Washington Nationals: Nyjer Morgan - DC Lobbyist.

by Patrick Reddington on Jan 15, 2010 1:26 AM EST

It seemed to work when former Pittsburgh Pirates' Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett went out of their way to encourage Matt Capps to come to Washington, DC, and now Morgan is at it again, appealing through MLB.com's Bill Ladson for Orlando Hudson to join him in the nation's capital where he believes, as he tells Mr. Ladson in article entitled, "Morgan wants Hudson to join Nats", that the combination of Tony Plush and the O-Dog, "...would be a nasty dynamic duo," at the top of the Nationals' order...

In the days after Pittsburgh non-tendered Matt Capps, he was courted by two Cubs, Tom Gorzelanny and John Grabow, both former Pirates, as he was trying to make a choice between Chicago and Washington. Gorzelanny and Grabow spoke to ESPNChicago.com for an article entitled, "Capps admits preliminary Cubs talks", in which they appealed to Capps to join them in Wrigley, but days later Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett spoke to MLB.com's Bill Ladson for an article entitled, "Morgan, Burnett hope Capps joins Nats", with Morgan describing Capps as a "winner" with a , "...a bulldog mentality," while Burnett called Capps, "...a competitor and a bulldog", as both implored the reliever to sign with DC.

After Capps signed with the Nationals, the reliever related how the chance to once again play with his former teammates had influenced his decision, stating in an interview with members of the internet media that Morgan and Burnett, "...both made it very clear that they wanted me to be here, and told me I would fit in," which combined with the clearest route to a closer's role to convice Capps to accept Washington's 1-year/$3.5 M dollar offer...which...is oddly just about what Orlando Hudson might be forced to accept...

To say Nyjer Morgan is excited by the prospect of Hudson signing would be quite the understatement, as quoted by MLB.com's Bill Ladson, here's Morgan selling the whole world on the idea of Hudson in Washington:

"'His veteran leadership is amazing. He comes to the ballpark ready to work hard every day. He is basically what every team wants and needs. He is a Gold Glove second baseman. He will help us out in the National League East. If this happens, we are going to be something. You are going to see a different Nats team in 2010.'"

Sign the contract, Orlando.

--NMIMH!!!

• Yahoo!Sports.com's Jeff Passan was Tweeting Haikus about the Nationals to promote his latest Hot Stove Daily post entitled, "Nationals' buzz hinges on Strasburg" in which Mr. Passan gently mocks the Nationals' moves or at least Matt Capps' opinion of them and looks toward 2010 by declaring, "The Year of Strasburg can't start soon enough." Follow @Jeff Passan on Twitter (he was first to break the Chapman story) and let him know what you think of his Nationals haikus...

• SB Nation.com: Andrew Sharp - "Earthquake In Haiti - How You Can Help."

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Comments

If Ny says it I am a doubter

But if TONY PLUSH says we should get Hudson, then I am pushing all my chips in the middle of the table.

I am a Morgan/Plush homer, I have been since I first saw him live last season and I got a first hand look at just how good he is along the base-path. I think he is more a favorite for me then SS, Zim, Zimm or Dunn. And I think he could be the Nationals MVP next season. So if having a good glove in front of him and a good bat behind him is what he thinks we need I say do it!

by Alex35332 on Jan 15, 2010 8:53 AM EST reply actions

Tony Plush is more convincing, I agree...

I’m just hoping he can keep up the intensity and avoid injury (feet first, Mr. Plush) over the course of an entire season…

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 Patrick Reddington on Jan 15, 2010 12:09 PM EST up reply actions

He's a salesmen

I just love how committed he is to the team as a whole. We needed a player of his caliber and enthusiasm years ago before we got to consecutive 100 lose seasons. If it hasn’t been stressed enough Nyjer was an excellent pick up even if we had to get rid of Lastings to do it.

by Natastrophe on Jan 15, 2010 11:07 AM EST reply actions

I'll enjoy following Lastings and McCutchen in the Pirates' OF without having to hide my eyes when a fly ball heads in Milledge's direction...

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 Patrick Reddington on Jan 15, 2010 12:11 PM EST up reply actions

Lastings = Moopie sad sac vs Nyjer = Spunky happy go lucky

by Berndaddy on Jan 15, 2010 11:11 AM EST reply actions

I wonder if Tony Plush ever has a bad day...I'm sure Nyjer Morgan does, but Tony Plush...I doubt it...

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 Patrick Reddington on Jan 15, 2010 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

Tony Plush makes me a believer.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Jan 15, 2010 11:16 AM EST reply actions

Have a new post up later this afternoon...

Spending the day in NYC…up too late writing this to get anything else done…so sorry…

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 Patrick Reddington on Jan 15, 2010 12:14 PM EST reply actions

Nyjer - He da' man......

At least the Nyjer we saw in DC until he got hurt…don’t know what he was in Quitsburgh that made him trade bait for 2 gnats losers.

By the all star break…my contempt for Acta the Robot was “en fuego”..and then this guy arrives…and lucky for Riggleman…
Morgan’s on field spark and leadership (not Riggleman’s) woke the Gnats out of their season long Acta coma..and l even chilled a bit since Morgan on the base paths was a SCARY Sight….
But he sadly gets injured and the S O S returns until the end of the season streak when the gnats faced the baseball equivalent of the Indy Colts in NotLanta…

by The Mamba on Jan 15, 2010 2:19 PM EST reply actions

NMIMH, too!

Love, LOVE, love Tony Plush. What a great addition to the team he’s been.
If he can convince O-dog to join him and the rest of the Nats, that would be aces. I’m feeling more hopeful and positive that it might happen after reading Ladson’s articles.

I STILL think Orlando Hudson is the answer to the Nats middle infield questions. That would allow Guzman to start the season at SS while Desmond gets more seasoning in Syracuse. Then when Guzman runs out of gas or gets hurt as he seems to do every year, Desmond can take over at SS.

Here’s hoping that Rizzo can pull another rabbit out of his hat to get it done.

by MissB on Jan 15, 2010 5:13 PM EST reply actions

I just read this from the Nats homepage per B.Ladson

Hudson also liked the comments made by Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan on Thursday. Morgan, Washington’s leadoff hitter, would be happy to see him and Hudson hit back-to-back in the starting lineup and wreak havoc on opposing pitchers.

“It’s a [big deal] coming from a young player who has a bright future like himself,” Hudson said about Morgan. "He has confidence in an old man like myself and I know how he can play. I enjoy watching the kid play. He plays the game the right way. He plays hard and I really like that.

“It would be a great lineup to be in, but we’ll see how things work out. If I’m with the Nationals, I will give them 110 percent. We are definitely working on some things. Washington is a great place. The Nationals are heading in the right direction. With Willie Harris, Nyjer Morgan and my guy, Adam Dunn, who I’m close to — it’s all good.”

by Berndaddy on Jan 15, 2010 5:49 PM EST reply actions