Nats Enquirer

Wily Mo Pena = Win.

"One in a row, baby! On a streak! The lead's down to three and a half."
(Jim Bowden, via Washington Post, 4/13/2008)

"I was playing back like everybody was playing back. When the ball came, I pulled my hand away a little bit."
(Wily Mo Pena, via Washington Times, 4/14/2008)

Nats 5, Braves 4: Nats survive Chief's return, snap losing streak at nine.

Undefeated in 2008 with Wily Mo Pena in the lineup! A brutal day all around for WMP: 0-4, 3 K's, a DP, and a botched catch in the 8th allowing a close game to get closer (see above).

Pretty Ugly

"You could bring a squirrel in here and he's going to do better than we've been playing."
(Paul Lo Duca, via Washington Post, 4/13/2008)

Braves 10, Nats 2: Nine in a row. Lo Duca might be on to something.

Shakeup: Bergmann demoted, Jesus Flores, too; Wily Mo recalled to save the day (will hit 5th today); Chief's back, too.

(by www. PDImages.com)

District Chop House

"Everybody's loose. I think we're just in that funk that every team gets into. I think tonight showed that we're playing hard and we're going to come out of it soon."
(Matt Chico, via Washington Times, 4/12/2008)

Braves 3, Nats 0: Despite pregame team meeting and Matt Chico's best, lifeless Nats' bats no match for Tim Hudson. 8 losses in a row and counting.

Wily Mo to report to Columbus today (will return late next week?). But where, oh where, is Elijah Dukes?

Meanwhile...

No wonder he's hitting .191: Nationals Enquirer staff snapped an exclusive photo (above) of what appears to be Ryan Zimmerman hanging out drinking beer in the stands between innings of last night's game. Team officials declined to comment. Nationals Enquirer staff enjoyed its first time at Nationals Park last night. One observation: too many idiot Braves fans doing their tired Tomahawk Chop routine all night from our vantage point (lower section 134) while Nats fans sat quietly drinking themselves into a stupor.

S.S. Acta Taking on Water

"It's early and these guys have got to get it going,. We've been through this before, and we'll get out of it."
(Manny Acta, via Washington Post, 4/11/2008)

Marlins 4, Nats 3: Skid hits seven. Cruel. Nick J's 9th inning long ball not quite long enough.

Peter Angelos is a funny guy.

"We definitely want them to succeed. We're partners in the MASN baseball network, and we have an excellent relationship with the Lerner family and with Stan Kasten, who is an old friend of mine... We would have had very substantial crowds, the way we've been playing, had it not been for the weather."
(Peter Angelos, via Baltimore Sun, 4/10/2008)

Sure, it's just the weather, Peter. We believe you!

Angelos chalks up pathetic Camden Yards crowds to the weather; "definitely" wants Nats to succeed; may or may not have been in attendance at the hotly-debated Game 2 at Nationals Park Monday night, buying curly W pretzels and waving a giant Nats #1 foam finger.

(AP Photo)

Mann Handled

"I'm pretty fired up. I'm really [ticked] off because I'm better than that. This team didn't need that. I failed these guys tonight, and I'm pretty [ticked] off about it."
(Jason Bergmann, via Washington Times, 4/10/2008)

Marlins 10, Nats 4: First Place Fish Fillet NL East Bottom Feeders. Yet another nightmare 5th inning for Jason Bergmann (5IP, 9H, 7ER, 1BB, 2HR).

Losing streak hits six. But don't worry: Odalis Perez will stop the bleeding tonight, right (*gulp*)?

As far as Bergmann goes: Might be time for another pep talk from Bowden -- just like last year. Otherwise, JB could be the one shipped out to Columbus, not Lannan or Chico once Hill returns (after one more rehab start).

Meanwhile...

• The end of John Rauch's reign as tallest major league player ever could be coming soon: 7-foot-1 Loek Van Mil has been slowly but surely working his way through the Twins' farm system.
• Chief closer to return after rehab start for P-Nats.

(Photos of TV screen taken by The Nationals Enquirer staff)

Enquirer Exclusive! Da Meat Hook gives birth, goes on DL

"It's a boy! And he can rake!"
(Dmitri Young, via The Nationals Enquirer, 4/9/2008)

According to "sources" with no knowledge of the situation, Dmitri Young gave birth to a healthy 8 lb. 3.4 oz. baby boy last night at 8:55 PM at George Washington University Hospital in DC. Young, suffering from a balky balk since the beginning of Spring Training and "reportedly" out of shape while struggling to keep his diabetes in check, was simply pregnant; and has been placed on the 15-day maternity leave DL. Jim Bowden unavailable for comment. Get well soon, Dmitri.

Meanwhile...

• Should be a blast if you're driving to RFK tonight. Remember: USE LOT 8. USE LOT 7. (and we'll see how Metro handles its first real test with Wizards/United/Nats all playing at home tonight).
• SBF has pics from Hill's start in Woodbridge last night.
• Johnny Estrada: activated. Jesus Flores reportedly seen this morning at the Greyhound station with a one-way ticket to Harrisburg in hand.

(AP Photo by Evan Vucci)

Up Hill Battle

"No pain in the arm this evening."
(Shawn Hill, via Nationals Farm Authority, 4/8/2008)

The numbers from Shawn Hill's start for the P-Nats tonight sure look good (fastball clocked at 90-91, too, which seems promising)

But before putting Lannan on a Greyhound back to Columbus, time to see how that forearm is feeling tomorrow. 

Nationals Farm Authority was on the scene in Woodbridge; got quotes from Shawn Hill (and a few choice words from Manny Acta)

Meanwhile...a little Wily Mo progress (3 innings at extended Spring Training in FLA). Hurry up, WMP!

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Cold Play

"At least it's early."
(Ronnie Belliard, via Washington Times, 4/8/2008)

Marlins 10, Nats 7: Rough night all around. Losing streak hits 5.

The big question: Will anyone show up this year? What a difference a year makes for home game #2: 407 people. Game 2 last year (also against FLA)? Announced attendance of 20,894. Game 2 at Nationals Park last night? 20,487. No worries for Metro, last night anyway.

Meanwhile...

• Hoping for the best but expecting...well, you know: Hill gets rehab start for Potomac tonight.
• Please hurry up, Wily Mo, for the love of Jesus (Colome).
• Da Meat Hook gets his trophy.

Thud:

(AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Sweep me in St. Louis

"[Expletive]-poor effort...Just [expletive]-poor."
(Paul Lo Duca, via Washington Post, 4/07/2008)

Cards 3, Nats 0: Shawn who? Lannan's debut, wasted. Where's that new-look offense!?

Losses piling up (that's four in a row, but who's counting? It's still early)!

Meanwhile...

• WWJD? He'd throw strikes: "Colome to focus on mechanics".
• Game's on in HD tonight on MASN!?
• First real test tonight for commuters, fans.

(AP Photo/Kyle Ericson)