Atilano And Martis: Great MLB Starts Quickly Turned Sour

Three weeks ago, the Nationals designated-for-assignment pitcher Shairon Martis, who ultimately cleared waivers and was signed to a minor league contract. He'll start the season with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.

Yesterday, the team designated Luis Atilano for assignment. If no one claims him on waivers, he'll likely be a teammate of Martis' in Syracuse.

There is no question that both players are little more than what General Manager Mike Rizzo likes to call "inventory," players with no real major league future but who gives the team depth in case something happens.

Like when Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg get shelved for a year because of Tommy John surgery.

I would imagine that both players will play again in the major leagues though they'll likely fill the last spot on the roster if they do. And somewhere else. Not here.

In 2009, Martis earned the final spot in the Nationals' rotation in Spring Training. Martis, who threw a no-hitter against Panama in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, started strongly for Washington.

In his first nine games, he had a record of 5-2 with a 4.01 ERA and a .254 batting average-against. In his last seven games before returning to the minors, though, he was just 0-3 with a 6.34 ERA.

Atilano was also 5-2 in his first nine starts with an even lower 4.11 ERA and .258 batting average-against. But over his last eight games before injury/ineffectiveness/demotion took their toll, he went 1-5, 6.49.

Atilano lost effectiveness because too many players were getting base hits. His three walks a game--though a little high--were acceptable for a rookie. His .306 batting average-against, though, was not.

Martis' problems were just the opposite. His batting average-against was just .254 but he couldn't get the ball over the plate. He walked 4.4 batters per nine innings.

But mostly, major league hitters figured them out. If you don't have a 95 mph fastball, you have to rely on trickery to get hitters out. And if you don't trick them, you get drilled.

With Mike Rizzo's preference for power pitchers, I doubt we'll ever see either pitcher back with the Nationals. And that shows you how far the team has come.