Nats Vs. Chops: An Exchange
The second in a series of exchanges on match-ups between teams in the NL East has been posted on NL East Chatter. Wally at FishGuts is the questioner, and he kind of puts it to CFG — asking at one point whether it bothers Nats’ fans that the team is now constantly referred to as the ”Natinals.” Oddly, I felt compelled to defend the Lerners in my answer, noting that a family that is such a success in business didn’t get that way by not paying attention to the details (obvious evidence to the contrary). Now I know there are a lot of Nats’ fans who won’t like that, but here’s the rule — especially when it comes to the NL East: all of this stuff stays here. And this is a franchise worth defending.
And I go the other way on all-world pitcher Stephen Strasburg. “Are the Nats going to ”show him the money?” Here’s my answer: ”Yeah, sure. We’re going to show him the money. The question is, will he take it? I think the Nats are committed to making a bank busting offer to Strasburg – topping any amount paid to any draftee ever. But that might not matter. It may be that the Scott Boras agenda is to use Strasburg to transform the dollars paid to draftees. So any offer might be dead on arrival. Which is too bad: because the owners will get blamed. But I think I would break ranks on this and defend them. Strasburg questioned the way the team was run and said he might play in Japan. Here’s a kid who’s never thrown a pitch in the majors, and he’s in the position to judge how a team is run? To turn down a payday that will make him rich? I don’t like threats. Bust the bank. Fine. And I hope he takes it and turns into a star. But if he doesn’t take it, he can play for the Hanshin Tigers.”
Matt Fournier of Braves Baseball Blog is much less expansive, but on target. He praises the acquisition of Nate McLouth, but says that’s not enough. “The team needs speed,” he says. He’s right. Watching the Braves go through an inning is like watching a snail make his way to water. Chipper Jones is entering his last and slowest years and Braves’ outfielders are not exactly fleet of foot. But Matt praises the Braves’ surprise find — second baseman Martin Prado: “I had heard of him before this year, but never saw him play consistently enough to see what he was truly capable off,” Matt says. “I honestly don’t think he is a one year wonder, he has shown signs of being a a reliable fielder and consistent hitter. I think he could be the teams second baseman for a good amount of years.” And which pitcher is Matt the most afraid of in the Nats’ line-up? His answer is predictable, if poignant — John Lannan. That’s right. Unfortunately, Braves hitters seemed to handle him just fine last night.
