The Washington Nationals announced that they have traded OF Lastings Milledge and RHRP Joel Hanrahan to the Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Nyjer Morgan and LHRP Sean Burnett.

This is a deal that sacrifices what was once considered key pieces of the Nationals' future in order to improve the product on the field today.

Morgan, who turns 29 on Thursday, broke into the big leagues in 2007 at the age of 26. Since then, in 614 plate appearances, he has compiled a lifetime .286/.351/.376 line with 3 home runs and 41 RBI. It's possible he's a late bloomer, and it's also possible that the Nats are trading for him in the middle of his peak season.

Morgan is a plus defender, and will likely take over in center field -- though he has primarily played left field for the Bucs this season. He has very good speed, as his 18 stolen bases and defensive metrics will attest to, but he also leads the NL in caught stealing with 10.

Clearly, the Nats traded the possible upside of Milledge's potential for Morgan's current production. It's a dicey move to be sure, but the team apparently has grown tired of Milledge's mood swings and lack of preparation, making the Nats the second organization to do so in two seasons.

Burnett is a 26-year old left handed reliever. He has excelled so far this season as a lefty out of the pen. In 38 appearances, covering 34.1 IP, his splits have been very good (.189/.254/.396 v. LHB; .211/.357/.298 v. RHB), and has a 3/1 K/BB rate against lefties.

A failed starter, Burnett might have found his niche in the pen.

It's disappointing to see the team give up on Milledge and Hanrahan. Both players have many talents, but did not succeed the way the team envisioned this season.

Milledge should settle into left field for the Pirates and give them some pop and speed in that position, and Hanrahan -- if he can find the right mentor to bring out what's best in him -- will give them another big arm in the pen.

Here's the press release:

WASHINGTON ACQUIRES OUTFIELDER NYJER MORGAN AND LEFTHANDER SEAN BURNETT FROM PITTSBURGH IN FOUR-PLAYER TRADE

The Washington Nationals today acquired outfielder Nyjer Morgan and left-handed pitcher Sean Burnett from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for outfielder Lastings Milledge and right-handed pitcher Joel Hanrahan. Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

The 28 year-old Morgan was batting .277 (77-for-278) with six doubles, five triples, two home runs and 27 RBI in 71 games with Pittsburgh prior to the trade. Thanks to a career-high 29 walks and a .351 on-base percentage, Morgan has scored 39 runs this season, or two fewer than his career total in 86 games entering 2009. His five triples rank among NL (tied for second) and MLB (tied for third) leaders. Morgan departs despite pacing the Pirates in batting (.322, 66-for-205) against right-handed pitchers in 2009.

Morgan is blessed with the brand of speed that the Nationals were lacking both on the basepaths and in the outfield. Morgan currently ranks fifth in the National League with 18 stolen bases, and his eight swipes in June are just one less than the nine registered by Washington this month. Morgan played primarily left field for the Pirates. He currently leads all MLB left fielders in total chances per 9.0 innings and range factor per game.

Morgan’s patience (3.9 pitches seen per plate appearance) and batting eye (career-best walk ratio of one base on balls per 11.1 plate appearances) have both played a role in his breakout 2009 season.

Burnett, 26, was 1-2 with six holds, one save and a 3.06 ERA (11 ER/32.1 IP) in a team-leading 38 appearances for Pittsburgh at the time of the trade. A two-time (2001 and 2002) Pirates Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Burnett is 7-8 with 14 holds, one save and a 4.54 ERA (81 ER/160.2 IP) in 109 games (13 starts) spanning three big league seasons with Pittsburgh.

Burnett sports a .200 (22-for-110) batting average against in 2009, and has been nearly equally effective against left-handed batters (.189, 10-for-53, four walks) as those that hit from the right side (.211, 12-for-57, one home run). Burnett shifted exclusively to relief in 2008 and in 96 appearances since, has neutralized opposing left-handed batters with a stingy .178 (23-for-129) batting average against.

The Pirates’ No. 1 selection (19th overall) in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, Burnett is currently tied for eighth in the National League having allowed only four of 28 inherited baserunners to score. His .345 slugging percentage against is .067 better than the NL average of .412.

Milledge, 24, went 4-for-24 (.167) with one RBI and one walk in seven games with Washington this season.

The 27 year-old Hanrahan finished 0-3 with five saves (10 save opportunities) and a 7.71 ERA (28 ER/32.2 IP) in 34 appearances with the Nationals in 2009.

Head shots courtesy of CBSSports.com.

All other photos 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

Various sources say a deal that would sent Lastings Milledge and perhaps Joel Hanrahan to the Pirates in exchange for Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett is just about complete.

This deal, should it go down as structured, clearly says to the fan base that the team is not satisfied with the product it is putting on the field right now, and is willing to make changes to a team that is eight games back in the win column from the next worst team in the league.

Nats News Network will have much more once we can confirm the news.

"To not like Michael Jackson is un-American." --Ryan Zimmerman, as told to Nationals Journal.

THE RESULT: The Baltimore Orioles busted out for an eight-run sixth inning against three different Washington Nationals relievers, and cruised to an 11-1 win before a bi-partisan crowd of 45,024, in a game that could not have been labelled a Thriller.

Starter Ross Detwiler (L, 0-4, 5.24) and relievers Joel Hanrahan and Ron Villone were the authors of the "snowman", with Hanrahan particularly ineffective. The deposed closer was Bad again, and managed one out against three hits an a walk, with all the base runners scoring.

Hanrahan now has an ERA of 7.71 for the season, and in his last three appearances has surrendered eight earned runs over two and one-third innings.

Not to be outdone, Villone turned in an atypical performance, giving up two hits and a walk, with two earned runs, in his two-thirds of an inning.

Detwiler was not sharp at all under the Friday night lights. He allowed five earned runs on nine hits and two walks, striking out three. All the base runners he put on were Dangerous, but the one thing that kept him in the game was the two double-plays turned behind him.

Asked to assess his performance, Detwiler said: "Terrible. I left the ball up all game. That's why they had nine hits and were hitting it hard all night."

But the pitching was not the only thing missing against the Nationals' geographic rivals.

Washington managed just seven hits and three walks, and the worst fielding team in the league committed two more errors, by Cristian Guzman (misplayed grounder) and Josh Willingham, who took a strange approach to a ball that banged Off the Wall in left field.

THE TAKEAWAY: Well, the battle for who remains on the roster when Scott Olsen is activated on Monday just got a little more interesting. All along, I think the team planned to send Craig Stammen back to Triple-A when Olsen returned, but Detwiler was especially erratic last night. One could say the decision now is less than Black or White.

He couldn't get on top of his sinking fastball all night, which allowed the ball to stay up in the zone, and essentially turned into batting practice. He did manage nine ground ball outs (compared to one fly ball out), but if he's not getting his true sinking action, the grounders are going to hit harder and stand a better chance of getting thought the porous Nationals infield.

And what about Hanrahan? He's out of options, so they can't just send him down to the minors. He would have to be designated for assignment and then pass through waivers, something that probably would not happen.

THE GOOD: Josh Bard. It's another multi-hit game for The Bard, as he went 2-for-3 with the Nats' lone RBI. He's hitting over .400 for June and has his season average up to .386.

THE BAD: Anderson Hernandez. 0-for-4, with four runners left on base.

THE UGLY: Hanrahan. Manager Manny Acta just can't trust him in any sort of competitive ball game right now, which is only Human Nature.

NEXT GAME: Tonight in Balmer. Oh, to be in Charm City on a Sattidee night. Shairon Martis (5-2, 5.13) faces O's "ace" Jeremy Guthrie (5-7, 5.09). The score has a chance to look like a Ravens score, something like 10-7?

NOTES: R.I.P. King of Pop.

"It's something that we're used to, but this seemed like a little more than usual." --Boston shortstop Nick Green, June 23, 2009.

THE RESULT: In their first game in Washington, DC since 1971 -- when Ted Williams was managing the Senators -- the Boston Red Sox took advantage of several fielding errors and mistakes and pounded five relief pitchers for eight runs, defeating the "home team" Washington Nationals 11-3, before a Nationals Park record crowd of 41,517.

The box score shows a big, fat "6" in the column for the eighth inning for the Sox, but more important to the outcome was the single run they pushed across in the seventh.

Starter John Lannan, on a night where he labored but kept his team in the game, struck out J.D. Drew for the third time to lead off the frame. Then, Julian Tavarez entered and Kevin Youkilis hit a routine ground ball to Ryan Zimmerman, who promptly slung a throw into the first at first that Nick Johnson could not scoop, and Youkilis was safe on the error.

That play typified both fielder's erratic defensive play this season.

But the Nats weren't finished yet. The next batter, Jason Bay (4-for-6, HR, 3 RBI), singled through the hole between third and short, and with Adam Dunn lumbering to the ball in left, Youkilis, the hulking first baseman, took off for third.

Inexplicably, and compounding his lack of effort with a lapse in judgment, Dunn threw to third with no chance to get Youkilis, and Bay advanced to second on the ill-conceived throw.

Tavarez (L, 3-5, 3.77) intentionally walked Mike Lowell to set up a force, but Jason Varitek instead lofted a fly ball to medium left field, where Dunn made the catch but also made no effort to even attempt a throw to home to get Youkilis.

Just like that, the Nats surrendered the lead, for the final time of the night.

Sure, the bullpen -- especially Kip Wells and Jesus Colome -- added gasoline to the fire. But the real reason the Nats lost this game had already transpired.

Lannan went six and one-third innings, and allowed three earned runs on nine hits and two walks. He threw 109 pitches, 69 for strikes and, atypically, allowed 10 fly ball outs compared to five grounders.

THE TAKEAWAY: The actions of the late-inning pitchers may carry repercussions for the relievers that authored the unwatchable frame. After the game, manager Manny Acta did not mince words when asked to describe his faltering bullpen once again, "Somebody has to step up out of those three guys," Acta said, referring to Wells, Colome and Hanrahan. "Because I can't pitch the same four guys."

We could very well see the likes of Tyler Clippard, Saul Rivera, Jorge Sosa or even Marco Estrada very soon in a Nationals uniform.

THE GOOD: Ryan Zimmerman. He hit the ball hard, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Nice to see the contact again.

THE BAD: Adam Dunn's defense. His lackadaisical approach and lollipop throws to the infield are atrocious, and he even managed to cut in front of his center fielder last night to make a catch. It's painful to watch.

THE UGLY: Ladies and gentlemen, the Nationals Bullpen is back. Tavarez faced four batters and gave up a run on a hit, walk and sacrifice. Ron Villone surrendered a run on a hit and a walk in one-third of an inning. Kip Wells got one out and walked two batters. Both scored. Jesus Colome managed two outs and didn't walk anyone, but gave up four hits and three earned runs.

Not to be outdone, Joel Hanrahan pitched the ninth inning and gave up a run on two hits.

NEXT GAME: Tonight at 7:05 pm, for game two with Red Sox Nation. Craig Stammen (1-2, 4.76) takes one Jon Lester (5-6, 4.69).

Photos 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

"Three bad games -- out of how many? I think that's what's going on. It happens to everybody." --Ryan Zimmerman, June 21, 2009.

THE RESULT: The Toronto Blue Jays got four runs in the first inning, one in the second and one in the third and never looked back, defeating the Washington Nationals 9-4 on Father's Day, halting the Nats' season-high winning streak at four games.

Unfortunately, the Nats never got close enough to let Ryan Zimmerman try to play hero on yet another Father's Day, but considering Zimm's 0-for-5 day with two strikeouts and six left on base, maybe he himself was a big part of why the Nate were never in this ballgame.

Zimmerman completed this series against the Blue Jays 0-for-15 with six strikeouts. Since his average peaked on May 16 at .364, Zimmerman has hit .214 over his next 31 games to his present .293.

To make matters worse, the Jays scored all but one of their runs with two outs today, and all but two runs having two outs with no men on base.

"You've got to be able to smell the blood in the water when you've got two outs with nobody on," Acta said, "and finish up the hitters and get out of there."

Starter Shairon Martis (L, 5-2, 5.13) struggled through five innings, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and two walks, striking out just one.

THE TAKEAWAY: The Nats took two series in a row from AL East teams, and continue interleague play with the Boston Red Sox this week. The team is showing signs of life, but today's game was all too familiar from early on.

THE GOOD: Josh Bard. He went 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs. He really hit the ball hard every time up.

THE BAD: Joel Hanrahan. One inning, three earned runs on three hits and a walk. Yuck.

THE UGLY: Zimm. He's gotta find a way out of this slump. As good as he was for a month and a half, he's been every bit as bad for a full month now.

NEXT GAME: Off Monday, then a three-game set with Boston. The park will be full of chowda heads and bean eaters. Try to keep a level head and just repeat this mantra: "They're paying for Strasburg's signing bonus."

NOTES: Despite MLB's transaction page processing a move recalling Tyler Clippard, as widely reporter earlier today, the Nats did not in fact call Clippard up from Triple-A. Apparently, some sort of paperwork confusion happened and the league processed the move erroneously.

"[Hanrahan] continued to have so much more confidence in that slider than that 95 mph fastball. Perhaps he doesn't have as much confidence as we have in it." --Manny Acta, June 5, 2009.

THE RESULT: David Wright hit a two-run double off Washington Nationals "closer" Joel Hanrahan in the top of the tenth inning, leading the New York Mets to a 3-1 overtime victory before 20,353, many of which were rooting for the road team.

The Nats have dropped nine of ten and are 0-7 in extra innings this season. Washington is 14-39-1 for the season.

Hanrahan pitched a perfect ninth inning, but lost it in the tenth. Luis Castillo let off with a single on a slider that just about was scraping the dirt in front of home plate. Hanrahan then lost focus and walked Carlos Beltran, bringing up Nats killer Wright.

Wright lined a 2-2 fastball into the gap in right-center to score both runners. Hanrahan (L, 0-3, 6.84) gave up two runs on three hits and a walk with one strikeout in two innings.

The Mets third baseman was 4-for-5 for the night, but was throw out twice on the bases, once trying to turn an errant pick-off throw into two bases, the ohter when he tried to steal third.

The Mets heroics put a damper on a well-pitched ballgame on both sides. Nats starter Shairon Martis allowed just one run on three hits and four walks in five innings. Martis showed the type of pitcher he can become in the fifth inning, his last of the night.

Martis walked Fernando Martinez, and the next batter, Brian Schneider, laced a line drive right at left fielder Adam Dunn. Dunn froze on the ball and thought he was in position to catch the sinking liner, but the ball went under his glove and went all the way to the wall. Only a heads-up backup by Elijah Dukes kept the runners at second and third.

Martis (ND, 5-1, 5.31) then got Mets starter Tim Redding to bounce out to short, Alex Cora to roll out to first, and Luis Castillo to pop out--freezing the runners on the bases, keeping the game tied at one.

Mets starter Tim Redding had his best outing of the season. He went six innings, and gave up one earned run on six hits and two walks, striking out two. Sean Green got the win in relief (W, 1-2, 5.70), and Francisco Rodriguez earned his 15th save with a perfect tenth inning--although the called strike three against Nick Johnson to end the game was four inches outside.

THE TAKEAWAY: Let me put this very succinctly: Hanrahan stinks right now. Here's his quote, referring to the slider that Castillo picked off the top of his shoes to start the rally:

"I was trying to get a strikeout and that's kind of been my strikeout pitch," Hanrahan said. "It was a situation where I probably could have thrown him a fastball and he could have put the ball in play, because he doesn't strike out a lot. I just tried to throw one in the dirt there, and it didn't get quite to where it needed to be."

For Hanrahan to be effective, he needs to pump his tailing, 96 MPH fastball past people until they prove they can't hit it. He had several good outings where he had gotten back to that, and he looked good getting a fly out and two ground balls in the ninth. But he got away from it in the tenth and he paid for it.

He's now given up six earned runs on 10 hits in his last three appearances, covering three innings of work.

THE GOOD: Pitchers NOT named Hanrahan. Martis' numbers are above, and Bergmann, Villone, MacDougal and Beimel combined for three scoreless innings.

THE BAD: Middle of the order. 2-for-18 with two walks.

THE UGLY: Hanrahan. He has to regain confidence in his fastball, or he's worthless.

NEXT GAME: Tomorrow at 7:05 pm against the Mets. John Lannan (2-5, 4.21) faces John Maine (5-3, 3.75).

"I Only Have 211 More To Catch Cy Young." --Randy Johnson, June 4, 2009.

THE RESULTS: Randy Johnson became the sixth left-hander and 24th overall pitcher to win 300 games in his career, as the San Francisco Giants beat the Washington Nationals 5-2. before a small, rain-soaked crowd in the first game of the twi-night double-header.

Johnson went six strong innings, allowing just one unearned run on two hits and two walks. He struck out just two on the day, but relied on his defense to make several good plays behind him.

He made a good defensive play for himself as well. He knocked a comebacker down and scrambled--as much as a man 6'10" can scramble--to retrieve the ball, which had rolled toward second. The Big Unit reached down and flipped the ball to first--sprawling on the turf after the toss--to get Anderson Hernandez by half a step.

Johnson's win was preserved by closer Brian Wilson. With two outs and the bases loaded, Wilson went 3-2 on Adam Dunn, and Wilson got a called third strike on a fastball that seemed to be a bit low. Dunn argued--to no avail.


In Game Two, Matt Cain won his sixth straight game, beating the Nats 5-1. The game was called in the top of the sixth, and made final after a 67 minute rain delay.

Ross Detwiler gave up four earned in five and two-thirds. He actually pitched well until the heavy rain came in thetop of the sixth and the Giants put up three.

THE TAKEAWAY: All the attention was on the man going for #300, but the guy going for #3, Jordan Zimmermann, pitched pretty well himself. The 23-year old right hander went six innings, and gave up two earned runs on just three hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out seven.

He showed tremendous concentration, blocking out everything else going on, including the lousy weather, and tossed a gem.

As for the second game? Who knows. They shouldn't have been playing it anyway. It pured the entire time.

THE GOOD: Jordan Zimmermann. Villone, MacDougal and Beinel all pitched scoreless innings as well.

THE BAD: The hitters. Where were the bats? Johnson came into this game with an ERA over five and a half, and he gave up just two hits. The Nats could only scratch two more against three relievers in the first, and got only five hits against Cain in the second.

THE UGLY: Joel Hanrahan. With the Nats training 2-1 in the eighth, Hanrahan faced four batters and could not retire anyone. Four hits, three runs--No Outs. Game Over.

NEXT GAME: Three-game weekend series with the New York Mets. Tomorrow, Shairon Martis (5-1, 5.62) hosts former-Nat Tim Redding (0-2, 9.20) at 7:05 pm.

Photos 2009 © Cheryl Nichols and David Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

"The floodgates opened up, and we couldn't stop them." --Giants manager Bruce Bochy, June 2, 2009.

THE RESULT: The Washington Nationals used a six-run eighth inning to beat the San Francisco Giants, 10-6, snapping a six-game losing streak in the process, before 17,331 at Nationals Park last night.

The Nats are now 14-36-1 on the season.

On a day where bad news ruled, the Nats ended it in grand fashion, beating up three Giants relievers in the eighth inning, pushing a six-pack of runs across the plate without the benefit of a home run.

Training 5-4 entering the eighth, the Nats got a contribution from the entire lineup to overtake the Giants.

Josh Bard started the inning with a single to center, and manager Manny Acta pinch-ran for Bard with Wil Nieves. Anderson Hernandez followed with a single, moving Nieves up to second. Alberto Gonzalez, pinch-hitting for winning pitcher Ron Villone (W, 3-0, 0.00 in 14 IP), got the run parade started, singling to center off Bobby Howry, plating Nieves and moving Hernandez to third.

Bochy lifted Howry and went to lefty Merkin Valdez. Cristain Guzman greeted him with a single, which scored Hernandez. After Nick Johnson whiffed, Ryan Zimmerman tattooed a ball to deep right field, clearing the bases.

But the Nats wouldn't stop there. After the Giants walked Adam Dunn intentionally, Bochy called on hard-throwing Justin Miller.

Elijah Dukes, making his return from the DL, doubled in Zimmerman on Miller's second pitch. Austin Kearns was given a free pass to load the bases so Miller could face Nieves. The backup catcher with one career home run took a ball to the wall that missed being a grand slam by mere feet, but it was enough to plate the Nats' sixth run of the inning; the tenth of the game.

Nats starter Craig Stammen gave up five runs--four earned--on seven hits and one walk over six innings.

THE TAKEAWAY: Very simply: RELIEF! The Nats get a much-needed win on a day that they'd just as soon forget otherwise.

They fired pitching coach Randy St. Claire earlier in the day, replacing him with Triple-A coach Steve McCatty. Soon after, the team announced that starting catcher Jesus Flores would likely miss the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in his right shoulder.

Insult and injury.

THE GOOD: Anderson Hernandez. He went 3-for-5 with two runs, an RBI and two stolen bases. Josh Bard went 3-for-4 with a solo home run.

THE BAD: Joel Hanrahan gave up three hits and a run in his one inning of work in the ninth.

THE UGLY: Josh Bard made a play that cost his team two runs. With two runners on, Stammen walked Aaron Rowand on a pitch in the dirt that got past Bard. He slid to his left to pick up the ball and threw a backhanded, over the shoulder toss that sailed past Stammen covering the plate.

It was so wild, a second runner scored on the same play. It was something a little leaguer would have tried.

NEXT GAME: Tonight against these same Giants. Jordan Zimmermann (2-2, 6.07) hosts Randy Johnson (4-4, 5.71). The veteran, and mortal lock for the Hall of Fame, is looking for his 300th career victory.

"If they're going to walk Zimmerman, good. Let them pitch to Dunn. That's something we haven't had here in the past." --Manny Acta, May 24, 2009.

THE RESULT: Adam Dunn busted two home runs--the second one a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning--and the Washington Nationals held on to an 8-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles before 30,880 at Nationals Park.

Shairon Martis went six innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out two. He departed after allowing Adam Jones' tenth home run of the season in the top of the seventh.

Ron Villone (W, 2-0, 0.00) entered and shut down the O's threat in that inning, and Joe Beimel pitched a perfect eighth. Joel Hanrahan struck out Jones and Nick Markakis, pounding them with 96 MPH fastballs, and got Aubrey Huff to bounce out to second base to end the game for his fifth save.

The decisive inning started with Anderson Hernandez lining a single to right field. Willie Harris followed that with a single of his own to right. Cristian Guzman, hitting .349, then sacrificed the runners over. Orioles Manager Dave Trembley then made the decision to intentionally walk Ryan Zimmerman, to set up the lefty-lefty matchup of Jamie Walker against Dunn.

That decision proved fatal for the Orioles manager on this day.

THE TAKEAWAY: Sometimes you just have to muscle up, and Dunn did that today. The Nats got offense, some great defense and enough pitching to notch win number 13.

Austin Kearns made two fantastic catches today. He chased one down in the alley and made a backhanded catch as he crashed face-first into the screen covering the out-of-town scoreboard wall in right center, and later sprinted full-out to snare one on the foul line before wiping out into the stands in the corner.

Anderson Hernandez made a terrific catch of a sinking liner, lunging to his left, taking a hit away from Brian Roberts int he eighth inning.

THE GOOD: Joel Hanrahan. As good as Dunn was with his two home runs, it's what is expected of him. Hanrahan has had some well-documented trouble this year, but his last couple outings have been good, but today he was dominant.

Facing the middle of the Orioles potent lineup, Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Aubrey Huff, he threw nothing but fastballs and simply overpowered Jones and Markakis with strikeouts and got Huff to bounce weakly to second to end it.

Today was the reason the Nats, and Manny Acta, have been sticking with Hanrahan. Hopefully he has fully turned the corner and realized just how potent a weapon his 96 MPH fastball can be.

THE BAD: Ronnie Belliard. He went 0-for-4, lowering his average to .172.

THE UGLY: Cristian Guzman made a throwing error, which was the closest the O's had to ugly on a day where the hitting, fielding and pitching all came through.

NEXT GAME: Memorial Day special in New York City. The Nats travel to Queens to face the Mets. John Lannan (2-3, 3.63) faces John Maine (3-3, 4.53).

NOTES: Nick Johnson was a late scratch with a stomach virus.

"[Stammen] was impressive. I think he has a chance to be around for a while. He's good." --Adam LaRoche, May 21, 2009.

THE RESULT: Making his major league debut, 25-year old rookie Craig Stammen worked quickly, efficiently and successfully into the seventh inning. Despite giving up three runs in the seventh and trailing 4-3, as he was lifted by manager Manny Acta he received a standing ovation from the 17,816 in attendance.

His teammates rallied to his cause, coming back in the eighth inning to salvage the finale of the four-game series, 5-4.

Stammen, recalled yesterday to replace Daniel Cabrera in the starting rotation, was the antithesis of the pitcher he replaced. He averaged around 11.3 pitches per inning up to the seventh. He walked just one batter in his six and one-third innings, and that wasn't until his last inning of work. He pounded the strike zone with a 92 MPH sinking fastball and induced 11 ground ball outs, opposed to just five fly ball outs.

He even mixed in three swing-and-miss strikeouts.

Stammen retired the first 12 batters he faced. He didn't allow a base runner until Adam LaRoche led of fthe fifth with a double down the right field line. LaRoche later scored on two ground ball outs.

In the seventh inning, it looked like the rookie just ran out of gas a little. He got Freddie Sanchez to hit a grounder to short for the first out, but then walked Nate McLouth. LaRoche then took him deep when he left a ball up in the strike zone. Brandon Moss followed with a double and Andy LaRoche singled Moss home.

That's when Acta went to pull his rookie, one of four now in the starting rotation.

Julian Tavarez entered and did his job, going one and two-thirds innings scoreless, allowing just one walk and no hits.

Washington got Stammen off the hook in eighth. Cristian Guzman hit a one-out single to left, took second on a Nick Johnson single to center, and scored on a Ryan Zimmerman line drive single to right. Adam Dunn followed with the Nats' fourth consecutive single plating Johnson, and the Nats took the lead into the ninth, as they have several times this season only to be rewarded with disappointment.

But that would not be the case on this night. Joel Hanrahan entered and looked like a different pitcher. He faced four batters and allowed one baserunner--a single to Moss on a slider he hung in the middle of the plate. At that point, Hanrahan put the slider in his back pocket and blew away Ramon Vazquez and pinch-hitter Delwyn Young on nothing but 96 and 97 MPH fastballs.

THE TAKEAWAY: Despite losing three-of-four to the Pirates, the Nats have to think things are looking up. The insertion of Stammen (25) and Detwiler (23) to a rotation already featuring youngsters John Lannan (24), Shairon Martis (22) and Jordan Zimmermann (23 tomorrow) is encouraging, especially since it seems that all are ready to start living up to the promise we've heard so much about.

And maybe Hanrahan finally understands that it's hard to hit a 96 MPH fastball, even for major league players.

Sandy Koufax said, "I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it."

THE GOOD: In the bottom of the eighth inning, as the Nats were rallying to take the lead, a spontaneous, unprompted "Let's Go Nats" cheer erupted in the upper deck and spread. No one, not the scoreboard, not Clint...NO ONE had to tell these Washington baseball fans when to cheer.

If you build it, they will come.

THE BAD: Anderson Hernandez left the game after grounding out in the bottom of the fourth inning. According to team trainers, he sprained his right pinky finger. According to The Times' Chatter, Anderson actually dislocated a joint and had to pull the finger back into place. Ouch.

THE UGLY: There was nothing really ugly last night. It was a perfect early summer night weather-wise, the bullpen didn't implode, every starter but Hernandez had a hit. The Nats even went a game without an error!

NEXT GAME: Tonight, the start of a three-game series with our neighbors to the north, the Baltimore Orioles. Jordan Zimmermann (2-1, 6.35) takes the hill against Rich Hill (1-0, 3.18), who is fresh off the disabled list, trying to resurrect a once-promising career.

NOTES: Zimmerman's RBI single extended his consecutive on-base streak to 39 games.

All Photos 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

"I'm tired of talking about losses, period. You can only say the same thing over and over and over before you get fed up with it, and that's kind of what's going on right now." --Adam Dunn, May 21, 2009

THE RESULT: A 2-2 slider in the dirt from closer Joel Hanrahan got past catcher Wil Nieves, allowing Freddy Sanchez to scramble home from third with the winning run in the top of the ninth inning, as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals for the third straight game last night, before 17,854 at Nationals Park.

Hanrahan (L, 0-2, 6.87), called into the game tied at one, was awful again. He allowed three hits and a walk in one inning, needing 35 pitches to get through the disaster.

The Nats' fates were sealed in the bottom half of the ninth, when Nieves hit into a double play, and Josh Willingham's fly ball came to rest in center fielder Nate McLouth's glove, about a foot from the top of the wall, some 402 feet from home plate.

The end-game gaffe put an ugly stamp on an otherwise tight, entertaining game. Starter John Lannan went seven full innings, and allowed just one earned run on seven hits and two walks. He struck out five and hit one batter. Ron Villone followed him and contributed a scoreless inning with a K.

The Nats got their run in the fifth off Pirates starter Paul Maholm. Cristian Guzman hit a one-out triple and scored on a Nick Johnson line drive single to center. Johnson later stole second base, for his first steal of the season, but was stranded.

Reliever John Grabow (2-0) got the win and Matt Capps recorded his eighth save of the season.

THE TAKEAWAY: Hanrahan has to start throwing his fastball more. He was touching 97 on the stadium gun last night and someone has to tell him that he can't get beaten on his second best pitch. He is pitching afraid of contact, constantly throwing that slider in the dirt, and it's a recipe for continuing disaster--especially with men on base.

Joel: throw the fastball. It's your best pitch.

THE GOOD: Lannan. That's the John Lannan we've come to expect. Not overpowering, hitting his spots. Keeping his team in the game. Unfortunately, as has been the case for the last season and a half, he got no run support.

Photo 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

Ryan Zimmerman went 1-for-4, extending his consecutive on-base streak to 38 games.

THE BAD: Dunn, Belliard, Maxwell, Nieves: all hitless. The Nats got nothing out of the bottom of the order.

THE UGLY: Another ninth inning meltdown. The bullpen is now 1-15.

NEXT GAME: One more against the Pirates. Craig Stammen makes his major league debut against Ian Snell (1-5, 4.93) at 7:05 pm.

ROSTER NOTE: Reliever Garrett Mock will be sent down to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Stammen. Mock was 0-2 with a 6.92 ERA in 13 games. He struck out six and walked eight in 13 innings pitched.

The Nats made several changes today.

BULLPEN-BY-COMMITTEE

One day after watching the bullpen blow a four-run lead, the Nationals decided Tuesday that right-hander Joel Hanrahan will no longer be their closer and that right-hander Garrett Mock is out as the eighth-inning setup man.

The team will go with a bullpen-by-committee, with right-handers Julian Tavarez and Kip Wells as the late-inning options. Once left-hander Joe Beimel is activated from the disabled list next week, he will most likely be the closer, with Tavarez and Wells becoming the setup men.


HARRIS BACK/MAXWELL OUT

Willie Harris was activated from the DL today and is back in a new role - primarily outfielder. Justin Maxwell was sent back to AAA Syracuse.

GUZMAN BACK TOMORROW?

According to Nats Journal, Washington will activate Cristian Guzman (left hamstring strain). That move will send either Alberto Gonzalez or Alex Cintron back to Class AAA.

Photo 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

THE RESULT: Garrett Mock and Joel Hanrahan conspired to allow six earned runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Nats waste 11 runs and lose the opener to the Philadelphia Phillies, 13-11.

The Nationals hit five home runs and pounded out 12 hits against six Phillies pitchers, but it was to no avail.

Mock started the eighth by striking out catcher Lou Marson. It went downhill quickly. Pedro Feliz singled, Jimmy Rollins doubled and Shane Victorino hit a sacrifice fly to plate Feliz.

With two outs, Mock gave up a single to Chase Utley, driving in Rollins, and manager Manny Acta went to Hanrahan. Hanrahan then walked Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth.

The first pitch to Raul Ibanez was a fastball right down the middle of the plate from Hanrahan, and the veteran outfielder made no mistake, clearing the bases with a grand slam.

THE TAKEAWAY: You can't lose scoring 11 runs in a game. You. Just. Can't. Someone has to lose his job over this, and it's probably going to be Hanrahan. How can Acta give him the ball in a high-leverage situation right now? He was completely incapable of throwing strikes tonight.

Hanrahan has talent, but he needs to get his head on straight, because a team with shaky starters and cruddy defense CAN'T have a closer giving games away.

In the post game press conference, Acta said they would have to "think it through" whether Hanrahan was still his closer.

THE GOOD: Ryan Zimmerman, et al. Zim went 2-for-4 with two homers and three RBIs. Nick Johnson, Adam Dunn and Elijah Dukes all homered as well.

THE BAD: Shairon Martis. The rookie gave up seven earned on eight hits and four walks with three strikeouts in five innings. The Phillies have some hitters, and they took advantage of a rookie finding his way tonight.

THE UGLY: Joel Hanrahan. He was flat-out terrible. He walked Howard on five pitches, including a wild pitch. He walked Jayson Werth on five pitches. And he wasn't even close. This wasn't pitching too fine; he had zero control. Acta can't go to him in a high-leverage situation until he gets straightened out.

NEXT GAME: Tomorrow against these same Phillies. John Lannan (0-2, 4.43) against Cole Hamels (0-2, 9.69).

THE RESULT: Adam Dunn homered, Shairon Martis pitched six strong innings, and Atlanta's defense vanished for a period, as the Washington Nationals (3-10) defeated the Braves for the second straight day, 4-3.

Martis (2-0, 4.11) went six innings, allowing three runs--two earned--on six hits and four walks, striking out two. He had a rough first inning, walking two with two outs, then surrendered an RBI-double to Casey Kotchman and had another run score on an Alberto Gonzalez throwing error. But he settled down after that and did not allow another run.

Jesus Flores delivered an RBI double, narrowly missing a home run, in the second inning. The Nats' big inning, though, was the sixth. Dunn homered to lead off, his fourth of the season. Elijah Dukes reached on a Chipper Jones error and scored on a line drive by Austin Kearns that originally--and probably correctly--ruled and error on left fielder Matt Diaz.

Kearns later scored on Josh Willingham's pinch-hit single to cap the scoring.

The bullpen got the job done tonight, but not without some effort. Mike Hinckley gave up two hits in 1.2 IP, Julian Tavarez retired the only batter he faced, and Joel Hanrahan retired three straight after putting men on second and third with no outs.

THE TAKEAWAY: Good work by the Nats tonight getting the job done, but there's still a lot of work to do. Gonzalez has been fairly brutal at short and continued to struggle tonight. The Nats gave away two outs on the bases, with Dukes getting thrown out trying to steal third with no outs, and Gonzalez was thrown out at home on a contact play.

THE GOOD: Shairon Martis. For the second night in a row, a rookie pitcher bore down and got the win.

THE BAD: Anderson Hernandez. 1-for-5, strikeout, three men left on out of the leadoff spot.

THE UGLY: The weather. The Nats are losing half a homestand to the rain. Another small crowd tonight, populated with plenty of Braves fans.

NEXT GAME: Washington goes for the sweep tomorrow, 7:05 from Nationals Park. John Lannan (0-2, 6.46) faces Jair Jurrjens (2-1, 2.04).

NOTES: Joe Beimel was placed on the 15-day DL after he injured his hip making a great defensive play in last night's game. He was replaced by Saul Rivera, who originally was sent down in the big move the other day.

Photos 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

Posted by Cheryl Nichols (Dave will follow-up with more tomorrow).

Photos 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

The Braves/Nationals game was scheduled for 7:05 p.m., however, Jordan Zimmermann did not throw the first pitch (a strike in case you were wondering) in his MLB debut until 9:15 p.m. J. Zimm pitched six innings and helped the Nats get their second Curly W of the season with a 3-2 victory over the Braves!

The couple of thousand of fans that waited out the rain were not disappointed (Attendance is reported at 12,473, but there is no way that there was anything close). Unfortunately, the last Metro was at 11:45 p.m. so some fans left the game a little early to catch the train. It was also a school night so families were not around by the time that Hanrahan got his first save of the season.

It was a night of "J's."

Jordan Zimmermann made his MLB debut tonight and earned his first curly W. MASN Interview.

Jeff Francoeur was Zimmermann's first MLB strikeout.

Joel Hanranhan got his first save of the 2009 season.

Justin Maxwell got his first MLB stolen base.

Jesus Flores drove in two runs, including the game-winner in the sixth.

You cannot help but feel much better about our pitching staff after looking over the box score. Let's keep it up guys!

Washington IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Zimmermann, J (W, 1-0) 6.0 6 2 2 1 3 1 3.00
Wells (H, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00
Beimel (H, 4) 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.23
Mock (H, 1) 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Hanrahan (S, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 7.50


Other DC Sports News: The Washington Capitals NHL team played game three at the New York Rangers and the final score was shown on the big screen and cheers rang out. "Let's Go Caps!"

It's over. Just over five hours of baseball-related entertainment. The phenom gets a win in his first start. The closer finally decides to throw his fastball and he shut the door. The catcher contributes to the offense. The new bullpen throws three hitless innings. And to top it off, the Face of the Franchise re-ups through 2013.

It was a great day in NatsTown (tm).

Oh, Joel!

Photo 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

THE RESULT: For the second day in a row, Washington Nationals closer Joel Hanrahan blew a save in the ninth inning, surrendering a tying home run to Jeremy Hermida. Two innings later, Hermida would win the game, homering off Wil Ledezma, and the Nats lost 9-6 to the Florida Marlins.

Florida is now 10-1 on the season, with five of those victories over the Nationals. Washington is 1-9, and losing players to injury at an alarming rate.

Outfielder Roger Bernadina, starting in center field because Elijah Dukes was benched for being late for the game, fractured his ankle crashing into the center field fence after making a circus catch of a Dan Uggla drive in the eighth inning.

He was placed on the 15-day DL immediately following the game, and the team expected to recall Justin Maxwell for Sunday's game.

The late-inning collapse spoiled an otherwise good day at the park. Austin Kearns hit his second career grand slam in the bottom of the first, and Scott Olsen turned in his best performance of his young Nationals career, allowing two earned runs on six hits and one walk in seven innings.

THE TAKEAWAY: There were a couple of causes for concern today. Bernadina's injury is devastating to his career. He will probably miss a couple of month and will seriously stunt his major league development.

Dukes' tardiness, on the surface, was bad. However, he was at a team-approved little league function, so the Nats couldn't be too hard on him. He was fined and reportedly took it professionally and in the spirit it was intended. There were other reports, however, that he was threatened by the team with demotion should it happen again. Mixed signals? An acting GM trying to exert authority?

Stay tuned to "As the Nats Turn".

THE GOOD: Scott Olsen. This makes three quality starts in a row for the starters. He had just one walk and five strikeouts in seven innings, painting the black all day. His velocity, which seemed to be better in his last start, was back to 86-87 today.

THE BAD: Julian Tavarez and Wil Ledezma. The pair combined to seal the Nats' fates this day. Tavarez started the 11th inning walking Ross Gload and letting Wes Helms reach on Alberto Gonzalez' throwing error. Manager Manny Acta brought Ledezma in to face the left-handed Hermida, and promptly allowed the three-run homer.

THE UGLY: Joel Hanrahan. Two days in a row, this struggling team brings a lead into the ninth inning only to see Hanrahan give it back on a home run. Joel, here's a suggestion: Scrap the change-up. Stick with the hard stuff. You're a closer, you don't need three pitches.

NEXT GAME: Sunday at 1:35 p.m. trying to get off the schneid against the Marlins. Daniel Cabrera (0-1, 4.91) attempts to play stopper against Chris Volstad (2-0, 1.50).

NOTES: Alex Cintron, who had his contract bought from by the Nats after they placed Cristian Guzman on the 15-day DL, made his Nats debut. He struck out in his only appearance.

Happy Birthday to Alberto Gonzalez.

Photo 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

THE RESULT: John Lannan pitched beautifully through six and a third innings, but the bullpen--notably Joel Hanrahan and Saul Rivera--squandered his good work and the Florida Marlins (9-1) rallied for single runs in the ninth and tenth innings to beat the Washington Nationals 3-2.

Lannan allowed just three hits and one walk and struck out eight in 6.1 innings. He threw 98 pitches, 64 for strikes. The 24-year old lefty turned a 2-1 lead over to the bullpen, and while Julian Tavarez, Mike Hinckley and Joe Beimel did their jobs, Hanrahan and Rivera did not.

Hanrahan was called on to for his first save opportunity of the season, and instead gave up a solo home run to Cody Ross with one out in the top of the ninth to blow the save. In the tenth, Rivera allowed consecutive singles to Jorge Cantu, Dan Uggla and Jeremy Hermida to take the loss.

The Nats (1-8) pounded out 12 hits, but left 10 men on base. Alberto Gonzalez had three hits and an RBI double, while Nick Johnson, Ryan Zimmerman and Jesus Flores all had two hits apiece.

Manager Manny Acta was ejected for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Tim Timmons on a close strikeout call against Elijah Dukes before the start of the fourth inning.

THE TAKEAWAY: Well, you're not going to win them all. Or two in row, for now. Lannan looked great, commanding all his pitches and striking out eight along the way. That's two good starts in a row, and a good place to build confidence for the team.

THE GOOD: John Lannan. This is a no-brainer. It's the John Lannan everyone wanted to see opening day. Not only good pitching, but two good sacrifice bunts and another at bat that lasted at least ten pitches.

THE BAD: Middle of the Order. The 4-5-6 hitters, Dunn, Dukes and Willingham, combined to go 1-for-12 with three strikeouts and two walks.

THE UGLY: Joel Hanrahan. It's tough when you make one bad pitch and it makes you the goat, but such is the life of the closer. In his first save opportunity he surrendered the solo shot by Ross to tie the game up. Very deflating.

NEXT GAME: Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Scott Olsen (0-2, 14.63) faces Josh Johnson (2-0, 0.57). Reverse lock, anyone?

NOTES: Adam Dunn started in right field for the first time this season.

After the game, Cristian Guzman was placed on the 15-day DL and the Nationals purchased the contract of Alex Cintron to back up the middle infield in Guzman's absence.

For the first several innings, Dunn and Zimmerman's jerseys were missing the "O" out of "NATIONALS" on the front of their jerseys. Team equipment managers noticed the gaffe watching the game on the clubhouse television and replaced the uniforms midway through the game.

HMMM...SOMETHING MISSING HERE? OH, THE O!


5TH INNING JERSEYS LOOKED BACK TO NORMAL


Photos 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

The Nationals held a telephone media availability today at 11:45 am with team President Stan Kasten, Manager Manny Acta, and players Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Dunn, Joel Hanrahan and Joe Beimel. The event was apparently for smaller papers and internet writers, as the Post, Times and MLB.com were absent from the call.

My recorder was dead (naturally) so I don't have a full transcript, but I took notes and will paraphrase, give some impressions and quotes.

Mr. Kasten went first.

He gave a short statement centered on the optimism he personally, and the team in general, feels about the upcoming season. He made particular mention of the general health of the team, the additions to the rotation of Olsen, Cabrera and the youngsters, the addition to the lineup of Adam Dunn and the recent veteran additions to the bullpen.

He said he feels the team is "really falling into place."

With that, he took questions.

Q: Is the team going in a new direction with Jim Bowden gone?
SK: No, the opportunity has always been there for a collaborative effort. People are stepping up. The operation in "the Dominican is smooth." "We're right on track," for opening day.

Q: With the Braves moving out of Richmond, is that somewhere you'd like to see the Nats get into?
SK: Couldn't comment specifically, but "I love the city." Richmond has issues with the stadium and needs a franchise before the Nats could get involved.

Q: How are ticket sales? Is opening day sold out?
SK: Wouldn't comment specifically. Said he'd have "more to say the week before opening day." Described how the team lowered some ticket prices, developed smaller ticket packages and family plans.

Q: Was this off-season your most challenging?
SK: It was "something different" but now the team is "all on the same page."

Q: How did his day-to-day routine in spring training change?
SK: "Never in my career," did he spend more time in Florida in spring training.

Q: What's the deal with Dmitri Young? Since he's missed so much time and only playing in minor league games, was adding him to the 40-man roster a way to DL him for the beginning of the season?
SK: The DL will certainly be an option for him. But, "he's made a lot of progress", "dropped a lot of weight", and you could "blindfold him and he can hit", so he didn't dismiss the idea of Meathook appearing on the active roster.

Q: Is the team going in a different direction in the community relations department?
SK: They've expanded and there's been some "coordination" between departments, but the DC community is very important to the organization.

The comedy stylings of Zimmerman and Dunn took over.

Zimmerman thinks the team is closer this year than last. He said there was a "more comfortable" atmosphere in the clubhouse. He feels that adding Dunn to the lineup doesn't necessarily mean "more fastballs for me," but helps the lineup one through eight.

He believed his off-season training was easier and quicker this season as experience has let him know what he needs to get ready for the season. His mental approach is getting more refined as he gains experience as well. Rick Eckstein has helped many of the players with his serious approach and extensive video study.

Dunn loved his WBC experience, and thinks it helped him get ready for the season, getting a full game's worth of at bats in a game and adjusting to pitchers during in-game situations. "Every at bat was serious." He doesn't care whether he plays "first, third or the outfield."

He said the Sports Illustrated article didn't bother him and that his laid-back style and attitude wouldn't be a big deal if the press didn't keep bringing it up.

He closed by saying that he had high expectations for the team, that they were going to "have a lot of fun" and "win a lot of games."

Joe Beimel and Joel Hanrahan took over.

Even though he didn't sign until recently, Beimel said he never worried about not having a job this year, that he had "quite a few teams" interested, but that he needed "a decent offer" and that the "market vanished" a bit this off-season. He says being the eighth inning guy is easier than being a specialist because it defines the role and he doesn't "have to worry about adjusting" to different roles throughout the season like last year.

The left-hander likes the makeup of the team, that it's a young team, especially the starting pitchers and that there is "a lot of talent." He doesn't think of himself as a lefty specialist, and his splits are good because his mechanics help him "hide [his] sinker against lefties."

Joel Hanrahan said the WBC was a "great experience" and gave him a chance to talk to other closers, specifically the New York Mets' J.J. Putz, about how to get his WBC teammates out. He said that he likes the idea of being closer, and that he "talked to Chad [Cordero] quite a bit" about the role. He thought he got enough work with the USA team to prepare for the upcoming season.

He said he has a "short-term memory" which will allow him to not let things get to him, and his goal is to "put up a zero" every time out. He's not really happy with his spring training performance so far, that his "walks are down" but he's "getting behind" and needs to throw more first-pitch strikes.

Manager Manny Acta was the closer for the day.

Q: Why will the team do better?
MA: Simply, because "It's a better club" than last year. Adding Dunn to the middle of the order helps the batting order and that this year they didn't have to go into spring training trying out guys for the 3-4-5 spots in the rotation.

Q: What about playing time in the outfield?
MA: "Nice try, but I'm not going to give that up yet." He did go on to say, however, that Dunn was his left fielder and Milledge his center fielder, and Dukes, Kearns and Willingham would all get at bats, and that "no one is breaking Ripken's record" in this outfield.

He went on to say that the competition was a good thing, and that it gives the team depth they didn't have last year and gives the front office a "chance to make a deal if the right one is there."

Q: Is there any negative carry-over from last year's 102-loss season?
MA: Last season's "not gonna carry over at all." And it wasn't all bad: they had an opportunity to develop Jesus Flores, Elijah Dukes, John Lannan, Collin Balestar, etc.

Q: Are you concerned with Dunn's strikeouts?
MA: It's more important to get on base than to hit for a high average. He'd rather have Dunn "strikeout than hit into a double play." Dunn's walks more than make up for his strikeouts (ed. He's absolutely correct. The defense though...)

Q: Is Milledge the best choice for lead-off?
MA: He's the best option right now. His OBP and speed is suited for it, Milledge is growing into the role. Guzman's skills play better in the number two spot. It doesn't bother him that Guzman is a free-swinger, that his contact will help Milledge when he's on base. He also said he doesn't want to waste running opportunities in front of Zimmerman and Dunn.

Q: How closely will the team watch Jordan Zimmermann and Shairon Martis' innings.
MA: The team will limit their innings and pitches. They "aren't going to jeopardize their careers" for the benefit of rushing them into the big leagues.

------------------

With that, the call promptly ended. In the end, there were no earth-shattering developments or quotes, but there was some good basic knowledge imparted by the skipper. Every time he gets the opportunity, he stresses the the point about on-base percentage and the idea that you can't score runs if you can't get on base, and he's absolutely correct.

Many pundits harp on Dunn's strikeouts and say he's a bad hitter. It's not true. You don't walk over 100 times a year if you're a bad hitter. You don't get on base at a .380 clip if you're a bad hitter. Average is a lousy way to evaluate a batter, yet the mainstream media clings to it like it's the only thing that matters.

Anyway, the 35 minute telephone conference was a good outreach by the team to the smaller newspapers and the internet writers. It was a good opportunity to get some background and "face time" with some of the decision-makers and key players in the organization.

Posted by Cheryl Nichols, Contributor to Nats News Network


Our brand new slugger, Adam Dunn, has been added to the Team USA roster to replace the injured Rockies Brad Hawpe. Dunn joined Team USA in Clearwater on Sunday night.



Nationals closer, Joel Hanrahan, will represent the USA in the World Baseball Classic as a replacement for Blue Jays R.J. Ryan. Hanrahan joins Team USA on Tuesday.

Former Nationals closer Chad Cordero confirmed Hanrahan's decision.