Jolly Ole Saint Rizzo

Are we getting a little carried away with the Rizzo love? I don't think so. He is making every opportunity to build the roster the way he wants.

Let's take a look at the members of the 40 man roster (plus some other notables) he has added since the Winter Meetings:

Matt Capps-9/3/83, R/R

Career Stats: 19-19, 67/89 saves, 3.61 ERA, 3.84 FIP, 6.89 K/9, 1.66 BB/9, 4.16 K/BB

2009 Stats: 4-8, 27/32 saves, 5.80 ERA, 4.90 FIP, 7.62 K/9, 2.82 BB/9, 2.71 K/BB

Things I love about signing Matt Capps: K/BB ratio, team-controllability beyond 2010 and his past closing experience.

Things I don't love about Matt Capps: intense deviation from his career norms in 2009 and how he was overworked in 2006/07.

All-in-all, a great signing.

Eddie Guardado-10/2/70, R/L

Career Stats: 46-61, 187/219 saves, 4.32 ERA, 4.45 FIP, 7.60 K/9, 3.32 BB/9, 2.29 K/BB

2009 Stats: 1-2, 0/0 saves, 4.32 ERA, 6.10 FIP, 4.70 K/9, 3.52 BB/9, 1.33 K/BB

Things I love about Eddie Guardado: The fact that the contract is not guaranteed.

Things that I don't love about Eddie Guardado: his rate stats since 2006.

An "eh" signing, but since it's not guaranteed, I can't disagree completely. Just don't expect any sort of spectacular return to pre-2006 form from Every Day Eddie.

Jason Marquis-8/21/78, R/R

Career Stats: 94-83, 4.48 ERA, 231 GS, 1485 IP, 4.82 FIP, 5.25 K/9, 3.50 BB/9, 1.50 K/BB

2009 Stats: 15-13, 4.04 ERA, 33 GS, 216 IP, 4.10 FIP, 4.79 K/9, 3.33 BB/9, 1.44 K/BB

Things I love about Jason Marquis: His durable-yet-mediocre self (a step-up for the Nats) and his hitting ability.

Things I don't love about Jason Marquis: 2006. A guy like Marquis who doesn't have great rate stats can be susceptible to losing it rather quickly, like Marquis did in '06 with a 6.02 ERA. That scares me.

Brian Bruney-2/17/82, R/R

Career Stats: 16-10, 13/22 saves, 4.27 ERA, 4.68 FIP, 8.86 K/9, 6.22 BB/9, 1.42 K/BB

2009 Stats: 5-0, 0/1 saves, 3.92 ERA, 5.10 FIP, 8.31 K/9, 5.31 BB/9, 1.57 K/BB

Things I love about Brian Bruney: Well, the ERA is shiny, but it is not representative of his true pitching talent. He has pitched for the Yankees and in the World Series, albeit unsuccessfully in both situations. Maybe he can succeed in a less stressful environment?

Things I don't love about Brian Bruney: Walk rate. Yechhhhhhhhhhhh.

Don't forget to think about Jesse English and Doug Slaten, a pair of lefties acquired toward the end of the season/beginning of the offseason that could make their way into the Nats bullpen in 2010.