Back to their old habits
Submitted by Jeff on Fri, 07/06/2007 - 2:17am.
- The sharpshooters were on the roof of RFK Stadium last night to protect the president, who paid a visit to the ballpark. Unfortunately, the Nats hitters couldn't provide any protection for their pitching staff, scoring just two runs (including one on a remarkable RBI triple by Dmitri Young). While two runs would have been good enough Wednesday, the Nats got only average pitching last night, so the result was another not-so-curly L: a 4-2 loss to the Cubs. (Box score)
- Bush was at RFK last night as an early celebration of his 61st birthday today. Bush arrived in the bottom of the first and left after the seventh-inning stretch. It's the fourth time Bush has been to a Nationals game, and the first this season. "About time he made it to a game," said Dmitri Young.
- Nick Johnson went to New York last night to see a hip specialist; he has been suffering pain in his right hip during his rehabilitation from a broken right leg. GM Jim Bowden said the examination was not a "setback" in Johnson's recovery, but declined to set a timetable for Johnson's return other than that it's still possible he'll be back by the end of this season—which, when compared to earlier predictions about his return, doesn't sound that promising.
- Ross Detwiler, who agreed to terms with the Nats yesterday, is on a fast track to the majors, team officials said. Detwiler will make "two or three starts" in the rookie leagues, then go to high-A Potomac and then, next month, to Double-A Harrisburg. Might he be in Washington come September? "It's possible," Bowden said.
- In the minors, coaches have found a flaw with Kory Casto: he's too patient. "He's patient to a fault. He's taking too many [pitches], working too much count," said Triple-A manager John Stearns. Casto, who slumped after going back to Columbus in mid-May, has rebounded somewhat, hitting .279 in June.
- At Double-A, pitcher-turned-first-baseman John Whitesell could be in Washington in September. Whitesell leads Harrisburg in most offensive categories, including batting average, home runs, and RBIs.
- Despite their on-field woes the Nationals are still having fun, says Ryan Zimmerman, thanks in large part to the attitude of manager Manny Acta. "He doesn't get too upset or too happy at anytime. When we're playing good he’s the same as when we're playing bad. That relieves the tension." Zimmerman said he's looking forward to the extended All-Star Break, adding that he might go to the Bahamas during the break before heading over to Miami, where the Nats start the second half of the season.
- A "topping out" ceremony for the new ballpark is planned for next week, marking the end of the steel and concrete work on the stadium.