tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7 2008-05-21T18:48:20Z Movable Type 3.33 natsmailbag-TheWashingtonTimeshttp://feedburner.google.com tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.6184 2008-05-21T18:00:18Z 2008-05-21T18:48:20Z

Hi, and welcome back to our weekly live chat, which unfortunately was called off last week due to unforseen circumstances (me getting food poisoning in New York). But we're back this week, feeling strong and ready to tackle all your...

twtsports Hi, and welcome back to our weekly live chat, which unfortunately was called off last week due to unforseen circumstances (me getting food poisoning in New York). But we're back this week, feeling strong and ready to tackle all your Nats and baseball questions. As always, click on the above link to submit a question, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. Let's get started... ]]> From Sam in Springfield: Mark, do you think there has been an average, above average, or below average of pitching injuries to Major Leaguers this year? Mark Zuckerman: You know, this is one of those subjects that seems to come up every once in a while when there are a flurry of injuries around the game (or on one team). The common reaction is to wonder whether there are suddenly more injuries than there have been in the past. I don't have numbers at my disposal, but my hunch is to say that injuries are occurring at the usual rate. We tend to focus on the big ones that we hear about, especially if our team has a sudden plague of them, but generally it's about the same across the board. From Donald in Falls Church: What was Jesus Flores doing at AAA all this time? The guy can flat-out play, far better than the geriatric Lo Duca or Estrada. Shouldn't the Nats keep Flores as their starting catcher even when those other guys return, or is he destined to be sent back to Columbus? Mark Zuckerman: This is something I'm planning to explore in the next couple days, because it has become a legitimate question. Flores has done nothing since returning to the big leagues a couple weeks ago to suggest he's not ready to play up here regularly. He's hitting for average, he's hitting in clutch situations, he's calling a good game and he's playing sterling defense -- how about that block of the plate last night in the ninth inning! ... All that said, the Nats aren't going to have $5 million Paul Lo Duca coming off the bench and playing once a week once he returns from the DL. And remember that Wil Nieves is out of options and can't be sent back to the minors. So I suspect Flores will return to Columbus eventually and eye 2009 for his triumphant (and permanent) return to D.C. From Mr. Madison in New Carrollton: Look at Milledge's line batting 2nd, compared to batting 5th: 2nd --.298/.354/.439, 5th --.212/.297/.258. Is it time to suspend the "Milledge as a middle-of-the-order" hitter experiment, at least for now? Mark Zuckerman: It should be obvious by now that Lastings Milledge is not a No. 5 hitter, at least not at this point in his career. The problem is that the Nats have no No. 5 hitter currently (you could argue they don't have a No. 3 or No. 4 either, but that's for another time). Milledge was one of the few players producing offensively when Manny Acta made the switch, so that's why he was bumped from 2 to 5. The other complicating factor is that Cristian Guzman continues to hit well in the 2-hole and Felipe Lopez has been I suppose adequate out of the leadoff spot. Neither one of those guys can hit in the middle of the order, so it wouldn't make much sense to move Milledge back up to the 2-spot now because then either Lopez or Guzman ends up somewhere he shouldn't be. From GoNats in Manassas: I've been really encouraged by Jason Bergmann's pitching since he came back from the minors. Do you think he will keep it up or revert back to the form that got him banished from here in the first place? Mark Zuckerman: Personally, I'm a fan of Bergmann, who is one of the nicest and well-grounded professional athletes I've ever covered. That my skewer my feelings on him as a pitcher a bit, but I do believe he's got the stuff to become a pretty good big-leaguer. His problem has always been more mental than physical, trusting himself that he can get big-league hitters out. Since coming back from Columbus, he seems to be confident in his abilities. I don't think he'll be tossing shutouts every fifth day, but I do think he'll be a consistent performer for the Nats. From Art in Rockville: Read your article the other day where you suggested Tim Redding could be the Nats' All-Star rep. Who do you think will end up being the guy? Mark Zuckerman: I did make a bit of a case for Redding after his latest win the other night. The guy is 6-3 with a 3.16 ERA, is tied for third in wins in the NL and gives the Nats a chance to win almost every time he gets the ball. Do I think he'll be an All-Star? Probably not, though stranger things have happened. It's funny, though, how much can change over the next 6-7 weeks until the rosters are named. I remember a year ago at this time thinking Jesus Colome deserved to make the team. Dmitri Young wasn't even on my radar screen. Then Dmitri went on an absolute tear at the plate to earn the All-Star nod and Colome wound up on the DL and leaving his GM to "pray for his buttocks." From Chris in Alexandria: Is there any evidence or are there any signs that Lenny Harris is competent at his job? How much input does Manny Acta have in the hiring or firing of his coaches? Does Bowden have most of the say? Mark Zuckerman: It's so tough to really fairly judge a hitting coach. The positive evidence supporting Harris is that the Nats' offense was better last season after he took over than it was before under Mitchell Page. The negative evidence is this season's .236 team batting average. Is Harris the primary reason for either of those? No, it's all about the players. That said, the organization is watching him very closely and I would not say that he should feel like he has any job security right now. As for who would make such a decision, Acta does obviously have a say, but Bowden would be front and center when and if the time came to make a change. From Mike in Fredericksburg: Great coverage on Home Plate. I check it everyday. I never thought I would write this but, what are the chances the Nats resign Cristian Guzman when the season is over. We don't have a shortstop that is major league ready in the farm system. Do you see maybe a two year deal similar to Young and Belliard signed last year? Mark Zuckerman: I never thought I'd be fielding this type of question, so it goes both ways! Amazing how things can change in this game. The Nats absolutely need to figure out what they're going to do at shortstop next season. There's no one in the pipeline ready to take over, and the free agent market isn't loaded (aside from maybe Rafael Furcal, who stands to make a bundle). So yes, there is some consideration to re-signing Guzman. Another possibility, though: Trading him come July to a contending team in need of a .300-hitting shortstop. Guzman could actually be quite marketable, and the Nats would be foolish not to at least consider offers. They could always re-sign him over the winter. From Sam in Springfield: Mark, often I listen to Nats games on XM radio. So I never know who will be broadcasting, Nats or visitors. Several of the visiting broadcasters have complained about the press box location. What is your sense of that? Is negativity toward the high location of the press box rampant among the media? Mark Zuckerman: There are definitely some complaints from visiting media, mostly from broadcasters who are a level up from the writers and have a tough time judging fly balls, etc., from that vantage point. The writers have fewer complaints. Sure, the press box is a bit high, but it's spacious, comfortable and is situated right behind the plate. Can't ask for much more than that. A bigger complaint seems to be that the TV cameras that show much of the game action are located too high and should be positioned on a ledge at the front of the upper deck. Not sure why the stadium designers didn't take that into account. From John in Fredericksburg: Any news on the upcoming draft? Any names or positions you'd expect for #9? Mark Zuckerman: We're going to start delving deeper into this over the next two weeks as the June 3 draft approaches, so I don't want to start throwing names around until I get a better sense what the Nats are thinking. This much I can say: Despite the fact they loaded up on pitching last year and are severely lacking in impact hitters, the Nats won't go out of their way to draft position players with their top picks this season. They're going to take the best player available, which is the way the MLB draft usually works. This isn't like the NFL where you can draft in part based on need. Whomever they select likely won't be major-league ready for several years anyways, so there's no sense trying plug a current hole with a draft pick who may or may not ever pan out. Folks, I've got to get ready to head out to the ballpark. Thanks for your questions. Big game tonight, with Matt Chico returning to the rotation in search of his first win of the season, and the Nats trying to take the series from the Phillies. Enjoy the game, and I'll talk to you next week from sunny San Diego!]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.6010 2008-05-07T18:00:00Z 2008-05-07T18:40:27Z

Good afternoon from Houston, where the Nats dropped a tough one last night to the Astros, 6-5. Shoddy defense. Poor relief pitching. A game that should have been won instead turned into one of the toughest losses of the year....

twtsports Good afternoon from Houston, where the Nats dropped a tough one last night to the Astros, 6-5. Shoddy defense. Poor relief pitching. A game that should have been won instead turned into one of the toughest losses of the year. I'm sure you've got plenty of questions about this team, so let's get going. As always, click on the above link to submit a question, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com... ]]> From GoNats in Manassas: What the heck happened out there last night? Were the Nats replaced by pod people? Were they suffering from horrible jet lag? The outfielders couldn't seem to catch a routine fly ball; the pitchers couldn't throw a strike to save their lives, and when the offense finally started to wake up, it just wasn't enough. Is this the same team that has been playing in DC the past couple of weeks or did they pull a fast one at the airport? Mark Zuckerman: I have no evidence of a complete team swap taking place at Dulles International Airport, though I can certainly look into the possibility. ... Obviously, the team that showed up last night here bore no resemblance to the one that just won 8 of 11 at home. I understand that the bullpen is going to have its off-nights, but the outfield defense (particularly Lastings Milledge in center field) just baffles me. From Brian in Alexandria: Good afternoon, Mark. The MLB draft is less than a month away -- has there been any rumblings about who the Nationals are considering with the #9 pick? Have you heard about anyone being brought in for workouts? Mark Zuckerman: No specific names to report yet, though Jim Bowden said the other day that he's confident there are at least 10 bonafide prospects in this year's class. Seeing as how the Nats pick ninth, that would indicate the club is guaranteed to get one of those guys. This is an important draft for the organization, though. After having five of the first 70 picks last year (and by all accounts doing a nice job with them) they've got only the Nos. 9, 55, 87 and 121 picks in the first four rounds of this year's draft. They've got to get that first-round pick right. From Donald in Falls Church: When should we expect Luis Ayala's arm to fall off? It seems like he pitches every single night! Mark Zuckerman: Ayala hasn't pitched every night. He's *only* pitched in 21 of the Nats' 34 games to date. Which means he's on pace for 100 relief appearances this season, a mark I believe last reached by Mike Marshall in like 1980. ... True, Ayala may be getting a lot of work, but Manny Acta and Randy St. Claire pay close attention to these things. They monitor not only how many days a guy pitches, but also how many pitches he throws. No reliever will ever throw four straight days, and if his pitch count is up, he won't be allowed to throw three straight. Ayala may have blown last night's game, but for the most part he's been pretty good. From Kristin in Fairfax: When do the Nats give up on the Wily Mo Pena Experience? I'm pretty sure he didn't make contact at the game I went to the other day. Will Elijah Dukes push him for playing time? Mark Zuckerman: I don't know that we'll see the Nats completely give up on WMP just yet, though I do think his playing time will be cut into once Dukes returns (which could be this week or next or who knows when?). Pena really hasn't come close to hitting a home run yet this season, and though he did hit a couple of balls hard last night, he's in this lineup because he's supposed to provide power and serve as an intimidating presence at the plate. Anyone out there think he's done any of that yet? From Barry Prophet in Reston: I've been to Houston one time and couldn't wait to get out. But is the ballpark at least halfway decent? Mark Zuckerman: I've been to Houston more than a half-dozen times, and each time I arrive here I immediately can't wait to get out. Sorry, just not my kind of town. Too spread out, too hot and humid, not enough going on downtown. That said, Minute Maid Park is actually quite nice. The quirks of the actual field -- the ridiculously short porch in LF, the stupid hill in CF -- bother me, but from a fan's perspective (and the media's) it's a great place to watch a game. The press accommodations here are second to none. Press box is right behind the lower deck, providing a great view. Clubhouses are spacious and nice for the players. The food is solid. And the folks here are very friendly. From Art in Centreville: Wily Mo and Milledge looked lost in the woods playing in the outfield last night. Did Manny or the players say anything about the misplays? Mark Zuckerman: Nothing particularly inflammatory, aside from pointing out the obvious at how costly those plays were. Pena: I think people are willing to give him some slack, because he's a lumbering hulk of a man who isn't supposed to be a strong defensive player (then again, it doesn't help when he can't hit either). Milledge I think is more troubling, because this guy has all the physical gifts to be able to play center field in the majors. He just doesn't seem to have the right instincts -- constantly breaks the wrong way on fly balls, doesn't have awareness for what's around him. I know the Nats are working hard with him on this stuff, but I'm not so sure it's something that can be taught, especially at the big-league level. From Todd in D.C.: When will the Nationals finally give on Austin Kearns? Although he hit a HR last night, he has to be one of the NL's most overrated players. Mark Zuckerman: Kearns certainly has his detractors. They've been growing in numbers this season, and rightfully so -- the guy's hitting .222 with 14 RBI and only six! extra-base hits to date. But the Nats aren't giving up on him anytime soon. He's making $5 million this season and he's guaranteed $8 million next season. Plus, name me a better option right now in right field. Looks like that's all we've got today. Talk to you next week from New York...]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.5873 2008-04-30T17:30:00Z 2008-04-30T18:19:57Z

Good afternoon everyone, and thanks for joining us a little earlier than usual. The Nats have the odd 4:35 p.m. start today against the Braves, so that changes our pregame schedule. Plenty, as always, to talk about. Ryan Zimmerman busted...

twtsports Good afternoon everyone, and thanks for joining us a little earlier than usual. The Nats have the odd 4:35 p.m. start today against the Braves, so that changes our pregame schedule. Plenty, as always, to talk about. Ryan Zimmerman busted out of his slump last night. The Nats have won four of five and five of seven. And then there's Chad Cordero, who appears headed back to the DL. Let's get to your questions. Click on the above link to submit yours, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. ]]> From Donald Sanger in Falls Church: Any word yet on Chad Cordero's MRI? Realistically, do you think we'll see him again this season? Mark Zuckerman: No word yet, though I'm sure we'll hear something before today's game. Chad and the Nats seemed convinced last night that there was nothing wrong with shoulder, but rather the lat muscle in the back of his shoulder. He was likely trying to compensate for his lack of velocity and in the process hurt another part of his body. Cordero believes he's headed for the DL, and I tend to agree. There's no sense putting him out there in his current state -- the Nats can't afford to waste a bullpen spot on a guy who can't be used in any situation of consequence. Could he miss the rest of the season? Right now, I'll take the optimistic view and believe he'll be back. But would I be surprised if he doesn't return? Not at all. From Billy T. in Silver Spring: Have street vendors been banned from the area around Nationals Park? For the years that the Nats were at RFK, you could buy food and souvenirs before and after games that were less expensive than in the ballpark. Is there an agreement between the team and the city banning vending? Mark Zuckerman: I don't know of any kind of agreement like that, but I can certainly ask about it. From Larry in Reston: How much longer does Manny plan to stick with Chico? He didn't give Bergmann this same kind of rope. Mark Zuckerman: It's a fair question. Jason Bergmann got two starts (plus one relief appearance) before he was sent to Columbus. Chico has made six starts, one of which was outstanding, the last three of which were very poor. That said, Acta has put a lot of stock in the fact that Chico made 31 starts last season and pitched pretty well for a rookie who had never been above Class AA. They made a point to develop him at the big-league level last year, so they're not going to abandon that plan now. But if Chico has another bad start Friday against the Pirates, I suspect the calls for his demotion will grow significantly. From John in D.C.: You commented in the newspaper this morning about the Nats huge oval-shaped clubhouse. I haven't read anything about the clubhouse for the visiting team. Is it oval too? How does it stack up to visiting clubhouses in other ballparks? Mark Zuckerman: The visiting clubhouse is not oval-shaped. It's kind of a big square. But it's very nice as well, with dark cherry wood lockers and plenty of lounging space. Lou Piniella was raving about the setup the other day when the Cubs were in town. He couldn't believe how the manager's office includes an extra lounge area, something I don't believe you can find anywhere else. I would say the entire clubhouse setup at Nationals Park rivals the best in the major leagues. From GoNats! in Manassas: If Cordero is out for any length of time, how confident are you in Jon Rauch's ability to close games? Mark Zuckerman: Rauch did not get off to a particularly strong start to the season, but I will say that he seems to have gotten better as we've moved along. He's converted five of seven save opportunities, and he actually hasn't surrendered an earned run in a save situation. Maybe he's begun to feel more comfortable in the ninth-inning role now that he's had several chances to hold down the role. From Kristin in Fairfax: You mentioned Bergmann a few questions ago. ... How is he doing in AAA and when do you expect him back -- if he makes it back? Mark Zuckerman: Funny you should ask. Bergmann had been horrible in his first two outings for Columbus -- he had an ERA over 12.00, I believe. But he made his third start last night and dominated Indianapolis. Eight innings, four hits, one unearned run, lowering his ERA to 5.06. If you had asked me yesterday whether I thought we'd see him up here again soon, I'd have said no. But if he puts together a couple more solid starts like that, I wouldn't be surprised if he earned a promotion back to D.C. From Ryan in Rockville: Is it just me or is Lastings Milledge a subpar center fielder? He seems to get bad jumps on balls and last night he should've given way to Kearns on that fly ball. Mark Zuckerman: Milledge is, shall we say, a bit raw out there, just as he is in several other facets of his game. He has misread a few balls so far, including the one last night that he was able to compensate for and wind up making a sprawling catch. More troublesome to me is his lack of baseball-smarts in certain cases, like the fly ball he took from Kearns last night. He needs to know that with a runner on second, Kearns has a better angle to make the throw to third and thus should get to make the catch. These are all things the Nats are trying to pound into Milledge's head, but he's obviously got plenty more to learn. From Mr. Madison in New Carrollton: Hiya Mark, So...just how short *is* Matt Chico's leash now, with O'Connor a short jog away? Also, I've said it many times before on the message boards, but May cannot come soon enough. Could we possibly be starting to see the end up Zimmerman's annual April Slump? Is it possible to kinda just not let Zimmerman play until May 1st? (said with tongue firmly in cheek). Mark Zuckerman: Well as I mentioned earlier, Chico is at least making one more start Friday against the Pirates. If he struggles there, I could see a scenario in which O'Connor slides into the rotation and Chico goes to the bullpen (or Columbus) to work out his issues. ... As for Zimmerman, it's entirely possible he's always going to be one of those guys who struggles in April. He wouldn't be the first. Maybe last night was a sign of better things to come. OK folks, I've gotta get running to Manny's pregame press conference. Thanks for the questions -- enjoy the late-afternoon special today.]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.5748 2008-04-23T18:00:00Z 2008-04-23T18:54:39Z

Hi everyone, glad to be back in the fray after a little, five-day respite. Rest assured, I've been following things closely (Goessling was on top of everything in Florida and Atlanta) and am reasonably up to speed on everything involving...

twtsports Hi everyone, glad to be back in the fray after a little, five-day respite. Rest assured, I've been following things closely (Goessling was on top of everything in Florida and Atlanta) and am reasonably up to speed on everything involving the Nats, who return home tonght for the start of an 11-game homestand (longest of the season). The Mets, featuring Johan Santana, Brian Schneider and Ryan Church, kick things off tonight. Plenty of topics to cover, so let's get to your questions. As always, click on the above link to submit one, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. ... ]]> From Brian in Alexandria: What's the latest on Elijah Dukes? What's his timetable for a return? Mark Zuckerman: Dukes was in Florida working his hamstring back into shape, and last I heard was making steady progress. He'll obviously need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before coming off the DL, and I suspect after watching Wily Mo Pena struggle so much, the Nats will want to give Elijah ample time to get his swing and timing down. We're probably looking at Dukes returning in a minimum of one week, maybe more likely 10-14 days. From Joseph in Sacramento, Calif.: Maybe this is a question and maybe just thinking aloud, but when I see the Nats I feel like I am watching small mix of solid pros (Zimmerman, Johnson, Milledge) and then a bunch of guys who are probably going to be dealt, let go or not considered for the long term plans (ie: Kearns, Guzman, LoDuca, Belliard, Pena, most the bench and most the starting pitching). Do you see this also or is it just me? Thanks. Mark Zuckerman: You're probably not too far off in your thinking, Joseph, and I know there are others who think like you. As much as the Nats tried to field a better team this season, the focus indeed remains on the future, and many of the current guys are simply place-holders until the kids are ready or the club is ready to sign free agents. Couple things I'd differ with you on, though: I do believe some of the starting pitching could be considered part of the long-term plan, especially John Lannan, perhaps Shawn Hill (if he can stay healthy) and Matt Chico (if he can stay consistent). Some relievers also will be around for a while (Rauch, Rivera, Cordero provided his shoulder's OK). So there are more than a couple of building blocks on the current roster. But not a ton. From Kristin in Fairfax: So, does Lannan get to keep his spot in the rotation now? It seems like a no-brainer that Chico would lose his spot. Mark Zuckerman: Well, yes, Lannan is in no danger of losing his spot after his last two dazzling performances. Chico has been far less impressive, downright ugly at times, but there doesn't seem to be an immediate need to create a spot in the rotation. Shawn Hill's back healthy, and there's no one else on the DL ready to come back. Unless the organization decides Mike O'Connor or Collin Balester is ready for a promotion, I think Chico sticks around a while longer. From Charlie in Bethesda: What is the latest on Cordero? Any news from down in Alabama? Mark Zuckerman: Nothing yet. I believe Cordero's appointment with Dr. Andrews was scheduled for 1:30 this afternoon. Not sure if we'll get an actual diagnosis today or if it won't come until tomorrow, but believe me when I say there are a lot of people within the organization (and outside) who are anxiously awaiting word. From GoNats! in Manassas: What happens if Chad Cordero is out for the season? Mark Zuckerman: Well, we'll probably be seeing a lot more of what we've seen the last three weeks. Jon Rauch would almost certainly become the full-time closer (though I suppose that could change if he struggles big-time in that role). Luis Ayala and Saul Rivera become the primary set-up men. Everyone else (Ray King, Jesus Colome, Joel Hanrahan, Chris Schroder if he gets called back up) will have to step up and fill the gap. Based on what we've seen so far, Cordero's absence has a significant trickle-down effect on the entire bullpen. From Chris in Fairfax: I think everyone was in support of the Milledge trade, but do you think that the team is missing the leadership that Schnieder and Church provided? It seems that the starting pitchers are regressing, could that be partially caused by the trade? Mark Zuckerman: I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. The starting rotation, to me, has actually been one of the few strengths for this team so far. Sure, each guy has had probably one really bad start each, but otherwise have done well enough to keep their team in the game. I don't think the loss of Schneider (Church doesn't apply since he's an outfielder) has had a terrible effect on the staff, maybe a bit. The bigger problem perhaps has been the fact that Paul Lo Duca is on the DL, Johnny Estrada was on the DL and Jesus Flores was sent down more than a week ago and replaced by Wil Nieves. Find me another team that's already used four starting catchers this season. That's not good. From Brian in Alexandria: Mark, Ross Detwiler has struggled in his 2008 debut in Potomac. Including today's less than one inning of work, he's allowed 8 runs on 15 hits and 9 walks in only 14IP (though he has 14Ks). I realize it's still early, but I'm pretty sure they are not the results the Nationals expected. Is he injured? Mark Zuckerman: I've heard no rumblings of any Detwiler injury concerns. Not saying it's not possible, just saying I've yet to hear anything of the sort. Detwiler's numbers, to be sure, don't look good. But let's not forget this guy is still less than a year removed from college and has been bounced around plenty in his short pro career already. Give him some time to find his groove and enjoy some success at Class A, then move him up the system once he shows he's ready. There's really no reason to rush him. From Ken in Mechanicsville, Md.: Can anyone help Austin Kearns? Can't touch an inside fastball-swing is far too long. Sutton and Carpenter keep talking about him as if he were an All Star. He could not start for any other team. Mark Zuckerman: Don't know if I'd quite go that far -- look at some of the schlubs that are starting outfielders for other teams right now. But it's clear Kearns has been a near-disaster thus far, overshadowed only by Ryan Zimmerman's struggles. As much as team officials have touted Kearns as a potential 30-homer, 100-RBI guy, I think we're getting very close to the point of declaring that this is just what he is: at best a .260-20-70 hitter who seems to have some mechanical flaws in his swing that can't be corrected without a major overhaul that should've taken place years ago in the minors instead of now in the big leagues, where it may be too late. From Charlie in Bethesda: I just picked up tickets for tonight because I gotta see Johan. But I'm also curious about Redding. He's pitched so well with bad peripheral numbers. What should I look for to know Redding will be solid? Mark Zuckerman: To me, the best sign that Tim Redding is on (and he has been most of the season) is when he's getting hitters to swing and miss his fastball. He's one of the few guys on the team who has a fastball good enough to do that. Not just get guys to hit grounders or pop-ups, but to make them miss. If his fastball is on, then his breaking stuff becomes even tougher, and that's when he really pitches well. From Nats Gal in Fairfax: When will we see Jesus Flores back at Nationals Park? I miss him! Mark Zuckerman: I don't think you'll be seeing him in the immediate future. As we've said all along, the Nats do not want to stunt Flores' growth by sitting him on the bench for any length of time. He's currently at Columbus playing every day and catching the top pitching prospects we should see up here before long. Unless Lo Duca is going to miss significant time, or unless either he and/or Estrada are traded at some point, look for Flores to stay at Class AAA. But I still fully expect him to be the Nats' starting catcher in 2009. From Joseph in Sacramento: In describing John Lannans great start last night, Manny Acta described it as "part of The Plan." It still seems to me that this squad is still a major work in progress and that they are still just looking for pieces rather than having one entity trying to win. If this is the thought, what are their longer term ideas for this "Plan" going into the upcoming draft as well as trade deadline moves and the offseason? I ask this knowing the season just started, but if the club's manager is allowed to say a quality start is about "The Plan" rather than getting closer to a penant, then I should be able to ask about the future of "The Plan." Mark Zuckerman: You're absolutely entitled to talk about the future. In some ways, the Nats would prefer that you do. This club is still in the process of identifying pieces that fit into the long-term plan, just as they were a year ago. Now, they felt like they had added better short-term pieces that would help them win this year (and perhaps that will still happen, though it obviously hasn't yet). But whether they win 65, 75 or 85 games this year, that's not going to change the organization's big-picture focus. So when a guy like John Lannan pitches the way he did last night (and last week in New York), club officials have a right to get excited, because it's further confirmation he figures into the long-term plan. From Mike in Fredericksburg: Thanks for the great coverage of the Nats. Our starting pitching has been surprisingly good to me this year, but the bullpen, which has always been a strength of the team, has been a weak spot with several runs allowed and a handfull of blown saves. Should I be worried? Mark Zuckerman: You absolutely should be worried. I think the bullpen's overall performance has been the most surprising aspect to this young season. I can't reiterate how much Cordero's absence/struggles make a difference. Even if Chad isn't pitching great and blowing some saves, his presence allows the rest of the pen to fall into place. Rauch is a good eighth-inning guy, not a good closer. Ayala and Rivera are good middle-inning guys. King should be facing only lefties, but Manny Acta hasn't been able to use him like that. From Mr. Madison in New Carrollton: Do you see any problem, any problem at all, with a catching corps of Jesus Flores as the starter, and Wil Nieves as the backup? I don't see much wrong with that, and in fact I think our current catchers (Estrada moreso than Lo Duca) could end up being deadline trade bait, if Flores puts up the numbers in Columbus. Whaddya think? Mark Zuckerman: I believe there will be a lot of trade talk later this summer involving both Lo Duca and Estrada, assuming the Nats are still struggling as a whole and not stunningly in a pennant race. Whether one or both will be traded remains to be seen -- Bowden's not going to give away anyone. But I've believed from the beginning that Jesus Flores could very well be this team's regular catcher come August. OK folks, I've got to get going. Time to head down to the ballpark for the first of 11 straight home games. Thanks for all the questions. Talk to you again next week.]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.5593 2008-04-16T18:00:00Z 2008-04-16T18:56:24Z

Hi everyone, thanks for joining in for another weekly Nats live chat. I'm in New York, where the Nats were quite thoroughly squashed last night by the Mets, 6-0. Nice to see Brian Schneider and Ryan Church, though they still...

twtsports Hi everyone, thanks for joining in for another weekly Nats live chat. I'm in New York, where the Nats were quite thoroughly squashed last night by the Mets, 6-0. Nice to see Brian Schneider and Ryan Church, though they still look strange to me in blue pinstripes. Plenty to discuss, and I have a hunch there will be several questions about the Nats' lack of offense. If you've got something you'd like to ask, click on the above link or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. Let's get started... ]]> From Joseph in Sacramento, Calif.: Hey Mark, it seems to me that the Nats obviously miss that one big, RBI producing bat in the middle of the lineup. Nick Johnson is solid, but he is not a run producer, he's an OBP guy. And Ryan Zimmerman seems more like a #5 hitter who isn't the prototype #3 run guy. Has there been any internal discussions on how this can be remedied, or is it just going to be a long offensive year when it comes to RBI's and HR's? Thanks. Mark Zuckerman: What do you know, a question about the offense to start us off! ... You're right that the Nats don't have a true big-bopper in the middle of the lineup, but I don't see much changing in that regard anytime soon. Zimmerman is indeed struggling big-time right now (1-for-17 with RISP!) but let's not forget that he drove in 110 runs in 2006 and 94 last year. I do think he can be a run producer. Johnson is not a prototypical cleanup guy, because he's probably at best going to hit 25 homers and drive in 90 runs. The question is where he'd best be suited to hit. Second? Third? Fifth? Honestly, I'm not sure. From Kevin Hendon in Ellicott City: Hey Mark, I hit the thesarus for Nats ... Abominable, amiss, atrocious, awful, bad news*, beastly, blah*, bottom out, bummer*, careless, cheap, cheesy*, crappy*, cruddy*, crummy*, defective, deficient, diddly*, dissatisfactory, downer*, dreadful, erroneous, fallacious, faulty, garbage, god-awful, gross*, grungy*, icky*, imperfect, inadequate, incorrect, inferior, junky*, lousy*, not good, off, poor, raunchy*, rough, sad, scuzzy, sleazeball, sleazy, slipshod, stinking, substandard, synthetic, the pits*, unacceptable, unsatisfactory. Now having said that, who goes first: Bowden, Harris or Acta? Mark Zuckerman: Wow, that's quite an impressive list. I'm not sure how to respond to that ... As for your actual question, neither Jim Bowden nor Manny Acta is going anywhere anytime soon, so let's forget about that. Lenny Harris is a more interesting case. He admittedly wasn't quite ready for the job when he took over last summer, but vowed to get better and was given a vote of confidence from both Bowden and Acta. The results, obviously, haven't been good, and I've got to wonder whether Harris (a fine hitter in his day) just isn't cut out (or isn't ready yet) to be a big-league hitting coach. From Fan Man: Nobody seems outwardly concerned about the hitting problems the team has. All they seem to do is hit the pitcher's pitch, swing early in the count, and basically not have a plan to drive the ball. They're merely happy with making contact. The opposing pitchers pound the same weaknesses in each guy over and over, especially when they get ahead in the count. At what point does Lenny Harris (lack of individual game plans), Acta (lackadaisical attitude), and the rest of the coaching staff appear in the crosshairs? Thanks, and keep up the good work. Mark Zuckerman: Hmm, I sense a recurring theme here ... Actually, I'm a bit surprised by the sudden vitriol directed toward Acta. Not saying fans don't have a right to question their manager, but I don't know that I heard one complaint about Manny a year ago. Guess the honeymoon's over. Again, though, Acta's job is in no way in jeopardy. Ownership and the front office love him. Harris could come under more fire if this continues, though I don't know whether this team would seriously consider an in-season coaching change. From GoNats! in Manassas: Do you think Austin Kearns is overrated? He just doesn't seem to be able to produce. Mark Zuckerman: As rough a start as Zimmerman has had, Kearns has been perhaps worse at the plate. He's hitting .217 with no homers, five RBI and two doubles, and he leads the NL with five grounded-into-double-plays. He was touted as a 30-homer, 100-RBI guy when he was acquired two years ago, but he just hasn't lived up to that hype. Personally, a see a guy who has a really long swing and is highly susceptible to inside fastballs, and I don't see much changing in that regard. I think he is what he is: a .260-20-70 hitter and solid outfielder who might be OK as the No. 6 or No. 7 hitter on most teams but isn't good enough to bat fifth everyday on a real contender. From Lyle in D.C.: I've heard many people complain about the feel of the park. Too commercial, the seats are too expensive, the staff is rude. Have you seen some RFK nostalgia too? Mark Zuckerman: Actually, I haven't heard those kind of complaints at all, aside from the expensive tickets part. In my experience so far, I've found Nationals Park to be a very nice (while not spectacular) place to watch a ballgame. I don't think they beat you over the head with gigantic ads or the over-commercialization that you find in many new parks. And I've found almost everyone who works at the park to be very friendly. Perhaps that hasn't been the case in the stands, though fans I've talked to haven't had many real complaints. From Sec. 314: Now that Nick Johnson has returned with gusto, has any thought been giving to batting him third instead of Zimmerman? Johnson is definitely going to get the ball in play a lot more often than Zimm. Mark Zuckerman: You know, it's funny -- I had this exact same thought last night and brought it up to a couple of people. I think there could be some merit in the thinking. Guzman and Milledge have been doing their job at the top of the order, and Johnson has been by far their most patient hitter. Bat him third and he might have a better chance of driving in those guys in front of him, or at the very least drawing a walk and then setting the stage for Zimmerman. The downside is that they'd have a bunch of right-handed hitters in a row (Zim, Kearns, Pena, Lo Duca, Belliard), which could be a problem late in games when opposing managers go to their bullpens. From Carl in Needham, Mass.: How much patience did you think Jim Bowden has? It's embarassing to watch the Nats continue to lose! Mark Zuckerman: The organization, including Bowden, continuess to preach patience, but we all know he can only go so far before he feels the need to make changes (see: Bergmann, Jason). I'd give this at least another week or so before I'd expect any major bombshells. And even then, I'm not so sure there's a whole lot Bowden could do at this point. There's no offensive stud waiting to be called up to the big leagues (and no, Chris Marrero is not ready yet. He's still at Class A Potomac, so don't even think about it). From Mr. Madison in New Carrollton: It is too early for massive panic, I think. But changes DO need to be made. Why not move Zimmerman down to say 5th,move Johnson up to 3rd and try Pena or Dukes(when he comes back) in the 4th, with Kearns batting 6th? Just to shake things up. besides, Johnson was BORN to bat 3rd, really he was. the Middle of our order is the greatest weak point on this team right now. even weaker than the pitching staff, if that is even possible. They guys who are supposed to be driving in the runs are not doing so, and something needs to be done to wake them up. Mark Zuckerman: Another vote for Nick Johnson in the 3-hole. The larger question, though, is: Would Manny Acta actually consider this? My hunch is to say no, though perhaps I'll try to bring this up with him today and see what he says. From Brian in Alexandria: What starting pitching prospects are on the horizon? Who are the first down the chute when the Nationals need another arm? Mark Zuckerman: Based on what we've seen so far from the staff at Columbus, I'd say Mike O'Connor would get the first call. In addition to getting off to a good start this season, he had an impressive spring and he's got big-league experience, which counts for something. Collin Balester is probably going to be a better pitcher over the long run, but he's probably better served with some more seasoning at Triple-A. From Brewer on Capitol Hill: Hey Mark, What role do you think that Lo Duca has played in the problems that the bullpen has experienced so far? Does he have enough experience with each of the guys to know what their strengths and weaknesses are yet? Mark Zuckerman: I don't know how much of a factor that's really been. Lo Duca may not have spent a lot of time working with the Nats relievers, but he knows what the gameplan is for each opposing hitter and he has a general idea what each pitcher throws. I think the bullpen struggles are more a lack of execution on the pitchers' parts, though it would help if we could actually see these guys in a situation where the Nats were leading by a run or two in the seventh inning. From Tom in Burlington, Ontario: Hi, Mark. Who do you think is most likely to get dropped from the roster when Dukes and Young are healthy enough to return? Mark Zuckerman: Good question, although I don't think we're going to have to worry about the Dmitri Young part of the equation for a while. He still has a ways to go. But Dukes could be back within a week or so, and that raises this issue. There's no one among the players on the bench who still has minor-league options, a significant concern. You've got to wonder whether a guy like Rob Mackowiak (0-for-10 on the season) is in danger of being released. He's making $1.5 million guaranteed, but what's the difference eating that money for a guy who has literally contributed nothing to date? From D.C. Dave: Do you think the fans believe that the Nationals are actually better than they really are, i.e. a below .500 ball club years away from competing? Mark Zuckerman: Hmm, based on the questions I've been getting today, seems like the fans don't believe much at all in the current team ... You know, I think some people might have been fooled a bit by last year's performance. There was so much optimism based on their 64-64 record after May 11 and the offseason additions that people (including some within the organization) might have had some unrealistic expectations in 2008. Remember, this team went 73-89 last year, and by all accounts overachieved. Even if they only improve a few games from that mark (or finish around the same record) it's not necessarily a disaster of a season. From R.F. in Burke: What's the atmosphere in the clubhouse like these days? Are the guys really down or are they keeping positive? Mark Zuckerman: It's been pretty quiet in the clubhouse postgame following these losses, as you might expect, but pregame things have been pretty normal. Guys joking around, playing cards, watching TV. There's been a lot of "It's still early, no time to panic" talk, maybe too much so. If this continues for another week, I don't know that anyone can still claim "it's early." All right, good round of questions this week. Maybe we need the Nats to keep losing 10 of 11 all season to keep the fan vitriol alive! (Kidding, kidding, of course.) Thanks to everyone who submitted questions -- enjoy tonight's game, if that's possible. I'll talk to you next week from back home in D.C.]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.5431 2008-04-09T18:00:00Z 2008-04-09T18:48:19Z

Hi everyone, welcome back for another weekly chat on the Nats. As always, plenty to discuss with this team, from Dmitri Young's back injury to Shawn Hill's potential return to the rotation to the team's stunning ability to strand the...

twtsports Hi everyone, welcome back for another weekly chat on the Nats. As always, plenty to discuss with this team, from Dmitri Young's back injury to Shawn Hill's potential return to the rotation to the team's stunning ability to strand the bases loaded (nine times in eight games already). I'll do my best to answer everyone's questions -- please send them to natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com, or click on the above link to submit it directly through the website. Let's get started... ]]> From Brian in Alexandria: Manny Acta mentioned last night that no decision had been made regarding the next step for Shawn Hill. Have you heard anything so far today about whether or not the Nationals are going to activate Hill for Sunday's game in Atlanta or give him one more rehab start in the minor leagues? Mark Zuckerman: No new info yet to report today, but I suspect we'll be hearing something later this afternoon. My hunch -- and I stress that this is only a hunch -- is that Hill will make another rehab start. Not that his performance last night (5 scoreless innings at Potomac) wasn't solid. I just think the Nats prefer to be cautious with these kind of things. It also gives them another week to evaluate Matt Chico and John Lannan and decide which young lefty is going to be sent to Columbus to make room for Hill. From Eric in Northern VA: I just read there will be parking sold for single games now. Are all of the lots adequate for tailgating? Something small, just a few chairs and a grill. Thanks! Mark Zuckerman: My understanding is that tailgating is allowed in all the lots around Nationals Park. However, anything you bring has to fit within the confines of your parking space. You can't spread out a grill, blanket and lawn chairs over two spaces and deny someone else the ability to park next to you. From Edward Charles in Woodhaven: In your article relating to the starting rotation, you mention the "other option" is sending Lannan back down to Columbus.... Why would you send Lannan down when in his last 3 outings his ERA is under 2.00, while giving up only 13 hits in 18 2/3 innings? What message does this send to the other young arms in the organization? Aren't there other pitchers in the rotation with options? Mark Zuckerman: It's a valid argument, and believe me, the Nats are going to struggle with this decision. The problem is that only three members of the current rotation have minor-league options: Lannan, Chico and Bergmann. Odalis Perez and Tim Redding do not. So one of those three has to be sent down. Bergmann pitched well this spring and so far this season. Chico's numbers aren't as good, but both Manny Acta and Randy St. Claire insist they've been happy with him. I still think it's possible Chico gets sent to Columbus to work on things and Lannan stays, but there's no obvious choice here. From Caroll Melton: Dmitri Young: What are his prospects with the Nats? Mark Zuckerman: Well, he's signed for the next two years at $5 million a year, so I don't think he's going anywhere else. Before anything, though, Dmitri has got to get himself into shape and get his diabetes under control. These two things go hand-in-hand. Once he's gotten his physical well-being together, then he can start worrying about baseball. But boy, the way Nick Johnson is playing and the way Young looks, that decision to re-sign him last summer is looking mighty suspect right now, isn't it? From Kristin in Fairfax: It sounds like you were a bit concerned about the attendance the other night. Do you think weather played a part it in, or is it too soon to tell? Mark Zuckerman: I think several factors played a role in the crowd the other night being just over 20,000. Weather wasn't good. Monday nights are typically the lowest-drawing night of the week. The Marlins are perhaps the worst draw in baseball (find me someone, anyone who says they're going to tonight's game strictly because they want to see the Marlins). And the NCAA championship was going on at the same time. I think we need to let this whole homestand play out before we start making any judgments. And really, we can't say anything for sure until we get to June and July when the weather's nice and school is out and attendance typically picks up. From Billy T. in Silver Spring: How bad does the procrastination of DL'ing Cordero and Young seem in retrospect? It's like the Nats have been playing with a 23-man roster since opening day limiting the in-game moves Manny can make and putting the team at a competitive disadvantage. Mark Zuckerman: I think there's something to be said for that in the case of Dmitri Young. Once he was sent home from St. Louis on Friday, the Nats probably should have realized he wasn't going to get better soon enough and DL'd him so Acta would have another bat off his bench. I don't think the Cordero case was really an issue, though, because the Nats still had a full, seven-man bullpen. They only had four starting pitchers until Sunday when John Lannan was called up and took Cordero's roster spot. From James in Mount Vernon: What is the latest status on Wily Mo Pena? Elijah Dukes? How soon should we expect either one to be back? If it is a week or more, have there been any discussions on whether the Nationals will consider another bat for the bench from the minor leagues? Mark Zuckerman: The Weapon of Mass Production appears to be close to returning from the DL. He played three innings at extended spring training yesterday and should start a rehab assignment at Columbus within a few more days. I think we'll see him activated sometime next week while the Nats are on the road. Dukes' return is much farther off. Looks like he's going to miss 4-6 weeks minimum with a serious hamstring injury. The Nats definitely won't rush him back. If Pena was going to be out longer, I think you might see the Nats consider promoting Justin Maxwell from Harrisburg to play left field. But since we're only talking about another week, I believe you'll keep seeing Lopez, Harris and Mackowiak out there for now. From Donald Sanger in Falls Church: I've noticed the press box at Nationals Park is way up at the top of the upper deck? How's the view up there, and is that higher than most major-league stadiums? Mark Zuckerman: The press box is indeed above the upper deck behind home plate. It's probably the highest of any big-league park, maybe tied with Pittsburgh's PNC Park (which has a similar location). But you won't hear any complaints from me. The lower levels are prime real estate for suites and club levels, and that's how teams make their money. I'm not naive to that. As long as we're relatively behind the plate (we are) and have ample and comfortable work space (we do), they can put us up with the airplanes. From Sam in Springfield, Va.: Do you think the "negative" tone of the messages about travel to the ball park had an impact on attendance? (don't drive, no parking, metro issues etc.) Mark Zuckerman: I do, and I meant to mention that in my response to the earlier question about attendance. There's been so much talk about the hassle of getting to the park, I believe it may have turned some casual fans off from coming to games. That said, I haven't heard any complaints from anyone who has either parked near the stadium, taken Metro or parked at RFK and taken the shuttle so far. What's the consensus out there? Was all the preseason panic overblown? From Sam in Springfield, Va.: We have pre-paid parking passes and have driven to every game. It couldn't be easier. The Nats website's directions on getting to our specific lot are great and we are only 500 yards from getting onto 395 South - even easier than getting to RFK. Traffic has been normal. How do you get to the Park and what time to you go? Mark Zuckerman: Wow, instant response! It's like we're holding a one-on-one conversation here! Good to hear your parking experience has been positive. I park in the small media lot they've created catty-corner from the home plate entrance (on Potomac Ave., west of South Capitol St.). Because I usually get to the park around 3 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game and don't leave til after midnight, I don't really have any traffic issues. That's why I'm interested to hear what it's been like for fans. OK, looks like we're out of time for today. Thanks for all the questions, and please continue to let me know how your personal parking/gameday experiences have gone so far. Be sure to tune in next Wednesday for another live chat, this time from New York. Same bat time, same bat channel. Until then...]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.5268 2008-04-02T18:00:00Z 2008-04-02T18:31:12Z

Hello from Philadelphia, where the Nats (following a day off) return to the field tonight, looking to improve to 3-0. Tim Redding on the hill against Cole Hamels. We should also get an update on the status of Chad Cordero's...

twtsports Hello from Philadelphia, where the Nats (following a day off) return to the field tonight, looking to improve to 3-0. Tim Redding on the hill against Cole Hamels. We should also get an update on the status of Chad Cordero's right shoulder, which has now had three days to rest and recover from the cortisone shot he received on Sunday. Plenty to talk about, so let's get right to your questions. As always, click on the above link to submit something, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. ... ]]> From Tom in Burlington, Ontario: Hi, Mark. Why are the Nats going to pitch 2 of their starters on 3 days rest so early in the season rather than having Lannan as the 5th starter for now until Hill is eligible to come off the DL? Seems like a recipe for sending guys to the DL. Like we need any more of that! Mark Zuckerman: We haven't really made a big deal out of this yet, though it's definitely something to watch over the weekend when it happens. The plan: Tim Redding and Jason Bergmann are each going to pitch on three days' rest, helping the Nats avoid needing a fifth starter until April 13. I wouldn't be overly concerned, though. It's early in the year, and the Nats aren't going to push either Redding or Bergmann too hard. They probably won't go more than five, six innings tops, with pitch counts well under 100. I think they prefer that over calling Lannan up just to make one start and then send him back down again. No need to mess with a young pitcher's development like that. From Mr. Madison in New Carrollton: Maybe I was just caught up in the moment of the Magical Opening Day, but I swear that when Ryan Zimmerman was introduced before the game, Don Sutton introduced him as the Team's All-Time Leader in several Offensive categories. I don't remember exactly which ones pecifically though. I'm pretty sure that RBIs was one of them. Is this perhaps hinting towards the Nationals Franchise leaving the Expos History and Records in Montreal, where it belongs(imo)? They unretired the Expos retired numbers, and I don't recall seeing *anything* in the stadium that even remotely hints towards an existence in Montreal(though I may just as well have missed it). I don't think it is right to pick and choose which parts of the history you embrace, and which ones you don't. Any thoughts/insight on this? Oh, and you guys did an excellent job in the Print Sports Section for your Opening Day coverage. Mark Zuckerman: I believe I heard the same thing from Sutton as he was introducing Zim, who indeed has the most homers, RBI and I believe hits in Nats history. As for the official records, both the team and MLB continue to consider the Montreal/Washington franchise as one entity that began play in 1969. So Vladimir Guerrero is the franchise's all-time home run leader. But the Nats have two other categories in the records section of their media guide: Records for the Nats only (2005-present) and records for Washington baseball teams (1901-1971, 2005-present). It's a bit confusing, but they felt this was the best way to cover all the bases. From Steve in Fairfax Station: I think the improved line-up will score more runs, but to me the other half of the equation is pitching. I'm not sold on the current starting rotation due to health concerns, or because they didn't pan out with other teams. Do you see the Nats working out a trade this season for a real front-line starter -- someone who can win them at least 15 games and doesn't have a history of health issues? Otherwise it seems we're looking at another 73 win season. Mark Zuckerman: You are absolutely justified in being worried about the rotation. There's nothing close to a sure thing in there, and that will ultimately decide the Nats' fate in 2008 more than the lineup or bullpen or anything else. I don't, however, see this team trading for a proven starting pitcher (not unless they're in a pennant race come July). I do see them promoting several of their top prospects from Class AAA Columbus as this season plays out. The rotation may be Perez-Chico-Redding-Bergmann-Hill right now, but come August it could very well be Lannan-Mock-Balester-Clippard-O'Connor. From Barry Prophet in Reston: Mark: During the Brewers-Cubs game on Monday, Milwaukee outfielders -- when a new hitter came up -- would pull an index card from their back pocket and look at it. Obviously, this was some kind of scouting report, but I had never seen that before. Do the Nationals do this? Mark Zuckerman: Wow, that's a new one for me. Never seen a player whip out a scouting report while in the field. I'm sure it had to do with positioning for different batters. That's common among all teams. Most, however, including the Nats, just have a coach in the dugout reading the scouting reports and then shouting out to the players in the field where they should position themselves. Interesting to see if more teams take the Brewers' new approach. From Edward Charles in Woodhaven: Why would Acta allow 2 of his four starters pitch on short days rest so early in the season, especially with Redding 1 week removed from a back spasm? Also, why are they allowing Hill to pitch with pain? Is this his last shot, to make it or break it? Mark Zuckerman: I touched on the short-rest thing earlier, so let's focus on the Hill part of the question... Basically, because every test taken has shown no structural damage to Hill's arm, and because Hill is clearly capable of dominating when he's on the mound, and because he's willing to attempt to pitch through pain, the Nats are moving forward with this plan. Can it work? Perhaps, though that's a lot of things that have to go right for this to work. But yes, Hill could be looking at this as his last shot, and if so, he's going to do everything he can to make it work. Looks like that's all we've got for today. Talk to you all next Wednesday from Nationals Park.]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.5199 2008-03-28T16:32:01Z 2008-03-28T18:55:05Z

Hello Nats fans, I just got back from Nationals Park, where the city and team held ceremonies to honor all the people associated with building the ballpark and getting it ready for this weekend. They announced that the ballpark will...

twtsports Hello Nats fans, I just got back from Nationals Park, where the city and team held ceremonies to honor all the people associated with building the ballpark and getting it ready for this weekend. They announced that the ballpark will be LEED certified, making it the first-ever "green" ballpark. Also, the newly expanded Navy Yard Metro station opened this morning. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about the stadium or anything else sports biz related. So fire away. Who maintains the stadium on a daily basis? Is it the responsibility of the city or the team? The team bears the responsibility of all the operating costs for the ballpark. That includes making repairs and generally keeping the ballpark modern and up-to-date. Bill McNeill asks: "Have you gotten an opportunity to taste the food at the park yet? How is it? How are the costs in relation to other stadiums? I had a chance to taste menu items from both the regular concessions and the food that will be served in the luxury suites. The Nationals have a nice array of choices...I had a half-smoke from Ben's Chili Bowl yesterday as well as a soft pretzel. I like the "Curly W" pretzels from Noah's. If you're lucky enough to be a suite holder, you'll get to choose from some high-end options like rockfish, pea-crusted tuna and salmon. The more traditional fare like hot dogs and cheesesteaks are pretty good. As for prices, I'd say the food is in line with most ballparks, which is to say it's incredibly overpriced. But what do you expect? Question fro Ben Jaber: Are there going to be any good ticket deals coming up for a single game? Well, there are $5 seats available for every game, you just have to line up at the gate to get them the day of the game and there is limited availability. Also, the Nationals will have special family packs where you can get a ticket, a hot dog, a soda and bag of chips for a fixed price. I'm not positive of the price, but I know it's a similar deal to what they had at RFK. Patrick from Va. Beach asks: Are the Nats concerned at all about the how the field will hold up following the papal mass services? Assuming there will be field seating for that event, any idea on how that will work? I have not heard anyone from the team express concern about the field. I think there will be some field seating, but you're talking about people sitting in chairs, not diving around or doing anything to extreme. Also, the Pope's visit is on April 17...the Nats don't play another home game until April 23. So there's a week there to make any necessary field repairs. Bobby Hill asks: What's the deal with that concrete factory next store? I thought the city was buying up all that land. Hi Bobby. Tell your father Hank I said hello. Arlen's a nice town. Anyway, I think what you're referring to is the Florida Rock cement plant just to the south of the ballpark. No, the city is not buying that land. Florida Rock has submitted plans for a mixed-use development at the site that will mesh well with the ballpark and redeveloping neighborhood. But it still needs to go through the full zoning and planning process. Florida Rock had submitted plans long ago, even before everyone knew the ballpark was supposed to be there. But once the ballpark was approved they had to go back to the drawing board because city zoning officials didn't think the plans made sense anymore. I think you will see that area redeveloped and become less of an eyesore, but it's a few years away, at least. Nick Leyva asks: How good or bad a value are the ticket prices for the various sections? Hi Nick. You're at least the fifth-best Phillies manager of the last 25 years. I'd say overall, fans will find Nationals Park to be one of the more expensive ballparks in baseball. Most of the lower-bowl seats are quite expensive....you might be able to get a good seat down low for $35, which is tolerable, if not great. Up top, you can find some good $10 and $15 seats, and that's where you can find the best value. The problem is that there are fewer upper deck seats than most ballparks, so finding a great deal may be tough, particularly for the most popular games. The food at the park sounds awesome. How did the city and sports commission manage to get people like Gifford's and Ben's Chili Bowl to open? And how much more expensive will food be there? It's actually the team that was most instrumental in bringing in the local vendors. I think the fans expected local vendors, and the team very early on targeted restaurants that were indicative of Washington, following the model that we've seen at other ballparks. Centerplate, the concession provider at the stadium, was instrumental in working with the vendors to make sure folks from Ben's and other establishments had what they needed to deliver the same quality of product at the ballpark. So Centerplate made sure to work with the same suppliers and everything was done in a collaborative fashion. I doubt the Ali family would have come on board if they felt their half-smokes would be of lesser quality than at their U Street shop. And I had one yesterday....it's the real deal. Bill asks: Are Season Ticket Holders with permit parking allowed to tailgate? Yes, you can tailgate. The issue is that because parking is so scarce and nearly every space will be filled, you can't spread out with your grills, coolers and tents like you might have at RFK. But I think if you stay in your own little small area, you'll be ok. It just won't be the same kind of tailgating environment we saw at RFK or we see at FedEx for the Redskins. Tom asks: I hear stadium tours begin April 19th. Any details available? I'm not sure when they start, but I do think they will begin offering tours later this month, probably after they get through the first week and the Papal Mass. The tours will be offered four times a day on nongame days at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Cost is $15 and you can buy them online or at the Nationals Park box office. Ian Koski asks: Tim, what's your favorite feature in the new park? Hey everybody, it's Ian Koski of Nationalspride.com, a very high-quality Nats web site. Ian, I can't single out one feature, which is one of the criticisms I have of the place. There's no defining characteristic. I do, however, like the fact that the upper deck seats are unusually low to the ground and close to the field. Every seat is comfortable and provides a great view without being to high up. There's no real "nosebleed" section, so to speak. I have been inside the President's Club and Stars and Stripes Club, and find them impressive. But the average fan won't be spending much time in there. Stewart Griffin from Quohog, RI asks: I know the big screen is HD, but what about the people operating it? Will the new gear make it easier for the booth guys to keep the screens current? Haha...hopefully. I don't know much about the inner workings of the scoreboard, except to say that it's new, it's modern and there should be no excuse for failing to keep it up to date. Now all we need to do is prevent the team from putting up lame, meaningless stats like "Austin Kearns is batting .326 in his last 7 night games against left-handed pitchers named Phil or Jerome." Dave Nelson from Wisconsin asks: First, I really loved the special section yesterday. Well done. I seem to recall local protesters crashed many of the stadium events early on to protest the use of taxpayer dollars on the park. Have they gone away? Thank you for the compliments. We're proud of it. I must give a nod to our assistant editor Harrison Goodman, who did most of the layout and worked himself nearly to death to get it done. Regarding the protesters, I have not seen any for a very long time. There were a couple protesters who made an appearance a few months ago at an event featuring the Mayor, but I think they were more ticked off at something else the city was doing. I expect we'll see the protests return when the D.C. Council takes up the issue of a soccer stadium at Poplar Point. Ok, it looks like that's it for today...thanks to all the people who wrote in. Hope it's a great weekend of baseball for everyone!]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.5133 2008-03-26T18:00:27Z 2008-03-26T18:42:14Z

Good afternoon from Disney World. Not the amusement park. The baseball park next door. The Nats and Braves are about to get going with their second-to-last Grapefruit League game of the spring. Plenty of stuff about to happen -- the...

twtsports Good afternoon from Disney World. Not the amusement park. The baseball park next door. The Nats and Braves are about to get going with their second-to-last Grapefruit League game of the spring. Plenty of stuff about to happen -- the Nats will make their final roster cuts following the game today and announce their 25-man roster. And following tomorrow's game against the Orioles, they'll fly up to D.C. and make a quick stop at Nationals Park tomorrow night so players can see their new home. So there's no shortage of topics to discuss here. Send in your questions to natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com, or click on the above link. Let's get going... ]]> From Adam in Germantown: Mark - How in the world could the Nats not be considering Hanrahan for a starting spot in the rotation following his performance this spring (2 hits in 12 innings)? His performance against Atlanta was dominant - - something like 7 K in 9 hitters faced. Thoughts on how they'll use him? Mark Zuckerman: The reason they're not considering Hanrahan for a starting job is that he's not a starter anymore. After watching him struggle last season, the Nats decided to try him in this new role, and clearly Hanrahan has made the most of the opportunity. He's got electric stuff, and that should translate well to the bullpen. I'd look for him to start the season as their long man, but if he continues to perform well, look for him to start working his way into tighter situations. From Joseph in Sacramento, Calif.: With all the veterans that have been brought to the team during last year and this year (Young, Belliard, Perez, Redding, King x 2, etc) are any of these guys "auditioning" with other teams so that Bowden and co. can deal them for younger prospects? Thanks. Mark Zuckerman: If you know the way Jim Bowden operates, you know he'll be looking to move veterans for prospects this summer (provided the Nats aren't in a pennant race). Players like Ray King, Odalis Perez and Ronnie Belliard are valuable not only for what they can do on the field but because they're coveted by contending teams for the stretch run. Definitely look for the trade talk to start up around June. From Chris in Fairfax: Mark - What do you think the Nats have planned for Ross Detwiler? Do you know why they started his service time clock last year with that one inning? Considering they started his clock, will he be up in a bullpen or starting capacity at some point early this season? Thanks for your work. Mark Zuckerman: The reason the Nats called Detwiler up last September was to give him a taste of what life in the big leagues is like, and so he could work directly with pitching coach Randy St. Claire. It wasn't about getting him into as many games as possible. I wouldn't worry about starting Detwiler's arbitration clock -- he's going to be up here full-time soon enough anyways. And yes, they are strictly looking at him as a starter for now. From Steve in Atlanta: Hi Mark, Although the Nats should certainly score more runs than last year, the starting pitching still looks pretty shaky. While I'd love to see the Nats flirt with .500, I wonder if they can really be expected even to match last year's overachievment. What do you think? Mark Zuckerman: I came to Florida six weeks ago thinking .500 or better was a reasonable thought, but like you, the state of the rotation leaves me questioning that now. My official prediction will be appearing in our baseball preview section -- which comes out tomorrow, please check it out! -- so I don't want to tip my hand here. But I will say that my predicted win total for the Nats doesn't start with an 8. It starts with a 7. From Kristin in Fairfax: Which of the guys headed north are most likely to be traded first: Lopez, Dmitri or someone else? Mark Zuckerman: You know, I think I might actually go with Nick Johnson. Before you panic, hear me out... I don't see a trade happening anytime soon. But as we move into the summer and contending teams out there realize they need another bat and perhaps a strong defensive first baseman (the Yankees, perhaps?) Nick becomes a very marketable player, especially if he has the kind of comeback season everyone expects. I think there will be more interest in him than in Dmitri Young or Felipe Lopez. From Mr. Madison in New Carrollton: Hi. In the wake of John Patterson being released, there have been Patterson Supporters talking about how Patterson's release has raised the question of "Who is really managing the team, Jim Bowden or Manny Acta?" as well as the sentiment that Manny does not have any power to make decisions on who he plays and who he does not. Do you get this impression at all? Do you get the impression that Bowden and Acta are at odds, and that Manny doesn't really have any say when it comes to personnel? Mark Zuckerman: Quite the contrary. I think Manny Acta's opinion carries a lot of weight in these decisions. He was very much in support of the Patterson move once the decision was made. And I suspect later this afternoon we'll find out Matt Chico has made the rotation. Acta has been a Chico supporter from the beginning when some within the front office haven't been. So I really do think Manny has a say in personnel matters. From Wookie in Woodbridge: Any cuts on the horizon? Mark Zuckerman: Yes. Stay tuned, because by the end of the afternoon, the roster will be down to 25. Based on the few hints Jim Bowden dropped this morning, the final decisions came down to who had options and who didn't. So that means Joel Hanrahan makes it, while guys like Chris Schroder and John Lannan (despite deserving spots on this team) are headed to Columbus. From Brian in Alexandria: Mark, are you ready to leave scenic Viera? I read that the Nationals are/are going to be bringing in a Dominican SS prospect Alvaro Aristy for a workout. Do you have any background on him? Mark Zuckerman: Hate to say it, but yes, after 42 days in paradise, I am more than ready to head back home. Actually, my bags are packed and sitting in the trunk of my rental car right now. I'm headed straight to Orlando International after this game and flying home tonight. Ben Goessling will man tomorrow's final day of camp coverage while I start getting ready for the weekend at the new park. ... Oh, no I don't have anything on Aristy, sorry. As you know, information is always spotty at best with these international teenagers. From PowerBoater in Virginia: Has the team instructed Lannan to keep his bags packed in case Redding's back prevents him from throwing on three days rest? Do you think the extra roster spot for a position player is worth risking injury to a starting pitcher when the Nats' rotation is already thin? Mark Zuckerman: Yeah, I'm sure John Lannan will be told not to stray too far from the phone in case he's needed at the last minute. But Tim Redding does appear to be fine and there's no real fear about him not being ready. That said, I believe Lannan will pitch in Washington sooner than later. I know everyone wants to believe Shawn Hill will be ready by the 13th, but call it a hunch, I think it's going to take more time than that. When it's all said and done, I would not be surprised one bit if John Lannan is the Nats' fifth starter used this season. From Cardman: Are you saying that Hanrahan doesn't deserve a spot? Mark Zuckerman: No, not at all. There's no one who deserves to make this team more than Joel Hanrahan after what he did this spring. If he's not on the Opening Day roster, someone should be fired. I'm just saying there's other guys who have track records and have pitched well in the majors who aren't going to make it because they are the victims of the options game (like Schroder). OK, folks -- I gotta run. Need to crank out a story on Manny Acta before this game ends, find out who the final cuts are and then head to the airport. Thanks for all the questions (and compliments) all spring, and be sure to keep joining us every Wednesday during the season for more of these chats. Looks like we'll kick off the regular season version next week in Philadelphia. See you then!]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.4954 2008-03-19T18:00:00Z 2008-03-19T18:48:08Z

Hi everyone. It's the Nats' one and only off day of the spring, but that doesn't mean it's an off day for us. Plenty to discuss with eight days remaining until the team breaks camp and heads north. There's the...

twtsports Hi everyone. It's the Nats' one and only off day of the spring, but that doesn't mean it's an off day for us. Plenty to discuss with eight days remaining until the team breaks camp and heads north. There's the matter of the top of the starting rotation (Shawn Hill and John Patterson), the battle at first base between Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young, the battle at second base between Felipe Lopez and Ronnie Belliard (and did you read Felipe's remarks from yesterday?) and plenty of other items. As always, click on the above link to submit a question, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. Let's get started...]]> From Mr. Madison in New Carrollton: So just how long do we wait before we become concerned about John Patterson? Mark Zuckerman: Good one to get started on... Patterson's an interesting case, because he says he feels great and his arm is 100 percent healthy, but then his velocity is in the mid-80s. After his last start in Fort Lauderdale he said it felt like he was throwing bowling balls up there, which could be the classic case of spring training dead arm. Or it could be more serious. As long as he insists he's healthy, he'll be out there pitching. The Nats are hopeful the velocity will come back over time (remember, this guy's had two surgeries in two years) but given his history, there's just no way to know whether he'll ever regain that 2005 form. From Mike in Fredericksburg: A few weeks ago you folks announced some type of interaction w/MASN, can you tell us what we can expect? BTW your daily coverage has been far superior to anything else in the area so far this spring. I wish other Nats fans would make the switch from that other "home town" paper and give you guys some support. Mark Zuckerman: Thanks, Mike. We really appreciate the feedback. ... As for the MASN partnership, the precise details are still being worked out, but look for myself and my new partner on the beat, Ben Goessling, to make regular appearances on the Nats' pregame show offering some insight into the team. Also look for promos in our paper for MASN coverage, and on MASN telecasts for our paper and website. It should be a nice arrangement that hopefully will benefit both sides. From Barry Prophet in Reston: Mark: According to your blog, Felipe Lopez appeared pretty torqued on Tuesday about sitting on the bench. Since I think he has ZERO trade value, how will Manny handle a discontent in Lopez if in fact he and his light bat start the season on the bench? Mark Zuckerman: This is going to be a MAJOR issue to watch over the next 10 days. Lopez indeed made it clear he doesn't want to come off the bench, though based on performance, it would seem obvious he should be there and Ronnie Belliard should be starting. That said, Manny Acta is an expert at handling different players, and that's why I would not be surprised if Lopez starts the season as the regular second baseman, with Belliard (who will do whatever's asked of him) on the bench. Lopez doesn't give you much off the bench, especially if he's pouting, so maybe they give him one more shot to start. Manny could always make a switch a couple weeks in if Felipe still isn't performing. From Lamont Parker: With Adam Dunn being a free agent next year, do you see JimB pursuing another one of his former draft picks? What type of free agent should we expect next year? Mark Zuckerman: Never too early to look ahead, I guess. While Jim Bowden obviously loves Adam Dunn, I'm not so sure he would pull the trigger on that one next winter. The Nats already have a bunch of young outfielders (Milledge, Dukes, Pena, Kearns, Maxwell) and two first basemen locked up through 2009 (Johnson and Young) plus a top prospect expected to be ready by 2010 (Marrero). A bigger priority next winter might be middle infield. Guzman and Lopez are both going to be free agents, and there's nothing in the pipeline remotely close to being ready at shortsop or second base. From Bob in Sterling: Was there ever a result in the grievance filed by the Reds against Bowden for the Lopez/Kearns trade? Mark Zuckerman: Believe it or not, at last check the grievance case had not been closed. My feeling all along has been that some resolution would have come down by now if the Reds had a legitimate case. But someone at MLB hasn't completely been satisfied one way or the other. I still doubt anything will come of this. From Brian in Alexandria: Could you please give us a rundown of which Nationals do and do not have options left? I'm guessing that will play a role in who makes the final 25-man roster in several cases. Mark Zuckerman: Great question, and yes, this will definitely play a role in how the final roster is determined. To the best of my knowledge, here's who has and doesn't have options left... PITCHERS Have options: Jason Bergmann, Matt Chico, John Lannan, Shawn Hill, Chris Schroder, Saul Rivera, Chad Cordero, Luis Ayala (not that those two are going to need them). Out of options: John Patterson, Tim Redding, Joel Hanrahan, Jon Rauch, Jesus Colome. POSITION PLAYERS Have options: Jesus Flores, Ryan Zimmerman (yeah, right), Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes, Wil Nieves. Out of options: Paul Lo Duca, Nick Johnson, Dmitri Young, Felipe Lopez, Ronnie Belliard, Cristian Guzman, Austin Kearns, Rob Mackowiak, Willie Harris. Rule 5 draftees: Garrett Guzman, Matt Whitney (can't be sent down without first being offered to their former teams). From Mark in Arlington: What do your buddies in the traffic department think will happen after the game on opening night? I feel like Metro will not have nearly enough trains running at 11:30 on a Sunday night. Luckily there aren't enough parking spots to cause a traffic jam. Mark Zuckerman: I believe Metro plans to run extra trains on all gamenights, but this is going to be something to watch all season and beyond. The Navy Yard station has been expanded, but is it enough to accommodate 20,000 or more fans who may take Metro? Also, what happens when almost everyone gets off at L'Enfant Plaza to transfer to other lines? Between Metro, parking near the ballpark and the parking shuttle at RFK, there are plenty of issues that need to be watched closely. From Ron in Centreville: Mark: Although the Nationals haven't seen everybody and W-L records mean nothing, what teams and/or players have impressed you so far this spring? Mark Zuckerman: I'll couch this by saying I only get to see about eight other teams in Florida, and obviously you can't read too much into spring training. But that said, when I was in Lakeland yesterday and saw the All-Star roster the Tigers have assembled, it's hard to believe they're not going to be REALLY good this year. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Cardinals appear to be a mess. It's amazing that franchise is two years removed from a World Series. Individual player to watch: Marlins rookie outfielder Cameron Maybin, one of the guys they got from Detroit in the Cabrera/Willis trade. The kid can fly around the bases. From Joseph in Sacramento, Calif.: Hello from the other coast. When I look at the 2008 Nats I see a team with more talent, but similar to last years squad. This is because I believe they are still trying to find players who fit their long term plans (ie: Milledge, Dukes, certain pitchers), it's just that those players have more talent than the Nook Logan's of the 07 squad. If this team is looking to be a .500 or better squad this year, is next year the year that they spend some money on a big bat and top flight pitcher to put them in contention? Thanks. Mark Zuckerman: You are correct when you say the Nats are still trying to find players who fit their long-term plan. They've made strides in that department (Zimmerman, Flores, Milledge, Dukes, Lannan, Chico) but they're not there yet. Until then, they'll continue to fill the gaps with affordable veteran options like Odalis Perez and Ray King and Tim Redding. Remember that there are several top prospects who could be arriving later this year or next year (Collin Balester, Garrett Mock, Ross Detwiler, Tyler Clippard, Chris Marrero, Justin Maxwell) so there will be more pieces to add to the puzzle. But knowing the way Stan Kasten thinks about free agency, I wouldn't expect the Nats to shell out big bucks until they really feel they're on the cusp of competiting for a championship. That's going to do it for this installment. Thanks for all the questions, and be sure to join me again next Wednesday at 1 p.m. for our final chat from spring training.]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.4796 2008-03-12T18:00:00Z 2008-03-12T18:55:45Z

Hello from Vero Beach, where the Nats and Dodgers are about to get things going. This is our only trip to Dodgertown this spring, and it may be our last ever. The Dodgers are moving to Arizona next year after...

twtsports Hello from Vero Beach, where the Nats and Dodgers are about to get things going. This is our only trip to Dodgertown this spring, and it may be our last ever. The Dodgers are moving to Arizona next year after six decades here. There's a chance another team (like the Orioles) could take over, but it just wouldn't be the same. I'll provide some game updates throughout, but you can also go to our blog, Chatter, where Ben Goessling is providing more details. Let's get to your questions, and as always, to send one in just click on the above link or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com...]]> From James and Kristine Bell: Mark, Watched the game last night and Patterson's fastball was 86 MPH for the first two innings and in the 3rd he got it to 87 MPH only once.....What is the deal, we have been told all camp that his fastball is back.....I would have expected him to hit 92 MPH or more if he was truly back to 2005 form. What are you seeing in camp and what are people saying off the record? Mark Zuckerman: You are correct that Patterson's fastball was clocked between 85-87 mph last night. But the team and John knew that would be the case going in. I know I and others have been writing that Patterson is healthy again and throwing with full extension. But that doesn't mean he's gained his velocity back. The club expects that to happen over time. It could be weeks, it could be months. They're not concerned right now, they're simply happy John is throwing pain-free. From Lamont Parker: Are we only going to have one lefty (Ray King) in the bullpen? I'm assuming Chico will go to the bullpen or triple-A. Mark Zuckerman: Yes, there will almost certainly be only one lefty in the pen, and Ray King will be that guy. Chico most definitely is not a bullpen candidate. He and John Lannan are starters and will only make the club if they're starting. The way things look now, both Lannan and Chico are longshots to make it, especially if the Nats only go with four starters for the first two weeks of the year (Patterson, Perez, Redding, Bergmann) and then hope Shawn Hill is ready at that point. If something else happens, then either Lannan or Chico could win a job. From Tom P. in Burlington, Ontario: Hi, Mark. Any list of potential starters I see doesn't include Mike O'Connor's name. Is there a reason for that? What are his chances of making the rotation? Thanks. Mark Zuckerman: O'Connor has impressed people this spring -- though he's walked the first two batters of this game and allowed three stolen bases -- but he's not big-league material at the moment. After elbow surgery in 2006, he struggled mightily at Harrisburg in 2007. That's probably where he'll start 2008, though at least the Nats know he can be an option down the road if something happens. From Screech's Best Friend in Alexandria: Where are the Nationals in the starting catching department? Will injuries to LoDuca and Estrada, the trading of Schneider force Flores onto the roster in a position he might not be ready? Not hearing much about this developing situation. Is the team possibly in trouble at this position? Mark Zuckerman: It's something we've been watching closely all spring, but the situation does appear to be improving. Lo Duca has been taking BP and probably will be ready to play in a game by the end of the week. Estrada appears to be farther away, and that could affect the Opening Night roster. If he can't go, Flores could be an option (but only if he's going to play 3-5 days a week. If not, look for either Wil Nieves or Humberto Cota to be the No. 2 catcher until Estrada is ready. From Mike in Quantico: Mark: Any chance the outfield works out Pena, Milledge, Kearns with Maxwell and Dukes as the 4th and 5th? It probably would be better for Maxwell to be in AA or AAA but the guy is already 24 and this might be as good as it gets for him. Mark Zuckerman: Sorry, but Justin Maxwell was optioned to Harrisburg the other day. Yes, he is 24, older than most prospects at that level, but the Nats still like him a lot. Remember, he only played at Class A last year before his September cup of coffee in the bigs. The guy looks like he could be a real player, but give it another year or two. From NatsFan in Centreville: With Nick Johnson getting healthier, Dmitri Young still in playing condition, and Aaron Boone signed to the team, what are the Nats planning to do with their Rule 5 draft pick, Matt Whitney? Mark Zuckerman: Whitney has looked good this spring, but his chances of making the club are almost nonexistent, unless something unusual happens in the next two weeks. The Nats simply have too many 1B-3B guys on the roster already. But I wouldn't be surprised if Jim Bowden tries to work out a deal with the Indians (Whitney's old club) and Twins (Garrett Guzman's old club) that allows both guys to remain in the Washington farm system. From Mr. Madison in New Carrollton: Here is a slightly odd question: Just outta curiosity, just how many people do you guys have assigned to covering the Nationals this year, who are they, and what are their roles on the coverage team? Mark Zuckerman: Not an odd question at all, and I'm glad you asked because it allows me to again introduce our newest staffer: Ben Goessling, who just arrived this week. Ben will be working with me all season as the two beat writers covering the Nats. We'll both cover every home game, and one of us will be on the road (I'll probably cover about 55 road games, he'll have 25 or so). We also have the esteemed Thom Loverro (who was filling in as a temporary beat writer until Ben arrived) writing columns as always. And various other staffers will float in here and there to help out (like Redskins writer Ryan O'Halloran, who was at the Daytona 500 last month and stopped over here for a couple days). All together, I'd argue that we have the deepest team of writers and the most comprehensive coverage of the Nats in town. From Power Boater in Alexandria: What do you see happening with Lopez? He is being paid too much to be a back-up, but he's not even close to beating out Guzman or Belliard for one of the starting spots. Does he have any trade value, do the Nats waive him, or do we let him sit on the bench for a while and hope his hitting rebounds back to the level of his all-star days? Mark Zuckerman: It's a tough question, because there doesn't seem to be a right answer. I think the Nats would trade Felipe Lopez if they got a decent offer for him, but I don't see other teams lining up to acquire him. Personally, I don't think he gives you much off the bench and probably wouldn't have the right mental makeup for that kind of role. Which leads me to this conclusion: I think Lopez will be the starting 2B on Opening Night, with Belliard (who has been a role player in the past) coming off the bench. IN-GAME UPDATE: We're through two innings here, Dodgers leading 2-0 even though they don't have a hit. They took advantage of Mike O'Connor's wildness (two walks to open the game), three stolen bases and Humberto Cota's passed ball to score twice in the first. O'Connor has settled down since and retired six straight. Nothing doing offensively yet against L.A.'s Chad Billingsley: an Alex Escobar walk and an Aaron Boone hit-by-pitch. From Bob in Fairfax: Could the Nats really go to Opening Day with a starting rotation of 4? We all know that, much as we like him, John Patterson is a bit "delicate"--how would pitching on short rest in Spring Training affect his ability to handle an Opening Day start? He didn't do so well last year. Mark Zuckerman: Yes, I expect the Nats to start the season with a four-man rotation. But before you panic, it's not that big a deal. Because of two off-days in the first two weeks, they won't really need a fifth starter til April 13. The only catch: The Nos. 3 and 4 starters would have to come back on short rest the first time. I don't see that being an issue, because right now that looks like it will be some combination of Odalis Perez, Tim Redding or Jason Bergmann. Patterson is slated to pitch the second game of the year and then come back on normal rest (though I suppose it's still possible he could be bumped up to start Opening Night). Looks like we're out of questions for this week, so I guess it's time to wrap up. One last game update: Despite putting the first two men on in the top of the third, the Nats couldn't advance them. Guzman and Belliard each struck out looking and Milledge grounded out to end the inning. Now in the bottom of the third, still Dodgers 2, Nats 0. Thanks to everyone who asked questions. Talk to you next week.]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.4690 2008-03-05T18:00:00Z 2008-03-05T19:01:23Z

Hello everyone from Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, where the Nats and Cardinals are about to get started. I'll provide some game updates as we move along, but let's first get started with your questions. It appears the link to...

twtsports Hello everyone from Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, where the Nats and Cardinals are about to get started. I'll provide some game updates as we move along, but let's first get started with your questions. It appears the link to send questions is malfunctioning, so if you have something for me, please email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. Here we go...]]> From John in New Carrollton: Hey Mark, just had a compliment and a question. I wanted to commend you guys for the excellent coverage thus far this Spring, you all have really stepped your game up this year. My question is this: Who, as of right now, is your "surprise" Opening Day Roster player? Thanks! Mark Zuckerman: Thanks for the compliment -- we appreciate that so many people are paying attention to the work we're doing down here. As far as a surprise roster member goes, I'm actually of the belief that there aren't going to be many surprises. There are, believe it or not, more major-league caliber players in camp this spring than available roster spots. So I think it's going to be tough for a surprise candidate to crack it. But here's a possibility for you: Jesus Flores. I have a feeling that either Paul Lo Duca or Johnny Estrada (more likely Estrada) won't be recovered in time for Opening Day, and that could open a spot for Flores on the roster. From Jay B. Times and you in particular are doing a great job this year covering the Nats. I am hopeful that the MASN Deal will help to justify the resources even more you are putting towards Baseball. The Blog needs work. Will you be able to allow real time posting of our comment? Without it as you must already know, it is only a one way tool. How is Lopez dealing with being out played and out hit again? I know it is early but both Ronnie and Guzman are off to hot starts and Lopez seems to be predisposed to get his head down quickly. Is it better than last year or are you starting to see the same old same old? I understand he is young and talented but I will never get over the lack of effort he put into the game last year. I would rather cut him loose and spend $5 million on pitching. Keep up the good work. Mark Zuckerman: Wow, the compliments are coming in from all over the place. And these aren't even members of my family! ... It's early, but Felipe Lopez is not off to a rousing start (though he did homer last night in Vero Beach). He came to camp with a positive attitude, and I can't say I've really seen that change over the last two weeks. But you're right: If the season opened today, I don't see how the Nats can't go with Guzman-Belliard up the middle. Note: It appears the link to send in questions is now working again. From John: Any word on how guys like Marrero and Burgess have looked? Bowden mentioned liking that he got to see Marrero, Burgess, and Stephen Souza and it made me wonder which young guys have stood out at that camp. Mark Zuckerman: Had a chance to watch three innings of the accelerated camp game yesterday morning (with Odalis Perez dominating on the mound) so I've now seen some of those young kids in action. It's tough to draw many conclusions based on that one, brief look, but obviously the organization is high on both Chris Marrero and Michael Burgess. I had seen Marrero some before, hadn't seen Burgess in person. He's, how do you say, a bit on a stocky side. Not saying that's a bad thing. But he's got kind of a Kirby Puckett look from the left side of the plate. Top of the 1st update: Nats burst out to a quick 3-0 lead. Guzman beats out a grounder for a single. Milledge reaches on an E6. Bret Boone flies out to the CF warning track, moving both runners up. Elijah Dukes then sends a deep drive to the wall in right-center, could've been caught but falls in for a 2-run triple. Langerhans adds a sharp single up the middle, sending John Lannan out to the mound with a three-run lead. From Brian in Alexandria: Is there a reason the Nationals moved Ian Desmond and Adam Carr to their major league camp? Precursor to some sort of deal? Or just giving the guys the experience? Mark Zuckerman: Just giving the guys some experience. Manny Acta said both Desmond and Carr looked good over at the minor-league camp (especially Carr, a young pitcher) so the club decided to reward them with a move over to the big-league side. I think it's a nice gesture on the Nats' part. A lot of teams won't do something like that, they just leave the low-level guys alone. I like that the Nats are willing to given them a look. From Mark Wolvin: I've read in various reports that a trade will have to be made to resolve the Nats roster situation - 2 competent starting 1st Basemen, 3 competent starting middle infielders, 4 competent starting outfielders. If the Nats do trade one or more from that list, what are we looking at in return? Have you heard any more specific rumors? If it's a starting pitcher, what kind of pitcher would be get for say, Kearns and Belliard? Mark Zuckerman: There certainly seems to be an excess of big leaguers competing for roster spots, and that's going to create an interesting scenario the last week of March when things are whittled down. Can't tell you about any specific rumors at this early stage, but I'll say this: I don't believe the Nats will be trading Nick Johnson, for a couple of reasons. 1) He appears to be healthy and playing well. 2) He's a much better all-around player than Dmitri Young. 3) Da Meat Hook doesn't look so great these days -- he's batting some weight issues, a product of his diabetes, and he's now battling a strained oblique muscle. I say Nick will be the Opening Day first baseman. Bottom of the 1st update: John Lannan falls into some trouble, allowing a one-out triple to Joe Mather and then walking Albert Pujols on four pitches. But he strikes out Troy Glaus swinging and gets Juan Gonzalez (yes, THAT Juan Gonzalez) to ground into a forceout to end the inning. Still Nats 3, Cards 0. From Jason in Centreville: Mark, do you think the NATS will have the willingness to stick to their plan of an "open competition" at 2nd base between Lopez and Belliard? Mark Zuckerman: Oh, it's definitely an open competition there, also at shortstop with Lopez/Guzman. Look, the Nats are better off if Felipe Lopez is playing up to his abilities and starting every day. Belliard is a valuable guy to have off the bench. Lopez doesn't do much for you in a reserve role. So the Nats are going to give Felipe every opportunity to win that job. From Mr. Madison in New Carrollton: Dukes is playing like a man possessed. Something has to give in that outfield. Do you think that Dukes can keep it up, and if so, we'd have no choice but to play the guy, so who does he replace? Pena, Milledge, or Kearns? Wow what a GOOD problem we have in the OF this year. Mark Zuckerman: Elijah Dukes has indeed played well so far. Not spectacular, but well. But let's not rush to put him in the everyday lineup just yet. He's got a long way to go, on and off the field, to prove he's ready for this. In the meantime, look for Pena, Milledge and Kearns to be the regulars, but also look for Dukes to get his at-bats filling in for any one of the three. Top of the 2nd update: Nats go down in order against Mike Parisi: Whitesell, Flores and Orr. From Bret in Falls Church: Let's be honest here -- the Nats will never be popular in DC until MASN is broadcast in HD, when is that going to happen? Mark Zuckerman: Actually, they're showing 40 games in HD this season. Is that enough? No, but it's a small sign of progress. Bottom of the 2nd update: Lannan allows a single to Ryan Ludwick but otherwise retires the side, including a strikeout of Cesar Izturis. End of the second: Nats 3, Cards 0. From Frank in Jupiter: Is Thom Loverro really nicer in person than he is in the paper? Mark Zuckerman: Actually, he is meaner in person. Much, much meaner. You know how those network TV stars all develop big egos. From Bob Geisler in Louisville, Ky.: Any update you can provide on Maekawa? Mark Zuckerman: At last check, Katsuhiko Maekawa remains in Japan, his work visa denied by the U.S. Jim Bowden expressed optimism that the matter would be resolved and Maekawa would eventually arrive here, but I wouldn't count on that happening anytime soon. Top of the 3rd update: Bret Boone laces another double to left-center -- this guy can still hit -- but it was sandwiched by Milledge and Dukes striking out. Still 3-0 Nats, with Lannan taking the mound for his third inning of work. From Brian: The Reds projected starting SS looks unlikely to be ready for the start of the season. And Buster Olney reported the Reds management was willing to move former top prospect Homer Bailey. The Nationals have a SS to spare. Is there a match or is the damage done in the Krivsky/Bowden relationship? Mark Zuckerman: Wow, do we really want another Reds-Nats trade? Even if Jim Bowden and Wayne Krivsky patched things up (doubtful) I don't see Cincy trading Homer Bailey for Lopez or Guzman. From Matt in Rockville: It appears that Bret Boone is being given every chance possible to make the team. What are his chances, particularly where some number of Rule 5 draftees are going to take up big-league roster spots? Mark Zuckerman: It's an interesting question. I think when this whole experiment began, the idea was to see if Bret could still play. And if so, see if another team was interested in him. That's probably still the case. But man, the way he's playing, you've got to wonder if there's any scenario that would actually result in him winning the job here. Bottom of the 3rd update: Lannan once again shows his grit. Despite a leadoff single to Brian Barton and a walk to Joe Mather, he gets Albert Pujols to ground into a 5-4-3 and then strikes out Troy Glaus for the second time today. Looks like Lannan's day is done: 3 ip, 3 h, 0 r, 2 bb, 3 k. Tyler Clippard about to replace him. And with that, we're going to have to wrap things up for today. Thanks for all the questions -- good stuff. Tune in next week for another round of Q's and A's. See you later...]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.4553 2008-02-27T23:55:16Z 2008-02-28T15:46:14Z

Sorry, folks. Due to technical difficulties, we won't be able to hold today's scheduled live chat. We'll give it another try next week....

twtsports Sorry, folks. Due to technical difficulties, we won't be able to hold today's scheduled live chat. We'll give it another try next week. tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/natsmailbag//7.4314 2008-02-20T19:00:00Z 2008-02-20T19:39:45Z

Hello, Nats fans and greetings from sunny Viera, Fla., where pitchers and catchers have been working out for five days now and position players reported today. Well, one of them hasn't exactly made it here yet. Elijah Dukes, the oft-discussed,...

twtsports Hello, Nats fans and greetings from sunny Viera, Fla., where pitchers and catchers have been working out for five days now and position players reported today. Well, one of them hasn't exactly made it here yet. Elijah Dukes, the oft-discussed, troubled outfielder acquired from Tampa Bay this winter, was supposed to be arriving today and holding a 3 p.m. news conference. But within the last hour, we were told that the situation had become "fluid" and that it may not be happening today or at all. I'll keep you posted as we move along with this chat, and I may have to bolt early if we suddenly get word he is coming after all. In the meantime, I'm sure you've got plenty of questions about the Nats, so let's get started. To submit a question, either click on the above link or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. And away we go...]]> From Art in Centreville: Mark: Good story on Zimmerman today. He hit around .265 last year but had decent power numbers. Entering his third full season with the Nationals, what kind of offensive numbers should we expect to see from him? Also, how concerning would it be if he had a bad defensive spring training? Mark Zuckerman: Thanks, Art. I think it's safe to say Zimmerman's offensive numbers (.266, 24 HR, 91 RBI) will go up this season, for a couple of reasons. 1) He's maturing as a player and a hitter, and after getting off to a rough start last year, he improved along the way. 2) He's got more talent around him in the lineup, which will help his RBI numbers go up. 3) He (like the rest of the team) is making the move from cavernous RFK to smaller Nationals Park. That's going to turn a lot of long flyouts into home runs. My prediction for Zim in 2008: .290-30-110. From Mike in Naples: What do you think will be the biggest surprise in the Nats camp this spring? Mark Zuckerman: I think at this point, the biggest surprise would be Elijah Dukes making it through six weeks without being involved in any controversy. ... But to answer your actual question, I think the biggest surprise could be one of the young starting pitchers showing he's ready to actually be in the Opening Day rotation. Collin Balester, Garrett Mock and Ross Detwiler are all being given a look this spring, though they aren't considered among the 7-8 guys in actual competition for rotation spots. But I wouldn't be stunned if one of those three impressed team officials so much that they force themselves into the conversation. From John: Has Ross Detwiler's new delivery increased his velocity or improved his pitches at all? Mark Zuckerman: The new "delivery" you're referring to is really more of a tweaking done by pitching coach Randy St. Claire. Detwiler came to the Nats last summer from Missouri State with a motion in which he threw across his body too much. That puts strain on the arm and leads to worse command of the strike zone. Detwiler is still throwing across his body a bit, but not nearly as much anymore. You won't really see increased velocity or anything, but you should see less strain on his arm and possibly better location. From Brian in Alexandria: Is there such a thing as SUI -- "segway"ing under the influence? Mark Zuckerman: Wow, I'm not going to touch that one, other than say if anyone doesn't understand what Brian's talking about, please check out one of my blog entries from yesterday in which I described the scene of the GM of the Nats riding around camp on a Segway. From GrandSlam1975: How much more comfortable -- or different -- does Manny Acta seem this spring now that he has a year of managing under his belt? Mark Zuckerman: Manny's always been a confident person since he took this job a year ago, and he's always walked around with a presence about him. He showed that from day one of spring training last year. So I wouldn't say he's more comfortable in year two, because he already was comfortable to begin with. But the one observation I would offer is that it seems to me he's been a little more focused on watching the pitchers throw and the main position players hit so far this camp. Last year, he was constantly running from one field to the next, actively participating in drills. He's still hitting fungoes to guys, and he's still throwing some BP, but I think he may be leaving more of the instruction to his coaches while focusing more on the big picture this spring. From Mike Cricchio: Mark, you and Loverro are doing a bang-up job down there in Vierra, thanks for the info. I know Bowden and Co have been planting the flag regarding the young arms in camp, but as you and Thom are watching can you tell if these guys are the real deal? It's amazing how in just twelve months the Nats have gone from trying to find retreads with no tread to having studs with miles of potential. I hope I didn't answer my own question. Mark Zuckerman: You maybe sort of answered your own question, but I'll try to expand on it. The Nats definitely are in a better situation this year with the prospects they've got in camp. Think about the pitchers who were in competition for jobs last spring: Jerome Williams, Jason Simontacchi, Chris Michalak, Colby Lewis. This year, the names are Odalis Perez, John Lannan, Collin Balester, Ross Detwiler, Garrett Mock. Big difference. Except for Perez, who was just signed yesterday, the other guys are all top prospects from within the organization. They may not be ready for prime time quite yet, but they'll be there soon. From B. Prophet in Reston: In one of today's stories, it was noted how many Nationals players are having trouble with their visas and are late for spring training. Why is this always a problem -- shouldn't these players know months in advance when they're supposed to be back in the United States? Mark Zuckerman: Short answer: Yes, this stuff should have been resolved a long time ago. Longer answer: It's a very complicated process, made more so since 9/11, which has made it tougher for foreigners to enter the U.S. for work purposes. The good news is that most of the Nats seem to have gotten their situations worked out. Luis Ayala is due to arrive today. Jesus Flores is supposed to make it in this weekend, and others will be coming in over the rest of the week. The only ones who remain a real problem are the remaining Dominicans who are stuck down there (namely Jesus Colome). No matter what, the players and the team need to do a better job next winter of securing all these visas months in advance so they don't have a repeat performance. From John in Washington: Aren't the Nationals making the whole Dukes thing more of a story by being so cryptic about the reason for the press conference and then moving it around? Mark Zuckerman: You're preaching to the choir on this one, my friend. Personally, I don't understand why the team didn't just plan this out in advance and let everyone know when it would take place. I understand it would have made for a major event that they would have preferred to avoid, but then they could have gotten it all out of the way in one shot. Now, they risk this thing dragging on for a while ... And I interrupt my answer to offer this breaking news: Elijah Dukes has just walked through the lobby at Space Coast Stadium and is on his way to the clubhouse. I've got to run, but check the blog later this afternoon for updates.]]> tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2007:/natsmailbag//7.2393 2007-10-24T19:00:39Z 2007-10-24T19:54:35Z

Hiya, everyone, and greetings from Boston, where the World Series starts tonight. Yes, as only Dr. Seuss could have foreseen, it's the Rox and Sox on Fox! We've still got more than six hours til first pitch at Fenway Park,...

twtsports Hiya, everyone, and greetings from Boston, where the World Series starts tonight. Yes, as only Dr. Seuss could have foreseen, it's the Rox and Sox on Fox! We've still got more than six hours til first pitch at Fenway Park, but I'm sure there are plenty of questions about the upcoming series. If you have something to ask, just click on the above link to submit your query, or e-mail me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. Let's get started! ... ]]> From Chuck in Arlington: The paper said this morning that Game 1 won't start until 8:35 p.m. or thereabouts. Heck, most adults won't stay up for the game. When will MLB get a clue and start games a little earlier? Mark Zuckerman: Hey, at least the games aren't starting at 10:18 p.m. like they did twice during the NLCS! Seriously, though, this is a major problem that MLB needs to confront. League and TV execs will insist it's not that big a deal, because ratings are high and that's all they go by. But there was an interesting article in today's Boston Globe about this very subject, talking to kids from around Boston who aren't allowed to stay up to watch more than a couple of innings. That's an entire generation of would-be fans who are being denied the opportunity to see their team in the World Series. That's wrong. I understand these things need to be in primetime, and I understand the folks on the West Coast need a chance to watch as well, but why couldn't these games start by 7:30 p.m.? And why can't they play one weekend afternoon game? Seems like a plausible compromise to me. From GoNats! in Fairfax: You predicted the Red Sox in 7, right? Do you really think these teams are that evenly matched? Mark Zuckerman: I did, indeed pick the Sox in 7 in today's paper, in kind of a last-minute decision. I was initially thinking (like everyone) that Boston was clearly superior to the Rockies. But the more I thought about it, I'm not so sure. With Tim Wakefield out and Dice-K an enigma, these two teams look more evenly matched than I at first thought. I still believe Boston is better and will win the series, but I don't believe they'll just steamroll a very good Colorado team that still isn't getting credit despite winning 21 of 22 games! From Gilbert A. in D.C.: Since you work for a daily newspaper in DC that can vote on post-season awards, who would get your NL Rookie of the Year vote, Braun or Tulowitzki? Mark Zuckerman: Hey, Gil -- how's preparation for the upcoming season going? I hear you guys are going to be pretty good. ... Anyways, I actually did have a vote for NL Rookie of the Year. I'm not allowed to reveal who I picked until the results are announced next month, but one thing fans should be aware of is this: all postseason awards must be submitted by the end of the REGULAR season. So a player's postseason performance has no bearing. This makes for some awkward stuff sometimes, since the award isn't handed out til after the World Series. I will say this: Ryan Braun had a fabulous regular season. Troy Tulowitzki did as well, but he's really made a name for himself in the postseason. If playoffs were included, Tulo definitely would win. From Art in Centrevile: What's the deal with Bob Carpenter possibly returning to the Nationals' television booth? Mark Zuckerman: Here's the quick version ... Late in the season, Nats president Stan Kasten met with Carpenter and informed him the club was planning to go in another direction and look for a new TV play by play man. Carpenter started saying his goodbyes to everyone. Then, just after the season ended, he was told to hang on, because the team was reconsidering. Nothing's finalized yet, but it appears Carp will be offered a one-year contract to return. What actually happened? My understanding is that the Nats were spurned by a few announcers they were interested in (including ESPN's Dan Schulman) and after some strong public support for Carpenter emerged, decided it might be worth bringing him back. Stay tuned... From Brian in Alexandria: While it is much more pronounced with the Rockies, the Red Sox also have utilized their player development system to reach the World Series (Pedroia, Ellsbury, Papelbon). Turning the question a bit towards the Nationals, which camp do you think the Nats should follow, (1) building with all homegrown talent like the Rockies or (2) filling some spots with homegrown talent but also trading prospects for key contributors (a la Schilling or Beckett & Lowell) while signing big name free agents (Ramirez)? Mark Zuckerman: Interesting question. Here's what I'd say ... I think the Nats would be wise to start off building like the Rockies did, then morph into the Red Sox mold over time, if that makes any sense. Basically, they need to focus on building entirely from within right now. Stockpile prospects, let them work their way up the ladder. Then, once they reach the majors and are successful, start making more "big-market club" moves, like signing top-tier free agents and trading prospects for proven veterans who can get you over the hump. In the long run, I believe that's the best way to build a championship franchise. From Drew in Burke: How much of an impact do you think the difference in rest time will have on the teams -- the Rockies having 9 days and the Red Sox having 3? Which situation is better? Mark Zuckerman: I don't think there's any question the Rockies will suffer from the long layoff. It's one thing to have three, four, even five days to recoup and set your rotation up. But it's been nine days since Colorado last played a game. That's a long time. We saw last year what dead time can do to a team -- the Tigers had six days off and looked sloppy against the Cards. Doesn't mean it's going to happen to the Rox, too, but I think it's got to have at least some effect. From Ken in Montreal: Despite hitting only .225 during the regular season, Jamey Carroll has made some key contributions to the Rockies, including the game-winning single that scored Matt Holliday and clinched the NL Wild Card for Colorado. Do you think that Nationals GM, Jim Bowden, regrets trading Jamey Carroll to Colorado for nothing but cash? Mark Zuckerman: How happy are we for Jamey, by the way? I've been talking a lot to him over the last two rounds, and let me tell you, he is having the time of his life. Good for him. ... I doubt Bowden would ever publicly say he regrets getting rid of Jamey (he just never seemed to believe Carroll was good enough for the role the Nats needed him in) but there's probably at least a little bit of second thoughts. Jamey will be a free agent after the '08 season. Perhaps he could come back to D.C. then! From Frank in Bel Air, Calif.: Among Sox and Rox, who is going to be a Hall of Famer and who is going to make the Hall of Fame? Mark Zuckerman: Slam-dunk, Hank Aaron-type Hall of Famers: Manny Ramirez, probably David Ortiz. I believe Curt Schilling should be in there, too, if for no other reason than his remarkable record in the postseason. Josh Beckett could be on that path if he keeps it up. Questionable, Gary Carter-type Hall of Famer: Todd Helton, whose numbers were padded by playing at Coors Field. From Brian in Alexandria: What would you do if you were the Red Sox when it comes to 1B in the NL ballpark? Would you start Ortiz with his iffy knee and take Youklis' hot bat out the lineup? Start Ortiz with his iffy knee and take Lowell's glove out of the lineup [starting Youklis at 3B]? Or door #3, don't mess with the starters and use Ortiz as LH bat off of the bench? Mark Zuckerman: This a huge and difficult decision for Terry Francona. There's really no right answer. How can you take David Ortiz out of the lineup? But then, how can you bench Youkilis (hitting .500 in the postseason) or Lowell (120 RBI during the regular season)? I guess I'd start Papi at 1B and Lowell at 3B, hope you take an early lead and then sub in Youkilis for defense late. But I wouldn't be shocked if Ortiz gets one game off (in part to rest his knees). If so, has there ever been a more dangerous pinch-hitter in the World Series? From John in D.C.: How important is defense in your mind? The Rockies were the best team in MLB defensively this season. Is this obvious when you see them play or can stats like this be influenced by the performance of official scorers? Mark Zuckerman: I don't think the official scorer is making much difference there, aside from the occasional hometown hit-error decision. The Rockies weren't just the best defensive team in the majors this year. They were statistically one of the best all-time. And yes, from seeing them in person the last few weeks, they are legitimately good. Tulowitzki is outstanding at shortstop. Willy Taveras tracks down everything in center field. And Yorvit Torrealba is an underrated catcher. Defense could help keep the Rox in this series. From SoxFan in Reston: If you had to compare this year’s Red Sox to another Red Sox team, which would you pick: 2004 or 1986? Mark Zuckerman: Hmm, I wouldn't really compare this team to the 2004 one, which seemed to have more veteran role players who made a difference (Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, Dave Roberts). This team is more loaded with stars, though one definite comparison are the two studs atop the rotation (Pedro in 04, Beckett now). I'd be tempted to say this team is more like 1986, but then, who would be this team's Bill Buckner or Calvin Schiraldi? From Mike in Atlanta: Who do you believe should win AL Manager of the Year? Francona or Wedge? My vote is for Wedge. Mark Zuckerman: Well, I didn't have a vote for this one, seeing as how I cover the NL. But I'd say Eric Wedge is the frontrunner to win the award. These things usually go to the manager of a team that surprised, and the Indians surely did (even if they were loaded with talent). Terry Francona is starting to get more respect, though, and in fact there are reports out now of the Red Sox closing in on signing him to an extension once the World Series is over. All right, that'll do it for now. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions. If the series goes to a sixth game, perhaps we'll do this again next Wednesday. I'll keep you posted. Enjoy the game tonight!]]>