"As disappointing as Jayson Werth's season has been for the Nationals -- and there's no way anyone can sugarcoat what he hasn't been able to do on offense -- imagine how Chicago White Sox fans must feel about our old friend Adam Dunn?

Dunn spurned a three-year offer to stay in Washington for a four-year, $56-million deal with the White Sox, a decision that was contrary to a previously stated preference to stay in the National League. Dunn would have to DH with Chicago, a role he had said time and time again he'd rather not take on. There was talk early on that he'd share first base duties with Paul Konerko, but entering this weekend he'd only played defense in 15 games at first.

When the Nats moved Dunn to first base on a daily basis, he made no secret of the fact that he thought it would help him stay focused.

"I've got a real short attention span," he told me one day before a game in 2009, "and sometimes in the outfield the game seemed so far away. I'd have to keep reminding myself how many outs there were and who was on base."

Even then he was dismissive of ever becoming a designated hitter.

"If I had to hit," he said, "then sit and wait 45 minutes before I could hit again I think I'd get bored. I don't see how those guys who do it every day stay focused."

A self-fulfilling prophecy?"