• Programming Notes: From Atlanta to Houston to LA tonight, the Washington Nationals finish up a nine-game roadtrip (on which they're 2-4 thus far) with a three-game weekend set in Los Angeles against the NL West's last-place Dodgers. 43-55 heading into this weekend's series, LA's lost four of their last five following a five-game win streak which was preceded by a five-game losing streak. John Lannan's on the hill for the Nats in Chavez Ravine, Hiroki Kurado throws for LA. Washington dropped two games below .500 for the first time since June 19th. Davey Johnson returns to the last team he managed for the first time with the Nats, should make for interesting conversation...Is there anyone out there who's not going to seek out the Vin Scully feed? MASN 2 HD, MLB.tv, 106.7 the FAN in D.C., 1500 WFED, Sirius/XM ch. 189. Who's Watching the Nationals?
• LINKS AND LINKS AND...
• NATS BEAT:
• "As far as honoring [Chad] Cordero, that would be a good idea. But I would like to see the Nationals honor Frank Robinson first before doing it for Cordero." - "Nationals Inbox: Danny Espinosa a complete player" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "The hurler tosses the ball underhand to the striker as cranks cheer in the stands." - "Take me out to the ballgame - Civil War style" - Paulina Berkovich, Washington Times
• "It seems like all the attention on baseball in L.A. this year has been focused on the courtroom and the ongoing saga of owner Frank McCourt's divorce..." - "Series preview: Nats at Dodgers" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "The Nationals released reliever Chad Gaudin on Thursday, after designating the right-hander for assignment on Tuesday..." - "Nationals release Chad Gaudin" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "In a long line of the 'proven major leaguers for untested prospects' trades in Nationals history, Ramos has become the symbol for success." - "Nationals have seen risks and rewards that come with trading veterans for prospects" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "The Nationals have a chance to finish above .500 for the first time in team history, a worthy signpost to shoot for in the absence of a playoff race." - "The Nationals have to beat the bad teams" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "The Nationals unconditionally released right-hander Chad Gaudin on Thursday. The news comes two days after he was designated for assignment." - "Nationals release right-hander Chad Gaudin" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "'As I have said for about a week, I have seen really good signs [from Jayson Werth],' Johnson said during post game on 106.7 The Fan." - "Early aggression: Werth connects with three extra base hits in Houston finale" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Beltway Baseball Live: Mark Zuckerman and Chase Hughes, CSN Washington.com -
• "Not that he has anything to do with it, really, but the Nationals under Davey Johnson have mastered doing just enough to lose." - "The Nationals are losing one-run games again" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Coffey hasn't inherited a runner all month. All of the runs he's allowed have been products of his own sticky situations." - "Todd Coffey's recent plight, Gaudin and Chico released" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "After working back from Tommy John surgery last season and making a spot start in the majors last May, [Matt Chico] didn't get much of a chance to get back to the big leagues, though." - "With Matt Chico's release, Nationals close the book on part of their past" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "It seems like all the attention on baseball in L.A. this year has been focused on the courtroom and the ongoing saga of owner Frank McCourt's divorce..." - "Series preview: Nats at Dodgers" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• NATS MINOR LEAGUE UPDATES:
• Class-A Auburn: "Led by a two-run home run by Matt Skole in the third and a two-run homer by Adrian Nieto in the fifth, the Doubledays jumped out to a 5-1 lead against the Crosscutters." - "Long Ball Powers Doubledays to 7-2 Win" - Auburn Doubledays News
• Class-A Hagerstown: "By triumphing in the front end of the twin bill, Hagerstown snapped an 11-game winning streak for Augusta en route to creating a two-game winning streak for the Suns." - "Hagerstown Repels Greenjackets, 4-2 (Game 1) and 3-0 (Game 2)" - Hagerstown Suns News
• Class-A Potomac: "August 12th at Pfitzner Stadium is Ian Desmond Bobblehead Night, presented by the Local Geico Offices of Dave Stinson, Sr." - DTID!: IAN DESMOND BOBBLE AUGUST 12!" - Potomac Nationals News
• Class-A Potomac: "Left-handed reliever Josh Smoker continues on a tear with the Single-A Potomac Nationals, keeping opponents off the base paths and not allowing runs." - "Aggression on the hill biggest difference for Smoker this season" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Double-A Harrisburg: Derek Norris - 1 for 4, 1 BB, 1 3B, 2 K's; Tyler Moore - 2 for 4, 1 HR - Harrisburg Senators Scoreboard
• Triple-A Syracuse: "But Chiefs starter Craig Stammen recovered and held the next 14 Buffalo batters hitless through the fifth inning." - "Misch, Bisons knock off Chiefs 5-2" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• "Friday’s News & Notes" - NationalsProspects.com
• NATSTOWN:
• "Now, in addition to the typical trade candidates mentioned above, we keep reading rumors that list both Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen as being tradeable assets." - "Why is Tyler Clippard appearing in Trade Rumors?" - Nationals Arm Race
• "Harpermania arrived in Richmond on Thursday, and so Bryce Harper sat down for a chat with the media prior to Thursday night's game with the Flying Squirrels." - "Bryce Harper doesn't really talk to Stephen Strasburg much" - Nats Enquirer
• "When you build a community like this, a family like this, you’ll do anything to not let them down. We saw this as early as Spring Training, when the Nats got into a brawl with the Cardinals." - "Zimmerman Says 2011 Nats are Closest Team He’s Ever Been On" - Keara Dowd, Win for Teddy
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "I believe that at all levels of society - family, national, and international - the key to a better, happier world is greater compassion."
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Mets: "Johan Santana wants to set the record straight: He is completely on schedule rehabbing from left shoulder surgery -- even if he barely pitches for the Mets this year." - "Mets' Santana plans September return, at best" - Mike Puma, NYPOST.com
• Phillies: "I studied 'the Davey Lopes effect' last year, an attempt to find a source for the Phillies’ success on the bases." - "Davey Lopes Effect in L.A.?" - Bill Baer, Crashburn Alley
• Marlins: "'This is a club that can’t afford to give up three or four runs in the first inning,' manager Jack McKeon said." - "Marlins can't dig out of early deficits to Padres; Stanton flashes leather in center; McKeon's bullpen thoughts" - Matt Forman, Fish Bytes
• Braves: "It wasn't the best series, but Atlanta managed to escape the cruel confines of Coors Field with a series split against the Rockies." - "Atlanta Braves at Colorado Rockies Series Recap" - SCrebel10, Talking Chop