Francisco Rodriguez has been a premier closer (perhaps the premier closer) in all of baseball over the last six years. Since 2004, "K Rod" has saved 206 games and crafted a stunning 2.20 ERA during that span.
Justin Maxwell has shown flashes of brilliance around his periods of ineptness, but hasn't indicated any real ability to become an everyday major leaguer.
Since being recalled from "AA" Harrisburg in 2007, Maxwell has a 162-game average of just .245-13-26 with a .317 on-base percentage.
So when Maxwell stepped into the box on Wednesday with the bases loaded and two outs, the fireworks should have been boxed up and stored away for 2010.
Move on, folks; nothing to see here.
Rodriguez, who has struck out 12 for every nine innings pitched, should have easily fanned Maxwell, who has struck out 443 times in 405 professional games.
But, thanks in part to Maxwell's plate discipline, but mostly because Rodriguez was having difficulty throwing strikes, the count worked to 3-2, forcing "K-Rod" to throw a fastball down the middle.
Grand Slam. Walk-off win. Good night and thanks for coming, folks.
While it was a wonderful scene to behold, and the moment will be forever etched in Maxwell's memory, did it change anything? Is Maxwell now any closer to being an integral part of the Nationals' future?
It has been five seasons since the University of Maryland product was drafted by the Nationals, and I don't think his future is any clearer today than it was that day in June.
After picking Zimmerman with the fourth overall selection in the 2005 amateur draft, the Washington Nationals had to wait until the fourth round to make their next selection.
The Nationals' second round selection went to the Colorado Rockies for the team's signing of third baseman Vinny Castilla, and the third round pick went to the Minnesota Twins for their loss of free agent Cristian Guzman.
Daniel Carte, the player the Rockies selected, batted .214-5-28 for "A" Tulsa last season and pitcher Brian Duensing, selected by the Twins, was 4-6, 4.66 for "AAA" Rochester.
The Nationals chose Justin Maxwell with the team's second overall pick, taken in the fourth round of the draft.
Maxwell, who graduated from the University of Maryland that spring, had rebuffed the team's efforts to sign him because of the contract's structure and not its financial considerations.
Team officials described the negotiations as "amicable." My guess is the contract addressed his injury plagued seasons of 2004 and 2005 with the Terrapins.
Injuries robbed Maxwell of what would have been a sure first-round selection. An inside fastball during spring practice in 2004 broke a bone in his forearm, forcing him to miss the entire season.
He tried to play in the Cape-Cod League that summer but broke a finger, effectively ending his season.
Seven games into his senior season he broke a bone in his hand, ending his amateur career.
Maxwell has distinguished himself at every level he has played. In the the Cape-Cod League in 2004, he hit .307 with 47 hits and two home runs.
In his abbreviated 2005 season at Maryland, the 6'5", 220 lb outfielder batted .455 with three home runs and 10 RBI.
His talent was well known to most scouts and general managers in the major leagues.
He was drafted in 2001 by the Orioles, and again in 2004 by the Rangers.
Scout Grady Fuson called Maxwell "...one of the top college players" in 2004 and said that Maxwell "could very well be one of our most important selections in some time."
Maxwell didn't sign with the Rangers.
Maxwell is both powerful and fast and has been compared to former Met great Darryl Strawberry.
His swing has a high arc, allowing him to not only drive balls, but drive them very high and very deep.
Defensively, he was major league ready the day he first played college ball, according to a scout from the Orioles' organization.
While his physical tools might be compared to Strawberry, his personality is more like Cal Ripken, which is good for him and great for the organization.
Sean Welsh, GM of the Bourne Braves, a summer-league team Maxwell played for several years ago, said that he's as apt to be reading his Bible in the clubhouse as he is sanding his bats in preparation for the next day's game.
In four minor league seasons, Maxwell has averaged .257-17-70 with 36 steals over a 500 at-bat season. He has a career .351 on-base percentage and a .442 slugging percentage.
His Thebaseballcube.com scouting numbers are very impressive as well. These are based on a maximum of 100 points: Power: 93, Speed: 91, Contact: 22, Patience: 76.
He compares favorably to Alfonso Soriano in power (94), speed (94), and patience (13). Soriano is just a bit better in making contact (31).
Maxwell received a September call-up in 2007, and impressed, batting .269 with two home runs, one a grand slam, in just 26 at-bats. He just missed a third homer that reached the fence in the deepest part of RFK Stadium's massive outfield.
The concern with Maxwell is his health.
At times, he has reminded Nationals' fans of Nick Johnson, which is not a good thing. In 2008, Maxwell played just 43 games for "AA" Harrisburg before a hand and wrist injury ended his season. This season, however, he had no significant health issues.
Maxwell will be 26 next season, too old to return to the minor leagues (and still be considered a prospect), but there really isn't a place on the major league roster for him either, especially with the breakout September of the more versatile Mike Morse.
If he stays healthy, he could become a 20-20 type player for the next decade, with stellar defense and a lower-than-hoped-for batting average.
He reminds me a lot of the Brewers' Mike Cameron, who has a career average of .250-23-82 with 26 steals and near Gold Glove defense.
And that's a good comparison for Maxwell.
The question is, will he remain healthy, and will he show the Nationals enough to allow him to become a starting outfielder here in Washington?
The jury is out, at least for another season.
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