The Nationals Enquirer

He Blew It.

 

"I think we're in the exact same spot we were a month ago...I mean, we certainly didn't give up any opportunities to get good young players to help us in the future. We did not walk away from them. I'd say we're treading water from where we were a month ago."
(Jim Bowden, via Washington Post, 7/31/2007)

Trader Jim puts the dead in deadline...

...but was it really about the quality of the prospects available, or was it about Jimbo's ability to asses value in the market? Did he ask for too much?

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Let's make a deal?

Last call for Cordero and Rauch, 4 pm. But don't hold your breath?

(Sadly, it looks like Wily Mo could be heading to the White Sox...)

Meanwhile...

It sounds like Hill had a nice rehab start last night...

Reds can't afford to keep Dunn around...maybe Krivsky will make a last gasp at leaving him behind in Washington?

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

The Enquirer answers the mailbag!

We're just mere hours from the passing of the non-waiver trade deadline, so let's pass some time opening up this week's Nationals dot com Mailbag! As always, keep those e-mails coming to Nationals.com, and we'll keep copying and pasting them over here and giving our half-assed answers. Thanks a bunch.

With the signing of Dmitri Young, is it safe to say the Nationals truly do not care about rebuilding? -- P. R., Oakton, Va.

It's not really safe to say that, but it is safe to say that the NAAAts could have easily signed Da Meat Hook tomorrow in the event that a trade didn't materialize. It is also safe to say that taking Young and Belliard off the table when they did certainly doesn't help the rebuilding process.

Does Young have enough mobility to play in left field? -- S. C., Potomac, Md.

Haha, sure, why not?

Why do the Nationals keep Brian Schneider in the staring lineup? He is hitting .228 with four home runs and 37 RBIs. He almost could be considered an automatic out. It's like there is another pitcher hitting in their lineup. Will the Nationals do anything? -- P. R., Oakton, Va.

Maybe we'll see Jesus get more playing time as the season winds down?

Why doesn't someone teach Nook Logan how to bunt? He has the speed to squeeze out a couple of extra base hits a week. -- M. W., Nashville

Another way to ask the question is: why is Nook Logan still on the team?

What is the story with John Patterson? Do you think we'll ever see this guy pitch for the Nats again? And while we're on the subject of injuries, do you think Nick Johnson is finished for this year? -- T. D., Gettysburg, Pa.

RE: The Big Pattsy, we promised a few weeks ago that we won't mention him again by name (and won't talk about him, period) until he starts another regular season game for the NAAAts. And since that probably won't happen ever again, we'll respectfully move on. Yeah, it sure sounds like Nick J. is finished for this year.

I have always been a staunch supporter of Acta's, and am glad he is getting a chance to prove his worth as a big-league manager. How would you evaluate his work this season at the helm of the Nats? -- B. P., Plattsburgh, N.Y.

In general I think he's done an admirable job, I like his 'turn that frown upside down' attitude...

Now that Alex Escobar is down again and our current center fielders haven't been too refreshing, shouldn't the Nationals give Brandon Watson a chance? -- D. S., Washington, D.C.

Yes.

What is former Expos closer Rocky Biddle doing these days? I know he tore his labrum at the end of the 2004 season and I have not seen him anywhere since. -- P. N., Elmwood Park, NJ

Yes.

Go Get Wily Mo!

"I was struggling and not getting hits. I just tried to get in and do the best I can, and I started feeling more comfortable."
(Wily Mo Pena, via Boston Herald, 7/27/2007)

Forget Adam Dunn...think Wily Mo!

So what if he can't hit a breaking ball? We've been singing the same tune since last July: Go Get Wily Mo Peña, Jimbo!

WMP is on the Trading Block, only this time around the price should be significantly lower -- Did you see his 4-5, 4 RBI night last week? How about his 2-3 day yesterday? From Sunday's Boston Globe:

Wily Mo Peña may have done himself a world of good with his breakout game Thursday night in Cleveland. Teams were watching. "That's what the Red Sox thought they had when they traded Bronson Arroyo," said one GM. "But the problem is you've got to believe that's what he can be consistently. If you don't believe that, then it's awfully tough to make a commitment to him. I think some team will trade for him again and start all over with him. The feeling is eventually it will click.

Meanwhile...

Mark Zuckerman asks what happens now for the Plan. Stan toots NAAAts' own horn re: progress: "What a great year we've had in the rest of our system, bringing new guys in. ... Ask around. It's very impressive with the arms we have accumulated...we are making real progress, guys. We are getting closer and closer, and it's a very exciting part of our journey."

Rotation stuff: More starts on tap for Lannan and Hanrahan.

(Photo by Julie Cordeiro)

Wash Out

"I do whatever they tell me. I don't really care either way, as long as they want me."
(Billy Traber, via Washington Post, 7/30/2007)

Mets 5, NAAAts 0: Rain, Maine, go away, come again some other day. Billy Traber gets knocked around; Game called after 5 innings. Blah.

NAAAts split four with Mets, finish road trip 3-4; according to Manny, "That's what you want to do on the road."

(AP Photo/Ed Betz)

Split Decision

"Everybody's counting us out. They're saying we're not a big league ballclub and we're going to be losing some important pieces during the trade deadline. The way I look at it, I don't think they're looking to just unload people. We're playing these teams that are in division races and they're supposed to be winning. We're not just rolling over."
(Tim Redding, via Washington Post, 7/29/2007)

NAAAts 6, Mets 5: Nail biter! Langerhans helps NAAAts survive D'Angelo Jimenez Comedy Night* in NY; Joel Hanrahan solid in major league debut, triples, and doesn't get tossed (unlike Lannan).

Mets 3, NAAAts 1: A real nice start by Tim Redding, but NAAAts come out swinging and missing against El Duque.

Meanwhile...

It's official: Da Meat Hook's $10 million, two-year extension is a done deal. Stan Kasten tells the Washington Times "I'm not sure it would have been a decision we would have made three months ago. But it was the right one right now."

Wily Mo! Wily Mo! It was only a matter of time before the Wily Mo Pena-to-Washington rumors started floating in. From Nationals dot com: "The Nationals are interested in acquiring Red Sox outfielder Wily Mo Pena, according to a baseball source with knowledge of the situation." The price should be low, since Wily Mo has been stinking it up this year. Don't worry that he can't hit the breaking ball, he can hit the ball a mile!

Zimmerman grounded into his 19th double play of the season yesterday, that's good for 2nd best in the majors!

*to be fair, D'AJ did go 2-4 with 1 BB and RBI batting leadoff despite two baserunning mishaps and a botched popup.

(AP Photo/Ed Betz)

Bacsik in the saddle

"He gave me even more than I was hoping for. He gave us seven innings, and everybody knows the condition of our bullpen after those games in Philadelphia. Just gave us a huge, huge lift."
(Manny Acta, via Washington Post, 7/28/2007)

NAAAts 6, Mets 2: Giant Baby* pacifies Mets at Shea. Da Meathook's fifth inning belly flop registers a 5.1 on the Richter Scale. Watch out, here they come -- just 13 games back in NL East!

Bergmann heads to the DL again, this time courtesy of Tim Tolman. Thanks, Tim.

John Lannan feeling sad about his debut...

*The nickname "Giant Baby" courtesy of Bad Nats.

(AP Photo/Ed Betz)

Enquirer Exclusive: NAAAts near five-year extension with Tony Batista!

 

"We're trying to build, not tear down."
(Jim Bowden, via Washington Post, 7/24/2007)

NAAAts reportedly "close" to signing Tony Batista to a five-year, $40 million deal

Third baseman Tony Batista is close to signing a five-year extension with Washington, according to multiple sources with no direct or indirect knowledge of the situation. The move would come despite the fact that the non-waiver trade deadline isn't until July 31, meaning Batista is effectively off the trading block. Batista declined to comment. General manager Jim Bowden did not return our calls. The sources said that Batista will receive $8 million per season plus an option year.

Meanwhile...

The Nationals Enquirer staff continues to be baffled by the reported 2 year, $10 million extension for Da Meat Hook. Not baffled by the money -- that's a minor detail at this point, but about the timing. The question that needs to be asked is: Why do this deal before the July 31 trading deadline? Does the timing of this deal (and the extension of Ronnie Belliard), taking two of your best assets off the market before July 31, signal something about the quality of the prospects available, or does it say something about Jim Bowden's ability to do his job? Over the last few weeks, nearly every published report we've seen of another team's interest in a Washington player has included something about Bowden's asking prices being too high, unrealistic, ridiculous, etc. etc. Did Jim just completely mishandle the opportunity?

I wonder if they'll leave the Chief or Rauch behind up in NY this weekend?

(MLB.com photo)

Going Lannanas!

"I wasn't throwing at anybody. I was just trying to make good pitches, and it got away from me."
(John Lannan, via Washington Post, 7/27/2007)

NAAAts 7, Phillies 6: Philly Thriller! Jesus Saves! Lannan gets (inexplicably, but not without precedent) tossed in major league debut!*

Holy crap!! -- Manny (finally) argues! Manny (finally) gets ejected!

*ouch, sorry, Chase!

(AP Photo/George Widman)

What Da hell!?

Done deal!? You've got to be kidding me.

A 2 Year Extension for Da Meat Hook!? What's the $$$ look like!? He'll play left next year!? He'll lose 20 lbs!? "'[Young] has to lose 20 pounds to play left field,' said one source with knowledge of the situation." (from Nationals.com)

Just like with Belliard, there's the big, fat stinking question of timing: This deal couldn't get done after the deadline?

Unbelievable.

(AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)