The Nationals Enquirer

No Dunn Deal

(Adam Dunn will stick around in Washington; at least through the end of the season.)

"We were engaged right up to the last couple of minutes with some teams. We just couldn't come up with a deal that I thought was good enough for the type of player that Adam Dunn is."
(Mike Rizzo, via Nationals Journal, 7/31/2010)

Adam Dunn Stays Put for Now

No Deadline Deal for Dunn.

"Now what?

Supposedly, Dunn is looking for 4 years, $60 million. How about 3 years @ $11 - $12 mil per, loaded with performance-based incentives?

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Dunn's Last Day In D.C.?

 

(Adam Dunn's big bat is still available as the trade deadline looms at 4 PM Saturday. UPI/Kevin Dietsch Photo via Newscom.)

"The closer to the deadline it gets, the more pressure is on teams to come with something that makes sense for me to trade one of the best offensive players in baseball."
(Mike Rizzo, via NatsInsider, 7/30/2010)

"50-50. Maybe 51-49. I really don't know."
(Adam Dunn, via Washington Post, 7/31/2010)

Tick...tick...tick...4 PM is looming.

Tigers, White Sox, still in? 

Rays, out?

"After hour upon hours of internal and external conversations we just ultimately didn't find a fit.''
(Rays VP Andrew Friedman, via The Heater/TampaBay.com, 7/31/2010)

Good for Rizzo for setting an exorbitant price. Here's hoping Dunn stays put...

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ROy Vey!

 

(Roy Oswalt's Phillies debut didn't go as planned. Getty Images photo.)

"You definitely want to hear your team being shouted (for) rather than the Phillies. For the most part, they were a little quieter today, and that's a good thing, especially in our stadium."
(Craig Stammen, via The Goessling Game/MASNSports.com, 7/30/2010)

Nats Pound Oswalt, Phils

Nationals 8, Phillies 1: Wouldn't it be nice if THAT Craig Stammen showed up to pitch every five days (6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K)?

Miss Iowa > Roy Oswalt

Roy Oswalt helps Nats take back Citizens Bank Park South. Nyjer Morgan triples on Oswalt's first Phillie pitch; Oswalt's first AB was even better - an improbable 9-3 putout after lining an apparent base hit to right. All six of the sober Phillies fans in attendance were left lamenting the loss of J.A. Happ.

Big night on tap Saturday nightat Nationals Park for Stan Kasten's favorite paying customers. Here's hoping Ross Detwiler can keep 'em quiet a second night in a row.

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Happy Ending for Miss Iowa, Miguel Batista

(From left to right: Miss Iowa, Miss Iowa, Miss Universe. Reuters Photo/Jonathan Ernst)

"I think I could probably take his job after that pitch." 
(Miss Iowa Katherine Connors, via Nationals.com, 7/30/2010)

Miss Iowa throws out first pitch at Nationals Park

Rizzo might want to give her a look depending on how things go for Lannan on Sunday. Not bad at all:

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The End of an Era: Cristian Guzman Traded to Rangers

 

(Cristian Guzman has been traded to the Rangers. AP Photo.)

Guzmania is Dead

The Nationals have  traded Cristian Guzman to the Rangers for prospects.

According to Mark Zuckerman/NatsInsider, the Nats get two arms in return; one of them is 25-year-old right-hander Ryan Tatusko. The other is 24-year-old Tanner Roark. Tatusko's minor league stats here. Roark's are here.

And just like that, the final thread connecting the 2005 Nationals to the 2010 Nationals has been cut. [Update]: Livo! DUH! Still, it feels like the end of...something. Nate over at NTP explains what we were thinking but couldn't articulate: Guz was the longest tenured original Nat. And the Guz-Twins-Nats-Rangers-Senators link is duly noted.

Guzmania is dead.

Score another one for Mike Rizzo.

Adam Dunn next?

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Farewell Matt Capps. Hello Wilson Ramos.

(Matt Capps, we hardly knew ya. Getty Images Photo.)

Nationals trade Matt Capps to Twins

 

Just hours after notching his 26th save in 30 chances this season, the Nationals traded Matt Capps and a bag of Ted Lerner's cash to Minnesota for "highly regarded" catching prospect Wilson Ramos and minor league lefty Joe Testa. Nice haul, Rizzo. Welcome to the closer role, Drew Storen?

 

According to La Velle E. Neal III of the StarTribune/Twins Insider, Capps becomes the Twins closer effective immediately; old friend Jon Rauch is now relegated to set up duty.

 

Wilson Ramos, a.k.a. "the guy who never stood a chance in Minnesota because of a guy named Joe Mauer", becomes, at the very least,  "the guy who makes Nationals fans forget the name Wil Nieves." Ramos becomes Pudge's understudy effective tomorrow, right?

 

Hey, nice job flipping Capps, Rizzo! No complaints from here.

 

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Nats Put on a Brave Face

 

(The show must go on for the Nationals, regardless of the news about Stephen Strasburg heading to the DL. Getty Images Photo.)

"I thought he looked good. I thought it was just a real good outing, a very good outing. He's really pitching with confidence." 
(Jim Riggleman, via Nationals.com, 7/29/2010)

Welcome back, Scott Olsen.

Nationals 5, Braves 3: Olsen strong; Dunn & Desmond strong-arm Braves after 1 hr., 32 min. rain delay.

Nats take 2 of 3 from Atlanta; bring on Philly.

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Will Miss Iowa get the "Batista on Strasmas" treatment?

(Honorary Mr. Iowa, Miguel Batista. Photo by Getty Images.)

Now that it has been confirmed that Miss Iowa, Katherine Conners, will indeed throw out the first pitch at Nationals Park Friday night against the Phillies, two important questions remain:

1. Will Nationals fans give Miss Iowa the same greeting Miguel Batista received after he replaced Stephen Strasburg on Tuesday night:

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

With hoards of Phillies fans likely packing the Nationals Park, there's a good chance of that.

2. Will Batista catch the first pitch wearing a bikini?

Good God, let's hope not.

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Connors vs. Batista, cont.; Miss Iowa to start Sunday for Strasburg?

 

 

(Former WWE Champ Batista sitting front and center behind home plate at Wednesday night's Nationals game. Pictures via MASN/MLB.com)

Miss Iowa thinks she can take Miguel Batista at his craft. Wonder how she'd like her chances against Dave Batista? Yes, that was former WWE champ and now current MMA fighter Batista sitting behind home plate at Wednesday night's Nationals-Braves game at Nationals Park, sporting a Curly W lid. Thankfully, not in a swimsuit.

Of course, now the Nationals are looking for a starter for Sunday's game against the Phillies, since Strasburg will be shut down for at least 10 days and has now been placed on the 15-day DL (such a wuss, right Jim Bunning?).

How about giving Miss Iowa a shot at starting on Sunday in place of Strasburg?

"I know I can throw a pitch or two!" 
(Katherine Connors, Miss Iowa 2010, via DesMoinesRegister.com, 7/28/2010)

Sign her up, Rizzo!

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Mission Timpossible

 

(Tim Hudson owns the Nationals. AP Photo.)

"For whatever reason, I've been able to go out there and throw the ball pretty well against these guys and make pitches. It's not to say next time I pitch against these guys I won't be backing up third all night. But it does feel good to know that you have a history of some success against a team, just for your confidence."
(Tim Hudson, via Nats Insider, 7/28/2010)

Hudsonofabitch!

Hudson improves to 10-1, 1.49 ERA for his career vs. Nats.

Braves 3, Nationals 1: With Tim Hudson on the mound, there really wasn't much reason to even play the game.

Short start by Livo doesn't help matters.

Meanwhile...

• Strasburg shut down a few days - now likely to be 10 days, no start Sunday (via Nationals Journal).

• Scott Olsen starts today. Good luck...

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