From Turner Field
Yesterday's game; today's lineup.
First, here's your behind-the-scenes glimpse of Washington's clubhouse. Several of us who've followed the team for months agree that the Nats right now seem chirpier and happier than they've appeared all season. Music played in the clubhouse last night for only the third or fourth time since mid-May. (That's when I took over the beat.) Today, like yesterday, guys are joking, giving one other a hard time, sitting on the couch together.
This morning's entertainment: Greg Norman's pursuit of the British Open. About six or seven players were glued to the big screen television. All the while, they passed around magazines advertising the latest golf bags and clubs. At one point, another player gave a light-hearted pep talk, encouraging his teammates to "help put Mark Teixeria on the trading block." The idea being, if Atlanta loses a few more games, it'll likely look to move its first baseman.
By the way, Washington has a new everyday first baseman: Paul Lo Duca. Said Manny Acta: "We also have the option of putting Belliard there, too, but right now Paul is going to get most of the at bats at first base, especially not having Boone on the active roster."
Washington
Harris - 8
Lo Duca - 3
Guzman - 6
Kearns - 9
Belliard - 5
Flores - 2
Lopez - 4
Langerhans - 7
Perez - 1
Atlanta
Blanco - 7
Johnson - 4
Jones - 5
Teixeira - 3
Francoeur - 9
Kotsay - 8
Lillibridge - 6
Miller - 2
Reyes - 1
By Chico Harlan |
July 20, 2008; 1:03 PM ET
Previous: Young to DL, Zimmerman to return |
Next: Young must improve fitness
Posted by: firejimbowden.blogspot.com | July 20, 2008 1:12 PM
Is Larry Broadway--once upon a time one of our top prospects--really that bad? You've got to feel for the guy that he can't even get a shot with this craptastic team and injury situation.
Posted by: Coverage is lacking | July 20, 2008 1:18 PM
A Nats mention in the comics! Hey, it's better than PURINA FANCY FEAST with extra hot TACO SAUCE.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/comics/king_zippy_pinhead.html?name=Zippy_the_Pinhead
Posted by: nsfw | July 20, 2008 1:19 PM
I was wondering the same thing, CiL. What exactly would be the harm in calling him up at this point? Or at least, after we're done "showcasing" Lo Duca for the trade deadline? Brian?
Posted by: Bob L. Head | July 20, 2008 1:26 PM
Broadway appears to have been lost the every day 1B job at AAA to Luis Jimenez. There's also a kid named Bill Rhinehart at AA who seems to be playing well. I don't know which of these guys can play defense, but that's what we desperately need with the big club right now.
Posted by: firejimbowden.blogspot.com | July 20, 2008 1:27 PM
Interesting, Steven. Then maybe we should call up Jimenez. Rhinehart was in Vermont last year and started in Hagerstown this year so he's probably not ready to take over in midseason. If he keeps this up though he should get the Justin Maxwell treatment before the year is out.
Posted by: Bob L. Head | July 20, 2008 1:33 PM
Whoa -- Chico's dealing. New post.
Posted by: Scott in Shaw | July 20, 2008 1:35 PM
What a sad sack story Broadway is. On the verge of a call-up 2 years ago, he gets injured for the year just before the Nick-Kearns collision. He stinks the next year, and then has been serviceable. However, no move at 1st base is too silly for Bowden, short of bringing up a first baseman.
I am not sure that Jimenez has really earned his way to Columbus, even, whether or not they call him "Little Papi". Rhinehart would be a treat.
Don't count on it- if LoDuca somehow goes, count on Felipe Lopez to take over at first, or perhaps Lenny Harris.
Posted by: Positively Half St. | July 20, 2008 1:36 PM
Thanks, Chico, for the info on the clubhouse temperature. Good to know that our guys are up.
Posted by: natsfan1a | July 20, 2008 2:02 PM
Zippy a frontrunner? Who knew? :D
Posted by: natsfan1a | July 20, 2008 5:29 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
It seems pretty obvious that Manny's gotten an order to showcase Lo Duca. So this is no surprise. I'd rather see Belliard and Casto starting, but this is pretty close to our best lineup. I'm just glad Manny is playing the best OF options. Then when Zimmerman is back, I assume Belliard gets most of the starts at second and everything else stays the same. We should still have a solid defensive 1b in Estrada's roster spot. One of our minor leaguers should be able to fit that bill till Boone is back.