Daily Nats Blurbs

[General]

How old is Livan, 33?

[McKain]

31.

His career is looking like it's nearly over.

[General]

At least he's won a WS.

[General]

Ramon Ortiz took a loss against the Padres on Friday after yielding three runs over 6 2/3 innings of work.
Ortiz walked four and struck out two while surrendering nine hits. Manager Frank Robinson actually let Ortiz hit with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth with the Nationals down 3-0, but the starting pitcher struck out after almost singling down the line. Alfonso Soriano then lined out to end the inning, and the Nationals fell a run short in the contest.

[McKain]

Livan Hernandez refuses to take time off despite a knee injury that he says has been bothering him for some time.
"It does not feel 100 percent in all my starts," Hernandez said. "Maybe in one month, it will be 100 percent. Maybe not. One day I feel perfect; another day it feels tight." Pitching through pain is one thing, but pitching horribly start after start makes the decision very questionable. Jul. 8 - 10:46 am et

**** YOU. YOU CAN'T PITCH! Take the time off you worthless ****.

[General]

John Patterson left Sunday's game in the second inning with a right forearm strain.
It's the same injury that had Patterson on the DL for two months, though there's likely more going on with his elbow than what the Nationals know about or are admitting. If he goes back on the DL, the Nationals can replace him with Tony Armas Jr. after the break.

[General]

Nationals acquired SS Felipe Lopez, OF Austin Kearns and RHP Ryan Wagner from the Reds for RHP Gary Majewski, LHP Bill Bray, SS Royce Clayton, INF Brendan Harris and RHP Daryl Thompson.
We take back every bad thing we've ever said about Jim Bowden. This looks like a complete and total steal for the Nationals. Lopez is a huge upgrade at shortstop over Royce Clayton. It's true that he's not stellar defensively, but he'll get to more balls than Clayton did and be a quality bat near the top of the lineup. The Nationals now have the lineup of a contender: LF Alfonso Soriano, SS Lopez, 2B Jose Vidro, 1B Nick Johnson, CF Austin Kearns, 3B Ryan Zimmerman, RF Jose Guillen and C Brian Schneider. Their bullpen is quite a bit weaker, but if they choose to keep the current squad intact, a wild-card run can't be ruled out

Austin Kearns was traded from the Nationals to the Reds in an eight-player deal.
A disappointing trade for Kearns owners, as he goes to a team with a lesser lineup that plays in a pitcher's park. Kearns should take over as the Nationals' center fielder for now, with Alex Escobar going to the bench. Eventually, he'll move back to a corner when Jose Guillen or Alfonso Soriano is traded. Kearns was hitting .274/.351/.492 with the Reds, and he was far and away the club's best defensive outfielder. That he is a free agent after 2007 lowered his trade value somewhat, but the Reds still gave him up cheap

RHP Ryan Wagner was sent from the Reds to the Nationals in an eight-player deal.
Wagner, once an elite relief prospect, disappointed in 2004 and again in 2005 before hurting his shoulder. He currently has a 6.34 ERA in 38 1/3 innings for Triple-A Louisville. There's still some promise here, but the Nationals will likely leave him in Triple-A and call up Roy Corcoran to fill one of the openings in their pen.

[General]

Ramon Ortiz yielded five runs -- four earned -- in five innings Friday in a loss to the Pirates.
He gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out none. Ortiz had turned in three straight quality starts, but even when he's keeping the Nationals in games, he's not doing much for fantasy teams. He's 6-8 with a 5.15 ERA

[Providence A's]

John Patterson left Sunday's game in the second inning with a right forearm strain.
It's the same injury that had Patterson on the DL for two months, though there's likely more going on with his elbow than what the Nationals know about or are admitting. If he goes back on the DL, the Nationals can replace him with Tony Armas Jr. after the break.

did Patterson go back on the DL? he's missed a lot of time and that certainly has hurt the Nats...and some fantasy teams no doubt

[General]

Felipe Lopez hit his first homer as a member of the Nationals in Monday's loss to the Marlins.
Unfortunately, he also committed two errors. Lopez is just 2-for-18 with six strikeouts for his new club

[McKain]

Zimmerman is a mammoth. This is all.

[General]

Nationals placed outfielder Jose Guillen on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 19, with right elbow soreness.
Utilityman Melvin Dorta will be called up to replace him, giving the team a backup shortstop with Damian Jackson out. The Nationals will give Alex Escobar a chance to play regularly while Guillen is out, putting Austin Kearns in right field. Luis Matos will be the fourth outfielder. This will probably prevent the Nationals from moving Guillen before the trade deadline, but an August deal could be a possibility

[General]

Nationals purchased the contract of second baseman Melvin Dorta from Double-A Harrisburg.
The Nationals needed someone who could serve as a backup middle infielder with Damian Jackson on the DL and Jose Vidro nursing a hamstring injury. Dorta, a 24-year-old who was hitting .277/.329/.381 at Double-A, just happened to be the choice.

[General]

During forearm surgery Thursday, John Patterson's lacertus fibrosis was released and the median nerve was explored and decompressed.
Also, several areas of constriction within the nerve were released, thus leaving the nerve healthy and free of compression. It's possible that Patterson will be back this season, though with the Nationals unlikely to be in the race, they'll probably be especially cautious. More important than anything is having him healthy at the start of 2007. "He has a chance to come back," GM Jim Bowden said. "The elbow was in good shape and the ligament was very strong. The decompression of the nerve helped him get the feeling back, and he can be what he was. For the long-term, there's no reason why John Patterson can't become the 15- to 20-game winner he was supposed to be."

[General]

Livan Hernandez won for the second time in eight starts by allowing three runs in six innings Saturday against the Cubs.
This seems to be about as well as he can pitch right now. Hernandez hasn't allowed fewer than three runs in a start in any of his last nine starts, and he still hasn't pitched more than 7 1/3 innings in any of his outings this year. Buyer beware. It's hard to see him being of any use to an AL team right now.