Nationals Journal: May 18, 2008 - May 24, 2008
Pokey Reese
The former Gold Glover joins the Columbus Clippers. http://clippersmedia.com/ Pete Orr has gone on the disabled list, and the Clippers need some infield depth. Pokey is noteworthy, though, not just because of his reputation as a slick fielder. Last time...
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Chico Harlan
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May 24, 2008; 7:27 PM ET |
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Tonight's lineups
Elijah Dukes back in the lineup. Ankle feels OK, he said. Milwaukee Weeks - 4 Cameron - 8 Braun - 7 Fielder - 3 Hart - 9 Hardy - 6 Hall - 5 McClung - 1 Kendall - 2 Washington...
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Chico Harlan
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May 24, 2008; 5:51 PM ET |
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An interview with your Class AA manager
Ladies and gentlemen, seamheads amongs us -- let's welcome Harrisburg skipper John Stearns. JOHN STEARNS Q: Atmosphere up there in Harrisburg? A: Everybody is getting along, everybody is having fun, and we've got some really good talent down there in...
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Chico Harlan
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May 24, 2008; 3:13 PM ET |
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Various notes of relative encouragement for your Saturday
First, the game itself. Plenty worked just right for the Nationals last night. Wily Mo Pena hit a home run. Manny Acta used another itemized list of bullpen arms to hold a lead. Somehow, the Nats exchanged three hits for...
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Chico Harlan
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May 24, 2008; 11:26 AM ET |
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Another injury; enter Rob Mackowiak
Here in the sixth inning, he's pinch-hitting for Elijah Dukes. We've gotten word that Dukes has left the game with a left ankle contusion....
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Chico Harlan
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May 23, 2008; 9:32 PM ET |
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Lineups, Bowden, and a solid outing for Dr. Tim Kremchek at the surgeon's table
Before we move on, here's the confirmation you were waiting for. Surgery today for Austin Kearns: Successful. Now, let's let Bowden explain the moves. Q: Your thoughts on the moves? A: In the case of Ryan, obviously, he replaces Austin...
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Chico Harlan
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May 23, 2008; 6:34 PM ET |
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The Nats: 88 percent of the same team that played Wednesday
On a day the Nationals needed to make one roster move, they instead overhaul 12-percent of their roster. Here's the shakeup: Going down. LHP Matt Chico RHP Chris Schroeder Coming up OF Ryan Langerhans RHP Brian Sanches LHP Charlie Manning...
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Chico Harlan
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May 23, 2008; 3:35 PM ET |
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Shawn Hill's life story (and others) in six words
My good buddy Adam Kilgore, a Post staff writer equally capable of winning hot dog-eating contests and Pulitzers, bought me a book recently, "Not Quite What I Was Planning: A Compilation of Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure." I...
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Chico Harlan
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May 23, 2008; 11:30 AM ET |
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DL talk redux
"Kearns batting .187 for another month." That's the six-word news flash. Today, the Nats placed their right fielder on the 15-day DL. Based on what Kearns has provided the team so far, it's tempting to believe that Washington won't miss...
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Chico Harlan
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May 22, 2008; 10:34 PM ET |
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Kearns to the DL
Chico's on his way to Comcast SportsNet studios for a Washington Post Live appearance tonight (catch it live-streamed via washingtonpost.com starting at 5 every weekday), so I'll pass on this news, straight from a team press release: The Washington Nationals...
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Jon DeNunzio
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May 22, 2008; 4:11 PM ET |
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Minor league report
I suppose if there's a silver lining in all this, it's that the Washington Nationals still have a minor league system, stocked with players who might someday lose ballgames at the big league level less regularly. Again, thanks to Nats...
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Chico Harlan
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May 22, 2008; 9:17 AM ET |
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Afternoon tea chit-chat with Bowden
Some highlights (and some quasi-transcripted material) from Jim Bowden's session with the media this afternoon. * First, a vote of confidence for Lenny Harris. He's part of the solution to Washington's hitting woes, Bowden said. Not a reason for them....
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Chico Harlan
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May 21, 2008; 7:18 PM ET |
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Today's lineups
We've got a great pitching matchup today. Matt Chico, 24, versus Jamie Moyer, 45. Let's put journalistic impartiality aside for a moment. Jamie Moyer is one of my favorite players of all time. Probably because he was pitching even back...
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Chico Harlan
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May 21, 2008; 3:17 PM ET |
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We can talk offense, assuming it exists
Let's start first with a reminder. We've got a chat at 2 p.m. today. If you like dramatic baseball, last night's game probably worked well. We saw another superb outing from Jason Bergmann, who showed a stronger fastball than he...
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Chico Harlan
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May 21, 2008; 9:07 AM ET |
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Zeros and other numbers
Lots of zeros so far. No team has a run through four. Bergmann hasn't allowed a run in 11 innings since his call-up. Hamels is working on another solid outing, coming off a complete game shutout in his last start....
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Chico Harlan
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May 20, 2008; 8:16 PM ET |
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Tonight's lineups
Middle of three games. Philadelphia Rollins - 6 Victorino - 8 Utley - 4 Howard - 3 Burrell - 7 Jenkins - 9 Feliz - 6 Ruiz - 2 Hamels - 1 Washington Lopez - 4 Guzman - 6 Zimmerman...
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Chico Harlan
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May 20, 2008; 3:33 PM ET |
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Kasten-MacPhail redux
Svrluga here again. So one more thing before Chico (the writer, not the pitcher) returns to the beat completely. (There is the matter of last night's game, in which Lastings Milledge actually delivered a big hit and Tim Redding was...
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Barry Svrluga
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May 20, 2008; 12:28 PM ET |
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Back from the 'pen, and Portland
The 'Chico returns' storylines are multiple. I'm back from the wedding. Matt's back in the rotation, briefly. The Nationals played .667 ball in my absence, by the way. Four flights this weekend, including two layovers in Minneapolis, allowed for a...
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Chico Harlan
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May 20, 2008; 9:26 AM ET |
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Anyone notice the players o' the week?
The American League player of the week was Kansas City outfielder Jose Guillen, who hit .458 (11 for 24) with five doubles, two homers and 13 RBI. The National League player of the week was Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano,...
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Barry Svrluga
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May 19, 2008; 8:43 PM ET |
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Looks like Chico on Wednesday
So if Tim Redding doesn't run into a disaster tonight against the Phillies -- meaning he would get knocked out before the third inning or so -- then Matt Chico will step in for an ailing Shawn Hill in Wednesday's...
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Barry Svrluga
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May 19, 2008; 6:19 PM ET |
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Lineups for opener of a homestand
Svrluga here. Trying this thing on for size again. Chico making his way cross country from Oregon and Saslow's wedding, so I'll have to do for tonight. I've got some left-over stuff from my story that ran last week on...
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Barry Svrluga
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May 19, 2008; 3:01 PM ET |
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