Are the Nationals really that bad?

[gibbsisgod]

I see the Nats pitching situation as terminally bad. They don't really have many good young arms in the minors. By the time they build back up the farm system, all the good bats will be gone and they will be back to square one.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by gibbsisgod

I see the Nats pitching situation as terminally bad. They don't really have many good young arms in the minors. By the time they build back up the farm system, all the good bats will be gone and they will be back to square one.

Bats can be had. Pitching has to be developed. If they ever put together a decent staff via development then they'll be fine. That's at least 4 yeard down the road. From what I can tell JB was fine at piecing together a moderately talented roster via castaways and journeymen but he didn't do much to build up the farm system pitching-wise to make any sustainable gains in productivity.

It's like they should have made him just in charge of the major league team and then hired someone else to GM the organization. Letting him put/keep his fingerprints on the whole deal was a mistake.

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by gibbsisgod

I see the Nats pitching situation as terminally bad. They don't really have many good young arms in the minors. By the time they build back up the farm system, all the good bats will be gone and they will be back to square one.

That's not entirely true. There is Collin Balester, Jordan Zimmermann, Garrett Mock, Ross Detwiler, Michael O'Connor among several others. The problem is rushing them to the show too quickly. The farm system actually is much better today then when Jim Bowden took over.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

That's not entirely true. There is Collin Balester, Jordan Zimmermann, Garrett Mock, Ross Detwiler, Michael O'Connor among several others. The problem is rushing them to the show too quickly. The farm system actually is much better today then when Jim Bowden took over.

Plus, if they can add Strasburg they'll have some respectable young arms, which means they'd probably be able to get a decent FA reliever or closer if one becomes available.