The Washington Nationals

Washington Post staff writer Barry Svrluga was online Wednesday, August 16, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the Washington Nationals and the latest major league baseball news.

The transcript follows.

Full Coverage: Washington Nationals

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Barry Svrluga: Hello, folks. Welcome to the Nationals chat. They're mowing the lawn here at RFK Stadium, getting it into that cool checked pattern that I always wanted to get when I mowed my own lawn back in high school. Never could quite get it.

Nice game from Pedro Marti ... I mean, Astacio last night, huh? Let's get to questions.

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Penn Quarter, D.C.: Two questions stemming from the possibility that the Nationals offer Soriano a competitive package and he rejects it to sign elsewhere:

(1) how much of such an offer would the Nationals spend on other players and what types of players would they target?

(2) would resigning Jose Guillen be more likely?

Barry Svrluga: Good questions, and we'll get to some Soriano news in a moment.

1. You would have to think the Nationals would use any money left over from not signing Soriano -- if that happens -- would be used toward pursuing pitching. But keep this in mind: New president Stan Kasten has said time and again that the evaluation of how much money the Nationals spend shouldn't be completely tied to payroll. It is possible, then, that the Nationals say they will take that money and put it toward scouting and player development, and actually have a lower big league payroll next season.

2. Guillen, I think, might get another shot with the Nationals. He will be cheap -- one year, perhaps not even a guaranteed contract, and he'll be coming off of the elbow surgery, and GM Jim Bowden still believes that if he's healthy, he can hit.

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'07 Nats: Barry--- I read somewhere that Davey Johnson was let go after the free agent deadline. Is that true? I've heard conflicting reports....

I'm headed to Citizens Bank this weekend. Can't wait for a 'Schmitter'.

Barry Svrluga: Davey Johnson's contract, from the beginning, called for him to work through July 31. He was to evaluate talent leading up to the trade deadline, so things went as planned.

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Stanton Park, D.C.: Barry - Thanks for the great Nats coverage!

I've heard that the Nationals placed Soriano on waivers on Tuesday. Are they concerned that they will be unable to re-sign him during the free agency period and are therefore hoping to broker a post-waiver-trade deadline deal?

How sincere do you think Soriano was with his professed love for DC and the Nationals? Do you think he meant it or was he just posturing to avoid having to move in the middle of the season?

And how much do you think that will factor into attempts to re-sign him after the season?

Barry Svrluga: Thanks, Stanton Park.

Yes, Foxsports.com is reporting that Soriano has been placed on waivers. This can be standard operating procedure, and many clubs make it a habit of passing almost all their players through waivers -- and pulling them back when there's a claim.

When a club puts a claim in, the player's team has three options -- pull him back and keep him, let him go and the claiming team takes on the terms of the contract, or try to work out a trade with that team within 48 hours during the business week.

It's possible that the Nationals could try to work out a deal with a claiming team -- and only one would be able to make a claim -- over the next two days. But that would make them seem rather disingenuous about their intentions of trying to re-sign him in the offseason, wouldn't it?

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Traveling Nats Fan: Barry,

Can you please stop plugging your book? I was in Cooperstown yesterday and wanted to buy it (since I am close to finishing a book I started reading many months ago), but they were sold out!

On the flip side, the book must be good, or your plugs are very successful, or both. I can't wait to read it...

Barry Svrluga: Sold out? Did they say they actually had it in stock before?

It's still on amazon.com, if you're interested. Thanks.

And remember -- I'll be in Cooperstown on Fri., Sept. 1 signing and reading at the Hall of Fame.

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Downtown: Barry, what do players like Guzman who are out for the season do with their time? Do they show up to games, hang out with the guys, etc? Or just show up at spring training? I noticed Mike Hampton in the Braves dugout this week but don't think I've seen Guzman around. Is that a bad sign?

Thanks

Barry Svrluga: The best answer I can give is it varies. Guzman was actually here a week or so ago working out and checking in with team doctors. Brian Lawrence has been around most of the summer. Some guys, though, find it hard to be with the team when they can't play, and they do their rehabilitation elsewhere.

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Chicago, Ill. (on assignment): Everyone seems to want to take turns spanking Bowden for not being guided by his own "pitching" mantra in making player deals. But the Nats look to have made a pretty good swap in acquiring 19-year-old prospect Shairon Martis from the Giants for veteran LOOGY Mike Stanton.

Besides his having hurled a no-hitter in the WBC, Martis' record in rookie ball and the low-A Sally League looks promising. And he had a pretty good start this past Friday night at Savannah.

What's the organization's projection on Martis? Shall we expect to see him become a P-Nat in '07? Or might the Nats even run him up to RFK for a cameo appearance this September?

Are there more deals in the works for this kind of prospect?

Barry Svrluga: Hey, Chicago. Hope the assignment is good.

No, Martis won't be called up this fall, and in fact, I'd say there will be very few September call-ups. Perhaps a Kory Casto or a Larry Broadway or someone like that. Bowden was saying the other day that he gets concerned with young pitchers when they work a lot, and for 19-year-olds, it's probably best to just rest a bit. None of the pitchers acquired in trades -- Martis, Garrett Mock or Matt Chico -- will appear in a Nationals uniform this year or next, would be my guess.

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Arlington, Va.: Does calling up all of these minor league pitchers hurt their development? The Nats even have a poll on their Web site that says "Which pitcher will be called up next season?" and lists Chico, Mock, and the high schooler Colton Willems that they just drafted.

It is also widely reported that Bowden called up Ryan Wagner at a very young age in Cincy and potentially hurt his development. What gives?

Barry Svrluga: See the answer above. That's a bad question on the web site. It should be rephrased -- "Which pitcher will help the Nationals most in the future?" Willems was in high school like an hour ago. This is a long process that requires patience and often involves setbacks.

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RFK, Section 308: Where does Bowden propose to obtain pitching for next season? Hasn't this been a persistent problem for about a year? Where might Armas & Drese be in the picture?

Barry Svrluga: This will be an interesting question in the offseason, because even if expectations for 2007 are lowered -- and they should be -- someone has to throw the ball, right? Patterson intends to be back and healthy. Armas and Ortiz are free agents who might come cheaply on one-year deals (though Ortiz could also be pursued by other teams as a fifth starter). Drese won't be ready in time -- at all. Brian Lawrence has a $5.7 million club option that can be bought out for $550,000 -- and it will be, though it's possible the team could try to re-sign him for much, much less than the option.

Shawn Hill? Mike O'Connor? Are they major league pitchers, really? We could find out next spring.

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Alexandria, Va.: Given the pathetic state of the NL wild card race...wouldn't be a fair assumption that barring injuries to Patterson, Ayala, and Guillen and the early ineffectiveness of Hernandez and Schneider and others that the Nats would be in the thick of it right now? Seriously besides keeping Soriano, couldn't the Nats add 3-4 free agents in the offseason and make a run at the wild card next?

Barry Svrluga: This is the kind of thinking that I think would get the team in trouble. You listed five "ifs", and I would argue there are a few more. The Braves, in order to run off 14 straight division titles, didn't patch things together on a year-to-year basis (at least until last year, when they tried to go with Brian Jordan and Raul Mondesi as their corner outfielders, and ended up turning within their system anyway).

I'm willing to buy-in to the Kasten model of rebuilding the farm system, taking lumps at the big league level in the short-term as long as there seems to be a consistent plan. Not trading Soriano, in my view, didn't fit into that plan. Trading Hernandez did. What they do in the offseason will be very interesting in that regard.

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Rosslyn, Va.: 4th round pick Glenn Gibson signed yesterday. Any progress on Sean Black? Stephen King? Sam Brown? Dustin Dickerson? It would seem that the Nationals should do practically whatever it takes to get as many of these high ceiling high school guys under contract before they lose the right to negotiate with them (specifically Black and King who were drafted early). They are the initial steps the team can refer to in promoting their rebuilding effort.

Barry Svrluga: Yes, signing the draftees is a crucial step, but they did get the two first rounders -- Chris Marrero and Colton Willems -- signed fairly early. (Marrero, an outfielder, has since contracted viral meningitis and is out for the season.)

Black, a right-hander committed to Seton Hall, isn't close to signing, according to Bowden. But these things often come down to the last few minutes, so there's still time.

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Comcastland, Md.: Are the Nationals' games still on track to be on Comcast beginning September 1? Also, are they going to be on regular cable or is Comcast going to put them only on their higher-priced digital service in hopes of making money off of the whole shenanigans?

Barry Svrluga: Yes, they are on track for Sept. 1, and my understanding is they will be on the regular package.

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Cleveland Park, D.C.: Could you offer a brief synopsis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Nationals as we look forward to next season? Is there any 'Silver Lining' that you see?

Barry Svrluga: One silver lining: Ryan Zimmerman. I think any Nationals fan -- or baseball fan -- would like to follow his development. Will he be what he is right now -- a .290-hitting doubles machine who hits well under pressure -- for the rest of his career? Or will he hit, say, .320 and develop into a 30-homer guy? And exactly how good will his glove be?

I'm also interested in trying to see if John Patterson can overcome all these injuries and setbacks and really be a front-line starter. I'm interested to see if Brian Schneider can come back from what looks like will be a disappointing season and play up to his capabilities. There are always story lines. Whether or not they come in the context of a winning team remains to be seen.

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Kasten, Ga.: Stan seems to have found your ear. The Kasten plan certainly makes a lot of sense, but what's the harm in bringing in a free agent or two next year to make a run for it, even if it's still going to take 5 "what-ifs"?

It's not like these players would be blocking any hot prospects.

Much is made of how more money needs to be invested in the farm and international signings, but how much exactly? What are the kinds of figures we'd expect to need. As it is, the regime doesn't seem to want to dig into its wallets to sign all of its draft picks from this season. So why should we expect that every penny they save in Free Agent contract next year will go towards the farm system next year? That seems a stretch.

Barry Svrluga: You're correct, and it's a good analysis. Kasten can be a bit evasive on this point, and he hides behind the idea that fans and sports writers -- particularly sports writers -- don't understand the vagaries of running a team, and they obsess too much on payroll. It's a bit insulting, but that's his view.

Next year, though, I would expect only moderate spending in free agency -- enough to field a team, particularly if they don't sign Soriano. Kasten has referred to 2008 -- when the new stadium is scheduled to open -- as a time when the team's revenues would increase tremendously. That would give them more money to spend -- in free agent signings, in Latin America, in the farm system, in the Far East, across the board.

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since you brought it up: What DID happen to all that Braves development?

Barry Svrluga: Got to the big leagues quickly. Petered out a bit this year (see Francouer, not McCann). This streak had to end sometime, didn't it?

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6 blocks to Half Street SE: I know that Schneider was signed to a long term deal, but his bat is mediocre and his defense has seemed to take a serious decline. Base stealing can usually be traced back to the pitcher, but Schneider used to be deadly throwing to second...not this year. Any thoughts that he isn't really the long-term answer behind the plate?

Barry Svrluga: I believe he is the answer behind the plate through the end of his contract, which is in 2009. Believe me, I'm not trying to make excuses for him, because he knows he should be better than this -- all around. But the pitching staff -- by coach Randy St. Claire's own admission -- has been dreadful at holding runners on all season.

This clearly has been frustrating for Schneider, who had something of a meltdown the other day when reporters asked him whether his problems throwing out runners are related to his health. He says no (with some other colorful words thrown in there) and I'm willing to believe him.

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Not ComCastic: Bar,

I see that Comcast is going to charge $2/household to offset Herr Angelos' rights fees - that'll only be charged from April thru September, right?

Barry Svrluga: Yes, and pro-rated only from 7-10 p.m., so it's really not that much.

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What it's all about: Sitting in my seats in Section 514 (high up, but great view) on a beautiful summer night, sharing a big heap of Hard Times Cafe chili nachos with my kid, and seeing Astacio pitch an amazing game. Those "ups" help get you through the "downs."

Barry Svrluga: It's one of the great things about this game, isn't it? You never know what'll happen on a nightly basis. I went on the radio yesterday and said that because Cormier and Astacio were pitching, there could be some offense at RFK.

Nice analysis. Idiot.

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Outsider, Md.: Barry: What's the "clubhouse atmosphere" like? Schneider melting down, Damian Jackson throwing chairs (literally the only thing he's done in two months, it seems). What's the feeling in there like? And does it matter?

Barry Svrluga: I really don't think it's as bad as those incidents would make it seem. Jackson, for his part, said he was only frustrated with himself, for the way he was performing in batting practice. Schneider's frustration was, in some ways, understandable -- though his reaction completely out of character.

In all honesty, I think the atmosphere in the clubhouse at this time last year was much, much worse. It was tense every day in there, before and after games.

Of course, the atmosphere could be like nursery school, and this team would still be in last place.

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RE: Braves Development: Does this mean we can look forward to annual postseason appearances and subsequent flameouts, or is the goal to focus on winning a World Series? Just curious.

Barry Svrluga: The stated goal -- and this is from them, not me -- is to put themselves in position to compete for championships year in and year out.

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Washington, D.C.: Where do you do these chats from?

Barry Svrluga: Today, I am doing it from my seat in the press box at RFK.

Next week, I will do it from a seat in the press box at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.

Why do you ask?

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McLean, Va.: What are your comments on last night's phenomenal performance by Astacio? Thanks.

Barry Svrluga: Just found out that 89 is the fewest pitches in a shutout in franchise history -- or at least back to 1988, when Stats Inc. began keeping track of pitch counts.

On the other hand, Greg Maddux threw eight innings of shutout ball the other night -- on 68 pitches. Sixty-eight. Woah.

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Washington, D.C.: Barry,

Great writing on the Nats beat as always.

I have kind of dumb question. How would I go about getting a player's autograph? I really enjoy watching Ryan Zimmerman play and would like to have him sign the picture I got to take with him at the grand re-opening.

Cheers.

Barry Svrluga: Thank you, D.C.

Some players sign in the hour or so before a game, though that's obviously hit and miss. Zimmerman -- and he'd probably kill me for letting this get out -- does a very good job of going through his mail, signing stuff and sending it back. You'd have to send your item in a self-addressed, stamped envelope, but I've seen him spend quite a bit of time doing this stuff.

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Needham, Mass.: It seems that Frank Robinson has lost the team. Locker room explosions. Chair throwing. Somber atmosphere. Does Frank think he's on his way out?

Barry Svrluga: Robinson's future with the organization will be a significant story this offseason. I know that he hasn't been told one way or the other, and that he finds this a bit frustrating. But I think there's more contributing to the current state of affairs than whether Frank has lost the team or not. Start with a bullpen made up almost entirely of minor leaguers, and go from there.

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Washington, D.C.: I understand that Soriano has a higher BA at the lead off position and prefers it. But I think it's a terrible waste to put the second-leading HR hitter in the NL at the leadoff. He has 38 homers, but only 77 RBIs. Even if he doesn't hit as well at the 3rd or 4th spot, he could still produce more runs. And isn't that the bottom line for baseball?

Barry Svrluga: Robinson made a move back in May to make Soriano more comfortable -- he was flailing while hitting lower in the order -- and pledged to stick with it. I do think, if he stays with this team, that it would be worth a discussion about hitting him lower for the reasons you state. Felipe Lopez might be able to handle hitting leadoff.

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Anchorage, Alaska: Hey Barry:

Is passing Soriano through waivers really saying that we're not that serious about keeping you, or is it saying that for a King's Ransom, you can have Soriano for the last six weeks of the season?

Barry Svrluga: I tend to think it's the latter. The Nationals tried to trade him in July, and couldn't get what they want. My guess -- and I'm still trying to report this out -- is that they might as well see what any claiming team would give for him, and if they got the right price, trade him.

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SW Waterfront: Since the play on the field isn't particularly compelling, let's turn our focus to the Nat's mascot "Screech". Besides the Stanford Tree, it must be the worst mascot ever. No self-respecting mascot should ever wear anything resembling a muumuu. Stan Kasten should worry less about flowers and carpet and spend some money to replace that embarrassment. The quality of the new President race costumes only serves to highlight just how bad Screech is. He even makes the Oriole's bird look tough by comparison.

Barry Svrluga: I simply will not stand here and listen to talk that the Stanford Tree and Screech are in the same ballpark, much less the same sentence. Long Live the Tree!

Regarding Screech: SW Waterfront=preacher. Me=choir.

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Washington, D.C.: Why are you at the stadium 5 hours prior to 1st pitch?

Barry Svrluga: Normally get here about 2:30. Clubhouse opens at 3:30. Talk to Frank, players, report, work, write notebook, grab some food, then cover game.

Chat days, I get here earlier.

What, you think I do this job in flip-flops with a beer in hand?

(Don't answer that.)

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D.C. 20015: Doesn't it often HELP the long range plans if you sign youngish veteran free agents in the winter? That way some or all of them can be converted into prospects at the trading deadline. Why is it either-or?

Barry Svrluga: I think you could make that argument. But I don't think you could make much of a pitch to free agents -- sign with us so we can deal you. Also, when teams are searching for trade deadline deals, they often don't want a lot of commitment beyond that season (unless it's a player like Soriano, in which case they worry about giving up a lot but getting a guy for only two months).

I simply don't have the answers to next year's pitching staff. It'll be a compelling hot stove topic.

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Beltsville, Md.: How does year 2 for the Nationals, attendance wise, compare to other teams, historically?

Barry Svrluga: This is an interesting question. In places such as Arizona and Colorado -- where there was tremendous civic buildup and corporate commitment just to land a team, not to mention start one from scratch -- attendance was constant through several years. Places like Tampa and Florida have had a more difficult time.

I do think this situation is unique, though: Playing in a rundown ballpark (yes, the Rockies played at Mile High) in an area of town where there are no other attractions (closest bars and restaurants are on 8th St. SE, H St. NE, Pennsylvania Ave SE and Massachusetts Ave. -- many blocks away), the team is terrible, and there's a sense everyone's waiting on the new stadium.

That doesn't mean there'll be a magical turnaround when the team gets into the new ballpark. But I think there are some logistical and circumstantial problems that contribute to the low attendance here and now.

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Worst Mascot Ever: Sorry, but "Mr. Red" from the 1970s-era Cincinnati Reds is the hands-down winner. A guy walling around in a Reds uni and a huge fake baseball head, waving..and that was all. As Skip Caray once said on TBS "This guy is a thrill a minute; he's like watching paint dry."

Barry Svrluga: But isn't that the same as Mr. Met?

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Deep in the District: Now that Placido Polanco has gone down for the Tigers, what are the chances that a Nationals infielder goes that way in a deal? Do you know if Marlon Anderson or Jose Vidro made it through waivers?

Barry Svrluga: The tough thing about the Tigers making a trade is that anyone would have to pass through all the other teams to get to them. In other words, I would expect the Twins or White Sox -- or Red Sox or Yankees, for that matter -- to put in a claim on a guy just to block him from reaching Detroit. The Tigers, with the best record in baseball, have the last shot at a player.

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Natsville, Va.: Hello Barry: What's the status of the rest of the injured list: Rodriguez, Day, Eichen, and Ayala in regards to next year?

Barry Svrluga: Ayala should be back, ready for spring training, and will be eased in slowly.

Eischen may have thrown his last pitch in the majors, but don't tell him that. He plans on pitching again.

Rodriguez is on a minor league rehab assignment now.

Day could be ready for spring training.

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McLean, Va.: What did you think of your fellow writer, Tony K on MNF? I thought he was good considering this was the first game.

Barry Svrluga: You know, I unfortunately missed it (though I'm sure to tune in next time). I thought it was interesting that his performance got panned in the Post but was praised in the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

The best assessment that's come around office discussions about Mr. Tony's work on MNF is that -- despite his self-assessments and obvious worries -- he has never failed at anything he's tried, so why would that start now?

I do, however, miss his radio show. Very much.

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Nationals Circle, Washington, D.C.: Hi Barry--

A lot of fans other than myself have been lamenting the state of the CF since Marlon Byrd got sent down. Is there any chance we'll be seeing him again at RFK (in a Nats uniform)?

Barry Svrluga: I understand the sorry state of center field, but I have to say I think Church and Escobar (if he could actually stay healthy) have loads more potential than Marlon Byrd. Byrd hit .223 in 78 games with the Nationals, striking out almost once every four at-bats. I'd rather give the other two guys a shot.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Was at the game Sunday when Mr. Met bulled his way into the Rushmores' race and it was up to Screech to apprehend him. Aren't the Rushmores entitled to Secret Service protection to prevent just such incidents? (It's mid-August, we're in last place, I've run out of real questions).

Barry Svrluga: In some ways, this is the most "real" question of the bunch.

I will look into getting Secret Service agents with giant, 10-foot tall heads installed at RFK. My idea of a giant, 10-foot tall head John Wilkes Booth idea of a few weeks ago didn't go over very well.

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Re: Zimmerman silver lining: It's not unusual at all for someone who hits a lot of doubles early in his career to turn them into home runs later on. Given that these are not "leg" doubles (although Zim hustles, maybe more than anyone on the team), it seems reasonable to hope for.

Barry Svrluga: Yes, it absolutely does. No question. I think his doubles total this year -- probably around 45 or above -- is going to be remarkably impressive.

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Alternative Waiver Thought: Could the passing of Soriano through waivers be more of a distraction to allow the two other reported names (Tony Armas or Pedro Astacio) pass through unclaimed?

Barry Svrluga: I would expect there's still a possibility we could see a waiver deal involving the Nationals. But the prospects that those guys could bring in return won't be highly touted.

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Falls Gulch, Va.: I really like Screech - he's the perfect mascot - fun and huggable for the kids and easy to abuse for the grown ups. On a related note the Screech Bobble Heads were pretty high quality - not junk I was impressed as were many of the other fans.

Barry Svrluga: I have to admit -- and this is a painful, painful admission -- that I have noticed that kids really, really love Screech. I've sat with one of my best friends and his daughter for a few innings, and she goes crazy for Screech.

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Barry Svrluga: No more appropriate question to end on than one regarding Screech.

Thanks for all the questions. As always, too many to answer.

Talk to you next week. Enjoy the final two games of the homestand.

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