Closing Arguments in Washington

The Nationals have played their last 2010 spring game in Viera, FL and are headed north.  The jury is still out.  They have won a few more spring games, but benching Cristian Guzman for Ian Desmond will make speed and athleticism a big factor for the 2010 Nationals.  The move is exhibit A in a case for an organization closing in on competitive baseball, but there is more.

Jim Riggleman is making the final roster decisions as the Presidential Opener approaches.  Benching Cristian Guzman’s $8 million salary in favor of Ian Desmond has moved one of the more athletic players this spring to the fore. Desmond has paid his dues and with Guzman unwilling to put his surgically repaired shoulder to any real test this spring, the smart money is really on Desmond.

Desmond has both speed and power offensively and plus range at short. But another move will help as well.  The team has dispatched vexing outfield prospect Justin Maxwell to Syracuse, which leaves a platoon of Willie Harris, Roger Bernadina and Michael Morse to play right field. Harris is a great reserve player, but Morse and Bernadina may have the talent to play every day.

Bernadina’s defense this spring has been just short of brilliant.  The 25-year old right fielder’s ability to run down balls in the corner and rope a long throw into the infield is reminiscent of some of the best outfielders in the game.  For a team that will have Adam Dunn at first base and Josh Willingham in left, a plus defender or two is important.

Bernadina has blazing speed that has also been on display this spring on the base paths.  But can hit well enough?  I ran into Nationals manager Jim Riggleman in Starbucks and asked whether Bernadina has the power to play a corner outfield spot.  Riggleman believes that Bernadina’s defense and speed are more important than any nascent power.  But John Stearns, Bernadina’s manager in Harrisburg in 2008, said that he believed Bernadina could develop 15-20 home run power if he ever got 500 at bats in a season.

Getting that chance has been the problem.  Bernadina has an interesting athletic pedigree.  A Curacao native who started baseball late, his mother was an international volleyball star.  He made fast progress and was on the verge of breaking through in DC last season when he broke his ankle running into the wall in center field on opening day. Bernadina could well have been the answer to the Lastings Milledge disaster in 2009 without that hard luck.

Now the opening is in right field and it will be a tight situation again. It is dubious the Nationals will sign Jermaine Dye, but a trade is still possible. Riggleman believes that even if the Nationals move to add a right fielder, he will not be ready for opening day.  There will be more time to discover if Michael Morse is a latter day Raul Ibanez, or if Bernadina can develop into a major league hitter?  Riggleman hopes to get a favorable verdict soon.

The last decisions are on the pitching side.  Opening Day will see John Lannan, followed by Jason Marquis, Craig Stammen and Livan Hernandez. Scott Olsen looked much better on Sunday against the Braves split squad and has to be the favorite for the fifth spot.  JD Martin remains in contention but will have to do something special to win the job in this last week.

The bullpen has one last opening as well and left-hander Jesse English has certainly pitched well enough to earn it.  Resident left-handed setup Sean Burnett has been anything effective and the only bullpen candidate who has approached English’s performance has been Tyler Clippard.  If the other decisions are a guide, Riggleman and Rizzo will go with English and make Burnett and the others earn their keep.

Having young players who can push the veteran players in spring training is certainly a new development for the Nationals.  In the past players had a hard time reporting to work in worse shape than Jim Bowden.  Riggleman looks like he could take some of these guys in whatever contest they might want.  Maybe that example is rubbing off.

Washington Post beat reporter Adam Kilgore said that even Livan Hernandez came to camp in great shape and ready to play this year.  The final judge of readiness, however, is the upcoming 162-game schedule. It is a trial by fire.  When the final verdict comes in on Jim Riggleman’s Nationals, it could surprise a lot of folks.