How does Renteria-Jones-Jones-Francoeur-McCann compare to Casto-Zimmerman-Young-Kearns-Church? Discuss.It doesn't.

80 percent as good at 20 percent of the cost. The thing is... in two years, it will be almost as cheap, but probably almost as good as the Braves, (perhaps as good) and not nearly as washed up.

This is like getting your wisdom teeth pulled... it is hard, at the time they're being extracted, to think about how nice your Hawaiian vacation is going to be next year.

Oh, another thing... I am pining for Guzman. Even if you assume he's the same old hitter as two years ago (he'd fit right in now), when he's on the field, Belliard and his crummy defense are riding the pine. Missed easy tag... dropped fly (that was Kearns' ball all the way... those two plays are worth six runs in two games AT LEAST.

One is a major league lineup. The other - except for 2 players - is not.

Well, they are two different lineups, but I really wish Casto wasn't batting second. Hes new to the league, and the pitching so he is going to strikeout a lot (and he has) which is something you do NOT want from your #2 hitter. I dunno why hes hitting there. Personally Id bat him 7th or 8th.

I agree - Casto and Belliard should swap spots. Belliard has been hitting the ball well this year - 9 for 23 (.391) - and has a little pop.

The pressure would be off Casto if he batted 7th, which would allow him to ease into the major leagues.

I asked Acta yesterday, in fact (should've been in DMTP) about whether he thought about moving Belliard to second and moving Casto down. He said: "Belliard has never been a top-of-the-lineup guy," and pointed out that even in winter ball in the Dominican he wasn't used that way. Interesting.

So they do expect to be playing, despite your weather forecast? I was hoping we'd have a second day this week without a loss...

Why isnt Chris Snelling getting more of a chance? it cant hurt he tore up spring training.

One incorporates speed (Renteria), average (Jones the eldest, Francoeur)and power(Jones the clobberingest, Francoeur, McCann); and the other incorporates hope (Casto), average and power(Zimms), and massive potential for stikeouts and/or slugging(Young, Kearns).

I want to know when Churchy gets moved to the 2 spot. He's got great stats, and we know that Jimbo thinks he can smash a fastball but flail at junk. He's more likely to get fastballs with Zimms behind him, and he can do some sweet damage. When this guy plays everyday, he has yet to truly disappoint.

And another thing: One says "My, my, we have a simply outstanding farm system and can sign important free agents when we need it." and the other says "We have this really great third baseman...what? He can't just bat nine times?"

I prefer to compare Johnson-Renteria-Jones-Jones-Francoeur-McCann to Lopez-Snelling-Zimmerman-Johnson-Kearns-Church. Still not quite equivalent, but better if we ever get our best hitter back.

Barry -- hop on to baseball reference and pull up Belliard's career splits. He's spent a bunch of time at the top of the order, especially when he was with Milwaukee. He's got about 400 ABs in the 1 and 2 spots in the last three years alone.

question is, what has belliard done in the past at the top of the order?

Personally, I'm on board with whoever suggested Church in the #2 spot. If Felipe can get on base, Church can move him over. If Felipe doesn't, then maybe Church gets on and Zimm and cleanup can try and do just that.

first and foremost. Someone on this team has to hit the ball out of the infield.

I'm trying for the House of David look as opposed to Methuselah.

We keep talking about Zim being the only legit hitter in this lineup...

.222 avg 0 HR 1 RBI 3 Runs scored

Not very good.

Zim's struggling because pitchers aren't afraid of anyone that's batting after him, so they're throwing him junk. He probably feels that he needs to start the offense and his being overly aggressive trying to get on base.

I agree with NattyD ... moving Church to 2nd might be a help to the Nats, although that pretty much eliminates any power from the #6-9 spots.

Lopez
Church
Zim
Young
Kearns
Casto?
Belliard
Schneider

Just trying to keep some of the R-L-R-L batting order. Don't think Schneider is ready yet to bat in the 6 hole.

One last thing ... I've watched most of every inning of every game and the Nats batters are hitting the ball hard. Lots of line drives and one-hoppers. Unfortunately they're all right at someone. One day, they're all going to fall in for basehits. I believe!

Belliard in the 2 -- Chris's good reporting notwithstanding, so what if he never did it before. Soriano never played left before last year, either. He's a ball player. Play ball.

After last night's loss, the nats are on pace to win 18 games and lose 144. One would think things will get better after Johnson, Logan, Guzman (ugh), et al. get healthy, but I doubt it can get much better given what the pitching staff has done: 9 runs allowed twice, 8 runs allowed twice, 7 runs allowed twice, 6 runs once, 4 runs once, 3 runs once.

The questions I put to the group are:

1) is there any conceivable way this team doesn't lose 100 games?

2) What are the chances they really do end up biblically bad, with one of those terrible records people talk about for years to come?

In case anybody's wondering where the Nats hitters have gone:

From the Boston Globe:

"Jose Guillen started the trouble (not the first time anyone has typed those words) by swinging at a 3-and-0 cookie and almost knocking the Wall down with a line drive to left."

"Dice-K fanned Ichiro (swinging) on a split-fingered fastball in the fifth, but fell behind, 3 and 0, when Adrian Beltre and Jose Vidro crunched back-to-back RBI hits with two outs. Given the way Hernandez was throwing, it was not looking good for Dice-K and the local nine."

I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'...

Ditto for Church #2. Why not? What have you got to lose? Perhaps he can pull the ball and advance Lopez, if he ever gets on base consistently. Hopefully Logan and Guzman will be able to return soon. With the return of Johnson at the all star break hopefully, the Nats shouldn't finish more than 40 games back.

Belliard and Church have been our best hitters the last few games and Casto looks super shakey. I'd love to see some sort of change in the 2 spot.

More former NatStats: Ramon Ortiz was nasty last night, 3 hitting the Yanks over 8 innings and allowing only his 3rd earned run in 15 innings and 2 wins so far this season. Ouch.

Barry - Any updates on Super Nook and Mr. Guzmania? I haven't seen anything since they were each put on the 15 day DL. Keep up the good work.