So what, exactly, does Nationals manager Davey Johnson want to accomplish this September? There’s only 27 games left in 2011. Stephen Strasburg returns next week. A handful of minor-league prospects will join the team, too, as rosters have expanded starting Sept. 1. In a long pre-game chat with reporters before today’s game with the New York Mets, Johnson laid out his plan – and in the process sounded like a man who plans to be back with Washington next season. But that’s another post entirely. Let’s hand him the floor:
“A successfully September is going undefeated. But there’s other issues, [including]the make-up of the roster. If I can answer in-house about the talent and show when everything fits how easier it is to win ballgames and be successful, then I’ve had a successful year regardless of my won-lost record. The biggest thing is that…when the season is over there’s only ideally one or two question marks on guys who are competing to make the ballclub next year. Then you have a contender. And then you can talk about winning. If when this season’s over in September and there’s four, five or six question marks then I’ve had a terrible year.”
Strong words. And that explains why Jayson Werth has been playing some center field. Why Rick Ankiel made an appearance in right during Thursday’s loss to the Atlanta Braves. Why Roger Bernadina has returned from Triple-A Syracuse to see if he’s any better defensively in center or can handle the bat well enough for a corner outfield spot. Johnson gets to take a look at top pitching prospects Brad Peacock and Tom Milone, who makes his major-league debut on Saturday against the Mets. It’s why Ian Desmond will continue to lead off and see if he can push his on-base percentage up around .330. That’s not elite. But combine it with what Washington hopes is a rebound season from Werth in 2012 – say closer to a .350 on-base percentage, which makes him a good candidate for the No. 2 spot in the batting order – and you suddenly have two good options at the top of the order. Johnson says a contender usually has four.
“I’m a realist. I look at what I got and what are my options to cover all contingencies in-house,” Johnson said. “Not looking for a trade or a free-agent signing. That’s my job. And especially when we’re really not competing for a wild-card or a pennant it’s doubly so. I got to find the best way to make it work with what I know that we have right here and right now. And anytime – that’s what my rule of I manage for today with an eye on tomorrow. I don’t care if I’m fighting for a pennant or if I’m trying to find out what’s the best fit.”
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