Guz and his bunions ready to derail the Ian Desmond Era

 

(AP Photo. Blame it on the bunions!)

"Cristian has something to prove this year because of all the rumblings and grumblings about the way he plays defense. Nobody has even asked if the ailments or foot issues contributed to his lack of range. It was a question that was missed. I think he will show that he can help the team defensively. He is not a defensive liability."
(Stanley King - Cristian Guzman's agent, via Nationals.com, 1/13/2010)

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, the Nationals may be leaning towards Cristian Guzman as the team's starting shortstop going into 2010, in the event that they're able to make a deal for a second baseman:

If the Nationals are able to sign Orlando Hudson or Adam Kennedy to play second base, Cristian Guzman most likely will remain at shortstop.

Of course, the working assumption -- make that, hope -- around NatsTown has been that Ian Desmond would be given every opportunity to win the starting job at short, and Guzman would play second in the absence of a 2B acquisition in the offseason, or spend his final days in Washington as a backup for Desmond and the real, live second baseman. Not so, reports Mr. Ladson. What changed?

But fear not, Desmondites: there is hope. Stanley King, Guzman's agent, offered up the following in the Ladson story:

"Cristian has expressed that he is willing to help in any way the Nationals see fit..."

Does that include retiring before the start of the season?

Befriend the Nationals Enquirer on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

Comments

[Positively Half St.]

It's funny. We who have watched the team from the very beginning have gone back and forth on Guzman throughout. We were thrilled when he came back from eye surgery to become a .300 hitter again, after reviling him for being so bad at the start of his Nats career. He is still hitting at that clip, although without walks, but he has taken residence in the doghouse again.

I hope he improves after the injury as he did from eye surgery. Why wouldn't I? He is definitely going to be a regular on the team, and if the same man can give us improved defense, it would only cost us another flip-flop to being among his fanbase again.

[The Nationals Enquirer]

+1/2 st: you're spot on about the flip-flopping on Guz. Guilty as charged. In this case, though, our disappointment at news the Nats may be leaning towards Guz has less to do with Guz and everything to do with wanting to see Desmond get a shot.

A lot can happen between now and Opening Day. Who knows? Maybe this latest "news" is simply a ploy by the Nats to make sure Desmond doesn't get it in his head that the job is his -- to make sure he comes into camp with a fire under his butt. And same goes for Guz...the last thing the team needs is for a disgruntled Guzman showing up in camp before a pitch has even been thrown.

But we'll echo your sentiments - we HOPE Guz improves, because we're stuck with him.