, but this way, he doesn't have to pass through waivers first. Miller obviously felt some combination of organizational loyalty and faith in the club's ability to rehab him back into a prospect, assuming that's even possible. Reyes has spent far less time in the Indians organization, but he had the same options as Miller and made the same choice. If either player was actually worth something anymore, we might consider feeling good about that.

Washington Nationals: Tenders/Non-Tenders...Targets?

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:54:03 -0000

More photos » by Al Behrman - AP

The Nationals tendered contracts to five players, but not Mike MacDougal, who was non-tendered Saturday night and might not return. (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)

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• Scott Olsen and Mike MacDougal...non-tendered. Jason Bergmann, Wil Nieves, Jesus Flores, Sean Burnett, Brian Bruney and Josh Willingham...tendered. The Washington Nationals decided to let Olsen and MacDougal test free agency, but already Olsen tells MLB.com's Bill Ladson in an article entitled, "Nats cut ties with MacDougal, Olsen", "I don't have any plans to go anywhere else," though MacDougal says he's disappointed, and (not to read anything into it....but)...he's already talking about Washington in the past tense when he tells Mr. Ladson, "I enjoyed playing there. I thought I did a good job, so yeah, it's a little disappointing. What can you do? I'm a free agent and go from there."

• Bill Shanks at The Braves Show.com mentioned that the Atlanta Braves' non-tendered infielder Kelly Johnson might be a target for the Nationals, so I guess I wasn't the only one who had the thought cross their mind, (though mine was more in a "no thanks" sort of way)...Does the Nationals' newly-hired vice president of player personnel Roy Clark, who served as Atlanta's scouting director for 20-odd years, still like Johnson...who followed up on a .287 AVG, .349 OBP, 39 doubles, 12 HR's and 69 RBI's in 2008 by hitting .229 in 2009 with a .303 OBP, 20 doubles, 8 HR's and 29 RBI's, and saw his WAR value drop from (+2.1) to (+0.7) while his UZR/150 actually improved from (-10.6) to (-0.2), though he played less games (106) than he had in the two previous seasons, (147 in '07, 150 in 108)...on the plus side, Johnson's the youngest free agent infielder out there...

• Just because Chien-Ming Wang is a sinker-baller doesn't mean he's a good fit for the Nationals, and stop trying to impress Mike Rizzo by finding him fast/sinkerballers, he's got a new front office for that...Wang was non-tendered by the Yankees today, after he had surgery on his shoulder last season, (acc. to New York Daily News' writer Mark Feinsand's article entitled, "Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang set for surgery...", it was, "...arthroscopic surgery to repair the capsule (the fibrous membrane that surrounds the joint) in his right shoulder."), though the Yankees say they're interested in bringing the soon-to-be 30-year-old right-hander back after an '09 season which saw Wang go (1-6) with an ERA in the 9.00's, a 2.02 WHIP, 4.1 BB/9 and a 1.53 K/BB. If Rizzo's going to sign a pitcher coming off shoulder surgery, i'd bet it will be Olsen...

• ?'s For The DC Faithful:

Did anyone go on the market last night the Nationals should think about?

Do you like Kelly Johnson or Chien-Ming Wang for Washington?

Will MacDougal be back? What about Olsen?

Will Josh Willingham defy the rumors to remain on the roster?

What's Rizzo's next move...?

Washington Nationals Non-Tender Mike MacDougal.

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:00:41 -0000

by John Amis - AP

The Washington Nationals non-tendered '09 closer Mike MacDougal, though they say they wouldn't mind bringing him back for 2010. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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It's not that the Washington Nationals don't want Mike MacDougal, at least according to what they've said in the press, it's just that they don't want to pay him what he'd be due to earn should it go to arbitration. Whether or not they're serious when they say that they'd like MacDougal back, or when they said they'd consider bringing back Scott Olsen, who was also non-tendered earlier today, who knows...? DC GM Mike Rizzo told Washington Post writer Chico Harlan, in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nats tender Olsen, MacDougal", that, "...you never know. They'll be free to discuss with all 29 other clubs, but suffice to say I'd be very comfortable if they're wearing the Washington Nationals uniform next season."

(cont.)...

No word yet on whether or not the rest of the arbitration-eligible players, (Jason Bergmann, Wil Nieves, Jesus Flores, Josh Willingham, Sean Burnett and Brian Bruney) have been tendered contracts, though the Nationals have until midnight tonight to make decisions on each...Jason Bergmann played for $439,000 last year, on his fifth-straight one-year deal. Nieves signed for $400,000 as a free agent in '08, and resigned in '09 for $445,000, his fifth one-year deal...Jesus Flores earned $411,500 in his third year in the majors...Sean Burnett, in his 5th-year with the Pirates last season, earned $485,000....Bruney avoided arbitration by signing a 1-year/$1.25M dollar deal with the Yankees in January of '09....Mike MacDougal was in the last of a three-year deal with the White Sox when they bought him out for $3M, ($2.65M salary + $350,000 buyout), making him available for the Nationals, who signed the soon-to-be 33-year-old right-hander to a minor league contract...Olsen, avoided arbitration after being dealt to DC and signed for one year and $2.8 million...

While Olsen's labrum surgery is well-documented, less has been said about the hip surgery Mike MacDougal had in mid-October. Washington Times' writer Ben Goessling wrote in a Chatter post entitled, "MacDougal has hip surgery" that the 32-year-old right hander underwent, "...arthroscopic surgery on his right hip in Vail, Colo., on Tuesday, repairing an injury that hampered the right-hander during the last week of the Nationals’ season." Mr. Goessling wrote at the time that MacDougal should be ready for Spring Training...will he be brought back to DC? They obviously brought Bruney in in case he's not...and there is that Storen kid...?

Washington Nationals Non-Tender Scott Olsen.

Ed Chigliak — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:52:34 -0000

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

The Washington Nationals have decided to part ways with left-handed starter Scott Olsen, who is recovering from surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder, rather than go to arbitration. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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The Washington Nationals acquired Scott Olsen from Florida along with Josh Willingham in a November 11, 2008 trade that sent infielders Emilio Bonifacio and Jake Smolinski and pitcher P.J. Dean to the Marlins. The then-24-year-old left- hander was coming off a 2008 season which saw the the 4th-year starter post an (8-11) record with a 4.20 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 5.0 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. Olsen signed a 1-year/$2.8M dollar deal with the Nationals, avoiding arbitration, but made just 11 starts in 2009 before he was shut down for the season with a tear in his left labrum which required surgery. Faced with the possibility of having to give the rehabbing arbitration eligible pitcher a raise for the 2010 season, Washington Post writer Chico Harlan is reporting in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nats will non-tender Olsen", that the Nationals have decided to part ways with the soon-to-be 26-year-old lefty, though Washington hasn't ruled out the possibility of bringing him back for (probably) far less than he would have been due...

Before midnight, The Post's Mr. Harlan reports, the Nationals must make decisions on what to do with their other arbitration eligible players: pitchers, Jason Bergmann, Sean Burnett and Mike MacDougal, catchers Wil Nieves and Jesus Flores, and outfielder Josh Willingham...

More news when it's available...

No word on how Olsen's rehab was progressing...Did the Nationals make the correct decision here? Is there any chance Olsen will return to DC?

Washington Nationals: Monday At The Winter Meetings.

Ed Chigliak — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:56:36 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

Former New York Yankees' reliever Brian Bruney has designs on the closer's role in DC, we'll see what Mike MacDougal and Drew Storen have to say aboot that... (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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According to The Bill James Handbook 2010 Pitcher Projections, if Brian Bruney finds a role in the Nationals' bullpen, be it as a closer or somewhere in set-up or middle relief, DC fans can expect the 27-going-on-28-year-old right-hander to throw about 50.0 innings and allow 45 hits and 5 HR's, while walking 34, striking out around 48 and posting a (3-3) record with a 4.88 ERA. The year 2000 D-Backs' draft pick, (when DC GM Mike Rizzo was out there), who was released by Arizona in '06, signed by New York shortly thereafter and then today traded to Washington, D.C. told Washington Post writer Chico Harlan (in a welcome return) in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Bruney wants the chance to close", that, (and get this, cause it's all kinds of backwards):

"'I felt like New York was a good stepping stone with lots of pressure-filled situations. But to be honest, I had talked to my agent and I said, 'I can't wait to get to the place where I can try and close somewhere.'"

Whether or not he imagined Washington as that hypothetical "somewhere" Mr. Bruney does not say. Nationals' Skipper Jim Riggleman does, however, offer his opinion on his late-game options to Mr. Harlan, who quotes the full-time manager stating that, "As we sit here right now it's undetermined who would be our closer." That's got to be good news to Mike MacDougal and Drew Storen who no doubt have designs on the closer's role...

BACKPAGE:

• Garland Is A Target.

• Riggleman On The Radio.

BACKPAGE:

• Garland Is A Target.

I mentioned yesterday that ESPN.com's Peter Gammons was reporting on the fact that Washington was talking to free agent pitcher Jon Garland's agent, Craig Landis and also noted that only a few days earlier DC GM Mike Rizzo had told MLB.com's Bill Ladson just a few days earlier in an article entitled, "PItching is a focus for Nats at Meetings", that he didn't see the Nationals, "...going after that super free agent like Matt Holliday or Jon Garland." Luckily things were cleared up this afternoon, as Bill Ladson sent out two Tweets from the Meetings which read:

"General manager Mike Rizzo said the Nationals have interest in right-hander Jon Garland."

"The news comes a week after Mike Rizzo told MLB.com that he didn't see the Nats going after Jon Garland."

In MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article on the the Nationals' now-clearly-stated-interest in Garland entitled, "Nats eye free agents Garland, Ausmus", Mr. Rizzo tells Mr. Ladson:

"We have interest in Jon Garland. We have the whole time," Rizzo said. "He is one of the 10 names we have talked about the whole winter."

Well at least we know the list that Washington Post writer Chico Harlan published in his Nationals Journal post entitled, "Reading Material, Shopping Lists" was fairly accurate:

"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."

(ed. note - "If you aren't following MLB.com's Bill Ladson (twitter.com/washingnats), the NatsTownNews, (twitter.com/NatsTownNews) or the Washington Times' writers Ben Goessling and Mark Zuckerman, (twitter.com/washtimesbb), you're really missing out, they had the Bruney trade out to fans a good 30-40 minutes before it was reported anywhere else...Well, actually I think the New York Post's Joel Sherman (twitter.com/nyp_joelsherman), had it first, but I doubt they're will be any more deals with NY teams...Do not trade the Hammer to the Mets, Rizzo...")

• Riggleman On The Radio.

• DC Manager Jim Riggleman appeared on XM's Inside Pitch with Casey Stern and Buck Martinez, where he told the two announcers that he knew the Washington had their, "...work cut out for them," in 2010, but the team, "...had a good draft last year, we hope to have another good draft this year, and just keep accumulating talent," in the hope that, "...that talent will manifest itself eventually in a lot of wins. We owe it to our fans, they've been great, they've been very supportive, very enthusiastic in Washington, so we want to get them some wins."

• Mr. Riggleman says it was important to get the time in as the interim manager that he did at the end of the '09 campaign because he was able to see, "...parts of our ballclub come up, you know, those September call-ups, prospect-type guys, I got to see them, I got to see our regulars. I got to see guys in different positions...move some people around. Guys hitting in different parts of the lineup, what makes guys tick, you get to know the players, and you know, just the moods of the players, the ebbs and flow, and all that was huge, cause a lot of things they got to learn about me are out of the way also..."

• Buck Martinez asks Mr. Riggleman what the future holds for Jesus Flores? In Mr. Riggleman's opinion, "...that's a huge point," because Flores, "...is important part to our lineup. He's a good catcher, our pitchers like throwing to him, he's a leader behind the plate, but he's a big part of our lineup offensively. So, he's a question mark. Physically, we hear that he may be ready mid-Spring-Training...but you know how that is...as a manager you have to live by Murphy's Law a little bit, so we have to operate in a manner of, well maybe he won't be ready. So, we've probably got to try to fortify our catching a little bit here, you know, during the meetings."

• Ian Desmond? Buck Martinez says that Desmond looked like he was, "...made to play in the big leagues." Riggleman's impression of the potential starting shortstop? "Ian really played well for us in September. Tim Foli was his manager in Triple-A, and Tim said, 'You know the guy can make all the plays.' He's really, after the '08 season, for whatever reason, I think there was an injury involved, in '08, '08 was a little bit lost year for him, so in '09 the expectations were not as high, but he came out of nowhere, reestablished himself as maybe our best position prospect...came to the big leagues and played very well, hit some balls out of the ballpark, displayed a great arm, good hands, good range, he's just got to settle down a little bit, make the routine play a little more consistently, but you would be willing to live with the few mistakes that he might make because he's an extraordinary athlete."

• How important is adding experienced players like Brian Bruney to the Nationals' locker room? "That's always important," according to Mr. Riggleman, "...if you can get those guys, that's big. And as you said, Bruney has been in some big ballgames, I don't think that we're going to be able to put him in a situation that's going to intimidate him after where he's pitched, but, you know, we had that last year, a guy like Ronnie Villone, was a great presence on our ballclub. Ronnie pitched in big ballgames throughout his career, and any time you can get those kind of guys to mentor some of your other players it's huge, and we'll always welcome those kind of guys in our clubhouse."

Why Would John Lackey Want To Pitch For The Washington Nationals?

Ed Chigliak — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:31:58 -0000

More photos » by Haraz N. Ghanbari - AP

Can DC GM Mike Rizzo and newly-named permanent field manager Jim Riggleman convince top notch free agents to join the Washington Nationals this winter? . (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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I was eager to read MLB.com's Bill Ladson's latest article entitled, "Nats interested in free agent Lackey", to see if the Nationals were seriously pursuing 31-year-old free agent pitcher John Lackey until I got to the second paragraph which listed the Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and New York Mets as the other teams who have expressed an interest in acquiring the services of the (possibly) former LA Angels' starter. DC GM Mike Rizzo explains in the article that in order to draw a top-notch free agent to DC:

"'You have to show the veteran pitcher what the plan is, our plan for success, how we are built to perform at this level at this given time.

'We have to have a special type of veteran pitcher, who is willing to give of himself as a teacher and mentor type of guy. We have to get a team-oriented person, a person that is going to give his time and his knowledge. It's not an easy task.'"

(cont.)...

Nationals' Manager Jim Riggleman responded to a similar question, (which I asked), about attracting free agents during a conference call with DC area internet writers last week, by explaining that a team can also appeal to prospective players by offering them a position that might not be available elsewhere. On XM's Inside Pitch this afternoon, Kevin Kennedy's co-host Casey Stern addressed such thinking when talking about where free agent reliever Mike Gonzalez might end up:

"(The Nationals) know they need one, (a closer), Mike MacDougal was doing it, the cagey vet over the course of the stretch of the season, Gonzalez knows the National League East, he pitched there, all that's a fit, but I'll be honest, I saw Gonzalez's name and I'm like, man, would a team like the Yankees overpay him to set up, where he could even get possibly double the money that he would get to close from a team like the Nationals..."

Mr. Rizzo, back in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article, explains that the, "...additions of an Adam Dunn, a Josh Willingham and Nyjer Morgan, it's going to attract some veteran players." But even with Dunn, Willingham and Morgan (for a short time) in the lineup, the Nationals lost over 100 games last year for the second-straight season, I'm having a hard time imagining that any of the top free agent pitchers on the market are going to settle for less in DC. The Nationals' front office has drawn all sorts of talented people in this offseason, but I still think they're going to have to produce on the field before the players start to consider joining what is for two years running now, baseball's worst team...

(ed. note - "DC GM Mike Rizzo had John Lackey on a list of potential targets as far back as early September, telling Washington Post writer Thomas Boswell, in an article entitled, "Time to Make the Most of This Horror Show", that the Nationals were looking at:

"'...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 (and) John Smoltz...'"

...and promising that though, "Some of them may have club options that are going to be picked up...We're going to get one of them." You have to love Mr. Rizzo's confidence, and if it's not Lackey, there are still 13 other arms on that list...The Nationals just have to find the pitching equivalent of Adam Dunn, a free agent who expected more out of the market, and will accept the best offer on the table...")

Nationals have interest in Mike Gonzalez, Mark DeRosa

Eli Greenspan — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:21:45 -0000

by Matt Sayles - AP

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The Nationals have interest in closer Mike Gonzalez and infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com. Both players would certainly address holes the Nationals are trying to fill, but they are expected to face a lot of competition with these two players.

Gonzalez would likely be the teams closer, replacing Mike MacDougal after posting a 2.42 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.

DeRosa has already been contacted by several teams, but the Nationals hope DeRosa has some interest in playing either second base or left field in D.C.

	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2009 - Mark DeRosa	68	237	31	54	10	1	10	28	18	58	2	1	.228	.291	.405

DeRosa wasn't phenomenal after joining St. Louis, battling wrist problems for most of the season. It'll be interesting to see how he bounces back from offseason surgery.