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Wire Taps: Washington Nationals' Davey Johnson For Commissioner? Jordan Zimmermann vs Anibal Sanchez

Can Jordan Zimmermann be beaten at home in the nation's capital? Can the Washington Nationals beat former Miami Marlins and current Detroit Tigers' starter Anibal Sanchez? Will the rain allow us to find out? The Nationals just tweeted a promise to keep everyone updated on the weather. That's usually a bad sign...

By Patrick Reddington

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Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

So will it be Jordan Zimmermann's unbeaten streak at home or Anibal Sanchez's unbeaten streak against the Washington Nationals that is broken tonight? Or will the rain prevail? Or will neither of them get a decision?Zimmermann is (8-0) in his last 14 trips to the mound in Nationals Park. Sanchez is (8-0) vs the Nats in 19 career starts against the former Marlins' starter's former divisional rivals. Rain is expected to pound the nation's capital all day and it's threatening to wash out the first game of two for Detroit in D.C.:

We'll keep you updated too, by, uh, updating you when other people update us on updates... Anyway. If they play it should be a good one. Zimmermann vs Sanchez. The Nationals vs the Tigers. Until then it's links and lots of them, including a few about a dream of Commissioner Johnson. Starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:

• THE BIG STORY!!! (aka "Pay thyat myan his money!"):

• "The way [Jordan] Zimmermann is going, he could end up with a contract extension soon. [Mike] Rizzo broached the subject with Zimmermann's agent, Mark Pieper, not too long ago." - "Jordan Zimmermann, not Stephen Strasburg, leading Nationals' rotation | nationals.com: News

• NATS BEAT:

• "Forget what you think [about Bryce] Harper’s reaction to the call, [John] Hirshbeck’s ejection and subsequent comments are unacceptable." - "Bryce Harper ejection was mostly umpire’s fault" - Thomas Boswell, Washington Post

• via Twitter:

• "I put 'slammed' in quotes because that's the term that third base umpire John Hirschbeck used when explaining his decision to eject [Bryce] Harper after the game." - "Nationals Pastime: More on Harper and a tough matchup ahead" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Make no mistake, though: Adam LaRoche has broken out of his season-opening slump." - "LaRoche finally getting on track" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "In that moment, which also involves the catcher in a conference on the mound, McCatty plays part psychologist and part pitching coach — but mostly psychologist." - "Steve McCatty, Nationals pitching coach, knows his role in baseball’s most unwelcome visit" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

• "[John] Hirschbeck later told a pool reporter he ejected [Bryce] Harper only after he 'slammed' his bat and helmet to the ground: 'I was actually just being nice.'" - "On Harper, Kaline and Werth" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "The first meeting between the Tigers and Nationals figures to be as compelling as early May can get." - "After World Series predictions, Nationals and Tigers meet on the field" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• via Twitter:

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

• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

• "Since we're willing to think outside-the-box, here's another wild suggestion; Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson." - "MLB commissioner: MLB should consider Davey Johnson for next commissioner" - Shannon J. Owens, OrlandoSentinel.com

• "It is certainly interesting to think about, and we’ll hear more names brought up as the time draws closer, but you can certainly do worse than Davey Johnson." - "Baseball’s next commissioner: Davey Johnson?" - Bill Baer, HardballTalk

• "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wanted his Twitter followers to know on Monday that he's proud of two baseball players who call Las Vegas their home." - "Harry Reid talks baseball with Nats' Davey Johnson" - Catalina Camia, USA TODAY Sports

• "Plenty has gone wrong for the Nationals in the early going. Dan Haren is basically broken, Gio Gonzalez might be and Stephen Strasburg — while pitching well — has not kept up the star pace expected of him in the early going." - "Despite Harper’s Dominance, Nationals Offense Is Flagging" - Paul Swydan, FanGraphs Baseball

• "What sort of reprimand will [John] Hirschbeck get for provoking [Bryce] Harper? No idea. Maybe a stern talking-to, maybe an attaboy behind the scenes." - "A simple request on improving umpires" - Grant Brisbee, Baseball Nation

• "The Tigers will send Anibal Sanchez (3-2, 1.82 ERA) to the mound to face a team he's baffled throughout his career. The right-hander went 8-0 with a 1.97 ERA in 19 career starts against Washington while with the Marlins." - "Tigers-Nationals Preview: Scores & Stats" - Jordan Garretson, CBS Detroit

• "RF Jayson Werth (strained right hamstring) expects to return to action Tuesday night after the Nationals have an off day on Monday." - "Washington Nationals - TeamReport" - chicagotribune.com

• "It's assumed that win, or lose, this will be Johnson's final year as Washington Nationals manager, moving back into his consultant's role next season." - "Early returns: Managerial stock market report" - Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

• "'His stuff is so much better than [Stephen] Strasburg's,' the scout said. 'Strasburg's stuff has gone backwards. [Jordan] Zimmermann is throwing 95-96 [mph], with two different breaking balls that he throws for strikes.'" - "In a rotation with Strasburg and Gio, Zimmermann may be Nationals ace" - Danny Knobler, CBSSports.com

• NATS MINORS:

• Class-A Hagerstown: In Action Now: Hagerstown Suns Scoreboard

• Class-A Potomac: "[A.J.] Cole is 1-1 on the 2013 season, with a 3.94 ERA over six games. In 32 innings pitched, he has struck out 34 batters, which is the second highest for the P-Nats." - "P-Nats RHP A.J. Cole Wins Carolina League Pitcher of the Week Award" - Potomac Nationals News

• "A.J. Cole Named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com

• Double-A Harrisburg: "Brian Broderick pitched six strong innings and Sandy Leon had a pair of hits, but the Harrisburg Senators fell to the Altoona Curve 3-1 in the series opener at Metro Bank Park." - "Broderick's Strong Outing Not Enough as Sens Fall 3-1" - Harrisburg Senators News

• "Obviously you want to get back because that's the reason you play baseball, to play at the highest level. You like the competition, you like the adrenaline rush you get." - Anthony Rendon - "Q&A with Anthony Rendon, Harrisburg Senators infielder and top Washington Nationals prospect" - Geoff Morrow, PennLive.com

• "[Bill] Bray, who has held left-handed hitters to a .218 average in his six-year major league career, could still be an option for the Nationals later." - "Bill Bray assigned to Harrisburg" - James Wagner, Washington Post

• Triple-A Syracuse: "The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, used a dazzling start from Yunesky Maya in a 5-0 win over the Durham Bulls on Monday night." - "Maya dominates in Chiefs' win" - Syracuse Chiefs News

• "Zach Walters hit his seventh home run of the season which was a three-run blast in the top of the second (he is hitting .236 with all of the power)." - "Maya masterful as Chiefs get win" - Ben Meyers, The Auburn Citizen

• "Veteran right-hander Yunesky Maya twirled a gem Monday in Triple-A Syracuse's 5-0 victory over Durham. Maya had career-high nine strikeouts, going 7 2/3 innings, scattering six hits and allowing no runs." - "Maya twirls gem for Syracuse; Cole earns honor in Potomac" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

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

• "Washington Nationals Minor League Update for the Week of 5/5/13" - Ryan Kelley, District Sports Page

• NATSTOWN:

• "The most discussed trend in the game today is the proliferation of strikeouts. Current rates are at all-time highs. The modern hitter gets three strikes and he wants the most out of every one." - "Nationals Buzz: Winning a championship, one series at a time" - Ted Leavengood, MASNSports.com

• "Bryce Harper's pink Mother's Day glove" - NatsEnquirer

• "Nats Game Logs on this Date" - Mark Hornbaker, D.C. Baseball History

• "To learn more about the Tigers, I brought in my former neighbor J.J. who moved to Michigan when we were kids. He is a big Detroit sports fan now – we’ve previously done a Q&A about the Lions." - "2013 Nats vs. Tigers Q&A and prediction with J.J." - William F. Yurasko, William World News

• "Nats Talk On The Go: Episode 52" - Joe Drugan, The Nats Blog

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Mets: "How does this compare to last spring, when [Ike] Davis was nearly sent to Triple-A after a horrid start?" - "Ike Davis of New York Mets refuses to tinker with his swing despite being stuck in a season-long batting slump" - Mike Puma, NYPOST.com

• Braves: "With apologies to Brian McCann, Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons made himself the story Monday night." - "Simmons homers twice in win over Reds" - Carroll Rogers, www.ajc.com

• Phillies: "The Phillies manager never talked to [Roy] Halladay - not on the plane and not before Halladay traveled Monday to Los Angeles for a doctor's appointment Tuesday that could decide the fate of his Phillies career." - "Phils in holding pattern as they await Halladay's exam" - Matt Gelb, Philadelphia Inquirer

• Marlins: "A little more than 24 hours after pounding Roy Halladay and scoring a season-high 14 runs in a win over the Phillies, the Marlins got back to being, well, themselves again." - "SAN DIEGO: Errors, offensive woes costly in Miami Marlins’ loss to Padres" - Manny Navarro, MiamiHerald.com

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