Tonight's lineups from Nats Park

That lineup is SPELT "Luxury Yacht" but is PRONOUNCED "Throat-Wobbler Mangrove."

Triple-A affiliate news:

Reports have the Mets latching onto the Buffalo Bisons rather than Syracuse, meaning the Chiefs will likely sign up with the Nationals for 2009-10. (Florida will probably go to New Orleans, and Toronto be left the odd team out with Las Vegas.) Central New Yorkers, who had hoped for the Mets, are none too happy (check Post-Standard reader reaction) -- but for the Nats, it would mean having three farm teams along Interstate 81 (Hagerstown and Harrisburg would be the others).

Some numbers for the regulars to chew on -
Batters by position (through 9/13/08)
GA = Game Appearances
Catchers - (J.Flores, W.Nieves, L.Montz): 151 GA, .251BA, 38RS/75RBI, .369SLG, .290OBP, .659OPS, 0/1SB.
1st Base - (N.Johnson, D.Young, A.Boone): 182 GA, .255BA, 53RS/56RBI, .410SLG, .360OBP, .770OPS, 0/1SB.
2nd Base - (E.Bonifacio, A.Hernandez, R.Belliard, Orr): 184GA, .277BA, 75RS/68RBI, .410SLG, .343OBP, .753OPS, 10/15SB.
3rd Base - (R.Zimmerman, K.Casto): 154GA, .268BA, 56RS/59RBI, .406SLG, .324OBP, .730OPS, 2/3SB.
Shortstop - (C.Guzman, A.Gonzalez): 137 GA, .317BA, 80RS/56RBI, .453SLG, .348OBP, .801OPS, 5/9SB.
Left Field - (W.Harris, W.Pena): 194GA, .232 BA, 65RS/53RBI, .369SLG, .305OBP, .674OPS, 10/14SB.
Center Field - (L.Milledge, R.Langerhans, R.Bernadina): .246BA, 77RS/65RBI, .379SLG, .319OBP, .698OPS, 23/31SB.
Right Field - (E.Dukes, R.Kearns): 154GA, .242BA, 79RS/71RBI, .394SLG, .331OBP, .725OPS, 15/20SB.

No opposing team breakdown - just some numbers to consider for next year.

IMHO, a chance for our "home club" to land our AAA franchise in Syracuse is more than welcome, given the alternatives (Vegas or N'Orleans).

In more minor-league news, Brian (at NFA- big kudos) has recently posted the Baseball America ratings for GCL players (the Nationals have three rated players).

New Post - "Is there anybody OUT THERE?"