National Record

The Washington Nationals traded RHSP Jason Marquis to the Arizona Diamondbacks for infielder Zach Walters on July 31st trade deadline day. In a smaller move, earlier in the day  they traded super utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. to the Brewers for a minor league outfielder. Marquis has pitched well for the Nationals(8-5,3.95 ERA in 20 games) in 2011 after throwing in only 13 contests in 2010 due to bone chips in his right elbow. The veteran was due to be a free agent without compensation after the season and needed to be moved by GM Mike Rizzo. Marquis was excited about being on a team that is a potential post season contender(Trail the Defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants by 2 games, NL Wild card leader Atlanta Braves by 3.5) also mentioning that he has several friends on the DiamondBacks as well.Walters is considered a offensive middle infielder with ability to hit for average with some power.  He will report to class A ball Potomac after hitting .302 qith 9 home runs and 56 rbis at the Brewers class A farm club. Interesting to note that he was teammates with Nationals 2010 2nd round draft pick LHP Sammy Sollis at San Diego State. 

The Washington Nationals reached the 100 games played point at 49-51(Start of July 24th) as they continue to hover around the .500 mark for the 2011 season. Team pitching and when I say TEAM I mean team, continues to be the strength. The starters and relievers continue to keep this below average offensive team in games(11th in ERA among the 30 ML teams) with every member of the  rotation sporting a sub 4.50 ERA, when you take out veterans, RH  Livan Hernandez(4.04 in 21 starts) and 5th starter LH Tom Gorzelanny(4.46 over 15) the top 3 are under 4.00: RHs Jason Marquis(3.92 in 19) and  Jordan Zimmerman(3.00 in 19) as well as LH John Lannan(3.51 in 21). This group is very underrated and one of their strengths is they present different approaches and attacks to batters. Livan does not walk batters and that sets the tone, Zimmerman is a talent, a power guy who can strike out hitters while making them look bad. Lannan, the most consistent, a workman like lefty who hands out a lot of “comfortable” 0 for 4s. Marquis is an old school battler, he gets in messes because he does not have unbelievable tools. But he is a pro and know how to minimize mistakes and keep his team in the game. I covered Gorzelanny in Pittsburgh and many thought he was on the verge of taking off. But  injuries and the losing culture of the Pirates seemed to take its toll. The southpaw is a good fit here in Washington, giving them a 2nd lefty starter and a young “veteran” for the kids to lean on. When you combine this group with an all star set up man(RH Tyler Clippard,25 holds) and an exciting young talent at closer(Drew Storen, 25 saves), you can see reasons for optimism in the nation’s capital. I would tend to think that Washington’s pitching coach Steve McCatty would start to hear his name linked to many head jobs in the next couple of years. Outstanding, outstanding work by that man and this staff. 

DESMON-B.J. UPTON RUMORS: With SS Ian Desmond struggling all season(.228 as of Jukly 23rd) several teams have called the Nationals about his availability. Do not look for him to change addresses anytime soon as both Washington GM Mike Rizzo and skipper Davey Johnson have made public statements supporting the 2nd year man in the past 10 days. Tampa Rays CF B.J. Upton has been linked to the Nationals in trade rumors and he is from the same Virginia area as 3B Ryan Zimmerman. This would make more sense for the Nats but I believe several teams will be in the bidding for the talented but enigmatic Upton. He would fit a major need in center for Washington however. 

STRASBURG(GOOD) AND PUDGE(BAD) UPDATES: RHSP Stephen Strasburg(Tommy John surgery) threw a simulated game in Viera, Fla July 19th and remains on his rehab schedule. Rizzo stated on July 2oth that the #1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB draft will throw another simulated game in Florida but he did not have a date. Future hall of fame C Ivan “Pudge” Rodriquez(Right oblique) was set to come off the 15 day DL this weekend but felt pain in side after taking batting practice. He plans to stay in Miami for further rehab work. 

TRADE DEADLINE: The MLB non waiver trade deadline is July 31st at 4 pm and I think the Nationals could move a starting pitcher(Marquis? Hernandez?). I say this because the team is close to having RHSP Chien-Ming Wang(Shoulder surgery, out since 2009) return to the staff and if the offer is too good, Rizzo would have to consider a move. Also another outfielder would help this club. 

LANNAN’S BIG NIGHT: Lannan helped his own cause in a 7-2 victory July 22nd at the Dodgers with his 1st career home run, this marked the 2nd time in a row he had two hits and rbi in the same game. He tossed 6 1/3 innings, allowing 1 earned run for the win. 

The Washington Nationals played solid ball for the 1st half of the 2011 campaign but what should make fans of this club excited is the development of the young, home grown players on this team. GM Mike Rizzo has done an outstanding job of adding pieces in trades(All Star set up man Tyler Clippard, C Wilson Ramos,1B-OF Michael Morse) to a talented core of drafted talent(2B Danny Espinosa, 3B Ryan Zimmerman and Closer Drew Storen as well as starting pitchers, LH Jon Lannan and RH Jordan Zimmerman) and you see the results on the field. While free agent RF Jayson Werth has been a bust, signings Livan Hernandez, Jason  Marquis and south paw Tom Gorzelanny have helped stabilize the rotation. This is a solid organization with a bright future and Rizzo’s work should not go unnoticed. In this stacked division, a .500 record is an accomplishment!

NATIONALS NEWS: RHSP Stephen Strasburg, the #1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB 1st year player draft, threw live batting practice July 13th for the 1st time in 2011. He has not pitched since undergoing season ending Tommy John surgery last September. The talented pitcher will do the same Monday July 18th in Viera, Fla. Rizzo has not ruled out Strasburg pitching during the month of September… Utility man Jerry Hairston Jr.(Broken right wrist) will rejoin the club in Houston and be activated  after a 3 day rehab assignment at Double-A Harrisburg… Lannan helped his own cause in a 5-2 win at Atlanta July 16th with a 2 run run single in the 2nd, his first hit in 32 season at bats!!!… Gorzelanny left his start Sunday July 17th in the 3rd inningf after spraining his right ankle running the bases. He is considered day to day…  RHP Chien-Mien Wang continues to look great in his comeback from shoulder surgery and has had his next start  moved up to Triple A Hagerstown. The former two time 19 game winner has not pitched in the majors since July 2009 went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in four AA rehab starts. His fastball has been clocked at 94 but the key remains getting him to 90-100 pitches, according to GM Mike Rizzo. Wang is a good bet to pitch some games late in 2011 for Washington…. Manager Davey Johnson continues to support struggling SS Ian Desmond(.225,5 home runs, 19 rbi as of July 16th)  citing his improved defense(13 errors after leading the majors with 34 in 2010) while stating the youngster is a team leader and “He is the first one here, he loves baseball, he loves to play, he loves to compete and he gets a little frustrated.” Trust me, as someone who grew up watching Johnson manage the great New York Mets teams of the 1980s, your shortstop is in good hands!!!  

If someone told you that 3B Ryan Zimmmerman(Abdominal surgery)  would miss 58 of the first 92 games yet the Washington Nationals would be .500(46-46) at the all star break they would want you drug tested.  But that is where they are as of July 10th and their are many reasons why. To me, #1 is the underrated and deep pitching staff.  While the staff does not feature a Sandy Koufax type ace, the Nationals can roll out 5 major league level starting pitchers who give the team a chance to win. All 5 starters have sub 4.10 ERAs: RH Jordan Zimmerman(2.66 in 18 starts), LH John Lannan(3.64 in 19), LH Tom Gorzelanny(3.94 in 13),veteran RH Livan Hernandez(4.01 in 19) and RH Jason Marquis(4.05 in 18) have all pitched well.  Look at where this club ranks among the 30 ML teams pitching wise: 10th in ERA, 12th in quality starts, 15th in WHIP and 18th in batting average against. The bullpen has also been oustanding, led by the promising young tandem of set up man(and The Nationals lone all star representative) RH Tyler Clippard(1-0,1.75, 23 holds,11.05 Ks per 9 innings) and closer Drew Storen(5-3,2.53, 23 saves in 26 opportunities). Offensively, the team is a work in progress but with Zimmerman working his way back to 100% health and 2B Danny Espinosa, 1B Michael Morse and OF Roger Bernadina hitting well, the potential is there.

PUDGE DL-ED:  Future hall of fame C Ivan “Pudge” Rodriquez was placed on the 15 day DL with a strained right oblique July 9th.  Wilson Ramos was already the starting C and new skipper Davey Johnson was playing the veteran every third day. The team recalled veteran Jesus Flores, who has played 79(2007) and 90(2008) games for the  team before tearing the labrum in his right shoulder in 2009. 

HOT HARPER: The Nationals promoted the organization’s top prospect(and many believe the #1 in all of baseball)OF Bryce Harper to AA Harrisburg on July 4th. The #1 overall pick in 2010 First-Year Player draft, hit .318 with 14 home runs and 46 rbi in 72 games at A Hagerstown. In 4 Double A games, he is 5 for 14(.357) with two rbi. Harper was 0 for 4  Futures Game in Arizona while playing for the U.S Team, K-ing twice in a 6-4 win. 

NATIONALS NOTES: Super Utility man Jerry Hairston Jr.(Fractured right wrist) took dry swings Sunday (July 10th) after fielding ground balls and throwing from short stop Saturday(July 9th). He will began rehab games later this week and hopes to rejoin the team July 18th…. Strange win on the 4th of July but the Nationals will take it. RF Jayson Werth drew a lead off walk , was bunted to 2nd base and then stole 3rd. With his presence at 3rd, a wild pitch allowed him to score on Cub’s closer Carlos Marmol’s wild pitch, giving Washington a crazy 5-4 win on the Nations birthday!!!… Morse and Espinosa are the dominant names on the offensive team leader board: Morse is #1 in Batting average(.306), OBP(.351) and Hits(83) while the rookie tops in homers(16) and rbi(52).

The first week of the Davey Johnson ERA for the Washington Nationals is underway and the club continues to be competitive and fun to watch(42-41 as of July 2nd). Johnson, a former  world champion as both of a manager and player, believes in big innings(ala his manager in Baltimore, Earl Weaver), playing offense first, looking for 3 run homers. He is  also  good at developing young players while utilizing the entire roster with each member of  the club knowing their assignment when they arrive at the ballpark. Players such as 1B-OF-PH Matt Stairs(more key pinch hitting appearances, weapon off the bench), OF Roger Bernadina(Defensive minded spark plug who will be all over the outfield) , INF-OF Jerry Hairston Jr.(Solid pro who can play anywhere in a young infield) and INF Brian Bixler(pinch running ace)  will be more involved under a Johnson regime. During a contest  July 2nd, he inserted  Bixler into the game as part of  key double steal while calling on future hall of fame C Pudge Rodriquez(game winning single) to pinch hit in a 2 run 8th inning rally, leading the club to a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the night cap of a doubleheader.

NATIONALS NOTES: RH SP Jordan Zimmerman had an incredible June, over 6 starts and 42 and a third innings, he allowed 4 earned runs(0.85 ERA) while going 3-1. He also struck out 27 while walking 7!!! If not for the historically impressive month put forward by Philadelphia Phillies LH SP Cliff Lee(3 straight complete game shut outs to close the month) Zimmerman would be winning the pitcher of the month award!!!… Hairston Jr will miss 2 to 4 weeks with a fractured right wrist after being hit by a pitch Wednesday(June 29th). He was placed on the 15 day DL July 1st (retroactive to June 30th) with veteran OF Rick Ankiel taking his roster spot. Hairston was batting .260 with 2 home runs and 17 rbi and while filling in all over the field. Lately, he was the regular 3B(Until Ryan Zimmerman returned from the DL) or LF… 2B Danny Espinosa has really come on and had his best month batting average wise in June(.274 after hitting .207 in May and .212 in April). The 2nd year man has tremendous power and run creation numbers as well: 14 home runs, 48 rbi and 40 runs. When you watch the Nationals play, he just seems more at ease and has that I belong in the majors look to him. The next guy to fix is SS Ian Desmond!!!!… Johnson made a couple of changes in the coaching staff this week, dismissing 1B coach Dan Radison and hiring respected long time major league staffer Pat Corrales as his bench coach. This is Corrales 3rd stint as bench coach for Washington as he served for both Manny Acta(2007-2008) and Jim Riggleman(2nd half of 2009). Between those assignments, he served as a senior  assistant to the general manager. Trent Jewett will take over at first after opening the season as an extra member of the coaching staff. Previously, he coached The AAA and A Washington farm clubs.  Johnson liked what he saw when Jewett served as interim bench coach last week in California vs the Angels and he sited that in his decision. Radison was and is a good baseball man but his skipper(Riggleman) quit and he had no job security because of that. Sad but a fact of life in MLB.