What a horrible weekend for the Nationals, but then again, that is just the way this season has gone.  Florida simply owned Washington, period.  One thing that is becoming clearer, the strength of last season, the4 bullpen, is a liability in 2008.
These guys simply can not hold a lead.  Nationals did make a move to try and bolster middle relief, sending battered Mike O’Connor back to Columbus and recalling Chris Schroeder.  Schroeder had an impressive stint in the Nats bullpen last year and should have been in the pen this season.  Welcome back Chris, believe me, you are needed!
Let’s look at some bullpen numbers;
The only effective reliever has been closer Jon Rauch, but one of the main reasons is, the rest of the bullpen can’t get the game to Rauch.  Between the 4 main middle and long relievers (Luis Ayala, Saul Rivera, Jesus Colome, and Joel Hanrahan), they have a combined ERA of 7.81 over the last 7 games.  They have all pitched a combined 24.2 innings and have been shelled for 21 runs.  Here are the individual numbers:
Luis Ayala – over the last 5 innings of relief, he has given up 9 runs, 11 hits and 2 walks
Jesus Colome – over his last 8 innings, has yielded 6 runs, on 11 hits and 3 walks
Joel Hanrahan – over 6 innings, has given up 3 runs, 4 hist and 7 walks
Saul Rivera – over the last 5.2 innings has yielded 3 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks
15 combined walks and 34 hist over that span.  Folks, that does not win baseball games.  The bullpen has been absolutely pathetic despite some strong performances by Shawn Hill and Odalis Perez.  The problem we thought we would have, starting pitching, has become somewhat of a strength (with some lapses) while the strength of last year has become a major liability.
Shroeder will be a welcome arrival in a battered pen.  Now, the Nationals just have to figure out what to do with the fifth starting slot.  Chico got blasted.  O’Connnor even more so.  Maybe Bergmann gets the call again?  He has dominated in AAA.
Fifth Starter? Not known yet.  Speculation centers around two starters from Columbus (AAA), Jason Bergmann and prospect Colin Balestar.   The third option could be to move Matt Chico back to the fifth slot, but with 20 games in 21 days, Chico will likely be needed to expand  the bullpen options over a significant stretch of games.
Manny Acta even mentioned red hot propsect and 2007 second rounder draft pick Jordon Zimmerman, who has been absolutely tearing up A and AA ball and appears to be progressing quickly through the Nationals system like John Lannan.  The time of the propsects may be coming.  Witht he suucess of Lanna, who is arguably the ace of the staff right now, the urge to bring in Balestar and Zimmerman may be ever so temtping.  Especially because prospects like Balestar and Zimmerman are showing signs of being ready for the major league level.

Acta didn’t rule out Matt Chico, who was moved to the bullpen earlier this week to make room for O’Connor’s return to the rotation. Nor would he commit to Jason Bergmann, the other logical choice to be called up after three strong starts at Columbus.

“Everyone from [Class AA prospect] Jordan Zimmermann to Chico” is in the running, Acta said.

No doubt, as one of the biggest fans of Jordon Zimmerman, I would love to see him called up, but logically, what makes more sense, is Colin Balestar.  Balestar in my opinion is major league ready like Lannan.  I think he can nail down a spot for years to come.  Then, promote Zimmerman to Balestar’s spot in Columbus and see how he performs in AA ball.   No need to 5trush Zimmerman so quickly.  Balestar on the other hand is likely ready for the major league step.  The Nationals had a sesnsation draft in 2007 yielding guys like Zimmerman, Ross Detwiler, Jack McGreary, and Joshua Smoker.  Detwiler got the hype but Zimmerman is probably the bets of the bunch.  Like Lanna, he has absolutely dominated each level of minor he has progressed through.  So to see him mentioned shows the attention he now has from the brass at Nationals Park.
Your hot Nats … Believe it or not, there are some hot players on the Nationals right now.
John Lannen is now 3-3 with a 3.40 ERA and has recorded 27 strikeouts in 39.2 innings.  Lannen is the best starting in this rotation right now.  Shawn Hill has yielded only 6 runs in his last 20.1 innings.
Christian Guzman is red hot for the Nats and the best offensive player sin the lineup.  Guzman currently has a 7 game hitting streak and over that stretch has hit .406 and lifted hos overall average to .310.  Guzman has added 3 doubles, a homer, has scored 9 runs, and knocked in 8.   Ryan Zimmerman, since benching himself, has hit .360 (9-25) with a double, 2 homers, 5 runs, and 4 RBIs.  Aaron Boone lifted his average to above .300 (.304) with a 3 for 4 night last night, with a triple and homer and three runs driven in.
Next Up:  Washington faces off against the New York Mets in a 4 games series in New York.  The Nats will try and gain P Odalis Perez (0-3) his first win tonight.