iNavil!
Hold yer caballos! Tracy Ringolsby, the hat-wearing often-wrong hall-of-famer, says he's heard that the Nats have an offer out there to Livan Hernandez, to bring the big boy back home.
He ain't what he was, but he's better than Bacsik.
To follow up on the point I didn't make artfully in that last post...
The reason I think the team needs a veteran to plug in, even a crappy one, is that there isn't a ton of pitching depth, especially with all the injury-prone players. (Do you really think that Hill, Patterson and Bergmannnnn are going to combine for 60+ starts?). Since the team is going to need 12-15 starting pitchers -- and it's not clear that the team has the depth to avoid scraping the absolute bottom of the barrel and rushing someone who's not ready or signing some worse scrapheap pitcher in June.
It's not that these guys are good, but that they'll be better than the Simontacchi-like alternative.
He ain't what he was, but he's better than Bacsik.
The reason I think the team needs a veteran to plug in, even a crappy one, is that there isn't a ton of pitching depth, especially with all the injury-prone players. (Do you really think that Hill, Patterson and Bergmannnnn are going to combine for 60+ starts?). Since the team is going to need 12-15 starting pitchers -- and it's not clear that the team has the depth to avoid scraping the absolute bottom of the barrel and rushing someone who's not ready or signing some worse scrapheap pitcher in June.
It's not that these guys are good, but that they'll be better than the Simontacchi-like alternative.
posted by Chris Needham at
10:55 AM
12 Comments:
Bring back Livo! His pitching may not be what it was, but he hits better than LoDuca...
By
The Marshal, at 2/01/2008 11:39 AM
Did livan have a walk off pinch hit back in the day? Extra innings?
By
Ironic Goat, at 2/01/2008 12:11 PM
Bringing Livan back would warm my heart.
By
Anonymous, at 2/01/2008 12:14 PM
Besides his 200 innings and 35 HRs allowed, Livan would be worth coming back for his bat. Bat him eighth in the lineup with FLop ninth. Plus, just think of the economic boost for the local taco shops.
By
Anonymous, at 2/01/2008 12:27 PM
There may be some concerns beyond just levels of suck.
For instance, to sign a Colon, Weaver or Livan! would require a guranteed roster spot. That means someone must go, someone younger who might (OK probably won't) be just as good or better, be cheaper and be an asset in the future.
Thinking of 2008, the broken down vet is likely to help make the team slightly better. But for 2009 and beyond, he has almost no value. The only way we'd be able to convert broekn down vet into long term asset is if they we're unbelievable and then could be dealt. This is about as likely, IMHO, as say Joel Hanrahan pitching as well as Jeff Weaver. (i.e. equal level of suck)
So really, it comes down to philsophy. Pray the broken down vet has someting left in the tank vs. gamble that the youngish never was has matured/grown up/had the light come on.
Another tack the FO may be taking is: why guarantee these guys anything? As it gets closer to spring training and they don't have jobs, won't they be looking for the best situation, one where they would have the best chance to crack a major league rotation? Isn't that a description of the Nats?
You could give them the dreaded NRI, let them earn a spot on the team in ST. Wouldn't that increase your chances of finding the diamond in the suck and minimize the risk?
By
Anonymous, at 2/01/2008 1:00 PM
For instance, to sign a Colon, Weaver or Livan! would require a guranteed roster spot. That means someone must go, someone younger who might (OK probably won't) be just as good or better, be cheaper and be an asset in the future.
Not really. It means removing a piece of crap like Casto or Langerhans from the 40-man and optioning someone like Lannan to the minors.
You can do that in terms of utilizing depth, but you can't do the opposite. You don't get another bite at one of the guaranteed FA guys (if that's what you want in the first place).
Thinking of 2008, the broken down vet is likely to help make the team slightly better. But for 2009 and beyond, he has almost no value.
Unless he pitches well. Steve Trachsel netted the Orioles a pretty good position player prospect and a serviceable reliever. And all agree the Orioles are stupid.
If you sign a Colon or Benson, you're making a bet he'll reclaim some of his value and will appear attractive to a desperate team. It's only a bet, and it's one that chances are you might lose. But if so it's only a little coin you've lost. I agree Livan might not be good for that kind of bet, since he's probably looking at multi-year offers.
You could give them the dreaded NRI, let them earn a spot on the team in ST. Wouldn't that increase your chances of finding the diamond in the suck and minimize the risk??
Yeah, that's true. And it might be where we're headed, as there's still a lot of unsigned guys out there.
But if it's not, then we're back with Bacsik-level guys, and we're back at levels of suck.
By
Anonymous, at 2/01/2008 1:36 PM
Livo will be okay as long as Manny Acta recognizes that he is now only a six inning pitcher.
By
Anonymous, at 2/01/2008 1:37 PM
I think we are overlooking something crucially important here. The 2008 Nats might possibly become the fattest team in MLB history. Make sure the rookies know not to get between Ray King, Livo, Ronnie B. and Dmitri and the post game spread.
By
Jamie Tallman, at 2/01/2008 1:43 PM
From all accounts I've heard, Nick Johnson has slimmed down, further ruining the Nats chance for the best starting fatty lineup in the league.
Let's not forget Bartolo Colon is still available....
By
Anonymous, at 2/01/2008 2:24 PM
What about Rich Garces and Hector Villenueva?
By
Anonymous, at 2/01/2008 5:15 PM
We definitely need to pick up at least one of those guys. We are on the verge of having the best offensive line in all of baseball.
By
Rob B, at 2/01/2008 5:21 PM
Bring back Livo, bring back Livo...
By
Anonymous, at 2/01/2008 8:29 PM
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