Federal Baseball has a review on Lindy's baseball preview of the Nationals, which is like having the CliffsNotes to a book you don't want to read...
We like Mr. Cliffs.
Anyway, Lindy says that the Nationals will finish last in the NL East...no surprise that's where the intelligencia are.
FB gives a few questions for Nats nation to consider. I'd answer on his blog, but I don't know how to sign in to post comments. So with apologies to FB, I'll answer them below:
?'s For The DC Faithful...
• Are you assuming Scott Olsen's right back in the rotation?
If he gets starts, it will be short-lived. He hasn't been healthy and when he's healthy, he's not good. Maybe he gets a filler role for a couple of weeks, but I don't see him helping the team. He'll sulk in middle relief, but that's where he belongs.
• Garrett Mock? It's obvious DC GM Mike Rizzo likes Mock, he drafted him in Arizona and the Nationals traded for Mock once Rizzo moved to the nation's capital, have you seen enough out of Mock to pencil him in as a starter?
Unlike Olsen, I like Mock. He's got some good stuff. We talked about Mock last season and looked forward to nights that he pitched. He slowed down a bit at the end, but with some conditioning, confidence in his stuff, and an experienced catcher helping him through the game, I'm hoping for big things this season.
• Is Craig Stammen in your 2010 rotation? Collin Balester? Stephen Strasburg? Miguel Batista?
Good question. Batista probably gets in as a 4th/5th starter. He'll eat some innings. Stammen and Balester each had their moments last season, hopefully we'll see something in Spring Training. And Strasburg, he really is the wild card. I'm in the "bring him along slowly" camp. I don't want another Jordan Zimmermann situation.
On a side-bar here, I blame Zimmermann's injury on the coaching staff. He never should've been allowed to pitch for pay until he fixed his delivery. I remember the first game he pitched for Washington, actually the first pitch he threw - I gasped. He was "all arm". There was no fluidity to the wind-up, no transfer of power from the legs, to the hips, to the arm.
I remember saying, he's going to have arm trouble.
But the coaches never helped him fix it. And it's cost us.
I'm going to try to find some video of him pitching later.
• Are you giving the Nationals any chance to escape the NL East's basement?
Nationals stay competitive all season. Finish 2nd in the NL East. Can't get by Philly.
• Should the Nationals take Bryce Harper or a pitcher? As of now, where do you stand?
Let's see how Harper progresses this season. He should, just for sport, be hitting with a wooden bat in games.
• In an small feature included in the Nationals' organizational overview the Lindy's Sports' writers select "3 Breakthroughs" which picks three, "Prospects Close To Making Their Mark". Strasburg is obviously no. 1 on the list, but which two players join the '09 no.1 overall pick?
Mock and Desmond.
• Who will be the biggest surprise on the Nationals' roster? I'm picking Elijah Dukes to finally put it all together. Will Jesus Flores sit Ivan Rodriguez down like he sent Paul LoDuca and Johnny Estrada to the bench?
Would Dukes be a surprise? I expect great things from Dukes. Flores won't sit Rodriguez for cause (he might get the nod late in the season because they're trying to get him reps, but I'm guessing Flores is hurt by then (or still).)
Mock will surprise us. My darkhorse, is Drew Storen, makes his way to the DC bullpen and makes an impact.