The All-Rookie Team

• Nationals 2, Giants 0

If yesterday's game was a partial preview of next year's Nats, then we've at least confirmed that our rookies and scrubs can beat the Giants rookies and scrubs. Of course, the Giants' scrubs are mostly their everyday players (I'm looking at you Niekro), while our scrubs are soon to be out the door (thanks for stopping by Deivi and Carlos).

This game also reinforced the apparently hard to grasp notion that Rick Short is a hitter (2-3, 2 2Bs, 1 RBI, 1 R). All year long this team carried two guys, first Wil Cordero then Carlos Baerga, who couldn't play a lick in the field but were supposed to be the designated pinch hitters. Wil was terrible, Carlos no better than average. If nothing else, this is a role Rick Short was born to play. The guy's hitting .462, with homers off of John Smoltz and Dontrelle Willis. I think he might be up to the challenge of pinch hitting off Steve Trachsel or Vincente Padilla.

Oh, and then there's El Matador. Hector Carrasco pitched 5 2/3 innings of shutout baseball and struck out 8, running his record as a starter to 15 2/3 innings, 17 Ks and a 1.17 ERA. The problem is Hector might be pricing himself out of the Nats market. He was signed to a 1-year, minimum salary deal. As a free agent this winter, it's likely someone will offer him a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal. Already saddled by big contracts to Vinny and Goooz, I'm not sure the Nats ought to invest that kind of time and money in a 36-year old journeyman pitcher who grades out as a 5th or 6th starter.

The Cash-man Cometh?

The off-season, front office rumor-mill is kicking into a slightly higher gear. The speculation du jour? That Yankee's GM Brian Cashman will cash out of the Big Apple in search of less stressful climes. Cashman has DC roots, he went to Georgetown Prep and Catholic U, so it might not be a stretch to imagine him in the red,white, blue, gray and gold of the Nats next year. Especially since our most likely rivals, the B'Orioles, have a Steinbrenner clone in the owner's box. Who needs that kind of hassle?