Nats Waive Cordero; Pena Re-ups

From the Washington Nationals this afternoon:

NATIONALS OUTRIGHT THREE PLAYERS TO SYRACUSE, ANNOUNCE WILY MO PENA HAS EXERCISED OPTION ON 2009 CONTRACT

The Washington Nationals today announced they have outrighted right-handed pitcher Chad Cordero, right-handed pitcher Ryan Wagner and infielder Pete Orr to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. All three players elected free agency. The Nationals also announced they have rejected a $5 million club option on outfielder Wily Mo Pena, who subsequently exercised a $2 million player option for the 2009 season. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcements.

Pena, 26, has batted .241 with 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 32 RBI in 101 games with the Nationals since being acquired from Boston on August 17, 2007 in exchange for a player to be named (first baseman Chris Carter). He is a .253 hitter with 77 home runs and 225 RBI in 560 big league games spanning seven seasons with Cincinnati, Boston and Washington.

The 26 year-old Cordero pitched in only six games last season and had season-ending right-shoulder surgery on July 8. Cordero’s 128 career saves rank second on the franchise’s all-time list behind only Jeff Reardon (152). He departs having pocketed 113 of the 157 saves recorded by the Nationals since 2005.

Wagner, 26, did not pitch in the big leagues in 2008 while working his way back from June 5, 2007 SLAP repair surgery on his right shoulder. He is 11-9 with 30 holds and a 4.79 ERA in 148 games with Cincinnati and Washington.

In 2008, the 29 year-old Orr batted .253 with seven RBI in 49 games in
his only season with the Nationals.

BOTTOM(FEEDER) LINE: This was totally predicted. Cordero couldn't return to the team for any kind of guaranteed money with his injury, and after Bowden told the media before Cordero about their intention to non-tender him, Cordero certainly wasn't going to do any favors for the team. Hopefully he gets healthy and someone gives him a fair shot, but I think it'll be into the season, just like Freddie Garcia this year, before someone signs him.

Wagner never fully recovered from his labrum surgery, like most who have it done. I will be shocked if he's ever a useful MLB player again. Orr will sign somewhere for organizational depth.

Pena, however, is another story. The Nats are stuck with him, and he with them. If it really was the injury keeping him from producing last year, the $2M salary won't look so bad. Then, the Nats will give him a two-year, $5M per deal just like Young and Guzman. I kid. Seriously though, if he still looks terrible in spring training, it'll be interesting to see if the Nats eat his salary, since outfield is one place on the team that they actually have some talent, and it'll be tough to carry Pena's dead weight all season, unless they hide him like they did Meathook this summer.

Photos (c) C. Nichols 2008.

Injury Update: Wily Mo Pena

The Nationals issued a press release this morning describing the surgery and rehab for Wily Mo Pena:

Earlier today, Nationals outfielder Wily Mo Pena had successful surgery performed on his left shoulder by Dr. Timothy Kremchek in Cincinnati, OH. Dr. Kremchek repaired a significant partial tear of his rotator cuff, as well as a tear and fraying of his posterior labrum.

Pena will be placed in a sling for approximately 3 weeks, at which time a formal rehab program will begin. Pena will be out for 4-6 months, but is expected to be ready for Spring Training 2009.

Bottom(feeder) Line: Pena may very well have played his last game in a Washington uniform, depending on the route the front office goes between now and the beginning of Spring Training next season. It's not a stretch to think that Pena's future hinges on GM Jim Bowden being retained. Pena was terrible this season, both at the plate (.205/.243/.267 with two homers and 10 rbis in 195 at bats) and in the field. Apparently some of that can be attributed to the injury.

Pena's actions, however, continue a disturbing trend in either players hiding or downgrading their injury, or the team's inability to properly diagnose the problem and get proper medical attention before a catastrophic result -- surgery. Patterson, Cordero, Hill, Kearns, Zimmerman and now Pena have all followed a similar disturbing pattern.

Photo (c) C. Nichols 2008

GB&U: I'm Back (and another one bites the dust)!

So what happens when a blogger leaves town for 13 days and only posts two only-tangentially-related-to-baseball posts? Almost everyone stops reading!

Thanks to the few of you who checked in every day only to find: NOTHING! It's nice to know someone was looking for unfiltered content.

Now, back to the grind.

GOOD: Ronnie Belliard! Three homers and 10 RBIs since July 1. Granted, all three homers and 9 of 10 RBIs came in just two games. But still. By the way, if you had Belliard leading the Nats in homers at the All-Star break, come collect your winnings.

BAD: Can I cop out and say "Everything Else"? The Nats are 3-10 since I left for vacation July 1. They were shut out three times in the stretch. Guzman is now hitting in the 3-hole. Wow. The team is hitting .239/.314/.358. Basically, the team's overall average's look a lot like this guy's career numbers. Not good.

UGLY: I don't wish injury on anyone, especially the way this team has lost players. But the latest scheduled surgery doesn't look to affect the bottom line all that much. Wily Mo Pena is scheduled to have rotator cuff/labrum surgery in the next 7 to 10 days. The team will make an announcement along the lines of "Surgery successful, out 4-6 weeks" or some other nonsense, but I imagine we've seen the last of WMP this year, maybe for good.

NEXT GAME: Nats are off for the all-star break until Friday when they start a three-game series with the Braves in Atlanta. I think they, and all Nats fans, can use the break.

GB&U: A Win and Solid Debut

RESULT: Nats beat Marlins (finally) 9-6.

GOOD: Colin Balestar! Five innings of one-hit, three walk goodness. One earned run to go along with three strikeouts. Ronnie Belliard!!! Grand slam to back the rookie. Elijah Dukes with another home run and three more hits!

BAD: Steven Shell. One inning, three earned runs, two hits and a walk. He's getting hit every time up.

UGLY: Wily Mo Pena. 0-for-3. .215. One more time, with feeling.

NEXT GAME: Wednesday, get away day in Florida. Odalis Perez (2-5, 3.87) versus Ricky Nolasco (8-4, 4.05). Look at those ERAs and records and tell me again what's wrong with the Nats right now.

GB&U: Moving Day?

RESULT: Nats beat Orioles 4-2.

GOOD: Kory Casto. He's getting beat up a little bit for lack of production, but he came through last night with a big hit to break the tie in the seventh inning off the bench. Blastings was 2-for-4 again too. Looks like he's shaken his mini slump.

BAD: Wily Mo. 0-for-3, lowering the average to .215. with yet another outfield error leading to a run. Will Kearns' return spell his demise?

UGLY: Felipe Lopez. He failed to cover second base as a defensive substitute in the eighth inning, making Guzman go the long way to first to get the third out of the inning. That's not a physical error, it's a mental one, one that Lopez has been guilty of quite a few times this season. His name has been in the paper the last couple days, with rumors swirling that after this series with the Orioles he may be headed 45 minutes up the road on a more permanent basis.

Lopez has some interesting things to say in an article by Steve Yanda in the WaPo. Acta's reply at the end of the piece speaks loud volumes as to how frustrated the organization is with him right now. They'll only get pennies on the dollar for him in trade, but it appears they'll be happy to get a bag of balls--and send some salary--just to remove him from the equation.

NEXT GAME: Tonight in game two of the "Battle of the Beltways" at 7:10 pm from Nationals Park. The Nats' John Lannan (4-8, 3.34) hosts Garrett Olson (5-3, 5.01) for the Orioles, which means the Nats will manage to score only two runs tonight, as Lannan has the lowest run support in the Majors. Will that be enough to win?

P.S. Sorry this was late today. I was out at the Baseball 101 clinic for the Nats female fans. It was a well attended event and I'll have pictures and a round-up tomorrow. Big props to all the coaches that came out to give instruction this morning, and all the ladies in attendance that hung on every word.

Photo (c) C. Nichols 2008

GB&U: Still No Support for Lannan

RESULT: Nats lose to Rangers 5-3.

GOOD: John Lannan. Another quality start: 6 IP, 2 ERs, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. All he gave up was two solo homers. He threw 90 pitches, 56 for strikes. But despite the low strike %, he didn't walk anyone and had 6 Ks. Fairly amazing. Anyway, until he learns to be a little more economical with his pitches and can get through another inning or two, he's going to keep experiencing these tough days. At least he wasn't saddled with another loss.

BAD: Wily Mo. 0-for-3, .209 for the season. His starts are getting more infrequent. Maybe Manny is tiring of the juggling act in left field.

UGLY: Ayala and Hanrahan. 2 IPs, 3 ERs, 4 hits, 3 BBs, 3 Ks. Ayala earns the loss, Joel throws gas on the fire. It's tough watching this day-in and day-out. Steven Shell (NOT a good name for a pitcher) was perfect in his MLB debut though.

NEXT GAME: Tonight against free-swinging Vladamir Guerrero and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Orange County of California of the USA. Jason Bergmann (1-5, 5.03) faces John Lackey (4-1, 1.73). It's what you would call a 'reverse lock'.

GB&U: How Sweep It Is

RESULT: Nats complete sweep, beat Mariners 6-2.

GOOD: Kory Casto. Pinch-hit three-run home run in the eighth inning to break open a very close ball game. Honorable mention goes to Tim Redding. Allowed two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in six innings.

BAD: Meathook. 0-for-4, five left on base.

UGLY: Wily Mo Pena. 0-for-3, five left on base. He grounded to second in the second, ground into double play with two runners on in the fourth, struck out on three pitches with two on in the sixth. Pinch hit for (by Casto) in the eighth. Might Manny be tiring of watching a "power" guy ground out and strike out all the time?

NEXT GAME: Tuesday in Minneapolis against the Twins. John Lannan (4-7, 3.43) versus ex-Nat Livan Hernandez (6-4, 5.84). Too bad this game is in the A.L. park. I love watching Livan hit.

GB&U: Wind Blowing Out In Pittsburgh

RESULT: Nats beat Pirates 7-6.

GOOD: Ronnie Belliard. Welcome back!!! His two homers -- and RBI single -- led the Nats to victory. Other homers by Meathook, Flores and of course, the game-winner, from Blastings Thrilledge.

BAD: Luis Ayala. He faced three batters in the bottom of the eighth. All reached, two scored, temporarily allowing Pittsburgh the lead. Look, I love Ayala and Rivera as much as the next guy. Probably more. But with all the over-use, they are spent right now and it's not even the all-star break yet.

UGLY: Wily Mo Pena. I'm not getting off of his back. 0-for-4 lowers his average down to .200. He saw 15 pitches in four at bats, grounding out to the left side three times and weakly flying out to left in his last at bat.

NEXT GAME: Wednesday at Pittsburgh. John Lannan (4-6, 3.47) takes on Ian Snell (2-6, 5.65) in a 7:05 pm game at PNC Park.

Nats Lose Finale 3-2; Swept By Giants

Washington, DC--In what has become a familiar refrain, the Washington Nationals pitched decently in all but the middle innings, put some base runners on but couldn't push them across, and ultimately lost to the San Francisco Giants 3-2 in front of 26,209 patrons brave enough to withstand the sweltering conditions at Nationals Park Monday night.

Monday's victim was Tyler Clippard, called up earlier in the day to make the start that normally would have gone to John Lannan. The team did not want Lannan to start on three days rest though, so Clippard was recalled from Triple-A Columbus. Like his Clipper teammate Garrett Mock, Clippard would be in a Nats uniform only one night by design, and both pitchers were aware of the situation before their starts. Clippard displayed a tremendous change-up, but had little command or control of his fastball. Regardless, he kept the Nationals in the game, as he allowed three earned runs on five hit and four walks, with six strikeout along the way, in four and one-third innings.

In Clippard's defense, the double by Giants' catcher and clean-up hitter Bengie Molina that produced what would be the game-winning third run should have been caught, and the results would have been much different for Clippard and the Nats. On a 2-2 count in the top of the fifth, Molina lofted a lazy fly ball to the warning track in left center field. There was no question this ball did not have enough gas to make it over the fence -- it barely made it to the warning track. But the lumbering Wily Mo Pena got a bad break on it and did not have nearly enough foot speed to make up for the initial mistake, giving Molina and the Giants a gift that they did not deserve.

Pena has always been a brutal fielder, but in the past that fact has been mitigated by his production of power. Before this season, Pena averaged a home run every 18.6 at bats. It's not a Bonds-like pace, but enough to be a productive major league hitter. This season, however, Pena has one lone home run in 131 at bats, and is hitting .206/.267/.255, absolutely brutal for a back-up catcher, let alone a starting left fielder. Combined with a major league worst range in left field, and you've got a regular every-day player making outs at the bat and giving them away in the field.

Brian Sanches came on for Clippard, who had thrown 98 pitches and probably would not have come out for the sixth inning regardless. Sanches was able to shut down the burgeoning threat, getting Aaron Rowand to ground to shortstop and Rich Aurilia to line one right at Pena that he had to catch out of self-defense.

The Nats scored once in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Jesus Flores, plating Lasting Milledge, who had doubled earlier. Washington added one more in the eighth when it looked like they would finally get to the San Francisco bullpen for a bunch of runs. Milledge started the two-out rally with a walk, and Dmitri Young -- in his first action in five days due to a "viral illness" -- singled. Flores then took a four pitch walk, ending reliever Tyler Walker's evening and loading the bases. Giants Manger Bruce Bochy went to rookie Alex Hinshaw to face Kory Casto. After the second ball, a pitch high and tight to Flores, Molina tried to pick off Willie Harris (running for Young) at second, only to overthrow shortstop Omar Vizquel, allowing Milledge to trot home, cutting the lead to 3-2. Hinshaw, clearly unnerved, then threw two more wide ones to Casto, filling the bases once again. Bochy had seen enough by this point though and summoned his closer, Brian Wilson, who coaxed Felipe Lopez into a soft liner to right to end the threat.

The Nats had their chances in this game, with nine hits and reaching on four walks. But without having a force in the middle of the line-up to provide any power, the Nationals have to string multiple hits together to score a single run, and they just weren't up to the task on this hot, muggy evening.

Matt Cain was the winner for the Giants, running his record to 3-4. He went six and one-third innings, allowing one earned run on eight hits and one walk, striking out six. Wilson earned his 18th save of the season. Cristian Guzman and Young both had two hits for the Nats. Sanches, Jesus Colome, Charlie Manning and Luis Ayala were spotless in relief, allowing no runs, no hits and just two walks in four and two-thirds innings, keeping the Nats in the game. But as the story has unfolded for much of this season, the hitters were powerless and unsuccessful in manufacturing any runs in support of their pitchers.

Washington begins a nine-game, three city road trip Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Tim Redding (6-3, 4.15) faces Paul Maholm (4-5, 4.48) in the series opening at 7:05 pm.

NATS NOTES: The lose drops Washington's record to 25-40, last in the NL East, 14 games behind division-leading Philadelphia. The Nats' 25 wins on the season are above only Colorado, with 24.

Ronnie Belliard was activated from the 15-day disabled list after the game. Clippard was returned to Columbus to make room on the roster.

Single-A Potomac clinched the first-half title in the Carolina League Monday night with a victory over Winston-Salem (CHA).

Cristian Guzman recorded his team-leading 25th multi-hit game. He is second among NL shortstops in extra-base hits with 27, training only Jose Reyes of the Mets with 29. Guzman has 20 doubles, two triples and five home runs. He is tied for fourth in the ML overall in doubles, and third in the Major Leagues in multi-hit games.

GB&U: Same Old Song and Dance

RESULT: Nats lose to Giants 3-2, swept four game series.

GOOD: Dmitri Young. Meathook returns! 2-for-4 in his return from "viral illness". Anything to spark this moribund offense. Guz had another two hits and the bullpen threw 4.2 shutout innings.

BAD: Bob Carpenter. When Wily Mo Pena turned and out into a routine fly ball from Jose Molina into an RBI double, chasing Tyler Clippard in his Nats debut, not once did Bob call the play for what it was. Don Sutton volunteered that it looked like a play could have been made on the ball. But neither had a single critical word for Pena.

UGLY: Wily Mo Pena. No other left fielder in the league would have let that ball fall. Period. It was a lazy fly ball and Pena just couldn't get to it. Not only is he costing this team with his bat, he's costing them runs in the field. Why does he still play? Call up Bernadina. It's embarrassing.

NEXT GAME: Tuesday at Pittsburgh. Tim Redding (6-3, 4.15) versus Paul Maholm (4-5, 4.48).

GB&U: Manning's Time Short?

RESULT: Nats lose to Padres 5-2.

GOOD: John Lannan. Another quality start, although not without it's share of trouble. Lannan wasn't extremely sharp (3 walks in 5 innings), but managed to hold the Pads to just two runs.

BAD: Wily Mo Pena. WMP went 0-for-3 and struck out thrice. His season average sits at .207. He looked like he was showing signs of making contact on the home stand, but this is getting real old, real fast. Of course, wen you're facing Wil Ledezma, you have to be worried about being over matched. Uh, that was sarcasm.

UGLY: Charlie Manning. One has to feel for a 29-year old getting his first shot in the big leagues, but there's usually a reason behind that. Manning was enjoying some real nice success at Triple-A before the call-up, and that's probably where he belongs. Problem is: if not him, who?

NEXT GAME: Friday night in Arizona. Tim Redding (6-3, 3.59) faces Micah Owings (6-2, 3.73). Gotta watch out for Owings hitting, too. He's hitting .286 (10-for-35) with a homer and three RBIs.

GB&U: Friday Night (High)Lights

RESULT: Nats beat Brewers 5-1.

GOOD: William Moses Pena. He hits! Wily Mo line-drives his first home run of the season to left center, setting the tone for the victory over the Brew Crew.

BAD: Brewers middle infield defense. Shortstop JJ Hardy booted a routine grounder from Cristian Guzman, turning an inning ending double play into a 4-run rally for the Nats. Finally, a good bounce for the home team. The Nats scored 5 runs total on 3 hits: Pena's homer, Ryan Zimmerman's RBI double, and the hit that clinched it, Jesus Flores 2-run double.

UGLY: This game was decidedly absent of ugliness, so the ugly award goes to the Brewers bus drivers. The original team bus left before half the team was on it. After the rest of the team gathered in the player's lot, they got on the first bus that came around: it was a Nats Express bus! Hope Prince Fielder and Mike Cameron, among others, did not end up at RFK!

NEXT GAME: Tonight against Milwaukee's Best. John Lannan (4-4, 3.40) faces Seth McClung (1-1, 3.5).

GB&U: Lots Of Hits, Not Enough Runs

RESULT: Nats lose 5-3.

GOOD: Ryan Zimmerman: Zimmy went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Hit the ball solid each time up.

BAD: Wily Mo Pena. 0-for-4, six left on base. BRUTAL defense. Three balls fell around him that any AVERAGE outfileder could have gotten to, including a ball that led to a run in the fifth. He's killing this team.

UGLY: Lastings Milledge's defense. As bad a butcher as Pena is, this team needs a take-charge excellent defender in center. Milledge ain't it. Every ball is an adventure out there. He makes some spectacular catches out there because he gets a lousy jump.

Honorable Mention: At some point, Jim Bowden HAS TO be held accountable for the roster he put together. If you're trying to build young pitching (Hill and Lannan qualify) you gotta have guys that can go get it and pick it up. Shoddy outfield D and a throwing error by Lopez led to three Orioles runs tonight.

NEXT GAME: Saturday evening Odalis Perez (1-3) faces Brian Burres (3-4).

Photo (c) C. Nichols 2008

Nats Hang On to Break Streak

Washington, DC--The Washington Nationals finally took advantage of another team's struggling pitcher and held on late to take a 5-4 victory over their division rival Atlanta Braves.

The Nats got out of the box quickly in the first inning against future hall-of-famer Tom Glavine, as lead-off hitter Cristian Guzman doubled to deep left and Lastings Milledge pushed a bunt past the pitcher to put runners at first and third. Ryan Zimmerman singled up the middle to score Guzman and as the ball whizzed past Glavine he made an attempt to knock it down. After throwing two balls to Austin Kearns, Glavine signaled for the trainers, and his day was done. He strained a hamstring and is listed as day-to-day.

Jeff Bennett relieved and forced Wily Mo Pena, in his fist at bat of the season after being activated from the disabled list, into a double play that allowed Zimmerman to score, and after the first the Nats held a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second, the Nats used a single, sacrifice bunt and four consecutive walks to push the lead to 4-0. The Nats' last run scored in the third when Aaron Boone singled in Paul LoDuca, who in his at bat had been hit in the hand by Bennett.

Nats' starter Tim Redding cruised through five innings, but as has been so often the case this season, the starter ran into problems in the sixth. The Braves clawed back, getting a two-run home run from Chipper Jones and a sacrifice from Jeff Francouer in the top of the inning, cutting the lead to 5-3. In the top of the eighth inning, back-to-back singles by Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann off of Luis Ayala and a fielding error by Pena allowed the Braves to get within one in the tenuous late innings.

Manager Manny Acta went to Chad Cordero, in his first appearance off the disabled list, to protect the one run lead in the ninth. He got two quick outs, but allowed a walk and double to stir things up. After walking Teixeira intentionally, Acta summoned Jon Rauch to face catcher Brian McCann, who had been 0-8 lifetime against Rauch. Rauch got the job done, getting McCann to fly out to right field, and earned his second save of the season in the Nationals fourth victory.

Redding was credited with the win, running his record to 2-1. He pitched five innings, gave up three earned runs on six hits and three walks, and struck out two. Glavine (0-1) was saddled with the loss. There was no word post-game whether Glavine wold be available for his next start.

The Nats are off on Monday and start a three-game series with the New York Mets in New York. Tuesday's match-up features Odalis Perez (0-2) against Mike Pelfrey (1-0).

NATS NOTES: To make room for Pena, the Nats reassigned catcher Jesus Flores to Triple-A Columbus, leaving the Nats with LoDuca and Johnny Estrada to handle the catching duties.

Outfielder Elijah Dukes, on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, will resume running this week and may resume baseball activities later in the week, according to team officials.

Nats Hang On to Break Streak also posted at DC Sports Box

Photo Courtesy of D. Perry, DC Sports Box.

Pena Out With Oblique Strain

Viera, FL--Wily Mo Pena, expected to be the Washington Nationals' starting left fielder, suffered a Grade 2 strain of his left oblique muscle and will be sidelined up to a month according to reports from the Nats' spring training complex. Pena injured his side Wednesday during batting practice. A club spokesman said it was a "significant tear of the muscle" and an injury that will require very little activity to heal properly.

With the injury, it is expected that Elijah Dukes will take over in left field until Pena is healthy, however Dukes strained his right hamstring sliding into second base in Friday's game and is listed by-to-day.

The injury bug seems to be floating around the Nats' clubhouse these days, but some good news on the front is available. Dmitri Young played his first spring training game of the season Thursday night and went 2-for-3 with a walk. He was the designated hitter for that contest, and was in the line-up again for Friday's game. Catcher Paul LoDuca played in a minor league game Thursday and went 2-for-3 as well. He is expected to play Saturday against one of his old teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Shawn Hill, rehabbing a sore forearm after receiving a cortisone shot earlier this week, played catch for the second day in a row Thursday and reported to be pain-free. He is tentatively scheduled for a bullpen session Saturday as he tries to regain playing shape and avoid a trip to the disabled list to start the season.

Pena Out With Oblique Strain also posted at DC Sports Box