Belliard Signs

The Nats actually suckered Ron Belliard into signing a non-guaranteed minor league contract for $750K, a surprisingly good signing. Belliard is a solid performer who, if there was a merciful god, would be taking Guzman's slot in the lineup.

(Someone'll correct me if I'm wrong, but on a non-guaranteed deal, a certain percentage of it is guaranteed if the player isn't 'cut' by certain points during the spring, up to a maximum of about 25% of the value of the contract? -- and if that's the case, do you think that Bodes slid it by Kasten by calling Ron "Rafael"?)

The Times says that Guzman showed up today and that his shoulder still isn't 100% healthy. Another Ryan Church-style Wus! What's wrong with these guys? Why can't they play through their pain and be leaders of men like Jose Guillen?

He's got a good bat for a second baseman, roughly league average. He's more of a line-drive hitter, which could be a great fit for this park. The last time he played in a park conducive to doubles, he cranked out 36 and 48 of them.

He doesn't have the classic second baseman's body. He's much more Vidro-like. Accordingly, I've never thought much of his defense, but the Cardinals and Indians, the last two teams he's played with, are on the forefront of the statistical revolution, and both teams have done a lot with defensive evaluations. If he were a drain, I can't see either team doing anything -- and I can remember a sterling play or two from him in the NLCS. He's older, and second basemen decline earlier than most other positions, so who really knows. Of course, you could put him out there with a bar stool and a pool net, and he'd be better than Vidro.