Nationals Are Not the Titanic Searching for Icebergs (but They're Close)

Or they can keep "Manager Manny" and turn over the roster, filling it with players whose pulses must be checked on a regular basis for signs of life.

You know: "Dude, we just got a walk-off homer. Cool. What's for dinner?"

It's one or the other.

So who's to blame? Why none other than Smiley Gonzalez.

If former general manager Jim Bowden had not been forced out during spring training because of "Smileygate," things would be very different right now. It was obvious that the Nationals were an unfinished product when spring training began.

Bowden had collected six starting outfielders and was going to trade for starting pitching from a position of strength before the season started.

However, Bowden lost his job and the Nationals were only willing to give Mike Rizzo a soft endorsement as their sort-of, pseudo, for-the-time-being general manager. Rizzo didn't have the gravitas to make any dynamic trades, and because he had a differing view of how to build the team, was unwilling to continue to build the team Bowden style.

As a result, the Nationals are a hoge-poge of mismatched parts.

Now don't get me wrong; I haven't retreated one inch from my "the future is bright for the Nationals" mindset. There is enough talent in the minor leagues to make a difference (though I wish it was a little farther along). The offense is good enough, and the starting pitching has the potential to be somewhere between special and stellar.

All Nationals' fans need do is show a little patience. If Mike Rizzo is bold and reshuffles the roster, or fires the coaching staff, then all is well on the S. S. National. No icebergs are in sight. There is enough talent to make a significant turnaround in 2010.

If, however, Rizzo becomes a seller and trades Nick Johnson, Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham for prospects, well, that's a totally different story.

But I'm willing to wait until the July 31 trading deadline before throwing my fit.

Are you?

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