CSN Washington dot com. Good morning and welcome to lunch box live presented by The Washington Times on this Wednesday edition country's future -- joined by John Aaron of 1067 the fan. John September 28 which is the last day of the Washington Nationals 2011 season now. In the context of their franchise has been an incredibly successful season you know that just missed out they're gonna just missed out on being over 500 is. The Marlins beat them with a walk off homer last night. But they have 79 -- -- clinch third place in the division for the first time since moving to DC. When our -- what do you think has been there's been a lot of development this season what do you think has been the biggest development for nationals. Well obviously they've gotten some production out of bats Michael Morse being on the obvious answer but yeah I'm gonna go with pitching. As the answer for the nationals because they have. Laid a foundation. And for a young rotation and make them successful for several years in the future not only having Stephen Strasburg come back. But also having Jordan Zimmermann come back and stay healthy. And they have a couple of guys for the first time in a long time who are legitimate prospects you have. Tom Malone who was in minor league numbers are very good. And Brad peacock who has very similar minor league numbers both guys who bench truck out a lot of guys in the minor leagues in the past nationals pitching prospects have not been in those kind of guys they've been more finesse types. And personally I think that pitchers who strike out a lot of batters in the minor leagues and can keep a walk rates to honor very good bets to succeed in the major leagues that's what Jordan -- did. That's what Stephen Strasburg did. And that's what these other guys look like they are capable of doing so for the first time we have real pitching prospects. In DC which is huge before you have these guys like Colin -- there. Who had their pitching prospect label fast and Adam Craig stamina because there were no other pitching prospects out there in the organization so they just looked at it. Number one and two guys and said okay you're the future of the organization even though those guys -- not a good bet to succeed at the Major League level so I think that for the first time a while they have a couple of guys who. You might be able to pencil in the rotation for the next 345 years -- not a lot of money and could potentially develop into some pretty good pitchers. It's really unbelievable if you look up and down a minor league system almost every single team in the nationals farm system had a picture -- the potential prospects peacock. Literally came out of nowhere this year is pretty up believable. You mentioned Michael Morse has offensive just break out year. He hit his 31 homer last night I believe it was is nine He fit RBI. What I want to I've been looking around this kind of thinking. Do you think statistical simply talking about statistics in relation to -- here is Michael Morse the best athlete in Washington DC sports right now. That's a great question and I'm going to have to go with. The obvious no even though He has been phenomenal because you look at a guy like Alex Ovechkin yeah coming off of the down -- you know Alex Ovechkin is a superb athlete. It is phenomenally talented and his production is going to be -- -- every year and maybe have a down year and like last year Michael Morse we've seen is much better than we thought He would be. But his production is going to be down here and then have these peak years and like but we're seeing right now so. This is going to go down as probably Michael Morse has necessities and now the question is whether He can replicated and there's no reason to think that He can't. But I wouldn't see him improving all of this and I wouldn't say. Pencil him in for thirty homer 100 RBIs for the next five or six years but the fact that they pluck this guy off the scrap -- and gotten this kind of production out of them when a lot of people. Myself included -- not think that He was Major League caliber player on as a testament to the organization and it shows that there are headed in the right direction when it comes to stuff like that. I think. They have to look at with Morse is he's hitting just over 300 this year is on base percentage is around 360. And his career marks for both of those are around 300. Batting average in 360 on base percentage of its not like he's performing over his head this year this is essentially the same kind of performance that he's shown as a major leaguer about 12100 at bats in over the course of -- season plus he's out of some power so. It's not it's not a complete anomalies I don't think you should go testing for steroids and HGH right now I think this is something that. Happens to a decent player and age 29 season which is where He has. Yeah I think it's an -- interest and questions only about like you said because of it and -- down here. And -- -- and see your best player I think I think at the right now just because -- that's -- -- on -- -- because. Reiser is obviously him he's not even look Mike Morse is an even the most valuable player Justine now and argues Stephen Strasburg. But -- you know they have obviously have -- of the year's Michael Morse had a full complete season or quit -- here units and that's obviously staying healthy which you know runs in -- probably hands down via my answer to that if you were on the field more by -- The fact is is. Let's go back to Stephen Strasburg tonight as I mentioned as the nationals last game they're playing in Florida Stephen Strasburg is starting that game. Now we've we've known how they progressed him with more pitches -- more pitches for pre start. John what do you. How long do you think we'll see Stephen Strasburg night and maybe even more importantly how long do you think they should pitch and. Yeah those are going to be very different answers and that's have been stretching him out I think it was 75 pitches his last time out so they've made it clear that they want to get him ready to. Hit the ground running when spring training rolls around when -- started next season rolls around so. I would not be surprised to see him stretch to you know 808590. Pitches tonight if if everything goes well assuming. No rain enough Miami which obviously I can happen. And assuming doesn't get into any trouble but I think they really wanna see him go 67 innings -- put an awful start and you know I don't think that's necessarily. The best idea I think they might want to. To be a little more careful about that from the get go of it just getting him out there and throw innings. This really isn't any different than him throwing a simulated game on in Florida and extended spring training at this point he's just going out there and pitching and trying not to re injure himself so. I don't really see what's to be gained by -- tossing him out there and and seeing that He can go and we know Stephen Strasburg can throw ninety pitches -- Major League level he's he's proven that so. At this -- proving that he's healthy which is just throwing so. I don't really see the need to us to have him throw against Major League competition just to prove that He can do we know we can do it and another interesting thing to watch for. Is will Stephen Strasburg walk anyone tonight yeah He has not walked a single batter. Through four starts this year fumbling and. Unbelievable. So look at the -- Florida and speaking of the Marlins. Bizarre story and with Ozzie Guillen Chicago White Sox they let him out of his contract before the end of the season I think with two games remaining and all of a sudden he's. He's going to be the Marlins manager right yelled out he's going to be on the bench tonight I don't know I don't see him develop over the course -- five minute I don't Lewis Ozzie -- -- are millions of manager the Marlins who -- you know what what -- -- that -- think that means the nationals as I could -- obviously he's a entertaining personality. But that's a talented team he's taken a team for World Series before. He's an entertaining personalities a big personality will definitely draw attention to the Marlins it'll draw attention to division whether it's going to be good for the Marlins -- not -- Questionable because he's such a volatile guy -- definitely going to raise the Marlins profile. Combine that without the new stadium and the fact that so according to back to the future if they're going to go to the World Series and twice fifteen although they will get swept by the Cubs -- zone. It it back to the future too is wrong on this than than what can we base now -- Well I I think it's is that the talent is there of that team is just so talented if Josh Johnson can stay healthy and if Mike Stanton. If it's somehow Ozzie Guillen can can happen -- the potential Mike Stanton editor scary scary team. Before we go around that time wanna talk about Clinton Portis will talk about the Redskins from -- ex Redskins he's working out the angles right now and Jason lock in for a according to his reports sounds like He might actually signed with the. He might sign I guess block him for a last reported that He is leaving Cincinnati without a contract offer courses doesn't mean he's not going to be signed but that would make. Five teams would kick the tires on Clinton Portis now and none of which have signed him just yet he's -- up for the Dolphins Titans. The Seahawks. Not a bad angles and there's Patriots Patriots is the other one and there's so. A lot of teams are taking a look at Clinton Portis and not not many have been impressed with -- and it's it's just the sad state of watching. A running back -- slowed down in the and a nose is disease is trying to cling on that one last shot and He may not get it if He does it's great but He dubious -- what with those that are Benson's. Impending suspension is contesting. So He probably won't even see action if you get sign but. Yeah five teams by news. I think it's got a least I think it's got to be -- number he's trying to get them to go to I mean. Is good enough to -- -- team -- almost all your forces I think two years removed for 14100 yard rushing season and if you remember Shaun Alexander rushed for nearly 19100 yards and two years removed it happened quick landed with the Redskins of course all teams but that was the only team that would even kick the tires on Shaun Alexander two years removed from. One of the best rushing seasons in NFL history and He saw very limited action with the Redskins nothing consequential and it was. Done with football so. It's it's the harsh reality of life as a running back in the now your body gets used up and unfortunately. There's not much left when you at the age thirty marketing. Imports just turned there. You know some Clinton -- sounds like he's nearing his end and as are we with this show. It was a great up so thanks for stopping by John. That's the lunch box live presented by The Washington Times. Tonight as I mentioned the nationals are playing their last game in the season. Tune into CSN Washington and that's insider dot com right after the game. Me and my colleague mark Zuckerman we host a show called beltway baseball are gonna do a season recap show. Fresh off the presses as soon as the game is over we're going to be going live on the hand so be sure to check that out I guess at lunch box live presented by The Washington Times. Thanks for watching. CSN Washington dot com.