2006 Batting Order

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Here's my point of view on how the Nats will lineup in 2006.
Will be edited following possible acquisitions:

CF (?Ryan Church?) Juan Encarnancion?
2B Jose Vidro
RF Jose Guillen
LF Alfonso Soriano
1B Nick Johnson
3B Ryan Zimmerman
C Brian Schneider
SS Cristian Guzman
P (Livan Hernandez)

Uncertain

2B Jose Vidro- Not sure if All-Star second baseman will return. Knee problems, 7 million $, Alfonso Soriano and all...

RF Ryan Church- Church will probably be used as trade bait.

3B Jamey Caroll- Still one of the best U/M in the league may be also used as
trade bait(no power whatsoever).

Coming in?

Jeromy Burnitz- Good fit as a Nat! Good bat, average defense.

Juan Encarnancion- Nats reportedly close to signing, if so, Church will be traded.

[KingJ]

Let's wait until Spring Training to discuss in depth this when we have our roster set.


Anyway, I think Zimmerman should have a trial run at leadoff since he did hit around .400 in his short stint last season and he is kind of fast (just not aggressive enough to steal bases).

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Let's wait until Spring Training to discuss in depth this when we have our roster set.


Anyway, I think Zimmerman should have a trial run at leadoff since he did hit around .400 in his short stint last season and he is kind of fast (just not aggressive enough to steal bases).

I was about to put him there but... one problemo:

he's not THAT fast.
He has the contact(maybe power) but not much speed.

Ryan Zimmerman 2006 bavg-hr-rbi Projections:

BAVG HR RBI
.307 12 67

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

KingJ, do you think we will be able to project a player's stats accurately for the 06 season?

[KingJ]

Ryan Zimmerman 2006 bavg-hr-rbi Projections:

BAVG HR RBI
.307 12 67

One thing is wrong with that projection: Zimmerman isn't a homerun hitter. He rarely hit them in the minors and I doubt that will improve.

10 of Zimmerman's 23 hits in his 2005 run were doubles, so there is potential there.

[Monarchs29]

Couple of things that come to mind immediately...

Soriano might be the lead-off guy and he could also be playing 2B.

Question. Can Vidro play SS? Reason. It's a whole lot easier to shop a $4M guy than $7M. Unless, of course, you're willing to let Vidro go for prospects and/or draft picks.

If Zimmerman has limited power, it could be that Schneider will fill the 6-hole, and move Zim to 7.

My possible line-up.

Soriano - 2B
Vidro/Guzman - SS
Johnson - 1B
Guillen - RF
Church - CF
Schneider - C
Zimmerman - 3B
??? Fick - LF

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Couple of things that come to mind immediately...

Soriano might be the lead-off guy and he could also be playing 2B.

Question. Can Vidro play SS? Reason. It's a whole lot easier to shop a $4M guy than $7M. Unless, of course, you're willing to let Vidro go for prospects and/or draft picks.

If Zimmerman has limited power, it could be that Schneider will fill the 6-hole, and move Zim to 7.

My possible line-up.

Soriano - 2B
Vidro/Guzman - SS
Johnson - 1B
Guillen - RF
Church - CF
Schneider - C
Zimmerman - 3B
??? Fick - LF

Vidro will not play SS, doesn't have the knees. No way Guzman and his contract will be benched. Church would be a better leadoff than Soriano. Soriano is to bat in the middle of the order(it was announced).
We shouldn't move Zim to 7th because he can drive in runs(Schneider can also) I think Zim can get more hits than Schneider.

[538280]

Monarchs29,

No way Soriano will bat leadoff. Low OBP, high SLG players have no business there. It will waste his power and the low OBP will make him a bad table setter. I know Frank is smarter than that.

My ideal lineup for this team:

1.Nick Johnson, 1B
2.Jose Vidro, 2B
3.Jose Guillen, RF
4.Alfonso Soriano, LF
5.Ryan Church, CF
6.Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
7.Brian Schneider, C
8.Cristian Guzman, SS

Johnson may seem a little strange in the leadoff role, but the high OBP makes him a good fit, although it would waste some power. This team doesn't really have a true leadoff man.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Why doesn't anyone consider Church. He's quick and can swing the bat?

[KingJ]

Why doesn't anyone consider Church. He's quick and can swing the bat?

That would turn out like Corey Patterson is my fear as leadoff would be too much pressure for him. A low spot would give him a chance to show off his potential as a slugger and be a little more patient in his ABs like he was in the minors (62-51 K-BB ratio in AAA, 86-31 in majors).

[KingJ]

Johnson may seem a little strange in the leadoff role, but the high OBP makes him a good fit, although it would waste some power. This team doesn't really have a true leadoff man.

If somebody could teach Guzman how to hit like St. Claire taught Carrasco how to pitch, we would be in business.

[The Big C]

I don't think anyone can teach Guzman how to hit...

[KingJ]

I don't think anyone can teach Guzman how to hit...

He hit over .300 in his final 100 or so ABs. No Batter Left Behind is trying to help him.

[GreenMountainMan]

No true leadoff guy on this roster IS the problem.

#1 - CF - Probably Church
#2 - Johnson
#3 - Vidro (assuming he's healthy)
#4 - Soriano
#5 - Guillen
#6 - Schneider (break up righties)
#7 - Zimm
#8 - Suckman

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

No true leadoff guy on this roster IS the problem.

#1 - CF - Probably Church
#2 - Johnson
#3 - Vidro (assuming he's healthy)
#4 - Soriano
#5 - Guillen
#6 - Schneider (break up righties)
#7 - Zimm
#8 - Suckman

Considering it's Frank Robinson, and his star 1st round pick, I seriously doubt he'll make Zimm bat 7h. Also Vidro will not bat third, I assume it'll be Guillen or Johnson. Vidro is good, but has less power than Guillen or Johnson.
Of course we have a leadoff man in Church, this guy is just great with the bat. Remember, he batted high over 300 before the dreaded all-star break.

[KingJ]

Considering it's Frank Robinson, and his star 1st round pick, I seriously doubt he'll make Zimm bat 7h.

Zimm isn't Robinson's 1st round pick, he's Bowden's.

[GreenMountainMan]

Considering it's Frank Robinson, and his star 1st round pick, I seriously doubt he'll make Zimm bat 7h. Also Vidro will not bat third, I assume it'll be Guillen or Johnson. Vidro is good, but has less power than Guillen or Johnson.
Of course we have a leadoff man in Church, this guy is just great with the bat. Remember, he batted high over 300 before the dreaded all-star break.

Vidro has 2B's power and I'm thinking Robinson will be wary of stacking true lefties at the top of his lineup.

[Ryan25Zimmerman]

This is what I'm feeling personally
LF-Watson
2B-Vidro
RF-Guillen
CF-Soriano
1B-Johnson
3B-Zimmerman
C-Schnieder
SS-Guzman

[KingJ]

This is what I'm feeling personally
LF-Watson
2B-Vidro
RF-Guillen
CF-Soriano
1B-Johnson
3B-Zimmerman
C-Schnieder
SS-Guzman

Don't give into Bill Ladson propaganda.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Don't give into Bill Ladson propaganda.

Well said.
Why do you hate him so much?

[Ryan25Zimmerman]

Don't give into Bill Ladson propaganda.

It's the closest thing that I have seen that I will agree with though. It also makes sense, gives us a speedy leadoff hitter and some nice protection for Soriano.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Since the season is starting, here's what I think...

SS Royce Clayton
CF Ryan Church
2B Jose Vidro * (knees)
RF Jose Guillen * (shoulder)
LF Alfonso Soriano
1B Nick Johnson * (everything)
3B Ryan Zimmerman
C Brian Schneider * (shoulder)
P spot

(*injury concern)

BN: M.Lecroy
BN: R.Fick
BN: ?Cristian Guzman?
BN: Damian Jackson
BN: Marlon Anderson
BN: Tony Blanco
BN: Marlon Byrd

Nice looking bench, too bad our rotation couldn't be so:

SP Livan Hernandez* (knee)
SP John Patterson
SP Ramon Ortiz
SP Ryan Drese * (shoulder)
SP Pedro Astacio
P Tony Armas* (shoulder)
P Jon Rauch* (shoulder)

RP: Jay Bergmann * (shoulder)
RP: Luis Ayala * (shoulder)
RP: Gary Majewski
RP: Joey Eischen* (back)
RP: Mike Stanton
CP: Chad Cordero *(shoulder stiffness)

As you can see, we are injury prone.
No wonder Jimbo signed many bench players.

[KingJ]

I don't think Clayton will start just yet. I think the management will give Guzman a last chance first month or so into the season before they decide whether or not to make the call for Clayton.

Also, no way Blanco is staying on the major league roster. His Rule V requirement to stay there for a season has expired and he has proven he is not ready to play in the majors. We will probably start Drese and Rauch on the DL until we figure out what to do with them and carry Watson, Castro, or Tucker to fill the bench (maybe Harris).

[538280]

Since the season is starting, here's what I think...

SS Royce Clayton

No way we should bat Clayton leadoff. That .320 OBP will kill us. I still say Nick Johnson would be well suited for that role. My lineup would look like this:

1.1B Nick Johnson
2.CF Ryan Church
3.RF Jose Guillen
4.LF Alfonso Soriano
5.2B Jose Vidro
6.3B Ryan Zimmerman
7.C Brian Schneider
8.SS Clayton/Guzman

Guys who can get on base at the top (Johnson, Church), guys who can drive then in (at the expense of OBP) in the middle in Guillen and Soriano. I'm liking it.

[Ryan25Zimmerman]

Johnson is too much of an asset in the middle of the lineup to play him leadoff IMO