National Record

The glaring lack of offense has really stung the 2011 Washington Nationals as the club has lost 8 of 10 and fallen to 22-29 as of May 28th. The pitching staff has battled from game 1, an cleverly conceived rotation with a blend of kids and vets as well as deep and talented bullpen have this team in games almost nightly.  4 of the 5 starters have sub 4.10 ERAs while the pen , led by closer RH Drew Storen(4-1,1.75 ERA, 9 saves in 10 chances) and  top set up man RH Tyler Clippard(0-0,2.28, 10 holds),  has been grade A. This team has been awful offensively and the stats support that statement, look at the   ranks among the 30 major league teams: 23rd in (runs), 29th (batting average), 28th  (on base) and 24th  in slugging. Team has been killed by the loss of free agent 1B-OF Adam Dunn and the injury to franchise 3B Ryan Zimmerman, which have left new RF Jayson Werth as the lone wolf in the lineup and that is not fair for anyone. A serious rise in offensive production would go a long way to reward this pitching staff.

RYAN ZIMMERMAN UPDATE: Nationals manager Jim Riggleman spoke to the club’s franchise player Thursday(May 26th) as Zimmerman continues to battle back from an early season abdominal injury that led to  surgery. He is performing baseball activities(batting practice, grounders, long toss and hitting off  a tee) at the team’s complex in Viera, Florida. ” He is feeling good about his work down there. He is feeling better, but he has a way to go yet,” said Riggleman.  Both Zimmerman and the Washington Staff are aiming for a mid-June return to the lineup.

GORZELANNY TO THE DL: Washington’s #5 starter, LH Tom Gorzelanny, was placed on the 15 day DL due to an inflamed pitching elbow May 24. The gritty veteran is 2-4  with a 4.25 ERA in nine starts in 2011. No timetable for his return.

MORE MORSE: One bright spot offensively recently has been the play of LF-1B Michael Morse,who homered in 4 straight from May 23 to May 27th, included in that streak was a walk off blast May 27th to secure a 2-1 win.  The slugger, who crushed the ball all spring, struggled and lost playing time in April(.224,homer, 9 RBI in 67 at bats) but has exploded in May(.404,5,11 in 47 ABs). Nice to see a player I liked from day 1 performing so well.

NATIONALS NOTES: With some injuries(San Francisco Giants C Buster Posey) and struggles of veterans(New York Yankees C Jorge Posada), we are starting to see future hall of famer and Nationals C Pudge Rodriquez name come up in trade rumors. Rodriquez has told Washington GM Mike Rizzo he wants to remain a National… RHSP Jordan Zimmerman has now lost 4 starts where he pitched 6 innings allowing less than 2 runs. That leads the majors…. Werth and Riggleman had a private meeting May 27th two days after the prized free agent  said changes needed to made after Wednesday’s 6-4 loss to Milwaukee. Riggleman emerged from the meeting and citing Werth’s frustration with losing as the cause. Saying it was one of the best meetings he has has with a player, Riggleman believes the rant was not directed at him and was about a player annoyed at not winning. NEVER a bad thing!

The 2011 Washington Nationals approach the 50 game point at 21-25 (as of May 22nd) with solid pitching and poor offense, in summary, a competitive team. They battle, they compete and punch the time clock but the team lacks elite talent in the pitching staff(aka a true #1 ace, a Roy Halladay) and cannot sustain any offense when the team is hit with injuries to stars.(3B Ryan Zimmerman as example) Magnifying the lack of talent is a very talented NL East division, hi-lighted by the 4 time defending champion Philadelphia Phillies and the top franchise in the NL over the past 20 years, the Atlanta Braves. I know it is hard for fans to understand but when this franchise was relocated to the DC area it was essentially an expansion team. They have made some solid moves and drafted well plus the team has key youngsters in place that will be here long term. BE PATIENT!

TEAM RANKS:

Batting:  Runs(22nd out of 30 MLB teams), Batting avg(29th), On base(29th), Slugging pct(25th)

Pitching:  ERA(14th), Quality starts(13th), WHIP(20th), Batting average against(25th)

NATIONALS NEWS:

LAROCHE HURTING, ANKIEL STATUS:  1B Adam Laroche continues to attempt to play with a torn labrum in his ailing left shoulder but it is becoming increasingly more difficult. The veteran, who was diagnosed with the injury in spring training, has tried to play with the injury but the shoulder is hurting his swing and he is hitting only .172 with 3 home runs and 15 rbi.  Laroche blames the lack of power on the weakness of the joint but the only time his shoulder hurts is when he throws the ball.  OF Rick Ankiel(Sprained right wrist) is participating in extended in spring training games and will start a rehab assignment in the minors early this week.

NO HARPER IN 2011:  The Nationals top prospect and 2010 First-Year player draft OF Bryce Harper will not play in the majors this year, according to Washington General Manager Mike Rizzo. Harper, an elite bat with amazing power, is hitting .366 with 9 home runs and 31 rbi in Class A Hagerstown. “We feel that his development is not ready to play in the big leagues. The moment  he is ready, and when we believe he is ready, he’ll be in the big leagues,” Rizzo said about Harper.

SAY A PRAYER FOR GARY CARTER: Hall of fame catcher and former Nationals(Montreal Expos at the time,1974-1984)  star Gary Carter announced he has  four very small brain tumors after an  MRI Friday. The 57 year old will learn more about his condition after he is examined Thursday at Duke Medical center. The 1986 World series champion(With the New York Mets) and two time All Star game MVP, had been complaining of headaches and forgetfulness. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Carter and his family. One of my childhood favorites and a good man.

The 1st quarter trend of solid pitching and just enough offense continues for the 2011 Washington Nationals, who sit just below .500(19-21) as of May 15th in the highly competitive National League East. The surprising success of the balanced pitching staff has been a key and the season stats overall show it. Among the 30 major league teams, Washington ranks in the top 12 in 3  of 4 key categories: ERA and WHIP(11th) as well as 8th in quality starts. The Nationals drop to 19th in batting average against but even that that is statistic you can live with. This team gives up hits but does not give up runs.  That is a good recipe for success.

Offensively, this team has struggled to sustain much of anything. Washington has 1 player hitting over .300 with 80 plus at bats(OF Laynce Nix at .313) and another regular over .250(C Wilson Ramos .267 with 86 ABs) after 80 plate appearances.  Both 1B Adam Laroche(.192) and 2B Danny Espinosa(.198) have been awful while 2011 free agent signing Jayson Werth(.223, 6 home runs, 14 rbi) has struggled in a lead role after being part of great lineup in Philadelphia. SS Ian Desmond(.221,3,15)  got off to an awful start and is hitting .188 in May. The offseason defection of 1B-OF Adam Dunn(Signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox) and injury to franchise face 3B Ryan Zimmerman(.357,homer, 4 rbi in 28 ABs,DL-ed with abdominal surgery) have also contributed to the lack of offense.

NATIONALS NEWS: Desmond has not played since suffering a quad injury vs Florida May 13th. The move is more precautionary than anything and he should return to the lineup early next week. INF Alex Cora made his 2nd straight start Sunday… Veteran RH Todd Coffey(1-0,3.38 ERA)took a liner off his throwing elbow Sunday but X-rays were negative. The righty is sore and their is substantial swelling,Coffey plans to treat the injury with ice and compression sleeve.   He is hoping to only miss this game…. Where would this team be without OF Roger Bernandina’s bat(.290,6 rbi, 4 steals in 31 at bats) and glove? He is in the middle of everything almost daily. … RH RP Chad Gaudin(Shoulder soreness) was eligible to come off the DL May 10th but his arm has not responded to the time off. He was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday May 15th…. Washington’s #1 2010 Overall pick Bryce Harper extended his minor league  hitting streak to 18 Saturday May 14th with a 7th inning homer. He added a single in the 9th. He is hitting an amazing .381 with 9 home runs and 31 rbi at Class A Hagerstown…. Nationals were shut out 4 times in their first 34 games

The 2011 Washington Nationals(16-18 as of May 8th) have been almost entirely bi-polar(No bats, all arms)  from day 1. The team continues to get solid efforts almost nightly from the pitching staff (11th in ERA, 12th in quality starts) led by a vastly underrated rotation.  The odd blend of lefties and righties, young and old, home grown and free agents continues to carry this club. Incredibly a group comprised of RHs Livan Hernandez, Jordan  Zimmerman, Jason Marquis as well as LHs John Lannan and Tom Gorzelanny was the last major league team to not have a starting pitcher be pulled prior to 5 innings(May 5th, when Lannan was gone after 2 innings). Many of us(This writer included) thought the Nationals bullpen would be a team strength but few minus super phenom Stephen Strasburg(DL after Tommy John surgery late in 2010) believed the starting pitching would a positive. Pitching coach Steve McCatty has earned his money this season while Manager Jim Riggleman has been a guiding light with his use of the relief corps.  Just a tremendous, tremendous job by both men.

NATIONALS NOTES: Another key to Washington’s early season success has been the depth and bench players GM Mike Rizzo has added to the club. With injuries to key players like 3B Ryan Zimmerman(Abdominal surgery) and now CF Rick Ankiel(DL-ed May 3rd with a sprained wrist) versatile players such as Jerry Hairston Jr really become invaluable. Hairston, who is hitting .229 with 4 rbi in 35 at bats, has played 2B, 3B, CF  and LF this season. OF Laynce Nix(.259, 3 home runs, 9 rbi in 26 at bats) has also helped greatly in a reserve role.  Nix actually is starting to take at bats and playing time away from the struggling Michael Morse(.241,2,11) in left field… Thru Saturday(May 7th), Washington’s bullpen ERA was 0.38  in their last 10 games.  Nationals relievers allowed just 1 run in 24 innings pitched!!!… OF Roger Bernadina was  recalled May 7th to fill Ankiel’s roster spot…. Riggleman was added to San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy’s National League all star coaching staff May 7th. The mid summer classic is June 12th at Chase Field in Phoenix,Arizona. While Riggleman managed the San Diego Padres, Bochy served as his 3rd  base coach…. Nationals rank 26 in runs, 29th in batting average among the 30 ML clubs

Washington Nationals all star 3B Ryan Zimmerman will undergo surgery Tuesday(May 3rd) to repair an abdominal tear and is expected to miss 6 weeks. Dr. Bill Meyers, an abdominal specialist, diagnosed a tear and will perform the surgery in his Philadelphia office. “If all goes well, it should be about  a six-week rehabilitation until he’s back and joins us again,” said Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo. Zimmerman had issues with both his groin and abdomen in spring training then aggravated it with slide into 2nd base April 9th. He was placed on the DL April 12th(retroactive to April 10th) but has seen little improvement. “It’s tough,”Zimmerman said. ” We went through a couple of weeks to try and get better, and it’s frustrating. But it’s nice to have, I guess, closure, to get it fixed and get working to come back.” Jerry Hairston Jr. will get the majority of playing time at 3B with veteran Alex Cora and youngster Brian Bixler also seeing limited action.