2008 MLB Preview: Washington Nationals

Manager: Manny Acta

Arrivals: RP Rob Bell, 3B Aaron Boone, SP Tyler Clippard, OF Elijiah Dukes, C Johnny Estrada, OF Willie Harris, C Paul Lo Duca, OF Rob Mackowiak, OF Lastings Milledge, IF Pete Orr, SP Odalis Perez

Departures: RP Jonathan Albaladejo, RP Micah Bowie, OF Ryan Church, C Brian Schneider

Offseason grade: D

Starting rotation

The Nationals needed to improve a starting rotation that only had one pitcher start more than 30 games in 2007 (Matt Chico). So what did they do? They only added one starter in the offseason in Tyler Clippard, who may not even crack Washington's rotation.

Chico should improve in his second MLB season, but after him, the Nationals rotation is full of question marks. John Patterson hasn't been healthy since he went 9-7 with a 3.13 ERA in 2005 and, although he claims to be healthy, the Nationals shouldn't rely on him to be in their rotation for the whole year.

Jason Bergmann and Shawn Hill could also show improvement in their first full MLB seasons, but that's the key–neither Bergmann or Hill have thrown over 100 innings in a season in their respective careers. It'll be interesting to see how they hold up into August and September when their innings start to pile up.

After those four (who, in all honesty, are no guarantees to make the rotation in the first place), the Nationals have Odalis Perez, John Lannan, Tim Redding, Clippard, and Garrett Mock competing for the final rotation spot.

The Nationals aren't going to compete this year, so they should focus on developing the young pitchers they have in Bergmann, Hill, Chico, Lannan, Clippard, and/or Mock.

Patterson is 30 and extremely injury-prone and Redding, also 30, likely won't be a factor down the road for the Nationals. Either way, the Nationals rotation likely will struggle mightily this season, but it will be interesting to see how the younger pitchers perform. 

Starting rotation grade: D+

Bullpen

Manny Acta has a stud closer in Chad Cordero and some quality arms behind him in Jon Rauch, Luis Ayala, Saul Rivera, Jesus Colome, and Chris Schroder. None in that group posted an ERA above 4.00 in 2007, but remember, bullpens are fickle. 

This is bullpen that could get heavily overused early in the year if the Nationals' rotation falters. Rauch, a former starter, could be a good innings-eater out of the bullpen, but he's much better suited in a late-inning setup role. 

The final spot in Washington's bullpen should, theoretically, be filled by somebody who can eat up innings so the setup men and middle relievers don't get taxed. That could be somebody who missed out on the rotation  like Joel Hanharan or the infamous Mike Bascik, who gave up Barry Bonds' 756th* home run.

This is a pretty solid bullpen, but it's also a group that likely will get overworked because of the poor rotation. 

Bullpen grade: B+

Lineup

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