THE BELTWAY BOYS: Rockie Mountain High

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Rockie Mountain High

[February 11th] -- The first of many shoes dropped on Saturday. The Washington Nationals have sold utility outfielder Jamey Carroll to the Colorado Rockies for $300,000 cash.

Selling a player like Carroll in this day and age is very unusual. The $300,000 price tag is but a fraction of the team's $60 million dollar payroll.

This move had to happen. With the addition of middle infielders Marlon Anderson and Damian Jackson, plus Brendan Harris' defensive improvement this past year, Carroll became expendable. My guess is this move was made specifically to create a roster spot for Brendan Harris, who will now be able to back up Ryan Zimmerman at third with little loss of offensive production. It has been his defense that has been keeping Harris in the minor leagues.

Jamey Carroll will be missed, I will miss him, not for what he brought to the field, but rather for the person he was. Carroll was like a lot of us, possessing limited physical stature and questionable talent. Still, he pushed himself using a work ethic that is almost unseen in today's instant gratification society. He cared more for his team then for himself. He spoke publicly about the Damian Jackson and Marlon Anderson signings, saying that he was happy that Jim Bowden improved the team.

Jamey Carroll is the kind of man I hope my son grows up to be.

# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 2:35 PM

Comments:

This move had to happen

Agreed. After Bowden signed his conga line of MIs, it was a foregone conclusion. However, why this move was not considered in lieu of placing Darrell Rasner on waivers harkens to last season when Sunny Kim was lost on waivers for a couple days of Matt Cepicky, who was only around long enough to keep a bench spot warm for all-world CF Brandon Watson.

Bowden's management around the fringes of the 40-man roster is clumsy at best.

# posted by

Brian : 7:34 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?