Roster News

Text of press release issued today about Nationals roster moves:

NATIONALS OUTRIGHT RYAN LANGERHANS & LAVALE SPEIGNER TO SYRACUSE, CHARLIE MANNING CLAIMED BY CARDINALS

The Washington Nationals today announced that outfielder Ryan Langerhans and right-handed pitcher Lavale Speigner cleared waivers and were outrighted to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. The Nationals also announced that left-handed pitcher Charlie Manning was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made these announcements.

The Nationals now have 36 players on their 40-man roster, not including five players on the 60-Day Disabled List.

Langerhans, 28, batted .234 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 73 games with Washington this season, and hit .310 with three home runs and 31 RBI in 62 games with Triple-A Columbus. Speigner, 28, appeared in seven games with the Nationals, going 0-1 with an 11.25 ERA, and went 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA in a combined 35 games (one start) with Columbus and Double-A Harrisburg. Manning, 29, had a 1-3 record with a 5.14 ERA in 57 relief outings with the Nationals, after beginning the season with Columbus where he had six saves and a 1.95 ERA in 19 appearances.

BOTTOM(FEEDER) LINE: Of course Manning would get claimed. He's left-handed and has a pulse. Langerhans and Speigner are solidly in the category of "organizational depth" right now, and hopefully will have a solid season in up-state New York next summer, because if either one of them are in DC for any extended period of time, that means the Nats have been killed by injuries yet again.

GB&U: Oh, there was a game today, too

RESULT: Nats fall to Padres 11-6 in 14 innings.

GOOD: Roger Bernadina. 3-for-5 with a walk, RBI and 2 stolen bases. Lastings Milledge. 3-for-6 with a walk. 7/8ths of the Bullpen. They got 7 innings out of 7 relievers until Speigner took over.

BAD: Collin Balestar. Had trouble spotting anything but the fastball. 5 IP, 5 ERs on 9 hits -- but no walks. This was one of those occasions where he had to throw strikes with the fastball cause he couldn't located anything else, and they were teeing off on him. His fastball was pretty flat too.

UGLY: Levale Speigner. Guess it's safe to say at this point he isn't part of The Plan (tm). 2 IP, 5 ERs on 4 hits and 2 BBs.

NEXT GAME: Later today, 7:10 pm start. John Lannan against Chris Young. Interesting pitching match-up.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I know i promised the good parts of the transcript of today's Q&A with Jim Bowden and Mike Rizzo, but 14 innings has taken its toll. I will get it posted tomorrow, I promise. I'll leave you with this nugget though: Bowden admitted Rob Mackowiak was a bust, in the context of "you win some, you lose some" when it comes to signing inexpensive free agents. Remember Rob Mackowiak?

GB&U: Nats Shut Out, Flores Goes Down

RESULT: Nats shut out by Phillies 4-0.

GOOD: Michael Hinckley's Major League debut. One and two-thirds scoreless with two strikeouts. John Lannan went six innings, allowing two earned on five hits and two walks with four Ks. Another unrewarded quality start.

BAD: Only six hits. Levale Speigner gave up two runs and three hits in one-third of an inning.

UGLY: In the third inning, Chase Utley barrel-rolled Jesus Flores at the plate trying to steal home. Trying to knock the ball loose is one thing, but diving with your shoulder at a guy's knee is something completely different. I was not a good play, despite how the two teams are trying to play it off. Utley had no chance on the play and he went low and right at Flores' knee. If he'd tried a hook slide he had a chance and would have avoided injury. Don't be surprised when Utley gets buried in the ribs tonight.

The X-rays were negative on Flores ankle, but he's having an MRI this morning. Don't expect him back this season.

ROSTER NOTE: C Luke Montz was recalled from Triple-A Columbus immediately after the game. He'll back up Wil Nieves while Flores mends.

NEXT GAME: Tonight at 7:10 pm from Nationals Park. Odalis Perez (6-10, 4.14) takes on Joe Blanton (6-112, 4.69).