THE BELTWAY BOYS: Steve Watkins, Oscar Alvarez Join Nats' Nation

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Steve Watkins, Oscar Alvarez Join Nats' Nation

[February 4th] -- Jim Bowden must collect minor leaguers as a hobby. Today, he added four more. The Nationals signed RHP Steve Watkins, RHP Billy Sylvester, LHP Micah Bowie and LHP Oscar Alvarez to minor league contracts. Bowie and Sylvester played at class 'AA' Harrisburg last year, and didn't do enough to warrant a rehash here, but Watkins and Sylvester are "interesting."

Oscar Alvarez, 25, has yet to make it to the major leagues. In five full minor league campaigns, he has a record of 15-14, 3.58 in 244 innings. Playing for Springfield in the Texas League in 2005, Alvarez went 6-2, 3.40 with 59 strikeouts in 106 innings. Half of his 29 games were starts.

Watkins, 27, has some major league experience. In 2004, he pitched 14 innings for the San Diego Padres, crafting a 6.28 ERA. He has a seven-year minor league record of 38-40, 4.20. He pitched for Buffalo last year, going 9-2, 4.16 in 17 starts.

Alvarez and Watkins combined to go 24-16, 3.77 last season. Both are starters, and both have experience in long relief. Of the two, Alvarez may have an edge in making the Nationals (at some point in the future) because of his age (25) and his arm (lefty).

# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 7:16 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?