Nats Back Moving Van To Door, Make Wholesale Changes
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A couple of nights ago, I wrote an article that suggested that Frank Robinson and Jim Bowden had some decisions to make. Either they needed to shore up the team and continue to try to have a respectable season, or blow up the team now and begin the process of retooling for the future. both possibilities made sense, and both carried with them significant drawbacks.
I didn't take long for Trader Jim to go get some dynamite.
Some of his moves were in reaction to the continuing injury problems. Starting pitcher John Patterson and relief man John Rauch were both placed on the disabled list, bringing the Nats DL to a major league leading 11 [T.J. Tucker has since come off the list].
In desperate need of a left hander coming out of the bull pen, Bowden signed veteran C.J. Nitkowski off the waiver wire. Nitkowski, who hadn't pitched this year in the majors, had been cast aside by the Pirates, which makes you wonder that if he wasn't good enough for Pittsburgh, why would he be good enough for Washington? To make room for Nitkowski, Claudio Vargas was designated for assignment, likely ending his association with the team. Also called up from AAA New Orleans was outfielder Tyrell Godwin and pitcher Sunny Kim. T.J. Tucker was activated from the DL, and pitcher Zach Day was sent down to New Orleans. My guess is this was the last time we'll see Day in a Nationals' uniform. He'll likely be traded off the New Orleans roster by the end of the summer. Termel Sledge was also transferred from the 15 to the 60 day disabled list.
We wondered how the Nationals would react to the recent slide by the "boys." Would the team, like so many, go weeks or months before considering a change, or would they act in a quick and decisive manner?
Quick. Decisive. I like that. Vargas had to go. Day had to go. Kim was pitching very well at New Orleans, and Godwin was doing a good job with the bat. Bowden made the moves; now let's see if they amount to anything.
# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 8:28 PM 
