Early-morning Shawn Hill update
(This, by the way, is Journal entry No. 700. Celebrate in your own special way.)
Got in touch with Shawn Hill briefly last night, and that's reflected in this here notebook. For those not inclined to click through, Hill returned yesterday evening from his second opinion appointment at Duke (alma mater of yours truly) and said that all seemed fine.
"Everything went all right," Hill said by text message. "Nothing new. Just a few new ideas for strengthening and stretching, but continue to throw through it as of now."
The Nationals updated his status thusly this morning: His examination "confirmed taht the radial nerve's motor branch (surgically decompressed after the '07 season) is normal and does not require surgery. Shawn will continue his rehabilitation program and is day-to-day."
This, it seems, is good news -- as long as Hill is willing to pitch through the discomfort. Again, even before he went in for the MRI late last week, he was throwing the ball well. We'll have to get something from Manny Acta this morning on what the plans are going forward.
In the $.35/$.50-edition, I also covered the catching situation and how it might affect the pitching staff. The team is unveiling the scoreboard at Nationals Park today, and Dan Leduc of the Metro staff has a preview. Single-game tickets go on sale in just more than an hour. And Boz mulls over the difference between the decisions Acta must make in '08 as opposed to '07.
Cuts come down today both after the first game and the nightcap in Vero Beach. We'll see some old friends against the Dodgers -- Esteban Loaiza on the hill, Gary Bennett behind the plate, and Nook Logan is even in their minor league camp.
Updates as they're warranted.
By Barry Svrluga |
March 4, 2008; 7:48 AM ET
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Next: More Shawn Hill
Posted by: Section 406 (RFK) | March 4, 2008 8:02 AM
Over the past 60 days in NJ land, we've add discussions about the wisdom of signing 2 catchers & what to do with Flores, as well as discussions about what the starting rotation would be & projected stats considering the fragility of JP and Hill.
I take comfort that we were, pretty much, all correct (not surprisingly) when we expected injuries to throw the "plans" out the window. At least we have contingency options available that, really, were pretty much non-existent last year.
Posted by: Nats fan in NJ | March 4, 2008 8:14 AM
I'm so pleased Shawn doesn't need more surgery. I still worry a little though. It's so early. We could be on pins and needles all season, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I ABHOR suspense.
Posted by: NatsNut | March 4, 2008 8:40 AM
Redding looked so good yesterday and some have posted his stats for last season saying he is capable of more than he has shown in the past. Is that true or is he what he is--a mediocre fifth starter.
Posted by: Cindy Lou | March 4, 2008 8:49 AM
The mention of Loaiza and Bennett reminds me of someone I've been meaning to inquire about: Frank Robinson. Is there any chance that enough time has passed that Frank will consider allowing the Nats to honor him at the new stadium? I love Manny, but I also have fond memories of Frank. It is dissapointing that Frank has not been able to reconcile with team management. I believe the fans would still like to honor him.
Posted by: NatBisquit | March 4, 2008 8:50 AM
I wonder how many people have their ticket windows open right now, poised and ready to hit enter and refresh.
Posted by: NatsNut | March 4, 2008 8:54 AM
i'm in a waiting room for tix
Posted by: svxcountry | March 4, 2008 8:57 AM
Posted by: Anonymous | March 4, 2008 9:09 AM
the nationals ticket system sucks. I've been refreshing since 8:00 and in the waiting room and somehow i missed out.
Posted by: svxcountry | March 4, 2008 9:19 AM
Has anyone actually gotten tix or is this one big scam. I've been in the waiting room since 8:57am EST. I tried at 8:55am EST and it wouldn't let me. Finally it let me in and now I've been auto-refreshing for 27 minutes.
This sucks. Phone is obviously busy too.
Posted by: Ryan | March 4, 2008 9:24 AM
i had 3 browser windows open refreshing, only one ever made it through. did score two nosebloods (420/M, next to last row) so i can take my dad. sorry for those of you who didn't make it through.
Posted by: 231 | March 4, 2008 9:25 AM
Is it sold out already? What the frick? I was here before 9am, this is horsepoop.
They should do a lottery like the O's used to do when people still went to Camden Yards.
Posted by: Ryan | March 4, 2008 9:27 AM
I got through once but accidentally searched for another pair...didn't realize i'd have to start over.
Posted by: svxcountry | March 4, 2008 9:28 AM
So this is the worst ticket ordering system I have ever seen. I also had three browsers open. I finally get through on one, put in my request for two tickets and it tells me they are experiencing high demand and my order cant be processed.
More than a little frustrated.
Posted by: Matt | March 4, 2008 9:28 AM
So I've gotten through three times to the part where I am to enter in the numbered code they give me and each time it kicks me back out and says that the demand is to high or whatever. Annoying.
Posted by: Dano | March 4, 2008 9:35 AM
A message just popped up for me in the "virtual waiting room" that OD tickets are no longer available.
Stan made a lot of ticket brokers happy this morning, who will re-sell at about 1000% profit.
Thanks Stan, From a 4 seat 20-gamer holder since 2005.
Posted by: Section 505/203 | March 4, 2008 9:43 AM
Make that 100% profit. Still, Thanks Stan.
Posted by: Section 505/203 | March 4, 2008 9:54 AM
1000% is right
Posted by: George McGovern | March 4, 2008 10:45 AM
700 -- woohoo!! Seems like it was just yesterday that I was reading the first one. Congrats, Barry and NJ!!
Posted by: natsfan1a | March 4, 2008 10:59 AM
I'll second that emotion.
---
I believe the fans would still like to honor him.
Posted by: natsfan1a | March 4, 2008 11:02 AM
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Barry,
Thanks for the update. That makes me cautiously optimistic on Hill, but there could be a wide spread between Hill's side of it "just some stretching" and the team's side "doesn't need surgery".