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Wire Taps: Nationals and Cardinals get Statcast treatment; MW on Ian Desmond's Es

The Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals are on MASN tonight, but they're also on the MLB Network and there they'll be getting the Statcast treatment. Live stats and analysis, on-screen during the game + Matt Williams talks Ian Desmond...

By Patrick Reddington
Greg Fiume/Getty Images

Matt Williams made his share of errors over his seventeen seasons as a major league infielder.

Watching Washington Nationals' infielder Ian Desmond struggle on the defensive end at the start hasn't been easy for the second-year skipper. It hasn't been easy for Desmond either, of course.

"He feels horrible about it,' Williams said earlier this week.

"So, we support him. We work and there's no substitute for that. So he's out there every day and we rely on him a lot. He'll keep going like he always does."

"If you play long enough, you have bouts of struggles at the plate or anywhere on the diamond. The key is to keep going." - Matt Williams on Ian Desmond's struggles

Williams also said that understands what Desmond's going through because he's been there himself.

"If you play long enough, you have bouts of struggles at the plate or anywhere on the diamond," Williams said.

"The key is to keep going. We have no choice in that matter. We're all part of the team. We all either help us win or help us lose, so that's looking at it from a team perspective. And we're here to pick him up. If somebody makes a mistake we need to pick them and we'll do that. We'll continue to do that."

Desmond avoided making any errors in Sunday's series finale with the Philadelphia Phillies. Can he start a stretch of error-free games with another clean one tonight in the first game of three with St. Louis in D.C.?

You'll have to wait and see. While you wait, how about some links to catch you up on the last 24 hours in Nationals news... starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:

• NATS BEAT: Bryce taking walks articles + Boz on Harper in Q&A responses...

Harper pitched like the Babe:

• "In his first and second years, Davey Johnson told me several times: 'You wanna know how good Harper already is? Every team we play pitches him like he was &^%^$%^* Babe Ruth...'" - "Ask Boswell: Redskins, Nationals and Washington sports" - The Washington Post

• "In the first 13 games of the season, the 22-year-old has already been intentionally walked a career-high five times and drawn six others." - "Bryce Harper's frequent walks indicative of comfort at the plate with Nationals" - Tom Schad, Washington Times

• "By now, you’ve heard Bryce Harper explain how he wants to be calmer at the plate, under the advice of Manager Matt Williams." - "Bryce Harper is drawing walks and getting intentionally walked — a lot" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

24 hours without baseball: Robinson's bat, Stammen's surgery

• "The bat is heavily coated in the grime of the game, and should be by now. Robinson has never had a bat last so long." - "Clint Robinson, bat hoarder, and the legend of the unbreakable bat" - Chelsea Janes, The Washington Post

• "'It was like old times,' Span said. The feeling was mutual for the D.C. faithful, who made sure to show him appreciation for his return." - "Span’s return felt ‘like old times’ for Nats" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

• "Zimmerman has been well aware of the wizardry that Espinosa possesses as a fielder, having played with him for the past six seasons." - "Nationals Pastime: Danny Espinosa thrills in third act" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com

• "Stammen, 31, is expected to miss the rest of the 2015 season. He was given a 10-month recovery timetable by doctors." - "Craig Stammen undergoes successful flexor tendon surgery" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

• "On this week’s episode of The Baseball Show, there was a bit more positivity in the topics discussed. After all, the Nationals are getting healthier and starting to win again." - "The Baseball Show: Things are turning up for the Nats" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

Bring on the Cardinals:

• "Though Werth is just 3-for-23 since coming back, the Nationals are 4-2 with him in the lineup. Span was solid in his first game on Sunday with a rally-igniting single in the fifth inning and a run scored." - "State of the Nats: Cardinals coming to town" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

• "Janssen was supposed to fill Clippard’s role with Storen serving as the closer. But Janssen’s shoulder flared up late in spring training..." - "Nats’ bullpen questions remain unanswered two weeks into season" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

• NATIONAL(S) BEAT: Nats vs Cards - Statcast!!! + Nats interested in Cuban righty...

• "Baseball fans will have an opportunity to view a live game like never before when Statcast makes its television debut during today's MLB Network Showcase game between the Cardinals and Nationals at 7 p.m. ET." - "Statcast primer: Baseball will never be the same" - Paul Casella, nationals.com

• "A new era in analytics starts Tuesday when Major League Baseball rolls out its Statcast tracking technology during the MLB Network's broadcast of the St. Louis Cardinals' game at the Washington Nationals." - "Data deluge: MLB rolls out Statcast analytics on Tuesday" - Ronald Blum, Miami Herald Miami Herald

• "The Dodgers are said to have been the most aggressive team to date in trying to land top Cuban teenaged pitcher Yadier Alvarez, but they have considerable company in the pursuit, with the Blue Jays, Nationals, Rangers, Diamondbacks..." - "Dodgers lead for top Cuban righty; Jays, Nats, D-Backs, Rangers in" - Jon Heyman, CBSSports.com

• "Ross Detwiler was in a rush but he agreed to a couple of quick questions before he headed out to a pregame workout, but clearly he was not giddy at the prospect of talking about his start. Or starts." - "Rangers are fooling themselves with Detwiler" - Mac Engel, The Star Telegram

• "Well, this is awkward. Zimmerman is the only guy on the list who played with the Nationals." - "Franchise Four: NL East" - David Schoenfield, SweetSpot - ESPN

• Class-A Hagerstown: "Starting RHP Austen Williams (2-1) threw the first six innings for Hagerstown to earn the win. He surrendered just three hits and one walk while striking out six." - "Suns move over .500 with win over Delmarva" - Eli Pearlstein, Hagerstown Suns News

• HIgh-A Potomac: "Pivetta's final line was sparkling, 7.0 innings pitched allowing no runs on two hits, two walks and he struck out five, earning his first victory of the season." - "Nick Pivetta Pitches 7.0 Shutout Innings in 3-1 P-Nats Win" - Potomac Nationals News

• "Triple-A Syracuse shortstop Jason Martinson is proving to be the ultimate utility man in the Nationals system." - "Syracuse shortstop Martinson showing value at multiple spots this season" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

NATSTOWN: Parking problems? Bring Back Chuck Brown!!

• "But on Friday, the Nationals’ two home runs were followed by a different tune: 'Bang Bang' a 2014 single by Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj." - "Did the Nationals Dump Chuck Brown?" - Benjamin Freed, Washingtonian

• "Around Nationals Park, a new pay-to-park policy on Sundays and holidays lacks a basic function: the ability to pay." - "Nationals fans confused by parking restrictions, conflicting signs" - Andrew Mollenbeck, WTOP

NL EAST UPDATES: Inboxes + Alderson on Wright's return

• Phillies: "4 Odubel Herrera: An unqualified bright spot who is well on his way to making Phillies fans forget about Michael Martinez." - "Phillies take good with the bad in early going" - Ryan Lawrence, Philadelphia Daily News

• Mets: "The Mets could have their captain back sooner rather than later." - "Alderson’s optimistic view of David Wright’s return date" - Fred Kerber, New York Post

• Marlins: "From what I've been told by several sources, the expectation is the team will turn things around, and Redmond will be part of the process." - "Inbox: What caused Miami to stumble out of gate?" - Joe Frisaro, marlins.com

• Braves: "Because of his athleticism, versatility and speed, Peterson is a nice player to have on your roster. But his presence should not in any way influence the long-term plans for Peraza..." - "Inbox: How much should Braves read into early success?" - Mark Bowman, braves.com

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