Nationals Newts

by John Quinn on Jul 9, 2009 9:54 AM EDT Comment 28 comments

Washington Nationals' Josh Willingham reacts after striking out swinging against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of the Rockies' 10-4 victory in a baseball game in Denver on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

4 months ago: Washington Nationals' Josh Willingham reacts after striking out swinging against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of the Rockies' 10-4 victory in a baseball game in Denver on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Since being sent to Triple-A Syracuse earlier this month, Elijah Dukes has been playing well. In 15 at bats, he's had five hits, two runs, three RBI, a homer and a stolen base. Also, he looks really really excited to be down there.

Manny Acta expects the Nationals to do better through the second half of the season. I have my fingers crossed!

Tracee Hamilton makes the case for John Lannan as the Nationals ace. Manny doesn't believe the Nats have an ace, and I appreciate his honesty.

The Mariners played a Natty 9th yesterday, giving up five runs, committing two errors and earning the loss. MLB.com has put together a lowlight reel if you're into schadenfreude. As a Nats fan, you've earned it.

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"Manny Acta expects the Nationals to do better through the second half of the season."

haha, well they can’t do any worse

by pas493 on Jul 9, 2009 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That’s exactly what I was going to write, actually, then I remembered we were talking about the Nationals. The Nationals always seem to find a way…

by John Quinn on Jul 9, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If all the decent players get traded...it will be worse if you can believe that.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 9, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea, i dont think so, you know we are 24-58 right?

by pas493 on Jul 9, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My feeling is that as long as the Nats don’t make any stupid moves, things can only get better. The problem is it’s hard to tell which moves are stupid, and which aren’t.

by John Quinn on Jul 9, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

With other players, the defense would improve but the offense would suffer.

My point was, we are nearly 40 games below .500 with our A-Team playing. What’s it gonna be like with the B-Squad?

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 9, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

all i know is our offense has sucked the past two years and this club looks a hell of a lot better on paper then the squads of 07 and 08. and look where we are. We win right now like 29% of the time, if we traded Dunn, NJ, Hammer, and others, I think then we would still be able to win 1 out of every 4 games.

by pas493 on Jul 9, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that’s the old “it can’t get any worse” attitude. This is the Nats. It can get worse. It’ll just be fun to see if it actually improves.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 9, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh, should've read all the comments...before commenting...

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 Jul 9, 2009 12:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Expects them to do better....to quote the Beatles:

“It can’t get no worse…”

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 Jul 9, 2009 12:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

"From now on, our defence will be better" - Manny Acta

You should have heard the Houston annoncers go on about what Dunn was doing in LF tonight…. And they were trying to be kind and sincere…

Dunn's bat, Nyjer Morgan's speed, skills, Dukes' arm, bat, that's an OF...(sorry, Hammer!) - EC

by cat daddy3000 on Jul 10, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As an addendum, though Hanrahan was impressive in his first start with the Pirates (and by impressive, I mean he pitched his one inning without allowing a run), he has allowed 3 ER in the next 1.1 IP.

Good move, Nats!

by John Quinn on Jul 9, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sign BJ Ryan?

by pas493 on Jul 9, 2009 10:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Ryan is too old, unfortunately. The Nats won’t be competitive for another 3-4 years, so I don’t think signing a 34 year old past his prime closer jives with long-term plans.

by John Quinn on Jul 9, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anti All-Star team

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11938611

Closer: B.J. Ryan, free agent

“Toronto couldn’t take it anymore, releasing Ryan this week and eating the $15 million owed to the left-hander this season and next. If I’m the Blue Jays, I load it up with cheese, ketchup and pickles before dining.

Seriously, how bad do you have to not want a guy around to make a decision like that?

“He wants to pitch more,” Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi said during an interview on XM/Sirius satellite radio this week. “We just don’t have a role for him. … And in our evaluation, we really don’t think that he’s going to come back and be the pitcher that he was for us his first few years here. So this is a chance to just let the player get on with his life and, obviously, we move on.”

Yes, do have a nice life, B.J. "

Dunn's bat, Nyjer Morgan's speed, skills, Dukes' arm, bat, that's an OF...(sorry, Hammer!) - EC

by cat daddy3000 on Jul 10, 2009 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea but he was DFAd by Boston, could scoop him up in waivers and save him or try to package him, probably not very logical though

by pas493 on Jul 9, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There may be a rule where you can’t trade people on the DL. Regardless…he had some decent numbers. I’d even see how he heals and try next year. Low downside for sure.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 9, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right..... can't trade or release players on the DL.

Dunn's bat, Nyjer Morgan's speed, skills, Dukes' arm, bat, that's an OF...(sorry, Hammer!) - EC

by cat daddy3000 on Jul 10, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

why shouldn't Dukes be happy

the Chiefs are in a division fight, not 24-58 like the big team

by gengreen17 on Jul 9, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow, we've got a case of the negativos here people....just think.....

Property values here in Natstown are cheap, cheap, cheap… Buy low sale high and the view while mildly obstructed by a parking lot tent is wonderful. The sky is always blue except when it’s not which is in fact any time the one isn’t the other and vice-a-versa. This is all good for me to say because I don’t buy season tickets. I watch MASN only when my family lets me watch it and listen to WFED when my radio can pick it up. I usually read the “aftermath” ho-hum articles and reports of a farm system that one day report how awesome everything is going and than how flawed the next. Welcome to Natstown the buying is low now. Can it get much lower? Didn’t we ask this last year with a worst team… prices are going , going, going, gone…..

by Berndaddy on Jul 9, 2009 2:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs