Per new Washington Times beat reporter Amanda Comak’s post this morning, here’s today’s pitching lineup:
SP – Tom Gorzelanny – 1 start, 2.1 innings, 5 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 7.71 ERA
RHP Craig Stammen – 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1ER), 2 BB, 5 K, 1.50 ERA
RHP Henry Rodriguez – 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1ER), 3 BB, 27.00 ERA (keep in mind he’s only made one appearance)
RHP Brian Broderick – 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1.17 ERA
RHP Collin Balester – 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R (2ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 3.60 ERA
RHP Cole Kimball – 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1ER), 1 HB, 1 BB, 5 K, 1.50 ERA
Nearly every guy on this list has some serious question marks in terms of performance thus far in the Spring. Gorzelanny almost certainly has a rotation spot guaranteed but has not shown us nearly the capabilities he was known for pre-trade. Stammen‘s role with this team and his future with the organization is cloudy; clearly he’s not being considered as a starter any more but there’s way too many guys for a bullpen role. Rodriguez showed up late, has no options and is pretty much guaranteed a bullpen spot … so he better be worth it. Broderick is a rule5 guy on a team that absolutely cannot afford to keep a rule5 guy (making you wonder why bother to pick them up?), but he’s looked good this spring and you have to wonder if he’s going to be acquired or kept at this point. Balester (like Stammen) seems to be falling behind in the race for the long-man out of the bullpen competition, which is odd considering his very good 2010 numbers.
Only Kimball seems destined to know his fate already; he’s bound for the AAA closer role, having performed admirably at both high-A and AA last year. It is only a matter of time before he gets called up and slots into the back of our bullpen.
Can’t wait to hit refresh on that #Nats twitter tag!
You seem to ignore that Broderick has been fantastic so far, there’s been no reason at all to send him back.
I’m in agreement with Nats. Prospects thar Rodriguez will have to be stashed on the DL for awhile. He’s not going to be ready and he will not make it through waivers.
Mark L
16 Mar 11 at 8:56 am
I don’t know if i’m “ignoring” Broderick’s performances thus far … I just have a reaaaaaaly hard time believing he’ll be on the 25-man roster based on the inflexibility of keeping a rule5 guy. Here’s my reasoning:
– We have 3 guys who already essentially HAVE to stay on the 25-man roster because of a lack of options: Clippard, Burnett, and Henry Rodriguez.
– We have a 4th guy in Coffey who signed a major league deal and has enough service time that he would refuse a AAA assignment, so he either stays on the 25-man roster or we light his $1.35M on fire.
– We have to have a loogy; Slaten seems almost certain to be that guy.
– Storen is supposed to be “the closer.” He may be struggling this spring but there’s nothing about his 2010 performance that says he does NOT deserve to be in that position for this team. Admittedly he does have options and can be sent down but i’d be awfully mad if we sent a first round draft pick down so we could keep some untested minor leaguer on the active roster.
If we keep Broderick, he’s the 7th guy in the pen and has to stay there all season.
So that’s your 7 spots essentially wrapped up. So now here’s the rest of the picture:
– If Gorzelanny struggles in the starter’s role, he has no options and would have to go to the bullpen. Who makes way?
– If we want to use Gaudin, who has looked great, he’d have to be first added to 40-man (and then we’d have to drop someone else or move them to 60-day dl). And then he’s more or less stuck on the roster too; he’s got 5+ years of service time, no options and can reject an assignment back to AAA. But to use him where does Broderick go?
– Balester: he certainly performed well last year; 28ks in 21 ip. Before the rule5 draft and the Gaudin performance i had him locked into that long-man role. Has he done anything this spring to cost him this spot? He has one more minor league option.
– Stammen; he clearly can give you innings since he’s always been a starter, and his advanced stats last year were not THAT bad. But he too has options and seems to be pitching his way to AAA this spring.
(I may turn this into a post in and among itself).
Honestly, I think what the Nats need to do is make a deal with StL, trade them someone for Broderick and then stash him at AAA til you need him. Return him to the starters role where he was 11-2 last year in AA and maybe we’ve found a real cheap 5th starter for the future.
Todd Boss
16 Mar 11 at 11:11 am
A good problem to have, but point taken. With St. Louis’s problem this spring, just don’t see them letting him go easily. Balester & Stammen still have options, so those are easy calls. The rest is hard.
Mark L
16 Mar 11 at 1:09 pm