One time, Henry Rodriguez threw three straight 100 MPH fastballs.

In case you haven't heard, one of the guys Mike Rizzo traded Josh Willingham to the A's for has a reputation for his power-arm. Henry Rodriguez throws gas. From the official Nats press release:

The hard-throwing right-hander ranked fourth in the big leagues last season with an average fastball velocity of 98.45 miles per hour, after his 98.96 mph average in 2009 trailed only Detroit’s Joel Zumaya (99.19 mph). Rodriguez touched 103.2 mph on the gun in 2010, a high that was topped only by Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman (105.1 mph) and Texas’ Neftali Feliz (103.4 mph).
(via Nationals press release, 12/17/2010)

In the above video clip, watch as Henry Rodriguez blows three straight 100 MPH fastballs by a fellow prospect during the 2008 All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium.

Meanwhile...Chien-Ming Wang is back on another incentive-laden deal with the Nats. At worst, Wang will have another opportunity to improve his golf game on Ted Lerner's dime.

...and the O's have a 3-year deal on the table for Adam LaRoche?

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Comments

[pbsenerchia]

He also had a little bit of a Balester moment there.

[Shoshana]

It's like I've been saying with Chapman--fast but needs work on control and location. I really hope he pans out though, as I'm still trying to get over the trade.

[cass]

I wonder what this says about Rizzo's pitching philosophy... sinkerballer starters followed by power-pitching relievers? But then again Strasburg is a power-pitching starter, though they did try to get him into the whole sinker thing as well. And Livan is a junkballer. Well, he's cheap and he gets guys out... don't think Rizzo will ask too many questions!

Still, I have a feeling that Rizzo is more particular about the position players than the relievers. If only he'd actually get some people who could, ya know, hit the ball...

Maybe he'll try to get some moustache and glasses disguises for Zimmerman and Werth and try to run them out twice in each turn of the lineup? That could work.

[The Nationals Enquirer]

@cass: love the 'stache/shades idea for Zimmerman & Werth...

[Anonymous]

Henry threw three fastballs straight, or three fastball in a row?