The Nats Thread (old thread link inside, too many load issues)

[skinsfan_1215]

On that note - who is the opening day catcher?

I've got Suzuki but Ramos could always steal it if he gets off to a strong start in spring training. Or anytime during the season. I'm guessing both will play a lot this year.

[Alvin_Walton40]

Pretty unbelievable that catcher is our only 'open' position. Not a bad thing to have some quality depth.

Thinking about spring season is helping me walk away from my Redskins ledge.

[skinswillwin06]

Moderately funny that Rizzo is trying to say there is a chance Morse stays. I'm going to miss him, and personally I would rather have him than LaRoche, but I'll live. Looking forward to pitchers and catchers reporting in about a month!

[STBonecrusher21]

Rumor on twitter is there is a deal in the works to send Morse to the Yanks for LHRP Boone Logan.

http://m.nydailynews.com/1.1235912

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Rumor on twitter is there is a deal in the works to send Morse to the Yanks for LHRP Boone Logan.

http://m.nydailynews.com/1.1235912

There's our lefty specialist.

---------- Post added January-8th-2013 at 08:21 PM ----------

Moderately funny that Rizzo is trying to say there is a chance Morse stays. I'm going to miss him, and personally I would rather have him than LaRoche, but I'll live. Looking forward to pitchers and catchers reporting in about a month!

Why would you rather have Morse than LaRoche?

---------- Post added January-8th-2013 at 08:21 PM ----------

Thinking about spring season is helping me walk away from my Redskins ledge.

And this

[JWB]

I doubt an everyday outfielder/1b/dh goes for a lefty specialist like Boone Logan. I've watched every single Yanks game the last 5 years and Boone is decent but not a stud.

Don't forget Rizzo is a bawse.

[the burgundy and gold]

From what I'm hearing there are a lot of teams in on Morse, making it unlikely the O's will have a chance at acquiring him. Sounds like good news for Nats fans. I hope you guys don't trade him to any AL East teams, especially if it's to the Yanks for only Logan. I was hoping for the O's to package something like Patton and Avery in return but doesn't seem so likely now considering the teams that are interested.

[Sticksboi05]

Why would you rather have Morse than LaRoche?

He's younger, cheaper and is a 30 HR .300 guy when healthy. Defensively, that's the ALR advantage but I think we can win without his D, SF had one of the worst defenses in baseball. Plus Morse was here when we sucked so I hate to see him go. Both were good options but I think ALR's stats drop substantially this year. If they don't then it's fine.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

He's younger, cheaper and is a 30 HR .300 guy when healthy. Defensively, that's the ALR advantage but I think we can win without his D, SF had one of the worst defenses in baseball. Plus Morse was here when we sucked so I hate to see him go. Both were good options but I think ALR's stats drop substantially this year. If they don't then it's fine.

Eh, he's 30 too. Only like 26 months younger. And he wasn't here that much sooner than LaRoche was. LaRoche is just the better player. Period.

[Dan T.]

It would be fine with me if Rizzo does not pull the trigger on trading Morse. Davey would get him enough playing time to soothe his ego. He could spell LaRoche at first, PH, spot start in the outfield and continue as the primary Gatorade dumper after wins. I'd rather have that than get shortchanged on a trade, even if we do need bullpen help.

[Alvin_Walton40]

At this point, isn't shoring up the bullpen with a LH arm the last piece to the puzzle?

[Dan T.]

Here's Rizzo's answer to a question from Nats Insider Mark Zuckerman about Morse:

Zuckerman: Is there a scenario in which Morse could stay on the roster, or do you feel like he deserves to be an everyday player somewhere?

Rizzo: "Mike's an everyday, middle-of-the-lineup hitter. We see him that way. I think the industry sees him that way. He's a guy that, financially, we don't have to move. We'd move him in the right deal. We're certainly not going to give him away, but if we can make the right deal that works for Mike and works for us as a franchise, we're certainly going to do that deal."

[skinswillwin06]

Why would you rather have Morse than LaRoche?

I like them both. I just like Morse more. The stats don't necessarily back this up, but I believe Morse is a much better clutch hitter than LaRoche. Speaking from just my memory, I remember many times Adam needing to get a clutch hit at the end of the game and weakly grounding to first. I remember one game he had a walk-off hit to first where the first baseman misplayed the ball, should have been an out.

Morse on the other hand (in my mind) seems to come up with the clutch hit more often. The Milwaukee home run in the top of the ninth (where Davy did his little dance) comes to mind.

LaRoche is clearly better at defense, but I'd just rather have Morse, I think he's due for another big year, and LaRoche is due to regress.

[Sticksboi05]

Eh, he's 30 too. Only like 26 months younger. And he wasn't here that much sooner than LaRoche was. LaRoche is just the better player. Period.

LaRoche is better defensively but he is not as good a hitter. Count the # of .300 30 HR guys in this league for me. Bottom 9, 2 outs. 2 on, down 3, give me Morse 10x out of 10 over LaRoche. Doesn't matter where you pitch to Morse it could end up in the seats or near the warning track.

[Tulane Skins Fan]

LaRoche is better defensively but he is not as good a hitter. Count the # of .300 30 HR guys in this league for me. Bottom 9, 2 outs. 2 on, down 3, give me Morse 10x out of 10 over LaRoche. Doesn't matter where you pitch to Morse it could end up in the seats or near the warning track.

Just asking... but how many times has Morse hit .300 with 30 homers in his career? Once?

I don't think we should give Morse away for peanuts at all though. And a single LHP would count as peanuts to me. I'd rather have a prospect and pick up a LHP who is actually having a good year sometime during the season. These relievers bounce up and down so much from year to year, I don't want to project any of them based on 2012.