The "How bad are the Nationals" thread

[splitterpfj]

For those keeping score, the Nats have handed their 1B job over to Dmitri Young, by default. Travis Lee requested his release, Nick Johnson is healing a broken leg.

 

Nook Logan would have been the Opening Day CF, but he has a groin injury, the new CF is Ryan Church, the new LF is coming straight from AA.

 

Honestly, how bad do you think this team will be this year? Most of their players seem to be spot fillers with no upside, and they're in a tough division.

 

I'll say they go 55-107.

 

What's your bet?

[MarquesJohnson2000]

I heard them talking about the Nationals on ESPN radio last week and they were throwing out numbers like 32-130.

[backup catchers]

I wonder how much that team suffered behind the scenes without true ownership. Don't they look like a team that may have a antied up for a major league payroll but skimped on player development and scouting? It looks like it's at the point where it will take a Breweresque five to six year rebuild from top to bottom before they will have a chance.

[rluzinski]

I heard them talking about the Nationals on ESPN radio last week and they were throwing out numbers like 32-130.

 

That's just silly. A team of AAA vets would win more games.

[crewcrazy]

I believe the short answer would be "historically bad."

 

You didn't even mention that Jason Simontacchi will be their #3 starter. Their rotation is going to end up being John Patterson and a bunch of guys who would be rotation fillers in AAA. I could see Patterson having a year like Ben Sheets had in '04 -- but that's assuming he stays healthy. If he goes down again, 120 losses wouldn't be out of the question for the Nats.

[Jopal78]

Certainly, the Nats have no real starting pitching, however Kearns, Lopez, Nick Johnson, Zimmerman, and Church are solid players either in their prime or with room to improve. Plus, Escobar, and Snelling are interesting players that could still blossom into above average players.

 

With a potent lineup I can see them winning 68+ games, especially if they can deal Chad Cordero at the deadline for a young arm or two.

[Brian the Automator]

An injury to the middle or left side of the infield, and they're completely screwed.... not that they were all that strong up the middle anyway.

 

This is a bad, bad team.

[Brian the Automator]

[ You didn't even mention that Jason Simontacchi will be their #3 starter. ]

 

Correction: Simontacchi will EVENTUALLY be their #3 starter:

 

washington.nationals.mlb....p&c_id=was

 

ouch.

[backup catchers]

Well at least groin injuries heal quickly and never linger.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Brian the Automator]

"We are going to do the best job we can," Bowden said. "We are going to have the best 25 men on Opening Day. There could be a trade between now and Opening Day, of which we have to have other things in place. So we are going to be flexible. We are going to be Tom Brady at the line of scrimmage between now and Opening Day."

 

Yeah... except Tom Brady doesn't suck.

[sbrylski]

I'm with Jopal. I don't think they'll be as bad as some think.

 

I really like Church and Kearns, together with Johnson and Zimmerman they should be somewhat okay on offense. Pitching may be helped some by RFK, though they still will be really bad. I'd put the over under at 60, so I don't see them losing too many more than 100.

[backup catchers]

When the optimists don't seee them losing many more than 100 it doesn't bode very well does it?

[homer]

You almost have to TRY and lose more than 105 games. I'd say they win about 60 - 65.

[sbrylski]

When the optimists don't seee them losing many more than 100 it doesn't bode very well does it?

 

My post kindof started fairly optimistic, then ended with a resounding, "They suck."

[splitterpfj]

Won't Johnson be out until late May/early June? I really like his talent, but right now I can't list him as a positive for this season.

[endaround]

Quote:

---

We are going to be Tom Brady at the line of scrimmage between now and Opening Day

---

 

Following what Belichick told you to do?

[TooLiveBrew]

I'll give the Nats 50 wins, but I wanna say 45.

[bork]

You almost have to TRY and lose more than 105 games.

 

Yeah, just ask Jerry Royster.

[samwise]

One of my college roomate is from DC, and we were just talking about this yesterday. He thinks that they can get to 60, but 50-55 seems more like a probable win total. I told him that this looks like the Clevland Indians of Major League. They should start scouring the California Penal League for some arms.

[billyhallfan]

Kearns is decent, and Zimmerman is a stud, there isn't much after those two.

[Invader3K]

How soon before relocation talk starts with the Nats?

[giffted1]

I don't think they'll be as bad as some people think. Their offense could be decent. An outfield of Kearns, Church, and Snelling has some potential. Zimmerman is/will be a stud and Nick Johnson is underrated putting up a .948 ops last year but is often injured.

 

The word "horrible" is still too good to describe their pitching staff though. I think they could win close to 60 games, but they'll be on the wrong side of a blowout many times.

[mothershipconnection]

You almost have to TRY and lose more than 105 games. I'd say they win about 60 - 65.

Agreed, though it take a lot to get from 60-80, it doesn't take much talent at all to get those first 60 wins. Other teams get worn down, you face spot starters like the Sheets/Ohka replacements, and without incredibly bad luck, you win no less than 55-60 games.

 

The 32-130 mark is laughable. Seriously, even fringe major league talent simply isn't that weak. This isn't a small sample like the NFL where the same winning percentage is completely feasible.

Even the Brewers scrap-heap lineup of

CF: Gross

RF: Nix

LF: Mench

2B: Counsell

1B: Rottino

SS: Ozzie Chavez

C: Closser

3B: Graffanino

With our AAA/AA pitching staff would have to have some bad breaks to finish 32-130.

[TooLiveBrew]

Lopez is a solid hitter, Zimmerman's a fine player, Kearns is solid, and Johnson is good, but man. Nowhere in any analysis of their position players is there anything to offset their complete abyss of pitching.

 

50 wins. That should be close to accurate.

[hawing]

This is so looking like Nationals bulletin board fodder.