(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OK, I'll be honest. I started to write a long, drawn-out column about the state of the Washington Nationals, why they are so bad, and how to keep perspective. But honestly, it felt like a repeat.
Instead, like most of my Internet writing brethren (and sisthren) and blog commenters out there today, I'm just going to spout off some random (and possibly radical) ideas about how to fix things to see if anything sticks (or stinks).
Historically desperate times call for historically desperate measures.
1) Call Up Shairon Martis, Garrett Mock, J.D. Martin, Collin Balestar; Go with Starter by Committee
Look, it's not about wins and losses anymore, so why try to pretend? The team already announced that they want to limit the number of innings of some of these guys. So call up the other starters, waive some of the lousy relievers, and let them share games.
That's right, Detwiler gets five innings and Mock gets the next four. Martin starts for five and Zimmermann closes with four. Rotate. There's no pressure on any one guy since they know how much they're going to pitch.
Stick with the plan unless someone is really getting rocked. Let them pitch through their mistakes without fear of getting yanked.
Oh, and maybe start calling some pitches from the dugout. Yesterday, with Detwiler abandoning the curve ball? Unacceptable.
2) Flip-Flop Cristian Guzman and Ryan Zimmerman
Yeah, I said it. What is Zimm's biggest problem at third? Making the standing throw. At plays on the run or diving he's one of the best in the league. But the grounder right to him? He throws it away.
Slide him over 40 feet where so many more plays are made on the move. He's already shown he can handle the pivot making double plays when the shift is employed. And his range can't be any smaller than Guzie's.
It worked pretty well for this guy...
Guzman showed during the All Star Game last season that he can handle the hot corner. He doesn't have the best arm in the majors, but that isn't his problem—it's range and desire. Playing third will make you pay attention or you'll lose your head.
3) DFA Ronnie Belliard and Call Up D'Meathook
Belliard is absolutely useless to this team. He can't hit, and he isn't the first or second option as a defensive replacement. And what's worse—he is becoming increasingly difficult in the locker room.
According to an article in the Times today, Dmitri Young is obviously in better shape than he's been in a long while and claims he's been game-ready since the end of April.
He's still an asset. Get him up here for a couple weeks of pinch-hitting and see if someone will give the Nats a "C" prospect for him.
Either way, the guy can hit falling out of bed, so
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