THE RESULT:  Jair Jurrjens came off the disabled list, after getting hit around in three minor league rehab starts, and shut down the Washington Nationals for five innings.  He also collected an RBI-single in the fourth inning to give his team an insurance run -- which it did not need.

The end result was a 4-1 win for the Atlanta Braves before 20,091 Turner Field.

One night after the Nationals appeared to awaken from their month-long slump, they went right back to the form that ruined their June, making outs with runners in scoring position like it was the intended result.

Jurrjens (1-3) gave up one earned run on six hits and two walks.  He struck out six in the effort.  Four relievers pitched two-hit ball for the final four innings.

The Nationals went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.  That's really all that can be said.  But the Nats tried to explain afterwards.

"Our hitters said [Jurrjens'] ball was really just rushing up on them," Manager Jim Riggleman said after the game.

"[Jurrjens] was just really sharp for his first start back up in the big leagues," Dunn said on the post-game.  "Seems like every night we run into a guy that's pitching real well."

J.D. Martin (0-4) struggled a bit, but kept his team in the game for the most part.  He went five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks.  He struck out just two.

In the sixth, the Nats loaded the bases with no outs on singles by Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn, and a Josh Willingham walk.  Unfortunately, Ivan Rodriguez ground into a double play on the first pitch from reliever Peter Moylan. 

Cristian Guzman followed with a walk to put runners on the corners, but Alberto Gonzalez couldn't duplicate his magic from last night and struck out to end the inning.

When a team is going this bad it can't afford to miss on its few opportunities, but that's exactly what the Nats did repeatedly tonight, and the entire month it seems.

The Braves, however, got their fourth run of the game in seventh inning without registering a base hit, courtesy of two hit batters and a pair of walks, the last by Miguel Batista forcing in a run.

Batista then struck out Yunel Escobar to end the frame, and as he left the mound he inexplicably pumped his fist in triumph.

The most interesting part of the game came in the bottom of the seventh. 

Riggleman pinch-hit Ian Desmond for the pitcher spot in the top of the inning, then sent the shortstop out to right field for defense.  After the first batter, he switched Desmond and Alberto Gonzalez, who started the game at short.

It was a bizarre sequence in an otherwise forgettable game.

THE GOOD:  Adam Dunn.  He went 2-for-4.

 

THE BAD:  Roger Bernadina went 0-for-3 and left four runners on base.

THE UGLY:  Batista.  What a total lack of awareness to pump his fist on the strikeout after walking a run in. 

NEXT GAME:  The Nationals return home Thursday to face the New York Mets in a four-game series.  Livan Hernandez (6-4) takes on Johan Santana (5-5) at 7:05 pm. 

NOTES:  John Lannan made his second AA start for Harrisburg and was roughed up for six earned runs, 10 hits and three walks in five innings.

(Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

Everyone else is weighing in on this, so I might as well generate a few cheap hits putting Stephen Strasburg's name into another post.

Do I think Strasburg is one of the top pitchers in the National League already?  Yes.  Yes, I do.

Do I think seven starts for the Washington Nationals is enough to qualify him to be named to the NL All-Star team this season?  No.  No, I don't.

While I think the selection criteria that fans, managers and the league uses to determine All-Stars is faulty as best, I can only go with my personal opinion.  I just don't think a player called up after Memorial Day should be rewarded with a trip to the All-Star Game, regardless of the success he's had in those few starts.  He just hasn't had enough appearances to quality.

Now, I don't feel as strongly as Mitch Williams, of the MLB Network: 

“I don’t care if two of his first four starts were no-hitters, there is no way you can put this kid on the All-Star team after five starts. As much as he is impressive, polished, young and exciting, the All-Star Game is based on the entire first half. It will do this kid a disservice and alienate other players against him if he makes the team. Pitchers will look at him and say, ‘He’s going to make the All-Star team when I’ve pitched 120 innings and have nine wins?’ If Strasburg makes the team, it hurts the credibility of the league.”

I know Williams' statement is full of hyperbole, and he probably doesn't feel that strongly about it either.  But MLB Network sent me the quotes, so at least he's putting it out there.

Hurting the "credibility of the league"?  What a joke.  Does Williams remember this game ended in a tie a few years back?  Does he realize this exhibition decides home field advantage for the World Freaking Series?!?

Back to the matter at hand...

It would be great theatre to see Strasburg face the best hitters in the American League.  And not wanting to place undue pressure on him (yeah, right), but it's a pretty good bet we'll see Strasburg in future games.  I just think it's premature to name him to the team after just seven starts.  And he's actually said as much when asked about it.

Of course, an appearance by Strasburg would generate interest, be polarizing, maybe even controversial -- which all would make for great television.  Which generates ad revenue.  Which lines Bud Selig's pockets a little deeper.  So if you look at just the bottom line, there's your excuse for the league office to name him to the squad.

And if crusty old Charlie Manuel actually thinks having Strasburg on the team could help him seal home field advantage for the dispicable Philies in the World Series, who am I to judge?

As for the Nats fan in me, I'm perfectly happy having Stras get 10 days or so rest in the middle of what must be an extremely tiring first half of a season. 

Think about it:  he's played on three different teams in three different leagues, made his major league debut, every minor league game he pitched was in front of national media; every big league start has been a circus.  He's even been on Letterman!  It's gotta be tiring, even if he doesn't really notice it with all the adrenaline he must be running on.

If it were me, I'd leave the kid home this year.

But if they take him, I'll certainly tune in.

The Washington Nationals pounded out 11 hits for seven runs, and Craig Stammen -- making his return to the big league rotation -- was exceptional, leading the Nats to a 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves before 19,045 at Turner Field.

The win snaps Washington's five game losing streak -- and seven game road losing streak.  The Nats record moves to 34-44.

Stammen (W, 2-2, 5.13) was very strong in his first start since being sent down to the minors for a three-start stint.  He went 7 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks, striking out four.  He even chipped in with a run-scoring sacrifice fly.

"He really threw the ball good against a tough lineup," Manager Jim Riggleman said in his post-game interview.

The Nats even played some decent defense for a change.  Ryan Zimmerman had a couple of nice stops, Josh Willingham made a diving catch in left field, and even Adam Dunn snared a blistering one-hopper behind Stammen, who threw 57 of his 99 pitches for strikes.

Stammen relied mostly on his fastball, slider and change-up, and mixed in an occasional curveball the third time through the Braves lineup.

The offense was led by Zimmerman, who had a two-run double during the Nats' three-run fifth, Willingham hammered a two-run homer (14) off Peter Moylan in the seventh, and Alberto Gonzalez matched his career high with four hits.

"Zim got a huge hit for us," Riggleman said.  "That's the hit that we've been missing that a little bit and when Zim uses right field usually good things happen."

Nyjer Morgan showed more of what the organization hoped to see from him this season as well, going 2-for-5 with a run, stolen base and an RBI, though he did have trouble with a line drive that he overran when it checked up on him and went behind him for a triple.

But that's nit-picking on a night that saw the Nats play a fairly complete game to beat a good team on the road.

THE GOOD:  Alberto Gonzalez.  Any time a guy goes 4-for-4 you gotta give him props.  Willingham and Morgan both had two hits, and Zimmerman delivered big when the outcome was still in doubt. 

And all credit must be given to Stammen.  Sent down to make room for Stephen Strasburg three weeks ago, Stammen went down to the minors as succeeded with Syracuse, and he got 14 ground ball outs tonight in a very quality outing.

THE BAD:  Adam Dunn went 0-for-5 with three strikouts. 

THE UGLY:  It was a well-played game but the Nats on all acounts, so we'll give the ugly to Braves reliever Peter Moylan.  Moylan had not given up a home run over the fence since Opening Day 2009, when Zimmerman hit the shot that christened Nationals Park...until Willingham touched him in the seventh.

THE STATS:  The Nats struck out 10 times, walked three times and left eight men on base.  They were 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

NEXT GAME:  The Nats try to take the series from the Braves tomorrow at 7:10 pm.  J.D. Martin (0-3) takes on Jair Jurrjens (0-3).

Stephen Strasburg was excellent again for six innings.  In the seventh, when he ran into some trouble, his defense -- specifically shortstop Ian Desmond -- let him down.

And the entire evening, the offense was completely stymied by Tim Hudson and Jonny Venters, shutting out the Nats on just five hits.  They did manage five walks though, but even when they did get base runners, there was no one to drive them in.

The Nats went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base.

Strasburg appeared to get better as the game went on, striking out six out of eight in the fourth through sixth innings.  But in the seventh, Strasburg walked leadoff hitter Chipper Jones, and Brian McCann followed with a bouncing ball up the box that Strasburg couldn't get to, going for a single.

Troy Glaus then hit a tailor-made double play ball right at Desmond at short.  Whether it was Jones running in front of him, or the rookie shortstop just hurried, but he booted the easy grounder, and all hands were safe.

The flood gates then opened, with Eric Hinske hitting a sacrifice fly to center to score the first run, followed by a hard single from Yunel Escobar.

That would be more than enough for the Braves with the way the Nats offense has been struggling.

Strasburg's final line:  6.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K.  His record goes to 2-2, with an ERA of 2.27.

The Washington Nationals started the season off at 20-15, giving Nats fans hope that this season was going to be the year things "turned around". 

Since? Not so much. 

Since winning the first game of a four-game series in Colorado May 13, this team has gone 13-28, a .317 winning percentage over 41 games, lower than either of the back-to-back 100 loss seasons of 2008 and 2009.

They've been bad longer this season than they were good.

Still, we've seen a lot of quotes like this one from Tyler Clippard after Sunday's game, "We're battling our butts off. We're playing good, but we're coming up short."

And this, from Manager Jim Riggleman yesterday, "We played hard, we played good, we played good [Saturday], the Orioles beat us.  But it's just not happening for us.  But it's going to.  If we play with that effort, cleanness, we played yesterday and today we're gonna win our share of games."

He's of course referring to Saturday and Sunday's games, where the Nats allowed runs to score on wild pitches and balls thrown into the dugout from second base.

Playing hard and playing well are not the same things.  Yet after every agonizing loss that's the refrain we hear over and over again from the manager and players.

The Nationals are first in the big leagues in one category:  making errors.  Their 68 errors committed are seven more than the second place teams, Pittsburgh and Florida.  They have the lowest fielding percentage in the majors as well.

Errors and fielding percentage are crude tools to measure defensive efficiency, but it's a starting point, and illustrative relative to the competition.

The Nationals, especially the executives, are trying to explain the defensive problems away.  GM Mike Rizzo told The Washington Post's Thomas Boswell, "We're underachieving. We're playing bad baseball. Defensively, we're giving away far too many outs."

And here's the kicker: 

"This is not and should not be a 10-games-under-.500 team."

But that's exactly what it is.

Rizzo goes on to detail the number of players on this team with World Series and playoff experience, like that's the be-all and end-all of player development.  Brian Bruney had World Series experience, too.

Riggleman talking about 'playing hard' and Rizzo saying 'we should be better' is just rationalizing.

This team is last in the majors in fielding, 23rd in runs scored per game and 22nd in runs allowed per game.  Their Pythagorean W-L is 34-42, one game better than their actual 33-43 record.  They are exactly who their numbers say they are.

The Nationals have four players in the regular lineup OBPing less than .330 and slugging less than .400.  In the words of the immortal Charles Barkley, that's terrible.

Want some more information to further depress you?  In both 2008 and 2009, the Nats had stretches similar to the 20-15 start that got Nats fans so excited this year in the first place.

From July 21 to August 27, 2009, the Nats went 20-16, beating the Mets, Marlins, D-Backs, Reds, Cubs and others.

From April 22 to May 30, 2008, they went 19-17, not quite as good (but close), taking down Atlanta, Philly, Baltimore, and Milwaukee among others.

Even the worst teams are capable of playing decent ball for a stretch.  It's just unfortunate for the Nats that stretch for them this season came at the beginning of the season, when folks were paying attention and the win/loss numbers stand out in the standings column in the sports page.

Worse of all, the Nationals are 5-12 (.294) since June 9, the day after the debut of Stephen Strasburg, hitting .233/.291/.365 as a team and scoring just 3.4 runs per game. You have to wonder if the recent spate of terrible play is washing away all of the goodwill that Strasburg has brought to the team.

A guy decked out in Orioles gear walked up to me on the concourse at Orioles Park Saturday afternoon while I was getting out of the sun.  He said to me, "Strasburg is pretty good, but the rest of your team stinks."

How was I supposed to argue that?

THE RESULT:  The Washington Nationals lost their third straight one-run game, depsite having early leads in all three, to the Baltimore Orioles, 4-3.

Consecutive two-out hits against Tyler Clippard (L, 8-5) in the eighth inning by Corey Patterson and Miguel Tejada made the difference.

(Photo by Anthony Amobi/Nats News Network)

The Nats are now 7-17 in June, have lost four in a row and 12 of their last 15 games.  For the season, they are 33-43.

Roger Bernadina hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to make the score 3-0 against O's starter Jeremy Guthire.  But as has been the case all series with the Orioles, the Nats put away their bats after the fourth.

(Photo by Anthony Amobi/Nats News Network)

Washington did not score a run against Baltimore's bullpen in the three games.

The key sequences came in the eighth innng  The Nats got their first two batters on against Orioles reliever Will Ohman, but Ohman struck out the next hitter, Adam Dunn, on three pitches.  O's interim manager Juan Samuel then called on David Hernandez, and he proceeded to strike out Josh Willingham and Roger Berndina -- on six pitches.

In the Orioles' half, Julio Lugo hit a one-out double, but was then picked off second by catcher Wil Nieves.  Undaunted, the O's got to Clippard with the hits by Patterson and Tejada for the game-winner.

(Photo by Anthony Amobi/Nats News Network)

Clippard had a miserable weekend.  Friday night he was clobbered for the loss and Sunday couldn't get the job done again, even when given an out on the terrible play by Lugo.  In both appearances, he left his pitches up in the zone and out over the plate.

(Photo by Anthony Amobi/Nats News Network)

Nats starter Luis Atilano kept his team in the game, going seven innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on just five hits.  He did not walk a batter and struck out three.

(Photo by Anthony Amobi/Nats News Network)

THE GOOD:  Roger Bernadina.  The right fielder went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk.

THE BAD:  Nyjer Morgan followed up his excellent game Saturday going 0-for-4.

THE UGLY:  The O's tied the game in the fifth, when Adam Kennedy threw a ball into the O's dugout  on a double-play attempt.  It was a poor decision to throw, as the runner would have beaten the throw easily regardless.

(Photo by Anthony Amobi/Nats News Network)

NEXT GAME:  Tomorrow against Atlanta at 7:05 pm.  Stephen Strasburg (2-1, 1.78) faces Tim Hudson (7-3. 2.54).

by Anthony Amobi, Staff Writer and Dave Nichols

"The way we're playing in general, defensively, is just not good enough.  We do a lot of talking about it, and we're out there working on it. I really can't explain it. I know we put the work in. I feel bad for them. I really feel bad for the players, because I know it's an issue for them. They see the number of errors. They see the game get away from us because we're not making plays." -- Manager Jim Riggleman, after the four error fiasco in a 7-6 loss to Baltimore.

The starter was pulled too quickly.  The reliever wasn't pulled quickly enough.  And the middle infielders made two errors apiece.

It all added up to one of them most demoralizing losses of the season, as the Washington Nationals fell to their regional rival Baltimore Orioles, 7-6, before 43,484 at scenic Oriole Park at Camden Yards in a 3-hour, 53 minute marathon.

It was another go-around in the annual ‘Battle of the Beltways’ interleague series, and it looked early on like it would be a laugher for the Nationals as they built a 6-0 lead.  But things turned in the fifth inning, ensuring that the game would be remembered by both fan bases for diametrically opposite reasons.

The poor defense of the Nationals ultimately undid a thrilling game, and the O's -- entering the game with the major's worst record -- came back from six runs down and earned the victory in the bottom of the ninth inning.

(Photo by Anthony Amobi/Nats News Network)

The final of four errors by the Nationals was the fatal one, and capped Baltimore's comeback.

With the game tied at six with one out in the ninth inning, Baltimore had runners at first and second base. Orioles' second baseman Julio Lugo bounced a tailor-made double-play ball to shortstop Ian Desmond, who flipped the ball to Cristian Guzman at second to force Scott Moore (2-for-2, 2 RBIs).

Moore made a good, hard slide, and sadly, Guzman’s turn and throw ended up short of first base and the ball sneaked under first baseman Adam Dunn’s glove for a devastating error. That allowed Jake Fox, the original runner at second, to score and send Baltimore to just their 21st win in 73 games.

The loss for Washington (33-41) was a tough one to swallow in more ways than one. Both Desmond and Guzman had two errors – and also manager Jim Riggleman’s decision to allow Tyler Clippard to pitch the eighth and part of the ninth inning after allowing Baltimore to tie the game played a big role as well.

The use of Clippard in Friday’s game by Riggleman will ruminate in the minds of Nats fans.

He came into the game to start off the eighth inning and immediately walked catcher Matt Wieters on five pitches. It was obvious Clippard did not have his good stuff, and every pitch to Wieters was up and out over the plate, including his ususally impressive change-up.

Moments later, pinch-hitter Scott Moore absolutely crushed a Clippard offering and sent it over the wall in right field and on to the flag court, bringing Baltimore within one of the lead, 6-5.

Instead of yanking Clippard and bringing in another reliever, Riggleman decided to stay with him and things only got worse. The reliever would give up a one-out double to light-hitting shortstop Cesar Izturis and then allowed the Orioles to tie the game off a Corey Patterson RBI-single.

Clippard ended the frame by getting the final two outs, but he inexplicably was allowed to come back out for the ninth inning, despite having just completed one of his worst outing of the season.

He walked Wieters again with one out and allowed the recently-recalled Moore to do more damage, as the first baseman singled cleanly. Mercifully, Riggleman would pull Clippard at that point, but the Nats fate had already been sealed.

(Photo by Anthony Amobi/Nats News Network)

"Just couldn't get the ball down," said Clippard. "I just didn't establish the strike zone early, so I was a little tentative after that, and it cost me."


Matt Capps entered and immediately got Lugo to hit the grounder to short that should have ended the frame.

Not on this night.

Clippard (8-4), who pitched 1 1/3 innings, took the loss.

J.D. Martin – who started the game on the mound for the Nationals – gave up three runs, all unearned, in 4 1/3 innings of work. He didn’t factor in the decision and gave up three hits, while striking out two and walking one.

He had thrown just 80 pitches when lifted by Riggleman, and the manager chewed up three pitchers to record the next four outs.

Despite the deflating loss, there were some positives in the game. The Nationals offense came alive as they took an early 6-0 lead off Baltimore rookie pitcher Jake Arrieta in the first four innings and they got amazing performances from Adam Dunn – who drove in four runs – and Nyjer Morgan, who had four hits and became a human highlight reel.

The center fielder made one of the most spectacular catches you'll ever see during the third inning, scaling the seven foot wall in right center field to rob Corey Patterson of a home run.  Morgan's left hip was even with the top of the wall and he even fought off a fan to make the catch.

(Photo by Anthony Amobi/Nats News Network)

Even Patterson gave Morgan his props by giving him a tip of his cap. Meanwhile, the 43,000 plus who saw it live at Oriole Park at Camden Yards were stunned at the sure-fire ‘web-gem’.

As good as the play was, it went for naught in the sting of one of the most disappointing losses in Nationals history.

We'll have a full recap in a little while, including photos, but here are the directions to follow if you want to blow a six-run lead to a team that started play at 20-52:

1. Stop hitting after you have accumulated six runs.
2. Yank your starter after 4 1/3 innings and 80 pitches when all he's doing is his job.
3. Have your middle infielders commit two errors apiece.
4. Have three different relievers face just one batter apiece.
5. Allow your most effective reliever, on a night when he walked his first batter on five pitches, to throw 35 pitches in the eighth to tie the game, then come back out and put two more runners on in the ninth.
6. Again, make sure your middle infielders commit two errors apiece.
7. For good measure, make sure you let the opposing No. 9 hitter, hitting less than .230 to start the day, to go 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Yep, that ought to let you surrender a six-run lead to the worst team in baseball.

Willie Harris is in tonight's lineup, in left field, while Josh Willingham is at designated hitter.  Michael Morse is in the lineup as well, playing right.  That means Roger Bernadina sits.

Bernadina is hitting .284/.344/.432 this season with four homers and six steals in 164 plate appearances.  Not exactly tearing it up, but he's been fairly useful, though horrible miscast as a right fielder.  And it's good to see Morse getting a chance, especially with a righty on the hill for the Orioles tonight.

But this post is about Harris.

Harris used to be a fan favorite.  He's made a series of highlight reel catches for this team the last three seasons and his willingness to play wherever the manager asks him to endeared him to the fans of the organization.

Lately though, Washington Nationals fans have been tearing up message boards, comment pages, and game threads ripping Harris' lack of production, and rightly so.  He's been one of the least effective hitters the Nats have had this season.

Those same fans who used to love Harris are now calling for him to be released and replaced by someone from the minors who can be more productive.  Those calls are not wholly without merit.

In 122 plate appearances, Harris is hitting .151/.240/.321.  He hasn't had a hit since June 3, going 0-for-20 with a sacrifice fly.

Manager Jim Riggleman has been insistant about inserting Harris as a pinch-hitter against right-handed relievers, and when the team played on the road in Cleveland, and Detroit he got three starts at DH and LF.

If Riggleman really, truly thinks that Harris is an integral part of the Nats lineup, he has a duty to give him at bats to get him "back on track". 

But Harris is now a 32-year old pinch-hitter with a lifetime .241/.327/.350 slash line.  It's not a stretch to think that this mught be it for the player.

Besides, Harris is superfluous on this team.  They already have two left-handed, slap-hitting outfielders in Nyjer Morgan and Bernadina.  And if it's Willie's versatility that you like, D.C. has four middle infielders on the roster as well.

If this season is all about production, as GM Mike Rizzo said earlier this season -- and demostrated by sending Opening Day starter John Lannan down to AA to fix what's troubling him -- he should take the decision out of Riggleman's hands and make a roster change.

Washington could really use another right-handed hitting outfielder on the bench.  Maybe one with a little bit of pop, some speed, and plays good defense in any of the three spots.

Wonder where they could find one of those?

"I hate to, and I won’t, make excuses for anybody, but sometimes you’ve got to tip your hat to the opposition. I’m not trying to rationalize too much, but we’ve run into a lot of well-pitched ballgames against us." -- Jim Riggleman, after yesterday's 1-0 loss to the Royals.

Here are the starting pitchers for the last five series (15 games) against the Nationals, with their ERAs at the start of that game:

Brian Bannister:  5.70

Anthony Lerew:  4.76

Bruce Chen: 4.15

Freddie Garcia:  4.94

Jake Peavy:  5.62

Gavin Floyd:  5.64

Jeremy Bonderman:  4.21

Justin Verlander:  3.56

Max Scherzer:  6.30

David Huff:  5.82

Fausto Carmona:  3.23

Jake Westbrook:  4.62

Zack Duke:  5.30

Brad Lincoln:  (MLB debut)

Jeff Karstens:  4.81

 

Other than Verlander, and maybe Carmona, do you see any other all-stars in there?  These are the guys shutting the Washington Nationals offense down right now.

 

Over the period, the Nats have hit .238/.286/.394 and averaged 3.2 runs per game.  Not surprisingly, they are 6-9 during that stretch (remember the sweep of the Pirates?  How bad are they???).

 

Looking at their last nine games it's even worse.  The Nats are 2-7 in that period, hitting .203/.248/.314 as a team, averaging 2.2 runs per game.

 

Just about everyone's been affected, but when the numbers are laid out individually they are pretty glaring.  Maybe it's just coincidental, but here are the Nats hitters' averages since June 8, the day Stephen Strasburg debuted:

 

Nyjer Morgan:  .207/.273/.207

Cristian Guzman:  .269/.296/.385

Ryan Zimmerman:  .222/.283/.352

Adam Dunn:  .304/.350/.732

Josh Willingham:  .245/.327/.510

Ivan Rodriguez:  .279/.295/.349

Roger Bernadina:  .333/.385/.500

Ian Desmond:  .149/.184/.255

Adam Kennedy:  .176/.300/.176

Willie Harris:  .000/.000/.000 in 18 plate appearances

Michael Morse:  .450/.500/.900 in 22 plate appearance

 

Maybe it's time for the manager to stop tipping his hat to the opposition and try to mix some things up with his own players.

_____________

 

Ben Goessling over at MASN.com has some thoughts on line-up construction today, but a quote by Ryan Zimmerman really caught my interest. 

"At the end of the year, our numbers will probably be the same as they always are."

I wonder if Zimmerman knows Guzman's career on-base percentage is .308?  Or if Pudge has compiled a .306 OBP since 2004.  Or if Willie Harris is a .240 lifetime hitter?

Not sure that is something to aspire to.

THE RESULT: The Washington Nationals had to feel good about their chances for a sweep of the lowly Kansas City Royals today.  They sent to the mound phenom Stephen Strasburg, he of the record-setting MLB debut, against Brian Bannister, a pitcher who had given up 16 runs in his last two starts, covering only seven innings.

However, a couple of questionable decisions and a poor call by the home plate umpire made all the difference in the world, as the Nats fell to K.C. 1-0, before 31,913 overheated fans at Nationals Park.

The loss drops the Nats to 33-40 on the season.

Strasburg (L, 2-1) did not have his best day of the season, as the Royals were able to scratch off nine singles against him, but he struck out nine and did not walk a batter.  In fact, Strasburg threw 75 of his 95 pitches for strikes.

The lone run of the day was scored in the fifth inning, as K.C. strung together three straight singles, with former National Jose Guillen knocking in David DeJesus.

The first questionable decision by Manager Jim Riggleman came in the bottom of the fifth.  With runners at the corners and one out with Adam Kennedy at bat, Riggleman sent Willie Harris into the on-deck circle to pinch-hit for Strasburg, who had thrown 78 pitches at that point.

But Kennedy grounded to first and Josh Willingham, the runner at third, did not get a good break and had to retreat.  First baseman Billy Butler got the out at first, with Pudge Rodriguez moving up to second.

At that point, Riggleman recalled Harris and sent Strasburg back up, predictably to ground out, stranding both runners.

Riggleman's explanation was just as baffling as the decision.  "With two outs where it's gonna take a two-out base hit to get that run in, I felt like the odds go against you enough that it warrented Stephen to continue to pitch." 

Essentially, Riggleman gave up the at bat with runners at second and third, in a one-run ball game, when his team had managed two base hits to that point.

Even stranger stuff happened in the sixth inning.  Nyjer Morgan lead off with a walk (strange enough).  Riggleman decided at that point to try to play for one run to get Strasburg off the hook.  He had No. 2 hitter Roger Bernadina try to bunt him over.

With no outs in the sixth, it's a questionable enough strategy, but the execution made it worse:  Bernadina bounced it right to third baseman Alberto Callaspo, who calmly threw to second to force Morgan.

Worse still, Zimmerman followed with a single to right to put runners at first and second with one out.

Adam Dunn then lined a shot over the shift to right fielder Jose Guillen, who came up firing with the fleet Bernadina barreling around third base.  Replays showed that Bernadina did indeed beat the tag, but it was a bang-bang play and Bernadina did slide into the tag, giving the appearance of being out.

Bernadina made two mistakes on the play:  he got a bad jump at second to begin with, and he started his slide early at home, so he slowed considerably as he got to the plate.

Home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt made an emphatic -- but incorrect -- out call, and Riggleman did not even come out of the dugout to complain.

Naturally, Bannister would strike out Josh Willingham to end the frame with two runners on.

Bad decision.  Bad execution.  Bad call.  Game over.

THE GOOD:  Strasburg.  He went six innings, striking out nine and walking none.  He set the MLB record for strikeouts in his first four starts with 41, passing Herb Score.  Stephen also got his first MLB hit -- a single off of Brian Bannister and Radison retrieved the ball.

THE BAD:  Gotta hang the bad on Riggleman today.  Two very questionable decisions and failing to argue a blown call at home constitutes a bad day for the manager.

THE UGLY:  Five hits and two walks against the Royals with Strasburg on the hill.  Let that sink in.

NEXT GAME:  Nats are off Thursday before starting a three-game weekend series 45 minutes up the road against the Baltimore Orioles, the worst team in baseball.

All Photos 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/

Nationals News Network. All Rights Reserved

THE RESULT:  It took a 48 minute rain delay, a couple of home runs, and four hits off the closer, but the Washington Nationals held on for a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on a steamy, stormy evening before 21,168 at Nationals Park.

The Nats took a 4-1 lead into the ninth, and in what's becoming typical Matt Capps fashion, Capps put a bunch of runners on base but wriggled his way out of the jam.

Capps got Jose Guillen to fly out to right, but then gave up three straight singles to the 6-7-8 hitters in Kansas City's lineup.  Pinch-hitter Chris Getz popped up to short for the second out, but lead-off man Scott Podsednik drove in two with a clean single, and what remained of the crowd -- after a torrential downpour -- were now on the edge of their seats.

That brought up catcher Jason Kendall with runners at first and second and two outs.  But Capps got Kendall to fly out to Adam Kennedy at first base, sending Nats fans home happy.

It was Capps N.L. leading 22nd save of the season.

"A lot of things haven't gone Matt's way, for a guy who has 22 saves," Washington manager Jim Riggleman said. "He could have more if he would get a little lucky now and again."

"But the bottom line is he got the save."

Washington busted out the homer stick tonight, with Josh Willingham blasting his 100th career home run -- his 13th of the season -- and Adam Dunn's mammoth shot to dead center off the vine-covered batter's eye behind the utility tunnel.

(Photo by Meaghan Gay/DCist)

The Nats have hit 64 home runs this season, with a whopping 44 of those, including both tonight, of the solo variety.  Washington has the highest percentage of solo home runs in the Major Leagues.

They also got a RBI double from Ryan Zimmerman (2-for-4) and an RBI sacrifice fly from Nyjer Morgan for their biggest offensive outburst since scoring four runs in a loss to Detroit on June 15.

Nats starter Luis Atilano (W, 6-4) was effective -- before and after the rain delay.  He went 5 1/3 innings and allowed just one earned run on six hits and most importantly -- no walks.  He struck out five and threw 58 of his 84 pithces for strikes.

(Photo by Meaghan Gay/DCist)

Atilano turned things over to the bullpen with two outs in the sixth, and Joel Peralta, Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings. 

Clippard turned things over to Capps in the ninth, fitting as the theme of T-Shirt Tuesday was Clipp 'n Save, with a coupon on the front of the t-shirt with the players' names and nicknames.

The Nats send Stephen Strasburg to the hill tomorrow looking to sweep the Royals, with the Major's worst team -- the Baltimore Orioles -- next up on the scheudle.  After breaking a six-game losing streak, the Nats might have found the right place to look for some comfort.

Maybe there is something good about interleague play.

THE GOOD:  Josh Willingham.  3-for-4 with two doubles and a homer.  The 3-4-5 hitters were 6-for-12 with three RBIs.  When the middle of the order hits, this team wins.

THE BAD:  Despite scoring four times, the Nats were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

THE UGLY:  Capps gave up four hits in the ninth inning.  If it weren't for the three-run lead, we'd be talking about a completely different game.

NEXT GAME:  Wednesday, the finale against the Kansas City Royals.  Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 1.86) faces Brian Bannister (6-5, 5.70) at 4:35.  As of this posting, plenty of good seats remain.  Of course, game time temperature is expected to be 95 degrees with a heat index over 100.  Drink plenty of water if you go.

(Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News) 

"He was really good.  He's been good just about most times he's been out there." -- Jim Riggleman, on Nats starter Livan Hernandez

THE RESULT:  There wasn't much difference between Monday night's game and the most of the games on the six-game losing streak.  The Nats didn't get many hits.  The opposition got a bunch.  And Nyjer Morgan got picked off.  Again.

But the differences were stark.  Livan Hernandez gave up eight hits and a walk, but only allowed one to cross the plate.  And two of the Nats four hits were solo home runs.

As simple as that, the Washington Nationals broke a season-high six-game losing streak, defeating the hapless Kansas City Royals 2-1, before 13,592 at Nationals Park.

The win moves the Nats record to 32-29, 10 1/2 games behind division leading Atlanta.

Asked if the first win after a losing streak is a little sweeter, manager Jim Riggleman replied, "It feels real good. It's been a little grind here lately, it's been tough to win a ball game.  We've been having trouble breaking it open a little bit."

It was a bit strange night at the park, as many of the crowd didn't learn of the demotion of Opening Day starter John Lannan until they arrived at the stadium on South Capitol Street.

Hernandez (W, 6-4, 2.82) made another great start for Washington after getting beat around in his last start.  His biggest mistake -- walking No. 8 hitter Yuniesky Betancourt -- haunted him a bit, as the Royals shortstop scored later in the inning.  And as the Nats are going, any time a single run scores they have to be concerned.

But solo shots by Michael Morse (3), who came within three rows of clearing the stands in left center, and Cristian Guzman (1) off Kansas City starter Bruce Chen (L, 3-2, 3.96) were enough to carry the day.

Cristian Guzman's solo shot was the difference in 2-1 win. (Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News)

Hernandez defines "crafty veteran", and he's really had his mojo working at Nats Park this season.  In seven home starts, he's now 4-1 with an ERA of 1.81 in 54 2/3 innings.

His battery mate, Pudge Rodriguez, had a good night with his arm as well.  Rodriugez threw out two would-be base stealers, and picked off a runner at second base during a tense seventh inning.

"Pudge had a great night," Riggleman said succinctly. "Wasn't an offensive night for Pudge, but he did a great job behind the plate."

Royals' Mike Aviles caught stealing by Pudge Rodriguez.  (Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News)

Tyler Clippard continued his eighth inning domination with a one-hit, one strikeout performance.  And Matt Capps struck out the side -- looking -- in the ninth inning, though he also gave up two base hits and stranded the game-tying run at third base.

Matt Capps is happy.  (Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News)

It's never easy with this team.

THE GOOD:  He shall be Livan.  I have to admit, I expected an ERA double what he has right now.

Michael Morse.  All he's done so far this season, given the chance, is hit.  He is batting .429 with a .500 on-base percentage and a .714 slugging percentage in 40 plate appearances -- and just eight starts -- since May 16.

Morse's home run swing. (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

"He takes advantage of his opportunities," Riggleman said. "I haven't been able to get him in there as much as I know a lot of people want him in there. And I'd like to have him in there. But I like [Roger] Bernadina, too."

"I kinda got a platoon going there with him and Bernadina, so it's pretty much when a left-hander is pitching.  We'll get him in there some other times, too.  But we're trying to get a long look at Bernadina against right-handers too."

THE BAD:  Nyjer Morgan.  The guy went 1-for-2 with a walk and successful sacrifice, so I shouldn't be too hard on him.  But he was picked off first in the first inning after a leadoff single.  It's the 11th time this season he's been caught stealing. 

Speed is supposed to be his weapon, but he's a liability on the bases, and he needs to be reigned in by the manager at this point.

Nyjer Morgan's league-leading 11th caught stealing of the season. (Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News)

THE UGLY:  He hit some long fly balls tonight, but Adam Dunn had nothing to show for it.  0-for-4 with five runners stranded.

NEXT GAME:  The series with the Royals continues Tuesday at 7:05 at Nationals Park.  Luis Atilano (5-4, 4.77) takes on Anthony Lerew (0-0, 3.00).

Morgan tried to break up double play, to no avail.  (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

I find it terribly interesting that a day after the field manager said that he believed in John Lannan -- and that he would take his next scheduled start -- the pitcher was optioned to Double-A.

Lannan has struggled mightily in his last three starts to be sure, where he's given up 31 hits in just 13 innings.  His overall numbers (2-5, 5.76) attest to his inefficiency this season.  However, he did have a four-game stretch in the not too distant past where he allowed two or fewer earned runs in that period, so he's had periods of being "the old John".

But Lannan has always been a different breed of pitcher.  He has never struck anyone out, and his K rate has gone down each of his big league seasons.  In 2009, he had the lowest K rate of any pitcher to qualify for the ERA title.

In fact, Fangraphs.com, a quality analytical website, has dubbed Lannan the "Luckiest Man in Baseball" for his ability to manage a low ERA striking out as few batters as he has in his career.

You can take a look at Fangraphs commentary on Lannan's demotion here. It's illustrative to give you an independent analysis of the situation.

So what's different this year?

Everyone describing Lannan's troubles, from his pitching coach to the new era stat gurus say Lannan's sinker isn't sinking like it used to.  That mechanically, something is wrong that is prohibiting Lannan from generating ground balls.

Lannan missed a start earlier this season with soreness in his elbow.  But everyone in the organization today, including pitching coach Steve McCatty, is strongly saying that Lannan is not injured -- the soreness he experienced earlier this season is not bothering him.

Is it then mental?  Is Lannan altering his delivery to avoid reaggrevating the soreness he experienced earlier this season?  And if he is, is it deliberate?  Or is his body compensating naturally?

From the dugout before tonight's game, McCatty said, "I really don't think he's throwing much differently mechanically." 

McCatty spoke more about Lannan's confidence factor.   "When you're pitching in the big leagues it's awfully tough to go out there and work on something during the game."

"[It’s] just more to get back to that comfort level where you’re not pressing on every pitch to keep them from hitting the ball, or getting a base hit, or worrying about runs and stuff like that."

But here's the thing that the organization has left unspoken that should concern them: as an extreme pitch-to-contact pitcher -- and they don't get much more P-2-C than Lannan -- all those ground balls that have been hit at fielders that last couple of years could simply just be missing them this year.

Take Sunday's start, in which he gave up five earned runs on 11 hits.  Lots of hits, yes.  But he threw strikes (51 of 69 pitches were strikes) and he didn't walk a batter.  Additionally, Lannan got eight ground ball outs, as opposed to two fly ball outs.  Of the 11 hits, there was just one extra-base hit -- Alex Rios' RBI double in the fifth inning.

Honestly, the only thing different about yesterday's start from any of Lannan's starts the last couple of years is the result.  The ground balls were there.  They were just getting through.

If it's just a slight mechanical tweak that Lannan needs to make in order to restore the action on his sinker enough so that hitters don't square up as much on the pitch, then he'll back in the bigs relatively quickly.  And if he IS injured, we'll find out even quicker.

But if it's simply the case in his last three starts that ground balls are finding the holes that weren't the last two years, then Lannan -- and the Nats -- have a whole different problem.

You have to hope that a guy that the team was depending on -- the 25-year old consecutive year Opening Day starter -- figures something out in the minors and returns to being the same pitcher he was the last two seasons.  But if you can't miss bats in the big leagues, your margin of error is mighty thin.

Lannan found out how thin earlier this afternoon.

We'll have much more later, but the Washington Nationals have sent opening day starter John Lannan to Double-A Harrisburg, on the heels of yet another disappointing appearance.

Lannan went 2-5 with a 5.76 ERA in 14 starts in 2010.

The Nats recalled reliever Joel Peralta from Syracuse to take the roster space vacated by Lannan.  Peralta went 2-0 with 20 saves for the Chiefs.

Here are some photos from Saturday and Sunday's games, courtesy of Anthony Amobi.

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(All photos Anthony Amobi/Nats News Network)