Change is under way for the Nats

Giving young players chance now priority

By Mark Zuckerman (Contact) | Tuesday, July 8, 2008

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For an organization that has been touting its emphasis on the long term at the expense of the short term for some time now, the Washington Nationals did enter 2008 with aspirations of immediate success.

As general manager Jim Bowden said on the first day of spring training: "I think that we're ready to win more games than we lose."

Somewhere over the ensuing five months, the notion of an 82-win team vaporized. The Nationals underperformed on several fronts, and combined with a lengthy list of injured players, the chances of a successful season in the win-loss column were quashed.

Which leaves Washington in a position to redefine its goal for 2008. It's no longer about how many games this team can win. It's about giving young players a chance to learn at the big league level in the hope of better positioning the franchise for 2009 and beyond.

Even if the ultimate on-field product over the next three months is difficult to stomach.

"We're going to have growing pains," Bowden said over the weekend in Cincinnati. "But in the long run, it's going to help us win baseball games."

The Nationals (34-56) aren't winning at all right now and have matched the franchise's low point since arriving in the District at 22 games under .500. (Washington was 55-77 on Aug. 30, 2006.)

Injuries have ravaged the roster. Manager Manny Acta has lost four key hitters (Ryan Zimmerman, Nick Johnson, Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes), his closer (Chad Cordero) and his presumptive ace (Shawn Hill).

With the worst record in the majors heading into a six-game homestand against Arizona and Houston, the organization has deemed winning in 2008 a lost cause and instead shifted focus toward the future. Over the second half of the season, more playing time will be given to rookies already on the big league roster and prospects who have yet to arrive.

"We're going to develop them here," Bowden said.

Already, the Nationals have summoned Collin Balester, their top-rated, high-level pitching prospect, and given him a chance to face major league hitters for the first time. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed just one hit in his debut last Tuesday at Florida, then surrendered five runs when he took the mound Sunday at Cincinnati.

"He's going to learn up here," Acta said. "We have to take our bumps."

After four seasons in the Nationals' farm system, Balester was deemed ready. Outfielder Roger Bernadina was already in his seventh season with the organization when he got his first call-up a week ago, though the 24-year-old's promotion was made out of necessity.

When Milledge went down with a strained groin, Washington needed a center fielder. Bernadina was hitting .323 with 26 steals at Class AA Harrisburg, and though he probably could have used some more seasoning, his presence was required.

Bernadina's first week in the majors was shaky - after singling in his first career at-bat, he slogged through a 1-for-22 slump - but he went 2-for-3 on Sunday.

Balester and Bernadina represent the first of several prospects who could get their shots before the season ends. Class AAA right-handers Garrett Mock and Tyler Clippard each were given two major league starts earlier and are likely to return. Other potential September call-ups include Harrisburg outfielders Mike Daniel and Justin Maxwell, catcher Luke Montz and pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Adrian Alaniz and Columbus reliever Zechry Zinicola.

Those call-ups aren't expected to help the Nationals win much in 2008 and in fact some could contribute to a 100-loss season. But if any of them show they are ready to become a fixture in 2009, the organization believes it will be worth a few growing pains.

"I'd much rather go through them now in a year like this than I would in a year where you're contending to win," Bowden said. "You can't really do it then. So we really need to take advantage of this opportunity."

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