The Beltway Boys: SO FAR, SO GOOD (IN THE MINORS, ANYWAY)

SO FAR, SO GOOD (IN THE MINORS, ANYWAY)

[April 25th] -- I thought I'd really enjoy MLB.com's new and improved streaming video this year. The "700" version really does offer a much sharper, more TV-like image than the "400" version from last year.

Too bad I can now watch the Nationals get whacked night in and night out in such life-like clarity.

Oh well.

I thought I might bring you some good news - and for that to happen, it's going to have to come from the minor leagues. Listed above are the eight best starting pitchers among the Nationals four farm teams (none of the Hagerstown Suns' pitchers are playing well enough to make the list). I am most interested to see how well Mike Hinckley is doing this year. After getting rocked last year in Potomac, Hinckley is doing better against better talent this year.

The way John Patterson and Jerome Williams are pitching, you can bet that Jim Bowden is keeping a close eye on several of these guys.

# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 9:41 PM

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Orlando Hudson To Nationals?

MLB Traderumors is predicting that second baseman Orlando Hudson will likely end up in Washington.

I think they are right.

The Nationals have no one in-house who can play second and no one wants to see Cristian Guzman next to Adam Dunn.

The Nationals still have enough money remaining in the till to pay Hudson $5 million or so for 2010.

The Nationals have enough back of the rotation starters (Scott Olsen, Ross Detwiler, J.D. Martin and Craig Stammen) to spend the remaining resources on Hudson.

Big Changes, Little Names

Big happenings? Nah. Just happenings. Zach Day was designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies and Capitol Punishment is reporting that the Nats have claimed him off the waiver wire. So we ended up getting Preston Wilson for nothing. That's nice. Billy Traber, he of the tight leash, was sent down to New Orleans and replaced by Mike O'Connor.

Rasner Rocks For Yanks

What was it that Jim Bowden said when he lost Darrell Rasner to the Yankees through waivers last winter? Wasn't it something like, "C'mon, it wasn't like he was going to make an impact at the major league level?" Well Jimbo, it seems like some of your "minor" transactions are coming back to haunt you.

Rasner, a 6'3" righty from Carson City, Nevada, was waived February 11th by the Nationals, just a couple of weeks before the start of spring training. He was picked up and assigned to 'AAA' Columbus. He had some injuries this year, but it didn't effect his pitching. In 58 innings for the Clippers, Rasner went 4-0, 2.76. But wait. There's more.

Pitching on Sunday against the Twins, Rasner pitched 6 strong innings, allowing just 1 run on 6 hits. In two starts, he's now 1-0, 1.17.

What do you always like to say, Jim, something about "You can never have enough pitching?" Let's see, you waived Rasner, and he's starting for the Yankees. You waived Claudio Vargas, and he's starting for the Diamondbacks. You waived Byung Young Kim, and he's starting for the Rockies. You traded Tomo Ohka for a guy no longer in the major leagues, and he's starting for the Brewers.

Jim, if I were you, I'd stay away from the waiver wire. Seems like you haven't figured it that it's supposed to help the team, not hurt it.

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