Glad to see they are sticking to their guns and brought up Nieves instead of Flores. Worst thing for Flores would be for the team to yo-yo him back and forth on the Columbus Shuttle this season.

Like the move - better to do something than nothing - would like it better if they let WMP bat 6 and dropped Kearns to 7. I wonder if batting Belliard in the 2-hole is prelude to sitting him down for a couple days if that doesn't work and letting Felipe have a chance in the 2-spot.

Barry, have the Nats heard of me? They realize that things like "Can't grip a bat" that haven't resolved themselves over the course of a few days aren't likely to? They further know that in fact it's ok to put a guy on me without carrying his semi-injured carcass on the active roster for a few days, right?

schroder. getting hosed once again. options or not.

better than hanrahan and better than king.

I'm glad to see the shake-up. Something needed to be done. I agree with others (on the earlier post) who want to see Zimm out of the 3 spot - at least for awhile - but the only other person who could reasonalby bat there right now would be Guzman. And that raises a whole new question.

When does it stop being early though? I know in terms of percentage of a 162 game season it is indeed early. But we've been playing almost everyday for two weeks plus six weeks of Spring Training. I'm thinking the hitters should be feeling a groove at this point.

I'd like to see a tweak in the lineup that moves Kearns from right field to left out.

Hope this isn't little more than rearranging the Titanic's deck chairs.

@lowcountry

As the sage Yogi berra used to say about playing left field during afternoon games at old Yankee Stadium when the shadows crept in...

"It gets late early out there."

I don't want to be Mr. Optimistic here - even though I do have this club winning 76-78 games - but we should see an improvement over this team.

lowcountry, you make a great point, but for some guys - like Mark Teixeria of the Braves - start off slow. In the past, even Ryan Zimmerman starts the season off slow. I'm not worried about Zimm, Ronnie Belliard (has hit the ball hard) or Wily Mo Pena (coming off injury).

My concern is Austin Kearns; he better turn it around quickly.

i don't really subscribe to the "yo-yo" effect, at least not that the "yo-yo" itself is a bad thing. it's only a problem, imo, when the "up" side of the "yo" doesn't include regular ABs. the key for flores is to get lots of ABs this year and experience handling pitchers. probably better for him to do it in AA/AAA, where there's less pressure, but i don't see a problem for him being up here for short stints, as long as he's playing when he's up.

lowcountry, i don't think the concept is necessarily "early" as much as it is "too small a sample."

guys go thru slumps like this in july, but it doesn't get the same amount of attention because it doesn't affect his overall stat line the same as it does in april. if a hitter goes 0-20 and drops 10 pts in BA in september, that doesn't come across as badly as going 3-4 on opening day, then 0-20, and having a .125 BA on april 10.

same with pitchers. a starter could pitch two strong 6 inning 2-run games, then a 4 inning 5 run game, with a few timely fluke hits, and be sporting a 5+ ERA. worse for a reliever, where one bad outing could push his ERA up by 4-5 runs.

Chico pitched his best game of the season with Flores catching. Coincidence? I think not. So how many games has Estrada caught Chico? or Nieves? Lo Duca has not proven to me that he can call a game yet with our pitchers (witness Lannan's game).

Let us see how Chico/Estrada team up. Watch to see if Chico is shaking off the catcher's first signs. As you can tell I am changing my opinion about sending Flores down--he may be our best catcher at this very time. He certainly has outhit all the other veteran catchers so far and he has worked better with the pitchers.

As far as dropping Kearns to #6, this is not that big of a deal. If Zim does not drive in runs from the 3rd spot then whoop- de -doo. What does Kearns add to the lineup from the 6th spot? Milledge at #5 is tantalizing since he so far has stung the ball more than Zim or Kearns. The key to this lineup is going to be for Pena to start hitting deep so that we finally have a real #4 hitter, until then we have a lineup that has had more success at hitting infield singles and hoping for pitchers to walk a run in.

Well, I guess Austin Kearns is now officially public enemy number one. Rest easy, Felipe Lopez.

Former Number Ones:

Off-season 2007-2008: Felipe Lopez
2007: Nook Logan
Off-season 2006-2007: Anyone remember?
2006: Jose Guillen
Off-season 2005-2006: Guzzie again
2005: Cristian Guzman

231: I dunno - I think there's a downside to the yo-yo, even if he plays. Production in baseball it seems to me is a lot about establishing a daily routine, a bunch of good habits that collect over time and lead to a good approach in each and every at-bat. Catching would seem to be that way even more so, since you are trying to establish a rapport with the pitchers on staff. Constantly being unsure if you are about to be called into the manager's office to get sent up or down would seem to undercut that, to say nothing of the sudden travel arrangements, trying to catch up with a team when they are on the road, etc. Would just seem like a very herky-jerky way to try to improve yourself as opposed to being able to settle into the rhythm of the AAA club and focusing primarily on improving your skills. Totally agree, though, Flores needs playing time more than anything else. But I say with him, Balester, Maxwell, or anybody else that we consider an actual "prospect" (as opposed to guys like O'Connor, or Langerhans, who are filling out spots on the roster) that we shouldn't bring them up until we're ready to have them stay up with the big club for a while and play with the big club.

I like the shake-up. I think Belliard is good at number 2 and wasted at number 8, as he doesn't see anything to hit. With Z-man and Johnson behind him, I think he'll get to see more pitches and start to drive the ball. AK and WMP behind Milledge should keep him getting pitches, too. I'd really like to see Guzman hitting with some runners on ahead of him (wow- never thought I'd say that) but Estrada and Chico aren't going to help that.

I agree with the ocmment that Chico pitched well with Flores. Maybe knowing each other last year helped? If we dumped Patterson to allow a young arm to develop in the majors, why not the same with Flores?

I like the shake-up. I think Belliard is good at number 2 and wasted at number 8, as he doesn't see anything to hit. With Z-man and Johnson behind him, he'll get to see more pitches and start to drive the ball. AK and WMP behind Milledge should keep him getting pitches, too. I'd really like to see Guzman hitting with some runners on ahead of him (wow- never thought I'd say that) but Estrada and Chico aren't going to help that.

I agree with the comment that Chico pitched well with Flores. Maybe knowing each other last year helped? If we dumped Patterson to allow a young arm to develop in the majors, why not the same with Flores?

marc, i see your point. and if they're sending him up and down every week or two, sure, that's a big deal. but if they're calling him up for 2 weeks 2-3 times in the season, i don't see it as that big a deal. and i'm sure flores would tell you he'd prefer that to a full season in AAA.

dale, come on:

"He certainly has outhit all the other veteran catchers so far and he has worked better with the pitchers."

he's had *11 AT BATS!* you know what other catchers he's out hit in those 11 ABs (using OPS)? every. single. one. in. MLB.

that sample size means nothing. nada. zilch. remember, zimmerman hit 397 his first season short callup (58 ABs).

sorry for the dupicate- I kept getting an error and the only thing I could think of was that it didn't like my name...

We don't see anything wrong with it.

---

sorry for the dupicate- I kept getting an error and the only thing I could think of was that it didn't like my name...

I'm still a HUGE Kearns fan. I can't explain why I'm so forgiving of some players and not others. And I can turn on a dime too. You should have heard my trash talking Kearns early last year. Fickle fans.

I had Nieves on my opening day roster so that's cool. I recall him doing fairly well in ST.

Glad to see Manny's finally listening to us. LOL!

Also, not to toot my own horn, but I wondered days ago about LoDuca's game-calling when Lannan pitched.

The other paper wrote about Lannan's disappointment over getting away from the pitching plan, but he never said whether HE got away from the plan or LoDuca did.

Good point made earlier from someone that kid-pitcher might not argue with 36-year old bully.

What do I have to do to start on this team? I hit a HR, double and knocked in 5 runs today in Columbus. I outhit and out-caught both Lo Duca and Estrada in my time in the Majors.

just once try nick j at the top.

johnson
guzie
milledge
zim
kearns
pena
belli
estrada
9

I'm glad that there's a line-up change, as the standard clearly wasn't working. I don't know how much sense this one makes because I don't know if Belliard is really going to get that much better stuff to hit in the new spot. But I never played the game, so what do I know?

I'd maybe have rather seen Guzman drop lower in the line-up. If no one's available to hit him in, his high average for infield slappers doesn't help the team, but if he had the opportunity to bat after somebody gets on (somehow!) then that same average creates RBIs. Obviously he isn't anything like a traditional clean-up or 5-hole hitter, but so what? With Zimmerman slumping and Pena yet to get his groove, we don't have anyone to hit in a traditional clean up role. It's the excluded middle again.*

OTOH, baseball is the game where you have time over the season to make small adjustments and test their merit, so let's see how it goes.

Please note -- I know nothing about baseball.

Bowden for not trading Soriano when he had the chance? Were there a lot of grumblings about that? I can't remember, either.

-----

Off-season 2006-2007: Anyone remember?

I agree Dale and Mo. Of course, this will not come as a surprise to anyone who reads these blogs. Flores has learned from the best, Schneider. He is better defensively, offensively, etc. I don't know for sure whether Chico's outing was Flores related, but it's a distinct possibility. However , I do agree, if you're going to jerk him around, then leave him in the minors. You just shouldn't have to jerk him around. He's the best they have. And no, I'm not his father-strictly Scottish roots.

I'm sure the fact that Belliard is 7 for 10 against Maine didn't hurt his move to the 2nd spot tonight. Hopefully he'll keep it going. Let's go Zimmerman!

231,

Has Lo Duca shown you ANY reason he should be a starter? The only positive thing that I can think of is has yet to strike out yet. I say bring Flores and play him. He has demonstrated power when no one on this team has yet and by the way in his meager 11 at bats he has 1/2 the rbi's of Zimmerman or Johnson.

Has anyone noticed that I'm a better outfielder than Austin Kearns?

LOVE the new order. Belliard was wasted in the 8 spot...much better to put one of our offensively challanged catchers there.

Someone commented that they would like to see Kearns after Wily Mo, but I disagree. With Kearns' high OBP, Wily Mo will get more opportunities to produce when he crushes those HR's we love him for.

Sending Schroder down makes sense. Think about it, they need to make room for Hill in a few days anyway, so Schroder goes down now. Lo Duca gets a few more days to get well. If he isn't better by Sat, he goes on the DL retroactive to when he last played. Nieves gets yo-yo'd when Lo Duca is back, but he isn't their primary concern with Flores ahead of him.

Just to be clear: I did not submit the question in today's chat that suggested that Paul LOBuca be cut in half and dumped in the Anacostia ...

... but props to whomever did. Well said.

lowcountry --

I asked the same question (i.e. "when is 'early' over" or "when do this season's stats become a significant sample") to my baseball mentor last season. His answer was "Memorial Day"

As Barry would say: So, there's that.

Putting Belliard in the #2 spot has already paid off with his nice job on the hit and run...

Walking the pitcher is pretty unforgivable.

Forbes is now reporting that the Nats had the highest operating profit in all of MLB last season! No, these guys aren't cheap at all. What a joke! LMAO.

Belliard!

This is quickly turning into a horrible start. Unless all of these pitchers have regressed, the loss of Schnieder has turned out to be much greater than anticipated.

Cheap? The Lerners? Amateurs!

About time!!!

Wooohoooo Austin! Atta boy!

Wow...go Austin Kearns!

Kearnsy!!

Wily Mo!

"Forbes is now reporting that the Nats had the highest operating profit in all of MLB last season!"

See folks? Austin Ryan Kearns can still hit that there twine wrapped in cowhide.
Now, If only Chico could throw 2 decent outings back to back.
::sigh::

gnatsgnation.blogspot.com (it's a positive Nats blog. It's just that "natsnation.blogspot was already taken)

See folks? Austin Ryan Kearns can still hit that there twine wrapped in cowhide.
Now, If only Chico could throw 2 decent outings back to back.
::sigh::

Visit http://gnatsgnation.blogspot.com

it's a positive Nats blog. It really is. natstsnation was already taken)

What's up with the WaPo server? Did someone forget to feed the hamster?

As bad as all of this has been, Milledge has been really good, and fun to watch. He is one of the real building blocks, no matter what happens with Kearns, WMP, my man Dukes, etc.

After 6 and down 3, it is time for me to check out what the affiliates are doing.

OK, pals-

The Potomac Nationals won their 10th in a row today. Go P-Nats!!!

I just bought a coupon package from a charity group in front of the Fairfax Giant for $40. It gets me 4 games "free" for tickets worth up to $27 for Monday to Thursday games (excluding some premium games). Honestly, I just want to get to some games, and the family schedule means I must go when circumstances allow, regardless of the opponent. There are also more buy-one-get-one free tickets.

I should come out ahead, and the team will pick up a little money, even if I don't use them all.

In the meantime, I got out to play some softball for he first time in 5 "Daddy-of-Three" years, and am proudly wearing dirt on my leg for stopping a few grounders.

This game matters on many levels.

Belly on, now a 3-run homer from Zim. Let's go.

Belly on, now a 3-run HOUR from Zim. Let's go.

Belly on, now a 3-run HOUR from Zim. Let's go.

Belly on, now a 3-run homer from Zim. Let's go.

Belly on, now a 3-run homer from Zim. Let's go.

Wow, sorry about that. Blackberry not cooperating. Zim not cooperating either. Bleck.

A shake up is when you sit down star players and play the bench players.Moving two players in the batting order has to be the very minimum a mamager can do to shake up the team. By the way it should always be the manager that shakes up the team not the GM.

Wow where did Joe Smith come from?

Milledge gets hit by a pitch and he's in obvious pain...and those stupid NY fans are cheering...WTF

It looks like the Tigers are going to win tonight, so unless we have a heck of a 9th inning, we're going to be the worst team in baseball.

And more bad news...Cordero is obviously in pain...not good...

Austin Kearns... rally killer

For everyone advocating that the Nats bench Kearns, who do they suggest as his replacement? Dukes is still on the DL, and defensively he couldn't handle RF anyway. Harris? Mackowiak? I think not. Maxell? He might not be ready for the major leagues next year. Kearns is off to an admittedly bad start with the bat, but so is about 3/4 of the team. I'm fine with dropping him down in the lineup and letting him hit him way out of his slump, but realistically there isn't anyone capable of replacing him. And for everyone envisioning an outfield of Dukes, Milledge, and WMP in the near future, all I can say is that I wouldn't want to be a fly ball pitcher with that trio working behind me.

Cordero's fastest pitch was 82, Yikes

GOING! GOING! and caught... Thank you, Bob Carpenter

Going to be a long year. I guess we'll have some more high draft picks. Oh the pain of The Plan

Joe Smith was in the NY/Penn league until they put him on the roster last year after spring. I remember listening to Charlie and Dave talk about him early last season.

So for all the fans waiting, just waiting, for the end of 2008 and the last of Christian Guzman, here we are into the home stretch. And after three years, they still don't have anyone better behind him. If he does have a good year, he'll get other offers. What if he takes one of them? No one here seems to want Lopez back, and he may well not want to be back. So, for middle infield for 2009, whaddaya got?

Furcal will be a Free Agent

Wow, that Maine guy is good. The Orioles could sure use someone like that.
OK, so could DC.

the nationals don't sign free agents

They could sign Furcal to play short. As for 2nd, I assume they will look at whoever used to play for the Reds, or check if there are any more Boone brothers available

well, they do. they just only sign bargain basement free agents

Hey, I resent that.

You're right, they don't sign guys. I was just blurting out a name. If Guzman leaves, I guess they will just plug in a prospect who isn't really ready, probably Ian Desmond. Winning games seems to be a low priority for a few years

Barry, how much do you think the lack of a contract is distracting our man RZ?

So Flynnie: would you like to regale us with some more f/x data about how Chad's fastball is just fine? The MASN radar gun had him maxed out at 79 (according to Sutton, the stadium gun was about 3 MPH faster). What's that on the f/x system? 90-92 MPH?

Shouldn't Zimmerman have to earn the new contract? What if he really is just a 260-270 hitter with average power as his 2 full season stats suggest?

Well, the song remains the same. Time to dial down the expectations one notch. I was at 82-80. Now I am 77-85. I am going fully longterm with longterm. I am not going to get mad at the painting that is the present, but I am not expecting a masterpiece this season either (and by "masterpiece" I mean a team that surprises everyone and contends, at least arguably, into early August).

Does anyone think Phil Wood looks like Frankenstein?

(And I love Phil, but the camera is unkind.)

Why is all the talk that the Lerners are cheap and use not signing Zim to an extension and not that Zime is being greedy or obstinant or just cautious? Wpould we all be singing JimBow's praises if he signed Zim to a 10 year extension and then having Zim blow out his knee and never play again?

But if the Nats traded Kearns for minor league prospects and signed Torii Hunter to play RF, then dropping Kearns in the order would never have been an issue.

After all, Hunter easily would have accepted the 5 year, $90 million offer the Nats could have made instead of the Angels. It doesnt really matter that Hunter will be 37 at the end of the deal.

The Forbes chart does state the Nats had the highest 2007 operating income...they were also 25th in revenue. The Nats have the the highest operating income for 2007 of $43.7 million.

The numbers, however, can just as easily be manipulated to show the Lerners are losing money, as the OI does not include any of the stadium contributions the Lerner's have made ($30-50 million depending on the report). Combine that with the $17.5 million dollar payroll increase from 07 to 08 and simply, it looks as though the Lerners are losing money.

An incredibly broad generalization, but one nonetheless that at least includes some facts.

I just switched over to the Yanks-Sox game. What a difference!! HD broadcast, all stars at almost every position, at least 4 future HOFers on the field. Face it, we are AAAA

We're on pace to match last year's 9-25 start. Despite everything, the pitching is better. Shouldn't we be better?

We aren't better b/c of a lack of clutch hits. We are leaving guys on base and having awful at bats with runners on. Zimmerman, Kearns, and Pena have yet to prove they are legit middle of the order guys, and Johnson has never had any power.

Didn't JimBOw, et. al., say Church couldn't hit lefthanders? I guess that doesn't include the guys the Nats threw the past two nights.

What's really scary is of our 4 wins,3 games we won by 1, and the other win required a 5 run 9th inning. We are are really close to being 0-15

From what I've so far seen this season, the Nats have too many of the same type of players in the lineup - righthanded hitters with big swings. While I favor the Milledge trade to get some youth and athleticism into the lineup Zim, AK, and WMP can be pitched to the same way.

You are 100% right. They all strike out a lot, and it's always the same pattern, hard stuff inside early in the count (they seem to always be down 0-2), and junk to put them away

I'm sending Manny Acta a bottle of White Out so that he can cover up Zimmerman's name that is pre-printed in the 3-hole on the line-up card. If he wants to catch lightning in a bottle on the off chance that Zimmerman maybe, just maybe, will not strand runners on base for once, then bat WMP 3rd in the same experiment. It is more likely that he will smash a dinger and drive in Guzman and #2 batter. After he's tried the same thing long enough, it's time to try something else. RZ can't seem to lay off the first pitch and he's swinging at bad pitches other times, often hitting lazy fly ball outs. NJ is obviously not providing any protection for him since they know they can get RZ out with junk. What a sick feeling this team gives me right now.

I am completely revising my prediction. This team will end up worse than last year.

Man this hurts- which is good - that is a sign of true fandom. The only problem is I am going to spend more at the ballpark on booze this year. Hey..wait a minute. Tricky tricky Kasten.

As long as Zimmerman snaps out of it sometime, and Milledge keeps impressing-- I can handle it. But if we come out of this year realizing Zimm isn't as good as we hoped, that is going to be tough.

Zimmerman is single, he needs to find himself a NYC slump buster tonight

Just today, Tori Hunter was saying that he really regretted not signing with the Nats. It would have been much more fun for him to play on a crappy team with guys like WMP and Austin Kearns than those bums Vlad Guerrero and Gary Matthews, Jr. He would have enjoyed this losing, it would have given him a chance to build some character. And if he was with the Nats, his season would be over at the end of September, he wouldn't have had to worry about post-season or anything. And, you know, Southern California is a pit, the weather is always the same there, he wouldn't be able to enjoy the 100% humidity of those 97 degree days in Washington, playing in front of a 2/3 full stadium. It was a really regrettable decision.

12-8, aren't you an Angels fan or something? How's *that* plan working out for you?

Chad Moeller went 3-4 for the Yankees tonight against the Red Sox. Nice talent evaluation, JimBo.

d u m b f o u n d e d

I am an Angels fan. Go Halos. I'll be the goon in 128 when the Angels are in town 6/23-6/25.

The Halos plan, at least during their current streak of divisional contention, has always been based on building from within. The core of the World Series team was Glaus, Percival, Erstad, Anderson, KRod, Lackey & Washburn - all homegrown.

They still have a strong core of homegrown players supplemented by free agent acquisitions where the farm system has failed (primarily OF). Plus the upper tier of minor league prospects are either well scouted high draft picks or bonus babies. Outside of deciding whether to overspend on re-signing a couple free agents in 2009 & 2010, their long term looks bright.

I'm hesitant to applaud either the Matthews or Hunter signings as I feel they both deviated from the teams modus operandi, but the jury is still out. Moreno appears to be a proactive owner, Scioscia manages a great system and we will see how Reagins does as the GM. The Garland trade appears to be a godsend with Lackey & Escobar on the DL. Still wish the team ponied up to get Cabrera and maybe Willis from the Marlins.

All in all, the Nats will have the financial ability to be as successful as the Angels. The revamped Big A isnt as nice as Nats Ballpark. Its easier to get to a game in DC than LA. What gets me excited about the Nationals is the continued focus on young talent...overspending in the draft and trading for Milledge & Dukes are premium maneuvers to accelerate the teams short & long term improvement.

Record aside, its a good time to be a Nats fan.

Lots of good news tonight! It sucks to lose, but - taken by itself - tonight was an honorable loss.

- Kudos to Guz for getting two walks. I feel like we can take Guzman walks for granted, but it wasn't so many of his at bats ago that he NEVER walked.

- Bells looks to be waking up. 2 for 3, with a double and a walk. Maybe the two-hole is already having an effect.

- Funny that 1 for 3 for Milledge (.333) looks bad, eh?

- Congrats to Kearns on the home run and 0 strike outs.

- Wily Mo's 1 for 4 in his third (fourth?) rehab in the majors start. Nice of Manny to stick him down low until he's got his timing back. When he does, he'll be a powerful force batting fifth.

- Bravo Saul Rivera, 1.0 IP, 1 K, 0 BB, 0 H

Some not so good:

- Kearns still not hitting well situationally. I don't buy the "fire him" line, but he really needs to be lower in the line up. Get 100% Wily Mo.

- Chico didn't have good stuff tonight. It's nice that he only had 3 walks to his 5 Ks, but at least one of those walks was definitely the wrong person. He kept the game within reach, but we'll hope for better in the next start.

-Zimmerman continues to struggle.

- Johnson looked bad.

- Pinch hitting is a disaster. Better off letting the pitcher hit.

I'm more okay with this loss than most of the others. I felt like we had a better chance. Keep the new lineup tomorrow!

I would tweak th line-up a little further for tomorrow

1. Milledge - CF
2. Belliard - 2B
3. Guzman - SS
4. Johnson - 1B
5. Zimmerman - 3B
6. Pena - LF
7. Estrada - CA
8. Kearns - RF
9. Lannan - SP

I agree 12-8, it is a good time to be a Nats fan. Let's just hope that they don't ruin things by overvaluing their own talent and refusing to trade their prospects under any circumstances when the time is right and then signing a one-year wonder to a ridiculous free agent contract when everyone knew that the guy was on the juice. Who would want to be a fan of a team like that?

I would want to be a fan of a team like that.

And overvaluing their own talent, smart guy, has brought them a homegrown infield, deep bullpen, 4/5 of a starting rotation, payroll certainty (which allows them to spend in free agency) and a world series championship.

Huh? I thought the rally monkey and thunder stixx is what brought them a world series championship.

Gotta love those thunder stixx! Are there any real baseball fans in Los Angeles of Anaheim, anyway? Or do they need to be entertained by Mickey, the rally chimp and the thunder stixx all the time?

You're right. Their gimmicks won the series. Except the team isnt owned by Disney anymore so Mickey is no longer a factor.

Snark is appreciated, but only if its accurate.

The clubhouse chemistry is bad this year.

Last year, even midst the early losing, you had the feeling that, between Young, Schneider and Acta there was leadership and good vibes. It's missing in 08.

Zimmy isn't a leader yet. Loduca and Lopez have bad karma. Milledge? Naw. Not yet.

Right now we've got a bunch of journeymen, spare parts and youngsters.

We are waiting for someone to step up.

If something doesn't click, it's going to be a long season.

Dread.

-->Off-season 2006-2007: Anyone remember?

Cristian Guzman. He slumped the entire previous season, was overweight and had among the highest salaries on the team. His '07 performance caught everyone by surprise.

Another thing that looks better in this year's slide than last year's is the defense. We have a couple errors and gaffes, but not nearly as awful as last year.

Very refreshing to see some honesty from the team about Chad Cordero this morning. No denials or spouting false confidence in him. They're concerned, they should be, and they were up front and decisive about taking him out of the closer role for now.

Being forthright like that takes some of the alarm out of it. Though it IS concerning, at least we're not waiting for the other shoe to drop since we KNOW something's up with him. Thanks for being a little more honest.

Forbes says the Nats had the highest operating profit in baseball last year, but the Lerners asked city taxpayers to pay for the team's uniforms!

Come on, Post Business editors, isn't there a story here...somewhere?

Why won't the Post cover the issue of the Nats' financial policies? Are they in the bag for the Lerners?

I have a good feeling about Ian Desmond. Since the middle of last season, he has seemingly got on track. I think the future Nats might have a shortstop in their system.

Dread, what kind of access do you have to determine what the clubhouse chemistry is like? Just curious...

To think that I was so optimistic before the season. Who kidnapped Ryan Zimmerman and put this impostor in his place? Our bullpen is down to one credible reliever. Milledge and Guzman are the only two sparks on this entire team at the moment. Our hitters are making every opposing pitcher look worthy. Can the manager act just a little worried?

Someone said April is the cruelest month. I bet he did not have the baseball season in mind when he uttered those words.

"Forbes says the Nats had the highest operating profit in baseball last year, but the Lerners asked city taxpayers to pay for the team's uniforms!"

swanni, you can keep repeating this one bogus line from a spurious, undocumented and ubylined wtop.com link until it shows up as the first 1,000,000 Google hits when a search is done on "Lerners are cheap", and it still won't make it true. Give up dude. Everyone knows the Lerners aren't cheap, and your continual one-note posting just reinforces the point. Ha ha!

That would be me.

---

Someone said April is the cruelest month. I bet he did not have the baseball season in mind when he uttered those words.

And the offense is "like a patient etherized upon a table."

Or, if you will, "I will show you fear in a handful of" at-bats.

(For the record, Barry gets credit for using the opening line of The Waste Land last April. The more things change, eh? To make matters worse, they stole his "Lastings Impressions" line for an Inside Pitch feature.)

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Someone said April is the cruelest month. I bet he did not have the baseball season in mind when he uttered those words.