"Right now, I'm ready for about two or three innings of work." Matt Purke, on how his arm feels.

"That's the way East Texas people are." Purke's agent, Peter Vescovo, about consenting to pre-signing medical exams.

Exuding a quiet confidence, one of the Washington Nationals newest recruits met the D.C. media today and explained why he felt the Nats were the right team for him and why he consented to an invasive medical procedure, even before he signed a contract with the team.

Left-handed pitcher Matt Purke, late of Texas Christian University, spoke with a deep, respectful voice as he addressed Nationals beat writers.  Accompanied by his family, his agent Peter Vescovo, the Lerner family and Nats GM Mike Rizzo, the 21-year old pulled on his red Curly W cap and crisp, white home uniform No. 47 (for Tom Glavine), then answered several questions revolving around his draft status, how he decided this was the place for him to be, and about the health of his left arm, which limited him to just 11 starts in his sophomore year.

Below is a transcript of the press conference Q&A.

___________________________________________________

What was it about the Nationals that convinced you to sign here?  

I came up here. They come highly recommended. I've seen the things they've done the last few years with the prospects they've brought in and the Major League players as well. This organization is going to be very strong, they're building, and they're going to be a serious team to deal with in the years to come. I knew I wanted to be a part of that and hopefully to be a helpful piece in the puzzle.

How is your arm, and why did you consent to the physical, MRI and arthogram? How were the last couple of days, excitement-wise? How much have you been throwing this summer?

I just knew that, the only thing I could do was lay it out there and say 'Do what you want to do', do the test, look at it, get your own assessment of it and then we can talk. I knew that I was healthy and I was fit again. I just had to prove it so I said 'do what you have to do' and then we'll talk from there.

How have the last couple of days been?

Big relief. It's been nice. It's been a long, seems like two weeks but it's only been three days. But they've been very enjoyable and I'm very excited for the opportunity that I have here and to come.

How does your arm feel?  Have you been doing a throwing program this summer?

Yes, I've been throwing all summer and I've been been in bullpens. I've been able to build my stamina up now. Since my last bullpen I've been ready, right now I'm ready for about two or three innings of work. That's what I knew I needed to do all summer is to get built back up and get my strength and everything that I kinda missed throughout the year.

Was it difficult being hurt in college, not being able to be on the field with your teammates? How frustrating was watching the draft?

It pulls on you. You want to compete for your guys and your teammates and I loved TCU and the opportunity I had there and everybody, the staff, Coach Schlossnagel and those guys. But I sat down with them and he said, 'I've seen you work all year. You've done what you need to do for this team' he said, 'But you need to take care of yourself because you have a bright future and a long career and that's what you need to do.' So we were able to work with that.

How frustrating was watching the draft, with each pick going by and your name not getting called?

It was different from everything, but I was very honest and open in the beginning with everyone and throughout the year. I was not worried or concerned where I got picked. I just wanted to know who it was going to be. I knew that at some point I would get picked and this was the right team and the right situation that I needed. So I was very fortunate and excited when it happened.

Was going back to school ever really an option? When did you know this was the right situation?

You always have options. Bu tI knew that once everything had started here and that I'd gotten up here and gotten a feel for this organization I knew that this was a good fit for me and the right situation that I was looking for. And so I knew I was ready to play and move on, and I was thankful enough to get the opportunity.

When did you know the Nats was the right situation for you?

I think it was pretty much right away once I had seen and heard about the things that are going on here and how this organization, the Lerners and Mr. Rizzo, run things around here and I knew that was something that I was looking for and value a lot. So I knew this was a really good spot.

How did you know DC was a really good spot? Can you describe your repertoire and maybe who you pattern your pitching after? To Rizzo, about the plan for Purke going forward:

When I did all my college recruiting I took a lot of visits and I went to a lot of places. When I got to TCU, I kinda got the sense that 'This is home', this is where I could call home and I can fit in with these people and be a part of this group. Throughout the days I was here before the All-Star break, I got the same, similar feeling, when I was able to talk to the owners and be around the stadium and see the fans and stuff. And I said, 'I know this feeling.' And it was a good one and that's why I felt that way.

Can you describe your repertoire and maybe what pitchers you model yourself after?

Pitching repertoire is simple. Fastball, curveball, change-up. I say someone I emulate myself off of is kind of a cross between Clayton Kershaw and Cole Hamels. I have the same build, similar style. So I've kinda watched those guys and I've been fortunate enough to meet both of them and talk to them and learn about their careers and what's been successful for them.

To Rizzo, about the immediate plans for Purke the rest of the summer:

Matt's going to stay at the stadium for a day or so and go down to Florida and we're going ot have our pitching coordinator, Spin Williams down there. We'll assess where he's at as far as his readiness to pitch, and as Matt said I've seen him pitch recently and he's well on his way to pitching in a game so when we make that assessment we'll put a plan together to get him on the mound.

To Purke's agent, Peter Vescovo, about the difference between this negotiation and with the Rangers in 2009, and the MRI: To Purke, did you have any concerns about the arthogram?

I just think there was more dialog between the two parties and we're just more open and up front. That's the way Matthew and his family wanted it to be, to be straightforward and honest. Some people might say, 'Why would you shoot the dye?' why would you do this, but it's the way East Texas people are. They're gonna put everything out there and show you what they're about. So I think Mike and I kinda agreed that we were gonna move forward with it and luckily it worked out.

To Purke, about consenting to an invasive medical procedure before being under contract:

I knew that's what needed to happen. Obviously when you talk about investing in someone you're going to want to know what your investment is all about. I was comfortable and confident in the results I had gotten from everything throughout the year and so I said that's fine,. I had no objection. They're looking to protect their investment and I understand that and understand that it's business and it's not personal and so I was open to do it and I was thankful that I did it early. I really was glad to do it early and get it out of the way, that way talks would be able to continue then and we wouldn't have anything pending on what happens in the end.

NATIONALS DOLE OUT OVER $16 MILLION IN CONTRACTS

"We are the talk of the industry." Nats GM Mike Rizzo on signing his top five draft picks.

As the midnight deadline to sign 2011 amateur draft picks approached, the Washington Nationals still had not announced the signing of any of their top four draft picks.  But mere moments after the deadline passed, various national sources revealed what most Nats fans hoped would be the outcome: that the Nationals did indeed sign all four of their top draft picks, making the Nats' 2011 draft class one of the most impressive in recent memory.

The Nationals added 3B Anthony Rendon (four year Major League deal with club option, $7.2 million), RHP Alex Meyer ($2.0 million bonus), OF Brian Goodwin ($3.0 million bonus) and LHP Matt Purke (four year Major League deal at roughly $4.0 million).  Nats GM Mike Rizzo indicated the four would all report to the Nats training facility in Viera, FL to assess their fitness and conditioning before assigning them to a minor league affiliate.

For biographies of the players, please check out our profile of Rendon here, Meyer and Goodwin here and Purke here.

Earlier in the evening, the Nats signed fourth round pick Kylin Turnbull, a 6'4" left-handed pitcher from Santa Barbara (CA) CC.  Turnbull is described as a big, projectable lefty with a low-90s fastball.  He also features a slider and splitter that "have potential", according to one scouting service.  He was committed to the University of Oregon, but signed with the Nats for $325,000, just $100,000 more than the MLB slot recommendation.

Rizzo spoke openly about his pleasure in getting the top four draft picks under contract.  "It feels great.  Our scouting staff worked extremely hard to identify the talent.  It's often a difficult time-consuming, grinding process to get them signed.  But we have to thank our ownership for allowing me, and Roy Clark, to be very aggressive in this draft, to go after and sign some of the top talent in all of amateur baseball.  And for us to land what we believe are four first-round picks and pay them accordingly is a testament to the commitment of winning here in Washington."

"As far as number of quality impact players this is probably the first draft that I've ever been associated with that we can really look back at this thing and figure out that we did get four players that we had first-round numbers on coming into the draft."

The Nats gave both Rendon and Purke Major League deals, meaning they'll be assigned to the 40-man roster and receive an invitation to big league spring training next season.  For Rendon it was a formality, as he is expected to make the jump very quickly as an accomplished fielder and the top bat in college baseball last season.  For Purke, who could very well have been one of the top five picks in next year's draft had he failed to sign, the big league contract was further incentive to come to a deal.

"I've never done two Major League deals in the same draft," Rizzo said.  "I've only done a handful of Major League deals in all the drafts I've ever been associated with. But we felt that these two players are close to the big leagues.  They're extreme talents, and for us to fit them in and get them done we felt that the Major League contract was the way to go."

Rizzo was effusive in his praise for his new cadre of prospects.  "We see all these guys as fast-track -- they're college players, so we feel good about their developmental curve.  Their ceilings are enormous, their talents are enormous and we're happy to have them in the fold."

"We're the talk of the industry right now," Rizzo said.  "Before we signed these players we had a minor league system that the needle was heading north in a big, big way, and this just solidifies us as one of the great scouting and player development organizations in baseball.  We feel really good about ourselves tonight."

Both Rendon and Purke had injury issues last season, but were cleared by Nats team doctors.  Purke even consented to an MRI arthogram, an enhanced procedure where dye is injected into the joint for a better evaluation.  Rendon  not only was examined by Nats doctors, but cleared by noted shoulder specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum in California.

"This is my 27th year in the draft, and I have never -- it's the best draft I've ever been a part of," Nats Scouting Director Roy Clark said after the announcements.  "I think this is huge day in the franchise history of the Washington Nationals."

Rizzo indicated that the team was "very, very close" with Purke after visiting with him over the weekend at his home in Houston, but with the other three players things came right down to the last minute.  "Close. Right down to the buzzer," Rizzo described it.  Rizzo described the anxiety level about signing all four players as, "High.  It was high anxiety."

Rizzo might have been suffering from high anxiety right down to the deadline, but the Nationals ownership gave Rizzo the ammunition to be aggressive with the draft picks and even more aggressive signing the players.  As with any draft scenario, only time will tell if the money was well spent.  But you don't give yourself the option of evaluating the players if you don't bring them under contract.  In this instance, the Nationals scored big time last night.

Rendon was the undisputed "best college bat" with gold glove caliber defense at third base.  Alex Meyer is a 6'9" fireballer with a devastating slider.  Brian Goodwin is a five-tool outfielder that some scouts said could have been a top-five pick next year.  And Matt Purke, the lefty that "fell" to the third round due to signability issues and tendinitis in his shoulder his sophomore year, could turn out to be the best of all of them.

Time will tell.  Rizzo and the Lerners bought that time last night.

The Washington Nationals have signed all five of their top draft picks, according to multiple sources. 

There was very little news all evening until right before the midnight deadline, when multiple sources announced that first round picks 3B Anthony Rendon (No. 6 overall), RHP Alex Meyer (No. 23 overall) and Brian Goodwin (No. 34 overall), along with third round pick LHP Matt Purke, had all agreed to deals with the club.

Details of the contracts are unknown at this time, but it has been reported that Rendon signed a $7.2 million Major League deal, according to Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman and Purke signed a Major League deal worth roughly $4.4 million, according to Baseball America's Jim Callis.  Other reports have Goodwin's contract at $3 million, MLB-recommended "slot" money for the third overall pick.

The first domino to fall, with news leaking about 9:30 pm from Baseball America's Jim Callis, was fourth round pick Kylin Turnbull, a 6'4" left-handed pitcher from Santa Barbara (CA) CC.  Turnbull is described as a big, projectable lefty with a low-90s fastball.  He also features a slider and splitter that "have potential", according to one scouting service.  He was committed to the University of Oregon, but signed with the Nats for $325,000, just $100,000 more than the MLB slot recommendation.  Turnbull was a 30th round pick of the White Sox in 2010 and improved his stock by not signing and playing another year of amateur ball.

We'll have much more infprmation about all the Nats top draft picks, including quotes from Nats GM Mike Rizzo, coming up after he addresses the media shortly.

This year's trade deadline brings a little less excitement than the previous two, when the Nats were in negotiations with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft two years running, Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper, and all the attention that came with both.  Both were considered "once in a generation" type players, and discussions went down to the final minute with both.

Hard to imagine anyone giving Nats GM Mike Rizzo a whipped cream pie to the face during his press conference, like Stan Kasten did last season, if he is able to get first round pick Anthony Rendon under contract.

But this year's draft class is impressive in its own right.  Rendon was widely regarded as the top college hitter in the draft and "fell" to the Nats at No. 6.  Alex Meyer is a 6'9" fireballer from Kentucky and many though he had the best 1-2 combo of fastball and slider in the draft.  Brian Goodwin is a fast, defensively proficient center fielder that could develop some pop.

And the cherry on the sundae would be LHP Matt Purke, who some have said if he goes back into the draft could be the No. 1 overall pick.

The Major League draft is different from drafts for the NFL and NBA.  Amateur baseball players that haven't exhausted their eligibility can simply refuse to sign and continue their amateur career.  There's always leverage for the player, especially younger players taken later in the draft that wouldn't be signing multi-million dollar contracts. 

The other difference is that draft picks aren't inserted into a MLB lineup right away.  These players need to play professionally in the minors for an extended period of time to develop and refine their immense skill.  We've seen with Harper this season how he tore up the Low-A South Atlantic League, only to initially struggle in Double-A before getting his feet underneath him more recently.  It's a process for all prospects, even the most heralded.

So the MLB draft is more art than science, with the payout not obvious sometimes for years.  But it's still the most cost-effective way to develop prospects and stock the organization with talent.

Rizzo has his work cut out for him tonight.  All of the players left unsigned hold leverage.  But they are also old enough that players their age -- or younger -- are already completing their first year or two in professional baseball.  Failing to sign and going back to play on an amateur level only delays their professional progress another year.  Injury, attrition, a new MLB CBA...all these things could impact whether a player will retain his lofty draft status.

How will it all play out?  We'll know in a few hours.  But Rizzo, with the Lerner family's backing, has gotten the job done the last two seasons.

The Washington Nationals still have several of their highest draft picks yet unsigned.  They have until the Aug. 15 deadline to bring these players under contract and, like in years past, these signings will probably come cascading down on deadline day.  Last year, the names were Ray, Solis, Cole and Harper.  This year the names read Rendon, Meyer, Goodwin and Purke.

For 3B Anthony Rendon, RHP Alex Meyer and CF Brian Goodwin, it's a matter of time.  The Nats have MLB's guidelines (slot) for each of these players, and once other dominoes fall into place these players will most likely sign at or near what their slot should call for.  None were a reach with the pick they were chosen, and none seemed like they had signability issues on draft day.

Third round pick LHP Matt Purke, however, is a different story. 

Purke, 21 (6'3", 175), just completed his sophomore year at TCU.  A bout of bursitis limited Purke to just 11 starts in 2011, and he took a month off to allow the shoulder to calm down. But he was excellent when he did pitch, going 5-1 with a 1.71 ERA, posting a .187 batting average against with 61 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings. He pitched most recently June 4 in the NCAA Regionals, going five innings and allowing two runs.

In his freshman year, however, Purke was nothing short of dominant.  He went 16-0 with a 3.02 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He had 142 strikeouts against just 34 walks in 116 1/3 innings, earning NCAA College Freshman of the Year, and was named second team All-America starting pitcher. Scouts drooled and proclaimed him one of the top three players for the 2011 draft.

Purke was sophomore eligible for this draft since he's already 21.  The injury, combined with the fact that he retains his college eligibility should he not sign, caused him to fall in the draft and subsequently be available for the Nats to select with the 96th overall pick.

But therein lies the rub.  Purke holds most of the cards.  If he doesn't get what his agent thinks in an appropriate deal, he can simply go back to TCU, prove his health, and most likely be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, according to at least one prominent draft expert. 

My colleague at Federal Baseball, Patrick Reddington, does an excellent job recapping Purke's previous draft history and the shenanigans that happened when the Texas Rangers drafted him, thought they had a deal, and Major League Baseball nuked it.

So not only does the player have leverage, but he also has history as a rationale for signing an over-slot deal.

But here's the thing:  it's not going to take the original $6 million deal to get Purke under contract.  The situation has changed.  He's been injured.  He's two years older, already 21 year old.  He's already behind where other 21-year olds are developmentally in the minor leagues.  The Nats knew when they drafted him that he was going to take over-slot money to sign him.  The best thing for the player is also the best thing for the team: Get him signed and get him started on his pro career.

So how much will it take?  My thought is that the player and his agent would be foolish to walk away from $3 million.  That amount isn't insignificant, but it's a drop in the bucket to the Lerner family and this organization.  And to put it in perspective, it's the same amount they've given Chien-Ming Wang the last two years to rehab from his devastating shoulder capsule injury, with zero guarantees on his services past the last day of this season.  It's also the same amount they've given Pudge Rodriguez each of the last two seasons to hit .254/.289/.342.

It's funny how teams throw money around during the off-season on free agents like it's monopoly money on "established veterans" but fail to invest in their future by not signing their draft picks.  Sure, there are special situations, which Purke certainly qualifies.  But ever since the Aaron Crow debacle the Nationals have been very good about coming up with the money to sign their draft picks, especially the ones they took anticipating signing for over-slot, as evidenced last year with A.J. Cole and Robbie Ray especially.

Purke, returned to health and under contract, would be the steal of the 2011 draft and could potentially give the Nats the shutdown left-hander in the starting rotation they thought they had when they drafted Ross Detwiler No. 6 overall in 2007.  This needs to get done.

#signMattPurke.

As I start to type, it's 11:30 am, four and a half hours away from the Major League non-waiver trade deadline.  The Washington Nationals have already made three trades this week, acquiring Jonny Gomes and dealing Jerry Hairston and Jason Marquis for prospects. 

They are still involved, obviously, in other talks, most notably with the Minnesota Twins on a deal that could include Nats closer Drew Storen and Twins center fielder Denard Span, currently rehabbing in Triple-A after suffering from post-concussion symptoms.  Rumors are also still circulating around Tampa Bay's center fielder B.J. Upton.  The Nats seem to be activated for a deal today one way or the other, and national media sources describe Nats GM Mike Rizzo to be on a quest to finally fill the Nats center field hole, something that's plagued this organization since its move in 2005.

The trade deadline isn't easy for anybody.  Not for the executives, players or fans.  It's tough to see players you've become fond of for whatever reason ripped from your team.  It's also tough to place blind trust in the team's front office with no control over the situation.  I guess that's one of the reasons fantasy sports is so popular -- you are your own GM. 

But this isn't fantasy, it's real life.  GMs of major league baseball teams are executives of multi-million dollar companies.  Decisions they make can affect a franchise for years, and could ultimately cost them their jobs.

Both Storen and Span are fan-favorites in their respective markets.  Both players are affable, accessible and very talented young, cost-controlled players.  They are assets to their teams and communities.  And both fan bases are up in arms about their being included in trade talks.  Crowd-sourcing on Twitter last night and this morning shows that neither fan base wants any part of this deal.  Must mean it's a fair deal.

Anyway, in a little over four hours we'll know what this team will be going forward.  Fans will have to trust that Mike Rizzo is doing the right thing for this team, both for the short and long-term.  They really have no other choice.  But let's hope that in this case, Rizzo isn't getting caught up in his quest for a center fielder and leadoff hitter and making a deal today just to make a deal.  It's a position of need for this club, no doubt.  But in order to make a deal of this magnitude, he's got to be certain of the return.

I'm not against the idea of trading a young, cost-certain closer to address a position of need.  But it has to be for the right player.

The Washington Nationals have traded veteran starter Jason Marquis to the Arizona Diamondbacks this afternoon in exchange for Single-A shortstop Zach Walters, a ninth round pick in the 2010 draft.  The deal has not been announced by the team, but it is official according to multiple sources.

Marquis, 32, went 8-5 with a 3.95 ERA in 20 starts.  He will become a free agent at the end of the year and will not qualify for even Type-B free agency, meaning the Nationals would not have received compensation should he sign with another team.  Reports indicate Arizona was willing to assume the remainder of Marquis' salary this season, saving the Nats over $2.5 million.

Walters, a 21 year old middle infielder, was hitting .302/.377/.485 with Single-A South Bend, playing shortstop primarily, but also appearing at second and third base.  In 166 career minor league games, Walters has hit .302/.360/.465.  This is the second position player today the Nats have picked up with good on-base skills, joining OF Erik Komastu, acquired for Jerry Hairston Jr earlier in the day from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Marquis was due to start for the Nationals in tonight's game with the New York Mets.  His spot will be taken tonight by Yunesky Maya.  Maya went 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA in four starts earlier this season with the Nats.  But manager Davey Johnson indicated in his post-game press conference last night and reiterated today that the team may recall some younger arms from the minors after the trade deadline shakes out, including RHP Brad Peacock and LHP Tom Milone.

Major League sources are still indicating that the Nationals continue to be involved in talks for a Major League center fielder, with Denard Span of the Twins and Michael Bourn of the Astros the most likely targets.  Sources have indicated the Nats have been reluctant to include young, team-controlled closer Drew Storen in a deal for Span, but with Rick Ankiel the only center fielder on the Nats roster, speculation is running rampant at Nats Park and on the Internet.

The team hasn't confirmed the reports yet, but several sources have reported the Washington Nationals this morning traded Jerry Hairston, Jr. to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for 23 year old left-handed hitting CF Erik Komatsu.

Komatsu has been playing at the Brewers Double-A affiliate this season, putting together a slash line of .294/.393/.416 with six home runs, 40 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 379 plate appearances.  He has 44 Ks to 53 walks.  In his minor league career, he's played 317 games and hit .310/.398/.449.

This seems like a solid return for 35 year old Hairston, who hit .268/.342/.385 this season for the Nats.  The Brewers were in need of a 2B/UTL player since All-Star 2B Rickie Weeks was placed on the D.L. this week.

This leaves the Nationals with just one centerfielder, Rick Ankiel, for the time being.  Since they sent Roger Bernadina down yesterday to make room for Chien-Ming Wang, they can't recall him for 10 days without placing someone on the disabled list.  Look for the Nats to recall Brian Bixler for his right-handed bat for the time being, but also you'd have to think this only increases the possibility of the Nats acquiring a MLB CF before Sunday's 4:00 pm trade deadline.

Just before Tuesday night's game with the Florida Marlins, the Washington Nationals announced they acquired OF Jonny Gomes from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for two minor leaguers: OF Bill Rhinehart and LHP Christopher Manno.

Gomes, 30, is hitting .211/.339/.399 this season in 265 plate appearances.  He gives the Nats a veteran right-handed bat to add to the stable of left-handed outfielders already on the roster.  He wears left-handed pitching out to the tune of .281/.376/.510 in his career.  Against lefties, he hits a paltry .226/.308/.429.

Rhinehart is a 26 year old outfielder enjoying a fine campaign for Double-A Harrisburg, hitting .283 with 21 home runs and 59 RBIs in 89 games. Manno, 22, a left-handed reliever, earned 12 saves in 34 appearances for Single-A Hagerstown.

On the surface, this gives the Nats another serviceable veteran player to help this season's team compete for .500.  And the prospects they gave up, much like the Gorzelanny deal last winter, aren't high on the list and will most likely not make a big impact -- if any -- at the Major League level.

But Jonny Gomes just isn't the type of player you should trade any assets for, as he has nearly reached non-roster invitee status in his career.  If you need an emergency filler, or are going to deplete your roster because of a major trade, that's one thing, and we'll have to wait until the dust settles to see if that's part of the reasoning of this deal.

I will say this though: If the Nats had acquired Gomes during the off-season to platoon with Nix/Bernadina/Ankiel that might have made a lot of sense, since he fairly pounds left-handed hitting. Making this move at the deadline, without knowing any other potential deals coming, smells like a team trying to reach .500 for marketing goals.

But on the surface, it's just giving up young assets for the expiring free agent contract of a platoon outfielder, albeit one that projects at this point to be a Type-B free agent.  I guess all we can do is wait for Mike Rizzo's next move to evaluate as a whole and not just in this vacuum.

In a widely anticipated move, the Washington Nationals today promoted OF Bryce Harper from Low Single-A Hagerstown to their affiliate in Double-A, the Harrisburg Senators.  The promotion bypasses High-A Potomac, a move that had been rumored all summer.

Both GM Mike Rizzo and field manager Davey Johnson today addressed the promotion, and both were insistent that bypassing Potomac was a developmental issue for Harper, and had nothing to do with the widely publicized drainage problems with the field at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge.

Harper finished his stint in Hagerstown with a slash line of .318/.423/.544, adding 14 home runs and 46 RBIs.  He also stole 19 bases and was caught five times.  The phenom played 51 games in right field and 20 games in center field, but is expected to play in left field primarily for the Senators.

"This is a developmental issue," Rizzo said. "We're happy that he progressed as much as he did in that league and showed us that he could handle top-flight velocity and breaking pitches and that type of thing. We feel he's ready to take the next step. This was a plan I had in my mind for a long, long time."

***Quotes used for this post were gathered from published reports.

So, how was your afternoon?

If you're reading this blog, you know by now that Jim Riggleman resigned as manager of the Washington Nationals Thursday, following the team's 11th win in in its last 12 games, another stunning walk-off. 

The announcement came -- as all news does these days -- on Twitter.  MLB.com's Bill Ladson (@washingnats) -- who wasn't even at the park for the game -- tweeted the bizarre news as the rest of the Nats press corps were waiting for Riggleman in the Nationals Park media room for his post-game press conference.

One of the reporters saw Ladson's tweet and immediately everyone thought one of two things: Bill misplaced a hyphen and he meant re-signed, as in signed an extension of his contract, or someone hacked into Ladson's account and was playing a cruel joke.

THAT'S how big a surprise this was to those of us that cover this team on a daily basis.

But when GM Mike Rizzo came into the room with a "major announcement", everyone realized the gravity of the situation.  When Rizzo said the words, "Following the game, manager Jim Riggleman has resigned as manager of the Washington Nationals effective immediately," there were audible gasps that came from fans gathered in the President's Club to watch the press conference through the big windows down there that make the media room feel like a fish bowl sometimes.

Rizzo then went on in some length with his side of the proceedings, relating how Riggleman gave him an ultimatum to pick up his option for next year or he wouldn't get on the team bus to the airport for the road trip.  A half hour later from the clubhouse, Riggleman said it wasn't like that, that he simply wanted a meeting to discuss the possibility of the option, but that Rizzo declined the request, thus making the decision for him.

As in everything else in life, there are three side to every story: yours, mine and the truth.  We may never know the complete truth on how things went down leading up to Thursday's announcement, but we have a pretty good handle on the big picture.

What we know is this:  Rizzo had no reason to pick up the option or even discuss it.  Doing so would give away the only option he had in the managerial structure for next year's team.  2011 isn't about wins, despite the outrageous hot streak that have the Nats at 37-36 at play's end today.  It's about evaluation, of players -- both major and minor league -- and the managerial and coaching staff.  Picking up Riggleman's option was simply not something Rizzo needed or wanted to do.

We also know this: Riggleman is as "old-school" as it gets, and he's a man's man.  He comes from an era when a manager was the most respected man in the organization, even more than the general manager, and as such, still subscribes to the notion that a manager on a one-year deal can't command his clubhouse anymore.  In effect, he felt like he was a lame duck.   

"I made it very clear that, you know, I can't say no to this, but this is a bad contract for a manager," he said. "There's no option for Jim Riggleman. It's a one-year option that the club decides on. That's not a good way to do business. I made it very clear that I didn't like that. But you know I can't say no to it. So there I am. And two years later, I'm realizing: You know what? I was right. It's not a good way to do business."

In his exit interview from the clubhouse -- where according to several published reports he was not allowed to address the team on his way out -- Riggleman even stated that there were probably several players on the Nats that would not be sad to see him go.  You can read into that what you will.

Riggleman felt like the organization -- and Rizzo -- disrespected him by not even giving him a meeting to discuss the possibility of the option.  Rizzo felt like Riggleman committed the biggest baseball sin: walking out of an uncompleted job by putting personal gain ahead of team goals.

Both are right. 

Riggleman picked the absolute worst time to drop this bomb, when this team was playing its best all season.  Perhaps by continuing that great play, Riggleman could have actually forced Rizzo's hand by earning the job, or at least putting himself in a good position to secure a manger's job somewhere else after his contract expired.  But Rizzo was ham-handed in not even entertaining his manager, who has done nothing but do his job professionally through some of the worst baseball conditions possible, with respect and dignity.

I don't subscribe to Riggleman's managerial philosophy, but he's hard-working, decent, and a solid baseball man that had to put up with his share of knuckleheads on this team during his tenure.  The least he could have gotten in the end was a conversation.

One more thing I know:  this wouldn't have happened on Stan Kasten's watch, not the way it went down today and when the Nats finally had started to garner attention nationally for, get this, playing baseball, instead of for something stupid or dysfunctional.  Kasten certainly had his share of problems here, but at the first whiff of this this morning, Kasten would have had both men in a room and made sure that this wouldn't come to a head until the all-star break anyway, when a proper resignation/dismissal could be arranged.

As it is, it's just another embarrassing moment to the organization and its fans, who only want one thing: to cheer for a winning baseball team.

Going forward, John McLaren will manage the team over the weekend while Rizzo decides who will actually be the lame-duck manager for the rest of the season.  Several names are being thrown about, including Special Advisor Davey Johnson, third base coach Bo Porter, and exiled showman Bobby Valentine.  I have a hard time envisioning any of the three being serious candidates.

Johnson has gone on record saying his managing days are over.  I can't see him going on the road to finish this job out as he certainly would not be a long-term solution.  Bobby Valentine is a side-show act, perfect for his gig on TV.  But he'd be bigger than the message at manager again and I can't see Rizzo putting up with his personality.

As for Porter, he'd be the most likely candidate, now and for the future.  But by bringing on Porter, Rizzo would have his hands tied again.  Much  like the scenario could have played out for Riggleman, if Porter has success as the season progresses Rizzo would have to hire him long term, prohibiting Rizzo from going out on the market to procure the man he thinks will lead this team to its first playoff appearance over the next three years. 

Does Rizzo think Porter is that man?  I guess we'll see by Monday, the deadline Rizzo announced that he would have the interim manager's job sorted out.

No, there were no winners today at Nats Park, despite the final score of 1-0 that lingered on the high-definition scoreboard as they broadcast live Riggleman's impromptu press conference from the middle of the clubhouse.

Moments after the Washington Nationals stunning 1-0 walk-off win over the Seattle Mariners, NatsTown was stunned again:  Jim Riggleman resigned as manager, effective immediately.

The news (via MLB.com's Bill Ladson's tweet) came mere seconds before GM Mike Rizzo entered the main press conference room at Nats Park instead of Riggleman for the standard manager's press conference.

"Following the game, manager Jim Riggleman has resigned as manager of the Washington Nationals effective immediately," Rizzo explained. "Jim and I had a discussion before the game today and he told me of his displeasure of his contract situation and told me that if there wasn't something done about the contract he was going to resign after the game."

"We accepted his resignation."

Rizzo expressed the quick nature of the proceedings.  "As you can see, it's taken us a little by surprise.  We don't have immediate plans for a successor as manager.  By Monday, we will have an answer."

When asked about the mood of the organization about the sudden resignation, Rizzo said, "Very disappointing.  Disappointing to the players in the clubhouse, to the fan base of Washington, to the city of Washington, D.C., and personally, to myself.  But we will move on."

Riggleman was managing in the final year of his contract, with the team having an option to retain his services for next season.  According to Rizzo, Riggleman made the team an ultimatum to pick up that option or he would resign.

"We have discussed his option being picked up several times during the season," Rizzo said.  "I felt like the time wasn't right for me to pick up the option as of this time, and certainly today's conversation -- put to me in the way it was put to me -- you certainly can't make that decision in a knee-jerk reaction.  It's too big of a decision to be put into that position, and it was a decision I was -- [with ]Jim's timetable -- was prepared to make and I was not."

Asked if it really was that dire of an ultimatum, Rizzo responded: "Jim told me pre-game today that if we wouldn't pick up his option that he wouldn't get on the team bus today."

Rizzo explained that the reasons he did not acquiesce to Riggleman's demands had not changed since spring training; that this entire team is in an evaluative process with the young players and having not even reached the all-star break yet, he needed more time for the evaluative process.

The players were unaware that these discussions took place before the game, and Rizzo made the announcement to the players following the game.  Rizzo described the clubhouse mood as "somber" following the announcement.

Considering the way the Nationals have played in the last two weeks, winning 11 of their last 12 games, the timing of this decision by Riggleman is curious at best.  Rizzo actually said of Riggleman's decision that "It's not thinking of team first; it's thinking of personal goals first," something that Rizzo said "disappoints me most."

Riggleman addressed reporters from the Nats clubhouse, which was carried on MASNSports.com.

"I didn't feel like I should continue on with such a short leash, where every little hill and valley is life and death in the game," Riggleman said. "The game's not fun that way. I just wanted to have a conversation when we got to Chicago about it, and Mike said he's not ready to have that conversation. I respect his decision, and I said, 'Well, I've got to give it up, then. I'm obviously not the person you all want to go down the road with.' And I get that. That's OK. But I love it here, and I'll miss it."

Riggleman was asked about his original contract status and accepting the provision for the option.  "I made it very clear that, 'You know I can't say no to this, but this is a bad contract for a manager. There's no option for Jim Riggleman - it's a one-year option that the club decides on. That's not a good way to do business.' I made it very clear that I didn't like that, but you know I can't say no to it. So there I am, and two years later, I'm realizing, 'You know what? I was right. That's not a good way to do business.'"

"It's just the way the ballclub wants to do business. Maybe I'll never get [another] opportunity, but I'll never do it on a one-year deal again," Riggleman said.

This situation will now serve as a distraction for at least the next few days as the team travels to Chicago to start a three-game series with the White Sox, then to Anaheim to face the Los Angeles Angels the beginning of next week.

On a day when the organization, players, coaches and fans should be celebrating an 8-1 homestand and breaking the elusive .500 mark to embark on the road trip with a winning record, this will definitely go down as one of the most bizarre days in the history of this franchise.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo confirmed Tuesday night after the Nats 8-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals that 1B Adam LaRoche will indeed have season-ending labrum surgery Thursday under the care of team doctors.

"We had a meeting with our medical staff today and Adam and his representatives and the decision's been made for Adam to have surgery.  He's gonna have surgery Thursday here in Washington by Dr. [Wiemi] Douoguih and he'll begin his rehabilitation and if all goes right he'll be 100 percent by beginning of spring training."

"Obviously we're hoping it's just a clean-up," Dr. Douoguih said.  "But we'll be prepared to do everything needed to get him healed and properly treated and get him back for spring training next year."

The rehab process will depend on what the doctors find once they get into his shoulder.  If they only need to do a clean-up procedure, LaRoche's recovery will be 3-4 months.  If the damage and repair is more extensive the recovery will take up to 6-7 months.

"[LaRoche] was disappointed, frustrated that he couldn't help the club more than he had," Rizzo added.  "He feels that he let his teammates down. But this guy did everything he could to stay on the field.  He's a tough guy and tried to battle through it and just couldn't perform enough to do it and the pain after the rehab just didn't allow him to continue."

"Everything we did was to try to safely get [LaRoche] out there and produce this season," Dr. Douoguih explained.  "As soon as we recognized that this was something more problematic we did a standard program, we shut him down, put him on anti-inflammatories. We then progressed to an injection. We shut him down after that and gradually tried to work him back in.  Everything we did was gradual, really textbook.  Unfortunately he just wasn't able to get through that and he's now requiring surgery."

LaRoche's season ends after 43 games where he hit .172 with five home runs and 15 RBIs.  The Nats signed the veteran first baseman to a two-year, $16 million contact with a club option for 2013 this past off-season.

After Anthony Rendon fell to the Washington Nationals with the No. 6 overall pick, they made two more selections on the first day of the MLB First Year Player Draft.

With the 23rd pick, the Nats selected Alex Meyer, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Kentucky.  Meyer, 6'9", 220, is said to have the best pure stuff in the draft, and a "plus-plus" slider.  He has a big fastball that sits 93-96 coming from a three-quarter slot and a "wipeout" slider at 83-86 with late, hard tilt.  His command and control are works in progress, but there were very few better raw arms in this draft.  Additionally, Meyer was an SEC Academic Honor Roll choice after both his freshman and sophomore years.

Meyer struck out 110 this season in 101 innings, ranking eighth in UK single-season history (9.8 per game). Meyer ranked ninth in the NCAA in strikeouts.  He went 7-5 with a 2.94 ERA for Kentucky.  Some draft pundits think Meyer is better suited for the closer position with his mid-nineties heat and devastating slider, but an equal number think he will develop enough control to remain a starter.  What isn't debated, though, is the quality of his arm.

Nats GM Mike Rizzo described Meyer as a big power pitcher with three plus pitches in the future, including his changeup in the discussion.  Rizzo said Meyer holds his velocity well into starts and he has a chance to be a "front-of-the-rotation" starter.  Kris Kline, Nats Director of Scouting said that worst-case scenario Meyer profiles as a dominant arm at the back of the bullpen.

With the 34th pick, the Nationals selected Brian Goodwin, outfielder from Miami Dade College.  He played his freshman year at UNC but left the program after he was suspended due to academic issues, but the Nationals said they did "extensive research" on the player and are assured any "issues have been settled."

The speedy outfielder has tremendous speed and is a terrific defender at center field, with the projection to develop power at the top of the order.

Rizzo sees Goodwin, 6'1", 190, as a "prototypical, top of the order, defensive-minded" table setter.  Independent scouting describes Goodwin having a very good eye to go with great bat speed.

Nationals Vice President of Player Personnel Roy Clark said that the Nats drafted the best player available with each of their picks, and said the team would have felt "lucky" to have landed two of the three they did on this first day of the draft.

All three selections are represented by Scott Boras.

With the sixth overall pick in the the First Year Draft, the Washington Nationals selected Anthony Rendon, third baseman from Rice University.  He's described as "the kind of hitter who could win batting titles with average to above-average power" according to ESPN.com's Keith Law. Rendon hit .327/.520/.523 in 63 games this season with 20 doubles, six homers and 37 RBIs.

Rendon, 6'0", 180, turned 21 today, and was widely acclaimed as the best college bat in this year's draft and was the 2010 Howser Trophy winner as National College Player of the Year.  However, a shoulder injury that has limited Rendon to designated hitter this season and a subsequent power drop might have caused him to slip to the Nats to select at No. 6.  Pre-draft specualtion had Rendon going to Seattle with the No. 2 pick, but the Mariners opted for Univeristy of Virginia product Danny Hultzen, a left-handed pitcher that attended St. Albans as a prep. [Video reaction from Rendon].

Rendon is a "polished college hitter" according to Nats GM Mike Rizzo. "We feel great about the selection." [video].

“We were pleasantly surprised, yes, that he got to us at six,” Rizzo said from Nats Park. “Going into the draft season he was projected to be the No. 1 pick and is one of the best college hitters in the game. And throughout the college season and the draft season he held onto that status. Just 24 hours ago he was going [No.] 1 or [No.] 2 in the draft.”

Rizzo indicated that Rendon is a fantastic fielder but is athletic enough to play anywhere on the diamond.  There is already early specualtion that Rendon could move to second base or to the outfield.  But Rizzo's primary concern is to get the player signed and playing in the minor leagues, where he should be a "quick mover" through the Nats system.

“We feel that he has gold-glove caliber defensive skills at third base. We’re going to see where and when we have to make a decision on that. What we think we have is a very polished, accomplished college hitter.”

Nationals Vice President of Player Personnel Roy Clark is intimately familiar with the player, having drafted Rendon out of high school when Clark was with the Atlanta Braves.

The Nationals have two more selections today, the No. 23 and 34 overall, both picks compensation for Adam Dunn's free agency.  With the selection of a position player and the deepness of this draft in college arms, it would not be surprising to see Rizzo go that way.  We'll provide updates as the picks fall from Nats Park.

For the first time in three years, the Washington Nationals do not have the No. 1 overall pick in MLB's Amateur Draft.  That's a good thing, because unlike in 2009 and 2010, there's not one clear-cut consensus No. 1 talent.  Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper were household names much before the draft even took place, and their selections were only clouded by how much money the Nationals were going to have to pony up to get them signed in the wake of failing to get 2008 first round pick Aaron Crow under contract.

The Nationals own the No. 6 overall pick, along with the No. 23 and No. 34 in compensation for losing Adam Dunn to free agency last off-season.

This year, the pre-draft thinking is that there are a half-dozen players that could go in just about any order in the first six picks of the draft, so the Nats envision one of those players being available to them when they make their selection.

As things stand several hours before the draft (tonight at 7:00 pm), most conventional wisdom has the Pittsburgh Pirates selecting UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole with the No. 1 overall pick.  Cole is big and has a great pedigree, but has posted just mediocre numbers his junior year and just may be suffering from draft fatigue.

The Seattle Mariners at No. 2 have been linked to Rice 3B Anthony Rendon, but shoulder problems this season have teams wary of the best college bat (and plus-defender) in the draft.

After that, though, it's a total crapshoot.

Danny Hultzen, a left-handed pitcher from Univ. of Virginia (and St. Alban's), is one of the most polished pitchers in the draft, though he doesn't own the upside of some of the power arms in this draft.  He will probably be the quickest to the majors though, with No. 2 starter potential. 

Another college pitcher high on draft boards is UCLA RHP Trevor Bauer.  Bauer had a ridiculous season and has moved up the draft boards accordingly.  But the slight (6'2", 185) righty has a funky delivery and borderline bizarre pre-game routines, and often throws long-toss on days he pitches. He's also had a heavy workload this year, throwing 120 pitches at least five times and has thrown eight straight complete games.

There are three high schoolers in the top of this draft as well, two pitchers and a center fielder.

Dylan Bundy, right-handed pitcher from Oklahoma, has been called the best high school pitcher in this draft with good command of his 95-MPH fastball.  The knock: he's only 6'0" and there's concern he could end up a reliever.  Archie Bradley is another Oklahoma high school pitcher, and at 6'3", 215 he looks more the part.  But he also has a commitment to play QB at Univ. of Oklahoma in the fall.

Perhaps the most intriguing player of the early picks is Kansas high school outfielder Derek (Bubba) Starling.  Starling is 6'4", 180, and appears to be the only true five-star athlete in this draft.  He's another two-sport star and is committed to playing QB and CF at Univ. of Nebraska next year, so his selection will probably come with a big price tag.  Many scouts compare Starling to Josh Hamilton as a high schooler.

There are a few other college arms that round out the Top Ten in this draft, and if the Nats are looking for a signability pick, they could go in that direction.  Alex Meyer (RHP U. of Kentucky), Taylor Jungmann (RHP, U. of Texas), Matt Barnes (RHP, U. of Connecticut), and Jed Bradley (LHP, Ga Tech) are some other options available.

The Nationals have been linked to several of the names above, most prominently Hultzen, Bauer, Starling and Meyer.  Bauer's performance this season has elevated him into the top half-dozen picks and at one point, Hultzen was on Pittsburgh's radar with the No. 1 overall, so it would be surprising to see either fall to the Nats at No. 6 at this point.  Even then, if the Nats have to choose between Hultzen and Starling, many draft pundits still see the Nats taking the five-tool Starling.

Prediction: GM Mike Rizzo has shown a preference in the last several drafts for selecting near MLB-ready college pitchers, so it would be no surprise if he followed suit in this draft, which is heavy with college pitchers early.  But it's hard not to think about Starling lining up next to Bryce Harper in the outfield for the foreseeable future for the Nats. 

I think given the option, Rizzo takes the five-tool Starling and gets his college pitchers with the Nos. 23 and 34 picks later in the first round. There are some mock drafts even having Meyer falling to the No. 23.  There is no protection for the later picks, so whoever Rizzo selects he'll have to feel comfortable he can get them under contract.

What I don't anticipate the Nationals doing is selecting a high school pitcher at No. 6.  If all of Hultzen, Bauer and Starling are gone at that point, I think Rizzo would opt for one of the other college pitchers, starting with the 6'9" Meyer.

GM Mike Rizzo gave an interview to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal that was published yesterday, and the gist of the piece was that Rizzo was happy with how his Washington Nationals were playing except hitting with runners in scoring position.  In fact, he said exactly that: 

"We’re playing terrific baseball except for the fact that we’re struggling with runners in scoring position.”

Rizzo echoed the sentiments later in the same article in context to winning.

“Am I happy with the won-loss record? No. But I think it’s really based on us not hitting with runners in scoring position, getting the big hit."

Yahoo.com's Hardball Talk took these comments to task: 

Washington is hitting .230 with a .663 OPS overall, compared to .228 with a .697 OPS with runners in scoring position. In other words, they’ve actually been slightly better with runners in scoring position. Obviously the Nationals would have more wins if they were hitting, say, .328 with runners in scoring position, but when a team bats .230 overall and .228 with runners in scoring position, pointing to that as the problem is silly.

Rizzo and Riggleman are absolutely correct that he team isn't hitting well with runners in scoring position.  But as the statistics show, they aren't hitting well period, hitting .230/.301/.361 overall (15th, 15th and 13th in the N.L.), and the difference between their numbers with RISP and not is, well, statistically negligible. 

The Nationals are playing well defensively, and up until the last few nights were still getting pretty good pitching, things that the Nationals have every right to be happy about so far this season.  They are breaking in young players at short, second, catcher, center and closer, have been without their best player for the entire season minus eight games, and just lost their first baseman for an unknown length of time.

The real problem the Nationals have offensively is that they just don't have enough baserunners.

The Nats are exactly league average at converting base runners into runs (14 percent), but they are 14th in the league in number of base runners (just one base runner more than Pittsburgh).  Looking deeper into the stats, the Nationals are tied for first in the league percentage-wise (59 percent) scoring a runner from third with less than two outs.

They are second in the league advancing runners from second with no outs, and first in the entire league in "productive outs" percentage.  The problem, again, is that they are 14th in the league in such opportunities.

The statistics suggest that it's not how the Nationals are performing with runners in scoring position, its that they simply don't have enough opportunities to bat in those situations.  And that all comes down to on base percentage.  Baserunners equal runs, and the Nats just aren't getting on base enough.

All statistics courtesy of this table at Baseball-Reference.com.

(ed. Earlier attribution of second quote to Jim Riggleman has been edited to properly attribute to Mike Rizzo.)

My story today on MASNSports.com follows up on the quotes from Mike Rizzo Monday night, when he went on 106.7 The Fan and answered questions about the Washington Nationals roster construction this season, specifically about the bench players he acquired.

Rick Ankiel, Jerry Hairston, Laynce Nix, Matt Stairs and Alex Cora are all veterans that Rizzo said, "know their roles and have exceed at the role of being a bench player." 

But production should still count for something, and if you take the trouble to look at the stats you can decide for yourself if the players Rizzo chose are an upgrade over what they had last year, or let go, or traded this spring.  Every spring training battle this year the winner was older and someone signed this off-season.  I'm not saying that's necessarily a bad thing, but it's a thing.

Rizzo also points to these players as mentors "to teach these good young prospect players how to be major leaguers."  The Nats have only four position players on the roster 26 or younger: Ryan Zimmerman (26), Ian Desmond (25), Danny Espinosa (24 in two weeks) and Wilson Ramos (23).  Does this team need an individual mentor for each of them?

Rizzo also said that none of thoes players will "take one at-bat away from a prospect," which is true I guess if the team no longer considers Roger Bernadina a prospect, despite just entering the prime productive years of his career.  Bryce Harper, Chris Marrero, Derek Norris and others still need a full season (or more) in the minors, so they aren't losing at bats.

P.S.  Please also read FJB's post this morning on the very same topic.  It's good to see he's finding the time to add his particular opinion and voice back into the discussion.

The Washington Nationals today made a series of moves to trim the roster in preparation for coming north for Opening Day.

The Nats optioned Roger Bernadina, Collin Balester and Ross Detwiler to Triple-A Syracuse and re-assigned Brian Bixler to minor league camp.

In addition, they placed reliever Henry Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list and starter Chien-Ming Wang and reliever Elvin Ramirez on the 60-day D.L.

The moves reduce the spring training roster to 26.

These moves signify a dramatic shift in the team's roster construction, as it's now evident that Rick Ankiel will platoon with Jerry Hairston, Jr. in center field, Laynce Nix and Matt Stairs are the backup outfielders, and Brian Broderick and Chad Gaudin are the long men in the Nats bullpen.

The only position left to be settled is utility infielder, between Alex Cora and incumbent Alberto Gonzalez.  But as with every position up for battle this spring, the incumbent is expected to lose the battle, with Gonzalez being heavily shopped and with several teams interested according to sources, he could be traded any minute.

All this means is that four non-roster invitees and a Rule 5 pick have made the Nats Major League roster, and another Rule 5 guy is hidden on the disabled list.

Bernadina is the particularly surprising cut.

Here's a player entering his prime (27 in June), who hit 11 homers and stole 16 bases in 18 attempts in 2010. He hit .290/.356/.451 through May before tiring as the season went along, finishing at .246/.307/.364.

Not only did Bernadina lose out on half of a platoon with Michael Morse in left field and the center field starting job to Rick Ankiel (lifetime .248/.312/.441), but also to journeyman Laynce Nix (lifetime .243/.286/.425) for the backup outfielder spot, with 43-year old Matt Stairs claiming a reserve role as pinch-hitter.

Bernadina will have to go to Syracuse and wait for Ankiel to inevitably get hurt as he's the only option in the Nats system to fill that spot once it's available.

Balester was perhaps the Nats best reliever during spring training, but because he has an option was sent out in favor of Broderick, a Rule 5 draftee that would have to have been offered back to the St. Louis Cardinals if he didn't stay on the roster, and Gaudin, a journeyman that had a decent spring outing in his own right.

With the incumbent losing every position battle this spring, GM Mike Rizzo has taken complete ownership of the roster construction.  He no longer has any crutch to lean on with respect to prior management's ideas of putting the team together.

Rizzo gave Jayson Werth one of the richest contracts in baseball.  He traded three prospects for Tom Gorzelanny and inserted him into the rotation, a pitcher both the Pirates and the Cubs relegated to the bullpen.  He signed Rick Ankiel and his lifetime .312 OBP and gave him the center field job and given journeyman Laynce Nix the backup spot .  He's dedicated a roster spot to Matt Stairs, a 43-year old pinch-hitter.  He traded Nyjer Morgan, once heralded as the present and future center fielder.  And he failed in his quest in the off-season to land a legitimate arm for the rotation.

This is Rizzo's team, and to a certain extent, Riggleman's.  They deserve the praise or criticism when it's time to dole it out.  Let the games begin.

(C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

Well, Mike Rizzo was right about one aspect of it when he said, "It was Ankiel winning the job, not Nyjer losing the job.”

Because on Dec. 21 -- the day the Washington Nationals signed Rick Ankiel -- he "won" the job and it was the last day Nyjer Morgan was in their plans, in my humble opinion.

Morgan's comments to the media earlier last week about his impending departure were only the final few taps on the nail that had already been driven.

Morgan's history in D.C. is well-told at this point.  For ten weeks in the summer of 2009, upon his joining the Nats via trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he was the second coming of Lou Brock.  Morgan got on base, created havoc once he got there, played stellar center field defense, and as a bonus, he had a larger-than-life alter ego named "Tony Plush" that endeared himself to the fans of NatsTown.

But all that came to a crashing halt on Aug. 27 that season when he broke his hand sliding headfirst trying to steal third base against the Chicago Cubs.

He was never the same player again.

Though the team touted him that off-season as one of the cornerstones of the franchise, proudly proclaiming they had their center fielder of the present and future, Morgan could not deliver on those promises in 2010, batting .253/.319/.314 and leading the N.L. in caught stealing for the second consecutive season. 

He also had regular breakdowns in center, taking bad routes, throwing to the wrong base or missing the cut-off man with his wet noodle of an arm.

On top of the on-field performance issues, Morgan was distraction off the field as well.  He threw a temper tantrum on a ball in play that led to an inside-the-park home run, twice unnecessarily instigated contact on opposing catchers, and incited a brawl against the Florida Marlins.  He was suspended twice; one of the suspensions was upheld and he missed eight games at the end of the season as a result.

The Nationals, GM Mike Rizzo and Manger Jim Riggleman, both talked Sunday about how hard Morgan played in this camp, that he was a model citizen, and that the decision to send him packing was based on Ankiel rather than Morgan.

“It wasn’t really what [Morgan] didn’t show as much as what Ankiel did show,” Rizzo told reporters Sunday morning. “He could go get the ball in the outfield. His arm was really a weapon. He can create a lot of damage with one swing of the bat. I focus it more on what Ankiel did than on what Nyjer didn’t do. After the first week, he played really well. He did everything he had to do. It was Ankiel winning the job not Nyjer losing the job.”

To which I respectfully say: hogwash.  Ankiel has hit .218/.271/.455 this spring.  That doesn't beat anyone out of a job.  Those are spring numbers of a guy that's had a job the whole time.

This move makes the Nationals a worse team.

Morgan has a lifetime .308/.361/.387 line against right-handed pitchers.  That's perfectly acceptable for a leadoff hitter. If the Nats had tried this off-season to find a right-handed hitting platoon partner for Morgan in center, they would have had a complete player in the position.

Instead, they loaded up on left-handed hitters to try to replace him.  Roger Bernadina was the in-house candidate when he lost the starting left field job to Michael Morse, but Riggleman is perfectly happy giving the job to Ankiel, a player that he and hitting coach Rick Eckstein were already familiar with -- and fond of -- from their time in the St. Louis organization together.

Now Bernadina, a player entering his prime who had double digit home runs and steals last season, finds himself battling journeyman Laynce Nix for the reserve outfielder slot.

But let's be clear -- Ankiel can't really hit.  He's got some pop when he makes contact, but he does so so infrequently (.248/.312/.441) that it really doesn't matter.  Ankiel's claim to fame is a 25 home run season in 2008, but he hasn't hit 25 home runs combined since that season.

And he's even worse than Morgan against lefties (.232/.282/.386), so Jerry Hairston, a second baseman by trade, will play center against southpaws.

Plus, Morgan was the only option to lead off for this team.  With him gone, and Ankiel hitting sixth or seventh, Ian Desmond will be forced into a role that does not suit him and could potentially ruin his value with the bat if he allows the pressure to dictate what type of player he "should" be.

No, if this decision was about what makes this team better, Morgan was the answer.  Many fans, tired of his antics, will not be sorry to see Morgan go.  But his leaving has ramifications throughout the Nats lineup.

And casts even more doubt on the decision-making process in NatsTown.

(C.Nichols/Nats News Network)