{"id":7756,"date":"2013-09-27T07:20:53","date_gmt":"2013-09-27T11:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/?p=7756"},"modified":"2013-09-27T07:20:53","modified_gmt":"2013-09-27T11:20:53","slug":"ladson-inbox-92613","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalsarmrace.com\/?p=7756","title":{"rendered":"Ladson Inbox 9\/26\/13"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Could<\/a>

Could the team deal LaRoche to improve at 1st? Photo Rob Carr\/Getty Images via bleacherreport.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Phew. \u00a0I was running out of things to talk about lately. \u00a0Well, other than the ridiculous John Feinstein article<\/a> this week or perhaps a missive on what a bunch of a-holes the Atlanta Braves<\/a> seem to be. \u00a0The federal end of year cycle has consumed all my time recently, so I’ve been late to post end-of-season minor league pitcher reviews. \u00a0We’ll get there; its a long winter.<\/p>\n

But thankfully a gift arrived via an unexpected\u00a0Bill Ladson<\/strong> inbox dated 9\/26\/13. \u00a0Lets see what questions Ladson took this time around. \u00a0As always, I write my response here before reading his and edit questions for clarity.<\/p>\n

Q: How disappointed were you in the 2013 Nationals?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Not so much disappointing as frustrating; when you’ve claimed “World Series or Bust” and your team isn’t gelling correctly, why not try to do more to fix the problem mid-season? \u00a0What was the sum total of the changes this team tried to make after it was clear the team was consistently playing .500 ball? \u00a0Replace a hitting coach? \u00a0Demote a couple guys who deserved demoting? \u00a0Trade for a 25th guy\/bench player? \u00a0I dunno. \u00a0Why massively increase payroll and sign luxury players like $15M closers and then do nothing when the team is clearly mired in a malaise for 4\/5ths of the season? \u00a0Ladson says he was disappointed too<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Q:\u00a0What do you consider the team’s greatest need in the offseason?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: A better question may be this: where *can* you upgrade this team as it sits now? \u00a0There’s not a single starting fielder who is a FA or who really needs to be replaced. \u00a0The two worst performing hitters (Span<\/strong> and\u00a0LaRoche<\/strong>) are both under contract for 2014. \u00a0I’ve already seen quotes that say that Rendon<\/strong>\u00a0will have “competition” for 2nd base next spring; from who exactly? \u00a0Lombardozzi<\/strong> and his 68 OPS+ or Espinosa<\/b> and his 27 OPS+? \u00a0Right. \u00a0How about the starters? \u00a0The 3 main guys are not going anywhere. \u00a0Getting rid of\u00a0Detwiler<\/strong> would be selling very low. \u00a0It seems clear from the FA market and from the\u00a0Haren<\/strong> experience that the team should have a #5 starter competition between\u00a0Roark<\/strong>,\u00a0Jordan<\/strong> and\u00a0Karns<\/strong>. \u00a0 How about the bullpen? \u00a0Not really; maybe you tweak it and find a 5th or 6th guy who may pitch better than\u00a0Mattheus\u00a0<\/strong>did this year, but by and large the bulk of it already seems set (Soriano, Clippard, Stammen<\/strong> all seem like locks, Storen<\/strong> will be given a chance to rebound, one from Ohlendorf\/Roark<\/strong> probably fits in nicely as a long-man, and your lefties Abad<\/strong> and Krol<\/strong> have both been good). \u00a0So you’re left with bullpen scrubs and the bench. \u00a0Not exactly high-impact spots to improve.<\/p>\n

I was talking about this with friends recently; one thing I’d do if I was GM would be to sign\u00a0Shin-Soo Choo<\/b>. \u00a0He posted a .424 OBP with 21 homers for Cincinnati from the leadoff position this year. \u00a0Career .389 OBP. \u00a0You put him in LF (since his defense in center is atrocious) and install\u00a0Harper<\/strong> in center where he belongs. \u00a0Dump Span somewhere, anywhere. \u00a0Instantly you get power and a significantly improved OBP at the top of your order. \u00a0The knocks on Choo are that he’s older (30 this year), that he doesn’t hit lefties (true … but his OBP split versus lefties is STILL higher than Span’s season long OBP, even given the run he’s had the last 6 weeks), and that he’ll be expensive. \u00a0A move like this likely never happens; Choo will command probably 4\/$40M or more, and I doubt the team wants to pay him that much or block an OF spot given the guys coming up.<\/p>\n

I wonder if we’re not going to see something bigger and unexpected happen. \u00a0A big trade that opens up a spot and lets the players move around. \u00a0Or a big FA signing that forces a trade of one of these entrenched players. \u00a0Because otherwise its hard to see how this team dramatically improves this off-season. \u00a0\u00a0Ladsons says the team needs dependable loogies, bench and the back of the rotation. \u00a0Safe, obvious statements.<\/em><\/p>\n

Q:\u00a0Do you think\u00a0Adam LaRoche<\/a>\u00a0will be traded after this season?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: I don’t see it; I think LaRoche<\/strong> is a team favorite. \u00a0Rizzo<\/strong> wants plus-defenders manning the positions and that’s how he views LaRoche. \u00a0But here’s a dirty secret; LaRoche wasn’t that great this year defensively at 1st. \u00a0His UZR\/150 was negative<\/a>, he was ranked 18th among first basemen with more than 500 innings at the position this year, and only slightly better than the very sedentary\u00a0Ryan Howard<\/strong> and equally glacial\u00a0Chris Davis<\/strong> on the year. \u00a0And we have all seen his throwing arm; accurate but weak. \u00a0But if you jettison LaRoche, who’s taking him after he hit just .230 this year? \u00a0And who are you replacing him with? \u00a0The FA crop is weak<\/a>; who on that list would you want? \u00a0Mike Napoli<\/strong> maybe? \u00a0He can rake … but he also probably earned himself a ton of dough with his performance in Boston this year. \u00a0\u00a0Ladson says LaRoche is going nowhere.<\/em>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q:\u00a0Why don’t the Nationals sign\u00a0Michael Morse<\/a>? He has been injured, and they could get him for a cheap price.<\/b><\/p>\n

A: …. and they’d play him, where exactly? \u00a0He can play left field and first base, and last time I checked we’ve got those positions covered. \u00a0I like\u00a0Michael Morse<\/strong> like every one in DC else but he was *awful* this year. \u00a0And he picked an awful time to do it; age 31, in a contract year, playing in the relative media obscurity of Seattle. \u00a0If he had just hit a couple bombs down the stretch for Baltimore, maybe that would have helped. \u00a0Now you have to wonder if he’s just looking at a minor league deal. \u00a0Would the team consider him for a bench role? \u00a0Probably not, he likely still considers himself a starter and may not handle the bench well. \u00a0Ladson says it isn’t happening<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Q:\u00a0Is Cal Ripken Jr. managing the Nats next year just a rumor or a realistic possibility?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: Just a rumor. \u00a0What experience does Ripken<\/strong> have managing? \u00a0He’s not like other former players like\u00a0Don Mattingly<\/strong> (who cut his chops watching the great\u00a0Joe Torre<\/strong> for years in New York) or\u00a0Ryne Sandberg<\/strong> (who worked his way up the minors and earned his job in Philadelphia). \u00a0I’d be worried about him being completely out of his element. \u00a0What proof is there that he can handle a pitching staff or manage a game? \u00a0Give me a serious, experienced, no-nonsense guy to manage this team and get the guys in line after this year’s season-long drift. \u00a0Give me\u00a0Matt Williams<\/strong>. \u00a0Ladson says it isn’t going to be Ripken<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Q:\u00a0Do the Nats have any interest in signing\u00a0Robinson Cano<\/a>?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: Not at these prices; he reportedly wants 10yrs\/$305M<\/a>!! \u00a0And already turned down 6\/$144M. \u00a0Phew. \u00a0 I wouldn’t pay him $24M\/year in his decline years. \u00a0He’s no doubt a great player; is he that good? \u00a0Whoever signs him (Dodgers?) is going to really, really regret any deal longer than 6 years. \u00a0Well, unless it IS the Dodgers, who may make a complete mockery of the game in the next few years in terms of payroll. \u00a0Fun fact: The Dodgers already are committed to $165M<\/a> in payroll next year … for just ELEVEN players. \u00a0They still have to handle arbitration for Clayton Kershaw<\/strong> (who may command $20M) and fill out the rest of the lineup. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ladson also mentions this contract demand<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Q:\u00a0How about\u00a0Jayson Werth<\/a>\u00a0as player-manager next year? It worked for the Senators, after all, with Bucky Harris and Joe Cronin.<\/b><\/p>\n

A: Well, if we don’t Cal Ripken can manage, what makes you think Werth<\/strong> has any such qualifications either? \u00a0Baseball has come an awfully long way from the days where teams thought a player\/manager was a workable idea. \u00a0Now a-days, the money involved and egos involved almost necessitate an experienced, veteran guy for nearly every team. \u00a0Ladson thinks Werth would make a great manager.<\/em><\/p>\n

Q:\u00a0What do you think is the main cause of the Nats’ struggles this season, and do you think they will be better next year?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: (see upcoming blog post that I’ll hit “publish” on when the season is over). \u00a0Ladson says in order injuries, bullpen, bench, and St. Louis<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Q:\u00a0At this point, how would you handicap the likely 2014 Nats managerial candidates?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: Who knows. \u00a0Is this really the pressing issue on the minds of Nats fans like Ladson makes it out to be? \u00a0 Somehow I don’t think its going to be anyone on the current field staff (sorry\u00a0Randy Knorr<\/strong>). \u00a0I think it will be either a big-name manager who gets the axe this off-season unexpectedly (Mike Scioscia<\/strong> or\u00a0Joe Girardi<\/strong>\u00a0would be decent choices) or a former player that Rizzo knows (which is why I keep coming back to Matt Williams). \u00a0Ladson says Knorr is the leader but also mentions Williams and\u00a0Trent Jewett<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Phew. \u00a0I was running out of things to talk about lately. \u00a0Well, other than the ridiculous John Feinstein article this week or perhaps a missive on what a bunch of a-holes the Atlanta Braves seem to be. \u00a0The federal end of year cycle has consumed all my time recently, so I’ve been late to post […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,5],"tags":[184,185,182,164,2009,681,1030,98,983,135,482,656,52,1503,1695,115,2010,1395,706,1890,1314,136,626,129,1935,196,1398,544,1167,51,1554,675,86,1400,1930,142,77,24,1394,128],"class_list":["post-7756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chatmailbag-responses","category-natsgeneral","tag-adam-laroche","tag-anthony-rendon","tag-bill-ladson","tag-bryce-harper","tag-bucky-harris","tag-cal-ripken","tag-chris-davis","tag-craig-stammen","tag-dan-haren","tag-danny-espinosa","tag-denard-span","tag-don-mattingly","tag-drew-storen","tag-fernando-abad","tag-ian-krol","tag-jayson-werth","tag-joe-cronin","tag-joe-girardi","tag-joe-torre","tag-john-feinstein","tag-matt-williams","tag-michael-morse","tag-mike-napoli","tag-mike-rizzo","tag-mike-scioscia","tag-nathan-karns","tag-rafael-soriano","tag-randy-knorr","tag-robinson-cano","tag-ross-detwiler","tag-ross-ohlendorf","tag-ryan-howard","tag-ryan-mattheus","tag-ryne-sandberg","tag-shin-soo-choo","tag-steve-lombardozzi","tag-tanner-roark","tag-taylor-jordan","tag-trent-jewett","tag-tyler-clippard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7756"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7756\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7762,"href":"https:\/\/nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7756\/revisions\/7762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalsarmrace.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}