Nats Enquirer

Charlie Manuel knows a real man when he sees one.

"I wish every one of my players would play that way. That would be good. Don't say 'old school.' That's good school. That's the way you play the game. Unless you want to put some rouge and makeup and lipstick on you."
(Charlie Manuel, via Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/3/2008)

Charlie says Chase played it "Good School" in collision with Jesus Flores; was not wearing lipstick.

Of course, that means ol' Charlie won't have any qualms tonight when Odalis Perez drills Chase Utley: just as long as Odalis isn't wearing rouge and lipstick.

Meanwhile...FJB offers up a little tip for Utley for next time (that is, if Chase decides to wear his rouge, makeup, and lipstick).

Flores to have an MRI today. 

(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

CRASH LANDING

"We looked at the video several times. We didn't think it was a dirty play."
(Manny Acta, via Washington Post, 9/3/2008)

Phillies 4, Nationals 0: All good things must come to an end, streak stops at 7. And with that, the Nationals have finally, officially, mercifully, been eliminated from the NL East race.

Of course, the story is the Chase Utley-Jesus Flores collision at home in the third. Chase Utley: dirty player, or just playing the game "the right way"? Quick, someone get some real "baseball men" on the line! Upon further review, we're ok with it.

Meanwhile...

• Guzmania knows no bounds: named NL co-Player of the Week. Some would say Guz got robbed!!11!
• Levale Speigner is alive and well, picked up where he left off last year ( .1IP, 3H, 2ER). Hey! Nice debut for Hinckley!
• Someone planted a "Save Lenny Harris!!11!" story on Nationals dot com. Headline: "Harris helping young batters learn fast - Hitting coach understands what players are going through"
• Regardless of the stupid wig he wore last week, there's no way. There's just no way. And we love rumor mongering as much as the next guy...

JESUS ON A STRETCHER

Jesus, not Jesus, too?!

The early word after Jesus Flores' collision at home with Chase Utley in the third is positive. Ankle sprain (via Nationals Journal):

The team is saying he has a left ankle sprain. X-rays showed no obvious signs of fracture. An MRI is pending.

Translation: See you in sunny Viera in 2009, Jesus!

Nationals Farm Authority had the other story first: Luke Montz called up moments after the dust settled on Flores.

(Photo of Jesus on a stretcher on TV by The Nationals Enquirer staff) 

SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD

"The team is playing unbelievable right now. It's fun, coming to the field. We know we have a great chance of winning, and we've got all three aspects of our game clicking at the same time."
(Tim Redding, via Washington Post, 9/1/2008)

Nationals 7, Phillies 4: Happy Holidays! Seven, but who's counting? The real good news is: Seattle keeps winning, too, so no ground lost in the battle for Strasburg.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn. Another playoff pretender bites the dust against the hottest team in baseball (a.k.a. The Team That Saved Jimbo's Job 'til next year).

Zimmerman done for the year.

(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)