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• Programming Notes: The Washington Nationals are back in the nation's capital and with less than a week to go before next Sunday's Non-Waiver Trade Deadline, the Nats are in the headlines as well, talking to Minnesota about Denard Span, reportedly keeping up on Tampa Bay Rays' outfielder B.J. Upton and also taking calls about their relievers, starters and middle infielders. One pitcher the Nats won't be dealing, Jordan Zimmermann (who did, however, come up in trade talks this winter) who starts against the Marlins in Washington's first game back in the Nats Park in since July 10th when Zimmermann beat Colorado...MASN HD, MLB.tv, 106.7 the FAN in DC, 1500 WFED, Sirius/XM ch. 189. Who's Watching The Nationals?
• LINKS AND LINKS AND...
• MUST READ: "When Statistics Are Not Helpful" - Dave Cameron, FanGraphs Baseball
• NATS BEAT:
• "No way has the game passed [Davey Johnson] by, and I'm really not troubled by anything he has done so far." - "Ask Boswell with special guest Dave Sheinin" - The Washington Post
• "I mention all this because I'm still hearing from fans who insinuate that Davey Johnson, at 68, is too old to manage a big league ballclub." - "Satch got it right" - Phil Wood, MASNSports.com
• "The odds of the Nationals maximizing their return by trading Desmond now are slim, and the risk of losing a long-term contributor still exists." - "The case against trading Ian Desmond" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "If Marquis stays past the Deadline and then leaves as a free agent after the season, the Nationals will not receive any compensation for him." - "Marquis, other Nationals mentioned in trade rumors" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• “The park is already a great venue,' chief operating officer Andy Feffer. 'But to create added value within that experience - to say, ‘Im coming back, this is a great place to be - that’s a difficult thing to do in a crowded marketplace.'” - "Nationals' marketing, park and players only go so far in drawing fans" - Paulina Berkovich, Washington Times
• "The first time he watched Anthony Rendon swing a baseball bat, Wayne Graham knew instantly what he recognized." - "Nationals top draft pick Anthony Rendon stands wrists and shoulders above his peers" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
• "'He's a beast. That's one thing I noticed, his size is huge,' Mattingly said. 'He scares you up there. Honestly he's got pop.'" - "Beastly Morse and Werth's ties to Hall of Famer Gillick" - Debbi Taylor, MASNSports.com
• "Q: Bourn or B.J. Upton? A: I think Upton is the better fit. I think he would do well in the middle of the lineup, and I believe playing close to home and with his childhood friend Ryan Zimmerman would work wonders for him." - "Bill Ladson answers Nationals' fans questions in the Inbox" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "2011 Prospect Watch" - Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com: Prospects
• "The fact of the matter is, there are more names bandied about now as potentially being involved in a trade than would ever, ever, ever happen by Sunday." - "The personal side of the trade deadline" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "It's been no secret that several teams - the Phillies and Marlins, especially - have feasted on the Nationals to boost their records over the last few years." - "Nationals heading into key homestand against NL East foes" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "Florida's lineup has come alive during this recent surge. After hitting an abysmal .225 with a .624 OPS in June, the group is batting .266 with a .772 OPS in July." - "Series preview: Marlins at Nats" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• NATS MINOR LEAGUE UPDATES:
• Class-A Auburn: "With the win, the Doubledays moved into a tie for first place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division with Jamestown and Mahoning Valley, who both lost earlier in the evening." - "Doubledays Enter First Place with 8-2 Win" - Auburn Doubledays News
• Class-A Hagerstown: "Suns LHP Robbie Ray spun 4.0 scoreless innings while allowing just one base hit and walking three, amidst six strikeouts." - "Four-Run 6th Stanza for Drive Eclipses Hagerstown Effort" - Hagerstown Suns News
• Class-A Potomac: "With the score tied at one in the top of the fifth inning on Wilmington on Monday night, torrential rains forced play to be suspended." - "P-NATS AND ROCKS SUSPENDED BY RAIN" - Potomac Nationals News
• Double-A Harrisburg: "[Harper] said before the game that he can definitely see the difference in talent between low Single-A and Double-A pitchers." - "Bryce Harper: "quicker game, quicker guys" at Double-A level" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Double-A Harrisburg: "Harper, playing his closest professional game to date to his future home at Nationals Park, smacked two doubles off of Orioles' hurler Zach Britton in the worst loss of the season for Bowie." - "Bryce Harper's two doubles bookend big inning as Harrisburg wins 13-2" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Triple-A Syracuse: "Chiefs starter Yunesky Maya lasted just three-plus innings, allowed eight hits and seven runs, as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre claimed its third series victory against Syracuse this season." - "Chiefs hit hard in third straight loss" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• "Transaction Update" - NationalsProspects.com
• “'Just another game, another day at the park,' [Harper] said prior to Double-A Harrisburg’s 13-2 romp. “I’m trying to have fun out there.'" - "SNYDER: Bryce Harper: 'Just another game'; not hardly" - Deron Snyder, Washington Times
• "Tuesday’s News & Notes" - NationalsProspects.com
• "What Jayson Werth thought of the Jayson Werth Beer Special" - Nats Enquirer
• "As has been reported, Chien-Ming Wang will be gracing us with his presence (and hopefully relieving us from Tom Gorzelanny’s reign of terror) on Friday night." - "Catching Up on Chien-Ming Wang" - Keara Dowd, Win for Teddy
• "Pudge has been in and out of trade talks over the last few months, mostly because of his age, expiring contract, and the fact that Jesus Flores is healthy again." - "Trade Watch 2011: Ivan Rodriguez" - Joe Drugan, Capitol Baseball
• "Interview with Chris Crawford from MLB Draft Insider about the 2011 Nationals Draft" - Ryan Sullivan, NatsGM
• "Here's the Jayson Werth Bowie Baysox Bobblehead" - Nats Enquirer
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Marlins: "'It took Penny a while. It took Beckett a while. It depends when the lights flash on some of these guys. Some guys the light flashes on quick and they rise quickly.'" - "Manager Jack McKeon says Ricky Nolasco can be a 20-game winner" - Juan C. Rodriguez, South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
• Mets: "Other teams are pursuing Beltran, including the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers, but Beltran, whose full no-trade protection gives him the right to veto any deal, has made clear his preference for staying in the NL." - "At trade deadline, Mets' Carlos Beltran is the grand prize" - Dave Sheinin, The Washington Post
• Phillies: "'I enjoy listening to all the commentary,' Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Monday before his club fell 5-4 to San Diego. 'It’s pretty entertaining.'" - "All the trade talk keeps Amaro entertained" - Randy Miller, phillyBurbs.com
• Braves: "'I got to sit on the bench a fair bunch and watch their pitchers over the last few years,' Diaz said. "I have seen approaches that work better than others against them and hopefully I can give some espionage secrets.'" - "Diaz shares information on former club" - Jennifer Langosch, pirates.com: News