That Didn't Take Long: Saul Rivera Back in Washington Nationals Bullpen

by Dave at District Sports Page on Apr 21, 2009 2:35 PM EDT

From the press release:

The Washington Nationals today recalled right-handed pitcher Saul Rivera from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed left-handed pitcher Joe Beimel on the 15-Day Disabled List with a left hip flexor strain. Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Rivera, 31, has pitched in six games this season with the Nationals and has been a workhorse in the team’s bullpen since his big-league debut in 2006. His 221 career relief appearances and 45 holds rank third in club annals (2005-current). Rivera signed with Washington as a minor-league free agent on November 18, 2005.

Beimel suffered his injury while making an exceptional defensive play during the eighth inning of Monday’s game against Atlanta. In eight relief appearances this season, he owns four holds and a 1.23 ERA. The 32-year-old signed with the Nationals as a free agent on March 18.

This has to be considered a big hit to the bullpen, since Beimel has been the most effective component and Rivera arguably the least effective. If Rivera's struggles continue though, he'll make the Nats decision really easy. Rivera simply has to perform better or he risks losing his job--for good.

And it's really too bad about Beimel. The play he apparently hurt himself on was a nice one, but you have to wonder if the field had been dry if he'd gotten injured. We'll never know, of course, but let's hope this hip flexor strain doesn't keep him out longer than 15 days.

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What does not contract us makes us stronger.

by RoscoeNats on Apr 21, 2009 2:39 PM EDT reply actions

Great, so my drive time/wet field worries came true.........

Why don’t we just take off the cleats and put that moat in the OF so the plays are really spectacular?

“Gator got ’im”……..

"...the bases loaded failures were the reason, the only reason..."
"Let's just move back to Montreal and forget the last 5 years ever
happened"............- e chigliak

by cat daddy3000 on Apr 21, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

i hear you guys

even on a good night, bad things happen. let’s just hope that in the 18 or so hours Sa-ool was off the roster he found his funkiness.

Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com

by Dave at District Sports Page on Apr 21, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions

They were rained out last night. UGH. If he took his time a la Milledge, he never left DC.

by RoscoeNats on Apr 21, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Call me perplexed and embarrassed by baseball player's overall fragility.

As much as I like “Dirty” Beimel, what on earth is it with the fragility of some baseball players? The guy made a diving attempt, landed on his belly and strained his hip? We’ve all seen the highlight reel of Ken Griffey Jr.‘s catches in CF. If there’s someone who warranted a stint on the DL list, it’s that guy.

How out of shape are some these players? How can they be so fragile? I’m willing to give Beimel et al. a pass on these injuries because of the nature of the parts that are involved in the movements they have to make in order to throw pitches. But jeez, every day it’s something with these players.

All of these players in MLB use a great amount of torque whether it be; their torso from swinging a bat / pitching a ball; their shoulders and elbows from zinging the ball 90ft away or from RF to home plate and all other manner of contortionist movements which create great strain on questionable joints. But 15 days for a belly flop?

IMO the Nats need to take a closer look at whoever is responsible for their training/strengthening regimen. The past two seasons of multiple and silly injuries provide ample evidence for this.

" WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU'VE WITNESSED A GRAND HANDSHAKE PARADE? "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Apr 21, 2009 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

Strength Coach/Trainer

<<IMO the Nats need to take a closer look at whoever is responsible for their training/strengthening regimen. >>

If my memory is correct, after last season the Nats fired their strength coach/trainer and their team doctor because of all the injuries.

Phil Dunn

by phil dunn on Apr 21, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

That is correct. All new staff. I choose to believe we are just cursed.

by RoscoeNats on Apr 21, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I feel we are cursed

I am normally a very logical guy, but I am convinced that the Nats are just plain cursed with injuries. No team I have seen is this injury prone evey season like the Nats. Now this could just be a several season long streak of just plain old bad luck (like flipping tails 30 times in a row), but man does it feel otherwise.

Problem is I can’t find a goat or black cat to blame it on. I sure want my goat. Any ideas?

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Apr 22, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I think you can have all the strength and training people in the world but...

the work has to be done by the players… a lot of baseball players in general look pretty doughy. Stay Puff Daddies…yo!

by Berndaddy on Apr 21, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Definitely

I guess the players just need to COWBOY UP!

" WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU'VE WITNESSED A GRAND HANDSHAKE PARADE? "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Apr 21, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep, grow some cajones, si !!!

by Berndaddy on Apr 21, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Do not ask Jesus about his cajones today......

A friend asked why Flores didn’t walk to the mound during the St. Clair visit with Hanny.

I’m thinking he may have been a little uncomfortable at that moment.

"...the bases loaded failures were the reason, the only reason..."
"Let's just move back to Montreal and forget the last 5 years ever
happened"............- e chigliak

by cat daddy3000 on Apr 22, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Good info.

Just got done listening to J. Mac and Rob Dibble on XM and they address this issue to an extent. Apparently heavily muscled players are doing themselves a disservice by packing on excess muscle on weak joints and ligaments.

O.K….So the Nats have new trainers. Someone please tell me where on earth trainers have gone wrong because players seem to be too damned fragile. What was going on in yesteryear in which players were able to go to play ball, go to war, play ball AGAIN and be great. I guess we just have a bunch of wimps in MLB.

" WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU'VE WITNESSED A GRAND HANDSHAKE PARADE? "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Apr 21, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I've got it..

Ball players should be allowed to drink in the dugout. Beer, beer and more beer. Let’s let them smoke and heck while we’re at it how bout roll of spliff here and there and everywhere. What’s so wrong with a spliff now and than. They’ll eat better….

Spliff !!! Does this generation even call it a spliff, joint, panama red bud etc etc etc…anymore..
I heard of blunts and that’s about it for me. Having lit anything stronger than my back yard grill in a long time…

by Berndaddy on Apr 21, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

When will we wakeup from the bad dream...

Nats are good (click heels 3x) Nats are good (click heels 3x) Nats are good (click heels 3x) Nats are good (click heels 3x) Nats are good (click heels 3x) Crap that didn’t work..

by Berndaddy on Apr 21, 2009 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

I don't know.

But it seems as if Tony “The Nats Stink” Kornheiser and Michael “Name Dropper” Wilbon will have something to say about the Nats on PTI today.

" WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU'VE WITNESSED A GRAND HANDSHAKE PARADE? "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Apr 21, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea, I heard them today on The Post's 'Talking Points' say

The worst franchise ever, blah, blah, blah… they pissed me off. I still miss Mr.Tony on the radio, but when he and Wilbon start down…. oh crap it’s not worth it…

by Berndaddy on Apr 21, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions