Wha, Wha, What?

I guess he won't be the Opening Day starter

Huh. Just when I apologized for losing faith in him.

wow, didn't see that coming.

Holy Smokes!

Checks calendar - nope, not April 1st yet!

Im at a loss for words.

I guess the Nats are going to sign a FA later today.

Is Hill next?

wow. that was nuts

Lannan deserves that spot.

Is jpsfanandproudofit on suicide watch yet? I would hope so at this point. Remove the belt and shoelaces immediately!

is nuts...

Honestly, I'm not really shocked or disappointed by this. He had some great games the first season the Nats were in town...but his performance and the constant injuries have been nothing but a detriment ever since.

double-ewe-tee-eff? *released*? you mean nobody would give them a bag of balls for him? is this info 12 days early?

something smells fishy here...

===

"Now compare that to Minaya(yeah I know, I know, he didn't have much backing but how that excuses trading C.Lee, Sizemore, Phillips, J.Bay, Chris Young, and getting nothing(in the end) for any of them, is beyond me."

Posted by: Jeeves | March 20, 2008 12:55 PM
===

jeeves, that's a little bit unfair, if you don't at least post the circumstances of the trades made by minaya. he was under the impression the club would be contracted w/in the next 1-2 seasons and had no future, so he traded to try to win that season (and they were still in it at the time).

what would bowden have done under the same circumstances?

and how will bowden's moves play out 5-7 years down the road? we don't know that yet.

Reel in the champagne!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been waiting for this day for the last two and a half years.

there has to be an underlying story in this beyond Patterson not being able to throw a 90s fastball.

btw, it's not showing up anywhere but here, including mlb.com or espn.com transaction lists. how did sheinin find this out?

About time they let go of him. He's been injured a lot, and always insists that he's healthy.

it just showed up on nationals.com and it says he was cut due to "lack of performance".

JPat said "They told me I didn't blow the doors open and that there were other pitchers pitching better,"

The Times has it. And Ladson has it on mlb.com now.

Wow!!! I guess he didn't really have a great career here, but why now? If they were going to do this, they should have done it a month ago. It seems like they don't really have a plan anymore, because they kept teling us he was the ace and he was the anchor. Either they have a lot of faith in shawn hill, or a big deal is coming soon.

I'm surprised. Maybe even shocked.

But lack of performance makes sense. I'd have to guess that the Nats tired of his refusals to cut it loose. He cannot get guys out with his current approach, and maybe he's too stubborn to change.

"something smells fishy here..."

Yeah. They couldn't get a bag of balls for him? From anybody?

Would they maybe sign him up for a minor league contract?

I'm seriously floored. I would have thought there would be all kinds of other experiments/trials/whatevers to work with the guy. And so late too.

Good move. End of story. Now let's close the door on JP and move on.
Gotta get a FA pitcher now...anyone. Don't care who, whoever he is, you know the guy has to be better than, or at least on a par with, the stable of pitchers we got now.
BTW, does the club still have to pay his '08 salary? anyone??

Patterson was a bum who always beleived he should be an ace, he wasn't going to pitch more than 5 or 10 games this year anyway. I would get rid of Redding and Perez who have no role in the future with the Nats and give the young guys now slated for Columbus a shot.

Don't bother me none.

Actually, they did say it all last spring training, but I did notice they were pretty quiet about that this year.

Still. I think we're all blind-sided.
______________
"...because they kept teling us he was the ace and he was the anchor."

Posted by: natsfan93 | March 20, 2008 02:18 PM

"It seems like they don't really have a plan anymore, because they kept teling us he was the ace and he was the anchor."

Who is "they"? Don't confuse what the media (including Barry Svrluga and Bill Ladson) or bloggers say with what the team's front office or on-field management are thinking. I can't recall a single direct quote from anyone connected with the team over the past two years that has used the words ace, anchor or anything of the sort to describe John Patterson. Nor did they ever talk of him in terms of a plan. If anything, their plan for Patterson was to bring him to camp this year and see if he could come back from his surgery and deliver the goods. I guess today they finally determined that he is not ever going to be able to do that. It's sad, but not all that surprising really.

I guess the nats couldn't send him to a minor league team to work out his pitching issues with a possible call up later. And they couldn't find a trade for him?

it's not that i'm unhappy he won't be here, it's just that i'm surprised they couldn't get *anything* for him. especially with the quote from the last blog comments:

"I have not heard that Patterson was on the block," said an assistant general manager for a team that has dealt with the Nats in the past. "But if he is, please have [Nats general manager] Jim Bowden give me a call."

why cut a guy if there's *any* interest in him? there are 10 days left, use those to make a deal.

i still think that there's something we're not hearing yet.

My reaction was the same as misschatter, Is it April 1 already? Can't wait to hear the full story, which I'm sure my fellow Commodore Dave will find out. Was there a single incident? A new medical report? Has to be something because it ain't April 1 yet.

Now we are making progress as an organization. How can you see an 85 MPH fastball but not see this coming? He was going to get shelled by MLB hitters with that stuff.

Barry.....Barry....are you there?

there has to be something more to this. I refuse to believe that they couldn't have gotten ANYTHING, even a fringe prospect for him.

The guy is a bum. He probably stubbed his toe or something and refused to play. He'll go home and put on a dress and cry about it I'm sure.

well, patterson was more of a question mark than an answer. at least we'll get a really good draft pick next season!

can we trade felipe lopez for a young starter with potential? pretty please?

My guess is that a release will allow him to look for a major league job first. If that fails, I don't see him going to Columbus, either, because the club is pretty clear about wanting to go younger in the Columbus rotation. It is possible he hooks on with the Marlins, who I think can be patient and are supposed to still be looking for rotation help. Otherwise, maybe the NYY will bring him in to AAA.

Answers Barry's question about whether there is room for O'Connor at AAA.

Huh?

You don't get draft picks for releasing a guy.
________________
well, patterson was more of a question mark than an answer. at least we'll get a really good draft pick next season!

Posted by: redskins | March 20, 2008 02:39 PM

What is the difference between doing this and sending him through waivers?

I mean, if he clears waivers, you can send him down and see if he can work on his stuff. I guess you'd have to pay him, and that's the catch.

I guess the big difference is this clears a spot on the 40-man.

What are the advantages of releasing him now?

Wouldnt surprise me at all to see him in another uniform within 72 hours.

I'd really like reasoning from the front office as to why he wasn't traded and why he was released now.

419+1, I didn't mean they said that in plain terms, but when manny was filling out his rotation, Patterson was usually no. 1 on the list. Also, since the nats came here patterson has been one of the top starters, and it just seemed like everyone was expecting him to blooom into an ace, but the fact of the matter is that he getting older and the money is not worth it for a guy who'll be in the DL for half to 3/4 of the season

I would be suprised if they don't offer him a minor league spot, but because he does not have options, they could not pass him through waivers without another team getting a shot at him for free. Sometimes you outright release a veteran out of respect rather than put them through waivers. If he does not find an opportunity for a MLB job, perhaps he will be invited back into the organizaiton.

Pretty clear this was not financial as they were not paying him that much. This is probably releasing him early to give him a chance to go elsewhere before spring training is over.

Seems like it might just be a classy move. Maybe he still has a shot to start the year on someone's MLB roster.

nats chatter said the reason they cut him was because he had a non guaranteed contract with the deadline to pay coming up fast.

Open spot on the 40-man roster + middle infield depth + extra 1b = TRADE COMING

Open spot on the 40-man roster + middle infield depth + extra 1b = TRADE COMING

- - - - - - - -

They certainly do have some interesting pieces lying around that could nab somehting much better. Hanrahan, Belliard, Young, and a slew of other middle relievers that would make the roster of most MLB teams. Trader Jim don't fail us now.

Darnit, now we have to play Guess the Rotation again.

I feel for JP. He had great stuff -- once. I think the Nats are actually doing him a favor by releasing him now. As soon as they realized he was going backwards, rather than progressing, they had to realize they had better options all around. He doesn't fit at the major league level, and they have a bit of a logjam at Columbus, too.

This gives Patterson a chance to hook on somewhere else, while minor league camps are still in full flower. He's not ready for the bigs right now. Hopefully, some team with room at AAA level will give him a shot to get his arm back where it needs to be.

As for the comment above that Redding has no place in the Nats' future, I say "balderdash". He just turned 30. He's in his prime, with several excellent years ahead. If the Nats are going to contend in '09 and/or '10, a guy like Redding will be a key part of the rotation. Apparently, we can't have the same kind of confidence in Patterson.

This is sad for JPat, but a very good sign that the Nats are serious about building a contending team. Contenders have to be ruthless in evaluating players and their potential to contribute to building a winner. When he was good, he was very good - but it's been several years since we saw his good stuff. Unfortunately, JPat has been too fragile to be counted on as a building block for a winner. As there are no free agents of much note, I hope the slot goes to Chico or Lannan.

This is sad for JPat, but a very good sign that the Nats are serious about building a contending team. Contenders have to be ruthless in evaluating players and their potential to contribute to building a winner. When he was good, he was very good - but it's been several years since we saw his good stuff. Unfortunately, JPat has been too fragile to be counted on as a building block for a winner. As there are no free agents of much note, I hope the slot goes to Chico or Lannan.

Mark Lerner stay the F out of baseball decisions - we don't need another Dan Snyder type loser!!!!!!

Wow, I'm shocked that they didn't at least let it play out a little longer. What risk did they have in holding on to him a little longer...

Shocked

agreed mark, but just because Jpat said that doesnt make it so. sounds like a bunch of sour grapes from patty. jimbo doesnt interfere with manny and mark lerner has 0 influence into personnel decisions. patterson is a little girl and has been for quite some time, byebye

Plenty of rationale to releasing him. One, to clear a spot on the Major League Roster for any potential signing or to keep someone else such as a Lannan or a Chico. Next waivers would have been more disrespectful (in my opinion) now he has a chance to sign a minor league deal with someone else. Finally, he is no longer a starter. He doesn't have the speed on the fastball or the capacity to pitch more than four innings. Mop up job would have been the best for him and the Nats got a great bullpen again.

Wonderful--this guy is REALLY A HEAD CASE!!! It was obvious that-- HE MARCHED TO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER. It was also obvious he couldn't or would not take coaching or advice in terms of his mechanics--ie stretching his arm in delivering a pitch AND doing nothing to get his fastball working. This guy has been babying himself for the last 3 years!!! Give someone else a chance--they may be better or they may not--and they can't be any worse as to what Patterson has done in the last 3 years. The question is--is this a wake up call for Shawn Hill?

I surely didn't see this coming but like the move. I'm guessing we were heading for more of the same from JP...both physically and his mind games. If he's healthy he'll get a chance again and learn from this. As for the Nats time to move on without the distraction. Now set up a 5 man rotation wo worrying aboutwether or not JP can/will take the ball. I don't see his case like Hill at all. Hill actually is much tougher,has a better attitude and wants the ball. Go Nats!

I hadn't really thought about it until it was brought up here but yea I see a potential blockbuster going down. JimBo's wheels are spinning - oh to see his "recent call" list right now.

I, again, am surprised at the straight-up release. I mean heck, somebody would've given up a low to mid-level prospect for him: it could've given the guys down in Woodbridge some fun over the summer at the very least.

Package up a MI, 1b, OF, and reliever to the Giants for one of their young studs or the Dodgers for Hu. Thank god for depth.

I mean I thought a trade was on the brink back when D.Y. and Belly were signed to extensions too right before the deadline - so it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong.

bummer

Barring a trade, I guess this means we're looking at a rotation of Perez, Bergmann, Redding, Lannan, and Hill?

The risk is that they needed that space for someone else -- someone they apparently think they have in the form of Lannan, Chico, or, more distantly, Mock.

All the same, I would think that they should try to pass him through waivers. Perhaps someone can explain this. Is the problem that they would still have to pay his major league salary? That would be incentive to release him, if no one claimed him. But why not try?

Whoa

I'm shocked, but not disappointed. It's time to move on. I wish JP well but, look forward to seeing Lannan or Chico in his place. I would imagine that Jimbo tried to trade him but, No Takers.

I think people need to ease up on the shots at JP. I have been critical of him the last few days myself but, I'm not going to kick sand in his face now. I mean, what's the point in it?

It is a very big mistake!

that other paper talked to Jim Bowden, so I put on my tin foil hat and went over there to see. here's what he said, so that the rest of you don't have to risk losing your brains to Moonie by reading Nats Coverage:

--------------
Here's Jim Bowden's explanation for the stunning release of John Patterson today:

After watching Patterson pitch for the last month, Bowden (and the club) became convinced he just wasn't going to regain his velocity and command to a point where he was a better option than some of the other younger pitchers in camp (ie. John Lannan, Matt Chico). Patterson insisted he was healthy all along, but the fact his fastball never surpassed 87 mph was a sign to the Nats that things weren't going to improve for a long time.

"We believe he had better stuff last season [when he was 1-5 with a 7.47 ERA]," Bowden said. "We hoped we could get him back, and it just never came."

"We've done everything we could possibly do. He just never got the stuff back."

It's sad about Patteson buts thats the past now. BRING ON JEFF WEAVER BABY!

i'm shocked. either he is far from back or we are much better off than i thought. i still don't think we go out and get a free agent starter. wow. i can't say i'm glad to see him go but this certainly says something about this franchise. that's a landmark decision.

While I do feel for JP, It is a good sign for the organization that they didn't let this go into the season where he could've lost some games for us. But I am really suprised that they cut him. I mean, I guess theres no where else to put him, but RELEASED just seems a little harsh after where hes been on this team at least the past two years. i always thought of him as the nats' best pitcher, but I guess its a new era of nats' baseball now.

Yeah....Hopefully a winning era now that he's gone. He just throws rainbows now.

----

i always thought of him as the nats' best pitcher, but I guess its a new era of nats' baseball now.

Yeah Love, I agree - it seemed like he was holding back and taking for granted that he had to make the team. That being said, I still have an enormous amount of bad taste in my mouth from the amateur hour that Snyder has made the Skins into. Lannon deserves the shot I just wish we could see Perez a bit more first.

I'm surprised, but not shocked. Management never really tells the truth if players are not quite up to par. I'm sure JPs loss of velocity and his contract in combination had everything to do with this. Could Weaver be far behind. Is JimBows blackberry heating up? Sumpins up

Hopefull this new era comes with an improved E.R.A.

Couldn't resist.

-----

but I guess its a new era of nats' baseball now.

well there it is. maxing out at 87 with the old fastball is asking for trouble. it's not like he's showing it off his knuckler.

I sadly think this is something that had to be done. I like Patterson, and there's no doubt that when he's healthy and firing on all cylinders, he can be dominant. But we're 2 years removed from those tantalizing days, with no guarantee that those days would ever return. For his sake, I hope they do and that he catches on with a club and regains his dominance - just so long as it doesn't happen against us.

Hallelujah! Long overdue! He can take his 18 career wins somewhere else, perhaps back to Orange, TX, maybe becoming a high-school coach. All the best to you, John!

(correction: hopefully)

I'm shocked too but its a sign of the improved options available to us. I gotta vote Chico first with Lannan the next option. Remember as a rook last year Chico pitched pretty damn close to the league average for a starter (although RFK had to help that a bit). Lets give him at least a few starts to see if he improves on 2007 - if not bring on Lannan.

And I do say GL to JP. Hope you land somewhere where you can work on regaining what you once had.

I think the FO timed this for Barry's brief DC respite, just to drive him crazy.

Wonder how many are still in the running for perfectly predicting the 25 man roster with this move?

This guy is washed up. A lot of comments say there's something fishy going on. Yeah, the fishy thing is he was going to get rocked and then go on th DL.
Good riddance.

i think "release" over "waiver" was probably more out of deference to him than disrespect. that allows him to catch on wherever he wants and to do it immediately.

and jeff weaver? WEAVER? please. i'd much prefer lannan. h311, i'd prefer keeping patterson and letting him pitch in the low 80s.

i'm pretty sure we can do better than a 6.20 era, 1.53 whip, and 5 1/3 innings per outing from *someone* in the organization. lannan and chico are better than that. not to mention cheaper and part of the team's future.

i notice a lot more lurkers coming out and posting the past couple of days...

Barry who?

Boom-Boom delivers the truly explosive news.

Not too surprising when you think through the move. Like most Nats fans, I've been disappointed that the John Patterson of 2005 has not been available. It's clear now that the John Patterson of that year is not coming back. That said, the reports of his pitching performances this spring, and his comments about those outings, sounded eerily like his comments the past two years. Maybe the injuries have taken their toll and he is no longer able to pitch effectively in the major leagues. It's a tough blow for John, and for the team and its fans, but having options aside from Patterson is a sign of progress.

Thank you Paranoid Post Reader. Can you be the designated reader of the other paper now, I mean since you've already got the tin foil hat and all, so the Moonies won't get us?

Sad for JPat, but he just couldn't seem to get healthy and the Nats tried to get there with him, so...

"More later..."

I would hope so. Patterson made some pretty stong allegations that deserve follow-up. Is Bowden allowing Acta to manage this team or is Jimbo giving players contradictory instructions? (Over the past year Bowden has made a number of statements to the press that would normally come from the manager.) Is Mark Lerner allowing Bowden free reign to be the GM or is ownership involved in talent evaluation? Obviously none of the players are going to criticize team management on the record, but I would like to know if Patterson is spouting BS because he's upset over getting fired or if there is some truth to his claims.

Great move! Patterson and Hill are the Nats Wood and Prior. See Ya!

I don't really see why anyone would be: (1) surprised by this move; or (2) upset by this move.

If you didn't see this coming then you have not been paying close attention.

(a) Patterson is not healthy, and is showing no signs of getting better.
(b) Patterson is unable and unwilling to take instruction about getting better.
(c) Patterson consistently makes excuses about performance instead of just shutting up and working to get better
(d) There are several others in the organization that pitched better last season than Patterson has this spring training, and have pitched better this spring training than Patterson
(e) Releasing him now frees up a payroll, albeit less than $1 million.
(f) He is old.

Why the shock? Those of you living in 2005 really need to start paying attention to the present rather than the has-been.

@Richard: You pretty much summed it up Richard. The Nats have been more than patient with JP. We have a bunch of young guys that have outpitched him and deserve a chance to make the rotation.

I hope Lannan takes Patterson's spot.

Maybe a deal with the Blue Jays on the horizon with Ryan uncertain?

It seems pretty clear from the quote that Dave ran up top that they will not backfill with an unemployed starter like Weaver. This move is designed to open a slot for "Nationals Idol" competition. Chico or Lannan will get the first shot, and, if that does not pan out, they'll run in the hot hand from the minors - Columbus (the other of Chico and Lannan / Mock / Balester / O'Connor / Clippard) or lower (Detwiler, most likely). Collectively, look for about 180 innings out of that crew.

JP will have a better option than Columbus, and Columbus will have better options than JP. JP could have refused an assignment to Columbus or Harrisburg and demanded a release I think due to his years as a professional, if I recall the basic agreement's terms.

"(e) Releasing him now frees up a payroll, albeit less than $1 million."

This houlsd just about get usunder the salary cap

great move, i'll agree with a-e, but not f. 30 is not "old."

that said, it's not young, either. it's when a pitcher should be in his prime. looks like jpat missed his prime due to injuries and inability to overcome them. maybe he'll prove the nats wrong, who knows.

Too bad, but not necessarily unexpected. I feel bad for JP and really hoped to see him make a comeback. If he catches on somewhere else, I just home he doesn't "comeback" to bite us in the a$$.

Wow! I liked Patterson, and was really hoping he'd get back to 2005 form, but looks like it just wasn't going to happen. Sad to say, but this makes a lot of sense for the team, and gives the Nats a chance to be better in 2008. Welcome to DC John Lannan.

Good move. We need to clear the way for the young guys. Even if he were healthy we'd all be doing a prayer with each pitch.... rolling dice to see if his arm would blow out. You can't enter a season with a main starter being a wing and a prayer.... sorry. This is why GMs get paid the big bucks - hard to do to cut emotional ties.... but the right move.

Not to nitpick, Great move, but Patterson is 30. That's not old - especially for a pitcher - by any stretch of the imagination.

Also, I don't think any of us can make the claim you did with point (b).

I am not conversant with the implications of releasing a player. Does this mean he can elect to go to AAA Columbus and work on his pitching or have we lost this guy for good? Does Bowden really think you can make a decision based on 7 innings. I can see giving some other guys a chance but why not send him down to the minors.

Since a few people have taken issue with my comment that Patterson is old, allow me to clarify.

For a pitcher that has not be riddled with injuries every year except for one, 30 is not old at all. In fact, that could be considered the age where you achieve the peak of your game.

But, in Patterson's case, where he has spent more time on the DL than off of it every single year except for 2005, 30 is old. He should be at the peak of his game at this age, not trying to get enough velocity and health to make it through 4 innings.

Patterson is a great guy on a personal level. But, from a professional pitching standpoint, his body is just not working out for him.

I REALLY hope Lerner doesn't have THAT much influence, because we'll soon have twiddly-sticks playing short stop. That guy is one cheap SOB.

All I'll say is that Patterson better not EVER produce as anything close to a league-average starting pitcher again.

Put a fork in Patterson he's done! There is absolutely no sense waiting to see if he ever improves based on the limited numbers he ever posted in a Nationals uniform. Let's go with Redding, Perez, several young arms and Hill until he goes on the DL.

Put a fork in Patterson he's done! There is absolutely no sense waiting to see if he ever improves based on the limited numbers he ever posted in a Nationals uniform. Let's go with Redding, Perez, several young arms and Hill until he goes on the DL.

Wow - I guess the FO means business!

I notice that jpsfanandproudofithasn't posted. Hope he or she is alright.

She posted. She just said it was a bad decision.

Now who am I going to take in the first round of my fantasy draft?

Now is when it would be nice to have a baseball columnist who does more than reminisce about the past or ruminate about the future.

* * *

"More later..."

I would hope so. Patterson made some pretty stong allegations that deserve follow-up. Is Bowden allowing Acta to manage this team or is Jimbo giving players contradictory instructions? (Over the past year Bowden has made a number of statements to the press that would normally come from the manager.) Is Mark Lerner allowing Bowden free reign to be the GM or is ownership involved in talent evaluation? Obviously none of the players are going to criticize team management on the record, but I would like to know if Patterson is spouting BS because he's upset over getting fired or if there is some truth to his claims.

Posted by: PowerBoater69 | March 20, 2008 03:42 PM

30 is old for a pitcher with Patterson's injury history. In any event, releasing him now at least gives him a chance to catch on with another team. 2005 was nice season for JP, but it is good to know that management is keeping its eye on 2009 and beyond.

I am of the "surprised but not shocked" camp... and I think it is positive in a lot of ways.

I hope JP catches on somewhere, and that he does well (just not in the NL East). When he's on, he's great fun to watch. But he hasn't been on lately, and I am pretty sure he'd never be on in Washington.

Big personnel moves are rarely universally popular, so it isn't a surprise to me that there are people who don't like it... but as many have pointed out... it shows that the Nats are in a very different place this year in terms of pitching.

Also... for those of the "Quick, go sign a free agent camp", JP is still as good or maybe better than everything out there, and you'd be clamoring to sign him if he was available... so... don't be lulled into believing that this is an opportunity to sign a free agent. It is an opportunity to bring a kid in... and probably, to make a trade.

WHAAAAAAAA??!!
Dang, Barry takes 1 day off and all hell breaks loose.

@NatsNut,

D'oh! Thanx for the correction. I guess I really gakked that earlier post.

If Mark Lerner was involved, it was strictly a money decision.

New Post

New post up...with Management's side of the story

If Patterson getting released is "all hell breaks loose" I envy your placid existence.

*********
WHAAAAAAAA??!!
Dang, Barry takes 1 day off and all hell breaks loose.
Posted by: d | March 20, 2008 04:29 PM

So how many years do you "hang on just a little longer"? JPat had a good season in 2005--which is now three years ago. He hasn't pitched any significant number of innings since.

I have to say, this feels like a move that needed to be made. John Lannan, Matt Chico--those guys need to start becoming the core of our rotation.

I agree with natsagain: this is a sign that the Nationals want to build a winner.

Surprising good move, glad to see it. Good luck to him, but elsewhere.

We don't have anything but the implication in Patterson's quote that Mark Lerner was involved in this decision at all. And I wouldn't count that for much.

Hey, at least Patterson got Ms. DC out of his 3 years in DC.

Good move by the Nats. Sends a message to the younger pitchers (Chico, Lannan, etc..) that the organization believes in them. I think it will help morale not that it was suffering in anyway. Also, for your fools that think Lerner had something to do with this..your mistaken.

WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I mean, WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Hope he goes to a rival and becomes a Cy young candidate - Nationals ownership and management has no loyalty... Worse than Snyder's skins.

Cheer up Nats fans. Soon enough your rotation will have some legitimate Cy Young candidates like our staff does in Adam Loewen, Jeremy Guthrie, and Daniel Cabrera.

Patterson will catch on with some minor-league or independent-league team.

OK, folks, let's see who takes his place by July......we need ARMS.

Love ya John, but this self-assessment doesn't jive with management's action. No way they would have released him if they could have gotten anything for him in a trade.

Teams I could see signing Patterson:

1) Angels (Lackey and Escobar out)
2) Marlins
3) Blue Jays
IV)Phillies
5) Oakland

@OsExec,

Would like to see the look on your face if Patterson shows up in black-and-orange this season.

This is great news. It shows the Nationals are trying to win.

Hummmmmm......Can't say I'm sorry. I'm excited to see what good, healthy pitcher we have on the way up!! With this move, I have more confidence in the Nat's future. GO NATIONALS!!!!!

GL JP...now give Chico the spot he's earned. He was the work horse last year, and deserves the shot. If the thought is to build for the future...commit to it and move forward.

Last year, the Nats kept much worse pitchers. Sorry, however, when you are building a franchise where free agents want to play. You need some loyalty. This shows the Nats true spirit. Sorry..but this franchise just sucks.

Big Dan, you're just mistaken. This was 2 years of loyalty. Sometimes, it's just over, and this was overdue by about 11 months.

Free agents want to play where they can get paid, and where they can win, in that order. "Loyalty" is a very slippery thing in practice, when you're dealing with seven to nine figures.

Good thing it was once again not Pattersons fault. Anyone who is surprised I can assume it is only bacause we didn't get anything for him. If you have seen him pitch and then his responses when it does not go well it is clear if he ain't winnin, we don't need him. GO NATS!!!

Long overdue to fish or cut bait on Patterson.... snip snip

I was surprised and am sorry to see John Patterson leave the Nats. He played a huge part in the excitement generated by the long-awaited return of mlb to DC in 2005. Here's hoping that for some team he regains his arm strength and returns to the form he displayed back then.

Good Luck, John!

In my opinion its a good move. Off the subject, did anyone else see John Kruk predict that Ryan Zimmerman was going to hit 50!!! homeruns this year, thats right he said 50! Wow. I'll be happy with 35-40 which i think is a bit more realistic. However it was nice to see the Nats get some love on the four letter network in between all of the yanks and sox news.

Where is Boz's obituary? He kept comparing this hack to 'Cakes'* and it made me sick every time.

*HOF Jim Palmer

Wow, who hid the Koolaid? Maybe JjimBo is going cold turkey.
Patterson needed to move on, and so does Thrifty Ownership. Part One was saying adios to a slacker. Part Two is getting a bona fide major league pitcher to top the rotation in 2008.
JimBo, don't think for a second that it's over. Get working on that "Trader Jim" mojo.

that's a surprise. so i guess they couldn't trade him, and decided he wasn't worth the effort to rehab in a farm team. what an odd move, especially for a major component of the nats pitching staff...

I love how the Orioles fans come in here...after they trade away their best pitcher and have the worst owner in the history of sports...The Nats will be in the playoffs years before the Os get another taste

JP gone at last
Was not his fault - never is
Winning starts this way

Let's play two!

This was a long time coming. Good riddance, Nationals! LOSER!!!

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