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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

WaPo: Dunn delivers big blow for the Nationals

Wooo! Topps Upper-Deckle Edge Insert!

If this is the end for Adam Dunn in Washington, he never changed. Unbothered by the future that has everyone else preoccupied, Dunn concerns himself only with what he can control. And late Tuesday night, in the bottom of the ninth inning, with the crowd at Nationals Park chanting his name and the count in his favor, he controlled the outcome of what could be his penultimate home game here.

Dunn unleashed his compact, uppercut swing on a fastball from Philadelphia Phillies reliever Jose Contreras. In the Washington Nationals’ dugout, Dunn’s teammates started pumping their fists and hopping onto the field before Dunn had left the batter’s box, before the ball rocketed into the night, before the crowd’s chants demanding that he remain a National stopped echoing through Nationals Park.

...Almost instantly, the joy of the moment yielded to the potential finality of Wednesday. Dunn, who will be eligible for free agency this offseason, will play what might be his final home game as a member of the Nationals on Wednesday night. He said he doesn’t know and therefore, typically unworried, doesn’t care. The notion had not even occurred to him Tuesday evening before he was asked about it while lounging in a clubhouse recliner.

“I’m not going to go in tomorrow going, ‘This is my last home game ever,’ and cry, hand out Adam Dunn baseball cards,” Dunn said. “I’m going to go into tomorrow like we have a chance to win the series against the National League East division champs.”

 

Repoz Posted: September 29, 2010 at 09:46 AM | 21 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: nationals

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   1. TomH Posted: September 29, 2010 at 11:37 AM (#3650979)
I sat in front of a group of fans who loudly chanted "sign Adam Dunn" each time he came to bat.

When he began with a 2-0 count in the 9th, I said to wife, "he has to come in now; it could all end on THIS pitch."

Bang Zoom go the fireworks. A curly W for the Nats.
   2. The cushions are crowded for Edmundo Posted: September 29, 2010 at 12:05 PM (#3650992)
That was a MONSTER shot. Good for Dunn. I hope they can work out something mutually beneficial. He scares the pants off of me everytime he bats against the Phillies but Lordy, he's fun to watch at the bat.
   3. Random Transaction Generator Posted: September 29, 2010 at 01:00 PM (#3651020)
I love how the umpire stood in the middle of the celebration to make sure Dunn touched home plate.
   4. Esoteric Posted: September 29, 2010 at 01:38 PM (#3651042)
Ump's just doing his job!

What a great monster of a home run. I really would like to see him stay, although I know that the terms under which he would stay would probably be too much.
   5. Alex Vila Posted: September 29, 2010 at 03:58 PM (#3651221)
He scares the pants off of me everytime he bats against the Phillies but Lordy, he's fun to watch at the bat.


OMG! The beginning of TEH FEAR! ;-)
   6. Nasty Nate Posted: September 29, 2010 at 04:11 PM (#3651230)
After all those years hitting exactly forty dongwazzers per season, I think Dunn has landed on exactly thirty eight as his new power setting.
   7. SoSH U at work Posted: September 29, 2010 at 04:13 PM (#3651233)
It seems like the fans like him. From all indications he likes it there and wants to stay. Regardless of your marginal win calculations, it seems crazy that a still-young franchise trying to get a foothold in the market wouldn't make every effort to keep him around.
   8. UCCF Posted: September 29, 2010 at 04:30 PM (#3651246)
It seems like the fans like him. From all indications he likes it there and wants to stay. Regardless of your marginal win calculations, it seems crazy that a still-young franchise trying to get a foothold in the market wouldn't make every effort to keep him around.

This.
   9. isaacc7 Posted: September 29, 2010 at 07:15 PM (#3651390)
I also love the new promo spots showing Dunn next to Riggleman. Dunn looks like a linebacker, about half again as wide and 6 inches taller than his manager. He is one intimidating man in the batter's box. Couldn't believe that shot last night, Lord, what a blast...
   10. Walt Davis Posted: September 29, 2010 at 07:47 PM (#3651422)
I am curious as to who's being the stubborn jackass in these "negotiations." Dunn seems to like it there, he's played well there, the fans seem to like him. And I'd even say the owners seem to like him.

So are the owners being jackasses and not stepping up?
Is Dunn insisting on 6/$120 or something ridiculous?
Is Rizzo a slave to sabermetrics?

Dunn's a risky long-term investment so I can understand the Nats have no interest in a 4- or 5-year deal (unless it's essentially for the same total as a 3-year) and if Dunn's insisting on that I might let him walk too. But, on paper, this seems a match made in heaven. Somebody needs to give and get this deal done.
   11. Ok, Griffey's Dunn (Nothing Iffey About Griffey) Posted: September 29, 2010 at 07:59 PM (#3651437)
He scares the pants off of me everytime he bats against the Phillies.

[Brennaman]Why would that be? He's lazy, strikes out way too much, and can't hit with runners in scoring position [/Brennaman]
   12. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: September 29, 2010 at 08:04 PM (#3651444)
It seems like the fans like him. From all indications he likes it there and wants to stay. Regardless of your marginal win calculations, it seems crazy that a still-young franchise trying to get a foothold in the market wouldn't make every effort to keep him around.

Concur

If there was ever a time for an overpay, this is it.
   13. Stevis Posted: September 29, 2010 at 08:15 PM (#3651455)
Indeed. If he's killing you in year 3 of a 3-year deal, and you're in contention, you'll be able to eat the contract. It's not like you'd be blocking anyone in your system or passing on a better deal this off-season. If you suddenly found another first base option, you could run Dunn out to left and cross your fingers really really hard.
   14. phredbird Posted: September 29, 2010 at 11:27 PM (#3651643)
heh. saw the clip on mlb.com. the phillies catcher started heading for the dugout almost before dunn finished his swing.
   15. Dan Posted: September 29, 2010 at 11:56 PM (#3651658)
I think the holdup on a deal has been that Dunn wants 4 or 5 years and the Nats are only offering 3.
   16. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: September 30, 2010 at 12:56 AM (#3651682)
I think the holdup on a deal has been that Dunn wants 4 or 5 years and the Nats are only offering 3.

If I were Washington, I'd go 4, if the AAV is not crazy. 5 is too much. Maybe a vesting option?

I think Dunn should be good through age 34.
   17. Dan Posted: September 30, 2010 at 01:22 AM (#3651687)
I dunno if I'd want to go past 3 years without the possibility of moving him to DH later in the contract. It seems like even playing first base a lot of bigger guys like him have had knee problems that really limited their ability to play in the field.
   18. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: September 30, 2010 at 01:39 AM (#3651693)
I dunno if I'd want to go past 3 years without the possibility of moving him to DH later in the contract. It seems like even playing first base a lot of bigger guys like him have had knee problems that really limited their ability to play in the field.

Yeah, it's one year too much, but if Washington needs to "overpay" for credibility sake, they should.
   19. StillFlash Posted: September 30, 2010 at 06:30 AM (#3651793)
and tonight he struck out four times in four trips. The Nats fans were yelling "Sign on the dotted line" while the Phillies fans in attendance mocked them.
   20. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 30, 2010 at 06:50 AM (#3651797)
#10-Walt

Maybe Dunn wants to play for team that has a legitimate shot at the playoffs every year...like Philly, NY, Minnesota or Boston(oops, not this year)
   21. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 30, 2010 at 06:56 AM (#3651801)
Of course all those teams mentioned already have pretty good guys manning 1st base, so not sure where that leaves a guy like Dunn, but at DH of course in the AL....

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