Cristian Guzman<\/b> is in the last year of his second bloated contract with the Washington Nationals. He’s barely been a part of spring training and he probably doesn’t have the arm to play shortstop everyday if at all. In the wings behind him is the “original Nationals prospect” Ian Desmond<\/b>. We know what Guzman can do — turn a lot of ground balls into singles (at the plate and in the field!) and never walk; I want to see what Desmond can do. Apparently, Guzman is going to play a lot, whatever that means.<\/p>\n
Guzman’s dreadful 2005 campaign may have cost the Nats a playoff spot. It certainly cost them a winning record (see the mudball game<\/span><\/a>) and when it comes down to it, the Nats would have probably won more games with Jamey Carroll<\/i><\/b> playing shortstop every day that year. The sooner we don’t have to watch Guzman, the sooner we can put the Jim Bowden<\/span> era behind us.<\/p>\n In other news, Adam Dunn is not as far along as he hoped to be as a first baseman<\/span><\/a> (The Post<\/span>). I really want him to get the hang of it, because I think Mike Rizzo<\/span> is going to extend Dunn. I like Dunn at the plate and his attitude is good, but really the guy is playing in the wrong league.<\/p>\n Miguel Batista<\/span><\/a> (Nationals Journal, The Post<\/span>) as the long man out of the bullpen, ugh.<\/p>\n Jon Heyman previews the Nats<\/b><\/a> – Sports Illustrated<\/i><\/p>\n I guess bloggers won’t get season press passes, BBWA to blame<\/span><\/a>?<\/p>\n