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• Programming Notes: Blowing an 8-0 lead. An easy way to make you forget that the Washington Nationals won three out four from the Cubs, and five of eight so far on the homestand. Now the Nats have to bounce back from a painful loss in a game that they should have won to complete a four-game sweep of Chicago. The Nationals turn to lefty John Lannan after both Livan Hernandez and the bullpen blew up last night. The Colorado Rockies pull into town with a 41-47 record and five-game losing streak in tow, having dropped one to Kansas City and four-straight to Atlanta on the road. 7:05 pm EDT. MASN 2 HD, 106.7 the FAN in D.C., 1500 WFED, Sirius/XM ch. 189...Who's Watching The Nationals?
• LINKS AND LINKS AND...
• NATS BEAT:
• "According to one source, Burnett is one of many relievers around the Major Leagues the Yankees are looking at." - "Sources: Yankees have eyes on Nats’ Burnett" - Bill Ladson, All Nats All the Time
• "'I’ve never experienced this kind of injury,' [Pudge] Rodriguez said. 'It’s never happened to me. See what happens tomorrow.'" - "Ivan Rodriguez will be re-evaluated, could land on disabled list with oblique strain" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "And with an eight-run lead in the hands of his most durable pitcher, it seemed like Johnson was going to get the break for his bullpen he wanted." - "Johnson blames himself after Cubs' comeback win over Nationals" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal on Twitter (@Ken_Rosenthal): "#Nationals have not yet made Burnett available. #Yankees have discussed him internally. #MLB" -
• "Chicago had scored eight unanswered, and Washington had blown the largest lead in the 42-year history of the Nationals/Montreal Expos franchise." - "Nationals blow biggest lead in franchise history" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Rodriguez felt a pull on his right side during early workouts prior to the Nationals' game against the Cubs." - "Oblique strain could land Pudge on DL" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "Regardless of who's in the lineup, the Rockies will go head to head with Nationals pitcher Jason Marquis (7-3, 4.11 ERA), who will try to bounce back from his worst outing of the season." - "Colorado Rockies at Washington Nationals: Rockies, Marquis ready to rebound in DC" - MLB.com Preview
• "Left-hander Sean Burnett said it was his slider that the Cubs' Carlos Pena turned on and tied the game up at 8-8 in the seventh." - "Burnett said a bad slider brought the Cubs back" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals Thirdbaseman talks about coming back from injury and the Nats on Inside Pitch on MLB Network Radio." - "Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals Thirdbaseman talks about coming back from injury and the Nats on Inside Pitch on MLB Network Radio - SiriusXM Sports
• "'I just said, 'I'm going to stick with Livo, and Livo will get me one out,' Johnson said." - "Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals: Comfortable lead turns into tough Nats' loss" - MLB.com WSH Recap
• "When the injury occurred during batting practice, Rodriguez was visibly upset as he headed to the clubhouse." - "Rodriguez likely headed to disabled list with strained oblique" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports
• FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal On Twitter (@Ken_Rosenthal): "#Yankees have a scout at #Nationals Park tonight. Focus believed to be Burnett." -
• "'I’ve never experienced this kind of injury,' [Pudge] Rodriguez said. 'It’s never happened to me. See what happens tomorrow.'" - "Ivan Rodriguez will be re-evaluated, could land on disabled list with oblique strain" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Take a 4,000-day sabbatical from the stress of the job, and it's bound to have a therapeutic effect." - "Davey Johnson brings low-key, positive approach to Washington Nationals" - Jerry Crasnick, ESPN
• "They squandered an eight-run lead in two innings, fell behind the Cubs in the eighth inning, came back to tie the game only to give up another run in the ninth and lost 10-9 to Chicago." - "Nationals blow eight-run lead, fall to Cubs 10-9" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "Nationals manager Davey Johnson was not optimistic that the veteran catcher would be able to bounce back so quickly." - "Strained right oblique could land Rodriguez on disabled list" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "'I don't do a good job today,' the right-hander said. 'It's 8-0. I'm supposed to hold it.'" - Livan Hernandez - "Nationals blow 8-run lead in loss to Cubs" - Mark Zuckerman, CSNWashington.com
• "Morse, who was looking to join reliever Tyler Clippard as representatives for the Nationals, said he was grateful that he was even considered for the Midsummer Classic." - "Morse falls short in Final Vote balloting" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "'I am just throwing, building up arm strength again. I feel like it is there.'" - Doug Slaten - "Slaten strengthening arm as rehab from elbow injury continues" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• NATS MINOR LEAGUE UPDATES:
• 1. Bryce Harper; 42. Brad Peacock - "Here's a listing of our midseason Top 50 prospects. Prospects have to have not used up their rookie eligibility or currently be in the big leagues." - Baseball America: Baseball America Prospects Blog - Midseason Top 50 Prospects List
• Class-A Auburn: "Jamestown scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth on the way to a 7-6 win over the Doubledays at Russell Diethrick Park on Thursday night." - "Two-Run Eighth by Jammers Dooms Auburn" - Auburn Doubledays News
• Class-A Hagerstown: "Suns RHP A.J. Cole, who did not factor into the decision, threw a career-long 6.0 scoreless innings and scattered three hits, while striking out seven and walking no one." - "Suns 7th Walk-Off Win Comes on Wings of Taylor's 3-RBI Blast" - Hagerstown Suns News
• Class-A Potomac: "The comeback started in the top of the fifth. Centerfielder Eury Perez led off the inning with a single up the middle." - "P-Nats Beat Keys 6-4 on Bloxom's 10th Inning Homer" - Potomac Nationals News
• Double-A Harrisburg: "[Chien-Ming Wang] faced just one batter over the minimum in his five innings of work allowing just two hits while striking out two. He threw 43 pitches, 32 of them for strikes." - "Senators complete sweep of Erie" - Terry Byrom, Harrisburg Senators News
• Triple-A Syracuse: "Michael Aubrey knocked in four runs and Tommy Milone dealt seven shutout innings as the Syracuse Chiefs (38-47), the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, beat the Pawtucket Red Sox" - "Aubrey, Milone lead Chiefs to 8-2 rout" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• Triple-A Syracuse: "Tommy Milone is, at least according to All-Star voters, one of the best pitchers at Triple-A this season." - "Milone shows off All-Star talent in win" - Danny Wild, MiLB.com News
• Stadium Review: Triple-A Syracuse: "Alliance Bank Stadium Reviews, Syracuse Chiefs" - Sean Rowland, Stadium Journey
"Along a 150-mile stretch in Upstate New York are three cities that make up half of the North Division in the AAA International League. The Eastern-most city is Syracuse and professional baseball has been played here since 1877." -
• CMW: "Washington Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang needed only 43 pitches to take a significant step in his rehabilitation Thursday night." - "Wang hits 92 mph in third rehab start" - Nathan Fenno, Washington Times
• Harpersburg: "Jim Callis, Baseball America’s respected executive editor, wondered if Harper was the best power prospect in baseball history." - "Double-A means new challenges for Nats' phenom Bryce Harper" - Nathan Fenno, Washington Times
• "Harper will not accompany the team to Richmond on Friday and will head to Phoenix for the Futures Game and other All Star Weekend festivities." - "Bryce Harper Hitless In Harrisburg; Heads To Phoenix" - Harpermania.com
• "The Nationals had always liked Peacock’s athleticism and raw stuff, but a chance in his delivery this year helped him take off." - "With dominant season and new delivery, Nationals prospect Brad Peacock is gaining notice" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "We are all part of the human community."
• SHARKNATSTOWN:
• Who's Town? Shark's Town: "Be sure to watch the replay of the Shark's jawsome diving catch and keep an eye on the crowd's reactions." - "The Shark is really good..." - Sharkadina: Roger Bernadina's Unofficial Blog
• NATSTOWN:
• "The Washington Nationals were finally enjoying one of those "laughers" that manager Davey Johnson referred to the other day, scoring eight runs before the fourth inning was over." - "GAME 89 REVIEW: Livo, Bullpen Can't Protect Eight-Run Lead" - Dave Nichols, Nats News Network
• "Roosevelt’s maneuver put him safely in the lead and ignited the crowd. That is, until he abruptly took a left turn into the right field wall." - "I’m just as confused as you, folks" - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!
• "Hey, it happens. Losses happen. Streaks end. Thursday’s loss is just a loss– of franchise historic proportions." - "The Nationals Blow………An Eight Run Lead" - DangerNat, Nationals Inquisition
• "The 9.2 million votes for Victorino helped the "Flying Hawaiian" edge out the Dodgers' Andre Ethier, Rockies' Todd Helton, Diamondbacks' Ian Kennedy and Morse." - "Morse falls short in Final Vote contest" - Brian Eller, Nationals Buzz - MASNSports.com
• "The Nationals are tied with the Yankees and Phillies for the best record in the MLB since June 10. That’s right, they are in the same breath as two division leaders for something good." - "The Rocky Road to Learning How to Win" - Keara Dowd, Win for Teddy
• "As always, I read the question, write my own answer then interpret Boswell’s answer." - "My Answers to Boswell’s Chat Questions 7/5/11 edition" - Nationals Arm Race
• "There were two big changes in Jayson's playing situation for 2011. He left Philadelphia for Washington. He moved up in the lineup to several different spots." - "Trying to get Jayson Werth's struggles" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Marlins: "'Last year there was a lot of luck that played into things,' Infante said. 'I started off really well, and that always helps you build a case for making an All-Star team.'" - "Infante working hard to regain All-Star form" - David Villavicencio, marlins.com
• Braves: "Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward each had three hits and a home run for the Braves, who pulled within 2 1/2 games of the National League East-leading Phillies..." - "Surging Braves sweep Rockies, rev up for Phillies" - David O'Brien, ajc.com
• Sort-of-Mets: "Andre Ethier held up a substantial packet of papers, three inches thick at least, at his locker inside the Dodgers clubhouse before Thursday's game against the New York Mets. "It was a bankruptcy litigation report sent to Ethier by the legal team of Jaime McCourt, the ex-wife of Dodgers embattled owner Frank McCourt." - "Kershaw helps Dodgers end five-game slide - Vincent Bonsignore, Press-Telegram Long Beach, CA
• Mets: "New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, an impending free agent, is precisely the sort of pricey rental player that Giants general manager Brian Sabean has ruled out in the past. Sabean isn't ruling them out now." - "San Francisco Giants win, talk about trade scenarios" - Andrew Baggerly, Inside Bay Area
• Phillies: "I'll start with the answer - because no one can stand Chipper Jones. That's the only real explanation. Let's get to the reasoning." - "Why Is Placido Polanco the All-Star Starter With the Sixth Highest NL Vote Total?" - The Good Phight
• MLB NEWS:
• This Is Awful: "A Texas Rangers fan has died after falling from the stands. The fan leaned over a railing in right field to catch a ball before falling head-first about 20 feet." - "Texas Rangers Fan Dies After Falling From Stands" - Charlie Wilmoth, SB Nation - Baseball Nation
• "Dick Williams, a critical component in the Red Sox's Impossible Dream, the Athletics' World Series hat trick and the Padres' first World Series appearance, died Thursday morning." - "Hall of Fame skipper Williams dies at 82" - Barry M. Bloom and Marty Noble, nationals.com: News