Comments on: Getting Nothing Dunn

By: joser

joser — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:38:58 +0000

The Pirates potentially are in the same place that the 61-101 Devil Rays were in 2006. Get young, make good draft picks (and hang onto them). and develop the talent. This requires patience (among the fanbase and ownership), real skill and confidence in the FO, excellent player development skills in the farm system, some time and yes a bit of luck.

Washington could get there too, but they have to clear a lot of dead wood accumulated from the past regime (and not just on the roster). Unlike the Rays, which was merely a woebegone franchise in an ambivalent market, the Expos started out that way and then were actively driven into the ground by malevolent (Loria) or delinquent (MLB) ownership, and then transplanted/foisted upon an ambivalent market. They have a few advantages the Rays didn’t (a decent stadium with potential for lots of lobbyist-driven luxury box revenue, if they can make it as desirable a venue as the Redskins) but are starting from the bottom of a much deeper hole.

By: joser

joser — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:12:29 +0000

The Nationals are on their way to losing well over 100 games this season and even the most die-hard idealist isn’t expecting them contend anytime soon.

Isn’t this the crux of the plan as long as “sure things” like Strassburg and Bryce Harper keep showing up at the top of the draft?
1. Lose more games than anyone else
2. Collect #1 draft pick
3. …
4. Profit!

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:28:04 +0000

And he did–to the Marlins for RHP Aaron Thompson.

Also, Joe Beimel to the Rockies for 2 minor leaguers.

By: Joe R

Joe R — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:22:26 +0000

DH filled with a .738 OPS.

Bringing in Dunn wouldn’t cause much more of a clusterf*** than Gonzalez anyway, which would turn Lowell and Ortiz into the priciest DH platoon ever.

By: Darren

Darren — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:03:48 +0000

No, not to the Red Sox who have DH filled and very similar player to Dunn in LaRoche.

By: Joe R

Joe R — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:53:16 +0000

Bowden isn’t worth a guy with a career 132 OPS+?

That’s, um, debateable.

By: H

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:51:12 +0000

As far as Johnson’s concerned, I’ll bet he gets moved today. As far as Dunn’s concerned, if the demand isn’t there – be it because of the economy or glut of DH types on the contenders – the Nats might do better to trade him next year when the acquiring team will have less of a financial commitment to him.

By: cboone21

cboone21 — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:47:10 +0000

Before criticizing the Nats front office too hard, considert the following:

(1) Where has Pittsburg’s “eternal fire-sale” gotten that franchise?
(2) Nats have finally excised Bowden, but give them some time to emerge from the resulting turmoil
(3) The deals for Dunn and Nyjer have been encouraging, at least in terms of getting good players at proper value
(4) The Nats outscore the Cardinals. With time, their insanely young (but truly promising) staff may have them much more competitive.

So why blow everything up if they aren’t necessarily OVERpaying?

By: Tony C

Tony C — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:40:09 +0000

I heard speculation that Rizzo’s hands are tied by the Lerner Family, and he’s really not allowed to make any big moves. I don’t know if that is true or not, but it sounds like a reasonable thing for the Lerner family to do. I do not mean reasonable like it is a good idea, rather that it makes sense that they would do something that unreasonable.

By: Darren

Darren — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:35:39 +0000

But Dunn’s not worth that. It’s debatable whether he’s a better player as a 1B than LaRoche is.