If you read through the Nats blogosphere, you’ll see that the vast majority of the “fans” have exactly the team they deserve. Few realize, if even understand, just how thoroughly MLB and Omar Minaya gutted the Expos and its farm system prior to the current ownership. Needham is no exception.

Sure, MLB and Minaya gutted the Expos. But that was four years and many, many missed opportunities ago (Dmitri Young, Chad Cordero, Aaron Crow to name just a few off the top of my head).

Four years might not be enough time to turn around a franchise, but it’s plenty of time for real progress, and there’s not much evidence that the Nats have made much.

I’d argue that Pena, Milledge, and Dukes are exactly the type of players an organization that has no hope of winning anything any time soon should be bringing in. Even if you don’t believe they’ll make it they’re at least lottery tickets, and if even one pans out it’s well worth the trouble.

The problem is clinging to guys like Dmitri Young, Ronnie Belliard, and Willie Harris—has beens and never will bes that:

a. Take up roster space.
b. Block players with even the slightest chance to have long-term value to the organization.
c. Could be converted into players that can help them turn it around.

MooseinOhio

So Glenn Gibson for Elijah Dukes is a trade you would not make?

Whatever one says about history, the guy hit .264/.386/.478 last year. Granted, he missed too much of the year with injury, but I wouldn’t call him a paper talent or put his name next Wily Mo.

I’m sorry, November 2004.

VanderBirch,

The Soriano debacle is what got us Jordan Zimmermann, our best prospect at the moment.

Unless there was a better offer Bowden left on the table, its hard too criticize that too much.

Regardless, there are plenty of other reasons to hate on Jim Bowden, even if you assume the Soriano decision was the right one. I’m sure we can agree there.

The best actual reported package offered for Soriano was Phil Humber.

Pass.

I’ll take our second Zimmerman(n) over that.

Wily Mo I would bring for the fan excitement aspect so maybe he wasn’t the best example however I’d would not have brought in Milledge or Dukes due to their past issues.  Milledge had his show boating and not taking the games as seriously as he should with the Mets and Dukes has had his fair share of off-the-field problems.

In my opinion that is not the type of example I would want my minor league and young major league talent to be around.  I believe that a team that was essentially rebuilding needed to establish a culture of winning through preparation and bringing on players with their histories did not appear to do so.  I believe that Frank Robinson was a good manager to establish such a culture and Manny Acta may be as well but they also need help from the GM to fill the roster with players who have the work ethic of a Grady Sizemore.

Please do not get me wrong - I think both Milledge and Dukes have the potential to leave all that baggage behind them and become great players.  However I believe they would be better suited to join an establish team (e.g. Red Sox, Angels) where the culture of winning and being a professional is well established and a veterans such as David Ortiz or Mike Lowell can nurture them in the non-baseball aspects of being a professional ballplayer.

MooseinOhio,

I think bad teams need to chances. Elijah Dukes is a really good ballplayer. It’s hard for the Nats to get really great ballplayers. That trade was a way to get one. We will have to see how he does.

I can understand that someone would not like Lastings Milledge due to his behavior in a few games, but I am suprised how deep that goes in alot of people. He will grow up. Or he wont. I dont think teams should pass on him just for that.

I think your argument works great for explaining why the Lo Duca signing was so terrible.

A really great post on a Nats blog about Bowdenball.

http://nats3play.blogspot.com/2007/12/bowdenball.html