Welcome back to our new regular column here at Nationals Daily News - Stock Up, Stock Down.  Last week we talked about Josh Willingham (who has stayed hot) and Nyjer Morgan (who was demoted from the leadoff spot and promptly responded with one of his best hitting games all season).  Here's hoping this week's entries continue to have better luck than the folks from our inaugural week.

STOCK UP

Adam Dunn - He hit a big 3 run double that started the avalanche yesterday that gave the Nats some semblance of an offense, scoring as many in one inning as they did all series in San Diego.  Over his last 7 games, he's hitting a sweet .387 with 6 runs scored and 6 RBI.  The power isn't there, but the contributions are - as his 6 runs scored show, he's getting on base.

STOCK DOWN

Justin Maxwell - He's getting the Ryan Church treatment, albeit more deservedly.  In my mind, Church at least had his injury liability as a crutch for poor performance.  Maxwell, who went 0-7 with 2 walks and 2 strikeout's over the last week, has no such excuse, and was demoted to AAA to make room for starter J.D. Martin.  When you combine Maxwell's lack of results with Roger Bernadina's* semi-coming out party, we may be seeing the end of J-Max's shots at a permanent spot in a Nats uniform.

Also receiving votes among the NDN staff:  UP - Zimmerman, Guzman, Desmond, Martin, Atilano. DOWN - Morgan, Kennedy, Martin, Bernadina.  Honorable Mention - Syracuse Chiefs Uniforms (thanks, Let Teddy Win) which are universally agreed to be pretty bad.  Again, players only, folks.

* the author is fully aware that Bernadina went 1-15 with 5 K's over the last week, which is why he's a candidate for Stock Down - the sole difference being that Maxwell was also sent down.

      

I'm usually one of the more forgiving online commentators, but I'm going to divert from my usual kindly self and echo the call I know others have put out - it's time for Cristian Guzman to go, or at least not be the starting shortstop anymore.

I know, Guzman is only 31.  I know, he had 151 hits last season for a .284 BA, which was 4th best on the team behind Nyjer Morgan, Nick Johnson, and Ryan Zimmerman.

I also know that he's showing diminished range at SS, and that many of his hits were singles.  He only managed to bat in 52 runs, and had the same number of sacrfices (6) as home runs.  In other words, he's average at best, and his impact is statistically inflated by his lack of extra base hits.

There's been a lot of discussion this offseason about a proposed move to 2B, and to let Ian Desmond play SS, but only if the Nats don't sign another 2B, like Adam Kennedy or Orlando Hudson.

It's my opinion that we move on from the Guzman era in DC, and embrace the infielding future.  Let's do both - sign a Hudson or Kennedy, start Desmond at SS, and trade Guzman.  We've got Eric Bruntlett to play utility infielder, so we have some depth in case of injury.

When you look at the numbers (Thanks, Chico/Nats Journal), you see that "Bill James predicts for Hudson this upcoming season: 550 AB, .280 AVG, .353 OBP, .409 SLG, 10 HR, 61 RBI, 96 Ks, 7 SBs."  Hudson looks like a better defending Guzman, right?  "James predicts for Desmond: 518 AB, .282 AVG, .338 OBP, .432 SLG, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 102 Ks, 25 SBs."  Basically a young clone of the above, but with better speed on the basepaths.

Look - the Nats are not going to make the postseason this year.  2010 is all about finding the parts that work and running with them for 2011, while playing better than 2009.  So why are they starting someone who won't be here in 2011?  Sure, you may get more errors out of SS than Guzman (debatable), but same as with Ryan Zimmerman at 3B, you accept a few more errors so that you can get the more spectacular plays and improved range.

Some "contender" (cough, Mets, cough) is going to be looking for a middle infielder this spring, or someone is going to get injured, so why not open up Guzman to the market for a A or AA level prospect?  They should not be looking for the next Derek Jeter or Hanley Ramirez, more like a younger Alberto Gonzalez (who should be a solid bench guy this season).

Make sense to you?  Am I nuts?  Comment up below.