THE BELTWAY BOYS: Nationals Address Team's Need For Speed, Sign Jackson, Castro

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Nationals Address Team's Need For Speed, Sign Jackson, Castro

[October 27th] -- The Washington Nationals stole 45 bases in 2005. They were caught stealing 45 times. Obviously, a lack of team speed needed to be addressed this off season. It took exactly one day for GM Jim Bowden make a move.

The Nationals signed 32 year old Damian Jackson and 27 year old Bernie Castro on Thursday. Jackson can play several infield and outfield positions, while Castro is strictly a second baseman.

Jackson played six position in 2005, batting .255 with 5 homers and 33 rbi's. He stole 15 bases in 17 attempts. He cleared waivers earlier this month and opted for free agency. Jackson has a career .245 average and strikes out too often for a player without power. He has 132 career stolen bases and has an amazing 79% success rate when stealing. Jackson will likely take the place of Carlos Baerga on the roster.

The Bernie Castro signing is very interesting. Castro was the recipient of the Pacific Coast League's "Fastest Man" award in 2005. Playing for Portland, Castro hit .315 with 41 stolen bases in 47 tries. In a September callup with Baltimore, he batted .288 for the Orioles with 6 stolen bases in 80 at-bats. Castro has 195 career minor league stolen bases, or a phenomenal 67 swipes per 500 at bats. Kind of makes you wonder why he was available as a free agent.

So, the opening of the free-agent signing period has begun. Jackson is a quality reserve who adds depth to a very thin team. Bernie Castro is a speed-demon, but he can only play second base, a position currently held down by Jose Vidro and Junior Spivey, both former major league all-stars.

It's a first step, but it's a good one.

# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 2:14 PM

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Rasner Rocks For Yanks

What was it that Jim Bowden said when he lost Darrell Rasner to the Yankees through waivers last winter? Wasn't it something like, "C'mon, it wasn't like he was going to make an impact at the major league level?" Well Jimbo, it seems like some of your "minor" transactions are coming back to haunt you.

Rasner, a 6'3" righty from Carson City, Nevada, was waived February 11th by the Nationals, just a couple of weeks before the start of spring training. He was picked up and assigned to 'AAA' Columbus. He had some injuries this year, but it didn't effect his pitching. In 58 innings for the Clippers, Rasner went 4-0, 2.76. But wait. There's more.

Pitching on Sunday against the Twins, Rasner pitched 6 strong innings, allowing just 1 run on 6 hits. In two starts, he's now 1-0, 1.17.

What do you always like to say, Jim, something about "You can never have enough pitching?" Let's see, you waived Rasner, and he's starting for the Yankees. You waived Claudio Vargas, and he's starting for the Diamondbacks. You waived Byung Young Kim, and he's starting for the Rockies. You traded Tomo Ohka for a guy no longer in the major leagues, and he's starting for the Brewers.

Jim, if I were you, I'd stay away from the waiver wire. Seems like you haven't figured it that it's supposed to help the team, not hurt it.

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Big Changes, Little Names

Big happenings? Nah. Just happenings. Zach Day was designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies and Capitol Punishment is reporting that the Nats have claimed him off the waiver wire. So we ended up getting Preston Wilson for nothing. That's nice. Billy Traber, he of the tight leash, was sent down to New Orleans and replaced by Mike O'Connor.

That's all well and good, but don't look to any of these moves making a difference in the play of the team. But hey, it's something to talk about. Right?