Wire Taps: Washington Nationals' Jordan Zimmermann's Unsupported Outing, '11 Picks Introduced.

• Programming Notes: Scott Boras and the Washington Nationals introduced the top three picks in the Nats' 2011 Draft class yesterday. The super agent also talked about a few of his other clients including Pudge Rodriguez and Bryce Harper. Then once the Nationals were sure the unexpected earthquake hadn't damaged Nats Park at all, Jordan Zimmermann went out and showed the D-Backs why so many fans in the nation's capital are looking forward to next year when Washington's '07 2nd Round pick and their '09 1st Round pick are atop the rotation. The '09 pick, aka Stephen Strasburg, is going back to Syracuse on Saturday, and he's one start closer to returning, while Zimmermann's got maybe one more start this season. Before any of that, however, it's game three of four with Arizona tonight at 7:05 pm EDT. Livan Hernandez vs Daniel Hudson. MASN HD, MLB.tv, 1067. the FAN in D.C., 1500 WFED, Sirius/XM ch. 189. Who's Watching The Nationals?

• LINKS AND LINKS AND...

• NATS BEAT: 

• "Boras was asked to describe Goodwin’s game. 'You seen Michael Bourn?' he replied." - "Chatting with draft picks and Scott Boras" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "Tuesday, more than two months removed from draft night and a week after all three signed multimillion-dollar deals, they sat in the press conference room at Nationals Park..." - "Top 3 picks of '11, Rendon, Meyer, Goodwin, get a look at Nationals Park" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Baseball America's Jim Callis has called Rendon 'the best hitter in college baseball,' and his numbers back that claim up." - "Top Nats selection Rendon ready to prove shoulder is '100 percent'" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "With three of the first 34 selections, Washington got the best player in the draft at No. 6 (third baseman Anthony Rendon), as well as one of the most electric arms (righthander Alex Meyer) and one of the best athletes (outfielder Brian Goodwin)." - "Prospects: Ask BA" - Jim Callis, BaseballAmerica.com

• "If Rodriguez did not return, of course, the Nationals would likely go into next year with Wilson Ramos and possibly Jesus Flores." - "Scott Boras thinks Ivan Rodriguez should stay with Nationals" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "Third baseman Anthony Rendon, right-hander Alex Meyer and outfielder Brian Goodwin all donned their Nationals jerseys (Rendon wearing No. 23, Meyer No. 17 and Goodwin No. 24)." - "Top 3 draft picks unveiled" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "Meyer's fastball is typically clocked between 94 and 97 mph. He can throw a knuckle curveball and is developing a changeup, but he needs to improve his command in order to make it to the big leagues." - "Nationals introduce three first-round Draft picks during press conference" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "Harper also has to deal with a ton of fans who want to see him fail or think that he is too cocky and immature. Boras said Harper has handled all that attention well." - "Boras says Harper's hamstring will be fine, won't confirm time for return" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "According to a baseball source, the Nationals have already decided who they are going call up when rosters expand in September." - "Lombardozzi, Peacock, Milone likely callups" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "'I think Pudge brings so much to a team,' said Scott Boras, Rodriguez’s agent. 'He and [Stephen Strasburg] have a very good relationship.'" - "The case for bringing back Ivan Rodriguez" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• TOP OF THE ROTATION TALK: 

• "Strasburg will throw Saturday night in Syracuse for the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate. They have not yet announced how many innings and/or pitches he is scheduled to throw..." - "Strasburg will pitch Saturday in Syracuse" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "My two-cent, two-eye verdict: He’s back. Almost all the way back, give or take some rust on his curve and issues with command that he will fix." - "Stephen Strasburg is back, and maybe better" - Thomas Boswell, The Washington Post

• "For the first 90-100 pitches of Zimmermann’s starts in a mostly dominant season, he cruises." - "With no run support, Zimmermann's mistake proves costly in Nats' 2-0 loss to Diamondbacks" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "'It's definitely frustrating,' Zimmermann said. 'It's happened a couple times this year where it's always one pitch at the end of the game - a home run or a double or something.'" - "Zimmermann's seventh-inning struggles burn him again in Nationals' loss" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "Indeed, this wasn't the first time the 25-year-old saw an otherwise fabulous outing ruined by a late blast from the opposition." - "Zimmermann done in by one pitch again" - Mark Zuckerman, CSNWashington.com

• "The right-hander is healthy -- as strong in his 25th start as he was in his first." - "Arizona Diamondbacks at Washington Nationals: Zimmermann drops probable penultimate start" - Steven Miller, MLB.com WSH Recap

• "Arizona rightfielder Justin Upton was hit by a pitch with one on and no one out in the fourth inning. He slammed his bat down and gave Zimmermann the stink eye, as if it was intentional." - "Zimmermann's next-to-last start, father-son D.C. dingers" - Phil Wood, MASNSports.com

• WERTH'S HiP/GROIN: 

• "Werth called his removal 'more precautionary, probably, than anything' and was not concerned about missing extended time." - "Jayson Werth left game with mild groin strain" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "Nationals manager Davey Johnson initially said it was an issue with Werth's hip but a team official later corrected that to the groin. Werth himself actually said hip/groin." - "Werth leaves game with mild groin strain, availability for Wednesday in jeopardy" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "'It could just be a muscle spasm, I don't know,' Werth said. 'We'll see how it feels tomorrow. It's real mild. I don't think it'll be a big deal.'" - "Jayson Werth leaves with groin strain" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "Werth believes he hurt himself tracking down Arizona pitcher Ian Kennedy's fifth-inning single to right." - "Werth leaves game with minor strain" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "Jayson Werth's groin was sore enough Tuesday for manager Davey Johnson to pull him in the ninth inning, but neither believes the injury to be serious." - "Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth suffers mild groin strain" - Steven Miller, nationals.com: News

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Even a small experience of altruism brings a measure of mental peace right away." - 

• OTHER STUFF: 

• "The source pointed out that it doesn't make sense for Washington to go after Fielder because it will have two first basemen -- Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche -- under contract next year." - "Prince not on Nationals' winter shopping list" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "During the 2-hour, 22-minute delay, he went in the cage and tossed about 180 pitches. Hernandez wasn't bothered, though." - "Arizona Diamondbacks at Washington Nationals: With win under their belts, D-Backs turn to Hudson" - Even Drellich, MLB.com Preview

• NATS MINOR LEAGUE UPDATES: 

• Class-A Auburn: "[Christian] Garcia, a free agent signee by the Nationals one month ago, entered play Tuesday night with a 2-0 record in his last two appearances with 10 strikeouts in 6 innings pitched." - "Wildness Costs Garcia, Doubledays" - Auburn Doubledays News

• Class-A Hagerstown: "Hagerstown LHP Matt Grace (12-6), the eventual winning pitcher, piggybacked Slaten and surrendered three earned runs on six hits in 5.0 innings, while walking three and fanning four." - "Hagerstown Triumphs in One-Sided Affair Over Hickory" - Hagerstown Suns News

• Class-A Potomac: "The Potomac Nationals offense put on a show Tuesday night against the Wilmington Blue Rocks, and defeated their Northern Division opponent 11-1." - "SEISMIC SERIES OPENER, NATS SHAKE ROCKS" - Potomac Nationals News

• Double-A Harrisburg: "Danny Rosenbaum started for Harrisburg and pitched seven strong innings to improve to 3-0 with Harrisburg." - "Fox and Rosenbaum Lead the Senators to a 4-1 Win" - Harrisburg Senators News

• Triple-A Syracuse: "Syracuse scored two sixth-inning runs to take a lead it would never relinquish, with Brad Peacock earning his fourth Triple-A win in eight starts." - "Chiefs come back for win in Pawtucket" - Syracuse Chiefs News

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

• NATSTOWN: 

• "ZNN doesn't know how to win. That must be it, right? It's not that the team won't score runs for him. No." - "Every game is a hard one for Jordan Zimmermann" - Harper, Nationals Baseball

• "So in Zimmermann's 11th loss, in his next-to-last start of the season, his run support per game average will go down a little bit more." - "GAME 127 REVIEW: Lack of Run Support Again Dooms Zimmermann in 2-0 Loss" - Dave Nichols, Nats News Network

• "On Tuesday night at Nationals Park, it was the George and Abe show once again." - "Video: George Washington makes Lincoln look foolish" - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!

• "Tuesday was no average day in Washington, D.C. Residents, tourists, visitors and members of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Nationals felt a 5.9 jolt from the earth beneath their feet." - "Quake can't shake fans out of baseball routines" - MASNSports.com Nationals Buzz: Rachel Levitin

• "Just a few photos from Jordan Zimmermann’s last home start of the 2011 season." - "Thanks Jordan!" - Jenn Jenson, Natsfangirl

• NL EAST UPDATES: 

• Braves: "Tommy Hanson (right shoulder tendinitis) was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday after also throwing one on Monday, but was too sore to do so." - "Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs: Cubs must start cashing in to cool red-hot Braves" - Evan Drellich, MLB.com Preview

• Mets/Phillies: "New York stranded five runners in the first two innings. The Mets didn't have another runner until the seventh inning. By then, the game was long decided." - "Worley settles in after rough start as Phillies again rout Mets" - Matt Gelb, Philadelphia Inquirer

• Marlins: "Emilio Bonifacio homered and drove in three runs for the Marlins, who have lost six in a row and are 2-16 in their last 18 games." - "Nunez Has 6th Blown Save, Reds Rally Past Marlins" - AP/NYTimes.com