The Nationals Enquirer

Lannan's Sleight of Hand Trick Gets Better

 

(John Lannan may have learned a thing or two from magician David Blaine at the ZiMS Foundation benefit at Nationals Park on August 9. He's been a different pitcher since returning to the rotation August 15. Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for ziMS Foundation)

"It was a growing process. I thought trying harder, physically trying to pitch better, was the way to do it. That's not how this game goes. The best pitchers are the ones that think about each pitch and really know what they're doing each pitch. That was what I really needed to get to."
(John Lannan, via Washington Post, 9/5/2010)

Lucky Lannan's back, but better than ever: now with strikeouts!

Nationals 9, Pirates 2: The Lannan and Pudge show.

Lannan's line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K. 9 groundouts, 4 flyouts. 109 pitches. Raise your hand if on June 21st you thought there'd be a snowball's chance in hell that John Lannan would win 7 games for the Nationals in 2010.

Pudge 3-5, HR, 4 RBI, ties Wil Nieves for home runs on the season (3),

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The Suite Life of Jim Riggleman

 

(Woah, settle down there, Jim. Jim Riggleman partying like a rock star and enjoying the view from a suite at PNC Park on Saturday night. Screengrab of TV/MASN by Nationals Enquirer staff.)

It's Saturday night, and thanks to Nyjer Morgan, Jim Riggleman gets to spend one more night in a PNC Park suite, cut off from communicating with replacement manager John McLaren. From the shots on TV, Riggleman seemed to be enjoying himself while eating peanuts and taking in the view. But it would've been even more awesome if the shots on TV caught Jim up there shotgunning beers with his shirt off and screaming obscenities at the umpires and Nyjer Morgan.

McLaren, via Nationals Journal, essentially promised to keep with the Riggleman spirit and manage each game as if it's Game 7 of the World Series:

"I manage every night with Jim. I think along with him every single night. I try to stay basically with what he would do. Jim is a very sound baseball man. I'm not going to try to reinvent the wheel by any chance. I just try to stick to our basics, do what we usually do. Guys that run, run. And so forth." 
(John McLaren, via Nationals Journal, 9/4/2010)

Meanwhile, Good news! Scott Olsen to the bullpen, Yunesky Maya to start on Tuesday .

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Pitt Fall

 

(Pirates fans show off the promotional "Fleecies" given to fans on Friday night. AP Photo.)

Pirates 8, Nationals 5: Bad Livo shows up in Pittsburgh; Danny Espinosa hits first career HR, 2 RBI night.

Joel Gascanrahan earns save against his former mates.

Trade idea: Nyjer Morgan back to the Pirates for Joel Hanrahan, straight up?

Better  trade idea: Nyjer Morgan to the Pirates for one of those Fleecies?

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Apparently Mike Rizzo Still Likes Nyjer Morgan's Aura

(Nyjer Morgan earned an eight game suspension from MLB. Photo by REUTERS/Gary Cameron)

And so, Bud Selig's Justice was served on Friday in the aftermath of the Great Nyjer Morgan Meltdown & Battle Royal of 2010, and the Nationals paid handsomely. Fines, suspensions, and of course an appeal of his latest suspension (8 games) by Nyjer Morgan, because he didn't do anything wrong in this whole deal.

Yet, despite all the embarrassing antics and bad play by Nyjer Morgan this season, Mike Rizzo -- a guy who has gone on record placing a great emphasis on character when evaluating players -- is still standing by Tony Plush. Hey, you would too if you spent an entire off-season selling the guy to fans as the long-awaited answer to the CF and leadoff questions in Washington. Via Nationals Journal:

"Some of the things that he did were disconcerting to me. A lot if it snowballed after that. Most of the incidents I really have little or no problem with at all. They were pure baseball things. But there were a few situations that were unfortunate mistakes by a young, aggressive player who should know better. ... He's never had a problem off the field, outside the white lines. Between the white lines, there's been some issues. But he's been a model citizen off the field, in the clubhouse and in the community. Let's not forget that."
(Mike Rizzo, via Nationals Journal, 9/3/2010)

"Stand by your man" or so the old song says, right Mike?

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Stephen Strasburg has most phenomenal Tommy John surgery in the history of mankind.

(Stephen Strasburg's Tommy John surgery on Friday: successful. Photo by UPI/Kevin Dietsch  via Newscom)

"He came through it with flying colors. It went smooth and uneventful."
(Mike Rizzo, via Nationals Journal, 9/3/2010)

NatsTown exhaled on Friday with news of Stephen Strasburg's successful Tommy John surgery making the rounds, which means Dr. Lewis Yocum didn't screw anything up by accidentally amputating Jesus's arm or anything like that.

Mark Zuckerman/Nats Insider says Strasburg's next big test will come in roughly four months, when he shoudl be able to start throwing a baseball again. So, we'll mark the calendar and start freaking out around January 3rd. The recovery time for Tommy John Surgery is supposedly 12-18 months, and so given the rose colored glasses we're wearing because of Jordan Zimmermann, we're guessing Strasburg will be making his triumphant return to Nationals Park on or about September 3, 2011.

Best wishes Stras. Get well soon, but take your time.

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Nyjer Morgan signs autographs for kids!

"I know I'm going to get suspended here."
(Nyjer Morgan, via Nationals.com, 9/3/2010)

MLB.com's Bill Ladson caught up with Nyjer Morgan by phone on Thursday; Morgan essentially chalks up the events of Tuesday-Wednesday in Florida to "good old-fashioned hard-nose baseball," and expects to be suspended.

And, surprise! It sounds like his relationship with Jim Riggleman is...not so good. Via Ladson:

Asked on Thursday about his relationship with Riggleman, Morgan declined to comment, but said, " I would rather leave that alone."
(via Nationals.com, 9/3/2010)

The video above shows Nyjer Morgan in happier times, signing autographs for kids with Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA" blaring over the Nationals Park PA system earlier this summer. That's a far cry from the Nyjer Morgan that's shown up around these parts the last few weeks.

Meanwhile, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported on Thursday  that MLB will likely come down hard on Morgan for his antics over the past couple of weeks:

According to sources, there is no question that all the things that have happened since the August 21st incident will be looked at by MLB. ... It's possible Morgan will be given a suspension in the range of 5-10 games, on top of the seven-game suspension currently under appeal.
(via Buster Olney/ESPN.com, 9/2/2010)

The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore reports that MLB will consider the events separately:

In handing out any potential punishment for Wednesday night's ruckus, the league will treat the incident in Philadelphia and Morgan's role in the brawl as "separate incidents," a league official said. (via Washington Post, 9/3/2010)

So, MLB's decision on Morgan reportedly will come down today, but you have to wonder when a corresponding decision will be made by the Nationals about Morgan's future with the team, if it hasn't been made already.

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How Wil Nieves Got Revenge on the Marlins

 

 

(Wil Nieves hit an absolute bomb into the upper deck in left field at Sun Life Stadium on Wednesday night. Serious fun, like the sign says. Screengrabs via mlb.com)

The most notable item lost in the Nyjer Morgan brouhaha last night in Miami? Not the fact that Scott Olsen likely pitched his last game as a National with another stinker of a performance (1.2 IP, 8 H, 9 ER, 2 BB, 1 K), clearing the way for the arrival of Yunesky Maya. And no, not Danny Espinosa's Major League debut and first hit. 

In fact, it was Wil Nieves absolutely crushing a Jorge Sosa pitch into the upper deck at Sun Life Stadium. MLB.com video here. And with that swing, Wil Nieves now has more home runs on the season (3) than Pudge Rodriguez (2). Sweet revenge for Wil Nieves, who must've still been pissed off after being hit by Chris Volstad earlier in the game. Maybe Nieves should have showboated a little bit as he made his trip around the bases -- or better yet, dropped his bat and charged the mound after depositing that ball into the upper deck?

Anyway, the Nationals' clubhouse reaction after last night's "events", captured by Mark Zuckerman at Nats Insider, makes for an interesting read. Miami Herald has reaction from the Marlins.

 

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Fire Nyjer Morgan

 

(Nyjer Morgan incited a brawl and got his butt kicked by the Marlins - and his life saved by Pat Listach -- but  still celebrated as he walked off the field on Wednesday night. Screengrabs of TV/MASN by Nationals Enquirer staff.)

"I'm a hard player. It's just going out there and playing the game. ... I'm just sticking up for myself - and defending my teammates. ...I'm a hard-nosed player. I'm grimy. ...I'm a hard-nosed player ...."
(Nyjer Morgan, via MASN, 9/1/2010) 

Forget firing Rob Dibble, who is was the color guy on TV/MASN, and certainly said some really dumb things in his time on air (both on and off the MASN payroll), but still didn't do anything on the surface to warrant a firing (unless those no-shows on Saturday and Sunday count):

If Mike Rizzo and Stan Kasten really care about character -- and that's kind of what has been suggested in the past when discussing the "aura" of certain players and inexplicably releasing Elijah Dukes during Spring Training, and shit-canning the former GM who will not be named here (yeah, yeah, yeah, he "resigned", *wink* *wink* we know)  -- then Nyjer Morgan needs to be released immediately. Let him go. Make a statement.

Nyjer Morgan not only embarrassed the Nationals (again) tonight by charging the mound when the Marlins threw behind him, but he put his teammates -- many of whom, unlike Nyjer Morgan, will be important pieces on this team in the future -- in harms way. Nyjer took his medicine in the fourth inning, trotting down to first base after getting hit by a pitch - but then spit it back in the face of the Marlins by immediately stealing two bases down 14-3.

Fire Nyjer Morgan.

Here's the pitch that launched a thousand hits:

 

(Screengrab by Nationals Enquirer staff.)

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"Obviously, his track record doesn't help himself."

 
 

(Nyjer Morgan opted for a body check, rather than a slide, in the 10th inning. Screengrab of MASN/TV by Nationals Enquirer staff.)

Nyjer Morgan strikes again!

"I don't want to be perceived as a dirty player. It was just an intense play. I kinda grazed [Anderson], which wasn't in my eyes intentional. I guess I should have slid, next time I'll slide." 
(Nyjer Morgan, via Nationals.com, 8/30/2010)

So, those comments were made by Nyjer Morgan on Monday, talking about his boneheaded play at the plate on Saturday when he crashed into Cardinals catcher Bryan Anderson and forgot to touch home plate. On Tuesday night, Nyjer Morgan forgot he said he'd slide next time. 

"I got to hit him there. I think if I try to slide there, I probably hurt myself. It's just a hard a play. Just baseball."
(Nyjer Morgan, via Washington Post, 9/1/2010)

Just baseball? Or just another reckless play by Nyjer Morgan hurting the Nationals? Had Morgan opted to slide in the 10th inning on that close play at the plate, he probably would have been safe. Instead, he decided to show what a tough guy he was and take out Marlins catcher Brett Hayes. Morgan was out. Hayes hurt his shoulder. But at least Nyjer Morgan's reputation is still intact; remember, he said on Monday he doesn't want to be perceived as a dirty player. But the horses might have already left the barn on that one:

"Obviously, his track record doesn't help himself. Somebody who does that is looking to hurt somebody. But, you know, it's baseball."
(Brett Hayes, via Marlins.com, 9/1/2010)

"I would say it was clean if I hadn't seen what he had done earlier in the week. I think he would have had a better chance to be safe if he was sliding. It fires you up when you see the way he's been playing the last week or so." 
(Chad Tracy, via Washington Post, 9/1/2010)

More from Tracy:

"Anytime one of your players get hurt and it comes at the expense of the other team, it fires you up. We were upset. You saw Hayes on the ground hurting. This is a guy you come to work with every day and bust your butt with every day."
(Chad Tracy, via Miami Herald, 9/1/2010)

And here's Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez:

"If he would have slid at home plate, he would have been safe. Hayes was more on the right side of the plate."
(Edwin Rodriguez, via Marlins.com, 9/1/2010)

...but at least Jim Riggleman has Nyjer Morgan's back, agrees with his decision not-to-slide. Or does he?

"When I saw it live, I don't know. And even as I watch it there, I don't know. Hindsight's 20-20. I don't know if he should've slid or not. As it happened live, I didn't know how much the catcher's blocking the plate. As Nyjer's going in there and as he's making his decision, he doesn't know that maybe the ball's going to be up a little bit. He doesn't know that. He's got to make his decision before that. So I don't have any problem with his decision."
(Jim Riggleman, via Nats Insider, 9/1/2010)

Enough. Memo to Mike Rizzo: Time to call an end to the TonyPlush/Nyjer Morgan Era in Washington. Can you just leave him behind in Florida after tonight's game -- after he takes the fastball to the ribs that's coming his way?

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Heir Jordan

 

(Jordan Zimmermann's performance offered a glimmer of home in NatsTown on Tuesday. Screengrab of TV/MASN by Nationals Enquirer staff.)

"I felt great. That's probably the best I've felt in a long time." 
(Jordan Zimmermann, via Washington Post, 9/1/2010)

Marlins 1, Nationals 0: Tough loss in 10. But Jordan Zimmermann is back and that's all that really matters, right?

(Why didn't Nyjer Morgan slide in the 10th!?)

Meet the New, Temporary Ace (again): Jordan Zimmermann faces the minimum (18 batters) in 6 dominant innings: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K.

Stephen Strasburg to have his Tommy John surgery on Friday. See you in 2011? 2012? Remember J-Zimm.

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