DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE UPDATE...

As if Ronnie Belliard's 2 for 4, 2 HR, 6 RBI Dominican Winter League debut last Tuesday with the Tigres del Licey wasn't impressive enough, the DC infielder, expected to come off the bench for Washington this season, let the Nationals know he can still swing the bat the next night as well with a 2 for 3, 2 run, 1 HR, 4 RBI follow up on Wednesday and an opening week with Licey that ends with 6 hits in his first 15 at bats over five games in which Belliard's collected 3 HR's and 12 RBI's. 

Belliard's teammate on the Tigres and the Nationals, Anderson Hernandez, continued to make his case for the starting spot at second with Washington in '09, even after the trade of Emilio Bonifacio to Florida all but assured that, barring a spectacular Spring from Belliard, the job is his. That hasn't slowed the 25-year old infielder's roll this Winter, however, as 36 games in with Licey, Hernandez is hitting .391 with 15 doubles, 6 triples, 1 HR and 23 RBI's, 5 stolen bases, 11 walks,  a .429 OBP, .589 SLG and 1.019 OPS...No wonder Washington was comfortable trading Bonifacio...

Just take a quick look at these three links...

Baseball America's Aaron Fitt's, "Top Ten Prospects: Washington Nationals", from 1/4/05.

Baseball America's Matt Meyers', "Top Ten Prospects: New York Mets", from 11/11/05. 

Baseball America's Mike Berardino's, "Top Ten Prospects: Florida Marlins", from 12/23/04.

Did you notice what I did? Two players from the Nationals' list, Mike Hinckley and Collin Balester, two players from the Mets' list, Lastings Milledge and Anderson Hernandez, and two players from the Marlins' list, Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham, all of them on the DC roster this season along with the Nationals' '05 1st Round Pick Ryan Zimmerman, and the #7 prospect in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' system from 2004, (in Baseball America's Bill Ballew's eyes), Elijah Dukes...either DC's really living in the past, or the future is now. 

WDJD???

What did Jesus Flores do this week with the Navegantes del Magallanes of the Venezuelan Winter League? Not much! In fact, Flores has just 1 hit in his last 18 at bats, stretching back to November 18th, (when he went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI). Since then it's only the 1 hit, (which he made the most of, knocking in 2 runs with a double this past Saturday), for the Navegantes, and the Nationals' catcher's now hitting just .200 in 19 games and 60 at bats, with 4 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBI's and 17 K's.

Elsewhere This Winter...

Justin Maxell's hitting just .172 in 17 games and 58 at bats for the Criollos de Caguas in the Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico...Did I mention that Sunday night, Maxwell also hit his 5th HR in 58 at bats, and he's connected for 3 doubles and collected 14 RBI's in 17 games...Maxwell's teammate, Garrett Guzman's 1 for 4 game Sunday left him with a .293 AVG, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR's and 8 RBI's in 17 games...

-- The Hall Of Fame Talk...is starting again. Here's a look back to the last time former Expos' Andre Dawson and Tim Raines were up for consideration, an 11/27/07 post I creatively titled, "Do Andre Dawson and Tim Raines Deserve To Be Hall Of Famers?"

-- The Washington Nationals declined to offer arbitration to either Odalis Perez or Aaron Boone, making them both free agents though DC does have a desire to see both return in '09...My Prediction - Boone comes back. Odalis Perez gets a better offer from some other pitching desperate ball club...and takes it. 

-- According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Kearns ready to battle for outfield spot", Austin Kearns isn't going to take the federalbaseball.com readers' attempts to relegate him to the bench lying down, as he tells Mr. Ladson rather confidently, "I've been through that stuff before with a crowded outfield. Those things usually play themselves out." But perhaps more interesting were Kearns' comments on his fellow former Cincy Red, Adam Dunn, a purported person of interest for DC. In Kearns' opinion, as quoted by Mr. Ladson:

"'Everybody likes the power and he walks. He is just a presence in the lineup,' Kearns said. 'You know he is going knock in his runs. You don't have to worry about that. He has stayed healthy, so he is going to be in there every day.'"

Don't encourage them, Austin. Or should I just resign myself to the inevitability of Adam "A Bigger Wilkerson" Dunn becoming a National?

end transmission.

On November 7, 2007, Baseball America writer Aaron Fitt's report entitled, "Top Ten Prospects: Washington Nationals", had Chris Marrero, an 18-year IN/OF who'd just completed his second season in the DC system, and 21-year old left-hander Ross Detwiler, Washington's 1st pick, 6th overall in the '07 Draft, listed as the first and second highest-ranked prospects, respectively, in the Nationals' organization, and MLB.com had the two listed (in the same order) as the top prospects from Washington, 31st and 37th overall in baseball, in their league-wide rankings before the 2008 MLB season entitled Top 50 Prospects in Baseball, which was subtitled, "New faces welcomed into elite group". 

Marrero had been selected with the Nationals' second 1st Round pick in 2006, behind only pitcher Colton Willems, as part of an '06 Draft Class that also featured hurlers Cory VanAllen, Zechry Zinicola and Adam Carr, but it was the '07 Draft Class, which included not only Detwiler, but pitchers Josh Smoker, Jordan Zimmermann and Jack McGeary, as well as fielders Michael Burgess and the recently-dealt Jake Smolinski, that truly impressed, earning Baseball America's distinction as the, "'Best Draft in the Industry' as part of Baseball America's annual Draft Report Cards," according to an Official Washington Nationals' Press Release from 10/26/07. 

Chris Marrero played just 70 games for the Potomac Nationals in 2008 before a collision during a play at the plate resulted in a broken right fibula and ligament damage to his ankle, requiring surgery and costing the 19-year-old P-Nats' first baseman the remainder of his third professional season. Marrero posted a .250 AVG in the short season, to go along with 15 doubles, 2 triples, 11 HR's and 38 RBI's in 256 AB's. Washington Times' writer Mark Zuckerman's article about Marrero's season ending entitled, "Top prospect out for season after leg injury", quoted DC GM Jim Bowden's assessment of the injury's impact on Marrero's development:

"When you have a setback like this, it obviously affects your timetable to the big leagues,' Bowden said. 'But long run, he'll be fine. We'll get him healthy. And luckily, if you're going to have a broken leg somewhere, first base is probably the best place for it to happen.'"

The reports on Ross Detwiler's 2008 campaign varied throughout the season as he struggled early but ended up participating in the P-Nats Class-A Carolina League Championship run. Washington Times' writer Ben Goessling summed up the tone of most of what's been written about Detwiler's '08 development, in a 10/1/08 article entitled, "Player Development Coming Slowly, Surely", where Mr. Goessling wrote that:

"...left-hander Ross Detwiler stagnated at Potomac, his mechanics going through an overhaul that robbed the 2007 first-rounder of consistency much of the year."

Detwiler spoke to MLB.com's Bill Ladson in an article entitled, "Detwiler learning lots in the desert", where he explained what he thought were the reasons for his somewhat dissapointing (8-8) 2008 record, and the 4.68 ERA he put up in the 26 starts and 124.0 innings pitched:

"'I got away from throwing strikes,' he said. 'The hitters were getting fastballs on fastball counts. If they know that a fastball is coming they can sit on it and hit it hard somewhere. Later in the season, I started to get ahead of people a little more and make more quality pitches.'"

Detwiler recovered down the stretch and pitched well in the Postseason with Potomac, and this fall the 22-year old worked out of the bullpen for the Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 4.63 ERA with no decisions in 9 appearances and 11.2 IP in which he allowed 16 hits, 6 ER's, 2 HR's and 4 walks with 7 K's. Nationals' Pitching Coach Randy St. Claire visited the Saguaros and reported back to MLB.com's Bill Ladson for an article entitled, "St. Claire visits AFL prospects", where he provided the following assessment of Detwiler's game:

"'He has been working very hard on keeping his lines to where he can [throw the ball on] both sides of the plate,' said St. Claire. 'Ross commanded the ball pretty decently. It was really nice to see him make that adjustment. I know he is working hard at it. That is something it takes a little while to correct. He was a little inconsistent with the curveball. He did throw some good ones, however."

We won't know how the successes and struggles of the 2008 season affected the status within the Nationals' system of the two prospects in Baseball America's eyes until their rankings of the Top 10 Prospects in the DC Organization for 2009 drop on January 7th of the new year, (according to Baseball America's own posted calendar), but a glimpse of the attitude towards Washington's prospects amongst the baseball cognoscenti was provided recently by John Sickels of Minor League Ball.com, who presented his list of the, "Washington Nationals Top 20 Prospects for 2009", which found Marrero and Detwiler, (who Mr. Sickels had ranked first and second, respectively, in his 2008 Prospect list), now ranked as the third and fourth best prospects, (again, respectively), in the organization behind two members of Detwiler's '07 Draft Class, pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, (1), and outfielder Michael Burgess, (2).

...Washington Nationals' Pitching Coach Randy St. Claire's connection to the DC organization stretches back some 30 years(with a few breaks) to 1978, when the then-18-year old, 6'2'', 190 lb, right-handed amateur free agent pitcher from Glen Falls, New York signed with the Montreal Expos and joined the Rookie level Pioneer League's Calgary Expos, who, that season, (for a bit of perspective), featured an 18-year old Andres Galarraga at first and third base...

...St. Claire pitched six seasons in the Expos' system before he made his MLB debut with Montreal on September 11, 1984, and after nine seasons at all levels of baseball with Montreal, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Atlanta and Toronto, St. Claire made the first professional assessment of talent in what would become his second career as a coach, as Mr. St. Claire himself explained to Washington Post writer Barry Svrluga in a 2/26/07 article entitled, "Nats' St. Claire Knows the Task at Hand", in deciding to bring his own career as a pitcher to an end:

"'I had to be a self-evaluator,' St. Claire said last week. 'I had to know: "You know what? You can't do this anymore. Your skills are deteriorating. What do you do now?""

St. Claire's decision eventually led to his being hired by the Expos again, this time as a coach for one of their old Class-A affiliates, and within nine years of his last game on May 31, 1994, St. Claire had worked his way up to the Major League level again, joining the Expos as a coach in 2003 and remaining with the club as they made the move to Washington two years later, staying on as Frank Robinson's pitching coach until Mr. Robinson was relieved of his duties after the 2006 season. At that point, nearly all of Frank Robinson's staff was either reassigned or released so that the incoming Manager would be able to select their own staff...but Randy St. Claire? He wasn't done in DC yet...

...As DC GM Jim Bowden was quoted explaining to Washington Post writer Barry Svrluga in a 10/17/06 article entitled, "Girardi at Top of Short List, St. Claire Will Stay", the decision to retain St. Claire was fairly simple:

"'Randy St. Claire has done a fantastic job with our pitching staff,' General Manager Jim Bowden said in a statement released through a club spokesman. 'His work ethic, tireless attention to detail and ability to communicate have allowed him to build positive relationships with our young pitchers. I am very pleased that Randy will be with us in 2007.'"

Later in Mr. Svrluga's article, Randy St. Claire, who was, at the time, unaware that the Nationals would eventually hire Manny Acta as their new Manager, provided an overview of his approach to working with whatever pitchers were put before him, stressing, "The fundamentals...":

"...first-pitch strikes, getting ahead of hitters, not walking people, fielding your position, all that stuff -- if you prepare them to do that, I think they're going to be successful over the long haul, and I think the manager will be happy."

Two seasons later, and after the Nationals' trying 59-102 '08 campaign, the staff that Manny Acta had selected upon being hired was almost completely disbanded, with the new staff to be chosen by Acta, along with DC GM Jim Bowden, Asst. GM Mike Rizzo and the rest of the Nationals' Brass. So old Acta allies like Pat Corrales, Rick Aponte, Tim Tolman, Jerry Manuel and Lenny Harris were all to be replaced, but Pitching Coach Randy St. Claire? He wasn't going anywhere...

In Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's Nationals Journal post entitled, "More On The Coaching Changes", Mr. Harlan asked DC GM Jim Bowden directly, "The decision to have Randy St. Claire remain on staff -- what did you see from him that makes you feel like he's the right guy?", and Mr. Bowden's response:

"We thought he did a very good job with our young pitchers. They continue to improve and get better."

MLB.com writer Bill Ladson mentioned pitchers John Lannan and Collin Balester in an article entitled, "Nats dismiss most of coaching staff", as particular examples of young pitchers who were successful under St. Claire's tutelage in 2008, and this fall, Mr. Ladson wrote about Mr. St. Claire's visit with some of the youngest Nationals' pitchers competing in the Arizona Fall League in another article at the Nationals' official site entitled, "St. Claire visits AFL prospects", where Mr. St. Claire predicted, after spending a few days with pitchers Adam Carr, Ross Detwiler, Cory VanAllen and Zechry Zinicola, that all of them, "...will be in the big leagues some day," and no doubt, "Teflon" Randy St. Claire, who survived the Montreal years, the move to DC, the end of the Frank Robinson Era and the purge of the first Manny Acta Regime, will still be there when the next generation of DC arms emerges.

This season will be Randy Knorr's second go-round as the Washington Nationals' Bullpen Coach, with the first coming when he replaced John Wetteland in June of '06, after Mr. Wetteland and the DC skipper at the time, Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, had what were described by MLB.com's Bill Ladson as "philosophical differences" in an article entitled, "Wetteland let go as bullpen coach". As Wetteland rode into the sunset on his motorcyle (uh,...literally), Randy Knorr was named as his replacement in the DC Bullpen... 

...A 10th Round pick in the 1986 MLB Amateur Draft by Toronto, Randy Knorr was in his 6th season in the Blue Jays' system when he debuted on September 5, 1991, and over 11 more Major League seasons with five teams, (Toronto, Houston, Florida, Texas and Montreal), Knorr managed to play 253 games, hitting in 153 of 676 at bats for a .226 Career AVG after an unsuccessful pinch hit opportunity in his last appearance in the Majors with the Expos on September 9, 2001...

...Knorr had been managing in Washington's system for several seasons when Frank Robinson introduced him as the new bullpen coach in June of '06, and Mr. Robinson had high praise for the former backup backstop, telling MLB.com's Bill Ladson, as quoted in an article entitled, "Notes: Knorr named bullpen coach", that Knorr:

"'... is an ex-catcher and was always praised about his handling of pitchers,' Robinson said. 'I know when I came into this organization, we kept him around for three or four years for insurance at the big-league level, had him at Triple-A to handle the young pitchers down there. I think he fits the bill here for the position that's open.'"

After Frank Robinson was dismissed as the Nationals' Manager, Knorr was sent back to his old job as the Class-A Potomac Nationals' Skipper, so that, as DC GM Jim Bowden explained to former Washington Post Nationals'-beat writer Barry Svrluga in an 11/1/06 article entitled, "Nationals reassign two coaches to Minors", Robinson's successor could select his own staff, though Mr. Svrluga wrote that Mr. Bowden believed Knorr should be given consideration for the position. 

Manny Acta selected his own staff, (which did not include Knorr), upon being hired as Washington's Manager in November of '06, but after this past season's 59-102 finish, Acta's coaches were dismissed (with the exception of "Teflon Randy" St. Claire), and Acta and Bowden set about selecting a new group of coaches together. Washington Post writer Chico Harlan noted, in an article entitled, "Nats add Grissom, Listach as Coaches", that Knorr was once again called upon, (along with First Base Coach Marquis Grissom, Third Base Coach Pat Listach, Bench Coach Jim Riggleman and Hitting Coach Rick Eckstein), as a way to, "...reward the work (he'd) done at the organization's lower levels," and Mr. Knorr was quoted in Mr. Harlan's article noting that his work throughout the organization had allowed him to work with, "...most of the guys in the bullpen."

Knorr managed the Class-A Potomac Nationals to the Carolina League title in 2008, and those experiences, combined with what he learned as the Nationals' Bullpen Coach back in 2006, have Knorr feeling confident heading toward the '09 season according to an article by insidenova.com writer Robert Daski entitled, "Knorr moves on to the major leagues", where an enthusiastic and optimistic- sounding Knorr tells Mr. Daski that he:

"...hopes Washington's players come to spring training eager to put the past behind them and that the coaches are on the same page in their plan to reverse the team's fortune."

With all the young starters Washington figures to have in their starting rotation next season, Knorr's bullpen, (which as of today consists of Saul "Sa-ool" Rivera, Jesus "Everyday" Colome, "Wild" Joel Hanrahan, Marco Estrada, Mike Hinckley, Garrett Mock and Steven Shell), is going to have its work cut out for it...Let's hope Knorr and the Relief Corps are up to the task...

Drafted out of Arizona State University by Milwaukee with the 133rd overall pick of the 1988 MLB Amateur Draft , IF/OF Pat Listach played 4 seasons in the Brewers' system before he debuted in the Majors on April 8, 1992, and 149 games later, after having hit .290 with 19 doubles, 6 triples, 1 HR and 47 RBI's, the then-24-year-old Listach was named the 1992 Rookie of Year in the American League. 

By the time Milwaukee traded Listach to New York three years later, the injury- plagued outfielder was just a throw-in in a deal to bring left-handed reliever Graeme Lloyd to the Yankees according to New York Times' writer Jason Diamos' 8/24/96 article entitled, "Yanks, Seeking Relief, Trade for a Left-Hander":

"The 28-year-old Listach, who plays outfield, shortstop and second base, was the American League rookie of the year in 1992. But it was Lloyd the Yankees were after...'For me, he's the backup center fielder,'' (NY GM Bob) Watson said of Listach, who won his rookie of the year award as an infielder.'"

Less than two months later, on October 2, 1996, Listach, who, it was discovered, had suffered a hairline fracture in his right foot as a Brewer just days before being traded to NY, was returned to Milwaukee, with another player, SS Gabby Martinez, replacing him in the deal, and the Brewers wasted no time, according to New York Times' writer Jack Curry's humorously-titled, 10/3/96 article, "Yankees Owner's Request Irks the Rangers' Wives",...(ed. note - "So (Owner's Request) and (Rangers' Wives) get possessive apostrophe's but not Yankees Owner...Hmm? It is the Times, the paper of record?")...in announcing that they, "...would not exercise the option on his contract," making Listach a free agent when his contract expired.

Listach would play just 52 games in the Majors after 1996, all for the Astros in '97, and he'd hang around another season in '98 with Cleveland and Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliates before the 31-year old retired from the game...

...Before being hired by the Washington Nationals to replace much-maligned outgoing Third Base Coach Tim Tolman, Pat Listach coached in the Cubs' system for three seasons according to Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's 10/25/08 article entitled, "Nats Add Grissom, Listach as Coaches", and though he had once been considered by the Cubs as a potential Manager as MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reported in a 10/17/06 article announcing, "Piniella takes on challenges with Cubs", as the article's title explains, Lou Piniella got the job in Chicago, and even after having won the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Manager of the Year award for his work with the Iowa Cubs in 2008, in Mr. Listach's own words, as related to Des Moines Register writer Randy Peterson, in a 10/25/08 article entitled, "Baseball: Former I-Cubs manager Listach joins staff of Nats":

"'The Cubs made the playoffs back-to-back years, and I know Lou is loyal to his staff, and that's the way it should be,' Listach said. 'The Cubs are on the verge; there's no reason to make changes.'"

After his time in the Cubs' organization, Listach, "...comes highly recommended by Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who is one of Bowden's mentors", according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's 10/24/08 article entitled, "Nationals add five to coaching staff", where Mr. Ladson quotes DC GM Jim Bowden, who says that his mentor, Mr. Piniella, "'...swears that [Listach] will not only be a good big league manager, but a phenomenal big league manager someday.'" 

It took Listach 4 years in the Minors with Milwaukee before he made his MLB debut as a player, and just 3 years as a Manager with the Cubs' before he's earned a call to the Majors to coach third for DC, so if things continues to progress similarly, Pat Listach should be Managing in the Majors within the next two seasons just as Mr. Piniella predicted, which was Mr. Listach's goal all along, as he explained to Des Moines Register writer Randy Peterson, again in Mr. Peterson's article, "Baseball: Former I-Cubs manager Listach joins staff of Nats":

"'Some guys get content to be in the minor leagues, and don't get me wrong, I loved every minute of it, but my goal has always been to get to the big leagues..." That's why he said yes when Nationals manager Manny Acta called...’That window doesn't open too often,’ Listach said. ‘I'd be stupid not to take it.’”

-- (ed. note - "In case you missed the earlier editions of the "Get To Know Your Nationals" series, here they are:

"Get To Know Your Nationals: Bench Coach Jim Riggleman"

"Get To Know Your Nationals: First Base Coach Marquis Grissom"

...still to come, a reintroduction to Pitching Coach Randy St. Claire and a look at new Bullpen Coach Randy Knorr...")

The last week of November...With the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada under two weeks away, from December 8th-11th, and very little in the way of player movement thus far this offseason, things should start to pick up fairly soon...MLB.com's Bill Ladson got the DC trade talk started up again today with an article entitled, "A's look at Johnson's medical records", where Mr. Ladson reported on Oakland's apparent interest (according to "a baseball source") in the Washington Nationals' oft-injured first baseman, Nick Johnson. Washington Post writer Chico Harlan confirms FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal's mention of the A's inquiries in Mr. Harlan's Nationals Journal post, "The Latest on Nick Johnson." Ken Rosenthal's article, "Sources: Furcal meets with A's officials in Oakland", only makes a passing mention of the A's interest in Nick Johnson, after discussing Furcal's flirtations, toward the end of his article, writing:

"The A's have requested and received the medical records of Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson, who underwent season-ending wrist surgery last June."

In Mr. Ladson's article, the MLB.com writer notes that his source, "...also said that several other teams have Johnson's medical records," but, "...The Nationals would not confirm that such a transaction between them and the A's took place." Mr. Harlan back in the Nationals Journal?:

"Here's what I've heard: Indeed, the A's made the inquiry for those medical records at the very beginning of the offseason, but by no means is a Johnson-to-Oakland trade on the frontburner at this time"

Mr. Ladson says that Johnson could be available if the Nationals sign Mark Teixeira. Mr. Harlan says that the A's could get Johnson if they include Daric Barton, (a former Cardinals' 1st Round pick in '03 acquired by Oakland along with Kiko Calero and Dan Haren for Mark Mulder), in the discussions..."The Nationals would not confirm that such a transaction between them and the A's took place." 

Nationals' Fans? In the spirit of the holiday, I ask you, "What Are You Thankful For?"

1) I'm thankful I finally got to see Mike Hinckley pitch in the Majors in 2008. 

After 8 seasons in the Minors following the Montreal Expos' selection of the left hander in the 3rd Round of the 2001 Draft, Hinckley, who began his time in the organization as a top starting prospect, finally arrived in DC in September as a reliever, throwing 14.0 innings without allowing an earned run, striking out 9, walking 3 and allowing just 8 hits, effectively earning himself a spot in the '09 bullpen. Look for Hinckley in '09, late in games when lefties step up...

2) I'm thankful that the Nationals "earned" the #1 Overall Pick in the 2009 Draft.

There's no way that Washington can mess this up...A highly-regarded pitching prospect with a notoriously stubborn representative, one Mr. Scott "Maximum" Boras, and the spending-averse Nationals coming off of last draft's Aaron Crow debacle... What could go wrong? The Nationals could decide that they can't sign Stephen Strasburg, who remains the top-rated prospect with his draft year set to play out, and Washington could instead go with a "signable" pick? Strasburg could decide he doesn't want to spend the beginning of his career in the NL East's basement and head down to Ft. Worth to sweat out a season...Positive thoughts, positive thoug...? 

3) On a somewhat serious note, I'm thankful that last winter the Washington Nationals took chances on some players who were considered a risk because of their "volatile" personalities, and I'm thankful that, for the most part, with a few missteps, admittedly, the players rewarded the team's faith with significant contributions to the small successes the team and its fans did enjoy this past season.

Sure I watched 98 or so of 102 losses, but it was still fun...

What are you thankful for, Nationals' fan? I'll add any contributions to the list with a credit if anyone leaves anything in the Comments section. Enjoy the holiday...

?'s To Ponder...Do you think the Nationals should trade Nick Johnson? NEW POLL!!! What do you think the Nationals' next big move will be? Sign Odalis Perez? Find another veteran lefty? Who would you want from the A's for Nick Johnson? Do you believe the Nationals will sign Mark Teixeira? 

end transmission.

In an AP article entitled, "Lerner selected as new Nationals owner" at ESPN.com shortly after the Lerner Group purchased the Washington Nationals from Major League baseball in May of 2006, the newly-named Team President Stan Kasten set out the agenda for beginning to rebuild the barren system the DC-based group had inherited from the MLB owners and Montreal:

"Kasten said his Nationals will focus on pitching and grooming talent -- core elements of what worked so well during his time with the Braves, who have won 14 consecutive division titles...'We're going to spend money on the minor leagues, player development and scouting,' Kasten said. 'We have principles.'"

MLB.com writer Bill Ladson started his 5/4/06 article entitled, "Notes: Robinson likes Lerner priority", by relaying an anecdote from the Nationals' Hall of Fame Manager, Frank Robinson, who in Mr. Ladson's words, "...has always said that the Minor Leagues are the lifeline of a franchise", and later Mr. Ladson notes Mr. Robinson's prediction that the rebuilding effort "...will take two to three years, as long as the organization is patient. He used the Braves as the model franchise..."

(ed. note - "...And not only the Nationals, who have talked of trading for a power bat this winter, but also the Braves, (who have come close to dealing some Grade-A talent in their pursuit of Peavy), should heed the advice Frank Robinson offers in his assessment of the old Atlanta Management's approach to building from within:

"'Dealing with the Braves, when I was with the Orioles, you couldn't touch their A prospects, their top prospects," Robinson said. "They would walk away from a deal before you could get any of those players. Those are the players they had marked that probably will be playing with us within a year or two years."

As Mr. Robinson predicted, two years after the Lerner Group and Kasten took over the Nationals, the results on the Farm are beginning to show, not only in the promotion to DC of players like Collin Balester, Shairon Martis, John Lannan, Mike Hinckley, etc., but also on the field in the Minors where the various affiliates have significantly improved. Former Washington Post Nationals-beat writer Barry Svrluga wrote a post at Nationals Journal in January of '08 noting the results of the Baseball America rankings of MLB Minor League systems entitled, "Baseball America: Nats farm system now no. 9", (ed. note - Which eschewed the use of poss. apostrophes!"), while reporting that the Nationals' System as a whole had jumped some twenty-one spots in the rankings from 30th (or last) overall to 9th, (as the title gave away), which was, Mr. Svrluga noted, the second largest jump by a franchise in the last decade.

(ed. note - "Coincidentally, Mr. Svrluga notes in the Nationals Journal post that the largest jump in the rankings was made by the Texas Rangers, who jumped, "...24 slots, from 28th to fourth, this year, helped by major trades of Eric Gagne and Mark Teixeira.")

In 2009, one Nationals' affiliate, the Class-A Potomac Nationals even went so far as to win their league's title, taking the Carolina League crown...and now they've been designated by MiLB.com voters as the 3rd best team in the Minors this season in the Minor League "Team Of The Year" voting, behind only, NY Yankees' Double-AA affiliate, the Trenton Thunder, who took the Eastern League title and the San Francisco Giants' Class-A affiliate from Georgia, the Savannah Sand Gnats, who were the South Atlantic League's best. (ed. note - "For those link-averse amongst us, the write-up on the MiLB.com award page reads:

"The Nationals combined to lead the Carolina League in batting (.265), runs scored (720), hits (1,234) and fielding percentage (.975) en route to their first title since 1989.")

Just this week, John Sickels at Minor League Ball.com, presented his "EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY" assessment of the state of the Nationals' system in a post entitled, "Washington Nationals Top 20 Prospects for 2009", where he names 2007 2nd Round pick Jordan Zimmermann, (who pitched the first half of the year with the Potomac Nationals before moving to Double-A Harrisburg), as the top prospect in the DC system, noting, "...I liked this guy in college, and I think he is significantly underrated on a national basis." Mr. Sickels then offers this analysis of the entire DC system after presenting his full (preliminary) Top 20 Prospects list:

"The Nationals system is not as bad as you think it is, but it isn’t very good, either. They have a lot of depth in C+ style prospects, but lack impact talents beyond the top few, and even guys like Marrero and Detwiler have big question marks. Health has been a big issue for a lot of their players. They need to continue being aggressive in the draft, and further investments in Latin America would likely help."

(ed. note - "Quoting Mr. Sickels from his post, "...'Reports on these guys and over 1,000 others can be found in the 2009 Baseball Prospect Book. Pre-order for January 31st shipping now!'")

(another ed. note - "The Nationals Farm Authority's Brian Oliver's own assessment of Mr. Sickel's list entitled, 'John Sickels Nationals Top 20 Prospects',  is a must-read post for DC fans.")

WINTER LEAGUE ROUNDUP...(all links to MiLB.com player pages)...

Tigres del Licey second baseman Anderson Hernandez was 0 for 2 with a run scored and 2 walks in a 16-8 loss to the Gigantes del Cibao. Starting at third for Licey? Ronnie B. Ronnie Belliard, who starts his Winter by going 2 for 4 with 2 HR's and 6 RBI's in the loss. (ed. note - "Watch out, Hernandez, Belli's Back! Once the Nationals don't get Teixeira, how about a trade with LAA for Kendry Morales, who started at first for Cibao tonight, and after hitting his 6th HR and collecting 4 RBI's, is hitting .451 in 18 games with 10 doubles, 6 HR's and 18 RBI's...just sayin'.")...Tigres del Licey RF Emilio Bonifaci...Eh, he's a Marlin now...In Puerto Rico Winter League action, Criollos de Caguas' DH Justin Maxwell went 0 for 3 with a walk and a K, and Garrett Guzman was 0 for 1 in a PH appearance. DC backstop Jesus Flores was 0 for 2 against the Cardinales de Lara in a 2-0 loss for Flores' Navegantes del Magallanes. 

end transmission.

Strange things are afoot already this Winter...As I checked my usual online sources throughout the day to see what if any news about the Nationals had broken over the wires, I kept reading stories which hours later were countered with denials, ending the evening with Washington getting in on the fun when MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Agent denies Perez deal in the works", arrives, continuing the day's trend with Odalis Perez's agent providing a rebuttal to published reports...

Edgar Renteria close to deal with Giants. Apparently, New York radio reporter Sweeny Murti started this one up with a report on WFAN which claimed that the two sides had agreed upon a 2-year, $18 M dollar deal. The story was picked up everywhere, quickly followed by a denial from the player's agent, which could in fact just be a negotiating tactic, but necessitates a retraction by anyone who ran with the original story either way. There's no explanation of where the story originated, or revelation about Mr. Murti's source, just an article at MLB.com by writer Chris Haft entitled, "Reports linking Giants, Renteria false", which quotes both Renteria's representatives and San Francisco team officials who each claim complete ignorance of any such agreement. 

Sawks Make Awfuh Ta Tek...(Translation : Red Sox Make Offer To Varitek)...Oh no they didn't according to the Red Sox' Captain Jason Varitek's agent Scott "Maximum" Boras, who refutes reports that originate with Red Sox' radio station WEEI's Rob Bradford's post entitled, "Sources: Initial offer to Varitek for one year", which quotes the oft-quoted "sources familiar with the negotiations", in a report claiming that Boston had reached a one-year deal with their catcher/captain which would keep him in Fenway until twenty-ten. MLB.com's Ian Browne then begins his own article entitled, "Boras refutes report of offer to Varitek", by writing:

"If the Red Sox did offer free agent catcher Jason Varitek a one-year contract, as Web site WEEI.com reported on Monday morning, it is news to agent Scott Boras."

East to West and North to South...What starts with an allegedly erroneous report out of New York on a San Franciso signing and travels back East to the story of the Sox inking Varitek, heads south and ends in DC with MLB.com writer Bill Ladson checking in tonight in an article entitled, "Agent denies Perez deal in works", in which Mr. Ladson clears up any misconceptions caused by what he describes as an "ESPN.com" report about the negotiations between the Nationals and the veteran left-hander, Odalis Perez, as Mr. Ladson quotes Mr. Perez's agent and a "baseball source familiar with the Nationals' thinking", who both deny that any such deal is in the works. What do the Nationals have to say for themselves? According to Mr. Ladson:

"The Nationals on Monday night would not confirm that such an offer is in place."

The source of the ESPN.com rumor? An article by ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas entitled, "2008 Free Agency", where Mr. Rojas quotes... "a source familiar with negotiations", "an unnamed team source", "a team source who asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitive nature of negotiations", ...a totally clueless blogger? No, Uh, actually, Mr. Rojas quotes...Odalis Perez? In the article, Mr. Perez tells ESPNdeportes.com**: 

"'My agent is working with the Nationals. We have an offer for two or three years that is subject to fine-tuning of details,' Perez said to ESPNdeportes.com on Monday."

Uh, Odalis Perez's agent, Mr. Martin Arburua? Anything you'd like to tell your client maybe? Mr. Arburua tells MLB.com's Bill Ladson, back in Mr. Ladson's article, "Agent denies Perez deal in works":

"'What I told you [last week] is exactly how it is,' Arburua said by phone on Monday night. 'I want the Nationals to understand that we are clear. We talked, and that's where it is.'"

It's the HOT STOVE, Ladies and Gents, who knows what's true?

(ed. note - " ** = edited for poor google translation-sake only, the original google-translated quote: "'My agent is working with National. We have an offer for two or three years and is subject to fine-tune details,' Perez said to ESPNdeportes.com on Monday.'")

Links and Links and...

--How about an insult to start the week, DC fans? I found this linked on mlbtraderumors.com in an article entitled, "Mark Teixeira Rumors: Sunday", by Nat Boyle, which points to another article by Orange County Register writer Randy Youngman entitled, "Angels likely not on Teixeira's wish list", where Mr. Youngman offers his best guess as to where the free agent first baseman will sign, writing:

"I don't think it will be with the Angels...Teixeira would be ridiculed if he signed with perpetual losers such as the Baltimore Orioles or Washington Nationals, so my guess is he'll sign with the Boston Red Sox."

--MLB.com writer Alden Gonzalez quoted a Boston Globe article on Sunday in a post at MLB.com's Hot Stove Blog entitled, "Nationals shopping for hitters", in which Mr. Gonzalez noted that DC GM Jim Bowden had been making some phone calls to inquire about other team's best bats. The Boston Globe report Mr. Gonzalez references is entitled, "On the Coast, it's very clear", by Nick Carfado, and the actual quote from the article:

"...GM Jim Bowden has been very aggressive, acquiring Olsen and Willingham, and making a push for Teixeira - and if that doesn't work out, Adam Dunn. A major league source indicated that Bowden has called numerous teams asking about the availability of their best hitters."

San Diego, with Adrian Gonzalez, Milwaukee for Prince Fielder...who is DC GM Jim Bowden calling? (ed. note - "Ahh...just buy yourself a Washington/Dunn jersey already, DC fans, you know that's what it will come to...")

Winter League Action...

Anderson Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a double on Sunday in a 5-0 Tigres del Licey loss to Dukes-hating pitcher Nelson Figueroa and the Aguilas Cibaenas. Hernandez's two hits lifted his Dominican Winter League average to .402 after 31 games in which the Nationals' second baseman has collected 13 doubles, 6 triples, 1 HR, 20 RBI's and 5 steals. 

Jesus Flores was 0 for 4 Saturday night in a Navagentes del Magallanes' loss, dropping his Venezuelan Winter League batting average to .220 after 13 games and 50 AB's. Flores is just 2 for his last 17 stretching back to November 14th. 

Nationals' outfield prospect Garrett Guzman, a Rule 5 pick from the Minnesota Twins' organization who hit .274 with 19 doubles, 9 HR's and 54 RBI's for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators in '08, (struggling in a jump to Triple-A), is currently playing for the Criollos de Caguas of the Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico, and after 11 games, the left-handed hitting left fielder has 4 doubles, 1 HR and 6 RBI's with a .333 AVG. The Criollos de Caguas roster also includes DC outfielder Justin Maxwell, who's hitting just .175 after 11 games and 37 AB's. 

More news to follow...

Federalbaseball.com's e chigliak sits down in front of a tv and watches Sports Soup...

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