What Would the Outsider Do: Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals, unlike the last WWOD installment (San Francisco Giants), is a team that I am beginning to appreciate. Despite the large amount of criticism that Nationals GM Jim Bowden receives, he has begun to put together a core of nice, young hitters. Bowden has done especially well to avoid taking on any major contracts, allowing his team time to develop and to spend once he feels they are ready, which may be sooner then most think (image courtesy- sportslogos.net ). The problem with the Nationals is a lack of legitimate minor leaguers and, worse yet, young pitching. With an already weak, and disappointing minor-league system, the loss of first-round draft pick, Aaron Crow , does not make matters any better for this organization, even though Bowden will receive a compensatory first round pick in the 2009 draft. The next major problem with the Nationals sits in the form of some hefty contracts. Contracts that are owed to players so undesirable, it is nearly impossible to ... (link)