CHATTER
Only at The Washington Times: Mark Zuckerman and Ben Goessling blog on the Washington Nationals.
Latest Blog Entries
Who's the All-Star?
Consensus around here for weeks has been that Cristian Guzman is the clear-cut (and only) choice to represent Washington at Yankee Stadium on July 15, but I'm wondering if it's not going to be as much of a slam-dunk as we all think.
Game starting around 2:30
Happy Fourth of July from Cincinnati, where it's been raining all day. The good news is that things are supposed to clear up in the next hour or so and the game is expected to begin between 2:30 and 2:45 p.m.
Kearns back, Casto demoted
So as I hopped out of my cab at the security gate at Great American Ball Park a few minutes ago, who do I see but Kory Casto walking out with his equipment bags in hand. He just found out he's being optioned back to Columbus to make room for Austin Kearns, who is being activated off the DL.
Another crushing loss
The Nationals can look back on plenty of crushing losses this season, but today's 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Marlins has to rank right up there with the worst of them.
Game resuming at 3:30
The game is supposed to resume at 3:30 p.m., and they'll try their hardest to finish this thing quick, because the skies still look menacing.
Nats live chat today -- 1 p.m.
Join Nats beat writer Mark Zuckerman today at 1 p.m. for his weekly live chat, right in the middle of the Nationals' series finale against the Marlins.
Bally and Belly
What a debut for Collin Balester, who allowed just one hit to the Marlins over five innings and then watched as Ronnie Belliard clubbed a grand slam to give the Nats a 6-1 lead.
Dark clouds above
I'm referring to the literal dark clouds that are currently hovering over Dolphin Stadium, looking like they're ready to burst at any given moment. But figuratively speaking, you could argue there has been a dark cloud hovering over the Nationals all season.
Rauch blows save, Orr sent down
Talk about a tough way to lose a ballgame. Jon Rauch served up a game-tying homer to Hanley Ramirez in the ninth, then the game-winning homer to Josh Willingham in the 10th, sending the Nats to a crushing 6-5 loss to the Marlins.
More on Cordero
The news was both surprising and yet not really when you think about it. Though the club had been getting some encouraging reports about Chad Cordero from his rehab in Viera, he recently started experiencing more shoulder pain. Today it was discovered he has a torn labrum and is out for the year.
Cordero out for the year
Just wanted to pass along this news from Mark, who is in Florida with the team: Chad Cordero has a torn labrum in his right shoulder and will miss the rest of the season, according to general manager Jim Bowden.
Bring on the kids
It's time for the Nats to start focusing on the kids.
Balester on the way
All of you who are wondering when prized right-hander Collin Balester will make his major-league debut can end the vigil: The Nationals announced after the game they expect to call Balester up to pitch on Tuesday at Florida.
Milledge to DL; Bernadina up
The Nationals just placed outfielder Lastings Milledge on the 15-day DL with a right groin injury after he left tonight's game in the third inning and called up Roger Bernadina from Class AA Harrisburg.
Milledge out
Quick update from the second game of the Nationals-Orioles series here at Nationals Park: Lastings Milledge left in the third inning after chasing an Alex Cintron triple in left center.
