As the off-season approaches, there will be many holes in the roster for the Nats to fill.  (We told you this one was coming.)  But not at corner infield.  

Last night, Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn once again lifted the team with a 2 HR, 3 RBI game, which provided the margin of victory against the Marlins, 5-3.  Read the gamers from the Post, Times, MLB and AP. 

Zim and Dunn added to their already impressive offensive numbers (Zim: .294/29 HR/94 RBI; Dunn: .282/37/98).  What's more, Zim is on his way to a Gold Glove, leading the majors in key defensive stats.  And his penchant for walk-offs has led my wife, Kate, to rebrand Charlie Slowes' signature line:  "Bang, Zim go the fireworks!"  

Meanwhile, Dunn has played 1B surprisingly well.  He doesn't have the range of Nick Johnson, but he handles all kinds of throws.  No Dmitri Young there.

What is the key weakness?  Dunn is signed only through 2010, a fault that Tom Boswell places squarely on ownership.  If he walks, then Mike Rizzo will have yet another hole to fill.  Only this time, statistically, it will be a big, gaping one.

      

Hope.  It's a powerful feeling.  One that comforts in times of despair.  One that rewards as success builds.

Last night, hope was high in the ballpark.  For it was the return to DC of Livan Hernandez, the workhorse who pitched for the Nats during their better years (2005-06).  With many of the other pitchers delivering non-memorable seasons, could Livan be the Livan of Old and right the rotation?

Not last night.  Instead, we got a modern-day Livan who sports a 5.54 ERA, worst among the Nats' current starting pitchers.  (I'm excluding Mock's awful run in the bullpen.)  Against the Marlins, Livan gave up 6 runs in just 5 innings.  And the Nats went down to their eighth straight loss, 9-5.  Read the gamers from the Post, Times, MLB, AP and Miami Herald.

It's a shame, really.  After all, Livan has showed flashes of his old self since returning to the Nats, with his most recent outing being a 3-run, complete game against the Padres.  Pitching in his old uniform and in his new home park should have been just as special.  It wasn't. 

So the question begins to shift to whether the Nats should keep Livan around for 2010.  Read Tom Boswell's argument here.  And hope for a better outing next time.