Wire Taps: Nationals stand pat at deadline; Five thoughts after deadline; Getting to know Mark Melancon

Okay, here we go. It's August, the deadline is over, and pretty soon, magic (or tragic, depending on how the Jay Bruce trade goes) numbers will be relevant. The stretch run is nearly upon us.

Here's the latest from Arizona.

Five things to think about after the deadline
Will Bryce Harper ever return to form? Can Stephen Strasburg keep this up? Will Joe Ross ever get healthy? Seriously, he's been gone for a month or so now.

Nats stand pat during trade deadline
After acquiring Mark Melancon, Mike Rizzo, Dusty Baker and the Nationals all decided it would be best to keep things the way they were.

Jayson Werth kidnapped a Bruce Bochy garden gnome
Werth, the usual gnomateer when garden gnomes are the giveaway, must have been taken by a fit of jealousy and pride when he taped up a Bruce Bochy gnome. The gnome and Werth are both safe, and the gnome nor the owner of the gnome have elected to press charges.

Getting to Know Mark Melancon
The three-pitch pitcher is a serious upgrade and will probably be closing quite a few games down the stretch, so we might as well get acquainted with him. And inform him that the Metrorail system isn't the wonderland he perceives it to be.

D.C. has the cleanest, quietest, and best Subway system in the country! #PublicTransit pic.twitter.com/yBF5ehJSPI

— Mark Melancon (@Mark_Melancon_) July 22, 2013

Seriously, who's going to tell him?

Today's Game: Nationals vs DBacks - 9:40 PM (MASN2, WJFK)
Probable Pitchers: Tanner Roark (10-6, 2.96 ERA) vs Robbie Ray (5-10, 4.70 ERA)