Tonight's Lineups
The Nats go with defense tonight. Here's what Manny Acta said about the lineup: "It's basically the fact that we're facing a right-handed pitcher, so we'll get Corey Patterson in there, we'll get Willie Harris in there and have Dunn DH. It's mostly designed because of Wang, but it gives us a better defense, too, out there."
Washington
Guzman - 6
Johnson - 3
Zimmerman - 5
Dunn - DH
Dukes - 9
Patterson - 8
Bard - 2
Harris - 7
Hernandez - 4
(P: Lannan)
New York
Damon - 7
Swisher - 9
Teixeira - 3
Rodriguez - 5
Cano - 4
Posada - 2
Matsui - DH
Cabrera - 8
Pena - 6
(P: Wang)
By
Chico Harlan
|
June 17, 2009; 6:06 PM ET
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Posted by: gengreen17 | June 17, 2009 6:15 PM | Report abuse
no ak!
Posted by: nervousnatsfan | June 17, 2009 6:20 PM | Report abuse
And Patterson actually in CF!
Posted by: goexpos2 | June 17, 2009 6:29 PM | Report abuse
Ed, who could they have traded to get a big $ FA - Steve Lombardozi? Maybe Marco Estrada? We haven't had a decent chip to trade up until 2 years ago - and they still ain't that great.
As far as a FA - who could they have signed? Would you have been happy with signing Hudson for one year and giving up pick(s)? And yes, I believe they made a real effort with Tex - problem was the Yanks had a deal with Boras to be the final bidder. Heck, they actually overpaid for Kearns, Guzman, Dunn, Meat, Belliard, LoDuca, etc. Not a ton of money, but for such frugal owners, it was a lot of money not well spent.
Posted by: goexpos2 | June 17, 2009 6:06 PM | Report abuse
Well, what happens in making trades for the big money guys is you take on their contracts in exchange for not a whole lot. Soriano was a good example (traded for Brad Wilkerson in pre-Lerners days)), and when he signed with the Cubs after his Nats year, he netted a #1 round draft pick plus jordan Zimmermann. Who knows how many of those trades could have been made under the Lerners? But you have to be willing to do it. These trades happen a lot with small market teams ditching contracts.
As far as FA go, I can go back in time and cherry pick (Aaron Rowand or Tori Hunter might be an improvement over Willie Harris), but basically that's no fair. You gotta be an active FO to get deals going, but when it comes to the bucks, the Nats are not at all aggressive.
Out of curiosity, are you a fan who believes that Nats drafted the Best Players Available when they drafted and signed the under-slot guys?
Funny we are debating cheapness, given the organizational rankings of the minor league system (toward the bottom), the performance of the big league club (rock bottom), the draft history, and 26th overall in MLB payroll levels! But I realize you are a true fan, and I respect that.
Posted by: EdDC | June 17, 2009 6:38 PM | Report abuse
goexpo, fishy
Er, I'm sure Brendan Harris and Cliff Lee make this team too. But I'm no Gm.
Posted by: soundbloke | June 17, 2009 6:42 PM | Report abuse
Well, at least the OF defense puts its' best foot forward tonight (Harris / Patterson / Dukes). I might quibble with the lineup order (Patterson ahead of Bard & Harris), but that's small beans. With Lannan vs. Wang, the Nationals need to get on the horse & ride it tonight.
Posted by: BinM | June 17, 2009 6:45 PM | Report abuse
I have to nominate this for post of the day:
This franchise hasn't had a centre fielder since they left Montreal.
Posted by: Section506 | June 17, 2009 6:49 PM | Report abuse
@506: Not true - the Nationals have a true CF on the roster, it's just that he's a coach (Marquis Grissom), rather than an active player.
Posted by: BinM | June 17, 2009 6:55 PM | Report abuse
What defense ? ah, why bother. Please no more Dukes in CF.
Posted by: JT2009 | June 17, 2009 7:11 PM | Report abuse
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how's the weather? Raining here in Virginia all day