Johnson won't accept backup role

Nick Johnson said recently that he will rather have a trade than accept a backup role. There are still five men (Dukes, Willingham, Milledge, Johnson, and Dunn) competing for four spots, which is the outfield and first base. I've decided that they have to get rid of either Lastings Milledge or Nick Johnson. Milledge would be hard to get rid of, considering Bowdon said he is in our long-term plans and Acta recently said Lastings would be our center fielder. Dunn and Dukes are already guaranteed a starting spot. Each of the five are too good to be a backup, yet Milledge is the worst. I hate how the Nats, to them, Milledge is a young, great slugger all-star, and Dukes is what? A nobody who's got arrested twice? Dukes is a stud, and they don't realize it. If nobody leaves, I can't imagine Lastings Milledge (below, on his check-swing) mis-playing another ball while a healthy Nick Johnson or Josh Willingham sitting on the bench. Also they're treating Austin Kearns as if he deverves to even compete to start? Kearns over Dukes?Kearns over Dunn??? Nick Johnson has a higher chance of getting traded, as for the second year in a row he said he will start or he will accept a trade. The Nats are starting to get really mad at him, as he has made eight major trips to the DL in his career. Reportedly, three teams looked at his medical record, including the Oakland Athletics, who have extreme interest in him. They also might actually mean it, because Jim Bowdon isn't their GM...

Even with that, it wouldn't be too bad to keep Milledge as a backup and if they keep all five, remembering that this is still a young team that is the most injury-prone in baseball. Not only if someone gets injured/traded in the outfield or first base, Milledge could step in but also at catcher. If Flores goes down, I don't see Montz or Nieves being able to be a starting catcher. Then, you could put Willingham at catcher and have a outfield of Dukes, Milledge, and Dunn. Although, Flores has never been injured in his career, excluding a cruel play by Chase Utley ( He dove into home, spikes up, on-purpose, after the game: "I didn't do anything").

That looks like it in the offseason for the Nats. Jim Bowdon said yesterday that they no longer had interest in Orlando Hudson. They still should have got a couple of stud relief pitchers. In the bullpen the nats are putting way too much pressure on Hanrahan, Shell, Mock, and probably Terrel Young. They need one more old (28-34 years old) relief pitcher, and maybe even Juan Cruz could help. You can tell that Chad Cordero is not coming back, because Dunn took his old number, 32. Dunn didn't say much while at his press conference, but some bad news is that you can tell Dunn is really disapointed that he came to Washington (59-102) instead of a contender. So pretty much the only other move this offseason for the nats would be a trade invlolving getting rid of Nick Johnson.

Dunn Deal... REALLY!!!

Finally! Jim Bowdon finalized the deal to sign 1b/LF/RF Adam Dunn earlier today.He would be great for our lineup. If nobody gets injured or gets traded, this is what they should do: Dunn starting RF, Dukes starting CF, Willingham starting LF, Johnson starting 1B, Milledge #1 backup for outfield. When Johnson gets hurt, move Dunn to first and move Willingham to LF. The lineup: 1.2B Anderson Hernandez, 2.SS Cristian Guzman, 3.3B Ryan Zimmerman, 4.LF Adam Dunn, 5.RF Elijah Dukes, 6.1B Nick Johnson, 7.C Jesus Flores, 8.CF Lastings Milledge, 9.P, top pinch hitter: Josh Willingham. In that lineup there is tons of power. I could also see three people hitting 30 bombs with Zimm, 'Lijah, and Adam Dunn (this guy needs a good nickname). I could also see Lastings, Johnson, and Flores hitting 20.
Dunn has been a monster in his career, bombing at least 40 gone-bombs each of the last 5 seasons. He can also have a great on-base percentage, last year's was .381. This guy is huge, as he stands at 6-6, 267 LBS, and just that alone is enough to strike fear into opposing pitchers. Even though he has bombed at least 40 in the past 5 seasons, that should be over-looked, consitering he has hit exactly 40 in the last 4 seasons and he is playing in the arguably-most hitter friend park in the majors at The Great American Ballpark. Sadly, leaving that park might be bad news for Dunn. After going to Arizona for a short stint, he struggled. Just look at what Kearns and Lopez were going to be before they got traded. Also look at what happened all the other players Bowden got from Cinnci. Also you can't be sure he can even stay heathy. You can tell that Dunn wanted to go to a contender, as he waited this long to sign. He figured the Nats were about the only team left running for him after th Angles signed Mark Texeiria. There is Dunn (on the right) relaxing the offseason, thinking about which contender will sign him.
Pitchers and Catchers report in two days. Nothing much to say here, other than some good news that Jesus Flores has already caught three games from Daniel Cabrera.

NatsFest

Yesterday, I went to the 1st annual NatsFest, held at Nationals Park. Overall, it was pretty good. I got a chance to get autographs from players, including Willie Harris, Garret Mock, Elijah Dukes, John Lannan, Terrel Young, Mike O'Conner, and Steven Shell. I also got a photograph with Ryan Zimmerman, and another one with Scotty Olsen and Hammer (Josh Willingham). It was cool to see the players, though the line was way too long. So, anyway, here was our day. So we arrive at Nats Park pretty early, and there is already a problem to be seen. They only have 2 check-in places, which means there were monstrous lines. So we (me, son, and friend) get in, and go immediatly to a talk by political writer George Will. This lady tells us the room is at full compacity, and we can't come in. I look inside. Maybe about 30 people, tops. So then at about 1:40 we go in line to have a autograph from Manny Acta, Scotty Olsen, and Josh Willingham. We waited forever, and eventually the Acta, Olsen, and Hammer session was over, at 2:30. Then Steven Shell, Willie Harris, Mike O'Conner, and John Lannan walked by us to take their place. All of the other nats fans couldn't care less, thinking it was some normal nats fans with jerseys on. Knowing Willie Harris is a really cool guy, as he goes by, I say "Hey Willie,". He turns around, gives me a sincere look, and says, " Hey, whats up, man." I get the autograph at about 3:10 ( an hour and a half of waiting) and go to a picture with Scotty Olsen and Hammer. We then went in the clubhouse, where everyone's locker and stuff is. It was very cool-looking, and right across the hall (but was blocked) was the conference room, which is where Acta spends his countless hours seeing if Dukes can calm down (never) and having a conversation with Kearns to see if he can actually hit a major league pitch.
Acta: "Austin, your 0-28, can you start hitting?" Kearnsy: " Sure. I will try my hardest every day. Notice how I'm not complaining and working hard?" Bowdon: "Well...Just because you were a Cincinnati Red and you didn't complain, I will sign you to a 6 year, 260 million dollar contract!" So Bowdon.
Then we went to a pic with Ryan Zimmerman, and I got a chance to shake his hand, his is about 3 times stronger than mine and his wrist was huge. I didn't say anything to him other than "Hey Ryan" and "Thanks". Now I think I should have told him about me calling his walk-off. Than I went to see and get a autograph from Garret Mock, Terrel Young, and Elijah Dukes. Dukes' arm muscle is huge. I didn't shake his hand, but now I wish I did. What I did do was ask him what outfield spot he prefers, and he replied a good attitude. " I don't even care where I play as long as I even can play," he said. So after that we left. Overall, there was a lot more nat's fans there than I expected. I proudly thought my son would be wearing the most Nationals, with a nats hat, a nats coat, and a Zimmerman jersey under the coat, but there were a lot of nats fans with gear on. This could mean a lot more nats fans in '09. I think a lot more players should come than just seven, but, overall, this is a great experience for fans to meet the players.

Outfield situation unclear

The Nats still are not sure who will be their starting outfielders in 2009, with spring training coming up shortly. Who I think will be their starters is Dukes in right, Milledge in center, and Willingham in left. They have a ton of righty outfielders, including Milledge, Willingham, Dukes, Kearns, Wily Mo Pena, Justin Maxwell, and if they sign him, Corey Patterson. Austin Kearns will compete for a outfield spot, although he is just a joke. He couldn't or wouldn't hit anything last year. It's ridiculous how the ownership, when being asked about Kearn's pathetic play, said he listens to his coaches and never complains. That absolute crap right there. So that means he is making four million dollars every year to be nice to the coaches, and make the Nats lose 10 more games? I've had enough with him. Every year they say he is going to post 20 home runs and 80 RBIs, and he's never close.Oh and yay, see that plan!(above) just stop right in front of the catcher! great idea! Just look at his numbers last year...... .217 average, .316 slugging percentage, only 7 home runs to go with 63 strikeouts... Wily Mo Pena is even less likely to win a starting spot, yet being a much better hitter than Kearns. Pena is a really underrated player. Going back to the last time he was healthy, he hit .293 with 7 home runs in 120 at-bats with the Nats at the end of the '07 season. Unlike Kearns, Pena actually does have an excuse for his poor play in 2008, playing with a shoulder injury the whole season. Even though the management hates him, I think they should at least him him a shot at starting, to see if he could do what he did in late '07, but I don't see that happening. Let's just hope the Nats don't sign Corey Patterson, as he has sucked in his career and is no more than a pinch-runner.
What looks like the three starting outfielders for the nats are all righties, so that means Willie Harris and Roger Bernadina will see lots of action. Thats just what I think the outfield will be going into spring training, but lots could happen, including still a possibility of signing a major free agent, such as Adam Dunn or Orlando Hudson. As I mentioned last post, they could've just said they had no intreast in him just to bring their price down, consitering Stan Kasten said recently Dunn and Hudson price was too much. Having a righty outfield means Nick Johnson has to stay healthy, or another righty in Willingham will take his place. The nats need another left-handed first basemen in case Johnson gets injured, consitering Da Meat hook gets released and Kory Casto is terrible. Overall, even if the nats don't get anybody, they still have a solid outfield for 2009. In other news.....................................

• I will be going to the first natsfest on sunday with my son!
  

Nats get Olsen, Willingham from Fish

Today, the Nationals signed Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham from the Marlins for Emilio Bonifacio, P.J. Dean, and Jake Smolinski. Willingham, 29, is a overall solid player. He usually hits for a good average, has a good on-base percentage, not that fast but is a good fielder, and has a really strong arm from the outfield. He has very good power, and had 13 career home runs against the Nationals. Willingham on the Nats probably means Pena and Kearns won't start, and the outfield would be Willingham, Milledge, and Dukes.
Scott Olsen is a hard throwing Left hander who touched 94 last season, and has a lot of potential. Olsen, 24, had more off the field issues with alcohol and misbehaving. Even with Olsen, the Nationals rotation is still not good enough. Last year, Olsen went 9-11 with a 4.20 ERA, but the problem is he gave up 30 home runs in 33 starts, going into Nats park, which is a slightly pitchers park.
The Nats give up Emilio Bonifacio, who they accuiered in August, and two other unknown prospects. I didn't like Bonifacio anyway, because he would probably become another Nook Logan type player, in terms of hitting for a low average and on-base percentage, and not having any power. With no more Bonifacio, Anderson Hernandez will be the starting second basemen unless Belliard hits .600 during spring training.
Overall I think this was a good trade, especially Scott Olsen. It helps the Nats starting pithing, which still needs one more stud starter.