Johnson out 4-6 weeks
That's the latest. Nationals are putting their first baseman on the 15-day DL. An MRI this morning revealed a tear of the tendon sheath in his right wrist. The injury problems for Johnson continue. Dmitri Young will rejoin the club tomorrow to take his place.
Here's what Manny Acta said about the news.
Q: Thoughts on Nick?
A: I feel bad for him because, as always, we want to see him play a full season. He worked extremely hard to come back to spring training and be in the shape he is. And now this happens. He's a big part of our club. That being said, now Dmitri is coming up and he'll be able to help our offense too. We're lucky to have two guys at first base.
Q: Are you confident Dmitri is 100 percent?
A: Yeah, and he feels good. The reports we had from Double AA are that he's swinging the bat well, and he feels that he's ready to go through it. We don't push anybody. He's going to come in, DH, play first base here and there. And he can hit.
Q: What's the plan with Dmitri and Aaron Boone?
A: Well most of the time Dmitri will be playing first base, that's what he did here last year. Whatever we accomplished last year was with Dmitri out there, so we could be doing the same thing. We won't run him down; he's coming back from a back injury. But, he's going to handle that.
Q: How significant is the loss of Nick from a baseball standpoint?
A: Very significant, but you have to consider we played the whole season without him last year. I'm glad we have guys like Aaron Boone and Dmitri Young and Ronnie Belliard that give us the depth. It is very significant, because he is a big part of our club, not only as a player but as a clubhouse guy.
By Chico Harlan |
May 15, 2008; 11:41 AM ET
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Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | May 15, 2008 11:50 AM
the nats have lost their most patient and professional hitter for an extended period, making the lineup even most lopsided to the right. if meat hook can be part of at least a viable platoon with a-boone, all may not be lost.
Posted by: natsscribe | May 15, 2008 11:55 AM
Running this through the Nick Johnson Injury Translation Machine, we can reasonably expect this 4-6 week injury to sideline Nick at least through the All Star Break, if not well into August.
Looks like Zimm is going to have to bear down a bit more to get that Gold Glove.
Posted by: Coverage is lacking | May 15, 2008 11:56 AM
natsscribe, Meat Hook is a switch hitter.
.295/.355/.490 career left
.286/.335/.446 career right
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | May 15, 2008 11:59 AM
Kept my fingers crossed that NJ could at least make it healthy to the July 31 trade deadline - but will rally behind DMH and Boone to hold things together until his return. DMH will have three games at Kramden Yards to hone his stroke as the DH.
Posted by: leetee1955 | May 15, 2008 12:00 PM
This is just terrible news. He was sparkly in the field, on pace for 200 walks, and if anyone around him heated up, might have gotten something other than crap to hit. Get well soon, Nick! The Nats are a worse team without you!
Posted by: flynie | May 15, 2008 12:03 PM
with the state of young's back, i wouldn't expect him to play every day, initially. and boone most likely will be brought in for defense in late innings as fick was last year.
Posted by: natsscribe | May 15, 2008 12:03 PM
Did you all really think I'd let Nick go a full season without getting hurt?
Posted by: Injury Bug | May 15, 2008 12:04 PM
It will interesting to see what the infield's fielding percentage is post-Nick. Hope Zim's throwing problems don't come back.
Posted by: joebleux | May 15, 2008 12:05 PM
I think the point natscribe was making is that while Da Meat Hook is a switch hitter, it may better to platoon him with Boone. Aaron F Boone has played his tail off in the spots we've let him, plus his D has to be better than the big guy's. Or at least go with the hot hand at the plate between the two.
Although I worry about Young's ability to play the field at 300 lbs. Do we have a report on his weight from Harrisburg?
Posted by: 307 | May 15, 2008 12:07 PM
I think the Boone defensive replacement plan is the best one, honestly.
"Like Fick, but good!" could be the motto. We'd get a sweet pinch hit out of it too.
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | May 15, 2008 12:11 PM
LOL. Called that in the chat yesterday. Wish Vegas took action on stuff like this.
Posted by: Los Angeles, CA | May 15, 2008 12:16 PM
"we can reasonably expect this 4-6 week injury to sideline Nick at least through the All Star Break, if not well into August."
The truth lies in the URL: johnson_out_46_weeks.html.
Posted by: joebleux | May 15, 2008 12:17 PM
Brewers just signed Ryan Braun to a 8yr/$45M extension.
Other recent extensions:
Hanley Ramirez: 6yr/$70M
Tulowitzki: 6yr/$31M
Longoria: 6yr/$17.5M
Braun's and Tulo's average out to a little more than $5M per year. That's about what the Nats should do with Zim.
The Lerners and Zim's agent better come together soon on an extension.
Posted by: | May 15, 2008 12:22 PM
This news is not surprising but, very disheartening. This poor guy just can't stay healthy. And neither can this franchise. I have never seen a team year and year out bitten by the injury bug as bad as this team has/is.
I hope that DY only DH's this weekend. Manny needs to bring him along slowly and not rush him back.
The human body can only take so much weight and DA Meathook is putting a lot of strain on that back at 300 lb's, I mean, it could go again at any minute.
Posted by: Section 505/203 | May 15, 2008 12:22 PM
Amen. I think this almost ensures that Nick will now retire in a Nats uniform.
______________________
Kept my fingers crossed that NJ could at least make it healthy to the July 31 trade deadline -
Posted by: lowcountry | May 15, 2008 12:24 PM
"Braun's and Tulo's average out to a little more than $5M per year. That's about what the Nats should do with Zim.
"The Lerners and Zim's agent better come together soon on an extension. "
No way should Zim's agent sign a deal right now. If he has faith in his client, he will wait until his numbers jump up and sign big money. It makes perfect sense.
Lerners should sign Zim right away, while he's still (relatively) cheap.
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | May 15, 2008 12:24 PM
From Gordon Edes of the Globe's gamer [Barry's favorite beat writer next to Chico]: "Last season, Okajima treated inherited runners as if they were a personal heirloom, not to be trifled with. Of the 28 runners he inherited in 2007, only four scored.
So far this season, Okajima has treated inherited runners like junk you get rid of at a flea market: Of the 14 runners on base when he has entered to pitch, 11 have scored. That's 78.6 percent, the worst rate in the majors."
What have Nats relievers done with inherited runners? Does anyone know how to find IRA's for each reliever?
Posted by: flynnie | May 15, 2008 12:29 PM
DA Meat Hook! There is a reason why he was in the All-Star Game last year folks. Get your meat hooks out!
I also agree on Zim...sign him now..don't wait until he warms up..will be harder and you will lose in arbitraton...
Posted by: Thomas J | May 15, 2008 12:33 PM
Ummmm....yeah. The reason is that every team is guaranteed at least one "all-star."
* * * * *
DA Meat Hook! There is a reason why he was in the All-Star Game last year folks. Get your meat hooks out!
Posted by: Thomas J | May 15, 2008 12:33 PM
Posted by: Coverage is lacking | May 15, 2008 12:35 PM
Lineups up.
Posted by: natsfan1a | May 15, 2008 12:36 PM
Inherited Runners are available at ESPN, look up the player, then click on Stats and go down to Miscellaneous Pitching.
For Rauch, he's Inherited Runners 9 and allowed 3 to Score.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=4572
Colome: 10 IR, 7 Scored
Ayala: 4 IR, 1 Scored
Schroder: 2 IR, 0 Scored
Hanrahan: 11 IR, 7 Scored
Rivera: 14 IR, 4 Scored
Posted by: Sec 114, Row E | May 15, 2008 12:37 PM
So did DY already get activated and did Schroder already report to AAA?
I'm wondering if we have to play a man short AGAIN today.
Also, how many NL teams carry as man outfielders as relievers?
I have no problem with Bowden's handling of the off-season, getting Milledge makes great sense and he should get credit for Perez performance.
HOWEVER, the handling of the 25 man roster this season has been terrible and I think has likely cost us 2-3 wins.
Posted by: estuartj | May 15, 2008 12:38 PM
new post!
Posted by: gnupost | May 15, 2008 12:42 PM
Let Dmitri be Dmitri. Sure he'll make some errors and misplays at first, but his value is at the plate. If he can hit anywhere near .300, particularly with runners on base, his offense will more than make up for his limitations in the field.
Posted by: Section 133 | May 15, 2008 12:43 PM
let's then hope that DMH can at least hit his (actual) weight.
Posted by: natsscribe | May 15, 2008 12:45 PM
Quote of the day:
Q: How significant is the loss of Nick from a baseball standpoint?
A: Very significant, but you have to consider we played the whole season without him last year.
Uh, Manny, you won 73 games last year.
Posted by: Carl | May 15, 2008 1:16 PM
Welcome back baby!
Posted by: Nick Johnson's Couch | May 15, 2008 1:57 PM
I tired of Nick Johnson.. He always gets hurt. Time to dish him out, if you can!
Posted by: Bill | May 15, 2008 2:21 PM
Get well NJ as soon as possible,and lets keep Dimitri away from the doughnuts,and somebody,anybody, get him(dimitri) in some kind of shape!!!.
Posted by: DARGREGMAG@AOL.COM | May 15, 2008 3:22 PM
Get well NJ as soon as possible,and lets keep Dimitri away from the doughnuts,and somebody,anybody, get him(dimitri) in some kind of shape!!!.
Posted by: DARGREGMAG@AOL.COM | May 15, 2008 3:22 PM
After today's game, especially the play at the end, how can Dimitri play first on a daily basis? I am a big supporter of Manny Acta but no way you suffer through Dimitri's poor defense just to get his bat in the lineup when you have Aaron Boone playing as well as he is now. If Dimitri was in there today, I don't think the Nationals win that game.
Posted by: Bruce | May 15, 2008 3:48 PM
Oh please let NJ get healthy before the trade deadline ... so we can move him.
Re: Today
Bergmann - wow.
Posted by: Section 408 | May 15, 2008 3:59 PM
I wonder why Nats decided to get rid of Ryan Church and Brian Schneider? They are both having a great year with Mets! Would be great having Church playing LF for us--not much offense in his replacements. And Schneider's contributions to the clubhouse and morale of the club cant be replaced. I dont get it.
Posted by: GLC | May 15, 2008 5:39 PM
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Dang it, new posted. Chico didn't Barry tell you to check with me before posting?
Interesting on Nick the Stick.
from before:
In 9 games since the May 4 sit-down:
12 for 38, with 8 runs, 2 doubles, 4 home runs, and 7 RBI (but only 1 walk and 11 Ks!)
By my hurried and possible flawed math that's a .316 AVG, .333 OBP, and .684 SLG
Those of you who said sit him down may have been very, very right.
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | May 15, 2008 11:48 AM