Author Archives: Forensicane

Searching for Silver Linings in FredNats Echoes

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Forensicane

Unlike most of you, I am a Nationals fan who graduated from years of Expos loyalty. And perhaps for that reason, I am not as demoralized and crushed by the poor prognosis of the season and its early failures. For … Continue reading →

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Bumpy Roads to Beautiful Places? The New Prospect Lists and the Developmental Horizon

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Forensicane

The updated prospect lists are interesting, especially when we view the early spring training action and those we see up close. The Nationals now have the unsettled feeling of a second division-team, despite the bold stroke of recruiting Nelson Cruz. … Continue reading →

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Here Comes Spring, and With It, Change and the Promise of the Unknown

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Forensicane

Hope Springs Here Comes Spring, and With It, Change and the Promise of the Unknown I think it’s obvious that the Nationals made enormous changes to their organization, more transformative than I have ever seen in over fifty years of … Continue reading →

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Draft 21, Picks 16-20: Late Value Before Free-for-All Free Agency

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Forensicane

  This is where the draft has come to resemble the NFL late rounds. Teams have players on their board; but unlike previous years in which the draft extended up to 40 rounds, and can make selections for a variety … Continue reading →

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Draft 21: The Next Five (11-15): Signability & Quality, or Signability vs. Quality?

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Forensicane

By forensicane   This year, the draft brings greater challenges to signing players drafted between rounds 11-15. For those with remaining eligibility, the 125K cap is a test. Does the college eligible player believe that by going back, he’ll get … Continue reading →

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2021 Picks 6-10: Can a Marginal Legacy be Reversed?

Posted on July 17, 2021 by Forensicane

At a stage in the draft when the most highly regarded talents go off the board, organizations like the Nationals are more challenged to find players who have the talent and character to build long careers from humble beginnings. But … Continue reading →

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Nationals 2021 Top Draft Picks – Changing the Approach to Change the Organization

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Forensicane

The 2021 draft is done! Now, we wait for the new draftees to sign their contracts then the slow cooking as the talents show first glimpses before the season winds down. Will any of the talents sign quickly enough to … Continue reading →

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Witness to a Wild One – 13-12 Revisited of this Nats win in Philly!

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Forensicane

What a win. I can’t rank it, but at least I can say I was there. No way did I expect the Nationals to win. Is that Gerardo Parra? Is that the influence of other players who have been through … Continue reading →

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Twenty-one* to Watch in 21 (*the forensicane list)

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Forensicane

The calendar has turned to June, and with that, an adequate opportunity to study what we have in the minor league inventory. As you know from my previous columns, I dispense with the prospect rankings and their click-baiting that tell … Continue reading →

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Fredericksburg (G)nats is Opportunity for Next Men Up

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Forensicane

And just when you think it can’t get worse, an 0-9 start in Fredericksburg is ugly and indefensible. A 7-29 start throughout is lousy enough, and then you realize there is no payoff for tanking. At Fredericksburg, scores in the … Continue reading →

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