With the first pick in the 2009 MLB draft, the Washington Nationals select...

It looked to me like he hurt his knee before he hit wall, possibly when he planted his foot as he was turning. I sure hope the injury isn't serious.

F*u*c*k*

this is just awful. Sorry to hear it Dukes. Get well soon.

the nats' 2008 season continues to swirl down the drain...

flynnie,

We could use a hug.

Hey--At least it wasn't one of the guys we were trying to trade at the deadline.

Yikes. This really is the most injury struck team I have ever seen.

LoDocca
Estrada
Young
Johnson
Belliard
Zimmerman
Kearns
Milledge
WMP
Dukes
Perez
Hill
Cordero
Wagner

Plus injurred but not on the DL this year - Boone.

I suppose Casto will be back by tomorrow. Maybe we'll see Daniels soon. Ready or not they may have to start calling up everybody.

This is a major set back. The Reds announcers said it was something to do with his knee cap. That sounds very serious to me.

This team is snake bit.

Hey--so I posted this before and natscribe said he thought it was #2 and maybe some 4. I'm curious if any of the rest of y'all have a theory on Bowden's ex-Red obsession, or agree with any of my potential theories:

1. Laziness. Just goes with guys he's familiar with because he doesn't really spend the time he should looking at all the options.

2. Ego. He falls in love with his own genius so much that he convinces himself that his draftees and acquisitions are better than they are. Once he decides he likes a guy, he wildly overrates him and really really wants him.

3. Seeking redemption. He's trying to prove that the crappy players he acquired in Cincinnati weren't really that crappy.

4. Cronyism. He (and Boone) just like their old buddies.

Langerhans, Escobar, and Casto all appear to be available and playing on the road in Toledo tonight.

Good work Jesus

Tonight's on-field result pales in comparison to the loss of the Nationals only truly dynamic player. The way Dukes attacks the game is unlike any other player on the roster. He is raw, sometimes offensively and defensively, but he also plays with the sense of possibility that he can put his past troubles behind him and become the team's best player. Now what? WMP back as the regular LF? This team just doesn't have the organizational depth to overcome the loss of two starting outfielders.

damn. can't win for losing. dukes has started to break out, and is probably the guy who plays with the most energy on the team.

here's to hoping it's not as serious as it sounds like it is.

*sigh*

@leetee--the use of the verb "overcome" would imply that they weren't completely craptastic before the injuries. I don't want anyone buying into this line that the injuries are our problem.

S*T*R*A*I*N*

FJB,

I respectfully disagree. If you want to use the word "replace" in its stead, please do so.

Replace, overcome, whatever. The organization doesn't have the talent to field a competitive team even if totally healthy.

Wow. And not in a good way...

Get well soon, Dukes.

Great. In comes Ayala. How many pitches does it take for him to blow the game? I'll set the line at 3.5.

luis "gasoline alley" ayala coming in? game over, man. game over.

Ayala in? Psh. Game over.

And take the under...

Damnit Flores.

Thats what you call insult to injury.

Good call Paul. It was only 3 pitches.

Dukes would've had that throw in Flores' glove on a line too. How serious is a "strain?"

i think your blog is missing you, SoCH...

FJB,

Forgive me for asking this if it has been asked before. Not being facetious but since you seem to despise this team's management and on-field personnel, why do you bother to read and post on this blog?

If there was ever room for crying in baseball, this season might just be the place...

Which hurts worse, the injuries or the complete lack of a bullpen?

fyi, leetee, FJB = steven on capitol hill

@231,

Okay, that explains it. Thanx.

I don't despise anyone. I want the team to win. Some people think the problem is Lenny Harris. Some people no doubt will post in a moment that Luis Ayala should be dumped. Some people are rallying ready to throw Manny under the bus. I blame the guy picking the players.

And besides, this blog doesn't have the commenter depth to replace me :)

I share the disappointment and frustration at seeing yet another Nat felled by injury, but I also hope that the crude posting from 9:36 p.m. will be removed at some point as the Post guidelines indicate that such postings will be.

Back when the Nats traded for Dukes I had no idea I would ever miss his presence on the field this much.

NaNF, to me, the injuries hurt the most. The bullpen hasn't been a strength as in the past, but it seems that they just about have to be perfect given the chronic lack of offense.

not that you're full of yourself, or anything. :P

Not sure the implication of strained knee but as long as they do not have to cut him, maybe it is not so bad. I guess we have to wait for the MRI. For once I hope it comes back with some good news instead of season ending surgery.

h*o*l*y c*r*a*p ... he's done.

1a, no doubt it all hurts. It would just hurt a little less to occasionally see them win a game like tonight. Although, at this point maybe losing won't be so bad...anyone know who will be the #1 overall prospect for the 2009 draft?

I know what you mean, NaNF.

Co-sign NaNF and 1a.

Who's next? I'd put my money on Daniels. Guess this means even more time for Bernadina/Pena though =(

Commenting on the last Post and comments as to the Nationals weekly farm report and NATS Farm Authority. I have been following NFA daily since it was recomended to us NJers about the last week in May (or there abouts). The weekly account put out by the NATs PR has not deviated once from the daily output of NFA as to facts. Where it is useful it gives weekly total of NFA's daily output and highlights the players who are consisent as opposed to the players who pop up in NFA from time to time who have one or two good games in the course of a week. It is also useful to NATS fans who don't have time to follow NFA on a daily basis. Bottom line the NATS' minor teams have been very very good this season--the NATS PR have not been making that up.

bernie i can live with because he can at least catch the ball, which could help make the pitching respectable. if wmp doesn't drive in more runs than he lets in with his matador defense he's as much use wearing a glove as michael jackson.

"Hey--so I posted this before and natscribe said he thought it was #2 and maybe some 4. I'm curious if any of the rest of y'all have a theory on Bowden's ex-Red obsession, or agree with any of my potential theories"

LoDuca - not an ex-Red
Estrada - not an ex-Red
Belliard - not an ex-Red
Milledge - not an ex-Red
Dukes - not an ex-Red
Perez - not an ex-Red
Redding - not an ex-Red
Harris - not an ex-Red
Chico - not an ex-Red
Mock - not an ex-Red
Langerhans - not an ex-Red
Nook Logan - not an ex-Red
Soriano - not an ex-Red
Fick - not an ex-Red
Guzman - not an ex-Red

All of these players and more non-ex-Reds have been acquired by Bowden since he came to Washington. My theory: All your theories are crap, and you're full of it.

Early favorite for number one pick next season:

http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/strasburg_stephen00.html

you strained, knee.

It used to be that only our starting pitchers (and Nick) got injured during the season.

Now, any outfielder who can hit over .225 is in the bulls eye. How does this keep happening?

I'm sticking with an injury-adjusted 58 wins for the season prediction, down from 75 at the end of March, but I really have no idea how they will win those games, especially now that their only hitter is probably gone for some time.

seriously, it must have been only three days ago that i wrote i've been reduced to hoping dukes doesn't get hurt.

this is rock bottom. there's not much left to see here. i guess flores but he's not that exciting to watch.

we don't even have anything of value to trade. this team is a real letdown. at least we aren't the redskins.

What am I, chopped liver?

"...but I really have no idea how they will win those games, especially now that their only hitter is probably gone for some time."

Lerner and Kasten better hope the Red Sox come into Nationals Park for an interleague series next year, because that's the only way you're going to disguise a massive plummet in season ticket sales. (And those damn Ivy Leaguers who buy such plans won't go to Nats games other than those involving their beloved Bosox, and perhaps opening day.)