Preview
Old School fans of the Washington Senators begged Major League Baseball for decades to give them their team back. But like the saying goes, be careful what you wish for, or you'll surely get it. While the new breed franchise is dubbed the Nationals, Washington baseball fans got a team that loses games just like the old Senators used to. They've finished last in the NL East in their first two seasons, and they got 10 more games in 2006 than they got in 2005. Manager Frank Robinson was let go, and third base coach Manny Acta was promoted to replace him. Although much of the roster will return in 2007, Nationals fans will angrily remind you that the club didn't trade Alfonso Soriano when they had the chance, so they got nothing in return when he left as a free agent. Jose Guillen also left, and Jose Vidro was traded for Chris Snelling and Emiliano Fruto. The only other additions come from the inside, as Cristian Guzman returns from a shoulder injury, and the Nationals are praying that some of their young arms develop quickly. If not, Ryan Zimmerman will be a lonely superstar for the next few years.
Battle For Jobs
About the only certainty in the Nationals starting rotation is that John Patterson is the best they've got. Considering that he missed most of last season with an elbow injury that required surgery, it's clear that the rotation will be in a constant state of flux this season, but it's not clear what O'Connor has to offer following an inconsistant rookie season. Youth and uncertainty really is the the theme here, as Billy Traber is a "veteran" with two years of experience and 26 starts under his belt. He was 7-7 with a 4.05 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 21 Triple-A starts last year and was far worse in the majors. Beltran Perez posted better numbers (8-6, 3.11 ERA, 1.38 WHIP), but that was Double-A. However, he had similar success in 21 big league innings (3.86 ERA, 1.38 WHIP). Shawn Hill has yet to prove he is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, and aside from a couple of shots of java with the Nats, he hasn't played above double-A either. While these guys will benefit from the chasmal confines of their home ballpark, don't expect the moon.
Breakout Candidate
Considering Ryan Zimmerman led all rookies last season with 110 RBIs, it's hard to say that he hasn't already busted out. But it wasn't a fluke that the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft performed well, and he has the skills to actually improve. To begin with, he hit .327 at home and only .245 on the road, so he has the ability tp i[ jos battomg average as he matures at the plate. Interestingly, he hit exactly half of his 20 homers in Washington, despite playing in a huge stadium. The 22-year-old third baseman is 6'3" and 210lbs, so it wouldn't be surprising for his home run totals to grow as he fills out his frame. Zimmerman also was aggresive on the base paths last year, swiping double digit sacks (11), though it wasn't exactly an act of grace, since he was caught eight times. At worst, Zimmerman should be a reliable option for batting average and power for years to come - and more should be in store as his game grows.
Trainer's Table
A sore elbow limited John Patterson to just eight starts in 2006. He eventually underwent what turned out to be season-ending surgery in late July. The good news is two fold, as the procedure revealed no structural damage in the joint, and he was nearly ready for game action by late September. He should be 100 percent by spring training. Nick Johnson is a tease, he performs so well when he's in the batter's box, but more ofthen than not, he's battling injuries. He got in a career best 147 games last season before breaking his leg in a collision with teammate Austin Kearns. He had surgery to repair a broken femur and a cleanup procedure later on. He didn't have full mobility in the join by early January, and all signs point to him missing the first month or more of the season. Meanwhile, Cristian Guzman didn't get in a single at-bat last season before undergoing surgery to repair a slap tear in this right shoulder. He'll only be 29 when the season begins and was a workhorse before 2006, so it's possible he could return to full strength this season. He's expected to start at shortstop.
Rookies
When the Nationals brought in Alfonso Soriano and moved him from second to outfield, they thought they had found their left fielder of the future. Now, with Soriano out of the picture, they hope that man will be Kory Casto. The 25-year-old started his pro career as an outfielder, then moved to third base, though he saw action at both spots last year. With Ryan Zimmerman locking down the hot corner, the Nats are moving Casto back to the warning track to get his bat in the mix. He was organization's 2005 Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .290 with 22 homers and 90 RBI at High-A Potomac. Last year, at Double-A Harrisburg, Casto hit .272 with 20 homers and 80 RBI. His lack of experience above double-A is why he's not a sure-bet to beat out Ryan Church for action in left this spring. If he doesn't, he'll head to Triple-A until he's ready. First basemen Larry Broadway was supposed to be the team's first baseman of the future, but Nick Johnson is entrenched there. The future is about to pass by the 26-year-old Broadway, if he doesn't hurry up. He's had up and down production in the minors, though he hit .288 with 15 homers and 78 RBI for Triple-A New Orleans last year. Johnson is expected to miss the start of the season due to his broken leg, so a hot spring could put Broadway in the mix for at-bats.
