Finally, Washington free-agent pitcher signing news and not speculation either.

The Nationals agreed to terms Friday with pitchers Jerome Williams and Brandon Claussen. Williams agreed to a 1-year deal and Claussen was signed to a minor-league contract.

Williams, 25, is 23-24 with a 4.03 ERA lifetime in four big league seasons. He went 10-7 with a 4.24 ERA in 2004 but spent the past couple of seasons battling injuries and ineffectiveness. He is 6-12 since the start of the 2005 season. His rookie year, 2003, he finished 7-5 with a 3.30 ERA for San Francisco, which won the NL West that year.  Right now, Williams should certainly be penciled in for a spot in the rotation. Of course, a horrible spring training could change all that.

Claussen, 27, continues to rehab from an August, 2006 surgery of his left shoulder and rotator cuff.  Claussen does continue the strange streak of former Reds in the Nationals franchise. He went 10-11 with a 4.21 ERA in 2005 in 29 starts for Cincinnati. The Nats are counting on Claussen getting healthy sometime in 2007 and making an effort. I’ll wait and see on this one.

Bottom line: One starter signed on the cheap, who could turn into a good signing if he shows any of his 2003 or 2004 form. Claussen is another pitcher who might get back into action if his shoulder and rotator cuff recover fully.  He might contribute a couple spot starts or get some work as a long reliever (especially if the Nats bullpen gets worn down like I think it might) but right now I’m not seeing it.

I would hope the Nationals could sign at least one more starting pitcher. Paging Ramon Ortiz?

Capitol Punishment has a more in-depth breakdown of the Williams and Claussen signings.

I remember the 1994 Grammys for one reason.  That year, Frank Sinatra was given the lifetime achievement award for his long and talented career.  I got the feeling from watching the show that would be one of the last times America would see Ol’ Blue Eyes.  He gave his speech, and while long, he had earned the right to take a little longer to speak at the podium.  However, the show’s producers or whoever was in charge, didn’t feel that way and gave the cue to start the “thanks for speaking get off the stage” music.  This did not go over well with a lot people including host Garry Shandling, the people in attendance and millions watching at home.

What’s the point?  This week, another Frank got ushered off stage rather abruptly by younger decision-makers.

Frank Robinson’s contributions to Major League Baseball are far too long to mention in this space.  His accomplishments as a player rank him among the all-time greats. He broke the Major League Baseball managerial color barrier. He worked for Major League Baseball in various roles.  He took over a hapless Montreal Expo franchise that was owned by Major League Baseball and guided them the best he could during the last year’s north of the border and two years in Washington.

Tuesday, the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star broke the story that Robinson will not have a full-time position with the club this season. It was reported Washington offered Robinson a job at spring training working with the team’s minor leaguers.  He turned it down.

As expected, a man of Robinson’s stature was not pleased with how this situation was handled.  Robinson contends that promises were concerning his future with the Nationals as manager and possibly the front office.

Robinson’s comments presented him as unhappy with the situation.
"I’m disappointed, no doubt about it," Robinson told the Post. "I would have loved to have been a part of that organization, helped them to build a championship ballclub, and be a part of the District with the fans there and everything. But when people don’t make you feel like you’re needed or wanted or are warm about it, or reach out to you, there’s no sense in trying to force yourself on people."

Here’s where I break this down from the competing sides

Frank Robinson side:

-Robinson wasn’t ready to step away from baseball even if his managerial days have ended. Robinson told the Post this week he “didn’t want an office job and would’ve been happy consulting on trades and player evaluations.” I don’t think the Nationals were considering this at all.

-If Robinson was promised a front-office job in the organization and it didn’t happen, then shame on the Nationals management for going back on their word.  Robinson, or anyone for that matter, does not deserve such a fate especially if management took this long to make a decision on his post-managerial future with the team. How come this decision couldn’t have been made earlier in the off-season?  Robinson has a lot of baseball wisdom to show the younger players and any organization would be happy to have him. I don’t understand where an organization that hired 10 scouts in the offseason wouldn’t have a use for Frank.  I know the Nationals are watching their bottom line right now but they couldn’t have afforded Robinson some sort of position that wouldn’t insult him?

– He’s a proud man and does not like being treated in such a manner. He stayed away from the Orioles after being cut loose as assistant general manager in 1995. Now it’s a shame Washington won’t have Robinson around. I don’t expect a Frank Robinson Day in 2007 or 2008.

-According to the Post article, he told team president Stan Kasten during a late-Sept 2006 meeting he wanted to manage more three years.  Kasten reportedly told Robinson “as long as I’m here in the organization, you will have a job.”

Soon after, Robinson was told he would not be retained as Nationals manager. Then came this week’s big news which has Kasten and Bowden the focus of Robinson’s anger/resentment. While Acta would no doubt appreciate getting some tips from his former boss, I wouldn’t count on it right now.

-Robinson will end up just fine either playing golf in his spare time or serving in some role with Major League Baseball.

The Nationals side: 

-Sentimentalism can only go so far. Baseball is still a business and if certain people don’t fit in that organization’s business plan then they don’t fit into the plans and they’re not retained. Sounds harsh I know. It’s happened to a lot of people, myself included.

-The franchise had to make a business decision if Robinson could make a significant contribution to the franchise. They decided no, and that is their right no matter how many people disagree with it.

-Management might have considered how much Robinson would try to force his input from a front-office position and if would be angling for a GM job as well. He wanted the Baltimore GM job and left the organization without it and unhappy. Would he do the same thing in Washington? Would he hold a grudge toward the management in his “front-office position?” Would Frank’s philosophy and his honest candor conflict with the Nationals management?

-Robinson didn’t have a binding agreement with the Nationals after his managerial contract expired. Personal bad vibes aside, the Nationals brass have to run a business as well as a baseball team.

-With a lot of young managers-in-waiting out there, the Nationals needed a younger, energetic manager to grow with the team. They found that in Acta. 

Somedays, I just don’t feel like writing that much. This is one of them.

Congrats to Cal Ripken, Jr and Tony Gwynn on getting the call to the Hall.  I hope Goose Gossage gets his call soon. 

I’m for bloggers trying to get access to impact people for their respective sites.  More power to them. Screech’s Best Friend at Nats320 was able to interview (for 90 minutes) Nationals President Stan Kasten.  No foolin’.  Whether Nationals fans agree or disagree with what Kasten said in the piece, it’s still neat to read to this on a blog instead of a newspaper.

SBF’s article can be found here (check out Monday and Tuesday. Part III is Wednesday).

I won’t even try to summarize.

Frank Robinson won’t have a role with the team in 2007. I’m not surprised. It’s a shame. Still, the Nationals plan to honor him by having Frank Robinson Day in May when the Orioles come to town. The manager doesn’t get rehired (understandable), is not given a position in the organization (okay) and then they decide to have a day for him the following year? (huh?) Seems weird to me.  Click on the link here for the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star piece.  

I had a conversation with a friend of mine last summer. Lets just say he’s a fan of a team that is located in the northeast part of the United States.

I asked him about a well-known minor league prospect who was coming up to the big club.

His reply was surprising for someone who has followed the team for so long.

“I don’t know who that guy is.”

Once I thought about it, I really didn’t know at the time who the Nationals top minor league prospects were either; although, I could be given a free pass possibly since the team’s minor league system was pretty bare for a while.

I’ve made it a point during the offseason to learn some of the guys. It will make me a better fan and follower of the Nationals.  Here’s what I’ve learned in a brief time about one of the Nationals prospects.

Collin Balester, right-handed pitcher

Balester is ranked atop the Nationals Farm Authority’s Top 30 and is in the top two Nationals prospects in at least three other publications/websites.

Balester, a 6-foot-5, 190-pounder, was a fourth round selection in the 2004 draft.

He is expected to start the season with the same club he ended 2006-Class AA Harrisburg.  Last season, Balester had a rough go of it in Class A Potomac with a 4-5 record and a 5.19 ERA. According to the Beltway Boys, he allowed 14 baserunners per nine innings and struck out six and “His worst outings were early on, however, and by the time Bob Boone watched him pitch, he was beginning to look like a prospect again.

Balester was promoted to Harrisburg and pitched very well. In three starts, he was 1-0 with a 1.83 ERA in 19 2/3 innings pitched striking out 10, walking six and allowed four earned runs. Balester went six or more innings in two of his three starts.

Baseball Prospectus says that Balester, who turns 21 in June, has “90-94 mph fastball has good movement and hard curveball can be a plus pitch at times.”

Baseball Prospectus adds that Balester has been working on a change-up but has been reluctant to use it in game situations yet. A successful third pitch would certainly help Balester in the long run (duh!).  A great start in 2007 will not doubt have Balester in AAA Columbus quickly.

If a tree falls in a forest, does it make a sound?

If Cristian Guzman shows up to spring training on Jan. 17, does anyone care?

Guzman has a heck of a lot to prove to Nationals fans, coaches and management considering the first two years of his four-year deal has been a total flop.  Think Steve Spurrier, Gigli, or Albert Belle in an Orioles uniform.

I’m glad Guzman’s healthy and hoping to regain his form from his Twins days.

He corrected his vision with Laser eye surgery. Great. He’s fully recovered from a torn labrum. Swell. 

I know there are a slew of Sabremetrics stats that state how he is a hitter and a fielder, probably mediocre (if I’m wrong I’ll read about it). I know that OBP is horrible but I’ll take a .260 batting average, 10 triples and 20 stolen bases. Heck, if he can score 60 runs from the No. 8 spot; that would be an accomplishment. I had to do a triple take looking at the year to year stats-20 triples in 2000!

From a Nationals standpoint, I just want something better than .219 and 33 RBIs and better defense. Guzman has no excuses this time.

I disagree with the opening paragraph. It reads that Vidro was unloaded to make room for the Felipe Lopez at second and that it was a clear sign of confidence for Guzman. I thought Vidro was unloaded for his contract and he had lost some of his range and mobility at second. Also, trading Vidro gave us two young players in according with “The Plan.” I don’t see Guzman and Lopez conjuring up memories of Trammell and Whitaker or even Ripken and Ripken. 

I will give credit to Guzman for going down to spring training early to work and prepare. I just hope someone is there to hit the fungo. It would help if Lopez was there a little early so the two can develop a rhythm as the starting middle infielders.

There’s a poll on nationals.com about the Nationals playoff chances this year. I won’t spoil the surprise when you view the results.

My goal for this weekend is to find out when Nationals single-game tickets go on sale. So far, the best answer I have is soon!

Larry Broadway, your time is now.

Yesterday’s Washington Post reported that Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson might not be ready for the season opener.

Johnson broke his right femur in a collision with Austin Kearns Sept. 23 against the Mets. While the bone is healing, Johnson still has to eliminate the limp and show a normal range of motion.

"I’d love to see him back in April," said Ben Shaffer, the team’s orthopedist. "I’d love to see him back on Opening Day. But even if the bone heals completely and his gait is back to normal, how conditioned is he going to be?
"The bottom line is I’m not looking for him on Day One. The fact is, he’s such an important guy to the organization, the focus here has to be on complete recovery and getting him back when he and his body are ready. I’m going to target that for May 1 — and if he makes progress that’s exponential, then fantastic."

Broadway, a 3^rd round selection in 2002, needs to have a good spring training to lock up the starting job. Broadway batted .288 with 15 home runs and 78 RBI in AAA New Orleans last year. 

Broadway has been hit by injuries in each of the last 2 seasons: knee in 2005 and shoulder in 2006.

Reviewing Broadway’s stats in New Orleans, some stats don’t look so good. He struck out 116 times. Of Broadway’s 128 hits, only 42 were for extra bases. Paging Mitchell Page. 

Acta seems to be high on Broadway from Acta’s days in the Montreal organization.

Bottom line: I believe Broadway will come into spring training given every chance to start opening day as the first baseman if Johnson is not ready until May.  If Broadway truly tanks it in Spring Training, Robert Fick seems to be the likely beneficiary of the first baseman’s spot. Fick must have known he might get more playing time than he would’ve had with other squads. 

Broadway has been with the club for almost 5 seasons. Now is the time for 6-4, 230-pound left-handed hitter to make the most of his opportunity. Fail now and the opportunity  won’t present itself again.

Obvious statement:  Johnson’s absence from the lineup hurts a lot especially that .428 on-base percentage from last season (3^rd in the National League). As the Nats No. 4 hitter last year, Johnson finished with a .290 average with a career-high 23 homers and 77 RBI.  I know I talked about moving him in the lineup in previous columns but if healthy, Johnson is the team’s best hitter and leaving him in the cleanup wouldn’t have been a bad idea when he’s 100 percent (I know, he has a tendency to get banged up). 

The Post added that the Nationals season opener was certain to be a day game with Passover beginning at sundown. I thought it was going to be a day game because Opening Day baseball games on the east coast traditionally are day games anyways. Hmmm!