ESPN Fantasy Stephen Strasburg likely to miss rest of '10

ESPN Fantasy Stephen Strasburg likely to miss rest of '10

It's the right thing to do. And screw Rob Dibble and his pitch through pain . . . arms that can get MLB hitters out are precious and should be protected. If that means err on the side of caution, then OK.

The list of guys who could have been is WAY longer than the list of guys who were. No telling how many of the never weres could have been had they taken precautions.

We know what a healthy Strasburg can do. That's all we need to know for now.

I shouldn't rise and take the Dibble bait. Taking an unpopular opinion and then attacking enemies is standard self-promotion behavior and to ignore it is the most effective action. So, a supurb display of inertia by Bang Zoom

MLB Confidential: The Financial Documents Baseball Doesn't Want You To See, Part 1

MLB Confidential: The Financial Documents Baseball Doesn't Want You To See, Part 1

Oh please, please please let us see the Nats!

Jim Bowden for the last time

D.C. Sports Bog - Jim Bowden on the Lerners, Dmitri Young and D.C.

The next time I hear a former GM of any team in any sport be so forthright about the failures of his tenure will be the 2nd time.

And his analysis of the PR situation was spot on. His resignation (or firing we really don't know for sure) closed the door on the Natinals era. And truth be told, not all the mistakes that plagued the team through his tenure were his fault. Yet his leaving the scene absolved the current crew of all past sins (including those of the marketing and player development side) and for that the current management owes JB a debt.

I do have to say that while I admire his ability to correctly judge and admit his failure as a GM, I do have to take issue with his basic philosophy. Sure, Dombrowski in Detroit overpaid for Pudge and Ordonez but he also had Verlander Granderson and other cheap above average players that made his team a contender with the overpaid FA's. The Nats are still building that base and having Texeria wouldn't have changed that.

And if the interviewer really wanted to grill him on a bad FA signing, Meat Hook's isn't the one I'd go after. Try Guzman's first deal. 4 years????? And losing a draft pick by not waiting till the Twins declined arbitration? Double plus stupid.

Finally, Kevin Mench. Really. That's the best you could do. Kevin Mench. While having a power threat on the bench is something the team has needed all season, with a plethora of AAAA hitters available, why take one who obviously isn't going to do the job? Maybe he's just a placeholder, a timeserver but I fail to see what the point is of having him taking up space on the 25 and 40 man rosters. Although I won't get to exercised about it since in 10 days or so it won't matter (unless he keeps getting valuable major league ABs).

It's a bad day to be a hater

Nationals Spending Big On Draft Picks: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

Fan F*%^#%$ Tastic!

Could not be more pleased. Simply could not. Did EXACTLY what they need to be doing.

My only other wish would be for them to answer the call from Used Car Guy tsk tsking them for their smashing the slot recommendations and them telling Selig if he hadn't F*&$%^ up the franchise so badly when he ran it, they might not have to. But give the s*$% sandwich they bought, they had to.

Absolutely no question 2010 draft is a success. Even without Harper. Worst case now: 2 top 10 picks in a loaded draft in 2011. Not optimal but not earth-shattering either.

For some reason, I just haven't seen Jason Marquis pitch yet this year. Or if I did during the first go round, the experience was so short and traumatic I just blocked it out.

Can't really say what's wrong. Don't know why he's regressed from his normal mediocre to historically bad. But no matter. It simply serves as a cautionary tale.

I didn't like the signing because I didn't see any long term value in it. $15 million for two years of league average pitching? Why? Rather, I wanted to take a chance on high risk high reward guys like Ben Sheets and Rich Harden. Well, they failed just as miserably as Marquis. The moral of the story being: pitching is a crap shoot even in the proven veteran category.

Must be consistent

Nats release half-price coupon code for Stephen Strasburg’s return � Let Teddy Win!

I was critical back in June when the team was coy about letting fans know when Strasburg would make his first start. So I suppose I should count it as a success they are actively marketing his return from the dead shoulder era with discounted tickets.

It may be a little on the huckerstish side but that's the essence of marketing. They have some sizzle and they need to sell it. Reflects a new attention to detail and organizational competence that is encouraging.

From John Sickels review of the KC Royals Top 20 prospects:

3) Aaron Crow, RHP, Grade B: 5.66 ERA, 90/59 K/BB in 119 innings in Double-A, 130 hits. Was just demoted to High-A and gave up 10 hits and eight runs in his first start. No way to spin this season as anything positive.

Can we FINALLY move on from the "Crow debacle?" Would any of you trade Storen for Crow right now? Would any GM with half a brain? Oh and Storen was a few million cheaper too. Double Plus Win!!!!

Show us the money

MLB: For the Washington Nationals to rebuild, August 2010 is crucial - ESPN

If they nab all three guys, which would be expensive in the short term, they'd have a legitimate claim to having one of the best draft classes overall, potentially accelerating the rebuilding process GM Mike Rizzo has been putting into place since he got the job last spring.

No further commentary necessary. Write the checks or you aren't serious about winning period.