MLB FanHouse

The Nationals Are Winning About as Many Viewers as Ballgames

Josh Alper — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East, MLB Media Watch

Television ratings across baseball haven't been great this season, according to an article in Sports Business Journal, but nowhere are they worse than in Washington D.C. That's not surprising. The Nats are terrible, thanks to factors ranging from injuries to poor work by the front office, but the cold hard facts are still eye-opening.

The Nats have lost 43.5% of their viewers this season and rank last in baseball in viewership. Just 9,000 households in the D.C. market tune into games which results in a 0.39 ratings share, numbers which could easily be mistaken as people who leave their TVs on to keep their cats company. For comparison, the Royals are 28th in households (the Blue Jays weren't included) at 28,000 while the Angels draw a 1.24 share.

Is there really that little interest in the Nats? Dan Steinberg's DC Sports Bog has hosted a lively discussion about that question and the reaction seems mixed. The team's lack of talent gets mentioned a lot, as does the nature of Washington being a city full of people from other places because of government jobs.

There's a fair amount of complaint about MASN's coverage, especially the lack of HD coverage on every game, but Steinberg also mentions that Washington Post web traffic figures on the Nats could be deemed very disappointing. There's no doubt that it takes time to develop an avid fanbase and it appears that the Nats have a lot to work to do on that front.

The Nationals Are Winning About as Many Viewers as Ballgames originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elijah Dukes' Knee Is Dead, Dawg

Tom Fornelli — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:38:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East, MLB Injuries

Considering that Elijah Dukes is only 24 years old and hasn't even played a full season's worth of games in the big leagues, he's already had quite a career. Unfortunately, just about everything Dukes is known for has occured off the field or after games. We're all more than familiar with his text messaging habits, and we also know that Elijah has a problem with his manager from time to time (seriously, just click on his tag and see all the fun he's had).

Lately, though, Elijah has been getting talked about more for the way he's hitting with the Nationals. After getting off to a very slow start to the season, Dukes hit .292 with four homers and 15 RBI in June. He has carried that play into the first week of July as well, as he's currently hitting .368 with two homers and three runs driven in this month. That's why it's such a shame that Dukes hurt his knee making a catch on Saturday, and he's going to be out four to six weeks because of it.

Dukes tore cartilage and partially tore a tendon in his right knee when he slammed into the left-field wall after catching a flyball in the seventh inning. He grabbed his knee and was taken off the field on a cart.

Dukes will have surgery on Monday. The Nationals didn't immediately replace him on the roster.

Let's all just hope that Elijah spends his time off working his way back from this knee injury, and not taking advantage of his unlimited text messaging plan.

Elijah Dukes' Knee Is Dead, Dawg originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Need of Good News: Nationals Call Up Collin Balester

Mullet — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:05:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East

It's been a highly disappointing season for the Nationals, to say the least. Injuries to Paul Lo Duca and Chad Cordero didn't get the season off on the right foot. Then they lost Nick Johnson for the season and Austin Kearns for a month. In the past week alone, they lost Lastings Milledge and Shawn Hill to the DL, and just found out today that Cordero is out for the season. Throw in a 33-51 record, and it's already a lost season in the District.

But here's a beacon of light: Hill's injury has paved the way for Collin Balester to make his anticipated major league debut:

"It's awesome. He is gong to have an opportunity up here. Hopefully, he is going to do well," said Nationals left-hander John Lannan, who is a good friend of Balester's. "It's a long time coming. He has worked hard. It will be good to see him up here." (...)

"He is a great pitcher," said right-hander Steven Shell, who played with Balester in Columbus. "He is a power pitcher. He has a great fastball. He's a good kid."

And he gets to face the Marlins in his major league debut ... the team that leads all of baseball in home runs (that fastball had better be a little more than great tonight). So while his first start might be rough, Balester will have a few starts to show what kind of prospect he is.

In Need of Good News: Nationals Call Up Collin Balester originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Has Chad Cordero Thrown His Last Pitch for the Nationals?

Matt Watson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East, MLB Injuries, MLB Rumors

Chad Cordero hasn't pitched in a game since mid April, but when he was orginally placed on the disabled list the hope was that he'd be back sometime in June.

That obviously didn't happen, and following an examination yesterday, Cordero shouldn't plan on returning anytime before 2009. Doctors discovered a torn labrum in his right shoulder yesterday, an injury the Nationals now think Cordero probably had the entire time. He'll undergo surgery soon and his rehab will extend into next season.

The last-place Nationals need all the help they can get, but honestly, Jon Rauch has been more than adequate as a replacement closer. Rauch has saved 16 of 21 games while posting an excellent 2.55 ERA (0.92 WHIP) and 8.29 K/9 -- Cordero hasn't posted numbers over a full season that strong since 2005.

In fact, considering Cordero is arbitration-eligible this winter and set to be a free agent in 2010, I wouldn't be entirely surpised if the team actually cut ties with him this winter, not when they have a cheaper, healthier and (most importantly) better option in Rauch.

Has Chad Cordero Thrown His Last Pitch for the Nationals? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paul Lo Duca Is Passionate, Wordy

Eamonn Brennan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:14:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East

Paul Lo Duca is a fiery man. This you know. That fire has not always been endearing. More often than not, it's been incredibly annoying, and Lo Duca's proponents -- the kind that believe you need to have "passion" and "swagger" to succeed at baseball -- don't help. Also, dude did steroids. Not cool.

Still, this prolonged outburst is impressive. After the Nationals' Thursday night game, Lo Duca soliloquized the Nationals' situation:

I hope [people listened to my message]. I'm not saying I've got a lot of wisdom, but you know, I've been through a lot of hard times in this game. The last three years of my career have been hell, off and on the field, off the field more than on. But I've straightened my life out, I'm happy, I'm gonna get married again. I went through a bad divorce. I went through all of it. You name it -- and there's not one person in this clubhouse who can say, 'Give me a sob story.' I've been there. So, that's part of life. We've all got skeletons in the closet. But when you come to the ballpark, get here early, get your crap done and get ready to play.

Of course, that's just a tiny piece. There are, like, 900 more words, should you care to read them all. More importantly, I really, really want to make fun of Lo Duca for being such a clown, but it's hard. He clearly cares very much about what he's talking about. That's sort of admirable.

Paul Lo Duca Is Passionate, Wordy originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008, Much Like 2007, is a Lost Season for Nick Johnson

Mullet — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East, MLB Injuries

The news for Nick Johnson isn't totally unexpected ... but it still doesn't take the sting out for him. Johnson, who has been sidelined since mid-May with a wrist problem, has been diagnosed with a small tear in the ulnar-side ligament in that wrist, and will miss the rest of 2008.

If you're counting, that's the entire 2007 season lost to injury because of a broken leg. And outside of 38 games, the entire '08 season with a bum wrist. That's 286 games lost to injury during two seasons that constitute the prime of Johnson's career at ages 28 and 29. Add in the 155 games he didn't play in during 2003 and 2004, that's pretty much three seasons out of his first eight wiped out due to injury.

You can make the argument that the wrist injury could turn out to have more of an adverse effect to Johnson's career than the horrific broken leg. You never hear people talk about a broken leg lingering throughout a players career. But for a baseball player, especially an accomplished hitter who knows how to get on base (career OBP of .396) to have a torn ligament in his wrist, it's something that has a chance to linger, affect his swing later on, and worst case scenario: become chronic.*

*I am not a doctor.

2008, Much Like 2007, is a Lost Season for Nick Johnson originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Be Careful When Removing Your Shirts at Nats Games, Men of Washington

Josh Alper — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East, MLB Fans

Indecency, like obscenity, is a funny thing. The famous line by Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart says "I know it when I see it" and I think that's a pretty good guide. Drunken loutishness and Hideki Irabu are indecent things I've come across in major league ballparks. A kiss between a couple and shirtless men on a hot afternoon, depending on their girth, don't qualify.

The people running the fine ballyards of this country disagree. First, two women who shared a brief kiss were nearly ejected from Safeco Field and now, in our nation's capital no less, topless men are being shooed toward the exits. A Washington man wrote a letter to the editors of the Washington Post to complain that he and his buddies had been told to put shirts on or be ejected for "indecent exposure."

Given the long history of shirt-doffing fans in American sports, Dan Steinberg of the D.C. Sports Bog decided to investigate this policy.

More to the point, the Nats have no specific policy against male shirtlessness, and much of interpretation of the code of conduct is left to the discretion of employees, who may or may not be strict constructionists. You can imagine some being offended by particularly hairy shirtlessness, or by a low pantsline, or by an out-of-shape or dripping chest.

Nationals fans, chest painters everywhere are looking for you to stem this tide of prudishness! Take to the stands in hairy-chested glory and support your team for only then shall we all be free!

Be Careful When Removing Your Shirts at Nats Games, Men of Washington originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paul Lo Duca Is a Man Without a Job

Josh Alper — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East

Paul Lo Duca is a gritty player. He's a gutty player. He's the kind of player who you trade and lose your job shortly thereafter, even if you get an All-Star starter in return. Those kinds of intangibles plus steroids used to equal a decent major league player. Minus the juice, however, Lo Duca's game is somewhere south of mediocre which is why the Nationals have to be privately dreading his return from injury.

Lo Duca is set to come off the disabled list this week and he returns to a team that has absolutely no need for him. Jesus Flores, 23 and possessing a future, has the best on-base and slugging percentages on the team. Lo Duca was only around to give him a year to ripen but that's no longer necessary. Lo Duca, who has never really been charmed by Spanish-speaking teammates, has just the right kind of personality to make this a problem in the clubhouse.

Perhaps to avoid that problem, the Nats are coming up with alternate usages for their third catcher. The Washington Post reports that he'll play some left field and first base. Yes, the Nats are actually going to put a guy who had an OPS+ of 80 last season at a corner position. That would be worthy of mockery if it weren't for the fact that the guys they have been playing haven't even mustered that kind of production.

(H/T BBTF)

Paul Lo Duca Is a Man Without a Job originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dukes Won't High-Five His Skipper, Dawg

Matt Watson — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:50:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East, The Word

Earlier this week, Manny Acta came to Elijah Dukes' defense when umpire Doug Eddings complained about being shown up after Dukes seemed to glare and gesture in his direction after hitting a home run.

In hindsight, though, you have to wonder if Acta was actually privately annoyed because he didn't have much patience for Dukes' on-field celebration after scoring on a Lastings Milledge home run last night. From Mark Zuckerman of the Washington Times:

As Dukes and Milledge crossed the plate, Dukes looked back at Capps (who blew his first save in 16 tries this season) in a move that could have been perceived as taunting the opposing pitcher. When Dukes returned to the dugout, Acta had words for him. Dukes yelled back at his manager, prompting Acta to yell back himself and players to get between the two. [...] As the Nationals gathered in the middle of the diamond to congratulate each other at the conclusion of the game, Dukes did not offer his hand to Acta, who only smirked.

If you haven't seen it yet, you have watch the video to fully appreciate how awkward it was for Dukes to leave Acta hanging. It's both immature and hilarious, but it's also a blantant sign of disrespect. Might it result in a team suspension? That seems a bit much, but I wouldn't be surprised if Dukes is fined, even if it's in the clubhouse kangaroo court and never gets reported in the papers. The Nats have enough to worry about to let silly incidents like this spoil the few nights they get to go to sleep a winner.

Dukes Won't High-Five His Skipper, Dawg originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elijah Dukes Pisses Off an Umpire, Dawg

Josh Alper — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East

Elijah Dukes has always been an emotional fellow. Time and again, though, that emotion has gotten him into hot water. From text messages to his wife to Gatorade assaults on underage sex partners he's impregnated, Dukes has never been able to keep his worst impulses from rising to the surface. Thursday night he proved that he hasn't learned from his mistakes.

After jacking a home run, his first as a National, Dukes gesticulated a bit too wildly for the home plate umpire.

Plate umpire Doug Eddings apparently thought so and wasn't happy that Dukes turned and thumped his chest after hitting the ball several pitches after showing frustration with a borderline strike call. Dukes also appeared to gesture toward Eddings just before he crossed the plate after rounding the bases.

Manny Acta said that word got back to him about Eddings's upset at Dukes's behavior but backed up his player. Oddly he said he didn't think anyone was offended which pretty much contradicts what he heard from Eddings.

I'm not sure I've ever heard of that happening before. Showing up a pitcher or an opposing player, sure, but showing up an umpire after hitting a home run is novel. It's good to see that doing community service at a zoo nor entering the game with a .155 batting average did anything to make Dukes a more humble man.

Elijah Dukes Pisses Off an Umpire, Dawg originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the NL East Draft Picks

Mullet — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Atlanta, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Braves, Marlins, Mets, Phillies, Nationals

In case you weren't able to watch today's Major League Baseball draft or follow along with Josh Alper and Andrew Johnson at their live blog of the festivities, here's a roundup of the guys who went in the first round to the teams of the National League East.

Florida Marlins (6) Kyle Skipworth, Catcher, Patriot H.S. (CA): When you look at his offensive scouting report, he's got Joe Mauer written all over him with his sweet left-handed power stroke. So it's no surprise that when you read this interview with the 2008 Gatorade National Player of the Year, you find out that he patterned his game after Mauer, the former batting champion. Anything close to Joe Mauer and the Marlins will be extremely happy with this pick.

Washington Nationals (9) Aaron Crow, RHP, University of Missouri, Columbia: There weren't a lot of pitchers taken in the first round, which is a bit surprising. Not surprisingly, the Nats took a big power arm at the nine slot in Crow, a guy with good command and great stuff with three plus pitches at his arsenal. The Nationals did well to grab a starter this good out of college who can possibly make his major league debut this season ... and definitely sooner rather than later.

New York Mets (18) Ike Davis, First Base, Arizona State: With Carlos Delgado on his last legs, and only Mike Carp on the horizon in the Mets' minor league system, the Mets were hoping to take advantage of a deep first base class on draft day. They did just that by drafting Davis (pictured above), the son of former major league reliever Ron Davis. Ike is hitting .394 with 16 HR's so far with the Sun Devils, and he also pitches for them (4-1, 2.53 ERA as a reliever). So will he wind up replacing Delgado or Oliver Perez?

New York Mets (22) David Reese Havens, Shortstop, South Carolina: Havens is an interesting pick, and not just because most call him Reese while MLB.com calls him David. Havens has been primarily a shortstop in college, but with Jose Reyes blocking his path he will assuredly switch positions. Scouting reports say he would have to move to third anyway because of a lack of range, but with David Wright over there, the Mets might want to see what he can do as a catcher, where the Mets are lacking in top level prospects. Scouts like his batting eye, which seemed better in his freshman year at USC than it did as a sophomore, but his summer season in the Cape Cod league where he hit .315 solidified him as a legitimate hitting prospect (though some have noticed that Havens struggles with high velocity pitches.)

Philadelphia Phillies (24) Anthony Hewitt, Shortstop, Salisbury School (CT): They call him "toolsy", and the Phillies should know a thing or two about toolsy shortstops. But just like Havens, scouts foresee a change in position in Hewitt's future as they see him as more like a center fielder. This is a risky pick for Philly and not only because the terms "raw" and "upside" are being thrown around. Hewitt has a "solid verbal" commitment to Vanderbilt. And considering the university has recently boasted 2007 No. 1 draft pick David Price and 2008 No. 2 draft pick Pedro Alvarez, maybe Hewitt will decide a stay at Vandy is best for his long term career prospects.

The Atlanta Braves gave up their first round pick to the Mets for signing Tom Glavine as a free agent. Atlanta's first pick was 40, which they used to select lefty pitcher Brett DeVall from Niceville High School in Florida.

Meet the NL East Draft Picks originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could Collin Balester be the Next Great Rookie? (Maybe Not, But it's Fun to Ask!)

Mullet — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:35:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East, MLB Injuries, MLB Rumors

The news that Odalis Perez will miss his next start for the Nationals most likely isn't going to create a lot of ripples in the sports world. But the end result of Odalis Perez's tendinitis might pave the way for the next Jay Bruce, for those of you who are actually looking for the next Jay Bruce. On the list of possible replacements for Perez's next turn in the rotation on Sunday, an interesting name came up:

Collin Balester: Balester pitched on Tuesday, so he could be inserted into the rotation without having to adjust the timing of his starts. On Tuesday, he advanced his record to 6-3 with a 5 1/3-inning performance where he allowed two hits and one run.

Balester has been considered one of the Nationals' best prospects, as Baseball America had him on their top ten prospect list for the Nats back in 2005, and rated his fastball the best in the system. This season saw improvement for Balester on the AAA level, as his walks are down and strikeouts are slightly up from his time at Columbus last year ... but he's already given up 11 home runs in 56+ innings this season as opposed to three in 51+ innings last season at Columbus. Not spectacular numbers, and yes ... it's silly to predict instant greatness for a minor leaguer. But if you're looking for the next rookie to knock your socks off in '08, Balester isn't a bad guy to consider. Let's see if the Nationals agree.

Could Collin Balester be the Next Great Rookie? (Maybe Not, But it's Fun to Ask!) originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nationals Just Can't Get Healthy

Matt Watson — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:30:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East, MLB Injuries

It's a dangerous time to be a Nationals corner infielder. After missing seven games with an ailing left shoulder, Ryan Zimmerman just wasn't getting any better. After undergoing an MRI, the Nationals discovered why: turns out Zimmerman has a "small labral tear" which may or may not require surgery to fix. From the Washington Post:

"I've had players who've had the same injury who took 10 days off, then played for five years," General Manager Jim Bowden said. "Then I've had some who've been operated on. It can be anywhere in between, and we just don't know yet."

When will the Nats know? Probably sometime in the next few days. The team's orthopedist has recommended rest and anti-inflammatory medication, but the team also sent the results of the MRI to three specialists, including the famed Dr. James Andrews.

Proving when it rains it pours, Nick Johnson's return was also put on ice after he suffered a setback in his wrist injury. He's still experiencing soreness, so he's been put back in a cast for (at least) a couple of weeks.

Kory Casto will be called up to replace Zimmerman. He's hitting .314 in 21 games at Triple-A Columbus, though it's worth mentioning he's hit just .272 over his entire minor league career and just .130 in 16 games for the Nats last year.

Nationals Just Can't Get Healthy originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't Hold Your Breath for News of a Ryan Zimmerman Contract Signing

Josh Alper — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East

Everywhere you look young, pre-arbitration baseball players are signing long-term deals with their teams. Such deals trade potential dollars for security against injury and/or flash in the pan syndrome, a risk/reward equation that works the other way for their teams.

Many agents have railed against these deals, saying that players are giving up not only their money but their leverage by opting out of the lucrative arbitration process. Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals seems to agree with that read on the situation.

"The way I look at it is, if you're going to do one of those deals," Zimmerman said, "you either need to do it very early on [in your career], or wait until you're close enough [to salary arbitration], so the leverage starts to swing to your side."

Zimmerman makes a strong point generally but his specific case is different. Given the drop in his production since his rookie campaign, he should be wishing he had a long, lucrative commitment. There's plenty of time to bounce back but his OPS is mired at 718 right now, more than a hundred points off the standard he set in 2005.

That's why it's not a good comparison to someone like Hanley Ramirez who made the questionable choice to give away three years or arbitration and three years of free agency. He gave away leverage and, most likely, cost himself money. Zimmerman, on the other hand, needs to turn it on if he wants to gain leverage before he hits arbitration.

Don't Hold Your Breath for News of a Ryan Zimmerman Contract Signing originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On Deck: The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

Mullet — Sat, 31 May 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, Denver, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Washington, DC, Marlins, Phillies, Nationals, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Rockies

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups.

Florida Marlins (30-23) at Philadelphia Phillies (32-24) - 7:05 PM ET

Last night, the Phillies took over first place in the East over the surprising Marlins by giving them the proverbial thumping of 12-3. It's not that the Marlins have been that bad over this recent stretch ... they did sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks at home, after all. But the Phillies have been scorching hot during an 8-2 run which has seen Chase Utley make President George W. Bush look pretty smart.

Utley has 15 RBI's in his last five games, a stretch where Phillies scored 60 runs. That's the kind of steamrolling that an upstart team like the Marlins can really do nothing about. Starting today, with Ricky Nolasco going to the mound to face Cole Hamels, the Fish are going to have to start to figure out how to stay in this race, and not get discouraged over the fact that they're now out of the lead. With Philly, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Philly again coming up on the schedule, this is a key time for the Marlins.

Colorado Rockies (20-35) at Chicago Cubs (34-21) - 1:05 PM ET

So when I realized that there was an afternoon game on the tube, I flipped on the Rockies and the Cubs, and Colorado was up 9-1. I'm thinking "great, I missed all the action already and now I'm in for three innings of a whole lot of nothing". What I saw instead was the Chicago Cubs officially take their place as the big dogs of the National League. When you come back from eight runs down to win a game, with major contributions from Jim Edmonds, who was not only thought to be done (with ample reason), but was implored upon (begged?) to hit some more by his manager, you know you've got something pretty magical happening. If they keep this up, get ready for a whole summer of Leon Durham, billy goats, and Steve Bartman talk.

Washington Nationals (24-32) at Arizona Diamondbacks (30-25) - 8:10 PM ET

Yeah ... so, what's going on with the Diamondbacks? They were America's hot new team with Starting Rotation 2.0(C), and the hot young stars that all the cool kids wanted to be like. But since May 20th, they're 2-9 which includes sweeps in Florida, and at home against the Giants. They lost another one to the Nationals last night and all of a sudden, this team is in a little bit of a funk. Luckily, the Dodgers are similarly struggling, and the bottom half of the division is still miles away, so the D'Backs have picked a good time to go south. Tonight, they depend on Brandon Webb ... who started out 9-0 but since lost to the Marlins and Braves ... to dig them out of the little mini-hole they've created.

Everyone else:

Tigers at Mariners 3:55 ET
Dodgers at Mets 3:55 ET
Braves at Reds 3:55 ET
Padres at Giants 4:05 ET
White Sox at Rays 6:10 ET
Astros at Brewers 7:05 ET
Red Sox at Orioles 7:05 ET
Yankees at Twins 7:10 ET
Indians at Royals 7:10 ET
Pirates at Cardinals 7:15 ET
Athletics at Rangers 8:05 ET
Blue Jays at Angels 9:05 ET

On Deck: The First Day of the Rest of Your Life originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sat, 31 May 2008 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lastings Milledge Gives Bad Lap Dances

Matt Watson — Wed, 28 May 2008 03:10:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East, MLB Gossip, The Word

Here's to hoping this baseball thing works out for Lastings Milledge, because apparently he has no future stripping. Wait, what? Let me start from the beginning ...

Milledge, Ryan Zimmerman, and Joel Hanrahan participated in a charity auction to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society last Thursday organized by Nationals VP of Communications (and cancer-survivor) Chartese Burnett. Sounds fun, right? Apparently, more than most people would have guessed. From Zimmerman's blog at Comcast SportsNet:

Me, Lastings and Joel Hanrahan all attended and were auctioned off. It was pretty fun. Lastings gave some of the ladies lap dances. He got no tips. Tough Break. I didn't dance at all. After I saw Lastings not get any tips I figured I would save my dancing for another day.

Um, Zim, remember when we said your blog was kind of lame? We take it back. More like this, please. Although next time you get auctioned off for charity and/or a teammate tries earning his keep by working the couch, get that shizz up on YouTube -- it's why camera phones were invented.

Lastings Milledge Gives Bad Lap Dances originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 28 May 2008 03:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Dugout: Dmitri Young Makes Do

Jon Bois — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:50:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, The Dugout

I think I know why Dmitri Young was compelled to run his ass off during yesterday's game against the Brewers. For an athlete, he sure doesn't run around very much, and he is still able to keep his body weight from vaulting him into the lofty pantheon of fellows who have to be carted around in a trailer. He's spent most of the season on the disabled list, and I assume he elected to make up his burned-calorie quota in the span of ten seconds.

That video really is something. It's as if he was punching the ground with every step. The man was born with four arms and no legs.

Tonight's Dugout is after the jump.

The Dugout

	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: mmph
	OnlineHost Dmitri Young has hit the ball against the center field wall.
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: ah s*** i ain runnin
	GoodGasMileage: c'mon man it aint runnin its just punchin the earth with ya legs
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: what the erf done ta me
	GoodGasMileage: i dunno but they call it "mother earth"
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: ha taste it bitch /deliberately stomps to first
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: /pant pant pant wwwwwoof
	TheFreshPrince: Dmitri! How's it going, man?
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: aight jus kick the mother erf in she uglies
	TheFreshPrince: Huh. You look a little winded, man. Have you been eating okay? What did you have for lunch today?
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: salads
	TheFreshPrince: Good choice. What kind of salad? Have a recipe? I'm always looking for new stuff to try.
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: aight get ya 12 white castles an 20 egg yolks, put them s***s in a blender pour it over 12 of them peep candies its called "dmitri youngs haul ass energy salad" an if ya aint cite me ill cook ya an eat ya in a gravy
	TheFreshPrince: Man, you should consider going vegetarian.
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: what in the f*** is oh is that just chicken bones an milk
	TheFreshPrince: It's a meat-free lifestyle.
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: WHAT IN THE F*** IS A LIFESTYLE
	TheFreshPrince: "Vegetarian" means no meat. Just fruits, vegetables, grains, stuff like that. I feel great with all that stuff in my body.
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: wh hol this fa me /pulls 5-gallon jar of sugar out of back pocket
	TheFreshPrince: Why?
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: brb
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: /runs to second
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: /runs to third
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: /barrels home
	barbie_and_kendall: What is this idiot doing? HOME THROW IT HOME
	HomePlateUmp: oh my god uh, home run
	barbie_and_kendall: What? That's a live ball, are you kidding me?
	HomePlateUmp: home run, end of game, end of season, get your ass the hell out of the way
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: /rounds home, runs back toward first
	OnlineHost The wind sheer has blown Jason Kendall into the stands.
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: huff huff huff huff huff
	TheFreshPrince: /stands on first base holding jar of sugar welp
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: huff huff huff huff you dumb you dumb you dumb youdumb youdumb youdumb youdumb youdumbyoudumbyoudumbyoudumb youdumbyoudumbyoudumbYOUDUMB
	OnlineHost Dmitri Young has collided into Prince Fielder with 93 tons of pound-force.
	OnlineHost Prince Fielder and the jar of sugar have been compromised at the molecular level and re-bonded.
	OnlineHost The right side of the infield is peppered with fun-size "Blue's Clues" fruit snacks.
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: i jus made ya inta fruit snacks becaus im really SMART!
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: a clue a clue
	SteakGrowsOnDmitri: /devours bag of fruit candy, does not unwrap

Photos link to player info. WordUpThome.com Photo Credit: Getty, Creative Commons

The Dugout: Dmitri Young Makes Do originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 27 May 2008 20:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dmitri Young Legging Out a Triple Is a Sight to See

Josh Alper — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East, MLB Video

At the start of the video clip below, courtesy of the D.C. Sports Bog, you'll see Dmitri Young of the Nationals booting a play at first base. Keep watching, though, because he more than makes up for it in the at-bat that follows.

Watching him jiggle about while running is almost hypnotic. I can't believe he had the strength left to do his little hand dance at the end. And it's all for naught! Obviously another vote for instant replay on home runs but the best part is that, replay or no, we wouldn't be robbed of watching the Meat Hook willing himself to third base.

Had it been a triple, it would have been the 30th of Young's big league career. That would make him 73rd among active players, most of whom aren't forced to lug quite so much baggage around the bases with them. Nor are they quite as much fun to watch when they chug their way around the bases.

Dmitri Young Legging Out a Triple Is a Sight to See originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 27 May 2008 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jim Bowden Would Prefer if You Stopped Farting in His General Direction

Josh Alper — Thu, 22 May 2008 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East

For all the advancements in statistical analysis and computer models in baseball, there are still times when you've got to get out on the road and see the players up close and personal. With the draft fast approaching, we're in the middle of one of those times.

That means a lot of flights to far-flung parts of the country, lots of close quarters with other travelers and, in the case of Nationals G.M. Jim Bowden, the need to deal with rampant flatulence. Chico Harlan of Nationals Journal brings us Bowden's sage advice for those times when you've just gotta let one fly.

And people fart on the airplane and it's horrible, and I had to call time-out on one because the stench was so bad that I just couldn't take it. The stewardess was spraying Lysol up and down and it was embarrassing. I said, look, go to the bathroom. There's no need for this! ... Have more respect for the person next to you! Stop farting!

As if delayed flights, lost luggage and surly customer service weren't enough reason to stay on the ground. Not that things are all that much better on the ground, not if you're regularly attending Nats games, anyway. And Bowden had a lot more to do with putting that pile of stink together and avoiding Taco Bell isn't going to make it go away.

Jim Bowden Would Prefer if You Stopped Farting in His General Direction originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 22 May 2008 11:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nationals Demanding $100,000 a Day From Washington, D.C. in Stadium Dispute

Josh Alper — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:10:00 EST

Filed under: Washington, DC, Nationals, NL East, MLB Biz

If you watched the first game of the baseball season, you probably saw a glittery new stadium and heard officials from the Nationals and Washington, D.C. engaging in saccharine displays of mutual congratulations. Turns out the stadium was a half-finished mess, or so the owners would have you believe, and the owners were money-grubbers, per the city's appraisal.

The Nats are demanding $100,000 a day in damages from the city because they allege the stadium was not completed on Opening Day. Marc Fisher of the Washington Post enlightens us about the battleground.

Two weeks before the March 30 opening, exasperated attorneys for the city accused the team of "finger-pointing and windfall-seeking." Nationals attorney Irwin Raij responded that "our purpose was not to provoke a dispute," but he told the stadium's architects that "the team is concerned that in the frenzy to complete the stadium, industry standards may be disregarded and errors will be made exposing the team and its patrons to unnecessary risk."

They've certainly had no problem taking the money of those patrons, risk or not, and the Nationals look exceedingly petty in this dispute. There aren't any significant problems with the stadium and to ask for more public money, on top of the $611 million they already got for the stadium, is pretty petty. The yards of empty seats behind home plate attest to their less than established place in D.C. society. Acting like a grateful and good neighbor might help them get there.

Nationals Demanding $100,000 a Day From Washington, D.C. in Stadium Dispute originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 22 May 2008 09:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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