Nats Enquirer

Wet blanket

"It's been a long week for us." (Ryan Zimmerman, via Washington Post, 9/15/2007)

Braves 8, NAAAts 5: Braves rain on NAAAts parade. Blah. Hey, it looked like Dolphin Stadium at RFK in the 13th!

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Enquirer Exclusive! NAAAts begin stockpiling arms, legs, for '08

According to sources with no direct or indirect knowledge of the situation, Nationals scouts were so impressed by the performance of the Radio City Rockettes throwing out the first pitch on Monday night at Dolphin Stadium (and so disheartened by back-to-back stinkers by Mike Bacsik and Joel Hanrahan), that the team has extended invitations to spring training to the Rockettes. "Like they say, you can never have too much pitching," a reportedly beaming Jim Bowden may or may not have told an unnamed source. "And, come on, everyone knows that 2008 is gearing up to look very similar to 2007, give or take a few wins. We'll make a half-hearted run at Andruw Jones in the offseason. But on Opening Day in the new stadium our outfield will look just like what we throw out there tonight. In terms of pitching, it's all about stockpiling arms and trotting out whoever happens to be healthy." Stan Kasten unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile...

• Nobody seems to be getting misty eyed about the team's impending departure from RFK. Except maybe Thom Loverro, who asks what it means if the Nationals don't hit the 2 million fan mark this season. Is it "a short-term embarrassment for the club or an indication of bigger problems for baseball in Washington?"
• Don't take this the wrong way, we love Manny: But it might be almost impossible not to exceed expectations when yours is predicted to be one of the worst teams of all time.
• The last word on just how quiet it was at Wednesday's empty seat affair in Florida, courtesy of The Palm Beach Post:

Kim struck out trying to bunt in the fifth. Frustrated, he unleashed an expletive that could clearly be heard on the telecast from the near-silent stadium. The Marlins broadcasters apologized on the air.

• Svrluga says the Nationals are trying to convince MLB officials to let them open 2008 on ESPN, in prime time.

(AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)

Crickets

"It was a long day...it was an odd day. ...It was so frigging hot. It was miserable out there."
(Ryan Church, via Washington Post, 9/12/2007)

Marlins 5, NAAAts 4: If a team falls in Miami and nobody is around to see it, does it make a sound?

74,600* empty seats, but who's counting? How quiet was it? Shhhhhh! So quiet that a fan got tossed for heckling?

*It is not clear if the estimated 400 people in attendance includes players, umpires, batboys, Billy the Marlin, and Dmitri Young (twice).

(AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)

They put the ugly in slugfest.

"Today, we could tell from the beginning it was going to be a long day. God, I'm glad it's over."
(Manny Acta, via Washington Post, 9/12/2007)

Marlins 13, NAAAts 8: Ugly, yes. Fun, too! Congrats, Justin Maxwell.

(AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)

Mo than a feeling

"Dave Parker in 1980. He's the only other guy I've ever seen hit one like that."
(Jim Bowden, via Washington Times, 9/11/2007)

NAAAts 5, Marlins 4: Lots of rain, and the Wily Mo Show!

(AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)

Hair of the dog

"We played real sloppy the last couple days. So to be able to come through and get a win salvages something here."
(Ryan Zimmerman, via Washington Post, 09/10/2007)

NAAAts 7, Braves 4: No sweep!

What's more surprising, D'Angelo Jimenez hitting leadoff, D'Angelo Jimenez going 3-5 with 3 RBI, or the suddenly defensively-challenged NAAAts not making an error on Bark in the Park Day at Turner Field?

Meanwhile...

FelipE still not talking, but says he'll speak to the media the last day of the season. Still unclear if his boycott includes bloggers or not.

Yup, the NAAAts could use a big bat in center. 

(Photo by Frank Niemeir / Atlanta Journal Constitution)

The errors of their ways

"Obviously we haven't played good defense over the past two games and that's a big part of our team. We're not going to out-slug people."
(Manny Acta, via Washington Times, 9/09/2007)

Braves 9, NAAAts 2: Another sloppy night in Atlanta; make that 8 Es in 2 days.

Uh oh...is Zimmerman turning into Chuck Knoblauch over at third (another throwing error last night)? Manny says it's not mental:"When it's a mental [problem], guys just struggle with every throw and have to take time off and get some type of psychological program and stuff...That's not the case, because he made some throws to first base today."

(AP Photo/Gregory Smith)

Overmatched.

"There's nothing new to say about John. He's John Smoltz. That's who he his. He just toyed with us. He's a first-ballot Hall of Famer."
(Manny Acta, via Washington Post, 9/08/2007)

Braves 7, NAAAts 1: Belliard spoils Smoltz's no-hit bid in the 8th. Detwiler makes his debut!

0-4, 4 strikeouts, and 3 errors for Zimmerman? I thought Dog Day was scheduled for Sunday?

But the good folks over at DC Optimist ask us to focus on all that was good about last night's game, especialy if you slinging mud but forgot to use spel check.

(AP Photo/Gregory Smith)

Enquirer Exclusive! Would-be robber at RFK was Levale Speigner

According to sources with no direct or indirect knowledge of the situation, the man suspected of robbing a vendor during the Nationals-Marlins game at RFK Stadium Wednesday night and shooting himself in the leg accidentally as he tried to escape from stadium security was Levale Speigner. In an exclusive interview with The Nationals Enquirer, Speigner may or may not have said "They completely misused me this season. Destroyed my confidence. I was just looking for a little payback." Despite pitching well for AAA Columbus on Monday night, Speigner has been mostly ineffective in 17 games for the Clippers since all that Rule 5 nonsense back in June. "Those [expletive]-holes destroyed my career. Thanks for nothing," said Speigner, as he was led away by DC police.

Meanwhile...

• In the Washington Times, Bowden toots his own horn about the organization's prospects and the 2007 draft class and believes the team will be ranked around 12 when Baseball America ranks each organization's minor league talent in the spring.
• Two more reasons we love Wily Mo
• Lots of questions in the air around radio. Here's another: Is Charlie Slowes really that short, or are Dave Jaegalger Jageler and Screeches Best Friend just freakishly tall? SBF puts in a vote for C&D!
• Capitol Punishment presents 25 stats that probably don't mean much but make for a good read anyway.
• Hanrahan vs. Smoltz tonight? Sounds like a classic reverse lock if you ask me. Prediction time -- NAAAts put a tomahawk into the Braves' slim playoff hopes with a 3 game sweep, effectively making their move for a miracle run for third place in the NL East. Bet the house on it.

(AP Photo)

NAAAts won't take it lying down

"I'm very thankful for the effort they have given me so far. Not that it's over with, but I can't say enough about them."
(Manny Acta, via Washington Times, 9/06/2007)

NAAAts 6, Marlins 4: Bottom feeder Fish no match for Acta's overachievers

An early exit for Redding (ouch!), but the 'pen holds down the fort. Marlin's Mitre punches a fan! Wily Mo factors into the outcome, naturally (game winning RBI in the 7th)!

Less than a week ago, it looked like things were about to get ugly -- next thing you know it's a sweep of the Marlins, 5 straight wins, and 3 games clear of last place in the NL East.

Meanwhile...

• Next question: does Redding's elbow knock open the door for Detwiler's debut (bullpen session: 'electric stuff')!?
• Welcome to the big leagues, Jonathan Allabadejoe Ablebleegao Albaladejo: struck out the side in the 4th, 19 pitches, 14 strikes in 1 2/3 innings. (Close but no cigar for Justin Maxwell in his first big league at bat in the 4th)
• Nick the Thick is heading to Fat Camp, promises to show up in shape next spring. Via Washington Post: "My wife's a great cook and everything, but she likes to make some cakes, too...I can't be having the cookies in the jar, or I'll eat 'em." 
• Fans love Manny.
• Attempted robbery goes all wrong in RFK parking lot.

(AP Photo/Nick Wass)