Wire Taps: MLB.com's Bill Ladson: Josh Willingham To DL, Nyjer Morgan, Wilson Ramos Join Washington Nationals In Atlanta.
by Patrick Reddington on Aug 18, 2010 1:46 PM EDT
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PrintWithin the last few minutes, MLB.com's Bill Ladson is reporting via Twitter (@Washingnats) that the Washington Nationals have placed OF Josh Willingham on the DL with left knee issues with rehabbing outfielder Nyjer Morgan to take Willingham's place on the roster, while newly-acquired catcher Wilson Ramos will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to take backup backstop Wil Nieves' spot while Nieves goes home to spend time with his wife, who is due to give birth in the near future.
Willingham's knee issues have been the focus of much conjecture recently, as the 31-year-old outfielder has struggled to remain in the lineup while battling issues with the meniscus in his left knee. The Hammer had still managed to hit for a .268/.389/.459 line in 114 games and 370 at bats, but the pain apparently became too much in recent days forcing the Nats' everyday left fielder to the bench. Nyjer Morgan was reportedly unhappy with the fact that he was placed on the DL with right hip flexor issues. The 29-year-old top-of-the-order bat made a couple rehab starts, but was reportedly lifted from last night's game without explanation until today's reports.
Most interesting, however, is the fact that Nats fans will, with Wil Nieves taking a brief leave, get to have a look at the catcher DC GM Mike Rizzo acquired from Minnesota at the July 31st Non-Waiver trade deadline in return for former Nats' closer Matt Capps. In 15 games since being acquired, the 22-year-old catcher's hit .317 with a .349 OBP and a .433 SLG (.833 OPS) over 60 at bats in which he's hit two doubles and two HR's at Triple-A Syracuse. In limited time in the majors earlier this year, Ramos made a positive impression with the Twins, filling in for an injured Joe Mauer and going 8 for 27, .296 AVG, with 3 doubles in 7 games.
The Nationals are in Atlanta for two more before heading to Philadelphia this weekend for a 3-game series in Citizens Bank. Neither Morgan or Ramos are in tonight's starting lineup.
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This is almost like a Holiday.
NO Nieves, MOAR RAMOS AND MOAR NYJER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Screech's Godson
UMD Class of 2014! GO TERPS!!!
Thisll be perfect news when hammer yells out "psych!" and hits two grand slams tonight
Somebody needs to be last in the standings; as long as its the Orioles, Tom is happy
I don't know of a good nickname,
but a good icon would be the volleyball from Castaway.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
by RobBobS on Aug 18, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
"Willlllllllllllllssssssssssoooooooonnnnnn!!!!!!!!
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 Aug 18, 2010 4:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Phils will probably be without Howard still this weekend
i know it has nothing to do with Ramos, Nieves, Willingham, Morgan or your Aunt Sally, just thought i’d throw it out there.
fyi, everyone that’s clamoring for Nieves to be released/replaced should take a look at the offensive production around the league for backup catchers in general. I’m not saying the Nats couldn’t upgrade, but I think too much emphasis is placed on the slash line of a backup catcher instead of the gaping holes on offense RF, 2B and starting C have been for the Nats this year.
Orlando Hudson has posted 3.2 WAR so far this year. just sayin’.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at District Sports Page on Aug 18, 2010 3:29 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Who Rec'd?
Nieves has a lower OPS+ than Craig Stammen. He is pitiful. Maldonaldo/Burke/Ramos > Nieves.
Screech's Godson
UMD Class of 2014! GO TERPS!!!
What about the gaping hole in CF?
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
Morgan
I think he should be the bench guy. He’s past 30 and he has never hit consistently at the major league level. He’s led the league two years’ running in getting caught stealing, and he’s been picked off of bases, made bad baserunning decisions, and things of this nature well beyond any excuses grizzy could dream up. There’s no more experiment with this guy: he’s never going to be good. At least with JMax, there’s a notion that he could be good someday given enough playing time. I think the Nats ought to see what they have in him while the games don’t mean too much.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
Never hit consistently? And J-Max has??
.290 career BA?
Screech's Godson
UMD Class of 2014! GO TERPS!!!
No, he hasn't. Neither one of them has.
But JMax’ career OPS is roughly identical to Morgan’s, and he has had fewer than 1/6 as many plate appearances as Morgan has. Morgan very likely won’t get better. There’s a good chance that Maxwell won’t either, but he’s got a better chance than does Morgan.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
You really want to start a guy batting .107?
Morgan Career OBP – .348
J-Min Career OBP – .322
Screech's Godson
UMD Class of 2014! GO TERPS!!!
Very small sample size
for Maxwell.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
I agree with this.
But he’s got to at least show he can make some contact. I’m really of the opinion that he needs a change of scenery because if we were true believers in him we would have been willing to part with Willie Harris, keep him in the bigs longer, and have genuine competition between all of the outfielders.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
No more Hammer this year?
Doesn’t look like it. There’s only about 6 weeks left in the Nats’ season. (Obviously they won’t be going to the postseason.) I hope the doctors get the knee cleaned up so he can start the rehab process and come back at full strength next spring. He’s an important part of the line-up.
As for Morgan or Maxwell, can I vote for neither? Morgan is not an acceptable CF or leadoff guy. Unfortunately, Maxwell hasn’t shown that he can hit major league pitching, at all. With Willingham on the DL, it doesn’t look like there’s going to be much offensive production from the OF spots for the rest of the season, except maybe from Bernadina.
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"Save it. I'm goin' for a smoothie."
The Washington Nationals, the team of the 2010s!
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