Nats Enquirer

Did Jordan Zimmermann top out at 98 last night?

(Jordan Zimmermann had gas against the Tigers. Screengrab via MLB.com)

All together now: "Spring training results stats radar gun readings don't matter!"

#28 will be #2

(Jayson Werth returns to the dugout after hitting his first HR of the spring Thursday night. Screengrab via MLB.com)

And so Jayson Werth will bat second for the Nationals, at least to start the season. To celebrate, Werth hit his first HR of the spring on Thursday night against the Tigers; even enjoyed a 2-3, 2 RBI night (kindly ignore the CS in the first).

Here's Jim Riggleman on the decision to bat the $126 Million Man second:

Mike Rizzo spends afternoon combing through the scrap heap for spare parts, finds Ollie Perez

 

(Oliver Perez's Mets cap is visible at the top of the pile. Image via internationalmarinesalvage dot com.)

Wholly Crap!

Nationals sign Oliver Perez to minor league deal

Mike Rizzo failed to sign a #1 starter in the offseason. So he settled for signing a wreck who's still being paid like one by the Mets. Does this mark the beginning of Phase 3?

Zack Greinke believes the Nationals will be good someday

 

(Zack Greinke wants to win now, or something. Screen grab via MLB.com)

Fantastic piece by the Washington Post's Dave Sheinin on Zack Greinke's decision to snub the Nats and turn down Ted Lerner's $100 million back in December.

See you Washington in 2013, Zack?

"Maybe it works out better that the deal [with Washington] didn’t go through. In two years I might be a free agent, and then they get to keep the players [who would have been] in the trade. And some of those guys could end up being key players for them."
(Zack Greinke, via  Dave Sheinin/Washington Post, 3/22/2011)

And in two years, the Nats could be thanking their lucky stars that the deal fell through. At the very least, by the time 2013 rolls around we'll know how Phase 2 turned out for the Nats: and how much of Ted Lerner's $100 million is left on the table for Greinke.

 

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Bryce Harper's prodigious left ankle just medium now

 

(Bryce Harper, in happier times, meets with reporters. Screengrab of CSNWashington.com.)

Nats media guide coverboy and GM Mike Rizzo explained the extent of Bryce Harper's left ankle sprain to reporters Tuesday afternoon. Whatever you do, don't refer to the injury as a mild sprain:

"It's not a mild sprain. It's called a medium sprain, but everything checked out fine. It's similar to what Brown went through."
(Mike Rizzo, via Nationals.com, 3/22/2011)

And Corey Brown went on to miss 3+ weeks, right? But don't cancel that April 7 road trip to Rome, GA for Harper's minor league debut just yet: MASN's Byron Kerr has a minor league Nats source who says Harper should be back in 4 or 5 days:

A minor league official with knowledge of the situation is more specific about Harper's possible return, saying the Nats' top prospect is, "doing okay and should be back in four or five days."
(via Byron Kerr/MASNSports.com, 3/22/2011)

In other words, Bryce Harper could return from his not-mild-but-medium sprain anywhere from four days to three weeks. Guess that's what they mean by day-to-day? On second thought, better cancel that April 7 road trip to Rome.

On an unrelated note:  Enjoy the following video of Harper lining one off Bo Porter during batting practice a few weeks ago when the kid was still in Big League camp:

Bryce Harper doesn't suffer career-ending ankle sprain

 

(The kid's alright. via @BHarp34.)

Harper sprains ankle in intrasquad game. Now, exhale.

Raise your hand if you freaked out when you first heard that Bryce Harper had been carted off the field at minor league camp. Well, nothing to fear: X-rays reportedly came back negative on his prodigious left ankle, Harper's listed as "day to day".

Monday night, the kid felt good enough to Tweet that he feels good; so everything's right with the world again.

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Ian Desmond says Miguel Batista throws like Miss Iowa

 

(From left to right: Miss Iowa, Miss Iowa, Miss Universe, circa July 2010. Reuters Photo/Jonathan Ernst)

 

Zzzzz...Spring Training near-brawl? Okay! We're all ears... Here's the abridged version of the events leading up to a benches-clearing incident between the Nationals and Cardinals on Monday, pieced together from various accounts of the incident:

Top of the fifth: Nyjer Morgan bunts, runs into Albert Pujols at first base. Pujols apparently hurts his wrist. Two batters later, Chris Carpenter plunks Laynce Nix. In the bottom of the fifth, Livan Hernandez plunks Colby Ramus. Two innings later, Ex-Nat Miguel Batista plunks Ian Desmond. Tempers flare. Benches clear. Jim Riggleman and BFF Tony LaRussa have words. Ho hum, just another benches-clearing incident kicked off by Nyjer Morgan.

 After the game, Ian Desmond lobs a verbal grenade at ex-teammate Batista (and surprisingly the throw doesn't sail over Batista's head):

"It was intentional, but Miggy throws like Miss Iowa. It's no big deal."
(Ian Desmond, via Nationals.com, 3/21/2011)

Ah yes, a nod to the the fabled Scratchmas/Miss Iowa game of July 2010. A few days later, it all turned out okay for Miguel Batista and Miss Iowa. Doubtful Ian Desmond would like to see Miguel Batista in a swimsuit and heels after today's incident, but it will be worth checking back on April 19-21 when the Nationals visit the Cardinals. Mark your calendars now, just in case.

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Get yer Harperstown t-shirts and rally towels

 

(This is one of the Harperstown t-shirt designs coming soon on www.harperstown.com. Image via @mkuhn55.)

So the Hagerstown Suns have found a sponsor for Bryce Harper's at-bats, but are apparently prohibited from selling Bryce Harper merch yet. But don't worry: a couple of enterprising Suns fans designed their own stuff, and launched Harperstown.com to sell the merch. The website is still under construction, but says they're taking orders. Two different eyeblack styles (call 'em "warpaint" and "reduced") for the shirts, and if you're so inclined, go ahead and order yourself a Harperstown rally towel (can also be used to help wipe off the extra eye black):

 
After the jump, Harperstown.com's Mike Kuhn explained to The Nationals Enquirer (via email) how the project came together.

The ugly red tent at Nationals Park is coming down

 

(Ted Lerner's Party Tent is coming down. Picture via the Facebook group page: "Take Down The Red Tent In Left Field at Nats Park!")

And so, the infamous Red Tent blocking one of the only views of the Capitol from the seats at Nationals Park will apparently come down prior to Opening Day 2011.

This good news was delivered on Thursday via Twitter by @NatsTix, the official Ticket Sales and Service Twitter account for the Washington Nationals, in response to a comment from a concerned Nationals fan about the ugly red eyesore:

" ...how about taking down the red tent that blocks the view of the Capitol?"
(via @kevin_reiss, 3/17/2011)"

"...the tent is also coming down for 2011."
(via @NatsTix, 3/17/2011)

Sweet. But now where will all the corporate muckety-mucks for their pregame picnics?

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A glass skull in Jayson Werth's messy locker?

 

(Jayson Werth's locker, circa September 2010. Image via Chicks Dig the Long Ball.)

Most important factoid gleaned from Jayson Stark's fantastic piece about Jayson Werth on ESPN.com Wednesday? No, not that Werth realizes that with great contract comes great responsibility. It's that Werth keeps a messy locker. Next-door locker neighbor (and new BFF) Ryan Zimmerman explains:

"You know, you learn a lot about guys from how they keep their lockers," Zimmerman says, "whether it's neat or messy. I wouldn't say he's terribly messy, but he's not clean, either. He'll scatter some stuff around."

And what has Zimmerman learned about Werth from those locker-housecleaning habits?

"Keep my stuff away from his locker," the third baseman says, laughing. "It might get lost in there."
(via Jayson Stark/ESPN.com, 3/16/2011)

Hmm. Messy, but no mention of a glass skull. A post on Phillies blog Chicks Dig the Long Ball from last September describes one prominent feature of Werth's old locker in Philly: "...a glass skull in Werth’s locker...this is actually a bottle of Crystal Skull vodka." See image above, via the aforementioned blog.

Awesome. So is that skull in Werth's locker at Space Coast Stadium? Will it be featured in Werth's locker in Washington?

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