Jordan Zimmermann pitched beautifully, a career-high nine strikeouts over six innings, facing the minimal number of batters. It gives hope for Strasburg come 2012 -- and that 2011 might result in more steady improvement for the Nats. Probably not a winning season, but possibly in the middle to high 70s in wins.

Is this Chad Tracy, the catching prospect and son of Jim Tracy? Or is the other one still around?

It's the 30-year old ex-DBack one.

This was a fun game to watch. It was fast paced and included some impressive defensive plays (and some horrendous baserunning). The crowd was also extremely sparse. Is it just me, or were there more fans after the 3 hour rain delay the night before?

If a Nats fan were ridiculously optimistic, choosing a 5-man rotation from Zimmermann, L. Hernandez, Lannan, Marquis, Maya and Wang sounds like a .500 season in 2011 even without Strasburg.

If a Nats fan were ridiculously optimistic, choosing a 5-man rotation from Zimmermann, L. Hernandez, Lannan, Marquis, Maya and Wang sounds like a .500 season in 2011 even without Strasburg.

So, the ridiculous optimism extends to retaining Dunn?

So, the ridiculous optimism extends to retaining Dunn?


Does Dunn have a ton of options? He wants to stay in the NL. He can't play OF. Who needs a 1b in the NL?

Cubs.

Yeah. Maybe San Fran too. Thats not a huge market though.

True. His agent will be hounding him to consider a DH role - he'd probably double or triple his contract by expanding the net to AL teams.

I feel sorry for Dunn. Much like Pat Burrell in Philly, Dunn's teams have focused largely on what he can't do - field - rather than what he does extremely well, which is get on base and hit for power. He's on track for his 6th 40-HR season in seven years (he hit 38 in 2009), and he's only 10 days older than Ryan Howard, who just got a 9-figure extension. Howard's career OPS+ is 139 vs. Dunn's 133, but Dunn has had 2 of his best 3 seasons the last 2 years (144 and 143). Dunn is durable, having played 150+ games in 7 of the last 8 years (and on his way to 8 of 9 this year). Realistically, though, he's probably looking at another contract similar to his current 2 year, $20M unless he's willing to DH, and even then he won't be making star money.

Dude can hit, though.

I'd take Dunn for the Cubs at 2/20...

So, the ridiculous optimism extends to retaining Dunn?

Doesn't Dunn want to stay in Washington?

I feel sorry for Dunn. Much like Pat Burrell in Philly, Dunn's teams have focused largely on what he can't do - field - rather than what he does extremely well, which is get on base and hit for power.

To a point. Washington loves him, everyone speaks very highly of him.

Doesn't Dunn want to stay in Washington?

He will for 4 years, but Washington doesn't want to give him 4 years, they are offering 3.