Wire Taps: Washington Nationals And Chicago White Sox Set For DH-Less Interleague Action

It was a slow news day in the nation's capital, at least when it came to baseball. There was bad news out of the Nats' Double-A affiliate with the report that 2012 Minor League Player of the Year Matt Skole had suffered a microfracture of his left wrist in his second game of the season with the Harrisburg Senators. We spent the early season night off watching the Senators so we could get a look at Anthony Rendon and debuting 2012 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Nathan Karns. Didn't go too well for Karns as you can read HERE and below. Rendon's got mad patience. #RENDONISREADY. We also took a look at what the Nats' skipper Davey Johnson and the White Sox' manager Robin Ventura think about the DH and looked back at tonight's Nats' starter Gio Gonzalez's first outing of the year. It was a fun day. Here's what the rest of the folks following the Nats were talking about. Links and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:

• THE BIG STORY!!!:

• "They won’t have a harder series all year than three games in Cincy going with 4-5 starters in first two games. You’d look at that and say, 'I’ll take 4-2 right now.'" - "Nationals are nowhere near panic mode, says Thomas Boswell" - Missy Rosenberg, Washington Post

• NATS BEAT:

• "It's possible [Wilson] Ramos will garner more playing time as the summer progresses and he gets more strength in his surgically repaired right knee." - "Wilson Ramos, Kurt Suzuki catch fire a bit for Nationals" - Brian McNally, WashingtonExaminer.com

• "Once Wilson Ramos proved in spring training that his right knee was healthy and strong after multiple surgeries last summer to repair a torn ACL and meniscus, [Davey] Johnson had two proven catchers he could rely on." - "Nationals Pastime: Nats starting to catch on" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Before Sunday’s game, [Kurt] Suzuki shared a conversation with Tyler Moore about the importance of minimalism in hitting." - "Kurt Suzuki’s improbably great day continues fast start for Nats catchers" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• "[Denard Span's] range in center also has a ripple effect on the Nationals’ corner outfielders, allowing Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth to play closer to the foul lines, if they desire." - "Denard Span's outfield skills make immediate impact for Nationals" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "No, the Nats haven't yet faced three of their four division rivals. But they will face a team from the AL Central during the second week of April." - "Ready for interleague already?" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "In his career, [Dan] Haren has been a dominant pitcher because he strikes out a ton of hitters and walks very few – his 4.06 strikeout-to-walk ration entering this season ranked seventh all-time." - "What did we learn in the Nationals’ first week?" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• "[Davey] Johnson, 70, enjoyed a 13-year playing career with the Orioles, Braves, Phillies and Cubs. He was a four-time All-Star, won a pair of World Series rings and three Gold Glove Awards." - "Johnson in enviable position with Nationals" - Meggie Zahneis | MLB.com: News

• "Time will reveal whether the Nationals made the right decision, but a week into the season they have already shown glimpses of how they could make up for the loss of [Michael] Morse." - "Nationals still ponder life without Michael Morse" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

• "Davey Johnson said before the season he believes he has two number one catchers on his team and so far he is absolutely right." - "Where we're at, State of the Nats-4/8" - Chase Hughes, NatsInsider.com

• "I don't think [Davey] Johnson is letting [Bryce] Harper slide. It's obvious to me that Johnson wants to see the mental errors in left field end." - "Nationals Inbox: Are Bryce Harper's mental errors a concern?" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "[Danny Espinosa] looks good to me. He just went 4-for-11 with three doubles and two walks in Cincy. He even ripped a line shot (out) off Chapman on Sunday." - "Ask Boswell: Redskins, Nationals and Washington sports" - Thomas Boswell, The Washington Post

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

Concern for others’ well being reduces fear and suspicion, prompting the openness and transparency that gives rise to trust and friendship.

— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) April 8, 2013

• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

• "If Dan Haren's next start is anything like his first one of the season -- homer-prone in exhibitions, he gave up four longballs last week at Cincinnati in a 15-0 loss --the Nats could be looking to Triple-A and possibly Young for reinforcement in their rotation." - "MLB Insider: Ex-Pads still making a go of it Page 1 of 2" - Chris Jenkins, UTSanDiego.com

• "The Nationals' Jayson Werth has four hits in his last nine at-bats. Danny Espinosa has four hits in his last 11 at-bats after starting season 0-for-11." - "Chicago White Sox: Chicago White Sox at Washington Nationals" - chicagotribune.com

• "Gio Gonzalez will try to build on an impressive season debut and lead his franchise to its first 4-0 start at home in a decade in Tuesday night's interleague opener against the Chicago White Sox." - "Chicago White Sox vs. Washington Nationals - Preview - April 09, 2013" - ESPN Chicago

• "Our old friend Denard Span was shipped off to the National League as part of the Great Minnesota Center Fielder Exodus this winter." - "Something better than before: a Washington Nationals preview" - Mark Primiano, South Side Sox

• NATS MINORS:

• Class-A Hagerstown: "Hagerstown Suns majority owner Bruce Quinn said Monday that team officials are eager to hear the thoughts of city council members about a new economic feasibility study of alternative stadium sites." - "Suns owner 'anxiously' awaits newest stadium study, city's reaction" - C.J. Lovelace, Herald-Mail

• Class-A Hagerstown: "The Hagerstown Suns (2-3) let a three-run lead slip away in the bottom of the ninth on Monday night, only to comeback and defeat the Lakewood Blueclaws (1-4) in 10 innings 7-6." - "Hagerstown tops Lakewood in extras" - Eli Pearlstein, Hagerstown Suns News

• Class-A Potomac: "Nationals LHP Kylin Turnbull (0-1) struggled through 4.1 innings as he allowed seven runs, six earned on nine hits with one walk and one strikeout." - "P-Nats Rally Falls Short as Salem Clips Potomac 7-6" - Potomac Nationals News

• Double-A Harrisburg: "Nathan Karns took the hill for the first time in AA and suffered the loss, allowing six runs in the third inning. Harrisburg fell to 3-2 while New Britain improved to 2-3 on the young season." - "Rocks Cats Roll the Senators 9-2" - Terry Byrom, Harrisburg Senators News

• Double-A Harrisburg: "He was a little amped tonight and the ball was elevated. Tip you cap to them they took advantage of almost every pitch he threw that was up. His command of his fastball was off and that was a killer for him tonight." – Senators manager Matthew LeCroy on starting pitcher Nathan Karns." - "Newest addition to Harrisburg Senators, Jerad Head, plunked twice including first at-bat in debut" - Andrew P. Shay, PennLive.com

• "Double-A Harrisburg Senators first baseman Matt Skole has been placed on the disabled list with hairline fracture in his left wrist, according to a team source." - "Harrisburg places Matt Skole on disabled list with wrist injury" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "Washington Nationals prospect Matt Skole was placed on the minor league disabled list Monday afternoon with a what an official familiar with the injury said was a microfracture in his left wrist." - "Nationals prospect Matt Skole out with microfracture in left wrist" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "[Matt] Skole, 23, sustained the microfracture Friday in a collision at first base during the second game of the minor league season, a day that is may begin to frighten Nationals officials." - "Prospect Matt Skole on disabled list with microfracture in left wrist" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• Triple-A Syracuse: "Zach Walters then continued his power surge in the sixth inning. With two outs, Syracuse's shortstop took reliever Buddy Carlyle deep for a solo home run over the right-centerfield wall. Walters now has four home runs in the season's first five games." - "Chiefs blast Bisons in series opener" - Syracuse Chiefs News

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

• "Nats Minor Report (4/9)" - Mark Buterbaugh, D.C. Pro Sports Report

• NATSTOWN:

• "Add Councilmember Vicent Orange (D-At Large) to the list of prognosticators calling on the Nats to win it all. In a news release, Orange said he expects the Nationals to be hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy in October." - "Attention, Washington Nationals: Vincent Orange Is Counting on You" Benjamin R. Freed, DCist

• "Let’s start with what was a truly ideal Opening Day. Great weather, a regular-season record crowd of 45,274 and we beat the Marlins, 2-0." - "From the Desk of Mark Lerner: Opening Up" - Mark Lerner, Curly W Live

• "The Nationals' Racing Presidents face a new challenger from the West Wing -- sort of." - "'Veep' races the presidents at Nationals Park" - Andrew Mollenbeck, WTOP.com

• "A giant Selina Meyer mascot will join the Washington Nationals racing presidents Tuesday night at Nationals Park, as part of a promotion for Sunday’s season premier of the HBO series VEEP." - "HBO’s VEEP Selina Meyer to join Nationals presidents race Tuesday night" - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!

• "Nats Talk On The Go: Episode 49" - The Nats Blog

• "Video: Bryce Harper gets heckled by a Reds fan in Cincinnati" - Nats Enquirer

• "The Reds served notice to both Dan Haren and Stephen Strasburg that they are a team to take seriously in 2013. It is a lesson that should be reviewed as early as possible." - "A long season's early lesson" - Nationals Buzz: Ted Leavengood, MASNSports.com

• "Opening day at Griffith Stadium in Washington D.C. President Dwight D. Eisenhower threw out the first pitch before he witnessed major league baseball history when the Orioles turned the first triple play during an opening day game." - "This Day in D.C. Baseball History – A Presidential Affair" - Mark Hornbaker, D.C. Baseball History

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Mets: "Matt Harvey's stuff was so good over 60 innings in 2012 that it caused one of his New York Mets teammates to break out an instant comparison to Stephen Strasburg." - "Matt Harvey’s early strikeout numbers are a big source of joy, but should they also cause concern?" - Kevin Kaduk, Big League Stew - Yahoo! Sports

• Braves: "It’s fun. We’re winning. We’re winning in different ways. Every night it’s different, so we’re having fun out there. It’s been a good week." - Justin Upton - "Braves quotes after Monday’s 2-0 win at Miami" - David O'Brien, www.ajc.com

• Phillies: "Roy Halladay was at Citizens Bank Park on Monday when he saw his phone buzz. He picked it up and read the incoming message." - "Phillies' Roy Halladay: It's mental" - Ryan Lawrence, Philadelphia Daily News

• Marlins: "Like most lifelong Marlins fans, Dan Barton feels like team owner Jeffrey Loria spent the offseason repeatedly kicking him in the junk." - "Lifelong Marlins Fans Tossed From Home Opener for Protesting Loria" - Tim Elfrink, Riptide 2.0, Miami New Times