• Programming Note: The New York Mets come to the nation's capital tonight for the 7:05 pm EDT start to the three-game series with the Washington Nationals. MASN2 HD on TV, 106.7 the FAN in DC and 1500 WFED will be carrying the live broadcast. Sirius/XM ch. 183 for subscribers who want to listen to Nats' right-hander Jordan Zimmermann take on the suddenly-red-hot Mets who turn to veteran Chris Young, who'll attempt to keep New York's four-game win-streak going. Who's watching the Nationals?
• LINKS AND LINKS AND...
• NATS BEAT:
• "Well, it turns out that 'some sort of horn' is actually a submarine horn. And that the three blasts that follow both home runs and wins are the submarine’s signal for a power ascent." - "How the Nats went from fireworks to a submarine horn" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post
• "'The rain, when he called it, it wasn’t that big of a factor,' said Lannan, who fell to 2-2 and raised his ERA to 4.05.'" - John Lannan not blaming delay for shaky fourth inning - Gene Wang, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "'April showers,' John Lanann muttered. 'I can't wait for April to be over. Let's go to May.'" - "Pirates, rain topple Nationals" - Mark Zuckerman, CSN Washington
• "I'd like to see them try Espinosa and Desmond at the top of the lineup; it gives them some speed, and with Werth hitting behind Desmond, it might be a good spot to get him going." - Ben Goessling - "Espinosa and Desmond hitting first and second for Nationals against Pirates" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "When Werth and Wilson Ramos reached against former Nationals reliever Joel Hanrahan in the ninth, they were Washington’s first baserunners since before the delay." - "Nats wrap up soggy trip with loss to Pirates" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "'I can honestly say my 11 at-bats I've had so far -- besides my four walks -- have been just embarrassing...'" - Matt Stairs - "Nats' Stairs on slump: 'Just embarrassing'" - Mark Zuckerman, CSN Washington
• "[Jordan] Zimmermann thus takes the next handoff in an impressive relay by Nationals starting pitchers: They have gone five-plus innings in each of the team's 21 games." - "New York Mets at Washington Nationals: Surging Mets kick off series with Nationals" Tom Singer, MLB.com Preview
• "'Maholm shut us down,' Riggleman said. 'We hit a couple balls decent that they made some plays on.'" - "Washington Nationals at Pittsburgh Pirates: After great start, Nationals fall flat in finale" - George Von Benko, MLB.com WSH Recap
• "First base umpire Alan Porter called Walker safe, however, with LaRoche first pleading his case before Riggleman exited the dugout to protest the call." - "More inclement weather interferes with final game of road trip" - Gene Wang, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "'He’s a good player,' said Nationals manager Jim Riggleman. 'He was a good player for Cincinnati in this role, and we’re finding some at-bats for him." - "Nix coming through in a pinch for Nats" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "In all but one of those 11 losses, the Nationals have scored more than four runs. In five of their 11 losses, they've limited their opponents to four or fewer runs." - "Nationals' offense holds them back from another win against Pirates" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• NATSTOWN:
• "But in games the Nats have scored fewer than five runs, they are a paltry 1-10. That's right. Only once this season have the Nats won scoring fewer than five runs..." - "Cold, Hard Facts About the Offense" - Dave Nichols, Nats News Network
• "Tuesday’s News & Notes" - April Whitzman, NationalsProspects.com
• "The Nationals have gotten lucky all season. Their starting pitchers have kept runs off the board despite allowing a good deal of runners on the basepaths." - "Nats Drop The Rubber Game Against The Pirates, Look Forward To A Tough Home Stand" - Will Yoder, The Nats Blog
• "(Rick Ankiel struck out looking to end Monday's game with the tying run on first...)" - "Gone Looking" - The Nationals Enquirer
• "Speaking of recoveries and small sample sizes, you may know that Mike Morse hit his first homer of the season on Sunday." - "Small Signs of Life" - Charlie, The Nationals Review
• "Adam Dunn - .145 AVG (8 for 55). .579 OPS. 2 HR. 8 RBI. 10 BB. 24 K. Dunn has not recovered from his appendectomy it seems. 24 K in just 55 ABs is nearly 10% worse than his career K%." - "Checking In" - Mac, Capitol Baseball
• "But the other side of that is performance, and Lannan ended up allowing four earned runs on five hits and -- the killer -- two walks, both of which scored in that fateful fourth inning." - "GAME 21 REVIEW: Nats Lose Soggy Game and Series to the Pirates" - Dave Nichols, Nats News Network
• Nats Minor League Updates:
• Triple-A Syracuse: "The run was the only blemish on Ross Detwiler's afternoon. The Syracuse lefthander scattered eight hits and two walks in six and one-third innings, allowing just the one run and striking out five." - "Chiefs fall to Yankees on 13th-inning walkoff" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• Double-A Harrisburg: Shairon Martis K's six, gives up eight hits, 5 ER in 4.0 IP - Harrisburg Senators Scoreboard
• Twitter: @Nationals PR: "Harrisburg RHP Brad Peacock named Double-A Eastern League Pitcher of the Week by MiLB.com for period of April 18-24." -
• Class-A Potomac: "Paul Demny put together his best start as a Potomac Nationals Monday night in Myrtle Beach. The righthander shut out the Pelicans over seven five-hit innings." - "ERLIN OVERPOWERS NATS AS PELICANS TAKE GAME ONE" - Potomac Nationals News
• Class-A Hagerstown: "The South Atlantic League announced today that Suns right-hander Cameron Selik has been selected as Pitcher of the Week for April 18-24, 2011." - "Selik Earns Pitcher of the Week Honors" - Hagerstown Suns News
• "'Chipper wasn't as filled out as Bryce at a young age. He struggled his first year, but it is what he became (that people remember). The athleticism is definitely similar,' [Hagerstown manager Brian] Daubach said." - "Bryce Harper hits another homer; Daubach compares him to Chipper Jones" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Unlike physical progress, which is subject to natural restrictions, the qualities of the mind can be developed limitlessly."
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Marlins: "Josh Johnson isn't an Elite Pitcher?" - Craig, Fish Stripes
• Phillies: "The Worst Trade in Phillies History" - taco pal, The Good Phight
• Braves: "'I hope it changes soon, I don’t know if my gut can take another extra-inning game,' said [Braves' Skipper Fredi] Gonzalez, whose Braves blew a 3-2 lead in the seventh." - "Braves lose to Padres on 13th-inning homer" - David O'Brien Atlanta Journal-Constitution, ajc.com
• Mets: "However unlikely this might sound, power fueled the fine end of the Mets' 4-2 homestand last week..." - "Ike Davis powers Mets to a big week and earns Big Apple baseball player of the week honors" - Anthony McCarron, NY Daily News