Nationals New Year’s Resolutions: Bullpen, bunting and second base
Sep 7, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) attempts a bunt against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
My list of the Nationals’ New Year Resolutions (things I want to see the team do for the 2015 season) involves the few areas where the Nats need improvement for this coming season.
First, the team needs another good left handed reliever. Jerry Blevins had a not too good season in 2014, and only really pulled it together in September. If he has difficulty again in 2015, the Nats are going to be in trouble in the bullpen. Now that Ross Detwiler has been traded, the Nats need another good lefty in the pen.
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My second resolution is one that I would not have been writing about a week ago. I am appalled that the Nats signed Dan Uggla to a spring training deal. DO NOT even think about putting Uggla on this team. This signing can only get the Nats in trouble. I don’t understand it.
I know the team is a bit panicked about the second base position, but Dan Uggla? He’s not a good defender in the field. He hasn’t been able to hit for average in three years. Even if he has a better than expected spring, what does that really tell you? Nothing. His regular season performances in the last three years are all you need to look at to tell you he’s not the answer at second base or on the bench.
My third resolution relates to my second resolution. Please stop worrying about the second base position for 2015 unless you can trade for Jose Altuve. This is not the year to pick up a second baseman. What is on the free agent market is junk or overpriced for what you are getting. High average, good defensive second basemen are rare. There aren’t a whole lot of them out there.
Most of the time teams make do with a slick fielding, low average guy or get a guy that can hit and sacrifice on defense. Danny Espinosa’s average last year was only twenty points lower than Asdrubal Cabrera’s. If this team has to use Espinosa as their everyday second baseman next year, then so be it. That is not a disaster. Unless you can pry Altuve out of the Astros, don’t take someone else’s trash heap players and expect gold.
My fourth resolution is an issue I have brought up in the past that still has not gotten fixed. The Nationals have Livan Hernandez floating around the organization as a “coach” or “resource” or something. Please have Livo teach the Nationals 40 man roster to bunt.
There is no excuse for any player on this team, pitcher or position player or reliever, who can’t lay down a bunt when required. I’ve seen Little Leaguers who bunt better than some of the pitchers on this team, and there is no excuse for that. Bunting is all technique that can be learned. It doesn’t require hitting skills. It can be learned at any age. Bunting is a hole in this team’s fundamentals which needs to be addressed.
Next: District Daily: Can Dan Uggla be successful in Washington?