Nationals News Quickies!

by John Quinn on Jun 30, 2009 12:20 PM EDT Comment 37 comments

UPDATE: MLBTradeRumors reports that the Milledge for Morgan trade with the Pirates deal is close to being sealed.

Garrett Mock, optioned to Syracuse after 13 appearances as a National, was named one of two International League players of the week.

Following last night's loss, the Marlins are now 7-0 against the Nationals this year.

The Nationals have signed Jeff Kobernus, the 50th pick in the draft. He's reporting to the Vermont Lake Monsters, and may play as early as this week.

The lineup shift, which put Willie Harris first and bumped everyone else back, may not be a permanent change, according to Acta: "It's just one game, guys. We still have to wait and see."

Everything Else

Two women were kicked out of the Rogers Centre in Toronto for throwing beer at B.J. Upton.

Manny Ramirez, who is eligible to return from his suspension on Friday, has had a less-than-stellar time in the minors, going 1 for 3 in what is expected to be his final rehab game.

Jonathan Papelbon tied the Red Sox record for career saves last night, notching his 132nd save against the Orioles.

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Comments

"For June the partner in crime has been the offense."

http://mvn.com/oleanders/

“…like dizzy blindfolded children trying to break a pinata with a balloon animal.”

"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like the Morgan-Milledge swap

Gives us some more speed and fielding upgrade, I think we should permanently platoon Willie and Nyjer at CF and at leadoff. Can’t move the Donkey and leave the other spot open for Hammer and Dukes. AK needs to take a hike so I am not even including him.

If I could ideally see the future, I would see:
- AK traded for a fungo bat
- NJ stay, we have no viable option at 1B if he is gone (don’t say done)
- Trade Belliard and bring up Morse, I think Morse is better than Gonzalez right now as it is
- If you get a good deal for Dunn then take it, we have a lot of good young outfielders and we need to solidify the OF for the future.

Could Ian Snell be part of the deal? (I doubt it) but they Buc’s are trying to unload his salary and he is kind of a local kid.

by pas493 on Jun 30, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hear Nyjer is more of a corner OF though…so with a quick trade of the Hammer to the Reds and a DFA of Kearns, we could have a little more space to move people around.

Think they’ll trade Dukes too? Making this a character team could be in the plans. The Rays did it.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they could

I heard the Lastings deal was to get a non-character guy out of the system, Morgan and Milledge are pretty much the similar players, w/ both making a little over $400,000. We are giving up youth and a little power though. WE NEED TO FIND A LONG TERM OPTION AT CF

With that being said, it seems like there haven’t really been any character issues with Dukes(the little league thing was BS), i like Elijah and hope he is our right or left fielder for a loooong time to come

by pas493 on Jun 30, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only problem I have with the trade is Morgan's age...

…a little old to still be playing like a prospect…

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Jun 30, 2009 1:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If he only played in the bigs starting in 2008, does that mean his free agent clock is just starting? (I know…jumping the gun, but still)

UNDO EVERYTHING BOWDEN DID. That’s the new plan.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now that's a plan I'll get behind...

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Jun 30, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wonder if Thrilledge will listen to the Pirates' coaches?

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Jun 30, 2009 1:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Lasto seems like the type that would read his own press clippings...

…so I assume he sees how little Nationals fans and writers think of him. I wonder if he asked for a trade or if the org just decided to get him outta here. Morgan apparently hustles and knows how to play defense.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wash Times Update...

http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/chatter/2009/jun/30/milledge-for-morgan-close/

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Now people are buzzing that Hanny could go to the Pirates also and the Nats would get Burnett…in addition to Milly and Morgan switching hands. I know nothing about Burnett except he may be arbitration eligible after this season.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Think Hanny could use a change of scenery?

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Jun 30, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pittsburgh Post Gazette says that's the deal in principle.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

UPDATE 2:38 pm: Two baseball sources have confirmed that Washington's Joel Hanrahan and Pittsburgh's Sean Burnett will be a part of the deal, if it is finalized.

http://bucsbits.mlblogs.com/

1:40pm: Kovacevic says the teams have agreed in principle to exchange Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan for Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett.

1:39pm: Chico Harlan of the Washington Post and MLB.com’s Bill Ladson agree that the Nats and Pirates are close to completing a deal.

"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pittsburgh Post Gazette says:

Done deal: Morgan, Burnett to Nationals for Milledge, Hanrahan

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh, I like Mark Zuckerman of the Times update.......

http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/chatter/2009/jun/30/milledge-for-morgan-close/
“Once the deal becomes official, the Nationals would need to remove someone else from their major-league roster, because they’re getting two big leaguers in exchange for one big leaguer and one minor leaguer. And since Morgan is an outfielder (and the Nats already have a glut of those) one strong candidate to leave would have to be Austin Kearns.”

"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cross those fingers. Or they could just dump Colome because it needs to be done.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Morgan is MLB, Lasto is MiLB...... gotta cut an MLB position player....

"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

vs. Lefthanded Batter … 2.76
vs. Righthanded Batter … 3.38
RISP …. 6.94
RISP w/Two out 7.71

"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lannan coming up on XM, will take notes...

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Jun 30, 2009 2:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm kind of second guessing this deal

What do yall think of the deal?

by pas493 on Jun 30, 2009 3:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Adds depth to the Syracuse roster...

"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly, glad to be rid of Milledge and Hanrahan.

If Morgan turns out to be good, that’s great. The other guy is a throw in I think and he can be released or traded again in the off-season if he doesn’t look good.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Burnett is a pretty solid reliever his ERA is in the low 3s and his WHIP is like 1.12, better #s then Hanrahan. If a starter goes 6 innings then the door should be slammed shut with Burnett, MacDougal, and Biemel

by pas493 on Jun 30, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only if Burnett enters with no runners, something that would have helped Hanny's numbers.

"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like it's down to seeing if Milledge's finger is healthy. Then hopefully a done deal.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i have a finger for milledge

by pas493 on Jun 30, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now that's funny. Hey Lasto, don't let the door hit you in the arss.

Hanny, we had some fun. This will be best for both of us. Sorry it didn’t work out.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jun 30, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My only concern, as e_chigliak mentioned above, is Morgan’s age. I liked Milledge because he was young… he certainly didn’t really give us much other reason to like him. 29 isn’t ancient, but he’s certainly not young, and I’m not sure Morgan has played well enough to warrant the interest in him.

Milledge didn’t really have much of a shot after telling off the coach down in the minors, so while I do think he’ll turn into a respectable player, I don’t think he could have done it in Washington.

by John Quinn on Jun 30, 2009 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is just dumping two guys the Nats don't want and getting back guys for the roster this year.

New faces, but nothing different, nothing’s changed…

"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have a new thread up...thanks for the updates...

Will Morgan finally give DC an everyday CF? Will have to pull Manny’s “Give me Nyjer Morgan” quote up now…

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Jun 30, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Morgan will be in CF and be Lead-Off Nyjo...

Moar Lefties!! (sorry 2-Spot, we’ll be wrecking the lineup now…)

"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So...

1) Morgan – CF
2) Guz – SS
3) NJ – 1B
4) Zim – 3B
5) Dunn – LF
6) Dukes – RF
7) Bard/Nieves – C
8) Elvis – 2B

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Jun 30, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like it......instead of OBP for Nick, he'll be asked to drive in runners...

Just like the quotes from Willie about batting leadoff, they change their “approach”… It shouldn’t, but they will. Remember Nick not doing well batting 5th?
And gots to have the L/R thing…

"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nats Trade Milledge, Hanrahan To Pittsburgh For Morgan, Burnett

[UPDATE, 3:30 p.m.] — Done deal. Absolutely finalized. Look for a more detailed news story here in a few minutes. GM Mike Rizzo will address the media about the deal at 4:10 p.m.

"The legacy that was spawned oh-so-many years ago in DC is somewhere in that line-up card each night."

by cat daddy3000 on Jun 30, 2009 3:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs