WASHINGTON, D.C. -- If you were paying attention at all on Saturday night -- or at least closer attention than Washington Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan was -- you couldn't have failed to notice that, in the middle of the Nationals' big six-run eighth inning against the Cardinals, Morgan failed to touch home plate after a Willie Harris double sent him around the base paths from first.

Catcher Ivan Rodriguez didn't fail to notice: having scored his own run, he pushed Morgan back toward the plate, which nullified any chance of Morgan's run counting.

Nor did Nationals manager Jim Riggleman fail to notice either Morgan's missing the plate, or Morgan's apparent need along the way to vent frustration on St. Louis catcher Bryan Anderson, whom Morgan elbow-blocked at the end of his detour away from home.

When asked before today's game at Nationals Park about his decision to omit Morgan from the Sunday lineup, Riggleman at first didn't have much to say about it:  "Just a manager's decision to go a different way today. I think Nyjer's playing fine."

It didn't take long, though, for Riggleman to reveal his true feelings about the incident.

"I think it was just a culmination of Nyjer's anger from not hitting first," Riggleman said. "[He] did an unprofessional thing. He went after the catcher. I certainly don't condone that."

"That's not Nyjer's style of play to do something like that," Riggleman said, while revealing that Morgan was unhappy about being moved to the eighth position in Saturday's lineup.  Morgan has batted leadoff in almost all of the 113 games he has played for the Nationals this season.

"I called him in and told him I was gonna hit him eighth instead of leadoff," Riggleman said. "I think [Morgan's frustration] just was building up all day. I think he thought I was wearing that [catcher's] equipment there at home plate."

"I'm sorry it happened," Riggleman said. "I apologized to [St. Louis manager] Tony [La Russa] and I apologized to Bryan Anderson," Riggleman added, indicating that the apologies were accepted.

Even so, inserting Morgan into Sunday's lineup at any position could have been hazardous.

"I can't minimize [the incident], because if I take the approach that there's nothing wrong with it, we're gonna get people hurt on the field," Riggleman said. "There's gotta be retaliation."

"If Nyjer was playing today, he'd get hit [by a pitch]," Riggleman said. "If an opposing player did that to my catcher and came to the plate, he'd get hit."

Riggleman expressed confidence that the incident was an isolated one.

"You've never seen that before [from Morgan]," Riggleman said. "You'll never see it again."

      

New York Avenue can be a traffic nightmare heading out of town, even as late as 7 or 8.  Still, its going to be a faster trip than a plane to Las Vegas and while there aren’t any tables or slot machines at the new Stadium Club it does have a couple things in common with America’s party destination.  Namely, lots of female dancers and great steaks. 

Owner James T. “Tru” Redding, who also has a share of Public Bar and Sushi Rock decided to make his “gentleman’s club” a lot more interesting by opening a sparkling new 42 seat steakhouse inside the club. He brought in Andre Miller, previously one of the six regional chef’s who shaped the menu for all 40 Ruth Chris Steakhouses around the country.  He also invested in a creating a great atmosphere with an open kitchen, flat screen tv’s and most importantly, perfectly done steaks. 

This is a classic steakhouse menu and was right on par with Morton’s or The Palm.  I went for the 24 ounce Cowboye Ribeye, charred and blackened with some great spice but still medium rare on the inside.  Huge and worth the price.  My friend’s New York Strip looked perfectly done as well, something that doesn’t always happen in even the best places.  They have a ton of classics on the menu like Clams Casino, Delmonico steak, Rack of Lamb and Lobster.  Start with the always refreshing Iceberg Wedge or Tomato Mozzarella salads, they are big enough to split, and order a couple of sides for the table, maybe the Au Gratin Casserole or Cornmeal Dusted Onion Rings.

The wine list is huge, ranging from Italy to Spain to Napa to France, New Zealand and more.  We settled on the always delicious Cakebread from Napa, but they also had Caymus, Opus One, Harlan and much more with the top bottles soaring over a thousand dollars.   You would never know you were sitting inside a 14,000 square foot new strip club in Northeast DC.

Just as in Vegas we spotted a celebrity walking in for dinner, Wizards Assistant Coach and former NBA star Sam Cassell strolled in with a group of friends and we chatted with him about the future of Gilbert Arenas, John Wall and the Wiz.

After dinner, General Manager Damian Ward escorted us to a great table in the main club, you don’t pay a cover to get in if you eat at the steakhouse.  Mr. Ward and the rest of the staff were all outstanding

As for the rest of the Stadium Club, I thought it was almost on par with the food, but you’ll have to review that for yourself.
 

      

 The 2010 MLB Draft begins June 7th at 7pm and the Washington Nationals, again holders of the 1st overall pick, are expected to go big, ignore the "character concerns", and select Bryce Harper.  This isn't the NFL, however, and one big pick will not a franchise fix.  The Nats have holes (ranked 23rd in MLB according to ESPN's Keith Law), and below we're going to highlight a few of the positions that we feel need the most attention.

In order of need:

• Outfield.  Yes, I'm lumping all three spots together.  Both Nyjer Morgan and Josh Willingham are over 30, and there is no proven RF solution yet.  Prospects Destin Hood and Michael Burgess look decent, but are miles away from helping the MLB club.  After them, the cupboard is fairly bare, filled with mid-20's AAAA types.  Chris Marrero could be an option here, but that depends on a contract extension for Adam Dunn.  Speaking of...


• First Base.   Aside from Marrero (or even with him), this is another spot where the cupboard is really bare.  A contract extension for Dunn can help fill the hole for a few years, but eventually the Nats will need developmental prospects, not just spot-holders like Josh Whitesell and Chris Duncan. 


• Pitching.  A constant need.  Whether it be a promising pitcher falling apart (Colin Balester), a prospect not developing fast enough (anyone seen Jack McGeary outside of Vermont?), or injuries (hello, Matt Chico, Ross Detwiler, Jordan Zimmermann), quality pitching is scarce and fickle.  Even with a Stephen Strasburg on the way and Drew Storen here in DC, they need quality starting and relief arms so the Nats don't have to find a Livan Hernandez to pick up every year.


• Second Base.  Even with the rise of Ian Desmond, middle infield will still be a concern.  Jeff Kobernus, Danny Espinosa, and Stephen Lombardozzi are on the way in some respects, but they may not all pan out and they may not be enough in case of injury.

Before you ask, yes, there are other positions that could be as much of a concern, if not more.  When polled, the NDN staff literally mentioned everything on the field, based on personal preference.  I chose to disregard 3B for Ryan Zimmerman, SS for Desmond, and C for Derek Norris, Jesus Flores, and the aforementioned Bryce Harper.  If the Nats decide to move Harper to either 1B or the OF, I would then replace 2B on my list with Catcher.

Ultimately, Hendo said it best, the keyword for the Nats is power.  They need slugging corner outfielders, a slugging 1B prospect or three, and power pitching.  Apologies to John Lannan, but the Nats have too many soft-tossing control pitchers in both the pen and the starting group, and need a few more flamethrowers.

Disagree?  Comment up below.  

      

It was a relaxed, grinning Drew Storen who shagged batting-practice fly balls in center field with Scott Olsen Thursday afternoon -- the day after the rookie's debut at Nationals Park.

A big-leaguer now for four days and with his first win under his belt, Storen is happy to be settling in.

"I felt a lot more comfortable this time around," a grinning Storen told the Daily News this afternoon. "It was good to get that first one out of the way in St. Louis and come back here."

It was almost a year ago that Storen was drafted in the first round of the MLB Amateur Draft. His selection was overshadowed by the Nationals' other first-round pick, Stephen Strasburg.

Storen signed the very next day because he wanted to get to the majors as quickly as possible. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park and was shipped off to Hagerstown to start his pro career in Single-A.

Three hundred forty-one days later, Storen got the call, and though his debut would be on the road instead of in Washington, Storen was just happy to be in a Nationals uniform.

"It's still a big game, regardless. It was still a really good hitter," Storen said, referring to Matt Holliday, who he struck out. "It doesn't really change between the lines. But it was great."

Finally in D.C. Wednesday night, Storen was welcomed with loud applause when he was brought in during the seventh inning of a game for which he'd end up earning the win.

"I was warming up and they said my name and I when I heard it I was like 'woah, that's nice,'" Storen said. "It means a lot, especially in a Monday night game to have a crowd like that really applause -- that was awesome."

He was greeted by the Nationals' infield when he got to the mound and remembers them saying "go get 'em," but not much else. "When you go out there in those kinds of situations it kind of blurs together because you're so focused," he said.

Like his debut in St. Louis on Monday, Storen had future hall-of-famer Ivan Rodriquez behind the plate - a fact to which Storen says he expects to never adjust.

"It's still pretty cool every time I get to throw to a guy like that," Storen said. "That's actually been really big for me. It's very beneficial to have a guy like that behind the plate. I trust what he's going to call. I don't have to think that much. I can just worry about executing the pitches knowing that he knows the hitters and he takes pride in what he's calling."

Rodriguez, meanwhile, praised Storen for staying calm. After hitting the Cardinals' Ryan Ludwick in the hand with a brutal fastball on Monday, Storen recovered and struck out Matt Holliday to end the inning.

"He did great," Rodriguez said Thursday. "He came in and threw strikes. As long as he throws strikes, he'll be fine."

Nationals Manager Jim Riggleman said before Thursday's game that he's going to be careful with how he uses his rookie reliever.

"In college, those guys - those relievers - they play on the weekends for the most part," Riggleman said. "There's not much going on during the week. They play a lot of weekend baseball so they might get a couple days but then there's five days off or something."

"His time in the minor leagues, his time in the fall league - very structured. He's going to pitch this day, this day, this day. We're in the big leagues and can't nail it down quite as perfect as that."

After facing two batters and getting the win on Wednesday night, an elated Storen was congratulated by Olsen with a traditional shaving-cream pie to the face during a live interview with MASN's Debbi Taylor.

"It tastes good," he told Taylor, only to be hit with a second face full from John Lannan seconds later.

Storen would post to Twitter later that night, "For the record, my eyes are still watering from the shaving cream pie. Well worth it though."

      

MASN's Phil Wood had a good article about the potential starting rotation now that Aroldis Chapman has signed with the Reds, which got me thinking, since I didn't quite agree with his projected group.

Wood went with Jason Marquis, John Lannan, Doug Davis (still a FA), Scott Olsen and J.D. Martin.  Certainly not a bad rotation, and it makes sense to pencil in another Free Agent signee into the 3rd starting spot. 

I'm with him on Marquis, Lannan, and a Free Agent as 1-2-3 (though maybe not that order, as I think the Nats want Lannan to be the #1 as the most fan recognized pitcher).  It's 4-5 that get me.  I'm not buying Olsen's full recovery yet, something we'll need evidence of in Spring Training.  He's also still relatively young, so I can see the Nats taking their time with him and starting him out in AAA.

J.D. Martin was certainly decent last year, but he's a control guy with a 4.44 ERA and a tendency for the long ball.  I'm not sure any of that adds up to the 5th starter spot when you have other options out there.

I think you can pencil in Craig Stammen for one of the starting spots, unless he regresses.  Sure his 5.11 ERA last year was worse than Martin's, but he had fewer homers given up while throwing more innings and had a lower opponents batting average.  You'd think an improved defense would help Stammen lower his numbers to a greater extent than Martin.

I also still think the 5th spot is up in the air.  If Olsen isn't ready, then a mix of Martin, Collin Balester, Garrett Mock, Stephen Strasburg, and Ross Detwiler all get a shot.  I'm not ready to write off Shairon Martis yet either.  It'll come down to who has the best camp.  I think longer shots are a rehabbing Matt Chico and the player from the Nick Johnson trade, Aaron Thompson.

Right now I'll say my rotation is Lannan, Marquis, Free Agent, Stammen, and Mock.  Olsen, Martin, Balester, Detwiler, and Strasburg make up your AAA rotation, with Olsen or Martin first up for an MLB injury call-up.  Martis, Chico, and Thompson start at AA, unless one moves to the bullpen.

All of this will set up quite a battle next year, when Jordan Zimmermann is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, and the Nats might actually sport a real major league rotation - though the projected for this season is close.

And I know many of you are ready for Strasburg to open the season, but I don't see it.  They want to bring him along slowly and make sure he's ready before tossing him to the major league wolves.  I do think it's likely he makes the bigs this season, but not right away.

What's your projected rotation?  Comment up below.

      

The Nationals' 2010 Winter Caravan around the Washington metro area will feature a new crop of talent and visit a new set of DMV landmarks, culminating in the second annual NatsFest fan event at Nationals Park.

The tour will kick off on Wednesday, January 27 with a meet-and-greet event at Unity Health Care's Southwest Health Center in the District, the move out to Hard Times Cafe in the Clarendon section of Arlington and the Build-a-Bear Workshop in McLean.

On Thursday, January 28, the tour will stop at Ben's Chili Bowl for lunch and then assemble care packages at the USO at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. It will conclude with an autograph session at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge.

On Friday, January 29, the team will host a 'hot stove' luncheon for ticket-holders at Nationals Park and then an autograph session at the Caps game at the Verizon Center.

On Saturday, January 30, the caravan will visit with patients at Children's National Medical Center in the District, then host a skills demonstration and autograph session at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex in Landover.

The caravan concludes Sunday, January 31 with NatsFest at Nationals Park.

Players and staff participate in the tour for a couple of days at a time. This year's tour will include some names likely to draw a crowd -- Adam Dunn, Ivan Rodriguez and Rob Dibble among them.

The Nats' second pick in the 2009 draft, Drew Storen, and recent free agent acquisitions Matt Capps and Brian Bruney will also make appearances.  

Below is a complete list of 2010 caravan participants, and here is the complete schedule in the team's press release:

Shortstop Danny Espinosa - January 27–29
Pitcher Ryan Speier  - January 27–29
Pitcher Drew Storen  - January 27–29
Manager Jim Riggleman  - January 27–31
MASN Broadcaster Rob Dibble  - January 27–31
Pitcher Brian Bruney  - January 29–31
Pitcher Matt Capps  - January 29–31
Pitcher Tyler Clippard  - January 29–31
First Baseman Adam Dunn  - January 29–31
Pitcher John Lannan  - January 29–31
Outfielder Nyjer Morgan  - January 29–31
Catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez  - January 29–31
Pitcher Craig Stammen  - January 29–31
Outfielder Josh Willingham  - January 29–31
Third Baseman Ryan Zimmerman  - January 29–31
NBC’s “Meet the Press” Moderator David Gregory - January 30

      

In the history of baseball, there has been no team that has emodied failure and ridicule as much as the Philadelphia Phillies, as evidenced by their historic 10,000th loss a couple of years back.  As much as they are trashed, cajoled and mocked, they have become a symbol of success in the National League, as well as in all of baseball.  As a resident of the Washington DC area, I am left to ponder, "If they can do it, why not the Nats?"  So how did they do it?

The Phillies success did not happen overnight, and it would be too simplistic to just say, "Howard, Utley, Rollins, Hamels".  The Phillies have won 80+ games EVERY year sine 2001, and have won less than 86 games only once, yet in that same time period have had 3 managers (Francona, Bowa, Charlie Manuel) and 3 GM's (Ed Wade, Pat Gillick, Ruben Amaro, Jr.).  What is more telling, and eye opening for Nationals fans, is how a move towards championship first starts with respectability before it can become the team you see today.  In order to build, there are three key pieces a team must focus on:

1. The Draft
2. Player Development
3. Team Identity

The Draft

While much has been made (book, movie) about Billy Beane's draft strategy, no one has pointed out that the Phillies have probably had the best return on investment of any team in the draft. In order to build that impressive team, the following shows the Phillies successful picks for a straight decade:

• 1993: Scott Rolen, 2nd round
• 1994: nothing good
• 1995: Marlon Anderson, 2nd round; Dave Coggin, 1st round
• 1996: Jimmy Rollins, 2nd round
• 1997: JD Drew (didnt sign, more on that); Randy Wolf
• 1998: Pat Burrell, #1 overall; Jason Michaels, 4th round, Ryan Madson, 9th round; Geoff Geary, 15th round
• 1999: Brett Myers, 1st round; Marlon Byrd, 10th round
• 2000: Chase Utley, 1st round
• 2001: Gavin Floyd, 1st round; Ryan Howard, 5th round
• 2002: Cole Hamels, 1st round
• 2003: Michael Bourn; Kyle Kendrick...Bourn became Brad Lidge in a 2007 trade
• 2004: JA Happ, 3rd round 

That return on invesment is amazing.  Think, when you watch the Phillies tonight, 7 of these players may have played (Rollins, Myers, Madson, Utley, Howard, Hamels, Kendrick, Happ) with another player (Lidge) having come to this team via a draft pick (Bourn).  While the Phillies have shown an unreal eye for talent, the key to getting them to the field is player development, and the Phillies are equally impressive there. 

Player Development

What is missing from this list of draftees are the marginal prospects the Phillies got from other teams that have become contributing players.  Rule 5 picks like Shane Victorino or former prospects bordering on washout status like Jayson Werth have solidified this team and filled the gaps where the Phillies need help. In those 8 years of drafting and building the franchise, it is the player development that served as the mortar to this foundation. 

Player Development is a critical component of a budding franchise, and one that requires the long view of the organization's future as well as extreme patience.  It is in the area of player development where so many struggling teams fail, due to a myriad of issues such as flagging attendance, waning interest, and lack of supporting talent on the major league roster.  

It is this lesson that the Nationals need to take to heart the most. With top picks like Zimmerman, Detwiler, Zimmermann, Marerro, Strasburg, Storen, Ian Desmond and Derek Norris, the Nationals NEED to have an infrastructure at every level of the organization where these kids are taught the fundamentals of the game, and move on with improved performance.   It is through this rigorous process that the team will truly equip these players with the skills and maturity they need in high-pressure situations. 

Team Identity

As the Nationals move into the Mike Rizzo era and the search for a manager intensifies, the Nationals have an opportunity to define what type of team they want to be.  While this may sound academic, it is a critical component in building a competitive, respectable team. 

The Phillies lack of mental errors (they are one of the best defensive teams in baseball) is not something they acquired via the draft.  While players like Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard were immense talents, it was the dedication to fundamental baseball throughout the organization and a commitment that they would be a grinding, defensively-minded team that allows them to focus on those tenets at all level. On offense, their ability to grind out at-bats and see multiple pitches per at bat is something that is taught and reinforced by the Phillies coaching staff.

This last piece is something that has evaded the Nationals since their move to DC, and I would argue is just as important as the other 2 components.  When the A's were competing in the AL West for the last decade, Billy Beane used to demand that all his players in all levels of the organization had to see multiple pitches per at bat.  The idea of OBP was central to their identity.  While you can argue that hinders a player, the A's had an organizational identity that was modeled at alll levels of the organization, and the result was a decade of respectability.

The Nationals have a long way to go to gain that competitive respectability, and the sad reality is that some of our current stars may not be here to enjoy the fruits of that dedication.  Just like Scott Rolen in Philly, Ryan Zimmerman may miss out on the Nationals Renaissance, and while that would be disappointing, his role on this team will be central to this team advancing towards respectability. 

So as you begin to assess this franchise, and where they should be in regards to the players, it is essential to take the long view, and see how they Nationals are building their minor league operations, assess how their prospects are maturing (are they developing skill sets beyond what they were touted for), and have patience in how long those players spend in the minors.  The reality is that is the only way for us to get better.

So, here is to 2015 and the first of many NL East championships!

      

As we enter the final hours of the signing period for the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, we are reminded that this circus is an annual event -- and that next year's show should dwarf this year's.

Why?  Much as has been made of Stephen Strasburg in every sporting news source on the English-speaking planet, it will be as nothing compared to the hoopla that will presently, and steadily, gain in volume and urgency regarding 16-year-old high-school phenom Bryce Harper.

That, in my mind, is why Scott Boras wants to get a Strasburg deal done today.

Granted, Boras could shuttle Strasburg over to Japan if they aren't offered what they think they're entitled to in a deal with the Nats.  But by walking away from a Nats deal, Boras would, I think, lose considerable momentum.

Look at it this way.  Granted, if the Nats had put $10 million on the table and said "take it or leave it," Boras could have left it and led Nats Nation -- and probably baseball fandom everywhere -- in a spirited chant of "Cheap Lerners!" while still maintaining other lucrative options, this year and next, for his young advisee.

But that may not be what the Nats have done.  Jon Heyman at SI.com is hearing $12.5 million, while according to Roch Kubatko at MASN, the base offer on the table is for $17 million, and could exceed $20 million without Strasburg having to strain himself too much.

Assuming Kubatko's source is more accurate than Heyman's, that is very hard money to walk away from.  And Strasburg won't see much more than that if he re-enters the draft next year.  In fact, as has happened with the Royals and last year's number-nine draftee Aaron Crow this year, it is entirely possible that Strasburg could be offered less; it's hard to envision Baltimore, Kansas City or Pittsburgh offering in 2010 a deal that trumps the Nats' in 2009, especially with Strasburg being a full year older by then.

And if Boras and Strasburg walk away from a signing bonus that as much as doubles any previously paid, Boras will have added plentifully to the pile of ill will that will loom in the negotiations with Harper a year from now.  Not to mention that he won't have added a cent to his pocketbook.

Now suppose Strasburg signs for that $17-20 million.  Not only does Boras reap a seven-figure reward for his fee, but he puts himself and Harper in a much better bargaining position than they would be otherwise.

Let's be candid:  Good as Strasburg is at 20, it's hard to envision a pitcher who throws as hard as he does having a longer career in front of him than a 17-year-old position player of the ability that Harper is said to possess.  And while Strasburg may be a hell of a pitcher, he can't start every day, while Harper can play every day in the field and bat four times a game to boot. 

So Harper's bonus should be a multiple of Strasburg's.  But it'll be a bigger and more predictable multiple, and an easier one for Boras to try to justify, if Strasburg signs a reasonable offer such as the Nats' now, than if Boras has to float phantom figures and juggle negotiations between the Orioles / Royals / Pirates / Nats on one side of the table, and both Harper and an unsigned Strasburg on the other.

Remember, from Boras' perspective, it's all about Boras.  Who, if Strasburg signs tonight, can envision a richer and more worry-free life now and in future than if Strasburg doesn't sign.

Once the Nats table a deal that significantly raises the bar, Boras owes it to himself to make that happen.

      

I have never understood the rationale of not signing a contract, missing valuable training/playing/comraderie time, and then assuming that when you show up, everything will be fine. This happens in football and with recent draft picks being so expensive, has become a trend with baseball.  The difference however is that the baseball draft and subsequent "reporting" to one's team actually happens during the competitive season. All of this is background for the case surrounding the Nationals two first round picks.

Now, this is not meant to be an article slighting Scott Boras, rather one commending Drew Storen and his agent.  Yes, we all knew Stephen Strasburg's signing was going to take to the last second, but we did not know our #10 pick would sign and report within 5 days to his new team.  The results? Well, the proof is in the promotions.

Storen has been lights out thus far with the Hagerstown Suns and Potomac Nationals, posting a 1-1 record with 1 save and a 3.00 ERA in 21.1 innings of work.  While that sounds nice, the best numbers is in the peripherals.  In those 21 innings of work, Storen has 34 K's and 1 walk!! His WHIP is an astounding .667, while his K/9 rate is 14.1.  His impeccable work in Potomac has some already talking about his arrival in Harrisburg, and then soon to MLB.

So, what has Storen gained in the two months from the draft?  Well, for starters, he has solidified his status in the organization, and has erased fears (thus far) at the management level as to how he will perform.  For a #10 overall pick, the expectations are high, and Storen has delivered in a short amount of time.  Granted, he has two more rungs before the show, but his approach and the results have been stellar.

Second, I can assume, that Storen has earned the respect of his teammates.  Again, this is not to throw Strasburg under the bus, but rather to reward Storen for the work he has put in.  As a closer, earning the teammates respect and confidence will go a long way for both the team and the closer.  A loss of confidence, and you can quickly become the 2009 Nats with Hanrahan.  Need I say more.

While Strasburg has dominated the news as to the "will he or won't he", Storen's emergence as a bullpen fixture can help this organization make better decisions about where they see gaps in the team's foundation.  No longer will the team have to chase a future closer at the expense of other positions.  This was already evident with the trade of Nick Johnson for a young, strong pitcher who many project can be a bullpen stalwart, more in the middle to long relief role. 

I think Strasburg will sign, and I think he will report to the minors, and by all accounts, he is a good kid with a great work ethic.  He too will have the respect of his teammates and the trust when he delivers, as we all think he will.  Even the holdouts from camps and those bitter stories are forgotten when the player performs to the capabilities, but for a team floundering in the standings, it is nice to know that there is a first round pick who has shown that he can perform. 

      

The year 2006 had been a turbulent one for Dmitri Young and those around him, as he dealt with domestic violence charges in April, rehabilitation from injury, depression and alcoholism from May through July, his surprise unconditional release by Detroit in September and a life-threatening diabetic episode in late November.

If Young was worried that the baseball world would forget about him, Nationals then-GM Jim Bowden -- for whom Young had played as a Cincinnati Red from 1998 through 2001 -- allayed that fear in February 2007 when he invited Young to Spring Training.  That move may have raised eyebrows at the time, but it looked pretty cagey when Nick Johnson's extended recovery from his September 2006 collision with Austin Kearns created an urgent need for a power-hitting first baseman.

Young filled that need ably in 2007, compiling a batting line of .320 / .378 / .491 in 136 games.  That, as well as his facing up to his personal issues, earned him the support of fans, a $10 million contract extension through 2009, and the 2007 Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Unhappily, Young's career has been on the downhill slope since.  Plagued by continued injuries and ongoing issues with weight and diabetes, Young only appeared in 50 major-league games in 2008 and has yet to appear in a 2009 MLB game, though a handshake agreement with Bowden during the 2008-09 offseason ensured Young a spot on the Nats' 40-man roster.

Although, between Johnson and Adam Dunn, the club has been pretty well set at first base, Young has been working his way back from a hip and back strain suffered in Spring Training.  That phase of the journey has just come to a sad end as Young has suffered a torn quadriceps in double-A play and is done for the season.

Still, it sounds as if Young would like to don a uniform next year.  Should that come to pass, our guess -- especially with Bowden gone -- is that it probably won't be the Nationals'.