Wire Taps: Nationals & Orioles MASN update; Davey Martinez decision-making + more Nats news...

Another series opening loss (1-10) for the Washington Nationals, who are 12-8 in non-series openers so far this season. Patrick Corbin will try to help the Nationals even things up with the Phillies tonight in the second of three in Philadelphia. Guess what? There is news from the MASN debacle. You know you want to know. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Nationals pitching coach Paul Menhart is back in the majors, and a tall order looms - (WaPost)
"Menhart has been with the organization since 2006, riding buses through rural Pennsylvania and central New York..."

Menhart 'very grateful,' eager to help Nationals - (MLB.com)
"With Menhart, the Nationals believe they are injecting a different voice into the clubhouse to aid a pitching staff that has underachieved 30 games into this season."

Menhart hopes to make quick difference after "emotional" call - (MASN)
"It’s a job Menhart admittedly had always aspired to hold, but not one he expected to be given right now, not 30 games into a season."

Hellickson: 'I think that was my inning' - (MLB.com)
"This 10-day span could end up serving as a season-defining stretch for the 2019 Washington Nationals. Friday marked the beginning of a grueling 10-game road trip..."

Critical pitching decision backfires in Nats' 4-2 loss (updated) - (MASN)
"Sometimes the pitchers involved get the job done and reward the manager for his decision-making process. Sometimes they fail and the manager is left to explain why he did what he did."

Soto sidelined for third straight day (Nats down 4-2) - (MASN)
"Martinez said Soto only feels the ailment when he swings, so that’s a somewhat encouraging sign. Even so, the club is being cautious with the 20-year-old, not wanting to risk major injury."

MASN SECTION:

Orioles-controlled MASN TV network must pay millions to Washington Nationals under sealed decision - (Baltimore Sun)
"The Orioles-controlled Mid-Atlantic Sports Network must pay the Washington Nationals tens of millions of dollars more in broadcast rights fees from previous years — a hit to the Baltimore team — under an arbitration panel’s sealed ruling..."

Gov. Hogan wrote to Major League Baseball commissioner to express concerns about MASN case - (Baltimore Sun)
"Gov. Larry Hogan wrote to Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred last year expressing concern about the effect of the lingering television rights fee dispute between the Orioles and Washington Nationals, and offering to help broker an agreement."

Report: MASN owes Nationals nearly $100 million in broadcast rights fees - (WaPost)
"A Major League Baseball committee ruled that the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network must pay the Washington Nationals nearly $100 million to end a long-running dispute over broadcast rights fees..."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Nationals pitching coach spills a big secret - (Yahoo!Sports.com)
"During his introductory news conference on Friday, Menhart revealed something regarding his promotion that the Nationals almost certainly wanted to keep under wraps."

The Nationals Are Having A Hard Time Adjusting To Their Self-Imposed Mediocrity - (Deadspin)
"The Nationals hold the 23rd-ranked team earned run average in baseball, thanks largely to another putrid, horrifying start to the season for their perennially chaotic bullpen..."

Jeter unhappy with Marlins' play, attendance woes - (ESPN)
"However, the Marlins CEO and former New York Yankees shortstop shrugged off complaints by the Washington Nationals that visibility was dangerously poor at a recent 1 p.m. game at Marlins Park with the retractable roof open."

Farm system storylines: April edition - (MiLB.com)
"The Nationals were grooming their top prospect to get some time on the infield at some point in 2019, getting him opportunities at second and short while giving him his first taste of Triple-A in Fresno."

Mock draft: All 34 first-round picks - (MLB.com)
"17. Nationals: George Kirby, RHP, Elon - The shortage of first round-worthy college arms is going to push them up boards, and Kirby has helped himself by following a strong sophomore year with leading NCAA Division I in strikeout-walk ratio (16.8)."