Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Chatter, Ryan Zimmerman's HR, Chien-Ming Wang's Strong Start, Michael Morse's Future.

• Programming Notes: The Nationals and the Reds are back at it again tonight in Nats Park with Ross Detwiler and Johnny Cueto on the mound in game two of three for Cincinnati in D.C. After Ryan Zimmerman almost hit one over the seats in left (and reportedly called the HR), after Chien-Ming Wang's second strong outing in a row and after the Nats' set-up man and closer once again shut their opponents down, all the talk this morning seems to be focused on comments by Davey Johnson after the game concerning what the future holds for the People's Champion Michael Morse. Back to left for Morse? How could they? More on that later. Now for the linkses...MASN2HD, MLB.tv, 106.7 the FAN in D.C., 1500 WFED, Sirius/XM ch. 187. Who's Watching the Nationals?

• LINKS AND LINKS AND...

• NATS BEAT: 

• "'As far as I’m concerned, the last six weeks of this season, really, are very important to the growth of this organization,' Johnson said." - "Chris Marrero, Stephen Lombardozzi among potential September call-ups" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "Morse insists it won't affect him -- and it shouldn't. 'I look at the lineup,' he said Tuesday night. 'And whatever it says, I play.'" - "Michael Morse, Nationals call-ups and looking toward the future" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "The Nationals were counting on another bat to emerge, and they had their hopes set on Michael Morse." - "Morse's emergence gives Nationals a heart of the order that could last" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "When we see the starter is getting into trouble or as the pitch count rises, things turn into business down in the bullpen." - "What really goes down in the bullpen" - Drew Storen, MASNSports.com

• "Since arriving in the District in 2005, Zimmerman and his teammates have consistently slogged their way to the finish line..." - "Morse, Zimmerman homer Nats to win" - Mark Zuckerman, CSNWashington.com

• "In late July, I visited Wayne Graham, the head baseball coach at Rice University, at his office to talk with him about Anthony Rendon..." - "Breaking down Anthony Rendon’s swing" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "Time will tell if Mike Rizzo, Roy Clark and Kris Kline, the top three personnel men in the Nationals’ front office, are completely out of their minds, collectively delusional, a trio that has sold itself a bill of goods." - "Mike Rizzo is clearly crazy about the Nationals’ draft picks" - Thomas Boswell, The Washington Post

• "Outfielders Roger Bernadina and Corey Brown and first baseman Chris Marrero are all on the 40-man roster, playing in Syracuse and potential callups." - "Johnson names more potential callups" - Steven Miller, nationals.com: News

• "Tuesday his sinker was not at its best but he did adapt. And he came out of the blocks slowly, as he has done in three of his first four chances with the Nationals." - "Nationals' Wang takes another positive step, but where are all the strikeouts?" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "Rodriguez returned to Nationals Park tonight, still trying to return from a strained right oblique that has already held him out six weeks." - "At Nationals Park, Ivan Rodriguez keeps finding frustration in his comeback from an oblique strain" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "The euphoria from draft-signing deadline night had yet to fade at Nationals Park by Tuesday afternoon." - "Nationals' top picks in fold by stroke of midnight" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Johnson mentioned first baseman Chris Marrero and a name we had not heard before, outfielder Corey Brown. Both are on the 40-man roster." - "A glimpse into possible September call ups for the Nationals" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "'It's hard because I want to play,' Rodriguez said. 'That's what I love to do -- play baseball -- and it's tough to not be able to.'" - "Pudge frustrated by slow healing oblique" - Steven Miller, nationals.com: News

• "After Michael Morse went 2-for-4 with a double and a homer in the Nationals' win over the Reds, manager Davey Johnson pulled out one of his classic tricks..." - "A few more thoughts on Michael Morse" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "Wang settled down, earned the win and pitched 6 1/3 innings, his longest start since June 10, 2008." - "A ‘strong’ start for Chien-Ming Wang provides more promise, leaves a few questions" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "Johnny Cueto's weekly dance with the ERA title will begin anew on Wednesday, when the right-hander takes the mound for Cincinnati's game against Washington." - "Cincinnati Reds at Washington Nationals: Nats face down ERA leader Cueto" - Spencer Fordin, MLB.com Preview

• "'They want me to relax. Who wants to relax?' Rodriguez said. 'That is not me. I can't relax.'" - "Afternoon Nationals notes (Rodriguez, Lannan, Wang)" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "Because of who he is and what he’s overcome, whenever Chien-Ming Wang takes the mound, the game is about him." - "Michael Morse, Ryan Zimmerman power Nationals to 6-4 win over Reds" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "'It is tough. It has been hard. It is hard sitting there and twice go to rehab and not be able to (make progress) is tough,' Rodriguez said." - "I. Rodriguez continues extended rehab from strained oblique; fighting boredom, frustration" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "The left-hander ran Tuesday and experienced no discomfort, but the tightness arises when he bends his knee past a certain point in a squatting motion, similar to pushing off a mound." - "Lannan expects to start Saturday despite knee" - Steven Miller, nationals.com: News

• "'[The Reds are a] pretty good hitting ballclub. He pitched a heckuva ballgame,' Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. 'I probably let [Wang] go one batter too long.'" - "Cincinnati Reds at Washington Nationals: Morse, Zimmerman lead Nats to win" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap

• NATS MINOR LEAGUE UPDATES: 

• Class-A Hagerstown: "The Suns earned a victory on the same night in which the late Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim RHP Nick Adenhart was honored with an entire evening dedicated to his memory and his impact on baseball in Hagerstown and the community as a whole." - "Home Runs by Keyes, Cuevas, and Martinson Topple Lexington in Game Three" - Hagerstown Suns News

• Class-A Potomac: Steven Souza - 3 for 5, 2 K's; Erik Davis - 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K's - Potomac Nationals Scoreboard

• Double-A Harrisburg: Derek Norris - 1 for 6, 1 HR (16); Shairon Martis - 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 6 K's - Harrisburg Senators Scoreboard

• Twitter: @hbgsensradio: "Bryce Harper throws out the tying run at the plate with two outs in the 8th. Sens still up 3-2."

• Triple-A Syracuse: "Both offenses caught fire early on. After the Braves tallied one run in the first, Roger Bernadina gave Syracuse its first lead with a two-run blast to right center field." - "Chiefs power past Gwinnett 13-4" - Syracuse Chiefs News

• "Wednesday’s News & Notes" - NationalsProspects.com

• NATSTOWN: 

• "According to manager Davey Johnson after the game, Zimmerman called his shot in the dugout prior to the at bat. 'Actually, he called that in the dugout,' Johnson said with a straight face. 'None of us believed him.'" - "GAME 120 REVIEW: Offense Backs Chien-Ming Wang to Beat Reds 6-4" - Dave Nichols, NatsNewsNetwork

• "Today's story is about a pitcher, Allen 'Bullet Ben' Benson, who made his Washington Senators debut this week in 1934." - "Bullet Ben's cup of coffee with the Washington Senators" - Nationals Buzz: Mark Hornbaker, Nats Daily News

• "Later, Senators racing monkeys Bingo, Bongo, and Steve ran onto the field and tackled Teddy Roosevelt just short of the finish line." - "Video: Nats fans meet Stephen Strasmonkey, who promptly tackles Teddy" - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!

• "So if he'd gotten all of it, where would that poor baseball have landed? Half Street? Navy Yard Metro?" - "Ryan Zimmerman called his 5th inning monster bomb off Mike Leake" - Nats Enquirer

• "This year was Anthony Rendon’s turn.  The 6th overall draft pick in the 2011 draft out of Rice could very well be the best player in that draft." - "The Nats Go Through it Again…Rendon Edition" - Keara Dowd, Win for Teddy

• "It is of no fault of the Nationals organization that they were unable to wear the caps during game time, but it would have been nice for Major League Baseball to approve it." - "Patriotic lids would have capped off perfect military salute" - Nationals Buzz: Rachel Levitin, MASNSports.com

• "On Monday night, the Nats signed all of their top 4 picks, each of which brings something unique to the table." - "Who Will Contribute the Most?" - The Nationals Review

• Your Daily Message From the Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Looking at various means of developing compassion, I think empathy is an important factor: the ability to appreciate others' suffering."

• NL EAST UPDATES: 

• Mets: "Why did Jason Isringhausen even get a chance to record his 300th save? Why wasn't Bobby Parnell the closer the minute Francisco Rodriguez left town?" - "Why Wasn't Bobby Parnell Already Closing?" - Eno Sarris, Amazin' Avenue

• Braves: "Atlanta Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens has been activated off the 15-day disabled list after recovering from a strained right knee." - "Braves activate Jurrjens" - Baseball Wires - MiamiHerald.com

• Marlins: "Nolasco -- who is two strikeouts shy of tying Dontrelle Willis' franchise record of 757 punchouts -- is 3-1 in his last four starts, having allowed six earned runs over 27 1/3 innings..." - "Florida Marlins at Colorado Rockies: Marlins' Nolasco looks to keep dominating Rockies" - MLB.com Preview

• Phillies: "Charlie Manuel’s decision to leave Halladay in to start the 9th inning, with the Phillies leading the Diamondbacks 2-1, is not one that I care to question." - "More 9th Inning Shenanigans" - Ryan Sommers, Crashburn Alley