With the players that the Nationals have on their 40 man roster right NOW, I propose the following line-up for opening day 2010 against the Phillies:

Nyjer Morgan, CF
Pete Orr, 2B
Adam Dunn, 1B
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
Josh Willingham, LF
Austin Kearns, RF
Wil Neves, C
Ian Desmond, SS
John Lannan, P

In looking at this line-up several things jump out.  First, the Nats have only one player listed on their roster as a right-fielder and one as left-fielder.  Sure there is a glut of center fielders on the team, and one could be converted, but do you feel comfortable going into the season with Willingham and Kearns as your starters?  Second, Dunn does provide power but has his defense become a liabilty?  Third, this line-up (with the exception of Nyjer Morgan) has no speed.  Apparently, the beat writer for the Nationals, Bill Ladson feels the same way and he proposes getting rid of Dunn, Guzman, or Willingham in the off-season to get more pitching and speed.  Please say it’s Guzman.  Please?

Also, you’ll notice that Strasburg isn’t the opening day pitcher. Even though he is the second coming of Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson and whatever other Hall of Fame pitcher you wish to throw out there.  I believe that he already has a wing at Cooperstown.  At least some in DC believe this.  I really hope he proves me wrong, but I still am not convinced that he is worth the money and the hype.  But, that was another blog.   There is no way he comes north with the club after Spring Training.  He may be a mid-season call-up, but he does not start the season with the Nationals.  I don’t care how good he pitched today (October 5th) against the Tigers Instructional League team.

I may be a lone voice crying in the wilderness, but I really hope the Nats keep Riggleman as manager.  He took a team that looked as if they were mailing it in and convinced them to play with fire for the last third of the season.  Just think what he could do with a full season. 

There will be Nats related blogs throughout the off-season, and I look forward to seeing if these predictions come true in April.  Have a good winter!