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• Programming Notes: The Washington Nationals have the day off before they start a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. Stephen Strasburg's one start away from returning to the majors. Jordan Zimmermann just made his last start. September call-ups are close and there's spoiling to be done. Days off stink. Livan Hernandez vs Jair Jurrjens tomorrow night. Until then...
• LINKS AND LINKS AND...
• Strasburg Reports:
• "In Saturday's contest for Syracuse, Strasburg was dominant, throwing five perfect innings before allowing two singles to open the sixth." - "Strasburg expected to make next start Thursday" - BIll Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "I’m going to let the numbers do the talking,' Strasburg said." - "Strasburg's Triple-A outing was a command performance" - Nathan Fenno, Washington Times
• "Strasburg, recovering from Tommy John surgery that ended his rookie season in 2010, topped out at 98 mph twice and consistently hit 96-97 mph on the generous stadium speed gun." - "Strasburg impresses in latest rehab outing" - Lindsay Kramer, MASNSports.com
• NATS BEAT:
• "Manager Davey Johnson had not been ejected since he became the Nationals’ manager..." - "Davey Johnson ejected as Nationals clash with umpires" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Zimmermann had his shortest start of the season today, lasting just 4 2/3 inning against the Reds." - "Jordan Zimmermann exits his (likely) last start; Nationals trail Reds" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "Ian Desmond On Zimmermann's season: 'He had an outstanding year. You can't really ask for much more from a guy. What is he, 25 years old?'" - Jordan Zimmermann and his teammates react to his solid 2011 season, plus what comes next for him - Washington Times
• "At least five Nationals and a handful of Reds found themselves in a situation where they thought theyd witnessed Ball 4, only to be told otherwise by Holbrook." - "Lasting images not ones to savor Zimmermann's"- Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "'I knew he had good [opposite-field] power,' Balester said. 'He reached out and he put it over the fence.'" - "Washington Nationals at Cincinnati Reds: Nats fall to Reds in 14th, lose sixth straight" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap
• "'I compared him to a Barry Larkin,' Johnson said. 'I said, ‘I think you can be a lot like him.’" - Davey Johnson on Ian Desmond - "Ian Desmond turning his season around" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Through 131 games, the Nationals have scored exactly 500 runs, matching their total output for 2010. If you'd rather not do the math yourself, it comes out to an average of 3.8 runs a game." - "Rising above 3.8 runs per game" - Phil Wood, MASNSports.com
• "The blast landed 5 hours 15 minutes after the first pitch, the longest game in Nationals history." - "Nationals vs. Reds: Joey Votto homers in 14th to end Jordan Zimmermann’s final game of season" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
• "Their 5-4 loss to the Reds, the longest game in Nationals history at five hours, 15 minutes, was stocked with opportunities for Washington to avoid a sweep." - "Nationals lose 5-4 to Reds in 14 after situational hitting fails again" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "After the 2-0 pitch appeared to have grazed Morse, but was ruled simply as a ball and not a hit batter, Morse was incensed." - "Davey Johnson, Pat Corrales both ejected in Nationals loss" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Bench coach Pat Corrales then took over as manager and was also ejected by Holbrook in the ninth inning for arguing balls and strikes." - "Sunday’s game between Nats, Reds has three ejections" - Bill Ladson, All Nats All the Time
• "Danny Espinosa stood on second base with two outs, the Nationals down by a run, and on the mound was fire-balling Aroldis Chapman." - "Ryan Zimmerman comes through in a pinch, again" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Holding a workout at Turner Field Sunday, the Braves announced that Jair Jurrjens will start Tuesday's series opener on an extra thee days of rest." - "Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves: Braves will be coming off extra rest to face Nationals" - Paul Casella, MLB.com Preview
• "So far, the Nationals' early drafts under former general manager Jim Bowden have been characterized by immediate bluster and eventual disappointment." - "Marrero, Detwiler helping Nationals revise some draft history" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Enemies teach us inner strength, courage and determination." -
• NATS MINOR LEAGUE UPDATES:
• "I stick mostly to a two-seam fastball. I will throw a four-seamer if I need to. If it's a knuckle curve, I spike it." - "6-foot-9 prospect Meyer has overpowering fastball, and is still growing" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Class-A Auburn: "After tying the game at four runs in the sixth on a three-run home run by Russell Moldenhauer, the Auburn Doubledays couldn't hold the Batavia offense in check." - "Late Runs Prove Costly in Two-Run Loss" - Auburn Doubledays News
• Class-A Hagerstown: "The losing pitcher of record, LHP Matt Grace (12-7) surrendered eleven earned runs on fourteen hits with one walk and one home run allowed." - "Asheville Crushes Hagerstown with seven and eight run frames" - Hagerstown Suns News
• Class-A Potomac: Sammy Solis (W, 5-2), 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 8 K's; Justin Bloxom, 2 for 3, .266 AVG - Potomac Nationals Scoreboard
• Double-A Harrisburg: "Senators' starter, Tanner Roark (9-8, 4.75), pitched seven strong innings giving up one run on five hits." - "Pahuta and Roark Lead the Senators to 2-1 Win" - Harrisburg Senators News
• Triple-A Syracuse: "In the second, Strasburg dealt his best inning of the game. He fired three straight strikeouts to put down the side in order." - "Strasburg shines in Chiefs win" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• "The 23-year old hurler was singled out by the magazine as 'Next in Line...' alongside top prospects Julio Teheran, Shelby Miller, Matt Moore, Jacob Turner and Trevor Bauer." - "Peacock singled out by The Sporting News as 'next in line'" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "Sunday’s News & Notes" - NationalsProspects.com
• "Monday’s News & Notes" - NationalsProspects.com
• NATSTOWN:
• "Sent down a level this season, he's done nothing but dominate Double-A at 24, going 7-5 with a 2.98 ERA and 1.256 WHIP, striking out 10.0 per nine innings and walking just 2.8 per nine." - "Shairon Martis Throws 7-Inning No-Hitter for Harrisburg" - Dave Nichols, NatsNewsNetwork
• "It turned out that I was very lucky. I snagged two 4th row from the field seats to see one of Strasburg’s best starts yet since coming back from Tommy John surgery." - "August 27, 2011: Syracuse Chiefs vs Rochester Redwings" - Maggie, First Ladies of Baseball
• "Long known as a bat-first prospect, it was known during his draft year that he would be moved off third base in professional baseball..." - "Introducing Nationals 1B Chris Marrero" - NatsGM
• "And so all Tyler Clippard could do was flip his patented goggles upside down in extra innings: rally goggles. It didn't work." - "Tyler Clippard's Rally Goggles Didn't Work" - Nats Enquirer
• "Marrero, 23, is the first of a bumper crop of minor leaguers that will get an opportunity to get their feet wet over the last 30 games of the season." - "Time for a glimpse at Nats' future" - MASNSports.com Nationals Buzz: Dave Nichols
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Mets: "Jose Reyes and Jason Bay are expected to return to action as New York tries to end its six-game home losing streak against the Marlins." - "New York Mets Expect Jose Reyes, Jason Bay Back For Monday Doubleheader Against Florida Marlins" - CBS New York
• Phillies: "The Phillies, for instance, rescheduled their Sunday afternoon game with the Florida Marlins to Saturday as part of a day-night double-header." - "Schedule Inflexibility Hurts Phillies, Orioles, Others" - Bill Baer, Crashburn Alley
• Braves: "I would hope everyone recognizes by now that Jones is a first-ballot Hall of Famer." - "Where Chipper ranks among all-time 3B" - David Schoenfield, SweetSpot Blog - ESPN
• Marlins: "Steve Cishek isn't quite ready to adopt his own signature game-ending salute, but the rookie showed off a doozie the other day." - Steve Cishek is strong in limited duty as Marlins' closer" - Joe Capozzi, The Palm Beach Post