Awesome, thanks!

Awesome, John, but how did you get that shot looking down the fuel tank? It must have been hard to do and still get back to Viera. It figures the Post would be to cheap and make you ride the shuttle up to the stratosphere, thus taking away coverage from the Nats.

You forgot, Barry, it gets late early out there. :)

I did find a photo of the Post's rocket launch:

http://www.alexross.com/CJ063.html

---

Awesome, John, but how did you get that shot looking down the fuel tank? It must have been hard to do and still get back to Viera. It figures the Post would be to cheap and make you ride the shuttle up to the stratosphere, thus taking away coverage from the Nats.

Hey +.5St, your Milledge/Sheffield post made the morning paper.

Sleeping through history?

Not sure if this is the best place to post catch up baseball stuff, but -

I think there is a rule that September call ups don't count towards major league service time. I'm not sure, though. It does count as putting him on the 40 man roster, though, and triggers option requirements. First option would have been burned this year, but, as Chris says, if Detweiler hasn't cracked the majors by 2011, let alone 2012 if he gets a 4th option, we have other issues with him. As far as planning to see him 7/4, I'd expect him to be with the P-Nats 1/2 season unless there is a problem. So, 7/4 may be too late.

Aww Duuuuude, Barry, how could you miss that?!? :-)

"I think there is a rule that September call ups don't count towards major league service time. I'm not sure, though."

I'd be very surprised if the MLB Players Union would let a rule like that slide through in their contract negotiations with MLB. They compute major league service time down to the day in determining eligibility for pension benefits and such. I'm sure that the union doesn't consider a September day on a major league roster any different from a day in any other month during the season, and I doubt they would let management make that distinction either.

Barry: You have missed a once in a lifetime opportunity for an extra 8 minutes of sleep?!? You remind me of my son. Then again, I'm old enought to be your mother, so there's that. Now I'm depressed.

Since I've confessed age, now I'll confess to the ignorance of a baseball newbee. Carryover from prior post by Brian:

"Players on the 40-man roster are "optioned" to the minor league levels. Each player has a finite number of options or number of years in which the team can send them to the minor league. Each player typically has three option years.

Players not on the 40-man roster are re-assigned to the minor league camp. No options are used."

Thanks for the info Brian. Now that I can understand that, I'm wanting even more data. What is the significance of being on the 40 man roster? Can other teams grab a player who isn't on the roster? Are rule 5 grabees out of options and so eligible to be picked up by another team? Do "options" ever re-set (e.g. when Demitri signed a minors contract)? So much to learn, so little time. Anyone so inclined, feel free to geek out. Back to work.

As long as we're thinking about cuts today, perhaps it's time for another round of roster roulette:

C: LoDuca, Estrada
1b: Johnson, Young
2b: Belliard
3b: Zimmerman, A. Boone
ss: Guzman, Lopez
lf: Pena, Dukes
cf: Milledge
rf: Kearns
sp: Hill, Patterson, Bergmann, Perez, Redding
rp: Cordero, Rauch, Colome, King, Rivera, Schroder

That's 24 players, leaving only one spot for veterans B. Boone, Harris, and Mackowiak; the two Rule V guys in Whitney and G. Guzman; fifth OFs Langerhans and Escobar; and bullpen guys (if they opt to keep 12 pitchers instead of a 5th bench guy) Hanrahan, Munoz, O'Connor, Shell and Wagner. It's pretty hard to pick only one of those guys, isn't it?

Of course, if Hill can't go then his spot seemingly goes to Lannan or Chico. And Estrada's hurt, and LoDuca's still recovering, but putting one or both of those guys on the DL to start the season doesn't open up a slot for anyone on the list above because we still need two catchers.

"Toughest job a manager has to do."

"Grabees." I love that.

It's like Graboids (for any of you unfortunate enough to have seen Tremors), only better.

Bob L.-

I saw, thanks, but shouldn't get credit. If you read my post, I was citing something written by someone at the Hardball Times. It is free content, and I gave the author credit. I should have put quotes around it, rather than just saying, "Hardball Times said the following:"

Eventually I will get a "best post" on my own merit.

I pick Chico for Hill's rotation spot, if it comes to that (using Bob's list).

Is Wagner on the DL? If not, he's my pick for the extra spot.

Bob L.-

Your excellent analysis of remaining roster spots only makes me all the more sure that someone is going to be traded for some minor leaguers. I am shocked at how little room there is on the roster, a year after carrying two Rule 5 guys to start the season.

It only gets harder, Bob. Your list is missing Ayala. That would, I assume, move Schroder down to the "others" list.

I know I've said that I think the Nats keep 12 pitchers, but looking at that list, I'm not so sure.

Wagner is still recovering. Last time I heard, he was in Texas. I could be wrong, but I don't even know if he made the trip to Viera.

Schroder over Colome.

JMpls, you're right, I forgot Ayala. I think I might keep Schroder and send Colome down.

Hmmmmn ... maybe I should have read your post, 506, before saying the exact same thing 15 minutes later.

I predict that one or more of the position players on Bob L. Head's list will start the season on the DL if they don't get traded before then. After all, a player can be stashed almost indefinitely on the 15-day DL as long as they are kept on the 40-man roster, right? Obvious candidates for this would be Dmitri or Aaron Boone, both of whom have been hurt this spring already. The team knows what these guys are capable of, so stashing them on the DL would allow them to be held onto as insurance while they take a longer look at some of the younger guys like the Rule Fivers.

That's okay, Bob, I've just added your name as an endorsement to my one-pager touting the success of the 506 Plan for Relief Pitching, regardless of whether you wanted it or not.

"Wagner is still recovering. Last time I heard, he was in Texas. I could be wrong, but I don't even know if he made the trip to Viera."

Wagner was in Viera. I saw him on the practice fields with his pal JP. I have heard that he is not ready to pitch yet, so assume he opens the season on the DL.

I think either Young or Johnson will be traded before the season starts and Whitney will take that roster spot. I like Colome over Schroder, personally. And I think it will be Flores over Estrada (I don't think he'll be ready). I think Lannan is the guy if Hill isn't ready. I think Bret will make it over Aaron with the last spot going to Willie Harris. So my roster is:

C: Lo Duca, Flores
1B: Johnson, Whitney (Young traded)
2B: Belliard, B. Boone
SS: Guzman, Lopez
3B: Zimmerman, Harris
LF: Pena, Dukes
CF: LMillz
RF: Kearns
SP: Patterson, Bergman, Perez, Redding, Lannan (or Hill)
RP: Cordero, Rauch, Ayala, Rivera, Colome & King

That's my 25 with the starter listed first and the pitchers in order.

i definitely think a few of the "others" on the list will either be traded or DLed (along with maybe 1-2 of the "on the roster" folks). but i don't think they'll stash regulars to take a longer look at someone like a rule fiver. i think any veteran would feel pretty insulted by being stashed on the DL while essentially healthy on opening day to give the club more time to look at a rule 5 guy. and justifiably so. it's not like the rule 5 guy would play much, if any, in april anyway.

btw, by "regulars" i meant veterans expected to make the club, a la young and a boone.

Sorry for starting so many sentences with 'I think...'. That's what happens when you let work get in the way of messing around on the internet.

Won't happen again.

There is actually the possibility of Dukes starting the year in Columbus, but I really don't see the point in that. He certainly is playing too well this spring.

Dukes has played well enough to make the big club and they can keep a better eye on him if he's in Washington. The only way Dukes goes down, in my opinion, is if Garret Guzman out-plays him and gets the spot so the team can keep him.

Regarding the "Nats reassign..." post, can someone clarify for me what the difference is between being "reassigned to Minor League camp," on the one hand, and being optioned to various minor league teams, on the other? Thanks.

The fact that B.Boone has been so staunch about playing 2B, yet there's been no "Competition for 2B" story tells me he's just here to showcase himself and get traded.

Well. Let me clarify. He hasn't figured very prominantly in the already-existing "Competition for 2B" story.

(Almost) everything you could want to know about Assigning, Optioning, the 40-Man Roster and that stuff there (via WikiPedia): http://tinyurl.com/2utpxy

I just don't see how they trade Johnson or Young. It would be nutty to trade the best offensive player (Johnson) off a team that was at the bottom of the NL in runs last year. Finding high OBP guys with pop is hard. He's not in his contract year, and he appears to be rounding into form. I'd be very disappointed to see him go. Da Hook has very limited trade value right now, given his diabetes situation. There's no way to get equal value for him. They both will stay I think.

Dukes should also stay (as opposed to being sent to AAA in his case). You have to give him MLB ABs to further his development. If a trade is made it will be from among the stable full of infielders.

The Nats have repeatedly said that they won't keep Flores on the MLB roster as a backup, so if LoDuca can go then Flores is in AA. Cutting Moeller was an interesting development, though, seemingly indicating that Humberto Cota (or possibly Wil Nieves I guess) will be the #2 if Estrada's not ready. That's mildly surprising in my view.

I agree on both counts, #4. I know they've been saying that Dmitri and Nick are both everyday players and that they can't keep them together, but maybe this is just a way of trying to pump up their trade value for future purposes. It's hard to see why they would trade either one at this point given that (i) both are injury risks and (ii) they would be selling low in both cases. And then there is the Dmitri mentor thing, which dictates that both he and Dukes remain in DC. A deal at the deadline is certainly a possibility, but I don't see one happening right now.

Just to be clear, we all know the Dmitri mentoring thing is smoke, right?

I'm not sure it's all smoke. By all accounts, Dmitri's a clubhouse leader, and he was the comeback player of the year, so he fits the profile. Now, does that mean that he's really going to room with Dukes on the road and sit next to him on the bench? Perhaps not. Smoke or no, though, I think it's hard for the Nats to go out of their way to say he's going to be the mentor, and then promptly send him packing before the season starts.

Zuckerman pretty much nails the Flores issue here:

http://tinyurl.com/37o894

while i don't think meathook as a mentor is a smokescreen, i *do* think it's been significantly overplayed.

From the "Glass Half Empty" Department:

Here's the problem with the Dmitri mentoring thing... If we make the assumption that Dmitri's current physical condition is at least in part do to his lack of discipline in conditioning and management of his condition, then his value as a mentor for Dukes is way down... because really, what they want Dukes to learn is that hard work and staying on the straight and narrow is the path to success. If Dmitri didn't take care of business this past offseason, then what does that say to Dukes? Sure, taking care of one's own health is not the same as having problems with domestic violence, etc. but about being professional and taking pride in one's work, and doing the things in your life that make it possible to be an elite athlete in an important aspect to both. Dmitri could have had the best intentions in the world last year, but if he didn't get himself into playing shape, the story never sees the light of day.

I am the first to admit that I don't know the whole story, and there is certainly at least one other possible interpretation... But as someone that has a regular fitness regimen, I would know on a day-to-day basis if I was keeping (or getting into) game shape.

I am generally not a pessimist... but I am dubious about Dmitri this year.

Replace second paragraph with:

Here's the problem with the Dmitri mentoring thing... If we make the assumption that Dmitri's current physical condition is at least in part do to his lack of discipline in conditioning and management of his condition, then his value as a mentor for Dukes is way down. What the Nats want Dukes to learn is that hard work and staying on the straight and narrow is the path to success. If Dmitri didn't take care of business this past offseason, then what does that say to Dukes? Sure, taking care of one's own health is not the same as having problems with domestic violence, etc. but being professional and taking pride in one's work, and doing the things in your life that make it possible to be an elite athlete is an important aspect to both... and one of the things that Dukes might learn would be that keeping out of trouble is something that furthers his career as a professional athlete. Dmitri could have had the best intentions in the world last year, but if he didn't work very hard to get himself into playing shape during spring training, the story never sees the light of day.

Looking at the stadium webcam, it looks like there's another banner going up on the parking garage, to the right of the AL teams banner. Anyone have any idea of what this one will be? Also, they're putting up an advertisement on the scoreboard, on the panel directly beneath the PNC ad. My guess is since it's a red panel, it's probably either Budweiser (as I think someone mentioned on here several days ago) or Coca-Cola. Thoughts? Only 19 more days!

I couldn't make out what the garage banner said either. NatsNut, your favorite guy is out there again on the turf!

he he. I LOVE that it's a push mower. It's more personal. Man i wish I were him.

My guess on the new banner -- it looks like a list of names. A wall of fame, perhaps?

Double checked the MLB Players contract - September time does count towards service time. Basically, all time during the season counts (rule XXI). Detweiler accrued .027 years service time after his call up on 9/4, per cots baseball contracts blog.

LA Times is reporting that the Nats and Cards are pursuing Jeff Weaver.

I'm more cynical about the mentoring thing. I feel it's probably something Bowden came up with in order to get the guy he wanted in, perhaps with Kasten or the Lerners. I can't imagine Trader Jim not shipping Meat off at a moment's notice if he got a good deal, which calls into question the entire mentoring thing. Personally, I think "role-model" is probably the real term that the Nats were looking for.

To Wigi's concern about workout regimen: I know it was just musing, don't think I'm cracking the whip here. Diabetes is an extremely difficult disease to live with and maintain a healthy weight, mainly because it's so hard to regulate blood sugar. What you eat is only part of the battle, so much also depends on having the right drugs that it's possible, in his first year, Dmitri is just trying to get a hold of the right balance. I'll forgive him for his weight, easily.

Banners: Left to right, Washington Sports Hall of Fame (the list that was on the right field wall at RFK), National League, American League and Banner of Mystery (as it looks like it's just the frame so far).

Service Time: Service time accrues as soon as you are placed on the 40-Man roster -- so, even if you aren't called up in a season but you are on the 40-Man you use up one year of Option time during that year.

^ Must remember to sign...

. . . and if you poke around the Jeff Weaver story, you find out that the Dodgers are inquiring about Belliard:

http://tinyurl.com/3drcxx

OK... I'm getting ready to wade into a sensitive issue for some.

The Dmitri mentoring thing has nothing to do with teaching Dukes how to work hard, stay in shape, etc. Dukes already knows how to do those things. No one has ever questioned the shape he is in or how hard he works. The mentoring will have more to do with how an African-American player from a troubled background navigates what is still a mostly white and somewhat Latino controlled sport. Tampa has always struck me as one of the whitest organizations in baseball. I don't mean that from a player point of view but rather from a management point of view. That's just a sense I have. I could be wrong, but it just doesn;t seem like a great environment for a guy like Elijah. Playing in DC - a city with a significant African American population - with a Latino manager and a GM who seems to have a rapport with African-Americans should help Dukes feel more comfortable. Having a veteran like Dmitri who has been through all this helps.

Kenny Rosenthal says the Dodgers are interested in Belliard, but probably not Lopez because of his contract.

Good work, OG!

---

Banners: Left to right, Washington Sports Hall of Fame (the list that was on the right field wall at RFK), National League, American League and Banner of Mystery (as it looks like it's just the frame so far).

#4:

My point was not that it was about Dukes staying in shape... I was posing the hypothetical that IF Dmitri's condition was because he lacked discipline in training in the offseason (taking care of business), that it did not set a good example for Dukes in terms of work ethic (taking care of a different kind of business).

In other words, you control your own destiny with hard work, personal discipline, etc.

Because Rule 5 and Option years confuse so many people -- and because, while the WikiPedia page I posted a link to earlier is good it can still feel a bit opaque -- here is a good post that (for me anyway) really cleared it all up (examples are always a good thing).
http://tinyurl.com/2vhpxc

Wait a minute -- *Jeff*?? Weaver? Not Jered?

Point taken, Wigi. I understand what you are saying. I guess what I'm trying to say is that what sort of shape he's in and how hard he's working is irrelevant as it applies to his ability to mentor Dukes. Dukes needs no help in those areas. I think more than anything he needs an older player from a similar background in whom he can confide, to whom he can vent. He also needs someone who has the credibility in his mind to tell him to straighten up if/when he acts like an idiot.

Line-up projection:

Guzman-6
Milledge-8
Zimmerman-5
Johnson-3
Kearns-9
Pena-7
Belliard-4
Lo Duca-2
Pitcher

Rotation:

Patterson
Bergmann
Perez
Redding
Lannan

Chico starts in AA, Hill on DL

Pen: King,Colome,Ayala,Rivera,Rouch,Cordero

Like to see a trade to bring in another starter.

Pardon.. Chico to AAA

i agree that the whole "mentoring" was blown out of proportion. fair enough. it was filler for the media and at least sounded like we had a plan so they wouldn't hound us too much. at the least it helps further solidify meathooks' reputation as a likeable fellow, boosting morale and trade value, etc. good job. moving on.

although i've always wondered what the deal with meat and griffey was. way back when i thought they had a bit of a spat. probably resolved 10 years ago i'm sure...

as a side note: it's just occurred to me that i pretty much start and end every entry with "sure". or shirley.

I just don't see how Felipe Lopez is not the lead off hitter and starting 2B. He's not tradable with his contract. He is still the best option of potential OBA and speed. They are paying him significantly more than Belliard. If he's going to sit on the bench, they make him almost worthless. They need to cross their fingers and hope he turns it around.

I wouldn't be shocked if they signed weave his brother Jered said he is considering 2 teams the nats and the cards.

What do you trade though?

A younger, better power numbers, and better defensive first baseman...

OR..

A mentor with question marks right now..

Seems easy to me, but Love the meathook though..

"as a side note: it's just occurred to me that i pretty much start and end every entry with "sure". or shirley."

A tribute to the great Mr. Povich, no doubt.

"What do you trade though?

"A younger, better power numbers, and better defensive first baseman...

"OR..

"A mentor with question marks right now..

"Seems easy to me"

Me, too. You trade the first candidate. You don't get anything worthwhile for the second.

2b lopez
cf milledge
3b zimmerman
1b johnson
rf kearns
lf pena
c la puka
ss guzman
p patterson

at least we are finally getting a proper batting order. cf hitting 2nd. 1b hitting 4th, etc. if lopez can lead off we're on our way to worrying about starting pitching fulltime.

-surely you can't be serious?
-i am serious and please don't call me shirley.

Guzzie's killing the ball this spring. He's the leadoff guy regardless of who's on second.

I thought Hu was pitching.

No, no, NatsNut, Hu's on first.

Longterm, that's exactly right. All we're missing (at least, if at least two of Dukes, WMP and Milledge are the real deal) is a leadoff-hitting middle infielder. I've been with you (and #4) in taking the position that Lopez is the best bet to fill that role. And I haven't been willing to believe that Guzzie's 2007 stats would hold up in 2008. With that said, if Lopez continues to sulk and Guzzie continues to hit like he has this spring, then I think Guzman deserves to be in the leadoff spot on opening day. That doesn't mean I'm in favor of putting Lopez out with the trash, but the team has said he has to earn it on the field, and at this point I'm in favor of that.

I see that longterm beat me to the Airplane reference. :-)

Hey Section 109, thanks for the tip last week about the wetlands at the wastewater treatment plant just west of Viera. We swung by on our way to Sunday's game and got great photos of alligators (4 feet or so!) and tons of birds. Including perhaps the sandhill crane that apparently followed us to Space Coast Stadium....

Interesting about Belliard.

I know Bowden was saying at the deadline last year that contract extensions for Belliard and Young actually made them more attractive to teams.

I think that's true in Belliard's case, but I'm not sure the same logic holds up for Young.

Forget mentoring.

Dimitri makes the team because of the 10,000 Bobbleheads.

Yes, he is there. I misinterpreted the following from a post on the official site in February:

"After having surgery on June 5, Wagner went back to Texas and realized how much he missed the game of baseball."

But he isn't expected to be ready, not from the sound of this:

"'[Playing in] Spring Training games is not looking too likely -- not necessarily because I wouldn't be ready, but because there is no reason to rush it,' Wagner said. 'You don't know how good I could feel. A month from now, even though I'm feeling great now, it could be outstanding -- if they want to throw me into some games. We'll see. We are going to play it by ear. They are going to do what is in my best interest.'"

-----

Wagner was in Viera. I saw him on the practice fields with his pal JP. I have heard that he is not ready to pitch yet, so assume he opens the season on the DL.

Dmitri

i think it was Airplane II that had the space shuttle though. it works on so many levels!

"I just don't see how Felipe Lopez is not the lead off hitter and starting 2B." - #4

One thing Acta has been clear on and that I really respect with him is that players must earn their playing time. I agree that keeping Lopez is turning out to be a complete waste reports form LA market shows what I feared, he is not tradable. Barry has not written anything but Box scores are showing he is not able to beat out Guz or Ronnie or Boone.....At some point the Jimbo is going to have to face the facts here.

Was it around here that I read that players rarely win or lose an established spot based on spring training?

Lopez has been awful so far granted, but it's early. While his performance hasn't been good I'd be more interested in hearing about how he's carrying himself. Has he been sulky and distant or fully engaged? If it's the latter, good performance should follow eventually. If it's the former, then all of you may be correct. Guzman still isn't a great answer at lead off, but he might be all they have.

It would be nice Barry to know what is going on with Lopez....a story please...

"players rarely win or lose an established spot based on spring training"

thing is, there were two established position players coming off of last season in that position: zimmerman and kearns. one might add lo doca as a FA pickup. every other position was up for grabs, to an extent, coming into spring training (with the general exception that the team wants milledge and WMP in the other OF slots and their only real challenger, dukes, has much to prove).

New post.

If Lopez is a bust - and I'm not willing to categorically make that statement just yet - how does it affect your opinion of the Kearns/Lopez/Wagner trade?

Nats gave up Bill Bray, Gary Majewski, and Brandon Harris. With the glut of relief pitching in Viera, it's hard to imagine the FO is pining away for Bray and Majewski.

Harris was picked up by the Twins along with Delmon Young and Jason Pridie in a six-player trade. I don't know where he stands in the Minnesota infield with Punto and Casilla also competing at 2B.

I know I mentioned smelling a good season for Kearns earlier. Feel free to disregard my olfactory predictions.

not that barry missed the launch (who gets up at 2:20am unless forced??), but in that video. Worst. Launch Video. EVAR. Can we get some more stationary cam of the external fuel tank, which doesn't even release? Please?? Just awful.

This AP videog should be dis-associated after that. Blah.