Buh-bye Nook. Not the first time he has had base running gaffes. This is the show, man, get it together, or go to Columbus.

Given how Watson is playing at the moment, Nook might benefit by going down just as Watson did last year. I think he can be valuable but I don't think his confidence is there right now. He's trying too hard instead of just playing.

Boswell still writes about the Nationals? Based on what I've seen of him in the 35-cent edition and online recently, I thought he had gone all-Orioles, all-golf all the time. Oh, that's right - the Orioles are out west right now and the big Tiger Tourney doesn't start for a week or two yet. Tell him us real Nats fans appreciate him slumming with us while nothing better was going on. I'd tell him myself, but he'll be gone again before I have the chance. But Barry, we really do appreciate your being on top of the story all season long, even on your days off. If it weren't for you, I fear there would be no Nats coverage at all in the WASHINGTON Post...

I almost made it to the ballpark today specifically to say a fond farewell to Da Meat Hook. What a breath of fresh air you have been for this half-season!

How can these AL teams watch what he's doing and not pull the trigger? He has remained hot, and even the balls that are outs are hit well. I love having you around, Meat, but if you're here next weekend, I'll continue to be amazed (and thrilled). We wish you well!

I am hoping that the votes of confidence that Nook Logan is getting are the kind that managers get just before being fired. I have no further use for this guy- he has failed at offense, defense, and clear thinking.

I guess that Darnell McDonald was a minor league version of the buy low, sell for the future pattern the team tries to follow. A cheap free agent for part of the season, traded for a prospect.

Let's start the bidding for some of the Nats themselves while they are hot (Dmitri, Guzman, perhaps Belliard).

What's with the hating on Boz? He's not a Nationals beat reporter, he's a sports columnist. If Barry had his job, I would hope that he'd have just as eclectic a mix of writing. I hope Barry doesn't get his job, though, I like him partisan.

Still: Boz's O's column last week was a giant shout out to the Nats if I ever read one. It started on the premise that the problem with the O's is that they are not the Nats, how much more complimentary can you get?

And for Barry: I heard Charlie and Dave talking about how Kornheiser was going to actually go to a Nats game. Any word on what the blowhard thought?

Now that's the way to wrap up a homestand. Not only does Simontacchi issue a quality start, but Belliard goes 3-for-3 and completes a two-banger with Guzman to get the lead runner, Hafner, on Peralta's tough grounder in the top of the second. (In certain computer-engineering circles, "bang" is shorthand for the exclamation point, which I use in my scorebook to punctuate a noteworthy effort. On the well-hit groundball by Peralta, Guzie made a great scoop and Bells made a helluva pick. Thus I scored the putout 6!-4!)

It was nice to see Belliard at 2B today. He might not be Chase Utley, but he usually fields the position competently and rarely expends needless effort.

Nattily-battily
Our Ronnie Belliard
Mans second base scarcely
Breaking a sweat;

Pounces on Guzie's toss
Glovework-efficiently,
Putting Pronk out and
Erasing a threat.

Oh you Nats!

Hendo,

... but seriously tho', does 'exclamation point' really need a shorthand helper?

... but even more seriously tho', I truly hope you're saving your original ditties and will make them available as a complete unit at the end of the campaign to a selected few admirers.

"I truly hope you're saving your original ditties and will make them available as a complete unit at the end of the campaign to a selected few admirers."

I second the motion!

Natscan puzzles: "but seriously tho', does 'exclamation point' really need a shorthand helper?"

Well, yeah, when you're reading aloud, say, a few lines of code. Or helping a scorekeeping rowmate catch up after a temporary absence. "Six-bang, four-bang" reads a lot more snappily than "six-exclamation-point, four-exclamation-point."

I suppose, strictly speaking, that's "geek-speak" (or "seamhead-speak") rather than "shorthand." But you get the idea.

ESPN just reported both Guzman and Colome on the 15-day DL.

Hendo,

"I suppose, strictly speaking, that's "geek-speak" (or "seamhead-speak") rather than "shorthand." But you get the idea."

... LOL; u r 2 cool.

... I have no problems with shorthand, especially the email kind. BTW: IMHO, FWIW, I like writing the language much more than speaking it. No problemos getting down with the keys on my trusty iBook PowerMac.

... but when it comes to verbalizing, I could never figure out why "poli sci" was easier to say that political science, or "phys ed" quicker than physical education or its natural equivalent "gym".

... but hey, ca c'est moi. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.

... and now back to our game!

Damn, Dawg. Thanks for the news, unwelcome though it be.

Haven't caught it on espn.com yet. One of the OPs did just run something about Guz off the AP feed. Would expect to see something on washingtonpost.com shortly.

Colome injury: "right lower extremity soft-tissue infection."
Start the puns/jokes anytime now....

TO: SVRLUGA WAPO

URGENT STOPPRESS COLOME GUZ ON DL STOP NEED INSIGHT REASSURANCE CRYINGTOWEL SOONEST STOP THAT IS ALL STOP

"Bang" for the exclamation is also used by team proofreaders (one reads the "dead" copy aloud while the other marks the "live" copy).

---

Well, yeah, when you're reading aloud, say, a few lines of code. Or helping a scorekeeping rowmate catch up after a temporary absence. "Six-bang, four-bang" reads a lot more snappily than "six-exclamation-point, four-exclamation-point."

Posted by: Hendo | June 24, 2007 07:28 PM

Nothing beats the prose of Scribe Barry (the hardest working man in DC sports journalism), but kudos to the unknown AP writer who had a nice hook in today's gamer on roommates Simontacci and Flores. Sounds like the Nats have their own version of the Odd Couple.

Guzman on the DL? Didn't he just play a full 9 innings? When it comes to injuries, it's really one step forward, two steps back with this team.

With Guzzie out, who plays short? I say move Felipe to shortstop and let Ronnie play 2nd. I can't see Ronnie ranging to his right in the hole and throwing someone out from deep short. And I'm sure we'd all agree Tony Batista is not even a short-term fix at SS. I don't think he's played there since his Toronto and Arizona days.

Having Cristian on the DL may solve the Logan-Watson logjam for now...Unless we see D'Angelo or Manny Alexander get called up. Ugh.

Guzman injury: "left thumb ligament sprain."

Call me crazy...

2B - Lopez
3B - Belliard
SS - Zimmerman

Whuddya think?

BrianH: You're crazy.

Like a fox, maybe. Funny, I was just listening to Stan answer a question yesterday about the possibility of vetting Zimm at SS. His response was basically: no way, we've got SS solved.

Except we don't now, at least for the next couple weeks.

The answer would hinge around how well Bells handles the hot corner. He really hasn't done much there except a few seasons ago for the Brewers.

Zimmerman played some SS here in 2005, and his strong arm wasn't the problem like it is at 3b. He just didnt seem to be able to get to most balls at short, like he does at third. I remember he had a few errors there, too.

FS Nats Watcher, I'd love to see this but couldn't turn it up. Could you point me in the right direction, perhaps? Thanks.

---

Nothing beats the prose of Scribe Barry (the hardest working man in DC sports journalism), but kudos to the unknown AP writer who had a nice hook in today's gamer on roommates Simontacci and Flores. Sounds like the Nats have their own version of the Odd Couple.

Posted by: FS Nats Watcher | June 24, 2007 08:17 PM

A tough decision for the infield.

If we move Zimmerman around, Batista is the choice at 3B for leather. Not as good as Zimm, but better than the alternatives. His hitting I don't want to talk about.

On the stick side, Zimmerman-Lopez-Belliard is the choice on the numbers.

Either way, if you want to try Zimm at shortstop, there would probably be no better time than now.

Hendo - Manny Acta said Belliard plays an excellent 3rd base. Bells played the hot corner for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Andrew - Thanks for the insight. I forgot about 2005.

Two things tempt me about Zimm playing SS.

1 - He looked good turning the double play when he played "SS" on the exaggerated shift for left-handed pull hitters. Gave this lunkhead flashbacks of Cal Ripken.

2 - FLop is awful.

Colome's buttocks has flared up again.

Dang it!

Umm, I'm not going to touch that one with a ten-foot pole.

---

Colome's buttocks has flared up again.

Dang it!

Posted by: BrianH | June 24, 2007 09:17 PM

I am tempted, though.

Natsfan1a, yer naughty. Let's hope Natsfan1b doesn't see this.

Looking back at baseball-reference.com, we note that Zimm only played one game at SS in '05, committing two errors. Hardly a judgable sample size. The jury is still out.

Actually, natsfan1c is my better half (he's not nearly as fanatical about baseball as my sister-friend natsfan1b and I are).

Didn't mean the Colome comment to come out the way it sounded, though. I was thinking more along the lines of bad puns. Oops!

---

Natsfan1a, yer naughty. Let's hope Natsfan1b doesn't see this.

TO: SVRLUGA WAPO

DISPATCH RECEIVED STOP NAILED AS USUAL STOP YOU ROCK THAT IS ALL

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/24/AR2007062401405.html

Never mind, I just found it via the WTOP site.

---

I'd posted:

FS Nats Watcher, I'd love to see this but couldn't turn it up. Could you point me in the right direction, perhaps? Thanks.

Hey, I was just perusing the standings and I think it may be time for our resident GB/A specialist to plug the latest numbers into Excel and run a new spreadsheet (6 with worse records and one tied as I type this).

Now off to bed with visions of Simontacchi pitches dancing in my head. Good game plan execution by S-Tach and his roomie Flores!

I'm all over it natsfan1a! Expect the GB/A sometime mid-morning tomorrow.

With all the hand-wringing about Guzie, I completely ignored the other development.

Manny won't be able to ignore the situation come the sixth inning or thereabouts tonight. Specialists like Ray King excluded, we've been lucky to get about one inning of relief out of each pitcher in the pen.

But tonight we won't get one from Colome, so I guess we will have to get one from Column B.

Hey! SECTION 419 -- Are you insane?? How dare you talk about Boz like that. First off, the guys is one of the best columnists of any sport in the country and probably THE best baseball columnist. Two, the guy grew up here as a Senators fan and only adopted the Orioles because of a love for baseball, proximity and then Cal Ripken. So you shut your mouth because you do not know of what it is that you speak.

Now, regarding Logan. My comment to my wife when he got tossed out at third base to end the game was simply this, "That is the last time Nook sees the field in a Nats uni". Do you know when the last time I said that about a player was? How about when the Dallas Cowboys' tight end Jason Witten beat Adam Archuleta on a deep seam route to tie the game with a TD on the same day the WashPost published a 30 page article on why the Skins secondary was getting crushed weekly (Hint: deep seam routes). So, maybe Nook pinch runs here and there, but it is quite simple, Bowden has preached about giving all these guys a shot and that by now it is time to start producing or you will be gone. Is Logan's speed enticing? Of course. But it is time for him to go and let us move on. Heck, I named my fantasy league "I Heart Nook Logan", so I was all for him making it here, but he just hasn't done it.

Have a good day. Go Nats!

Ryan rants (sad to say, in a manner not atypical of too many Redskins fans): "Hey! SECTION 419 -- Are you insane?? . . . So you shut your mouth because you do not know of what it is that you speak."

Umm, Ryan, 419's got a right to make a point. Lord Peter has kicked sand in our face for too many years and a lot of us would really just like to vote him off the island, like right now.

Meanwhile, lemme wipe the foam off the corner of your mouth... there, that's better. (Got my shots last month.)

natsfan1a:

... no idea what a GB/A is, and my Excel doesn't.

... but my look at the standings this a.m. says the Nats are tied with Houston and only half game behind the Giants in the Wild Card race. Any chance the game tix will go on sale soon?

Thanks, Sect. 506!

---

I'm all over it natsfan1a! Expect the GB/A sometime mid-morning tomorrow.

Posted by: Section 506 (After moving) | June 24, 2007 11:09 PM

Hee hee -- I think of the same thing every time they say his name on the radio broadcasts!

---

But tonight we won't get one from Colome, so I guess we will have to get one from Column B.

Posted by: Hendo | June 25, 2007 06:45 AM

natscan puzzled: ... no idea what a GB/A is, and my Excel doesn't.

I reply: As Manny says, ask and you shall receive. Sect. 506, our resident GB/A expert, will display it in all its glory.

But to answer your question, natscan, GB/A is "Games Back/Ahead" of the Nationals, for all MLB. A bit of understandable, if maybe not all that classy, gloating that we do not, in fact, follow an historically awful team, merely an almost mediocre one. ("But they're a scrappy bunch...")

Speaking of which, Sect. 506 has posted the latest GB/A findings in the most recent thread.