Nationals

[Tim]

Competition for Guzman? I don't think Neifi is looking for a utility or platoon situation.

 

Quite a battle there, salary advantage-Guzman and the production advantage goes to Neifi.

 

If I was Washington and that was the battle at starting SS, I'd want a 3rd option.

That's why they moved Zimmerman to SS.

 

Did you see some of the comments made about 2B Howie Kendrick of Anaheim?

 

Aybar, Cabrera, Wood, Callespo, Kennedy and Kendrick...

 

Quite a surplus of MIs.

Yep. You can ad in Maicer and Figgins, as well.

[mhuber92211]

Speaking of the Nationals, is there any word on when they will be sold and what direction the new owners could take?

 

And Bowden's contract? Whne does it expire? I remember it being only for 1 year when he left ESPN.

[katway]

Speaking of the Nationals, is there any word on when they will be sold and what direction the new owners could take?

 

There really is no clue as to which direction MLB is leaning. But, there are several suitors for the Nats that will have money to spend. I doubt they will need to shed salary other than Guzman. So, there is little chance they trade Livan, who is viewed as the staff leader, for something insignificant like Mitre. Patterson is a better pitcher, but Livan is the clear leader.

[RockTheIvy]

Could you imagine an outfield of Murton, Wilkerson, and someone like Brian Giles or Abreu? That's like a Billy Beane's wet dream. :D

 

Why cause none of them could win in the playoffs? :lol:

 

I kid I kid, that truly would be a spectacular outfield. Very non-Cubs/Dusty too, which is of course a serious plus.

[Illini Iceman]

Goony,

 

What is it that you don't like out of Wilkerson's offensive production in CF? His OBP's for the past four years are: .370, .380, .374, .351. This year he supposedly played injured, which lowered his numbers across the board.

 

I wouldn't call him a stud, but I'm not sure why you'd expect him to put up a .340 OBP, either.

 

The .340 was Murton. What I meant to say about Wilkerson is you might not get much better than that from him. I wouldn't pencil him in for a near 900 OPS. Things have been down in recent years, and while I love the patience and walk totals, I don't trust a guy who relies so heavily on the walk, while playing for Dusty.

 

Make no mistake, I'd love to have him in center and leading off, moreso than Furcal actually. I was just talking about total OF production, and making a point that an OF of Murton/Wilkerson/???RF??? better have a very production RF in it. Murton/Wilkerson/Burnitz wouldn't cut it.

Gotcha. I thought you were inferring that Wilkerson would be around those numbers, as well.

 

While I wouldn't expect a .900 OPS out of him, I would expect something around .850 if he's healthy. His four OPS numbers are: .839, .844, .872, .756. The last was accumulated, again, while playing injured in a dreadful home environment (yes, I also know his road numbers were worse this year -- I consider that an anomoly).

 

Hey, my offseason priorities still begin and end with paying Giles enough money to leave the west coast. If we had Murton, Wilky and Giles across the OF, I'd be okay with going with defense in the MIF and signing Furcal & playing Cedeno at 2B.

 

Wow, you really have the expectation bar set high. If the Cubs get Giles and Wilkerson you are "okay" with them going with Furcal and Cedeno up the middle? That would only mean that the Cubs wind up with arguably the two top free agents on the market plus a high level CF via trade. I would be more than okay with that, I would be ecstatic.

[BigbadB]

Some might argue that Damon will be the top free agent available. Not me, but someone. Gammons maybe?

 

Burnett and Millwood will be right up there as well.

[Tim]

Goony,

 

What is it that you don't like out of Wilkerson's offensive production in CF? His OBP's for the past four years are: .370, .380, .374, .351. This year he supposedly played injured, which lowered his numbers across the board.

 

I wouldn't call him a stud, but I'm not sure why you'd expect him to put up a .340 OBP, either.

 

The .340 was Murton. What I meant to say about Wilkerson is you might not get much better than that from him. I wouldn't pencil him in for a near 900 OPS. Things have been down in recent years, and while I love the patience and walk totals, I don't trust a guy who relies so heavily on the walk, while playing for Dusty.

 

Make no mistake, I'd love to have him in center and leading off, moreso than Furcal actually. I was just talking about total OF production, and making a point that an OF of Murton/Wilkerson/???RF??? better have a very production RF in it. Murton/Wilkerson/Burnitz wouldn't cut it.

Gotcha. I thought you were inferring that Wilkerson would be around those numbers, as well.

 

While I wouldn't expect a .900 OPS out of him, I would expect something around .850 if he's healthy. His four OPS numbers are: .839, .844, .872, .756. The last was accumulated, again, while playing injured in a dreadful home environment (yes, I also know his road numbers were worse this year -- I consider that an anomoly).

 

Hey, my offseason priorities still begin and end with paying Giles enough money to leave the west coast. If we had Murton, Wilky and Giles across the OF, I'd be okay with going with defense in the MIF and signing Furcal & playing Cedeno at 2B.

 

Wow, you really have the expectation bar set high. If the Cubs get Giles and Wilkerson you are "okay" with them going with Furcal and Cedeno up the middle? That would only mean that the Cubs wind up with arguably the two top free agents on the market plus a high level CF via trade. I would be more than okay with that, I would be ecstatic.

You misunderstand. Or I didn't state clearly, which could also be the case. :D

 

I've been a big advocate of keeping Nomar + Walker at SS/2B because we simply need the offense. However, if we could line up Murton/Wilkerson/Giles across the OF, I'd be okay with taking a more defense-oriented approach on the infield and fielding Furcal/Cedeno there.

 

If we don't strengthen the OF as much as I've suggested above, I'd much rather stick with Nomar/Walker in the IF for the offense they'll generate.

[imb]

Competition for Guzman? I don't think Neifi is looking for a utility or platoon situation.

 

Quite a battle there, salary advantage-Guzman and the production advantage goes to Neifi.

 

If I was Washington and that was the battle at starting SS, I'd want a 3rd option.

That's why they moved Zimmerman to SS.

 

wowowow, did they really?

[CubfaninCA]

Why would Washington trade Wilkerson?? They have the worse offense in baseball. Also, they aren't playing in Montreal anymore. Why do they need to cut payroll?? Getting Wilkerson may be more unrealistic than getting Giles.

 

Now I can see them trading Hernandez to acquire some more offense. Hernandez had some attitude problems last year too.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Why would Washington trade Wilkerson?? They have the worse offense in baseball. Also, they aren't playing in Montreal anymore. Why do they need to cut payroll?? Getting Wilkerson may be more unrealistic than getting Giles.

 

Now I can see them trading Hernandez to acquire some more offense. Hernandez had some attitude problems last year too.

 

Wilkerson, Guillen, Church, Sledge, and Byrd for only 3 spots. That and Bowden is stupid, so it could happen.

[brinoch]

Why would Washington trade Wilkerson?? They have the worse offense in baseball. Also, they aren't playing in Montreal anymore. Why do they need to cut payroll?? Getting Wilkerson may be more unrealistic than getting Giles.

 

Now I can see them trading Hernandez to acquire some more offense. Hernandez had some attitude problems last year too.

 

Wilkerson, Guillen, Church, Sledge, and Byrd for only 3 spots. That and Bowden is stupid, so it could happen.

 

Guillen and Sledge (presuming health) will definitely be back. Byrd... from what I understand they don't love. Church was well-liked. If the Nats can get something they would value for Wilkerson, I think they'll deal him. There was a lot of disappointment in his performance this year, particularly with his strikeouts and his second half. The problem with the Nats wasn't really in the OF... it was Vidro's injury and the lack of production from Guzman and Castilla. For a good portion of the year you had Macias-Perez-Hollandsworth like production. And, remember, Wilkerson led off for them again this year.

 

That, and their pitching needs some shoring up.

 

RFK is a pitchers park, for the most part. If they can get some above average arms, they'll do it. Heck, I think Eric Milton would be a good pick-up for them, if Cincy would take some of the salary.

[fromthestretch]

RFK is a pitchers park, for the most part. If they can get some above average arms, they'll do it. Heck, I think Eric Milton would be a good pick-up for them, if Cincy would take some of the salary.

 

Eric Milton isn't a good pick-up for any team, regardless of the stadium they play in.

[RynoRules]

Why would Washington trade Wilkerson?? They have the worse offense in baseball. Also, they aren't playing in Montreal anymore. Why do they need to cut payroll?? Getting Wilkerson may be more unrealistic than getting Giles.

 

Now I can see them trading Hernandez to acquire some more offense. Hernandez had some attitude problems last year too.

 

Agreed w/ all of the above.