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Mets 4, Nationals 3: Henry Rodriguez comes undone in the 9th: walks the leadoff guy, throws ball away on a bunt, gives up walkoff hit to Murphy.
Don't fear the reaper. That's just "renowned" orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews approaching with his scalpel. (As an aside: We challenge you to find a report referencing "Dr. James Andrews" where the adjective "renowned" is not also included. Is this qualifier necessary so as not to confuse the "renowned" Dr. James Andrews with some less famous and just ordinary Dr. James Andrews?)
And so, the news on Drew Storen's elbow is so not good. According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, Storen felt pain in his right elbow after throwing in a simulated game on Sunday. And now, Storen reportedly has a date with renowned (see, can't help it!) orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion. Here's to hoping it's just bone chips in the elbow and not, you know... *gulp*
"Hopefully it's nothing serious. But it doesn't sound good to me."
(Davey Johnson, via Washington Times, 4/9/2012)
Give thanks for Henry Rodriguez and Brad Lidge, Davey...
(Screengrab via HBO Real Sports video clip.)
Last season, Duffy's Irish Pub in DC made headlines with a Jayson Werth drink special: PBR Tallboys priced to match Werth's batting average: $2.12 at the time. Now, Duffy's is at it again with a new Jayson Werth drink special: free shots for each Jayson Werth HR this season:
Certainly a much more positive promotion this time around compared to the ~2.12 beer promo last year. Unfortunately, Werth is off to another slow start this season: 0-10, 5 K. On a positive note, Werth has 3 walks. Perhaps Duffy's should consider free shots for Nats fans for each Werth AB until he gets a hit?
(Jordan Zimmermann talks with the media after Sunday's loss to the Cubs. Screengrab via MASN.com video.)
Cubs 4, Nationals 3: Once again Nats' offense shows up late; but this time without the magic. Thanks, Xavier Nady. Jordan Zimmermann was good, but Jeff Samardzija was better.
Chaditude fails to ignite: Chad Tracy 0-1 (K).
Meanwhile...
Left ankle sprain for Anthony Rendon Saturday night.
John Lannan lit up in first AAA start on Sunday.
(Meet the new Mayor of Nats Town: Chad Tracy. Screengrab via TV/MASN.)
It's Chad Tracy's world, we just live in it.
Chadtionals 7, Cubs 4: Chad Tracy clutch 2-run single sparks 5 run rally with 2 outs in the 8th.
Chad Tracy for NL MVP? How about: Chad Tracy for President!
At this hour, there's talk of renaming The Lincoln Memorial. The Chad Tracy Memorial has a nice ring to it.
A win so sweet, you can almost forget Gio Gonzalez's horrible debut.
Sure, he went 2-3 last night in a rehab start for AA Harrisburg; but Michael Morse is still rusty. Apparently The Beast headed out to the on deck circle without his batting helmet before an AB last night, then quickly realized the error of his ways, as seen in the photo above, courtesy of @_JakeRussell.
Apparently Morse is off getting treatment in NY for his lat today; Davey told reporters Morse "felt just a little bit" after throwing. Resume #Panicmode? Nah...
There's Michael Morse signing autographs before Friday night's Harrisburg Senators-Bowie Baysox matchup. (Photo by @_JakeRussell) Guess it's safe to officially cancel #Panicmode. Morse went 2-3 with a HR in a rehab start for Harrisburg Friday night. Also, Rick Ankiel homered for the Senators.
See you at the Nats home opener on Thursday?
Elsewhere in the Nats minor league system on Friday: Anthony Rendon collected his first minor league hit for the P-Nats, a triple. And Bryce Harper went 1-4 for the Chiefs.
Here's video of Bryce Harper doing an interview with CNY Central News in Syracuse during Chiefs media day on Wednesday. (Asked what he knew about Syracuse prior to arriving, Harper acknowledged that he "always knew it was a big basketball town. Everyone knows about Syracuze".)
The Washington Post's Dave Sheinin was at Harper's AAA debut in Syracuze on Thursday, and noted a much smaller crowd than at Strasburg's Chiefs debut:
In 2010, when another Nationals phenom, pitcher Stephen Strasburg, made his Syracuse debut, a record crowd of 13,766 turned out at Alliance Bank Stadium to witness it. But on Thursday for Harper’s debut, and opening day for the Chiefs, the official attendance figure was 6,178, and by the end of the game there appeared to be less than a thousand hearty souls left in the stands. (via Dave Sheinin, Washington Post, 4/6/2012)
No record crowd on Thursday for Harpermania, but comparing Harper's AAA debut with Stephen Strasburg's AAA debut is apples and oranges: Stras had the benefit of a warm Friday night in May, while Harper's debut came on a cold, Thursday afternoon. So cold, in fact, that Harper wore a ski mask:
Pretty nice AAA debut for Bryce Harper on Thursday:2-4 with a 2B and stolen base. Up above, video of Harper's double in his first AB as a member of the Syracuse Chiefs.
And so, Bryce Harper started his Triple-A stint with the Syracuse Chiefs with a 2-4 day at the plate, including a double and a stolen base. Apparently Harper (starting in CF) had "butterflies and whatnot" before the game. Quotes, via the Associated Press:
"You always get that nervous feeling, butterflies and whatnot...but after that first pitch is thrown, all of that goes out the door.
...
I was a little out of whack in big league spring training with my swing, my hands...I think the best thing was me getting sent down to Triple A and really getting on that grind every day of playing, get my routine back. I think that's the biggest thing.
When I was up there, I tried to work as hard as I could every single day, but I was trying to do too much, getting a hit every single day. Now, it made me calm down and really stay within myself, stay with my game. I have a lot of things to work on. This is just another steppingstone." (Bryce Harper, via Associated Press/SI.com, 4/5/2012)
See you at Nationals Park on Friday, June 1, kid.
