Road Trip/Roster moves (Pudge)

[Jollay]

Bad news, as Pudge goes on the 15-day DL retroactive to Sunday. Big blow for the Nats, as Pudge was no longer channeling Ted Williams but was nonetheless still batting .325. In addition, his impact on the defensive end, managing the pitching staff, and in the clubhouse will be missed.

Not many options to replace him, as the guy the Nats signed in the offseason for depth at AAA, Chris Coste, is out for the year. Jamie Burke, who underwent surgery to repair a torn miniscus in Spring Training, could be an option, as he was on his way to AAA anyway. He's 38 and was never very good anyway, but he's by far the Nats' most attractive option within the organization.

Wil Nieves can probably get the Nats through most of this stretch, but he'll have to sit at least two games ideally on this road trip.

The loss is especially big since there figure to be alot of close, low-scoring games, especially against SF and SD (considering SF's pitching and SD's pitching, speed, and defense + Petco). Wil obviously has nowhere near the bat the Nats could use at the bottom of their lineup; just yesterday the O's intentionally walked a batter to get to him.

[Jollay]

With the trip to San Francisco, it will be...

Hernandez (4-2) vs. Wellemeyer (2-4)
Atilano (3-1) vs. Lincecum (5-0)
Stammen (1-2) vs. Zito (6-2)

In San Diego...

Lannan (1-2) Richard (4-2)
?????? vs. Latos (4-3)
Hernandez vs. Garland (5-2)

And then four in Houston. Perhaps they give us Roy Oswalt on the cheap after they tap out on their season after a Nats sweep...

No way that happens BTW. On the cheap or at all.

[Jollay]

With Scott Olsen out with a mild shoulder inflammation but due back in early June, and Strasburg on his way, it's time for the last audition for some starters before the next homestand.

Nats need a fill-in starter for Game 2 in San Diego. Could be JD Martin, who is pitching well at Syracuse. I feel like Martin didn't get a fair chance to win the #5 starter position this Spring, and it was be nice to see him get another shot.

In theory they will also need whoever they call up for Game 4 in Houston, unless they go with someone on short rest.

Assuming Olsen and Strasburg are slated for the next homestand, the question then becomes who will go. Certainly the mystery fill-in, but then likely Stammen or Atilano. They could move either into a long relief role, or demote them to AAA. With Batista and Walker pitching well of late and Storen's arrival, I believe the latter would be more likely.

I believe Stammen and Atilano's performance at AT&T in Cisco will determine who goes...

[Jollay]

Adam Kilgore is reporting Syracuse's Carlos Maldonado will join the Nats out west. He's been in the minors a long, long, long time.

He's like Crash Davis without the power. Been in the minors just under 15 years. Was batting .218 this year.

Well, nice to give the guy another shot. He only has to catch a couple of games, and he was up with the Pirates for a brief, brief, spell a few years ago.

[Jollay]

Nats lose the first game 4-2. Lincecum tonight. Yikes.

Nats go 4-6 on this trip I'm pretty happy.

[Jollay]

Nays beat lincecum, then lose game 3 as Burnett loses lead in the seventh. Bats now .500 with lannan vs. Richard tonight. I'm in Vegas and I'm putting a sick hundred on the nats to win (plus 125) and 100 on the over (6.5).

[Rafael122]

I think the Nats need to take 3 out of 4 from Houston in order for this to be a successful road trip. They handed a c ouple of games to San Francisco and San Diego. Those are the games must win in order for your team to be in it at the midway point.

[Jollay]

Well, just got back from my west coast swing. Fun trip.

Saw the Nats/Pads at Petco on Sunday. Maybe they're not all that impressed with the weather/atmosphere at the Park, but I sure was. Absolutely beautiful and lots of nice fans. They could use a bigger scoreboard though.

As Raf says, they definitely have been handing away games, most disturbingly because of costly errors (thank you, Adam Kennedy). Notably Ian Desmond has suddenly regressed into an error machine (three yesterday).

Afternoon game today with JD Martin trying to bail the Nats out with a 4-6 roadtrip. A loss and its a 3-7 roadtrip and three games under .500 for the first time in a while.

[Jollay]

Defense lets the Nats down again and the road trip is over at 3-7. Granted it was Guzman in right field this time, which was a time bomb to begin with.

Nats are three under .500 now and hopefully can turn things around at home.