Daily Nats Blurbs

[General]

In response to Wiki Gonzalez's demotion, Nationals manager Frank Robinson said Brian Schneider will start nearly every game.
"Is it the best thing for us? Not really. I really loved having Wiki here," Robinson said. "Schneider catches a lot of ballgames when he is healthy. Very rarely now is he going to get a rest." It looks like the Nats have a power struggle going between Robinson, who wanted a true backup for Schneider, and GM Jim Bowden, who wanted Matthew LeCroy and Robert Fick to play behind the starter. Schneider owners may enjoy the extra at-bats for the short-term, but he's not going to put up very good numbers if Robinson keeps batting him eighth, and if he starts every game, he may be worn out as soon as June or July.

[General]

Matt LeCroy will serve as the backup catcher to Brian Schneider with Wiki Gonzalez being sent to the minors.
LeCroy caught just once in 2005 for the Minnesota Twins. His minimal value to fantasy teams increases a little now that he is eligible at catcher, but it can't be good for the Nationals pitching staff.

[General]

John Patterson limited the Marlins to one run in eight innings and struck out 13 batters to pick up his first win on Saturday night.
His forearm must have been feeling pretty good tonight. Patterson was unexceptional in each of his first two starts, and he complained of forearm tightness after his first outing. There's still some reason for concern here, but not as much as there was a day ago

[RockSports17]

Damn 13 Ks in 8 innings. Very nice. Heck, I don't even know who this guy is. Ohh wait, it was against the Marlins. I think alot of pitchers could strike out 13 against the Marlins.

[General]

Ryan Church belted two homers against the Marlins on Sunday, including a go-ahead two-run shot off reliever Matt Herges with two outs in the top of the ninth inning.
Church drove in four, scored three times, and also added a walk and a stolen base. Today's outing should give Church somewhat of a leash if he has a couple hitless days at the plate. He's a nice pickup in NL-only leagues in which he was dropped

[McKain]

Brandon Watson is gay.

[General]

Manager Frank Robinson insists that Alfonso Soriano's move to the leadoff spot isn't permanent.
Soriano has batted leadoff three of the last four games. "I don't like him up there," Robinson said. "We didn't get him to hit leadoff. But right now, we're struggling. We need everything we can get."

[love_that_reefer]

Soriano at lead off is not good news.

[General]

Jose Guillen took three rounds of early batting practice on Tuesday afternoon and swung the bat freely, but he still felt some soreness in his left oblique and didn't play tonight.
Guillen said he was available to pinch-hit. "My idea was, let's not push this," manager Frank Robinson said. "We waited these few days. Lets wait another day and see how he feels [on Wednesday]." Daryle Ward started in right field and went 2-for-3 with a homer.

[General]

Ryan Church had a grand slam and a double Tuesday to help the Nationals beat the Phillies.
Well, maybe Jim Bowden is really a genius. He knew precisely when Church's lengthy slump would end and picked exactly that moment to call him up. Church has three homers and eight RBI in three starts since rejoining the Nationals. The slam was the first of his career.

[McKain]

and Frank Robinson is gay for having Brandon Watson called up over Ryan HAMMAH SLAMMAH Church in the first place.

[McKain]

Ryan Church just hit another homerun.

He = awesome.

[General]

Jose Guillen is back in the starting lineup for Wednesday night's game against the Phillies.
Guillen missed three games with a strained oblique

[General]

Ryan Church homered for the fourth time in three games tonight against the Phillies.
The blast was a solo shot off Phillies starter Gavin Floyd in the second inning. That Nationals were going to play Church against right-handers anyway with Brandon Watson in the minors, but the longer this hot streak lasts the more time he'll be buying next time he hits a slump. Church shouldn't be available in any NL-only leagues at the moment

Beast!

[General]

Livan Hernandez surrendered six runs in 7 1/3 innings against the Phillies tonight but wasn't involved in the decision.
Hernandez walked one and struck out seven, but three homers, two doubles, and three singles did him in. On the plus side, Hernandez missed the cycle by the triple and scored three times in four trips to the plate. Hernandez has a strong 18/4 K/BB ratio on the season, but the nine homers in 25 1/3 innings mean his 7.11 ERA hasn't been all luck. He'll face the Reds and Cardinals next week.