Every time I read "Nats" I think "Gnats"

That almost makes sense. But the Nats aren't quite that consequential.

You missunderstood him, he meant with Strasburg they have a chance to not LOSE 100 games (they're currently on pace to go 59-103)

If it makes you feel better about the future consistency in futility for your team (I know I'll be wistfully disappointed when the A's figure once again that winning is the goal), the history of pitchers taken #1 in the draft isn't stellar.

13 in the nearly 45 years of the amateur draft (1965 being the first year).

[Note: I know this post is way overkill but as always I figure if I've interested myself into doing some research I might as well bore everybody with the results.]

David Clyde ('73) - His career consisted of 84 appearances over 5 seasons compiling a record of 18-33 with an ERA of 4.63. Won just 7 games in his first three seasons.

Floyd Bannister ('76) - Did have a decent mediocre career with a final record of 134-143 and an ERA of 4.06. Won 21 games in his first three seasons.

Mike Moore ('81) - Another midlevel career of 161-176 (4.34). Won 20 games his first three seasons.

Tim Belcher ('83) - The relative All Star of this class. Won 34 games his first three full seasons (against 27 losses). Also one of just three in this group to have a career winning average over 50% (146-140/4.16).

Andy Benes ('88) - Similar career as Belcher. 155-139/3.97 and 38-36 in first three seasons.

Unfortunately, Benes was the last #1 picked pitcher to have anything close to an impressive career.

Ben McDonald ('89) - Only 211 appearances with 78-70 record.

Brien Taylor ('91) - Never made it to the majors. Tore his labrum in a fist fight.

Paul Wilson ('94) - 170 appearances, 40-58 record.

Kris Benson ('96) - 203 games, 69-74 record. At 35 he's still bouncing up and down from the majors.

Matt Anderson ('97) - Entire major league career was working middle relief getting maybe 60 innings a season. Was out of the game before he was 30.

Bryan Bullington ('02) - Almost 30 and has yet to have more than 5 appearances in a season and that was 3 seasons ago.

Luke Hochevar ('06) - Still young, obviously, but he hasn't immediately set his career on fire. Kansas City gave him a nearly full season run in last year and he went 6-12. This year he's not any improved.

David Price ('07) - Still young, obviously. This is first real season in the majors. He's currently 5-5.

Yep, and they appear to be getting worse. It looks like Kuroda will go on the DL and Kershaw, who is supposed to start tonight has the flu, and may be replaced by Weaver (begging the question, who will replace Kuroda's slot then?). Smoltz, meanwhile, is signing with the Cards, not that we could have used him or anything.

Compared to what we could see over the next couple of nights, I think I'd rather have the knuckleballer on the mound. He actually pitched a pretty good game.

I'm still looking forward to the game this Friday. No matter what happens to them, the boys in blue will still be several steps up from what I'm used to.

Just a note of team pride.

Just a couple weeks ago the Athletics had the fourth worst record in the league. Now, they have the eighth worst record. LET'S GO OAKLAND!

I'm not saying it wasn't the right move, just bemoaning the fact that the season's fallen so far that it IS the right move. Let's face it, even the best knuckleballers are little more than novelty acts. Loveable entertaining novelty acts to be sure, but to bring one up in the thick of the playoff hunt, especially when the Dodgers were miles beyond the thick just a few short weeks ago, is an act of desparation and a sure sign that they're in bad shape. Which is not in the least surprising having gotten to where they are with essentially a 4 starter rotation that, at best, consists of 4 six-inning starters (let's be honest, 5+). Desparate is a kind term for the pitching situation.

Dodgers acquire Jim Thome and Arizona pitcher, John Garland for a player to be named later.

Where the hell do you put Thome?

I'm not sure I'm liking this, even with the prospect of a lineup that includes Ramirez, Ethier, Kemp and Thome.

But can they use any of these acquisitions during the post season?