Where do they stand after 81 games?

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The Nationals have hovered around .500, even with Jayson Werth hitting .223.

Transport yourself back to March 31, as the Nationals were taking the field on Opening Day, and consider how you would have felt knowing these following facts would be true three months later:

1) Ryan Zimmerman would spend nine weeks on the disabled list.

2) Adam LaRoche would hit .172 and be lost for the season with a shoulder injury.

3) Jayson Werth would hit .223 and be on pace to drive in 54 runs.

4) Stephen Strasburg would not have thrown a pitch in the majors (though you already knew that would be the case going in).

5) The Nationals would hit the halfway point of the season with a 40-41 record.

Who amongst you could have imagined facts 1-through-4 would result in fact 5? When you put it this way, it's pretty impossible to believe, isn't it? But there the Nationals are, one game under .500 after 81 wild

Game 81: Nats at Angels

File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nats try to avoid a series sweep this evening at Angel Stadium.

Davey Johnson mentioned the other night the need to perhaps give a couple of ailing guys some rest, especially with a scheduled day off tomorrow in advance of the homestand. So it's perhaps not surprising he's letting several regulars sit for this evening's series finale in Anaheim.

Jayson Werth is on the bench. So is Laynce Nix. So is Ian Desmond. That does lead to an unconventional lineup, featuring Brian Bixler in right field batting second, Matt Stairs (who recorded his first RBI last night) hitting cleanup and Alex Cora at shortstop.

That lineup will be facing a tough right-hander in Dan Haren, but the Nationals send their own tough righty to the mound in Jordan Zimmermann, seeking his 11th consecutive quality start.

As you know, I'm not in Anaheim for the end of this series, so enjoy the game (which thankfully is being played in prime time here on the East Coast). I'll be back at the ballpark Friday night for the start of the homestand...

NATIONALS at ANGELS
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 182
Weather: Sunny, 74 degrees, Wind 12 mph out to RF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (40-40)
CF Roger Bernadina
RF Brian Bixler
3B Ryan Zimmerman
DH Matt Stairs

Nats sign Romero to AAA contract

The Nationals have signed veteran left-hander J.C. Romero to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Class AAA Syracuse, according to a club source.

Romero, 35, was designated for assignment by the Phillies on June 16 after losing his late-inning role to fellow relievers Antonio Bastardo and Mike Stutes. He posted a 3.86 ERA in 24 games, though he put 29 men on base in only 16 1/3 innings.

A key member of Philadelphia's championship bullpen the past four seasons, Romero owns a career 4.07 ERA in parts of 13 seasons with the Twins, Angels, Red Sox and Phillies.

Romero will report to Syracuse but could be an option for Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo to promote later this summer. The club has been without a consistently effective left-handed reliever this season, with Sean Burnett struggling and Doug Slaten on the disabled list.

Beltway Baseball -- 6/29/11

Thanks to everyone who watched today's live edition of Beltway Baseball, where we discussed the chaotic managerial events of the last week, plus Jayson Werth's struggles, trade rumors involving Jason Marquis and Tyler Clippard and this weekend's announcement of All-Star selections.

If you missed the show, here's the full episode, broken into two parts. Part II is below...

Game 80: Nats at Angels

File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nats try to give Davey Johnson his first win tonight at Angel Stadium.

Lost amid all the hullabaloo over the Nationals managerial overhaul is this cold, hard fact: They still aren't hitting as a team. In their last three games, the Nats have produced a total of five runs and 11 hits. They've struck out 26 times while drawing only five walks. All five runs during those three games were scored via home run (three solo, one two-run shot).

The challenge for Davey Johnson, then, is to figure out whether any tweaks need to be made to his lineup. During his introductory news conference yesterday, he said he prefers to keep a stable lineup and avoiding the everyday mixing and matching that Jim Riggleman often did. True to form, Davey's second lineup as manager is identical to his first one.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Nationals pitching staff remains in top form, and they'll hope Jason Marquis continues the trend tonight. Marquis, of course, pitched a gem Thursday against the Mariners ... only to get completely overshadowed by Riggleman's surprise resignation.

I've actually departed Anaheim and am en route home to D.C. as we speak. I wasn't originally scheduled to make that trip, but Davey's debut was too big a story to miss, so CSN was able to find a way to send me out west for the first game of the series. Enjoy tonight's game and the conversation among yourselves, and I'll be back at the ballpark for this weekend's series against the Pirates...

NATIONALS at ANGELS
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Gametime: 10:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 182
Weather: Clear, 72 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to RF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (40-39)
CF Roger Bernadina
RF Jayson Werth
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Laynce Nix

Best second baseman in baseball?

US Presswire photo

Danny Espinosa clubbed his 15th homer of the season last night.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Davey Johnson knows a thing or two about playing second base. He did win three Gold Gloves at the position, mind you.

So when the Nationals' new manager starts heaping praise upon his rookie second baseman, Danny Espinosa, it carries some significant weight.

And Johnson couldn't stop raving about Espinosa after last night's game, particularly about two plays he made in the field during the Nationals' 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Angels: 1) His backing up of first base on a bunt play in which John Lannan threw wide, and 2) His turn of a slick, 5-4-3 double play.

"He made two plays today that, you know, I thought I was pretty good, but I'm not sure I could make them," Johnson said. "He saved us two runs in the first inning on the bunt when he got back there and he caught the ball. Because it would have been second and third, and a fly ball and they'd have scored two runs. Then the play he made on

A fun, but disappointing night

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Davey Johnson walks off the mound following a pitching change.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Davey Johnson hadn't stood there, in a major-league dugout, wearing a big-league uniform, in 11 years. He wasn't the same man leaning on a railing at Angel Stadium Monday night as he was doing the same thing up the road at Dodger Stadium more than a decade ago. And the game, much as he doesn't want to admit it, isn't the same either.

But there was something comforting about the sight of the Nationals' new, 68-year-old skipper running the show, high-fiving players, dodging foul balls, making the slow walk to the mound to change pitchers.

Even if the end result -- a 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Angels -- didn't provide the storybook angle everyone wanted, Johnson's debut with the Nationals seemed to leave everyone feeling good about the situation at large.

"It was old hat," Johnson said of being handed the managerial controls again. "It's kind of like flying an airplane. You don't have to fly for a while, but you still get off the ground."

The team Johnson officially inherited Monday played very much like the one he had been watching from afar over the last two weeks. The
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"Comfortable" Johnson returns to dugout

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Davey Johnson walked into Angel Stadium at 11 a.m. this morning. First pitch between the Nationals and Angels was still eight hours away. But where else would he rather be?

"I've done it a lot my whole life," the Nationals' new manager said. "The ballpark is your home. ... I feel very comfortable here."

That feeling of comfort is what led Johnson back to the dugout, back to the manager's office and back to Major League Baseball after an 11-year hiatus. Asked by general manager Mike Rizzo to take over for the rest of this season (and perhaps beyond) following Jim Riggleman's surprise resignation, the 68-year-old didn't have to think twice.

"It was not a tough decision for me, to step in," he said. "It's really exciting to even have a chance to compete."

Johnson has 14 years of big-league managerial experience on his resume. He's won a World Series. He's been named his league's manager of the year. He's skippered international competitions in
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Game 79: Nats at Angels

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Davey Johnson makes his return to managing tonight at Angel Stadium.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Hello from sunny Southern California, where tonight Davey Johnson manages his first big-league game in 11 years, having taken over the reins of the Nationals for the remainder of this season (and possibly beyond).

Johnson's first lineup looks a lot like those John McLaren wrote out over the weekend in Chicago. Roger Bernadina leads off. Jayson Werth bats second. Laynce Nix is batting cleanup, though he's in left field. Matt Stairs does make his first appearance in a long time, serving as DH.

One thing to remember: Drew Storen is not with the club tonight. He was in Indiana for his grandmother's funeral. He's expected to rejoin the team in time for tomorrow's game. We'll have to see who would get the call in the ninth inning if the Nats hold a tight lead.

Plenty of updates to come, including highlights from Davey's first press conference. Also, catch me live from the ballpark on CSN at 6 p.m...

NATIONALS at ANGELS
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Gametime: 10:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 182
Weather: Sunny, 75 degrees, Wind 7 mph out to RF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (40-38)
CF Roger Bernadina
RF Jayson Werth
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Laynce Nix

Series preview: Nats at Angels

Monday, 10:05 p.m. -- LHP John Lannan (5-5, 3.40) vs. RHP Ervin Santana (3-8, 4.22)
TV: MASN Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM

Tuesday, 10:05 p.m. -- RHP Jason Marquis (7-2, 3.53) vs. RHP Joel Piniero (3-3, 4.09)
TV: MASN2 Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM

Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. -- RHP Jordan Zimmermann (5-6, 2.85) vs. RHP Dan Haren (7-5, 3.05)
TV: MASN2 Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM

ANGELS UPDATE
On the verge of a sweep of the Dodgers in their annual Freeway Series, the Angels blew a ninth-inning lead yesterday and fell, 3-2. They've played well of late, though, winning five of seven. And they always play well against the National League; they're 127-83 all-time in interleague play, the best record in the majors.

As has been the case for plenty of teams this season, offense is the No. 1 concern in Anaheim. Only one player has reached double digits in homers so far (rookie first baseman Mark Trumbo with 13). The club ranks 11th in the 14-team AL in runs scored, slugging and OPS, and it's been without center fielder Torii Hunter (sore ribs) for three

Sending Mac out a winner

Associated Press photo

John McLaren gets a hug from Danny Espinosa following his farewell victory.

CHICAGO -- John McLaren stood in the bowels of U.S. Cellular Field, eyes welling as he tried to put into words what he had experienced over the last 72 hours.

"I feel bad about the situation, but the John McLaren era is over in Washington," he said, before adding: "Is three games an era?"

Well, probably not. Though given all that happened during those 72 hours, it certainly felt like an era. Handed the reins of the hottest team in baseball after his close friend and colleague Jim Riggleman resigned in a huff, McLaren was asked to keep the Nationals together for the weekend until Davey Johnson could come on board.

He did more than keep them together. He kept them winning. Sunday's 2-1 triumph gave the Nationals their fifth consecutive series victory, their 13th win in 15 games.

The fact the entire clubhouse gave McLaren a standing ovation before taking the field spoke volumes about the respect they had for a man
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Johnson hired for '11 with option for '12

Updated at 3:25 p.m.

CHICAGO -- Davey Johnson's hiring as Nationals manager was made official today. His status in the dugout beyond this season, though, remains unofficial.

The Nationals announced Johnson will serve as manager through the remainder of 2011, making his debut Monday night in Anaheim, while also announcing he's signed a three-year consulting contract to remain with the organization through 2013.

Whether Johnson stays on as manager won't be determined until season's end. The Nationals are required by Major League Baseball to conduct a full search, with minority candidates included. Johnson will be a candidate, and if he returns, he'll do so under a 2012 option already written into his contract.

If Johnson does not return, he'll stay with the front office as a consultant and will be involved in the search for his replacement.

"It's going to be a mutual, organizational decision," general manager Mike Rizzo said before Sunday's game against the White Sox. "Davey
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Game 78: Nats at White Sox

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nationals try to win their fifth straight series this afternoon.

CHICAGO -- A weekend of transition for the Nationals comes to an end today. Davey Johnson will be in the building, but not in the dugout. John McLaren will manage, then leave his position on the coaching staff for a non-uniformed scouting job within the organization. A new bench coach will be named.

McLaren's third and final Nationals lineup has Jayson Werth (hitting .171 with a .316 slugging percentage this month) in the 2-hole, behind Roger Bernadina. Ryan Zimmerman returns to play third base after serving as DH yesterday. Laynce Nix is today's DH. Ian Desmond gets a day off, with Alex Cora filling in at shortstop. Matt Stairs (who has yet to appear in this series) remains on the bench.

Livan Hernandez starts for the Nats. He labored through his last start but at the time insisted an easy mechanical fix -- he was trying to throw his sinker from too much over the top -- should get things back on track. We'll see.

Game updates to come here, and any other news (including the expected official Davey announcement) can of course be found on the homepage...

NATIONALS at WHITE SOX
Where: U.S. Cellular Field
Gametime: 2:10 p.m.
TV: MASN, Ch. 50
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 180
Weather: Partly cloudy, 72 degrees, Wind 14 mph in from LF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (39-38)
CF Roger Bernadina
RF Jayson Werth
3B Ryan Zimmerman
DH Laynce Nix

After emotional Friday, a flat Saturday

US Presswire photo

Ivan Rodriguez is too late to tag Mark Teahen at the plate in the eighth inning.

CHICAGO -- Having exhausted every last ounce of energy and emotion they had in them Friday night to beat the White Sox in 14 innings and overcome the previous day's resignation of their manager, the Nationals were right back at U.S. Cellular Field this afternoon trying to maintain that high-energy level.

Easier said than done. John McLaren, serving as interim manager for the weekend until Davey Johnson takes over Monday night in Anaheim, tried to give his players a break and let them report to the ballpark late and bypass batting practice.

Then the Nationals slogged their way through a 3-0 loss to the White Sox that bore little resemblance to the 12 games they had won in the previous two weeks.

Was it tough to bring the same level of energy to the ballpark less than 12 hours after leaving it after the most-emotional win of the season?

"The answer's yes. Let's be honest about it," McLaren said. "We wanted to win. We tried to do something different by not hitting today
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Davey to manage Mon., McLaren leaving staff

CHICAGO -- Davey Johnson will join the Nationals Sunday, fly with the team to Anaheim and make his managerial debut Monday night against the Angels, general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed following today's 3-0 loss to the White Sox.

The Nationals still haven't officially announced Johnson's hiring due to "a few technical things to figure out still," according to Rizzo, but the club is already making plans to transition the 68-year-old into the manager's office, a move that will produce more change to the coaching staff.

John McLaren, who is serving as interim manager during this weekend's series at U.S. Cellular Field, will not remain on the coaching staff beginning Monday. He'll be re-assigned within the organization, a joint decision between himself and Rizzo.

"John and I had a long discussion," Rizzo said. "We're going to reassign him to a position to assist me in scouting and other duties, in a non-uniform capacity. ... I think he had an allegiance to Jim Riggleman and had some thoughts about really wanting to get out of
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Game 77: Nats at White Sox

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

After another wild win last night, the Nats are back at U.S. Cellular Field today.

CHICAGO -- It's been a whirlwind 48 hours in NatsTown, and it's not about to start slowing down now. Davey Johnson will be formally named as the Nationals' new manager sometime today, but he won't actually manage yet. He's expected to be at U.S. Cellular Field for the rest of the weekend to observe his new club, then take over Monday night in Anaheim.

So John McLaren is once again at the helm this afternoon, and he's put together a lineup that includes Ryan Zimmerman as DH, Jerry Hairston at third base and Brian Bixler (one of last night's heroes) in left field. Tom Gorzelanny gets the start against fellow lefty John Danks.

Remember, today's game is on Fox, so no MASN coverage before, during or after the game. Check back here for all of your updates, and check out CSN later for video...

NATIONALS at WHITE SOX
Where: U.S. Cellular Field
Gametime: 4:10 p.m.
TV: Fox
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 180
Weather: Partly cloudy, 77 degrees, Wind 6 mph in fromt LF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (39-37)
RF Jayson Werth
SS Ian Desmond
DH Ryan Zimmerman
1B Michael Morse

A wild day, a wild game, another win

Associated Press photo

John McLaren was ejected following an overturned call in the eighth inning.

CHICAGO -- They'd seen their manager quit in a huff moments after winning a game in dramatic fashion. They'd seen their interim manager get ejected, leaving a consortium of coaches to run the show for another six innings. They'd heard rumors about their next manager, who has the job but won't officially take over quite yet.

They'd seen their bullpen blow not one, not two, but three save opportunities in the span of four innings. They'd seen star players go hitless in seven plate appearances, unheralded role players out-hustle everyone else on the field and a center fielder stone-cold rob an ex-teammate of a home run. They'd experienced enough twists and turns and drama normally reserved for a full season squeezed into 36 hours of pure insanity.

And at the end of all that, what did the Washington Nationals do? The same thing they've been doing for the last two weeks.

They won the ballgame.

"That's as much intensity as I've seen in the game in 24 years," John McLaren said after a 9-5, 14-inning, 4-hour and 58-minute victory over the Chicago White Sox. "It was incredible, the passion they had
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Johnson will be Nats manager

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Davey Johnson last managed in the majors in 2000.

Updated at 10:08 p.m.

CHICAGO -- Davey Johnson, who guided the Mets to a World Series title 25 years ago and won AL Manager of the Year honors a decade later with the Orioles, will take over as manager of the Nationals for the remainder of the season.

The Nationals haven't officially finalized the deal yet, but a club source confirmed Johnson's pending hire by general manager Mike Rizzo, barely 24 hours after Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned following a 1-0 victory in Washington.

It wasn't immediately clear when Johnson, 68, will start, but he's expected to be in the dugout no later than Monday, when the Nationals open a three-game series in Anaheim.

John McLaren managed the club Friday night against the White Sox, uncertain how long he would hold that position but knowing his tenure
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Game 76: Nats at White Sox

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

U.S. Cellular Field hosts the Nationals tonight.

CHICAGO -- And now, back to baseball. As it were.

John McLaren is managing the Nationals tonight, and probably will be managing for a couple of days until Mike Rizzo names his permanent interim manger. The coaching staff remains intact, with Trent Jewett (who has traveled with the club all season as an extra coach) essentially taking over as bench coach for the moment.

McLaren's first lineup bears some similarities to the ones Jim Riggleman wrote out over the last week. Jayson Werth leads off. Since this is an interleague game in an AL park, the pitcher isn't batting, so we don't know if he would continue to hit the pitcher eighth. Laynce Nix will DH tonight, though, with Jerry Hairston in left field.

Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound for the Nationals, looking to continue his hot streak and the team's hot streak. A win tonight would be the Nats' 12th in their last 13 games. Right-hander Edwin Jackson (whose name came up in trade discussions last summer) starts for the White Sox. Slumping Adam Dunn is batting sixth.

Plenty of updates to come, and catch me live on Comcast SportsNet at 6 p.m. Eastern...

NATIONALS at WHITE SOX
Where: U.S. Cellular Field
Gametime: 8:10 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 180
Weather: Partly cloudy, 68 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to LF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (38-37)
RF Jayson Werth
CF Roger Bernadina
3B Ryan Zimmerman
DH Laynce Nix

Series preview: Nats at White Sox

Friday, 8:10 p.m. -- RHP Jordan Zimmermann (5-6, 3.08) vs. RHP Edwin Jackson (4-6, 4.47)
TV: MASN Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM

Saturday, 4:10 p.m. -- LHP Tom Gorzelanny (2-5, 4.53) vs. LHP John Danks (3-8, 4.29)
TV: Fox Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM

Sunday, 2:10 p.m. -- RHP Livan Hernandez (4-8, 3.97) vs. RHP Philip Humber (7-3, 2.90)
TV: MASN, Ch. 50 Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM

WHITE SOX UPDATE
It's been a tumultuous season on the South Side, with a club that expected to contend for the AL Central title languishing in the bottom half of the division for nearly three months now. An 11-22 start actually left the White Sox in last place in early May, but they've managed to go 25-17 since and climb into third place (4 1/2 games behind the Indians).

One of (if not THE) biggest culprit in the club's woes so far has been Adam Dunn. After leaving D.C. for a four-year, $56 million contract over the winter, the big guy is slogging his way through his worst

Now what?

US Presswire photo

John McLaren will manage tonight in Chicago, but probably not much longer.

The "shock and awe" -- as Drew Storen put it -- of yesterday's events gives way to a new emotion this morning as the Nationals wake up in Chicago: Uncertainty.

What happens now?

This much we know for sure: John McLaren will serve as manager for tonight's game against the White Sox, a game that previously would have been most notable for featuring Adam Dunn against his former club but now stands out for far bigger reasons.

McLaren seemed the obvious choice to take over in the short-term. He served as Jim Riggleman's right-hand man the last 1 1/2 seasons as bench coach. He managed a game in San Francisco earlier this month while Riggleman was serving a suspension. And he has 156 games of

Riggleman's career-killing decision

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Jim Riggleman resigned with a 140-172 record as Nats manager, 662-824 overall.

This was Jim Riggleman's dream job, and he knew it.

Unfortunately for Riggleman, the Washington Nationals also knew it. Which is why they were able to treat him like the lowliest manager in the big leagues. They held all the cards in the relationship. He held none, a fact he knew the moment he agreed to his initial contract in November 2009, and a fact he even spelled out to the front office at the time.

"I made it very clear that, you know, I can't say no to this, but this is a bad contract for a manager," he said. "There's no option for Jim Riggleman. It's a one-year option that the club decides on. That's not a good way to do business. I made it very clear that I didn't like that. But you know I can't say no to it. So there I am. And two years later, I'm realizing: You know what? I was right. It's not a good way to do business."

So Riggleman did what he felt was the only thing he could do, even if there wasn't another soul in the universe who would agree. He walked away from his dream job, quitting on a club that had won 11 of 12 games and had suddenly become the darlings of Washington and the
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McLaren to be manager for now

John McLaren, who served as Jim Riggleman's bench coach, will manage the Nationals in Chicago tomorrow night and perhaps for a few more days, but won't finish out the season in that role.

A club source said McLaren will serve as "short-term" manager for the immediate future until an interim skipper can be named for the remainder of the season.

McLaren, 59, has managerial experience, ironically taking over on an interim basis in Seattle in 2007 when Mike Hargrove abruptly resigned in midseason with the Mariners on a seven-game winning streak. He went 43-41 the rest of that season and was retained for 2008, only to be fired after 72 games and replaced by Riggleman, who was serving as his bench coach at the time.

McLaren's temporary promotion is likely a product more of convenience and stability than anything. He's been with the club the last two seasons, knows the personnel and had filled in for one

Riggleman resigns

Citing an unwillingness by general manager Mike Rizzo to discuss an extension of his contract, Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned as manager of the Washington Nationals following today's 1-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Riggleman, who had guided the Nationals to 11 wins in their last 12 games to improve to 38-37, informed Rizzo before the game he would resign unless the GM would agree to have a discussion about his long-term status. Rizzo declined, saying it "wasn't the right time" for that, so Riggleman managed the series finale against the Mariners knowing it would be his final game.

Players, jubilant from the walk-off win, quickly turned silent in the clubhouse at Nationals Park as Rizzo informed them of the news.

"It was an extremely festive locker room," Rizzo said during a hastily organized news conference. "We brought the team together, and it became somber quickly."

No replacement was immediately named, but Rizzo said a new manager would be in place in time for Friday night's game against the White Sox in Chicago.

Please leave your comments below.

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Harper, Peacock in Futures Game

Bryce Harper and Brad Peacock have been selected to represent the Nationals in the All-Star Futures Game, a showcase of the sport's top prospects.

This is merely the latest accolade for Harper, 18, who has already played in the Arizona Fall League and the South Atlantic League All-Star Game. The right fielder will be stacked up against some of the minor leagues' other premier talents, all of them with a considerable age and experience advantage.

Harper enters the second half of the season at low-Class A Hagerstown hitting .330 with 14 homers, 45 RBI and a 1.014 OPS that ranks third in the Sally League.

He's not, however, the youngest player ever selected for the Futures Game. Eight other 18-year-olds have participated in previous games (including Francisco Liriano and Felix Hernandez) and three 17-year-olds have played (Jose Tabata, Angel Villalona and Wilmer

Game 75: Mariners at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nats have a chance this afternoon to finish their homestand 8-1.

They've won 10 of 11. They've already swept one series on this homestand, with a chance to sweep another. They've reached the elusive .500 mark, with a chance to surpass it this afternoon. This is indeed a good time to be a National, or a baseball fan in Washington, enjoying the best run this team has gone on in six years.

For it to continue today, though, the Nats will need to cobble together some offense against a really tough rookie in Seattle's Michael Pineda. For the first time in two weeks, Jayson Werth won't be hitting leadoff; he's been bumped down to the 2-hole, with Roger Bernadina at the top of Jim Riggleman's lineup. Jason Marquis remains the No. 8 hitter, however, and will be in search today of his team-leading eighth victory.

It's a hot, muggy day in the District, with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms. If you're heading out to the ballpark, be sure to drink plenty of water. If you're stuck in the office, keep yourself tuned right here for updates throughout the game...

MARINERS at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m.
TV: MASN, MLB Network (outside D.C.)
Radio: WFED (1500 AM), WHFS (1580 AM), XM 186
Weather: Chance of storms, 91 degrees, Wind 7 mph out to CF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (37-37)
CF Roger Bernadina
RF Jayson Werth
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Michael Morse

An accomplishment, but not the ultimate one

Associated press photo

John Lannan was effective yet again, earning his fifth win of the season.

Ryan Zimmerman and John Lannan have been members of the Nationals organization for six years now, both having been among the club's first draft class in 2005. Neither has ever experienced team success, unless you want to count Zimmerman's minimal participation during the Nats' September 2005 collapse.

So what they were feeling late Wednesday night in the wake of a 2-1 victory over the Mariners was foreign to them. For the first time, they are part of a ballclub that has reached the .500 mark following the summer solstice.

No one inside the Nationals clubhouse was entirely sure what to make of this accomplishment. A .500 record certainly isn't something to be satisfied with, yet it also signals an important milestone in this franchise's development.

After endless talk over the years about building a competitive team, they finally boast the record to back it up.

"It's a good place to be right now," said Lannan, who continued his recent run of success to earn the victory Wednesday. "I mean, I've never been on a team that's this far into the season and been .500. I
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The bullpen's unsung performers

US Presswire photo

Todd Coffey and his bullpen mates have been phenomenal over the last two weeks.

Lost amid the high drama of Tuesday night's ninth-inning comeback was the exceptional work done by the Nationals bullpen to give its lineup a chance at rallying to beat the Mariners.

When starter Livan Hernandez couldn't record an out in the fifth inning, manager Jim Riggleman was forced to turn to his relief corps early. Ryan Mattheus, Collin Balester and Todd Coffey responded by tossing a combined five scoreless innings. At the time, with the Nationals trailing by four runs, those innings didn't seem too important. By the time Wilson Ramos crushed his game-winning homer, those innings proved invaluable.

"You've got to be able to do that," Riggleman said. "In today's world, you can have no soft spots in your bullpen. Everybody's got to hold up their end of it, and our guys did [Tuesday]."

This was no recent phenomenon, though. Fantastic relief work has been critical to the Nationals during this run of success: nine wins in 10 games entering Wednesday night. During this stretch, the bullpen has amassed a combined 0.88 ERA, allowing only three earned runs
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Game 74: Mariners at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nats look to make it two in a row (and 10 of 11) tonight.

Last night's thriller took plenty of people by surprise, but maybe it shouldn't have. You see, since arriving in town, the Nationals have completely owned the Mariners. They've played each other seven times, and the Nats have won seven times. (Maybe Mark Lerner needs to push for his team to be realigned to the AL West.)

They'll look to make it eight in a row, and attempt to reach the .500 mark, tonight when John Lannan takes the mound against Erik Bedard in a match-up of left-handers. Lannan has been nothing short of brilliant over the last month, posting a 1.08 ERA and a .186 batting average against through his last five starts.

Bedard, the former Orioles first-round pick, has pitched quite well himself after missing all of last season following shoulder surgery. Jim Riggleman will counter with what has become his standard lineup against lefties: Ian Desmond bats second, Danny Espinosa bats fifth, Jerry Hairston bats seventh and start in left field.

Plenty of updates to come...

MARINERS at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 188
Weather: Partly cloudy, 85 degrees, Wind 5 mph out to CF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (36-37)
RF Jayson Werth
SS Ian Desmond
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Michael Morse

Best win in Nats history?

Still aglow more than 13 hours after Wilson Ramos' titanic blast capped the Nationals' remarkable, 6-5 victory over the Mariners? You're probably not alone. And if you need a mid-day, pick-me-up, just re-watch the Ramos homer and listen to the various calls, from Johnny Holliday and F.P. Santangelo on MASN to Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler on 106.7 FM to Dave Sims and Mike Blowers on FSN Northwest. Slightly different takes from the winning and losing sides.

As you know by now, that was by far the largest ninth-inning comeback in Nationals history. Never before since they arrived in D.C. had they rallied from more than two runs down in the ninth to win, let alone four.

So that, on its own merits, made last night's game one of the best wins in the brief history of the Nats. But was it the best win in Nats history?

Think back to the more remarkable victories over the last 6 1/2 seasons. It's hard to think of a more-jarring win, one that appeared

To the 27th out

Associated Press photo

Wilson Ramos leaps into a sea of teammates at the plate.

The ball connected off Wilson Ramos' bat with such force, nobody inside Nationals Park -- not Ramos, not his teammates, not the crowd of 21,502, not the Mariners -- had any doubt where it was headed.

"I didn't even look to see where it went," Jayson Werth said. "You hear that noise and see the trajectory, and you know right away."

Ramos certainly knew. Immediately upon crushing David Pauley's 84-mph change-up Tuesday night, the rookie catcher thrust his right arm into the air and admired his handiwork.

"I know that ball was in the stands," he said.

Actually, it was beyond the stands. Ramos' three-run homer finally crashed back to earth next to a picnic table in front of the Red Porch restaurant beyond the left-center field fence, some 425 feet from the batter's box. A titanic blast to cap a titanic comeback: a five-run rally
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Game 73: Mariners at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Ichiro Suzuki and the Mariners make their first-ever appearance at Nationals Park.

The Mariners have made only one trip to Washington before: In June 2005, during the Nationals' club-record 10-game winning streak. Actually, win No. 10 came on Sunday, June 12, against Seattle, with Chad Cordero (who sadly announced his retirement from baseball yesterday) recording the save.

The only Mariner of significance from that previous visit still with the club is the great Ichiro Suzuki, who even at age 37 remains one of the most-exciting players in baseball to watch. Enjoy these next three nights, because the star right fielder is indeed one-of-a-kind. There's at least one other familiar face in Seattle's lineup tonight: Adam Kennedy, who never panned out here last season but tonight is batting third for the Mariners (who obviously have some offensive issues).

Livan Hernandez takes the mound for the Nationals, once again batting eighth. Ian Desmond returns to the lineup after missing Sunday's game with a sore thigh muscle.

Updates to come...

MARINERS at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 188
Weather: Chance of storms, 82 degrees, Wind 5 mph out to LF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (35-37)
RF Jayson Werth
CF Roger Bernadina
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Laynce Nix

Skole among 18 draft picks to sign

The Nationals announced today they've signed 18 of their picks from this month's draft, headlined by fifth-round choice Matt Skole.

Skole, a third baseman from Georgia Tech, hit .348 with 10 homers, 58 RBI and a .545 slugging percentage during his junior season. He was arrested for DUI in February and twice was suspended by the school for violating team rules.

Other draft picks whose signings were announced by the Nationals today: Brian Dupra (seventh round), Manny Rodriguez (10th), Caleb Ramsey (11th), Blake Monar (12th), Deion Williams (16th), Todd Simko (21st), Travis Henke (22nd), Khayyan Norfork (23rd), Georgetown's Erick Fernandez (25th), Shawn Pleffner (26th), George Washington's Bobby Lucas (27th), Kenneth Ferrer (28th), Trey Karlen (33rd), Alex Kreis (35th), Ben Hawkins (36th), Bryce Ortega (41st) and Ritchie Mirowski (45th).

Not included among the signings, of course, are the Nationals' three first-round picks (Anthony Rendon, Alex Meyer and Brian Goodwin), third-round pick Matt Purke and fourth-round pick Kylin Turnbull. Those signings are not expected to take place until closer to the August 15 deadline.

Series preview: Mariners at Nats

Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. -- RHP Doug Fister (3-8, 3.53) vs. RHP Livan Hernandez (4-8, 3.77)
TV: MASN2 Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM

Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. -- LHP Erik Bedard (4-4, 3.16) vs. LHP John Lannan (4-5, 3.52)
TV: MASN Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM

Thursday, 1:05 p.m. -- RHP Michael Pineda (7-4, 2.64) vs. RHP Jason Marquis (7-2, 3.86)
TV: MASN Radio: 1500 AM, 1580 AM

MARINERS UPDATE
Seattle makes its first trip to D.C. in six years on something of a roll, having won three of its last four (including two of three from the Phillies over the weekend). Boasting a fantastic pitching staff (and a terrible lineup), the Mariners have managed to stick around the AL West race and enter this series two games over .500 and two games behind the Rangers.

It all starts with a rotation that features five starters with ERAs under 4.00. The Nationals catch a break this week in missing reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez, but that doesn't mean they'll be facing chump change. Doug Fister has recorded seven quality starts (though he's lost three straight). Former Oriole Erik Bedard is

Video: The streak, Morse and Trader Jack

Should we have seen the Nationals' recent winning streak coming? Has Michael Morse been the best hitter in baseball over the last month? Can the Cardinals survive without Albert Pujols? And what are the Marlins thinking bringing back 80-year-old Jack McKeon to manage?

I tackled all these questions today on CSN's SportsNet Central with anchor Michael Jenkins. Enjoy...

A minor trade that paid major dividends

US Presswire photo

Michael Morse is establishing himself as a major offensive force.

In late June 2009, the Seattle Mariners were hovering just above the .500 mark, trying to keep themselves in the AL wild-card race. First-year general manager Jack Zduriencik, feeling the need to add a reserve outfielder to the roster, zeroed in on the Nationals' Ryan Langerhans.

Langerhans had bounced back and forth between Washington and Class AAA Syracuse, a fine defensive player who just couldn't hit big-league pitching on a consistent basis. He didn't appear to have much of a future with the organization, so GM Mike Rizzo was perfectly willing to send him to Seattle.

The only question was who the Nationals would get in return.

Rizzo and others in the front office were intrigued by an injury-prone infielder named Mike Morse. Morse was 27 and having trouble sticking in the majors, especially as a shortstop, but he'd always shown an ability to hit (when healthy).

"We had recently scouted him," Rizzo said on Sunday. "I had seen him in the past when I was scouting. I'd always like his athleticism, his size, his strength component. We always thought he looked out of
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Video: John Wall's terrible first pitch

John Wall has the ability to do a lot of things with a basketball in his hands. With a baseball? Not so much.

The Wizards point guard threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Friday night's game at Nationals Park, and as you can see, it required a spectacular effort from Drew Storen merely to snag the errant throw.

In case you missed it, here's video of Wall's terrible pitch from CSNwashington.com. Please leave your comments below.

Video: Catching up with Jerry Hairston

Jerry Hairston and I go back a ways. Ten years ago, he was a young, starting second baseman for the Orioles. And I was a young beat writer covering him in Baltimore.

Plenty has changed, for both of us, over the last decade. Hairston has become something of a super-utility man, versatile enough to play just about anywhere on the field while also being able to settle in at one position for an extended stretch when needed (as he did at third base when Ryan Zimmerman was on the DL). The son, and grandson, of a big-leaguer, he's also now father to a baseball-loving son (Jackson) who could perhaps take over the family business some day.

Jerry was nice enough to join me for a video interview the other day and discuss those subjects, and more. Enjoy...

A sloppy end to a sparkling streak

Associated Press photo

Ryan Zimmerman is thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.

The ball bounced right to Ryan Zimmerman, and as he turned to throw to second base, everyone in the crowd of 35,439 at Nationals Park must have had the same thought: Tailor-made double play. He always makes that play.

And then the ball came out of Zimmerman's hand, sailed past a lunging Danny Espinosa and skipped into right field for the first of three Nationals errors on the afternoon.

"We played sloppy, and that's what cost us," Zimmerman said later, after the Nationals had lost 7-4 to the Orioles and seen their winning streak snapped at eight. "Obviously, I have to make that play. That kind of changes the momentum of the whole game."

Zimmerman's second-inning error alone didn't alter the outcome of the game, but he's right: It did set a tone of sloppy baseball that stood in stark contrast to the crisp play this team had exhibited throughout its winning streak and even before that.

Very little about this game resembled those that preceded it. A Nationals club that had put itself on the precipice of a .500 record via quality pitching, flawless defense and timely hitting exhibited none of
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Rizzo on streak, trade deadline, Potomac

Mike Rizzo, obviously, is pleased with the eight-game winning streak the Nationals carried into today's series finale against the Orioles. But the general manager isn't necessarily surprised by this sudden success, given what he had seen in the weeks leading up to it.

Nor does he believe the winning streak will change his approach to roster-shaping at the July 31 trade deadline.

"No, it doesn't," Rizzo said this morning. "I've got a plan and a vision what we'd like the team to look like through this year, at the end of the year and into next year. So our plans won't change. We'll have the same strategy as far as the trade deadline and that type of thing."

The Nationals entered the day one game under .500, 3 1/2 games out the NL wild-card race. Rizzo, though, saw signs of this streak a few weeks ago, even when his team was losing close games.

"I always lean on the fact that we were actually hitting the ball pretty well before we went on the streak, and they were being caught," he. "The San Francisco series was kind of a microcosm of where we were on the season. We were hitting the ball extremely hard at people, and

Game 72: Orioles at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nats are looking for their third straight sweep and ninth straight win today.

Let's see, it's Father's Day. The Nationals are on an eight-game winning streak. They're one game under .500. And they should be playing in front of a near-full house this afternoon at Nationals Park. Yes, life is good right now.

In their quest for consecutive victory No. 9 and a 36-36 record, the Nationals will send Tom Gorzelanny to the mound for the first time in three weeks. The left-hander says he's feeling great after a brief DL stint for elbow inflammation. We'll see if he can continue the remarkable performance his rotation mates have provided during this streak.

If you missed the news earlier, Rick Ankiel has been placed on the 15-day DL to clear roster space for Gorzelanny. Roger Bernadina has capably taken over everyday duties in center field and is in the lineup today batting second behind Jayson Werth.

With right-hander Chris Jakubauskas starting for the Orioles -- has a pitching matchup ever featured more combined letters than the 21 it takes to spell both Jakubauskas and Gorzelanny? -- Laynce Nix is back in the cleanup spot and in left field. Ian Desmond, meanwhile, gets a day off to rest his nagging thigh injury. Alex Cora starts at shortstop.

Happy Father's Day to everyone out there! Plenty of updates to come...

ORIOLES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m.
TV: MASN, MASN2, Ch. 50
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), WTEM (980 AM), XM 187
Weather: Cloudy, 79 degrees, Wind 7 mph LF to RF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (35-36)
RF Jayson Werth
CF Roger Bernadina
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Laynce Nix

Ankiel placed on DL

Updated at 1:05 p.m.

The Nationals placed outfielder Rick Ankiel on the 15-day disabled list with a strained intercostal muscle this morning, a move that cleared roster space for left-hander Tom Gorzelanny to be activated off the DL and start the series finale against the Orioles.

Ankiel hadn't played since Tuesday, when he felt a twinge in his ribcage tracking down Ryan Theriot's base hit to center field in the top of the first. He departed the game one inning later, not wanting to risk further injury.

The 31-year-old had resumed baseball activities over the weekend and took batting this morning. The ribcage strain, though, requires rest in order to heal -- Ryan Zimmerman missed the final 10 games of the 2010 season with the same injury -- so the Nationals took no chances and placed Ankiel on the DL.

"It feels better, definite improvement," Ankiel said. "But it's a touchy area. If I really blow that area out, I'm in trouble. So take the extra

A winning streak that matters

Associated Press photo

Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse each homered in the Nationals' 4-2 victory.

Ryan Zimmerman has been a part of winning streaks with the Nationals before. He's even experienced an eighth-game surge in the big leagues, back in August 2009.

That streak, though, merely brought the Nats to within 32 games of the .500 mark. Not exactly a meaningful stretch, in the grand scheme of things.

This, though, is different. In toppling the Orioles 4-2 on Saturday, the Nationals not only earned their eighth consecutive victory. They put themselves on the precipice of a .500 record, with the promise of even better things still to come.

"It kind of shows how much we've grown up as a team," Zimmerman said. "The last two years we've been really young. Playing in these games in the middle of the season -- when it means something -- takes a little bit more concentration, maybe a little more mental toughness."

Yes, it takes the right mental approach. But it also helps to have talent, something the Nationals possess more of now than at any previous time during their tenure in this town.

Look at the key contributors to Saturday's win, starting with the pitching staff. Jordan Zimmermann (who earned the victory with 6 1/3
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Game 71: Orioles at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nats look to make it eight in a row today at Nationals Park.

How do you keep a winning streak going? By not tinkering with success. Jim Riggleman never intended to make his pitcher-hitting-eighth idea a permanent one. But the Nationals haven't lost since the manager used the unconventional lineup for the first time last weekend in San Diego.

So, no reason to start making tweaks now. Jayson Werth remains in the leadoff spot today against the Orioles, and Jordan Zimmermann will bat eighth. Only change from last night is a swap of catchers, with Ivan Rodriguez behind the plate.

Brian Matusz, who has struggled since returning from the DL, starts for Baltimore. He'll face a stiff challenge in baseball's hottest team. With a victory today, the Nats would match their second-longest winning streak since arriving in the District.

Plenty of updates to come...

ORIOLES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m.
TV: MASN, MASN2
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), WTEM (980 AM), XM 189
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 84 degrees, Wind 5 mph out to RF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (34-36)
RF Jayson Werth
SS Ian Desmond
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Michael Morse

At last, results to match performance

US Presswire photo

Ian Desmond eludes Matt Wieters' tag to score in the fifth inning.

For weeks, Jim Riggleman would praise his Nationals for the manner in which they were playing clean baseball. Pitching well. Playing sparkling defense.

The only problem: They weren't actually winning those games, making the manager's sentiments feel a bit hollow at times.

"Guys are tired of hearing about how good they're playing, but we're not winning games," Riggleman said. "It's just the nature of the game. If you play good, eventually you're going to win games, and we've done that here lately."

Have they ever. The Nationals not only are playing their best baseball in a long time, they finally have the results to match. With an 8-4 thumping of the Orioles Friday night, they extended their longest winning streak in two years to seven games, moved to within two games of the .500 mark and moved into a tie for third place in the NL East.

Having withstood some rocky times during the season's first two months, times in which the clubhouse could have become fractured,
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