Bill Ladson's Mailbag!

I haven't been to the Nationals website lately, but I saw there was another mailbag from Bill Ladson. He's my favorite MLB.com reporter for the Washington Nationals(ok, he's the only MLB.com reprorter for the Nationals). His mailbags are a mind odyssey that will leave you confused, disappointed, and possibly enlightened..... in the most mediocre sense of the word.

"Fans" questions are in bold, Bill's responses are in normal font, and my comments are in red italics. I say "fans" because I'm 90% sure he makes up the questions. Anyway, enjoy:

Since Stephen Strasburg will be under an innings limit in 2012, why not have him start in mid-May of this year so he can pitch into the postseason? 

-- Paul D., Warrenton, Va.

I love your outside the box thinking. On a side note, how many cigarette factories in Warrenton do you work in? 3 reasons why this idea is insane. Number 1) Spring Training is where pitchers stretch out their arm to get ready for the season. They play meaningless games to work their way up to where they need to be for the start of the season. They can work on pitches and mechanics under the supervision of the major league pitching coach and manager. You are saying Strasburg should skip this, and pitch in real AAA games to get ready for the season under the supervision of minor league coaches? That's insane. Number 2) The Nationals are not a lock to make the playoffs. Lets say they don't. If Strasburg has an injury and misses enough starts, the Nationals would have to send him to the Arizona Fall League to throw the rest of his innings. The AFL isn't close to the same as pitching against major leaguers so that does nothing for his development. Number 3) A win in April counts the same as a win in September.

Ok Bill lay into him!

I don't see that happening. He asked "why", Bill

Strasburg is expected to start on time and have an innings limit of 160 innings. It would not surprise me if he is the starter on Opening Day, when the Nationals play the Cubs in Chicago. Strasburg's season will be similar to Jordan Zimmermann's comeback campaign last year. It will come to an end sometime in September.

Everyone knows this. Thanks. You didn't answer Paul D. He's now telling his co-workers at the cigarette factory his idea. He'll look like a fool and never get that promotion. Bill Ladson ruins lives.

How is Chris Marrero progressing in his recovery from surgery?
-- Luke W., Vienna, Va.

Marrero's hamstring injury caused the Nats to acquire Mark DeRosa as the backup first baseman. Marrero is expected to miss the first half of the 2012 season, because he tore his hamstring playing winter ball.

Chris Marrero is not the answer for anything. Everyone thinks he's good because he was a first round pick and Jim Bowden told us he'd be awesome. Look what Jim Bowden said about Chris Marrero five years ago: "Marrero is a converted outfielder with tremendous power potential. During a pre-draft workout at RFK, Marrero consistently drove the ball into the upper deck and reminded some of a young Miguel Cabrera. Chris is batting .309 in the Gulf Coast League. " I just wish Jim Bowden wasn't a liar. He has awful power for a first baseman. Last season he had 14 home runs in 546 plate appearances in AAA and 0 home runs in 117 plate appearances in the majors.

What are the Nationals' intentions for Tyler Moore? We know he can hit and made several great plays at first.
-- Steve P., Kingston, N.Y.

You mean the Tyler Moore with an .314 OBP in AA? Are you sure he can hit? I won't argue the several great plays. I'm sure they were spectacular. 


Moore will be in big league camp, as he is on the 40-man roster. I expect him to see time in the outfield and at first base during the Grapefruit League season. As of now, he is a long shot to be on the 25-man roster, and I expect him to start the season with Triple-A Syracuse. It will be interesting to see how he plays in 2012, because he could be the first baseman of the future. Unlike the previous two years, it would be nice if he gets off to a fast start.

The first baseman of the future is Joey Votto. I'll start that rumor right now. Morse can play first next year and Votto can take over in 2014.

Will Jayson Werth have a bounce-back season?
-- Jake B., Bethesda, Md.

It all depends on if he can hit left handed pitching again. His batting average against left handers was 100 points lower than the year prior..... actually, lets have the professional journalist answer the question.
(Bill grabs his non-informative, positive news only crystal ball.)


Yes, I think he will have a bounce-back season. With Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche back for a full season, I feel Werth will not put a lot of pressure on himself to perform. I expect him to hit second in 2012 and put up similar numbers to what he put up for the Phillies.

Last season was one of the worst seasons of Jayson Werth's career, why wouldn't he put pressure on himself to perform this season? Did his contract go away? (Checking Google frantically) Unfortunately no. The Nats are still screwed. At least Adam LaRoche is there to ease his mind. "Finally, I can relax. Adam LaRoche is batting 5th."- Something no one has said ever.

What do you think about the Nationals not being able to sign Prince Fielder?
-- Conrad M., Washington

It would have been ludicrous to give Fielder a nine-year deal, which the Tigers gave him last week.Within four years, he could be no more than a designated hitter, and that would not have been good for the Nats.


I feel like that paragraph could be written for Jayson Werth as well.

With that in mind, I believe they are better off sticking with LaRoche, who is expected to be 100 percent healthy. Will he put up numbers like Fielder? No, but I expect him to play great defense and be decent at the plate.

I'm not saying the Nationals should have signed Fielder to a 9 year deal, but there is a scenario where that contract for the Nationals would be something short of "ludicrous". Lets say he played an "ok" first base through the age of 33. The Nats could trade him, while eating some(or most) of his contract, to an AL team for Prince's final three years of the contract. There is a risk that we'd have to keep him around until 36, but the Nationals would be a contender today and for the foreseeable future. In my opinion, winning a World Series would make up for the risk.

Is the Nats' management still pursuing a center fielder? If so, who? Peter Bourjos?
-- Dean O., Winnipeg, Canada

The Nationals are still pursuing a center fielder, but from what I understand, the Angels are not trading Bourjos. I still believe Werth will be the center fielder. I find it hard to believe Washington will platoon Roger Bernadina and Mike Cameron in center. The Nats don't see Bernadina as a center fielder, and Cameron is considered past his prime.

Let's see what happens during the Grapefruit League slate. General manager Mike Rizzo could acquire a center fielder then.

You forgot about Rick Ankiel! They'll be fine. No worries. (Seriously though, get worried)

With Fielder going to the Tigers, is there anything Rizzo can do to improve the offense this year?
-- Kent S., Herndon, Va.

First off all, the Nationals need much better seasons from Werth, Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa. With Fielder signing with the Tigers, there isn't a difference-maker available on the free-agent market. So Rizzo has to make a trade. But like the Gio Gonzalez trade, Rizzo most likely would have to give up a lot in return.

Wait, you said Werth had less pressure this year. Now you're saying he has to have a "much better" year? Won't that pressure to play better create .......pressure? Or will that be offset by the calming effect of Adam LaRoche's extreme averageness? I don't understand. I'm officially confused. Mailbag over.