SB Nation - Washington Nationals

Fantasy Baseball: BP's Eric Seidman's Top 10 Fantasy Players

raygu — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:00:13 -0000

by Nick Wass - AP

2 months ago: Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman, right, rounds the bases as he is greeted by third base coach Pat Listach (4) after Zimmerman hit a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, in Washington. The Nationals won 5-4. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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In his chat yesterday over at Baseball Prospectus, Eric Seidman was asked the following:

Tex Premium Lager (Jersey): Even More Blatant Fantasy Keeper Question (tm): In no order, who are the 10 most valuable position players for the next few years? Most seem obvious (Pujols, Hanley, Utley, etc.) but I'd like your take on the matter. Maybe someone (you?) can take over Nate Silver's top 50 list, which was one of my favorite articles each year.
Eric Seidman: I'll list the guys that instantly came to mind as that likely says a lot about their attributes: Pujols, Mauer, Hanley, Utley, Tulowitzki, J Upton, Longoria, Zimmerman, Wright, Braun. Those aren't in order and there are definitely others to think about.

So, he answered this question off the top of his head, but he included David Wright in his top 10 fantasy players for "the next few years". Am I the only one who thinks Wright shouldn't be in the top 10? He leaves himself an out with the last sentence in his response, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

What surprised me was including Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Zimmerman in his top 10. Granted both players are very good all around players-offensively and defensively-but are they top 10? I like Zimmerman alot as well, and could consider him should he duplicate his 2009 season in 2010. As for Tulo, I don't see him going 30-20 again in 2010.

Which player would you take out of his top 10?

Poll

Which player should NOT be in the top 10 fantasy player list for the next few years?

Top 5 Reasons For Washington Nationals' Fans To Be Thankful...

Ed Chigliak — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:07:10 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

One day, crowds like this in Nationals Park will not be made up of the opposing team's fans. One day...soon? Photo: Friday, May 15, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Whenever any fan of the Washington Nationals expresses optimism about the future, it's met with skepticism from the rest of the baseball world, and as a fan of the Montreal Expos, who's followed along for over 30 years with no return on the investment of time and patience, I think it's understandable that others should wonder where any sort of enthusiasm originates...With that in mind, and for all those who casually laugh off any hope of a postseason or Wild Card berth for the nation's capital's favorite baseball team, I present....

The Top 5 Reasons For Washington Nationals' Fans To Be Thankful...

5. Ryan Zimmerman Is Locked Up Long Term...

After much deliberation and several attempts at negotiations, the Washington Nationals and their first 1st Round pick, third baseman and Face of the Franchise™, Ryan Zimmerman, agreed on a contract extension last April that will keep the 25-year-old Virginia Beach, Virginia native in a Curly-W through 2013. The 5-year/$45 million dollar deal was agreed up in early April, and the initial response, as recorded in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Nats, Zimmerman agree to extension", when Zimmerman was told of the deal that had been worked out between his agent Brodie Van Wagenen and DC team President Stan Kasten, tells you all you need to know about the man who mans the hot corner in DC...

"'Talk to Stan and Brodie -- maybe they are doing something, but I'm playing baseball.' Zimmerman said. 'I haven't heard anything.'"

Zimmerman, after agreeing to stay with Washington, went on to complete a 30-game hit streak, earn his first All-Star appearance and win his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger while posting the highest HR total (33), AVG. (.292), OBP. (.364), SLG. (525), and by extension, OPS. (.888), best UZR/150 rating (20.1) and best WAR mark (7.1); with his second-highest RBI total and second-most doubles of his 5-year MLB career...Asked by an ESPN announcer after receiving the Gold Glove why he decided to stay in DC, the FoF™ responded:

"Ryan Zimmerman: Uh, I like it there. I think, uh, you know, obviously things aren't going like we want it to go now, I think, but part of the cool thing I think, is that you know, I'm gonna be there when times are bad, and, you know, in a couple years I'm going to be there when times are good, so I kinda see everything full circle, and can be a part of everything, you know, the good, the bad, and kind of grow up there and it's uh, it's a good fit for me?"

4. The Nationals Came Through For The DC Faithful And Inked Stephen Strasburg.

He wanted $60 million dollars. His agent Scott "Maximum" Boras was determined to destroy the slotting system. There was no way a pitcher as good as Stephen Strasburg would agree on a deal with the Nationals. Heck, even Aaron Crow had decided to take his chances, taking a year off competitive baseball to avoid becoming a National, and he was no Strasburg...and yet, on deadline day to sign draft picks, with just minutes left, then-Interim GM Mike Rizzo and the Nationals got Strasburg to sign, inking a record-breaking 4-year/$15.1 million dollar deal that included a $7.5 million dollar signing bonus. The #1 prospect, the best pitcher to come through the draft in recent memory, the flame-throwing 100mph+ fastballer, the kid with a change so good he couldn't use it in college, saw something he liked, (even it was an opportunity to play out his first contract as quickly as possible) and decided to don the Curly-W...The Washington Nationals said they would take the best available player, they did and then the team went out and got the deal done. This is new, and this is something to be thankful for...

3. Mike Rizzo As DC GM.

It took former DC GM Jim Bowden's decision to (using a tired phrase) fall on his own sword and resign following several scandals, and it took a too-long interim period before it was made official, but the Washington Nationals made the right move, and after a few weeks of baseless rumors and false reports, named Mike Rizzo their full-time GM. Before becoming the permanent GM, Rizzo had managed to reshape the Nationals' bullpen, replace the team's skipper (ed. note - "Not my favorite move."), pull off a trade (Morgan/Burnett for Milledge/Hanrahan) that was the envy of GM's everywhere, sign Stephen Strasburg and oversee the entire '09 draft; which also brought 1st Round pick Drew Storen into the fold (amongst others), and instill a sense of stability and purpose that had been sorely lacking under the previous regime. Rizzo's reward was the full-time gig, a chance to pick his own Front Office and field manager, and the respect of the DC Faithful, who are waiting to see what he can pull off this winter...

2. The Adam Dunn Example.

Why would any free agent agree to come to a team that's suffered back-to-back 100-loss seasons? That's what I asked DC Skipper Jim Riggleman when given the opportunity to speak to him a few weeks back, and his answer caught me off guard, not just because he gave a good answer to an off-the-cuff and admittedly confrontational question, but because I actually sort-of-agreed with his answer:

"For some guys it’s where they're going to fit on the ball club? How bad you need that position that they play or pitch. If they are a closer, if they can come in and be the closer, instead of being a set-up guy. There are different reasons for guys to go places. They may want to be the closer, like I said...they may want to know they are coming in as the regular shortstop...or you're offering them the chance to be our catcher rather than go somewhere else and not be the regular guy, they can come here and be the regular catcher..."

The reason this inspired me, and the reason it is something for fans to be thankful for? Because it shows that the Nationals know the score...they know that the struggles the team has suffered through don't place them too high on most player's lists of potential destinations, and they recognize that they are going to have to try another approach to appeal to free agents looking for a new home...What the Nationals need to do now, in my not-so-humble opinion, is go out and find a player who expected more out of free agency, a pitcher, perhaps who thought this was his year to cash in...a shortstop who believes he's undervalued in the current market, someone who will take the best offer out there and commit themselves to being a part of the emergence of the DC franchise...in short, the next Adam Dunn.

1. We Aren't New York Mets' Fans!!!!!.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Alright, the real No. 1 reason was going to be that no team in DC baseball history had suffered back-to-back-to-back 100-loss campaigns, but I had only looked at the Expos' past of the current franchise and the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins' franchise history in DC, forgetting for a moment while I put together this list, about the Second-Senators, (who replaced the Sens/Twins and then left to become the Texas Rangers) who lost over 100 games in their first four seasons of existence (1961-1964) after they replaced the original Senators...

Happy Thanksgiving...

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospect Lists for 2010

raygu — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:00:13 -0000

In addition to the top 20 Prospect lists that SB Nation's John Sickels is writing up over at Minor League Ball, Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus are working on their top 10, or 11 in the case of BP, prospect lists for 2010.

Today, I give you the Baseball America top 10 prospect lists for 2010 for the National League East teams:

Marlins

1. Mike Stanton, of

2. Logan Morrison, 1b

3. Chad James, lhp

4. Matt Dominguez, 3b

5. Gaby Sanchez, 1b/3b

6. Ryan Tucker, rhp

7. Kyle Skipworth, c

8. Isaac Galloway, of

9. Scott Cousins, of

10. Jhan Marinez, rhp

More after the jump:

Nationals

1. Stephen Strasburg, rhp

2. Derek Norris, c

3. Drew Storen, rhp

4. Ian Desmond, ss

5. Danny Espinosa, ss

6. Chris Marrero, 1b

7. Jeff Kobernus, 2b

8. Justin Maxwell, of

9. Michael Burgess, of

10. Destin Hood, of

Phillies

1. Domonic Brown, of

2. Kyle Drabek, rhp

3. Michael Taylor, of

4. Travis D'Arnaud, c

5. Trevor May, rhp

6. Anthony Gose, of

7. Sebastian Valle, c

8. Jarred Cosart, rhp

9. Antonio Bastardo, lhp

10. Domingo Santana, of

Mets

1. Jenrry Mejia, rhp

2. Wilmer Flores, ss

3. Fernando Martinez, of

4. Ike Davis, 1b

5. Brad Holt, rhp

6. Jon Niese, lhp

7. Reese Havens, 2b/ss

8. Josh Thole, c

9. Ruben Tejada, 2b/ss

10. Juan Urbina, lhp

Braves

1. Jason Heyward, of

2. Freddie Freeman, 1b

3. Julio Teheran, rhp

4. Mike Minor, lhp

5. Craig Kimbrel, rhp

6. Christian Bethancourt, c

7. Randall Delgado, rhp

8. Zeke Spruill, rhp

9. Cody Johnson, of

10. Adam Milligan, of

Washington Nationals Prospects Danny Espinosa, Derek Norris Named to Topps' Class A All-Star Team

Dave at Nats News Network — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:12:52 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

4 months ago: Team USA shortstop Danny Espinosa, top, leaps into the air to catch a high throw and avoid World Team's Tyson Gillies who was safe at second for a stolen base during the third inning of the All-Star Futures baseball game at Busch Stadium on Sunday, July 12, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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The Topps Company, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, named their 2009 Class A All-Stars today, and two Washignton Nationals prospects were on the team.

Danny Espinosa, for Potomac of the Carolina League, was named at shortstop for the team. From the press release:

Danny Espinosa (22), of Santa Ana, Calif., scored 90 runs for the Potomac Nationals, tops in the Carolina League. He also led league third baseman with a .965 fielding percentage. Espinosa ranked in the top five in the circuit in homers (18), walks (74), on-base percentage (.375) and extra base hits (53). The Washington Nationals tabbed him in the third round in 2008 out of Long Beach State (CA) University.

Derek Norris, catcher for Hagerstown of the South Atlantic League, was named at designated hitter. HIs press bio:

Derek Norris (20), of Goddard, Kansas, finished among the top five in the South Atlantic League in homers (23), extra-base hits (53), RBI (84), runs (78) and slugging percentage (.513). The Hagerstown Suns catcher led the league with a .413 on-base percentage and 90 walks in being named the SAL’s Most Outstanding Major League Prospect. The Washington Nationals tabbed Norris out of high school in the fourth round in 2007.

Espinosa is fresh off his experience in the Arizona Fall League, where he acquitted himself quite well. Norris was supposed to play in Arizona as well, but broke his hamate bone and had surgery to remove the bone. He was thus forced to miss the top off-season prospect league. He is expected to be ready for spring training.

Koby Clemens was named at catcher on the squad. Son of Roger Clemens, the 22 year old catcher was not protected by the Houston Astros and as such, is available in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. I'm just sayin'. Can't have too many good-hitting catchers.

The full press release with the rest of the team, and their statistics, after the jump...

Lancaster Sluggers Clemens, Gaston
Among Topps Class A All-Stars

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--Lancaster JetHawks Koby Clemens and Jonathan Gaston, who combined to lead, or tie for the lead, in seven classification offensive categories, are among the players named to the Topps Class A All-Star Team. The best performances in all Minor League Baseball classifications are again being honored by the Topps Company of New York, N.Y., in conjunction with Minor League Baseball.

Joe Dunigan (23), of Chicago, hit .294 with 30 homers and 104 RBI for the High Desert Mavericks. The first baseman finished among the top five in the California League in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage (.570). The Seattle Mariners drafted Dunigan in the fifth round in 2007 out of the University of Oklahoma.

Alexi Amarista (20), of Barcelona, Venezuela, led the Midwest League with a .319 batting average with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He also finished second in the league with 39 doubles and 10 triples. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim signed the second baseman as a free agent in January 2007.

Josh Vitters (20), of Anaheim, Calif., hit .316 in 70 games for the Peoria Chiefs. He was then promoted to the Daytona Cubs, appearing in 50 games for the Florida State League club. The third baseman’s combined Class A numbers were a .284 batting average with 18 homers, 19 doubles and 68 RBI. The Chicago Cubs selected him with the third overall pick in the 2007 draft out of high school.

Danny Espinosa (22), of Santa Ana, Calif., scored 90 runs for the Potomac Nationals, tops in the Carolina League. He also led league third baseman with a .965 fielding percentage. Espinosa ranked in the top five in the circuit in homers (18), walks (74), on-base percentage (.375) and extra base hits (53). The Washington Nationals tabbed him in the third round in 2008 out of Long Beach State (CA) University.

Jonathan Gaston (23), of Boise, Idaho, led Class A with 35 homers, 81 extra-base hits and 119 runs. The Lancaster JetHawks outfielder finished second in the classification with a .598 slugging percentage. The Houston Astros took Gaston in the second round in 2008 out of the University of Arizona.

Thomas Neal (22), of San Diego, Calif., paced the California League with a .431 on-base percentage and finished third in the loop with 102 runs. The San Jose Giants outfielder hit .337, fifth best in Class A. The San Francisco Giants selected Neal in the 37^th round in 2005 out of Riverside (CA) Junior College.

Kyle Russell (23), of Magnolia, Texas, hit 26 roundtrippers and drove in 102 runs, both best in the Midwest League. The Great Lakes Loons outfielder also led the league with a .545 slugging percentage in winning the circuit’s MVP honor. The Los Angeles Dodgers picked Russell in the third round in 2008 out of the University of Texas.

Koby Clemens (22), of Houston, Texas, hit a Class A best .345 and also paced the classification with 121 RBI and a .636 slugging percentage. The Lancaster JetHawks catcher’s 45 doubles tied for best in Class A. The Houston Astros took Clemens in the eighth round in 2005 out of high school.

Derek Norris (20), of Goddard, Kansas, finished among the top five in the South Atlantic League in homers (23), extra-base hits (53), RBI (84), runs (78) and slugging percentage (.513). The Hagerstown Suns catcher led the league with a .413 on-base percentage and 90 walks in being named the SAL’s Most Outstanding Major League Prospect. The Washington Nationals tabbed Norris out of high school in the fourth round in 2007.

Rudy Owens (22), of Mesa, Ariz., went 10-1 with a 1.70 ERA for the West Virginia Power in being chosen as the South Atlantic League’s Most Outstanding Pitcher. The left-hander then went 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA for the Lynchburg Hillcats. Overall, Owens was 11-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 124.0 innings. He fanned 113, while walking only 17. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Owens in the 28^th round in 2006 out of Chandler Gilbert (AZ) Community College.

2009 TOPPS/MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CLASS-A ALL-STAR TEAM

POSITION	PLAYER	CLUB(s)/LEAGUE(s)	AFFILIATE	AVG.	HR	RBI
First Base	Joe Dunigan	High Desert/California	Seattle	.294	30	104
Second Base	Alexi Amarista	Cedar Rapids/MWL	LA-AL	.319	4	49
Third Base	Josh Vitters	Peoria, Daytona/MWL/FSL	Chicago-NL	.284	18	68
Shortstop	Danny Espinosa	Potomac/Carolina	Washington	.264	18	72
Catcher	Koby Clemens	Lancaster/California	Houston	.345	22	90
Outfield	Jonathan Gaston	Lancaster/California	Houston	.278	35	100
Outfield	Thomas Neal	San Jose/California	San Francisco	.337	22	90
Outfield	Kyle Russell	Great Lakes/Midwest	LA-NL	.272	26	102
Des. Hitter	Derek Norris	Hagerstown/S. Atlantic	Washington	.286	23	84
				W	L	ERA
Pitcher	Rudy Owens	W.Va., Lynchburg/SAL/CAR	Pittsburgh	11	2	2.10

(Statistics do not reflect players’ performances in other leagues)

Washington Nationals' President Stan Kasten Expects "A Breakthrough Year" In 2010.

Ed Chigliak — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:05:44 -0000

More photos » by Haraz N. Ghanbari - AP

14 days ago: Jim Riggleman listens to a question during a news conference announcing his appointment as the manager for the Washington Nationals, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, in Washington. Listening at left is team general manager Mike Rizzo. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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Given the chance to select his own coaching staff, former DC Manager Manny Acta, in the winter of 2006, reached back into his past, bringing Rick Aponte and Tim Tolman, (both of whom he knew from his days as a player and coach in the Astros' organization), in as his bullpen and third base coaches, respectively; with Jerry Morales, (who'd stood across the field from Acta when the two were in Montreal, Morales at first and Acta at third as original Nationals' Manager Frank Robinson's coaches), coming in as Acta's own first base coach, and Robinson's Hitting Coach, Mitchell Page, Pitching Coach, Randy St. Claire, and former Braves' Bench Coach Pat Corrales, an employee of DC team President Stan Kasten from the time both spent in Atlanta, filling out his first staff.

(cont. w/ the Riggleman Era and Beyond...)

The second staff was "seemingly" selected for Manny Acta. After the Nationals finished 73-89 in Acta's first season, he retained his coaching staff, (with Lenny Harris replacing Mitchell Page), but then the Nationals finished 59-102 finish in 2008, and most of the coaches (with the exception of Acta and St. Claire) were fired, with Mr. Bowden, Acta, assistant general managers Mike Rizzo and Bob Boone and team President Stan Kasten deciding to work together to select a new set of coaches for the '09 campaign. The DC brain trust finally settled on Jim Riggleman, as the bench coach, Marquis Grissom, as the first base coach, Rick Eckstein (who had ties to Bowden consultant Davey Johnson and was already in the organization), as the hitting coach and Pat Listach, (who MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported came to Bowden via Lou Piniella), as the first base coach, Randy Knorr, as the bullpen coach, and the Saint, Randy St. Claire defying odds to remain in his position...

Jim Bowden resigned before the season started. Mike Rizzo replaced him on an interim basis. St. Claire would lose his job in June. Steve McCatty was called up from Syracuse to replace him. Acta, of course, was fired in July. Riggleman replaced Acta, leading DC to a 33-42 record, and after the season, when he was promoted from interim manager status to full-time Skipper, he was given the opportunity to name his own coaching staff. Riggleman chose to bring Eckstein, McCatty and Listach back, (Grissom chose to return to his baseball academy, and Knorr and Corrales were reassigned) and then the new manager reached into his own past to tab John McLaren, who'd hired Riggleman as his bench coach with the Mariners in 2008, as his own right hand man on the bench in DC, with Jim Lett, (who, according to the Nationals' press release on the hiring, "...served as Dodgers' bullpen coach from 2001-04, where he worked alongside Riggleman," on Jim Tracy's staff), hired as Riggleman's bullpen coach and Dan Radison, who worked with Riggleman in his two previous managing gigs with the Padres and Cubs getting another job as his first base coach for the Nationals...

Riggleman told MLB.com's Bill Ladson, as recounted in an article entitled, "Nationals' coaching staff in place", that, "'Basically, in no particular order, they bring professionalism, experience and knowledge. They bring some great attributes,' Riggleman said about McLaren, Lett and Radison...":

"...I think they will be great additions. They have a lot of years of Major League experience, as well as Minor League experience. All three of them have done so many different things. They give us a well-rounded staff."

Will the Riggleman regime be able to finally turn things around for the Nationals. Team President Stan Kasten apparently thinks so, as he told USA Today sports writer Seth Livingstone, when interviewed for an article entitled, "Organizational report: Nats' young talent provides hope", that, in his opinion, there is reason for hope that fans of the nation's capital's favorite team might not have to endure another 100-loss 5th place finish:

"'We expect next year to be a breakthrough year for us,' Kasten says. 'We still need pieces, and we're going to go out there and get them, whether by trade or by free agency...

"'...I haven't at all conceded 2010 (to others in the National League East),' says Kasten, the former president of the Atlanta Braves. 'I expect to be competitive in 2010. I've already been with a franchise that went from worst to first (1990-91 Braves), so I know it's doable.'"

Is it possible? Will Riggleman and his coaches finally turn things around? Worst to first? Impossible right...only...9? Nine teams have done it? And, according to an article by MLB.com's Tom Singer entitled, "Worst to first: Rays pursuing history":

"...every one of them since 1991. Here's yet another motivation for closing the deal: Five of the precedents, hardly wilting in the ensuing postseason heat, wound up in the World Series."

Let's not get ahead of ourselves though...why not figure out who's going to play short in 2010 and then move on from there...oh, and, uh, Pat Corrales is back as a special consultant to the DC GM...

Vote Ryan Zimmerman For TYIB's Defensive Player Of The Year!

Ed Chigliak — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:34:26 -0000

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

What's Balester Doing Down There? VOTE ZIM!!! (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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You have until December 11, 2009 to vote for Washington Nationals' third baseman/Face of the Franchise™, who's up for This Year In Baseball's Defensive Player of the Year after an '09 season that's seen Ryan Zimmerman win the ESPN Web Gem title; take home Bill James' Fielding Bible Award; make his first All-Star appearance; earn his first Gold Glove; and his first Silver Slugger, while hitting 9 more HR's than he'd hit before, (33), collecting more RBI's than he's had since Soriano was around, (106), with more more walks (72) and the best OBP (.364) he's posted in any full season, the best SLG, (.525) and the best OPS, (.888), that the 25-year-old right-handed hitting and throwing Virginia Beach, Virginia native and UV almunus has so far put together...uh... Zimmerman also...had an NL leading 20.1 UZR/150...and 7.1 WAR...which was 4th best in the National league, placing Zimmerman behind only Hanley Ramirez (7.3), Chase Utley (7.6) and Ryan Howard (8.4)...a .963 FP%, 325 assists, 28 double plays...

If that isn't enough, on Monday Ryan Zimmerman was named to the, "Dream Team For Public Service" by All Stars Helping Kids, a foundation, the press release reads, "...created by Pro Football Hall of Famer, #42, Ronnie Lott...which recognize(s) the top athletes who have given back to their community." (ed. note - "Here's the link to MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez's article on the Dream Team for Public Service entitled, "An MLB Dream Team for Public Service"...)

• The Kids Call Him Zim!!! Go Vote For Him...

(ed. note - "Seriously, the competition? Jacoby Ellsbury? Who? Michael Bourn? From the movies? Torii Hunter? (He's pretty good...)...Kaz Matsui? (Wasn't good enough for the Mets?)...Yadier Molina (Pretty Good Too...uh)...Melvin Mora? (Next?)...uh...Jimmy Rollins...and Troy Tulowitzi...well Zimmerman takes a back seat to no one here...Vote ZIM!")

New York Times' Tyler Kepner On Baseball And WAR...

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:15:10 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

John Lannan was the only pitcher on the Nationals to even qualify for Fangraphs.com's list of the top WAR values in 2009...(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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Former New York Mets' and current Kansas City Royals' starter Brian Bannister sees the change coming, as he tells New York Times' writer Tyler Kepner in an article in the Sunday New York Times Sports section entitled, "Not Your Grandfather's Stats: Baseball Redefined":

"'I think, whether the traditional baseball community wants to acknowledge it or not, the fan base and the media have finally embraced and immersed themselves in advanced statistics," Bannister said. "I think you’re going to see more and more people brought up with that influence. I really just think that the future of the game is in the numbers.'"

(cont.)...

Of particular interest to Mr. Bannister were the WAR values calculated by Fangraphs.com which he followed this season: "'I love WAR,'" Bannister explained to Mr. Kepner:

"...because you’re not only seeing if a guy had 20 home runs and 90 runs batted in, but how good is he compared to other guys at his position?" Bannister said. "I thought Zack (Greinke) had a chance to be the first 10 WAR pitcher."

According to Fangraphs.com, Grienke finished the '09 campaign with a 9.4 WAR, which, as Mr. Kepner reminds readers, "...measures how many more victories a player is worth than an average replacement who could be found on waivers or at Class AAA." By way of comparison, the highest rated pitcher on the Nationals this season was Jordan Zimmermann, who finished the season with a 1.8 WAR after 16 starts and 91.1 IP. John Lannan, (the only pitcher to qualify for Fangraphs.com's list of the Top WAR pitchers in 2009, coming in at #43 of 45), had a 1.5 WAR when the season ended...Ross Detwiler in just 14 starts and 75.2 IP, had a 1.3 WAR...Tim Lincecum, the highest rated pitcher in the NL finished at 8.4 WAR...

Washington Nationals: Adam Dunn And Vladimir Guererro Rumors...

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:30:10 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

Who said anything about the Nationals? Would Vladimir Guerrero make sense in DC? Not really... (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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MASNSports.com's Phil Wood took Phil Taylor of the Chicago Tribune to task over the weekend about the possible destination Mr. Taylor identifies for LA Angels' free agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero in a recent article at the Boston Herald.com entitled, "Here are early projections on where top free agents will land", where he writes that the former Montreal Expos' All-Star could end up returning to the nation's capital:

"Washington has enough money to bring back the eight-time All-Star to his original franchise, making it more acceptable to trade Adam Dunn for some badly needed pitching."

Well...uh...

The Nationald do need pitching...but...the only Adam Dunn rumor I've heard so far this fall was in an stltoday.com article by St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Joe Strauss entitled, "Cards say Bay is not a priority" where Mr. Strauss wrote that, "The Cardinals heavily scouted the Washington Nationals before last July's trade deadline and retain interest in outfielders Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham," while also noting that Dunn, "...is entering the final season of a two-year deal that pays him $12 million in 2010," which makes Dunn a good bet to be moved at the deadline if the Nationals don't try to extend him, but as far as trading Dunn before the season starts as they'd have to in order to bring in Guerr...well, why even take the idea seriously, it makes no sense as MASNSports.com's Phil Wood points out:

"Guerrero is a likely future Hall of Famer, coming off a season where he appeared in only 100 games, due to a number of nagging injuries, including a strained pectoral muscle. Out of those games, he played only two in the field, DH'ing in the rest. Most scouts who've seen Guerrero the past couple of years don't believe he can be an effective defensive player anymore, despite his past reputation."

The fact of the matter, as a lot of folks said last winter, is that both Dunn and Guerrero are probably both more suited to a DH role at this point in their respective careers, though Dunn may have extended his NL career a bit with a somewhat successful move to first late last season, but I don't see any way in which Vladi Guerrero makes sense in DC...but as a former Montreal Expos' fan, I'm willing to be convinced...

(ed. note - "By an odd coincidence, and nothing else I assume, Adam Dunn was asked for a quote about the St. Louis Cardinals' two tall starters Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright that played as a soundbite on XM's MLB Home Plate Update last week around the time the NL Cy Young was announced...This is what Dunn had to say about the two right-handers against whom he's hit in 11 of 40 at bats (.275 AVG) with 1 double, 2 HR's, 4 RBI's, 10 walks and 12 K's... Dunn's opinion of Carpenter and Wainwright:

"They're both the exact same. They both have a big devastating curve ball, they have a really good slider, and uh, if they really want to mess you up they'll throw a changeup, so, they, uh, they're the exact same so..."

"Why Dunn, in particular, was asked, I'm not sure...")

Washington Nationals: Rule 5 Draft History.

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:05:58 -0000

More photos » by Alex Brandon - AP

Jesus Flores, taken from the NY Mets' system in 2006, is by far the biggest impact player the Nationals have selected in the Rule 5 Draft. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Browse more photos »

The Nationals And The Rule 5 Draft...

The Washington Nationals, who hired Davey Johnson as a "senior advisor to the general manager" Mike Rizzo last week, as reported in an article by MLB.com's Bill Ladson entitled, "Nats name Johnson advisor to GM", brought Johnson to DC once before, back in 2006, as a consultant to then-GM Jim Bowden, and it was Johnson, Mr. Ladson wrote, who, "...told the Nationals to select catcher Jesus Flores in the 2006 Rule 5 Draft." Jesus Flores was the Nationals' first Rule 5 pick. (ed. note - "From the Major League Phase at least...the Nationals selected 3 players in the Triple-A Phase in 2005; Josh Perrault, now in the Orioles' system, who just gave up the game winning HR in the AFL Championship Saturday; Jose Sanchez, a RHP from the Giants' system, and infielder Brandon Powell from the Royals, but Washington refrained from taking a player in the Major League phase of the '05 Rule 5).

Flores came out of the NY Mets' system. The Mets reportedly left the then-22-year-old backstop, (regarded by some as the best catcher in their system), available thinking he was too green for teams to take a chance on, though they moved him to the Triple-A roster (he'd played the '06 season at Class-A) to make him drafting an even more troublesome proposition, since the team selecting him would have to pay $50,000 and keep the catcher on their major league 25-man roster all season. Later in the Major League phase of the '06 Rule 5 Draft, the Nationals selected right-hander Levale Speigner from the Minnesota Twins with the 17th pick...(and then hit the Twins up again, taking LHP Justin Jones in the Triple-A Phase...)

Speigner would not last through the '07 season on the Nationals' 25-man roster, as Rule 5 Draft rules demand, so the Nationals were forced to work out a deal with the Twins to keep the pitcher, sending OF Darnell McDonald to Minnesota so that they could send Speigner down into their system, but Jesus Flores stuck around, playing 79 games as Brian Schneider's backup, and in 2008, stealing the starting spot from veteran free agent signings Paul Lo Duca and Johnny Estrada.

In 2007, the Nationals selected 1B Matt Whitney from the Cleveland Indians with the 7th pick in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft, and then took OF Garrett Guzman from the Minnesota Twins with the 16th pick. Whitney was returned to the Indians when he didn't make it out of the Nationals' camp, with then GM-Jim Bowden telling MLB.com's Bill Ladson, in an article entitled, "Nationals retain rights to Guzman", that the Nationals, "'...wanted to make a trade for him...But given the fact that we have [first baseman] Chris Marrero coming...the price [was too high to keep] Whitney." Guzman was sent to Triple-A Columbus after the Nationals again made a deal with the Twins for future considerations or cash...(ed. note - "We'll delicately exit Guzman's history there...")

The Nationals selected RHP Terrell Young from the Cincinnati Reds' organization with the first pick of the Major League phase of the 2008 Rule 5 Draft, but the 23-year-old injured his shoulder and Washington returned Young, recouping half of the $50,000 dollars they'd paid the Reds to take him. With the first pick of the Triple-A Phase, the Nationals selected OF Ricardo Nanita from the White Sox, who split time in 2009 between the GCL Nationals, Double-AA Harrisburg Senators and the Mexican League...

As far as losing players, the Nationals announced last week that they'd added three pitchers, Juan Jaime, Atahualpa Severino and Aaron Thompson to their 40-man roster so they'd be protected, but as Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin noted in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nats add three to 40-man roster, but not Wilkie", they left right-handed pitcher Josh Wilkie (who just pitched in the AFL) unprotected. In 2005, RHP Chris Booker was selected by the Detroit Tigers, signed away by the Phillies, claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals and then returned to Washington.

In 2006, IF Alejandro Machado was selected from DC's system in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft and seven players were taken in the Triple-A phase. (ed. note - "You get a gold star if you remember RHP James Henderson, LHP Ricardo Morales, C Salomon Manriquez and IFers Billy Webb, John Labandeira, Brandon Powell and Jose Contreras...and recognizing Powell's name from a few paragraphs above doesn't count...") In '07, just 3 players from the Nationals' Triple-A roster were taken, RHP Brett Campbell, LHP Juan Cedeno and SS Marcos Cabral. In 2008, the Orioles grabbed RHP Josh Perrault, and the Reds grabbed RHP Luis Ortega.

What to expect from the Rule 5 Draft this year? The Nationals, once again, have the No. 1 pick. MiLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, in an article on the Rule 5 preparations around baseball entitled, "Teams shuffle rosters before Rule 5 Draft", refers to the Rule 5 Draft as the "ultimate needle in a haystack search", though he reports that there are some interesting possibilities amongst those available:

"Early Draft picks from 2006 who can be had in the Rule 5 Draft include White Sox first-rounder Kyle McCulloch, the Reds' Sean Watson and the Indians' Steven Wright. From the 2005 Draft, there are some hitters such as John Drennen, the Rangers' John Whittleman and Koby Clemens of the Astros, who led the Minors in RBIs, albeit in the Class A Advanced California League."

Kyle McCullough is a 24-year-old right-hander out of the University of Texas, who's (28-35) with a combined 4.31 ERA and 5.3 K/9 innings pitched over 4 seasons in the White Sox' system. Sean Watson was the Reds' 2nd Round pick in 2006, he's another 24-year-old right-hander who's been working as a reliever in Cincy's system the last two seasons. The Indians' Steven Wright, as Mr. Mayo refers to him, is a 25-year-old '06 2nd Round pick by Cleveland, who split time between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus this season. John Drennen's an OF who was an Indians' 1st Rounder in '05, John Whittleman's a third baseman selected in the 2nd Round of the MLB Draft by Texas in 2005 and Koby Clemens is of course, that Koby Clemens, son of Roger, who spent the '09 campaign catching in the Class-A California League where he hit .345 with a .419 OBP, 45 doubles, 22 HR's and 121 RBI's...

Who knows...the Nationals could get lucky and find the next Everth Cabrera, (who went to the Padres last season); Joakim Soria, (who the Royals took from the Padres in '06); Josh Hamilton, (who was drafted by the Cubs from the Rays' system and then traded to Cincinnati before overcoming all sorts of problems and finally breaking out); Dan Uggla, (who the Marlins took from Arizona in 2005); or even another Jesus Flores...I wouldn't hold my breath...but it will be interesting to see what the Nationals' new front office comes up with...

Fantasy Baseball: HR/FB Park Factors

raygu — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:47:10 -0000

Back at it after a day away from it all yesterday. Should have a few more posts today. Today's post is courtesy of Dan Turkenkopf from The Hardball Times. Do you consider this datapoint when drafting hitters and pitchers on draft day?

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/blog_article/hr-fb-park-factors/

Team        Park                     2009  4 Year
Angels      Angel Stadium          110   96
Astros      Minute Maid Park       104  108
Athletics   McAfee Colisuem         95   92
Blue Jays   Rogers Centre          105  108
Braves      Turner Field               90   95
Brewers     Miller Park               108  106
Cardinals   Busch Stadium          86   84
Cubs        Wrigley Field              97  103
Devil Rays  Tropicana Field          99  101
DiamondbacksChase Field           89   98
Dodgers     Dodger Stadium       104  105
Giants      Pacific Bell Park           75   79
Indians     Jacobs Field               95   99
Mariners    Safeco Park             109  101
Marlins     Dolphins Stadium        98   98
Mets        Citi Field                     91   91
Nationals   Nationals Stadium     109  115
Orioles     Oriole Park at Camden Yar  73   85
Padres      PETCO Park                109   99
Phillies    Citizens Bank Park        105   88
Pirates     PNC Park                     110  106
Rangers     The Ballpark at Arlington  98   97
Red Sox     Fenway Park                98   91
Reds        Great American Ballpark   121  108
Rockies     Coors Field               103  115
Royals      Kaufman Stadium        73   80
Tigers      Comerica Park              94  101
Twins       Metrodome                 109   97
White Sox   US Cellular Field        115  115
Yankees     New Yankee Stadium  130  130

The Mets and the Yankees Park Factors are one season only

The Nationals Park Factor is two seasons, weighted at 5 and 3

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