The Beltway Boys: ZIMMERMAN LOSES GOLD GLOVE, WRIST BONE

ZIMMERMAN LOSES GOLD GLOVE, WRIST BONE

[November 7th] -- it was a double whammy for Ryan Zimmerman on Tuesday. He broke a bone in his wrist while taking batting practice (it's not going to effect him next year thank goodness) and then he found out he didn't win his first Gold Glove.

That he didn't win isn't a surprise. He committed 23 errors and seemed to take a step back defensively (though to be fair it was due to a lack of concentration rather than a mechanical problem). What surprised me was that his childhood friend, David Wright, beat him out (Zimmerman came in third behind Wright and perennial winner Scott Rolen). Marty Noble at mlb.com said it this way: "In voting by the coaches and managers in the National League, Wright was elected over the Cardinals' Scott Rolen, who had won the National League Gold Glove for third basemen in seven of the previous nine years, including last season, and Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals, Wright's long-time friend who generally is regarded as a superior defender. "

We all got the chance to see Wright play often this year, and there was nothing there that indicated he was a Gold-Glove candidate. He makes most of the routine plays but spectacular, Zimmerman-like plays are few and far between. So why Wright?

Lets take a look at Wright and Zimmerman's stats side-by-side.

Wright: Putouts:107 -- Assists:304 -- Errors:21 -- Double Plays:24 -- Fielding %:.954

Zimmerman: Putouts:140 -- Assists:348 -- Errors:23 -- Double Plays:39 -- Fielding %:.955

In roughly the same number of innings, Zimmerman has 33 more putouts, 44 more assists, 15 more double plays and a better fielding percent, not to mention a whole slew of Web Gems.

And yet Wright wins the award.

Fear not. Once Zimmerman wins his first, he'll likely rip off a string of 10 or 12 in a row before he's finally done. I watched Brooks Robinson play as a kid. He's considered the best of all time. Without exaggerating, I think that Ryan is better on the spectacular plays and almost as good on the routine. He just might end up being known as the "best ever."

Could happen.

# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 4:38 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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