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D’backs’ All-Star arms hit D.C. tonight
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Related Topics: WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - There is one final homestand remaining before the Nationals can finally limp into Major League Baseball’s All-Star break. No team could use that four-day vacation more.
The Nats enter tonight’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 34-56 record, the worst in baseball. And while the season may be a complete write-off, the front office can’t even evaluate the young talent it does possess. After all, three of Washington’s most promising youngsters are hurt.
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (shoulder) and outfielders Lastings Milledge (groin) and Elijah Dukes (knee) are all 24 or younger. But all three are also on the disabled list.
Dukes, the latest casualty, is set to have surgery today on a torn meniscus in his right knee and will also spend the next 4-to-8 weeks rehabbing a partially torn patella tendon. He suffered the injury in Cincinnati over the weekend. The small labral tear in Zimmerman’s left shoulder is improving with strengthening exercises. But he still isn’t expected back until late July — at the earliest. Milledge went on the disabled list June 28 and won’t return until after the All-Star break.
The hobbled Nats don’t catch a break tonight, either. They face Arizona ace — and possible All-Star Game starter — Brandon Webb (12-4, 3.43 ERA), who pitched a complete-game shutout against the Nats in Phoenix on May 31. In his last three starts against Washington, Webb has allowed just one run in 25 innings and struck out 26 batters. Odalis Perez (2-5, 3.78 ERA) starts for the Nats.
Comments from Examiner Readers
9:17 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 5, 2008 re: "Rookie Balester is beginning to gain confidence"
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8:46 PM MST on Fri., Jul. 18, 2008
re: "Council considers raising taxes on Nationals tickets"
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2:18 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 18, 2008
re: "No easy access near ballpark for disabled"
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11:32 AM MST on Sat., Mar. 15, 2008
re: "Shuttle service, beer sales among issues still to work out before Opening Day"
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11:34 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 10, 2008
re: "Police: Nearly $2M owed for security at Nats games"
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8:58 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 10, 2008
re: "Police: Nearly $2M owed for security at Nats games"
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7:47 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 10, 2008
re: "Police: Nearly $2M owed for security at Nats games"
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7:06 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 10, 2008
re: "Police: Nearly $2M owed for security at Nats games"
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6:23 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 10, 2008
re: "Police: Nearly $2M owed for security at Nats games"
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9:01 PM MST on Mon., May. 28, 2007
re: "Nationals’ stadium art project at a standstill"
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4:10 PM MST on Mon., May. 28, 2007
re: "Nationals’ stadium art project at a standstill"
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12:17 PM MST on Mon., May. 28, 2007
re: "Nationals’ stadium art project at a standstill"
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5:46 AM MST on Tue., May. 22, 2007
re: "Deal should clear the way for stadium art"
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Examiner Reader said:
Collin Balester is the real deal. His fastball is his #1 pitch however that Changeup of his is#1A. He brings life and energy to the Clubhouse and he will be a positive influence on the Nats for years to come. Quoting Balester..." I want to play baseball til I'm 50 years old!!" Tongue in cheek. Ask J Moyer for the "How do you do that" Book!! Go Nats!
5 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Not paying the rent? Kick them out! They are a losing team anyway.
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Now how did "progressive, caring" DC happen to forget about the Americans with Disabilities Act which requires that public facility projects consider access for the disabled?
12 agree | 12 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
"The most extreme example might be June 29, when United faces off against David Beckham and the L.A. Galaxy as 12:30 p.m., and the Nationals play the Baltimore Orioles an hour later." well that was some brilliant scheduling there....lets stuff 100,000 people into the area over a two hour span
12 agree | 12 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Considering where the new stadium is, you can bet that the cost of security will skyrocket!!!
13 agree | 11 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If DC knew that they couldn't afford to pay the police department they shouldn't have never opened up the Stadium. You have so many poor people living in the DC area and all the taxes we citizens have to pay could have been going into better use. we have to pay all this money and we are not going to see where the money is going. Who cares, right.
11 agree | 14 disagree
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Mike Licht said:
Re:$2M owed for security at Nats games -- Since the "quasi-governmental" D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission won't pay the $2 million it owes the Metropolitan Police Department for security at Nats games, why not get those "quasi" Commission members and paid staff out directing traffic on game days? At $55 an hour, it should only take them 36,364 person-hours to work off their debt.
13 agree | 11 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
"Whether the [commission] is paying it or MPD is paying it, it comes out of the same pot,” Mayor Adrian Fenty’s spokeswoman Carrie Brooks said in a statement. WHAT? Good grief, no wonder the city is in so much trouble. Everyone is aware the budget process means nothing in D.C., and that is why money is misspent and missing everywhere, but to come out an officially admit it, wow - good work Brooks.
12 agree | 13 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The city charges baseball $55.00 per hour, the officers are paid their regular hourly rate. For most officers that about $32.00 per hour. What is the city doing with the difference?
12 agree | 13 disagree
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Mike Licht said:
miqcie: Art is good. The DC government should make sure that it is part of the environment throughout our city, and encourage the community cultural groups and gifted DC artists who create it. The stadium is private property, owned by the Lerner family, who can well afford to buy their own art.
296 agree | 319 disagree
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miqcie said:
I'm hopeful that this funding will be restored and is appropriate use of financing for public art. As a denizen of this city, I'd don't mind a part of my tax dollars going to projects like this that are truly community goods.
327 agree | 299 disagree
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Mike Licht said:
The Commission claimed the site-specific art for the private baseball stadium was just being "loaned" to the stadium but still owned by the commission. That is like saying your dental work is on loan from someone else. Public art projects like this are normally paid for by the developer, and the public arts agency gives technical assistance in the project's execution. This poor judgment by the Commission has cost the DC arts community $850,000 in much-needed capital funds.
354 agree | 300 disagree
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Mike Licht said:
Update: The deal is now for a $206,000+ site-specific sculpture to be "loaned" to the stadium by the DC Arts Commission. That is like saying that you "borrow" your dental work, an obvious falsehood. Shame.
360 agree | 354 disagree
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