• Programming Notes: No Nationals game tonight, but they are back at it tomorrow night against the Cincinnati Reds, so it's all about the MLB Draft pick's signing deadline today. The Washington Nationals have yet to sign any of their top five picks, though they're hardly alone in that situation. The big deals should come around midnight tonight or early Tuesday morning. Which of the Nats' top five picks will be the first to sign? Can the Nationals ink Matt Purke? How much will Anthony Rendon get from Washington? It's going to be a long day...
• LINKS AND LINKS AND...
• NATS BEAT:
• "Most draft experts have said that it would be a surprise if the Nationals didn't lock up Rendon, Meyer and Goodwin but Purke is considered to be the wild card of the bunch." - "With about 36 hours until the deadline, here's how the Nationals and their draft picks shape up" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "General Manager Mike Rizzo spent the weekend in Houston in negotiations with Peter Vescovo, the representative for Nationals third-round draft choice Matt Purke..." - "Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo was in Houston negotiating with Matt Purke" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• The Aaron Crow negotiations were completely different in that they dragged out to the final minute, when both sides decided to walk away." - "Lessons from the signing deadline" - Jim Bowden - The GM's Office, ESPN
• "Baseball seriously needs to change the system. Begin by moving the signing deadline up by at least a month, to July 15." - "Some draft day changes to consider" - Phil Wood, MASNSports.com
• "'This time of year, it’s useful because everybody could use a couple days off,' said Nationals manager Davey Johnson." - "Rain postpones Nationals-Phillies game" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Rodriguez is no closer to returning from a right oblique strain that landed him on the disabled list July 8, and Johnson said Rodriguez could be done for the season." - "Johnson wants Pudge to just relax" - Steven Miller, nationals.com: News
• "Since the All-Star break, Espinosa is batting just .174, having homered only once and striking out 34 times in 27 games." - "Danny Espinosa's rookie season grinding to a halt" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "[Mike] Schmidt told Johnson specifically that he wanted to chat with Zimmerman, whom he had never met." - "Ryan Zimmerman meets Mike Schmidt" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Even the inning’s lone highlight caused trouble for Lannan as he aggravated the patella tendon in his left knee during his diving flip to Ramos." - "Nats' blowout loss to Phillies aided by their three errors, seven unearned runs" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Those of you who have read this blog for a while know I'm a big fan of the Strasburg-vs.-Phillies-in-Philadelphia matchup. It's just good theater." - "Nationals, Phillies rained out, will play doubleheader in September" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "'[Chien-Ming] Wang will not be on a strict pitch count and "he could throw 100 pitches,' [Davey] Johnson said." - "Nationals and Phillies rained out, doubleheader scheduled for September" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "'[Wang] had his best outing for us with an extra day in Chicago,' manager Davey Johnson said. 'When you're coming along like he has, with everything he's gone through, sometimes an extra day is good.'" - "Cincinnati Reds at Washington Nationals: Wang scores extra rest as Nats welcome Reds" - Sam Zuba, MLB.com Preview
• "By skipping his next turn in the rotation, the Nationals could buy Zimmermann a little extra time and ensure he reaches September, at which point Stephen Strasburg is expected to take over his rotation slot." - "A welcome rainout for Nationals" - Mark Zuckerman, CSNWashington.com
• "With one quarter remaining of his first season in Washington, Werth has yet to show he will be the player the Nationals hoped for." - "Nationals’ Jayson Werth has much to prove in season’s final months" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
• "Lannan had not tested his knee before Sunday's series finale against the Phillies was rained out, but he said he had trouble pushing off the mound after the play." - "Nationals starter John Lannan tweaked left knee on defensive play" - Steven Miller, nationals.com: News
• "If you've been following the Nationals over the years, this drill is nothing new. The Crow debacle notwithstanding, the Nats have done well at the deadline in the past." - "Deadline day for draft picks to sign" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "There's no reason to expect the Nationals won't get deals done with Rendon, Meyer and Goodwin, but they probably will have to wait until close to midnight to finish them." - "For Nationals, annual dance with Boras ends tonight" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "'It’s a timing thing,' Werth said. 'I’m a rhythm guy, I’m a timing guy. When that gets out of balance, you’re seeing the results.'" - "How Jayson Werth ‘reset’ his swing" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• NATS MINOR LEAGUES:
• Class-A Auburn: "Matt Skole, Bryce Ortega, and Hendry Jimenez will all travel to Lowell, Massachusetts to participate in the New York-Penn League All-Star Game scheduled for Tuesday night." - "Finale in Staten Island Rained Out" - Auburn Doubledays News
• Class-A Hagerstown: "Suns LHP Ryan Demmin (3-2), the winning pitcher, was strong through 5.0 innings in which he allowed just one earned run on two hits, while walking a pair and striking out two." - "Hagerstown Downs Lexington with Barrage of Offense" - Hagerstown Suns News
• "[A.J.] Cole worked five innings and combined with Wilson Eusebio and Dean Weaver on a one-hitter Saturday as the Class A Hagerstown Suns blanked the Delmarva Shorebirds, 2-0." - "Cole, Suns one-hit Shorebirds" - David Schoenholtz, MiLB.com News
• Class-A Potomac: "Cameron Selik (4-9) retired the first eleven Myrtle Beach hitters he faced, but ran into a wall with two outs in the fourth inning." - "TWO-OUT RUNS DOOM POTOMAC IN A 5-2 LOSS" - Potomac Nationals News
• "[Sammy] Solis thinks he will be activated and start Monday night after missing nearly a week with elbow inflammation." - "Potomac's Solis to return Monday; Higley slated for Aug. 27" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "Left-hander Josh Smoker continues to steamroll through innings. He has allowed only one earned run in his last 10 outings..." - "Potomac starters looking to copycat relievers' success" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Double-A Harrisburg: "Erik Arnesen pitched seven innings allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out a season high ten batters." - "Arnesen leads the Sens to a 4-2 win over Trenton" - Harrisburg Senators News
• Triple-A Syracuse: "Chiefs righty Yunesky Maya was scheduled to pitch against Yankees righty Adam Warren Sunday." - "Chiefs, Yankees rained out Sunday" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• "Sunday’s News & Notes" - NationalsProspects.com
• "Monday’s News & Notes" - NationalsProspects.com
• "Saturday, however, it was Paul Demny who took to the mound and in an attempt to end a relatively poor string of starts..." - "Potomac Nationals Win Another Close Game" - Ballpark Banter
• "This got me thinking. Where would a healthy Strasburg/Zimmermann combo place on this list?" - "Dynamic Duo" - Mac, Capitol Baseball
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Love and compassion arising with a clear recognition of the importance and rights of others will reach even those who would do you harm."
• SHARKNATSTOWN:
• "I mean, there is no official guarantee that this is the case, but I can pretty much promise you that the Nats would have won in the Shark played." - "Shark Trick" - Sharkadina
• NATSTOWN:
• "Oh, the humanity! Here's video of Stephen Strasburg making his way out of Pfitzner Stadium Friday night with a police escort..." - "When Stephen Strasburg didn't sign autographs for every man, woman, and child in Woodbridge, VA" - Nats Enquirer
• "All three are Boras clients (remember when we didn't like that guy?), and reports that Rizzo spent the weekend talking to third-round pick Matt Purke increases the sense that these deals are done or close to it." - "What to Watch For: Signing Deadline" - Steven, FJB
• "Bryce Harper Top 10 Highest Priced Baseball Cards Of The Week" - HarperMania.com
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Braves: "The Cubs stopped Uggla's 33-game hitting streak and rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Atlanta Braves, 6-5, on Sunday for their fourth straight series win." - "Cubs halt Dan Uggla's hitting streak at 33 games" - Charles Odum, news-herald.com
• Mets: "Mets relievers have allowed at least one run in 13 of the past 17 games. The relievers gave up four runs during the Diamondbacks’ three-game sweep this weekend." - "Collins: No bullpen shakeup" Sarah Trotto, Mets Blog - ESPN New York
• Marlins: "[Logan] Morrison, who has miffed Marlins officials with his tweeting and clubhouse candor, was nonetheless surprised and upset to be sent to Triple-A New Orleans." - "Marlins demote tweet-happy Logan Morrison" - Steven Wine, news-herald.com
• Phillies: "Baseball America has learned the Phillies have signed their top pick, supp. 1st-rder. OF Larry Greene, for a $1 million bonus." - Twitter: John Manuel, Baseball America On Twitter (@johnmanuelba)