clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Wire Taps: Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman And Dan Haren Scrutinized Far And Wide After Loss To Miami Marlins

Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson thought Dan Haren was looking good early last night before things went awry and he said he's not completely surprised that Ryan Zimmerman has struggled early after having offseason shoulder surgery. Everyone can stay positive, but it doesn't make it any more fun to watch them lose to the Fish.

By Patrick Reddington
Marc Serota

Dan Haren sat staring into his locker after the loss according to reports from Marlins Park. Ryan Zimmerman was concerned enough about his continued throwing issues that he turned to his teammates for advice. The 32-year-old Haren struggled in his third start, unraveling after Zimmerman's error in the fourth. It was Zim's fourth E of 2013. Haren didn't make it out of the fifth, having surrendered seven hits and seven runs, three earned since the four in the fourth all came after Zimmerman's throwing error. Davey Johnson said he liked what he saw from Haren early in last night's loss to the Miami Marlins (3-11). He also said that he's said before that he wasn't sure Zimmerman would be 100% comfortable right away after offseason surgery to repair his right (throwing) shoulder. While the Nationals' skipper waits for his players to figure things out and right themselves, NatsTown is entering full panic mode! Call up Chris Young!!! Move Zim to first! Trade Adam LaRoche and get Anthony Rendon up here stat!!! Can the Nats get John Lannan back from the Phillies?!?!?! Will a win in the rubber match with the Fish and a series with the Mets turn things around for the nation's capital's Nats?

• THE BIG STORY!!!:

• "My point isn't that I no longer like the Nationals, but that it's possible they have some potential issues. Five things to watch..." - "SweetSpot TV: Are Washington Nationals overrated?" - David Schoenfield, ESPN

• NATS BEAT:

• "After Ryan Zimmerman made his fourth throwing error of the season in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s loss to the Miami Marlins, he turned to his teammates in the dugout for advice." - "What’s behind Ryan Zimmerman’s throwing errors?" - James Wagner, Washington Post

• "Ryan Zimmerman fielded Placido Polanco’s routine ground ball Tuesday night like he has so many others in his career at third base for the Washington Nationals." - "Ryan Zimmerman 'frustrated' by throwing woes as teammates come to his defense" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "A Ryan Zimmerman throwing error with one out in the fourth brought an end to that momentum and eventually led to four Marlins runs, all of which were unearned." - "Nationals Pastime: Another Zimmerman error, another homer off Haren (Nats lose 8-2)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "But there's no hiding the fact the Nationals' veteran infielder is battling a serious mental hurdle right now..." - "Zimmerman's mental hurdle" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "Starter Dan Haren, the $13 million offseason acquisition brought in to shore up the back of the rotation, unraveled following the error, failing to complete the fifth inning." - "Washington Nationals fall, 8-2, to Miami Marlins" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

• "After an initially strong outing went off the rails in the fourth and fifth innings, [Dan] Haren was left trying to figure out what went wrong..." - "Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins - April 16, 2013" - Adam Berry, MLB.com WSH Recap

• "[Adeiny] Hechavarria sent the Marlins Park home run sculpture swinging into action for the first time this season and ended a homer drought that had tied the 20-year-old franchise record." - "Haren has a rough night in Miami in Nats loss" - AP/WashingtonExaminer.com

• "In his three starts in a Nationals’ uniform, [Dan] Haren has pitched no more than five innings..." - "Nationals loss to Marlins leaves starter Dan Haren searching for answers" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "[Dan] Haren is considered a gamer, a guy who has taken the ball every fifth day and more times than not found a way to work deep into ballgames." - "Nationals Pastime: Taking a closer look at two struggling veterans" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "The gaudy sculpture in left field swung into motion and lit up like a carnival ride as Miami Marlins fans cheered the rare spectacle." - "Hechavarria's HR helps Marlins beat Nationals 8-2" - Steve Wine, AP/WTOP.com

• "Things started off swimmingly for [Dan] Haren. He retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced, keeping the ball down in the zone and inducing a bunch of grounders." - "Instant analysis: Marlins 8, Nats 2" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "Both [Ricky] Nolasco and [Ross] Detwiler have performed well enough in 2013 to garner much better results, but their offenses haven't given them a lot of support." - "Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins - April 17, 2013" - Tyler Emerick, MLB.com Preview

• "The conversation happened almost two years ago now, but one mention of it and Ross Detwiler remembers exactly where he was and what was said." - "Ross Detwiler's development evident as results keep rolling in" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "'[Bryce Harper] looked like he was about to die but he was ready to go hit,' Johnson said." - "Bryce Harper, Denard Span still sick but Davey Johnson hopes for Wednesday returns" - James Wagner, Washington Post

• "[Jordan] Zimmermann has thrown just 12.8 pitches per inning over his 22 frames this season, a total that ranks second in the majors among starting pitchers." - "Nationals Pastime: Encouraging early season signs from Zimmermann and Detwiler" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Entering Tuesday night's game, [Ian] Desmond was batting .320 with two homers and six doubles, tied for the Major League lead." - "Desmond off to strong start at plate" - Adam Berry, nationals.com: News

• "The Nationals took the field two weeks ago for the start of the most-anticipated season in club history brimming with confidence." - "Nats' confidence waning after blowout loss" - Mark Zuckerman, CSN Washington

• "[Danny] Espionsa has been receiving treatment on his hand, arm and forearm since he was hit by Atlanta Braves left-handed Paul Maholm in the second inning of Sunday’s game." - "Danny Espinosa likely to return Friday against the Mets" - James Wagner, Washington Post

• "[Denard] Span arrived at the ballpark early in the afternoon but Johnson instructed the center fielder to return to his hotel for a few more hours of rest." - "Bryce Harper, Denard Span hit with stomach flu"- Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Davey Johnson is using this series against the Marlins as a chance to get his bench guys into the mix." - "Nationals Pastime: Harper, Span, Espinosa all out of Nats lineup (updated)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "[Davey] Johnson said [Bryce] Harper and [Denard] Span were both 'very sick' with a stomach flu Monday night, adding that they've been dehydrated and unable to keep any food down." - "Nats short-handed Tuesday due to illness, injury" - Adam Berry, nationals.com: News

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama):

• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

• "[Adeiny] Hechavarria, who entered the game hitting .178, crushed a 1-1 pitch from Nationals starter Dan Haren deep to left field for a three-run home run. The drive traveled an estimated 416 feet." - "MIAMI: Marlins' offense comes alive in easy victory over Nationals" - Andre C. Fernandez, Baseball Wires - MiamiHerald.com

• "The Marlins Park home run sculpture still works. Adeiny Hechavarria’s fourth-inning blast to left field Tuesday night activated it for the first time this season." - "Miami Marlins’ offense comes alive in easy victory over Nationals" - Andre C. Fernandez, MiamiHerald.com

• "The Marlins Park home run sculpture still works. Adeiny Hechavarria’s fourth-inning blast to left field Tuesday night activated it for the first time this season." - "Miami Marlins’ offense comes alive in easy victory over Nationals" - Andre C. Fernandez, MiamiHerald.com

• "Justin Ruggiano drove in three runs, while Greg Dobbs knocked in two as the Marlins posted a season-high runs total." - "Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins - April 16, 2013" - Joe Frisaro, MLB.com MIA Recap

• "The Miami Malrins surprised Dan Haren, the Washington Nationals, and the team's own fans with an absolute offensive assault on the night." - "Fish Cap: Miami Marlins 8, Washington Nationals 2" - Michael Jong, Fish Stripes

• via Twitter:

• "The Miami Marlins surprised Dan Haren, the Washington Nationals, and the team's own fans with an absolute offensive assault on the night." - "Fish Cap: Miami Marlins 8, Washington Nationals 2" - Michael Jong, Fish Stripes

• NATS MINORS:

• "For Alex Kreis, it started out as just another morning in the Washington Nationals’ minor-league spring training camp." - "Former Grand Forks Central standout released from Washington Nationals minor-league team" - Greg DeVillers, Grand Forks Herald

• Class-A Hagerstown: "The Hagerstown Suns (7-6) used a three homerun attack on Tuesday to defeat the Lakewood BlueClaws (3-10), 11-2." - "Suns go long in 11-2 win over BlueClaws" - Eli Pearlstein, Hagerstown Suns News

• Class-A Potomac: "3B Cutter Dykstra, who went 3-for-6 with one run and two RBIs, ripped a go-ahead run scoring single to right field in the 12th inning to plate SS Jason Martinson..." - "Dykstra's Go-Ahead Base Knock in 12th Carries Nationals to 3-2 Extra Innings Win" - Potomac Nationals News

• "First it was Matt Skole. Then Steven Souza. Now it is Eury Perez. Top prospects in the organization are going to down at an alarming rate." - "Martinson earns Carolina League Player of the Week honors" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "Martinson Named Carolina Lg. Batter of the Week" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com

• "Sandy Leon hit a game-tying two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, but the Senators allowed a run in the tenth, as the Reading Fightin Phils walked off with a 4-3 victory." - "Leon Hits Clutch Homer, but Sens Fall 4-3 in 10" - Marshall Keiner, Harrisburg Senators News

• "[Anthony] Rendon is hitting .333/.473/.571 for Double-A Harrisburg, so it seems like he won't be there for long." - "Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals face second base challenges" - Keith Law, ESPN [INSIDERS ONLY]

• via Twitter:

• Triple-A Syracuse: "Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf is scheduled to start for Syracuse against Bisons right-hander Justin Germano in game one of the doubleheader. In game two, Chiefs right-hander Ryan Tatusko is scheduled to take the hill." - "Chiefs, Bisons rained out on Tuesday" - Syracuse Chiefs News

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

• NATSTOWN:

• "Comcast announced this morning that it has been selected by the Washington Nationals for a multiyear contract to deliver Gigabit ethernet and expanded WiFi availability within Nationals Park." - "Nationals Park to boost WiFi for fans, AT&T app promises relief for mobile data users" - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!

• "Early Nats Minor League Leaders (4/16)" - Mark Buterbaugh, DC Pro Sports Report

• "Davey on Dan: 'I thought he pitched a lot better.'" - Nats Enquirer

• "On a ball he had way too much time to handle, Ryan Zimmerman threw a ball to Adam LaRoche at first base on a Placido Polanco routine grounder." - "Nats Collapse Following Zimmerman Error In 8-2 Loss" - Joe Drugan, The Nats Blog

• "Damn You Lord for the Marlins" - Harper, Nationals Baseball

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Mets: "Misplays in the field, which Terry Collins admitted were common in the frigid temperatures, contributed to Mets pitching woes in both games." - "NY Mets swept in doubleheader by Rockies in snowy Colorado conditions" - Kristie Ackert, NY Daily News

• Braves: "On staying positive lately, despite lack of results: 'Absolutely. Just reminds me of a similar start to a season I’ve had before. Just got to keep putting up good at-bats, keep hitting the ball hard and they’ll fall eventually.'" - Jason Heyward - "Braves quotes after Tuesday’s win vs. Royals" - Michael Cunningham, www.ajc.com

• Phillies: "The skies opened, but Phillippe Aumont continued throwing his warm-up pitches. Phillies players looked around at one another as the few remaining fans scrambled for cover." - "Suspended Phillies-Reds game will resume Wednesday" - Matt Gelb, Philadelphia Inquirer

More From Federal Baseball