Do you listen to yourself talk?

Jim Bowden has become downright embarrassing.

This is from mlb.com:

"Top prospect: Bowden had hoped that he wouldn't bring up third baseman Ryan Zimmerman to the big leagues until next season, but Bowden hinted after Wednesday's game that Zimmerman may be up soon.

In fact, Bowden instructed his Minor League people to play Zimmerman at shortstop on a daily basis for Double-A Harrisburg starting Wednesday night against Bowie.

'I would like to avoid bringing him up, but we are in a pennant race. And when you are in a pennant race that is this close, and it's going to make you better, you have to do what's right for the team,' Bowden said.

'He has the ability to play both short and third. It protects us at both positions as we head into September. He is a very special defensive player, with great hands and a good arm. He is going to hit and hit for power. He's probably going to be rushed to the big leagues, but that's life.'"


If it's true that "you have to do what's right for the team," why didn't Bowden make any trades at the trade deadline? He said then that he didn't want to trade players like Zimmerman because he wanted to protect the team's investment in him. Then why is he rushing him to the majors? And why is he asking Zimmerman to play not one, but two positions, one of which--shortstop--he hasn't been playing in the minors? Doesn't Bowden think that setting up a young player to fail is going to undermine the team's investment in him?

Brian at Nationals Farm Authority has addressed this issue before and says it far better than we ever could:

"While I don't necessarily disagree with the concept of seeing what is down on the farm, Bowden's statements are all bluster that don't put the long term interests of the Nationals at the forefront.
Specifically with regards to Dutch Zimmerman.

Zimmerman is not ready for the majors at this point. He may be ready defensively, but he's not there with the bat ... yet. Zimmerman is the future 3B for the Nationals, but make no mistake, he's not Alex Rodriguez or Ken Griffey Jr or Albert Pujols or even Miguel Cabrera with the bat. Those 4 guys were quickly promoted to the majors at ages ranging from 19 to 21 primarily because they were ready with the bat (and in Griffey's case, the glove as well). Zimmerman is only 21 and entering his first extended experience with wood bats as a professional against professional pitchers. He needs to time to become comfortable with the bat and ideally turn his doubles power into something more accustomed to a corner IF spot. He's not going to do that against major league pitchers who tend to eat young hitters alive. The last thing you want to do is mess with Dutch's development when it is not necessary.

Additionally, why would you want to start his arbitration clock so soon after drafting him? If he comes to the major leagues this year, he enters free agency at 27/28 years old. Traditionally, the prime of a player's career. Waiting one year might not seem like alot right now, but it certainly will pay dividends 4-5 years down the road when the Nationals can control Dutch's contract at a time when he should be entering the best part of his career."