Zuckerman: Who fills in the Nats rotation?
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Tue, 27 Nov 2012|
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Csnwashington.com. The nationals made great strides last season but there still is plenty of work to be done out and we into the offseason mark Zuckerman Al joins us or nationals insider. -- mark I what are some of the biggest pressing issues at his ballclub is facing during the offseason as winter meetings are about to begin next week. Yet the biggest one is easily Adam LaRoche I mean here's a guy who was. Probably their team MVP this season at first -- offensively defensively silver slugger gold glove award winner he's a free agent. He wants to come back the nationals want him back is just a matter of finding the terms that are gonna make it work. He would like more than two years and asked I think are willing to give those two years it's are they willing to go with third year. And -- made -- what Boston or Baltimore Texas willing to offer -- the wrote despite the last big contract you gonna get you wanna get the best skill you can't. But he also knows that the nationals are probably his best chance to win this here so he's got to decide what makes more than most sense for so if they do not sign him now what direction could potentially -- on what was a lot different ways they can go with this and that actually have opened the -- a lot of possibilities you can move Michael Morse. From left field first base you could put Tyler Moore at first base or left field either one of those guys. More though it's unproven as a rookie last year he looked that good in the time that we song but you don't really know. Necessarily what -- gonna get in defensively you do lose a lot there so one other possibility is. To move -- Bryce Harper from center field to left field. And then now go get center fielder and too big names out there and Michael Bourn. And BJ Upton the problems you're spent a lot of money and a lot of years when either one of those guys so is that more valuable than three years have been. I'm sure both those guys that provide a lot of offensive production as well. Let's isn't the pitching side by not signing Edwin Jackson has an open spot in the rotation where does this team going to look to fill that spot. Well again there's a lot of possibilities are a whole lot of players who they could turn to. You could go big and Zack Greinke but you're talking a hundred million plus for some -- that it would given me fantastic rotation probably the best in baseball. Maybe go a little below that more of a traditional veteran guy you can get for a couple of years -- Ryan Dempster Kyle Lohse something that there are other guys further down chain. And potentially there in house options so again. A lot of ways they can go with this thing needs somebody to be that fifth starter. You you mentioned and house John -- still under their control could he be a potential right in this is the thing you know remember what happened with him last year obviously they paid in five million dollars to go to the minors he actually has another minor league options to surprise a lot of people. They could go through this again there's a deadline on Friday night. To either tender him or not tender a contract he's gonna make about five million again. It's a nice insurance policy to have but is he the guy you wanted to back to rotation I thank you very much mark Zuckerman keeping his eye on the hot stove. CSN Washington dot com.
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Beltway Baseball: Why Strasburg will be just fineCSN Washington dot com. Are welcomed the beltway baseball here on CSN Washington dot com on chase Hughes and mark Zuckerman. And mark we've been through a month and a few weeks or overly down here. And the nationals as a team having kinda inconsistent but one thing that is really travelling fans and people around league starting to notice is it consistency of Stephen Strasburg. The numbers aren't that far off from what we've seen but it anyone who's watched him over the last few years and tell maybe there's something something a little bit off he's having trouble finding the strike zone. What do you make of the situation and do you think it is that they concern yeah I mean the thing is like you said the numbers don't look. It that far off feeds the pitching. for big league pitcher but he set such a high bar for so we've come to expect so much. Patted him it just doesn't quite look like what you expected the biggest thing is fastball command. You know he's not. Throwing strikes getting ahead in the count. The way it did it was so amazing about him as a rookie when he came back originally from the Tommy John surgery was the fact that. He could be a power pitcher while still having excellent coming that deadly combination. Just not quite there yet. Curve balls still excellent still excellent. I think you're seeing signs of improvement I think he's getting there but he still working on to think that it's mechanical mostly. And they they seem to determine and it's not physical it's mormons and you can see it on the on the field he's the body language that. He's impatient he gets frustrates easily and this just a matter of him being such a perfectionist. He's not used to not being great. He's used to being great not just good right exactly and I think that's that next step and take if he's really gonna become an ace of the World Series contender. It's about hey it doesn't matter what happens behind him Doesn't matter what run support I the umpire and I'm gonna go out I'm gonna beat no matter We're seeing there and do that right now I think it's time for Strasburg if he really wants to become an elite. Top. The line pitcher. That's what he needs you now quickly another guy who's had trouble as you can also I think might be a little bit more of a concern is his command has been quite there. I think it's curve ball isn't quite as sharp as it was last year this is something that might he might work out the kinks out. But he has been pride stuff yeah I mean an more erratic certainly had some fantastic start and that's really troubling ones I think his last start Pittsburgh may have been a turning point for them. Got a huge jam in the first inning lead off home runs very first pitch then he loads the bases. Nobody out. Battle back and get out six straight after that I can almost see a little something clicked inside and minutes that. Maybe this you Ozzie admitted afterwards and younger version him would have melted there. Let it spiral out control. That might be assigned an comes back next time that made it a big turning point mark let's talk about the catching situation we're moving through May and so far Davey has. Rotated kind of alternated and depending on the edge depending on the he said that at some he's gonna have to make a decision we saw over the weekend go back to back with Ramos. At some point. Maybe you and you think we're gonna see him go with the primary catcher I think so maybe not a true number one in the and a guy you know catching you know once or twice a week and I think he does. Number one wanna play the hot hand whoever it is. I think he hopes its problems he understands that everyone understands. That Wilson Ramos has higher ceilings and Kurt Suzuki put the whole package together offensively defensively he can do more so I think you're gonna start to see that. It Suzuki gets hot they'll play obviously. I think the preference be for to ultimately take over. I went into the numbers last week how the pitching staff has done with Suzuki and For some reason everybody but you done way better with over the past few seasons in their career ERA is. Are better with him in their career marks I don't I don't know I can't tell you why that is but that's the case yeah and I the pictures all insist they'll have both guys I don't know if there even where it. Yzerman tops they had success with Suzuki and it's amazing stats that would certainly something overtime that you have to look him. Now as we're getting close to the middle of may what we take stock with the division first the Braves came out really hot out of the gate. It was it was really at the point were you thinking all right who's gonna slow him down or what's gonna slow them down they didn't seem to have a weakness whatsoever. The nationals. Meanwhile your 500. But as they're starting to get things going they're not that far behind it could be much worse at this point oh absolutely mean if the nationals. Figure that April was their worst month but that's as bad against them they're going to be all right because they hover around 500. And the rays came back to earth and what's it was gonna happen next maybe not. To this extent you're surprised by that we're gonna play 900 ball. All right I think it was twelve and when you start here to me what's interesting is all of a sudden they're closer Craig Kimbrel. Most dominant closer in baseball last year and the first month this year he's blown three saves in days yeah giving up home runs. That's. Staggered problem right there I mean who knows just a blip. Or something long term about but also without Johnny Panthers won their top. Setup men and PG beaches and come back and just came back Heyward been out for a while there. BJ Upton knocked off to a good start the play and they got a lot of weapons are they're going to be good. Long term but they may not be quite easily as we and BJ Upton has been really bad and having having gas was really early on but. he's not looking like the next Mike Capps at this point about one thing I think it's interesting as the two best guys I think in their offense have to look at the numbers today. They've been Justin Upton and Chris Johnson who of course were with the team much yeah exactly they talk on all the offseason moves it made it mentioned Johnson as much damage in the Upton Brothers that night do you think getting Freddie Freeman back to deal with me that isn't fantastic all around first baseman. The Braves are going to be fine long term this can make good race really do believe that. CSN Washington dot com.
