Another Bill Ladson inbox. I actually put two inboxes together because like a normal person, I rarely go to the Nationals website to get information about the team. Oddly enough, I only go to the Redskins team site for information about the Redskins, and sight unseen, it seems like they've had a pretty dominating recent run.
Anyway, Bill Ladson's inboxes are amazingly bad. He's the beat reporter for the Nationals for MLB.com. I honestly enjoy his tweets and articles, but his inboxes are where I draw the line. It's a place where facts go to die and there are no stupid questions....I actually think stupid questions are encouraged and hopefully (for society's sake) faked.
What about trying Stephen Lombardozzi in center field and making him a leadoff man? Looking at his combined 2011 stats for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse, Lombardozzi seems to have ability to get on base, steal bases and hit for a high batting average.
-- John F., Reston, Va.
-- John F., Reston, Va.
You are one of many fans who would like to see Lombardozzi get a chance in the outfield. That is not going to happen. Most of his playing time will be around the infield. It would not surprise me if Lombardozzi was able to get 250 to 300 at-bats this year under manager Davey Johnson.
Most fans want Lombardozzi play second base and lead off, and have Espinosa to move back to shortstop. Ian Desmond had one good year in the minors in 2009. The rest of the time he was pretty much the hitter we see today, which is terrible. He has gotten worse every season that he has been in the majors. He makes a ton of errors. Why is he leading off again? It's just a sick joke, right? Or is Adam LaRoche's glass man impression the joke? The glass man? It was a character in a terrible movie. I saw it because I thought the Sixth Sense was good. Who made you the judge and jury?.....Yes, he was Bruce Willis the whole time. Do you think Chad Tracy has a chance to make the team?
-- Roger W., Charlotte, N.C.
It's too early to tell. It helps, however, that he is driving in runs and hitting from the left side of the plate. Entering Sunday's action's, Tracy has four RBIs, which was tied for the team lead. Johnson said he wants more left-handed presence on the bench.
Roger, it's too early. Bill will get back to you when the roster is released. Now try to get some sleep. Stop worrying about Chad Tracy's career. I know it's hard. I once obsessed over Nook Logan's career. Look where it got me. Writing a blog that only my mom reads, and she only skims it.
I think if the Nationals want to make a playoff push, they need to address center field. If they get off to a decent start, would they make a trade for, say, Adam Jones? I realize I'm getting ahead of myself but it sure is fun to think about it. Thoughts?
Roger, it's too early. Bill will get back to you when the roster is released. Now try to get some sleep. Stop worrying about Chad Tracy's career. I know it's hard. I once obsessed over Nook Logan's career. Look where it got me. Writing a blog that only my mom reads, and she only skims it.
I think if the Nationals want to make a playoff push, they need to address center field. If they get off to a decent start, would they make a trade for, say, Adam Jones? I realize I'm getting ahead of myself but it sure is fun to think about it. Thoughts?
-- Jonny N., Falls Church, Va.
Getting ahead of yourself? Do you only speculate on trades after they happen? Are you Captain Hindsight?
If Jayson Werth is playing center field, I don't think that would be an issue. However, if Rick Ankiel or Roger Bernadina are playing center, the Nationals would have to address the center-field situation. Ankiel and Bernadina have not been able to hit on a consistent basis. It would not surprise me if general manager Mike Rizzo traded for a center fielder for the long term before the season started. Let see how the exhibition season plays out.
Wouldn't Livan Hernandez have been a better choice than Tom Gorzelanny as an innings eater when the situation calls for a long reliever?
If Jayson Werth is playing center field, I don't think that would be an issue. However, if Rick Ankiel or Roger Bernadina are playing center, the Nationals would have to address the center-field situation. Ankiel and Bernadina have not been able to hit on a consistent basis. It would not surprise me if general manager Mike Rizzo traded for a center fielder for the long term before the season started. Let see how the exhibition season plays out.
Wouldn't Livan Hernandez have been a better choice than Tom Gorzelanny as an innings eater when the situation calls for a long reliever?
-- Dirk W., Anchorage, Alaska
With his experience, Hernandez would have been a big help out of the bullpen. But Johnson loves having left-handed pitchers like Gorzelanny out of the bullpen. The more of them the better. Don't forget that Gorzelanny is coming off a nice season as a long man. Let's not give up on him so early.
I think I'm going to have to go with Dirk, the fake person from Alaska. When you have a guy who's younger, under contract, left handed, and has better stats, you have to replace him with a guy who's 8 years older, not under contract, right handed, and has worse stats. It's called "Moneyball", Bill. Watch the movie sometime.
I think I'm going to have to go with Dirk, the fake person from Alaska. When you have a guy who's younger, under contract, left handed, and has better stats, you have to replace him with a guy who's 8 years older, not under contract, right handed, and has worse stats. It's called "Moneyball", Bill. Watch the movie sometime.
Granted, it's early in Spring Training, but if you had to guess what the Nats' starting lineup would look like in April, what would it be?
-- Lloyd P., Mitchellville, Md.
This is just a prediction going into Monday's action against the Cardinals:
Ian Desmond--SS
Danny Espinosa--2B
Ryan Zimmerman--3B
Michael Morse--IF
Adam LaRoche--1B
Jayson Werth--CF
Bryce Harper -- RF
Wilson Ramos--C
Danny Espinosa--2B
Ryan Zimmerman--3B
Michael Morse--IF
Adam LaRoche--1B
Jayson Werth--CF
Bryce Harper -- RF
Wilson Ramos--C
It would not surprise me if Rizzo made a trade for a center fielder.
"Let's give the worst hitter on the team the most at bats."- An insane person. Please don't let this happen. I beg you. Why do you hate me?......Who am I talking to? Ok, back to the inbox.
Where do you see Craig Stammen fitting in this year, if at all? Needless to say the starting rotation is full and with Gorzelanny as the long man out of the bullpen, Stammen seems to be out of luck there also.
"Let's give the worst hitter on the team the most at bats."- An insane person. Please don't let this happen. I beg you. Why do you hate me?......Who am I talking to? Ok, back to the inbox.
Where do you see Craig Stammen fitting in this year, if at all? Needless to say the starting rotation is full and with Gorzelanny as the long man out of the bullpen, Stammen seems to be out of luck there also.
-- Richard H., Toronto
It's too early to tell, but Stammen has looked impressive since he was called up to the big leagues last September and deserves another chance to stay in the big leagues. If I were the manager -- and I'm not -- Stammen would be one of my top choices to be the long man.
Thanks for clarifying that you are not the manager. I thought we had some breaking news. By the way, Craig Stammen is Bill's new man crush. Every mailbag there is a question about Stammen. He's not going to make the team. No one cares about him. Maybe he's huge in Toronto, I don't know. Craig Stammen had two seasons with an ERA over 5, then pitched lights out in 10 innings of work late in the season last year. I'll go with the two seasons and 233.2 innings of him being terrible with his 5.12 ERA.
When will Ross Detwiler get a legitimate shot at a rotation spot? He is a tall hard thrower from the left side. He has continued to improve since his solid September last season. Why not slot him in the No. 5 spot?
Thanks for clarifying that you are not the manager. I thought we had some breaking news. By the way, Craig Stammen is Bill's new man crush. Every mailbag there is a question about Stammen. He's not going to make the team. No one cares about him. Maybe he's huge in Toronto, I don't know. Craig Stammen had two seasons with an ERA over 5, then pitched lights out in 10 innings of work late in the season last year. I'll go with the two seasons and 233.2 innings of him being terrible with his 5.12 ERA.
When will Ross Detwiler get a legitimate shot at a rotation spot? He is a tall hard thrower from the left side. He has continued to improve since his solid September last season. Why not slot him in the No. 5 spot?
-- Sebastian L., McLean, Va.
After spending so much time on his mechanics, I thought the Nationals would put Detwiler in the rotation, but they ended up signing Edwin Jackson. With Chien-Ming Wang injured, it would not surprise me if Detwiler was given a chance as the fifth starter, although manager Davey Johnson announced recently that John Lannan would be the guy for now. Detwiler will eventually get his chance. He is ready to be a star.
The only thing standing in his way from becoming a star is John Lannan? That's like saying Mike Trout is being blocked by Vernon Wells....ok, bad example. But seriously though, if he's ready to be a star, he would be in the rotation. Why is the most average pitcher ever getting more innings than Detwiler if he is ready to be a star? Maybe Davey Johnson is trying to sabotage the season. Ok, maybe not. Ed note: I hope he is a star.
I don't want to give up on Ian Desmond as a leadoff hitter, but his stats are dismal. Also, Danny Espinosa doesn't appear to be a fit as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup. If things don't improve over the next week, what is Johnson's Plan B?
The only thing standing in his way from becoming a star is John Lannan? That's like saying Mike Trout is being blocked by Vernon Wells....ok, bad example. But seriously though, if he's ready to be a star, he would be in the rotation. Why is the most average pitcher ever getting more innings than Detwiler if he is ready to be a star? Maybe Davey Johnson is trying to sabotage the season. Ok, maybe not. Ed note: I hope he is a star.
I don't want to give up on Ian Desmond as a leadoff hitter, but his stats are dismal. Also, Danny Espinosa doesn't appear to be a fit as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup. If things don't improve over the next week, what is Johnson's Plan B?
-- Dean O., Winnipeg, Canada
Plan B is Stephen Lombardozzi. He is outperforming both Desmond and Espinosa this spring. No matter what happens, Desmond and Espinosa are going to be the double-play combination to start the season, but if one of them gets off to a bad start, you can bet that Lombardozzi will be in that starting lineup.
Yes! Now all we need is for Ian Desmond to not hit and play terrible defense. Just do what you do Ian. By the way, Plan C is to put a 5 gallon bucket on it's side between 2nd and 3rd.
Lannan might not be an ace, but he has been a good pitcher with the Nationals. I think trading him would be a mistake. Why not keep him on the team?
Yes! Now all we need is for Ian Desmond to not hit and play terrible defense. Just do what you do Ian. By the way, Plan C is to put a 5 gallon bucket on it's side between 2nd and 3rd.
Lannan might not be an ace, but he has been a good pitcher with the Nationals. I think trading him would be a mistake. Why not keep him on the team?
-- Alex C., Montreal
If the season started today, Lannan would be Washington's fifth starter because of the injury to Wang. But despite the injury to Wang, I was told by a baseball source that the Nationals would still consider trading Lannan. But as the source told me, general manager Mike Rizzo is not going to give Lannan away. The Tigers are one team who could have interest.
Lannan can be optioned to AAA. No one wants that, but that is a real scenario if Wang is healthy and if no other team wants to trade for Lannan. On the plus side, the Nats' pitching staff is so good, the number 2 starter for most of last season can't find a spot in the rotation. Ok, that's a plus for everyone but John Lannan. I'll go on record saying that Wang starts on the DL and Lannan starts the season with the team. A healthy Wang is John Lannan (That sounds gross) so we aren't missing anything.
Since Stephen Strasburg will be limited to 160 innings this year, has there been any discussions about him missing a start or two? This way we still have him available if the Nats get into the postseason.
If the season started today, Lannan would be Washington's fifth starter because of the injury to Wang. But despite the injury to Wang, I was told by a baseball source that the Nationals would still consider trading Lannan. But as the source told me, general manager Mike Rizzo is not going to give Lannan away. The Tigers are one team who could have interest.
Lannan can be optioned to AAA. No one wants that, but that is a real scenario if Wang is healthy and if no other team wants to trade for Lannan. On the plus side, the Nats' pitching staff is so good, the number 2 starter for most of last season can't find a spot in the rotation. Ok, that's a plus for everyone but John Lannan. I'll go on record saying that Wang starts on the DL and Lannan starts the season with the team. A healthy Wang is John Lannan (That sounds gross) so we aren't missing anything.
Since Stephen Strasburg will be limited to 160 innings this year, has there been any discussions about him missing a start or two? This way we still have him available if the Nats get into the postseason.
-- Jim M., Bakersfield, Calif.
To answer the first question, Strasburg is expected to miss some starts because of the innings limit. It happened with Jordan Zimmermann last season. Once Strasburg reaches his innings limit, he probably would not play in the postseason. We'll see.
Bill, Jim was asking if Strasburg would skip starts so he could pitch later into the season. How did you miss that? Jim, the answer is no. This year is like a rehab year. It is what it is.
Is the front office even a bit worried about Desmond's lack of hitting so far in Spring Training?
Bill, Jim was asking if Strasburg would skip starts so he could pitch later into the season. How did you miss that? Jim, the answer is no. This year is like a rehab year. It is what it is.
Is the front office even a bit worried about Desmond's lack of hitting so far in Spring Training?
-- Tom L., Santiago, Chile
The question should be: Is Johnson concerned? The answer is no yes. He is not the type of person that looks at Spring Training career stats. Johnson doesn't wants Desmond to be ready shitty for Opening Day, which he will be.
I corrected Bill's answer.
With Ryan Zimmerman signing a long-term contract, what position do you see Anthony Rendon playing in the future?
I corrected Bill's answer.
With Ryan Zimmerman signing a long-term contract, what position do you see Anthony Rendon playing in the future?
-- Gary S., Flint, Mich.
Rendon is going to start the season with Class A Potomac as a third baseman and will see action as a shortstop.
Which totally proves that no one is concerned about Ian Desmond.
Which totally proves that no one is concerned about Ian Desmond.
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