Time to Blow Up the Nats?

In case you missed it, because it is old news now, Nationals P Shawn Hill goes to the disabled list. Really! Not surprising eh? Come on — .did anyone really think Hill would stay healthy? The problem — the forearm, again.

Hill went to the Mayo Clinic the next day. A bone scan and an MRI were performed on Hill’s forearm. The doctors found no evidence of structural damage and attributed Hill’s pain to irritation of the right forearm muscles. The doctors advocated a period of rest, followed by rehab and a throwing program.

I think it is getting more and more clear that besides the minor league system that is developing nicely, well, at least pitching wise, this team needs scratched. I’ll say it. No beating around the bush. I see very little here to build on. The defense can be question, the offense stinks, the starting pitching erratic, and the bullpen only half way decent.

Where to start — it is time to move on from both Hill and Nick Johnson. These guys have shown nothing but an ability to play well in a small stretch before yielding to injuries. It is not news, it is a pattern, and for a team that is trying to build on youth, you can’t possibly rely on veterans who aren’t there, that spend their time on the DL. I am tired of hearing how well of a pitcher Hill can be IF healthy. Problem is, he can’t stay healthy and the forearm re-occurrence is nothing new and won’t likely go away. We have two starting pitchers I believe are ready to join John Lannan in the long term rotation solutions — Colin Balestar and Tyler Clippard. Time to move on. Jason Bergmann is never going to be a to flight starter, face it. The team needs a solid veteran to join the likes of Balestar, Lannan, and Clippard, and by solid veteran, I don’t by any means stretch that word to mean another Odalis Perez.
Johnson, well, Johnson is Johnson. Over the past 8 years he has spent a good part of 5 of them hurt. Time to grab a real first baseman. Time to move past Dmitri Young and Nick Johnson. If no one is ready below, then grab a one in free agency.
Other guys on my short list to dump and move on …
IF: Felipe Lopez. Bye. Ronnie Belliard is fine for another season or two while one develops below. Peter Orr deserves the backup role. Christian Guzman should be resigned, but the Nats likely won’t pay, and Ryan Zimmerman needs that long term deal, because he still is the real deal and foundation to build around. Paul Lo Duca and Johnny Estrada were a mistake from the get go. Jesus Flores and Will Nieves are fine. We have some young catcher int he system making waves to, especially Luke Montz in Harrisburg and Sean Rooney in Hagerstown, both playing superb and hitting over .300.
OF: End the Austin Kearns era. Listen this was a Bowden flop, regardless of this ‘potential’ Bowden keeps discussing. Fact is, Kearns has been here several season and we are a still talking about ‘potential’ not ‘reality’. Rid the roster of Wily Mo Pena, another Bowden/Reds flop. Lastings Milledge is a keeper. He struggled at times this year, but the kid is young, exciting, and given his youth, has tons of development left. Same goes for Elijah Dukes. The Nationals need to make a splash and nail an OF spot down with a solid defensive power hitter. This is the one spot they can desperately use pop in the lineup and bolster the batting order. If your gonna rely on a guy like Rob Mackowiak (recently released) why not Roger Bernadina? He has deserved a shot! How about Edgar Baez (Harrisburg) or Michale Daniel (Harrisburg)?
SP: Done with Hill. Perez was a one shot deal. Time to move to the youth that are ready. John Lannan should serve as ace, much like he is now. Joining Lannan should be a where the Lerner’s could agree to dump bigger money and get a rock solid veteran. Joining the veteran and Lannan should be Balestar, Clippard, and maybe Jordon Zimmerman, Marco Estrada , Mike O’Connor, Corey Van Allen, or another veteran starter if none of these are quite ready, although I think Zimmerman or O’Connor are there.
RP: I like Jon Rauch as closer. If Chad Cordero can ever get healthy, he could be part of a trade to bring in a solid OF or SP. Time to let go of Saul Rivera, Luis Ayala and Jesus Colome and look at other options, including the system. Joe Hanrahan is fine in long relief. Chris Schroeder should be in DC. The bullpen needs a serious makeover for next season.
There is a start and the only reason I did this post is because of the anger over, yet again, Nick Johnson and Shawn Hill injuries. It’s just getting friggin old!
Share your thoughts, we welcome comments!

Possibly Related Posts:

• The Calder Cup
• Belanger inks one year deal with Caps
• Redskins Link Dump (8/9)
• Nats trade Christian Guzman to Rangers
• El-Bashir leaving Post Caps beat