Happy 2008 to everyone. I’m back from vacation and nothing of note happened in the time between Christmas and New Year’s. There should be some new content going up shortly. Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to get my Nationals top 50 up, a guesstimate of minor league roster composition, as well as a couple of other things I’m working on.
The plan is to get the top 50 list started on Monday January 7.
Month and a half | 03-Jan-08 at 8:24 am | Permalink
I certainly look forward to starting the 2008 conversation. The fact that nothing happened between Christmas and New Year’s disappoints me some, since other teams made a few moves.
Ryan Sullivan | 03-Jan-08 at 9:44 am | Permalink
any one else excited that we might actually HAVE 50 prospects worth mentioning? Not that long ago we would have struggled to think of 20 or so-
Brian Oliver | 03-Jan-08 at 10:40 am | Permalink
Ryan - I’d bet there is going to be MUCH debate about #30 and beyond. It really all boils down to personal preferences once you get that deep into the system
Chaz | 03-Jan-08 at 6:44 pm | Permalink
Also, you should do a a list of reasons why our top prospects are better than all other team prospects. You know, for the uninformed bar arguments. Or not.
Bob Lowry | 05-Jan-08 at 10:14 am | Permalink
Its important to remember that a farm system is a pipeline and that you don’t want everyone to arrive at the same time. Right now we are beginning to see a trickle but in the next two years there may be a steady stream of both pitchers and hitters that will improve the Nationals in DC, where it counts the most.
In the meantime, we have added players from other teams that are going to bridge the gap and make the growing pains a little less frustrating.
Hendo | 05-Jan-08 at 1:03 pm | Permalink
What Bob said. I’m shaking my head in wonder at how Kenny Williams just traded the farm for a handful of beans. (OK, Nick Swisher, and I guess he’s all that, but still.)
There’s an impression about that Nats can only effect major improvement in the short term by spending big on free agents — which they’ve vowed not to do — or by pillaging the farm system. Ironically, in this year’s NL East they may need to do neither. Not only does this team look competitive vs. the Phils, Mets and Fish, but healthy years from Guzman, Johnson, and Patterson (and 200 innings from Shawn Hill) could put .500 in their sights.
Another sub-.500 season would not be a wonderful thing, so now is not the time to be sanguine, but neither is it time to panic.
JayB | 05-Jan-08 at 1:20 pm | Permalink
Hendo,
200 innings from Hill and a Healthy Johnson, Patterson and Guzman?!!??? Why not just add a new hustling Lopez to the list?
The Nats maybe could gamble on one of those coming true but any more than that seems irresponsible to me. How about just spending some cash on some proven pitching as a bit of well spent insurance money?
Ric | 05-Jan-08 at 8:54 pm | Permalink
In case you missed it, baseball america reports that the Nats resigned Justin Jones. Any update on his health? - I seem to remember that he suffered a knee injury playing basketball in the early part of the off-season and was expected to miss significant time in ‘08.
Also, Bill Traber signed with the Yankees, Micah Bowie with Colorado and Chris Michalak with Cincinnati.
Tom | 05-Jan-08 at 8:56 pm | Permalink
Guzman is the only one who has proven he can paly a full season.
As much as I like JP he hasn’t played in two years. I would be happy to get 150 inn from him. 150 inn also seems to be Shawn’s limit so far in his career. So if we can get 300 good inn from them that will be a very successful season. Nick is a wild card. You know he is going to hit, but . . .
Then there is the big wild card the new stadium.
Pilchard | 07-Jan-08 at 3:04 pm | Permalink
Good and bad news about Justin.
Glad to hear that the Nats re-signed him as he still young (23) and has a nice upside — he won 11 games last year with a mid 3 ERA. He is also a lefty.
Did not hear about his knee injury. Hope he does not miss major time because of it.
Gary | 07-Jan-08 at 7:00 pm | Permalink
Can’t wait for the list. Planning on taking in some P-Nats games this year.
Oh, the fun!!!
Ric | 07-Jan-08 at 8:15 pm | Permalink
Looked it up - from the Washington Post, December 6: Jones injured his knee playing basketball, and the Nationals released him from the 40-man roster (he was added a few months before) because they couldn’t use a roster spot on a player who “will miss all of 2008.”
Mjames | 08-Jan-08 at 9:23 am | Permalink
This is off topic but is there any reason why the links that appeared on the right of your blog page is no longer there? I am getting some syntax error message at the top. Is anyone else getting this? I think this happened over the holidays . Thanks
Will | 09-Jan-08 at 9:37 am | Permalink
Mjames,
I’m getting the same syntax error. I’m sure Brian will have it fixed shortly. Right now, I’m sure he is spending a lot of time working on his Top 50 list. I’m looking forward to that and the “guesstimate of minor league roster composition”.
dd | 09-Jan-08 at 5:28 pm | Permalink
Is Everts still in the system?
senatorsfansunite | 10-Jan-08 at 8:42 am | Permalink
dd:
Everts is still in the system. He played at Potomac in 2007.
Will