Middle infielder Felipe Lopez is a former All Star, but right now all that matters is that he’s also a former disappointment. And the latter description is more recent. Lopez was terrible last year, hitting .245 and drawing few walks. He wasn’t anything like the player the Nats [and most everyone else] expected him to be.
The Washington Post as an interesting article about Lopez today, chronicling his dreadful upbringing [and absent mother, an abusive and perverted father who is scheduled to get out of prison next year] and the disappointing 2007 season. Lopez stunk at the plate and his attitude was even worse. He didn’t work hard, sulked when the results were poor and generally didn’t earn his money in 2007. Now he says things are going to be different in 2008. Well, that’s what all disappointing players say this time of year. Spring Training is, after all, a time for renewal and extravagant promises. We’ll see.
In better news, possible opening day starter Shawn Hill showed no discomfort throwing yesterday after taking two days off from pitching.
“I got a ways to go with my change-up,” Hill said. “I am not concerned about it, but I am not sharp-sharp yet. It takes a little while to get loose, but once I get loose and get cranked up and get it going, it’s fine. We still have four or five weeks, so there is plenty of time.”
Make no mistake: The Nats need a healthy Shawn Hill this year. If Hill can start at least 30 games [crazy, I know], it is possible to see the Nats making us proud this year. He’s scheduled to make his first start of Spring Training a week from today against the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, FLA.
Here is Acta’s pitching plan for the next few days:
Today against Florida: Matt Chico, Garrett Mock, Rob Bell, Joel Hanrahan, Brian Sanches and Chris Schroder.
Tomorrow against Georgetown: Jason Bergmann, Josh Smoker and Collin Balester.
Friday against Florida: Tyler Clippard, Jason Stanford and Mike Bascik.
Saturday against Baltimore: John Patterson, Dennis Tankersley, Steven Shell, Ray King, Jon Rauch and Chad Cordero.
Sunday against Baltimore (split-squad game): John Lannan, Mike O’Connor and Hanrahan.
Sunday against Houston (split-squad game): Mock, Bell and Bascik.
Speaking of Matt Chico, he led the Nats in all sorts of pitching categories last year, though that’s not really saying very much. He’s got his work cut out for him this year, though, if he wants to make a big contribution to the club. Competition for starting spots is fiercer this season and, with a bit of luck, the entire starting rotation won’t be stricken with leprosy before the first of May.
He said yesterday he needed to work on a few things: throwing more first-pitch strikes, walking fewer batters and finishing off hitters when he gets ahead. He said he went over stats with pitching coach Randy St. Claire recently. St. Claire wants guys to throw 62 percent first-pitch strikes – at least. Chico threw 59 percent. Every little thing makes a difference.
Chico and walks: Only five pitchers in the National League walked more men per nine innings than Chico’s 3.99 last year (Doug Davis, Scott Olsen, Kip Wells, Carlos Zambrano and Oliver Perez).
So Chico – obscured somewhat by the progress of Shawn Hill and John Patterson this spring – takes the ball tonight, a long way from last year, his first big-league camp.
Meanwhile, Baseball America has put 3 Nats prospects in its Top 100: Chris Marrero is 27th, pitcher Ross Detwiler is 51st and pitcher Collin Balester is 86th. The cupboard is no longer empty.
Nick Johnson is back! That’s right, the oft-injured first baseman who hasn’t played a real baseball game since September of 2006 should make an appearance today.
Baserunning could be Johnson’s toughest test. He ran through a sliding drill with teammates yesterday for the first time and struggled.
“It could have been better,” said Johnson, who was slow to get up from the slides and walked gingerly afterward. “I was never a good slider in the first place. I think it will be a little better when game time comes, where I have to just get down there and do it. Just during a game, just go. I can’t be thinking about it. If I think about it, then I will be a mess.”
Johnson will have to get his game back quickly if he wants his starting job back. All Star and reigning Comeback Player of the Year Dmitri Young has his sights set on the first base job. Let’s face it, we don’t want to see Dmitri’s glove in the outfield too often and with with the offseason acquisitions made for the back lawn, that shouldn’t even be necessary.
Possibly Related Posts:
- El-Bashir leaving Post Caps beat
- All things Adam Dunn this morning
- Redskins training camp countdown
- Nats minor report: Jordan Zimmerman issue
- 4th round pick: P AJ Cole
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