Nats Fall to Pirates, Nats Notes

The Washington Nationals blew another solid performance from rookie starter John Lannen, as Lannan fell overall to 4-7, but has an ERA of 3.43.  Lannan pitched 6 strong innings, yielding 2 runs and striking out 3.
The story was the same as it has been most of the season.  The lack of offense strangled an otherwise strong pitching performance.  The offense managed to scatter only 7 hits on 1 run.   That run did not come until the 7th inning when Elijah Dukes singled in Felipe Lopez.
Offensively, the Nats were so sleepy that until Jesus Flores double in the 6th inning, the Nationals did not have a base runner reach third base.
The Nats face off tonight against the Pirates with Jason Bergmann taking the mound for the Nats.
Where’s Zimmy?  On the DL and don’t expect him back anytime soon.  Zimmerman, after confirming with another orthopedic surgeon that he has suffered a tear in his labrum, will undergo rehabilitation instead of opting for surgery.  Zimmy is expected to miss an additional 4 to 6 weeks.  You think that is gloomy.  Try this …

“We will know at the All-Star break either way,” general manager Jim Bowden said. “If in fact he’s not better by the All-Star break, then at that time we’ll operate so that he’s 100 percent for next season.”

Wow. So if the shoulder rehab doesn’t work by All Star break, Zimmy’s season closes.  Imagine that.  Just look how awful this team is offensively, and now we are being told, get used to it.  It’s gonna be a longggggggg summer.
The only small silver lining is the fact the Nationals can get an extended look at Kory Casto.  If Casto excels, Casto may earn himself a spot in the outfield next season.
The celebration thing … Ok, get over it.  The kid (Elijah Dukes) is young and given all the problem Dukes had, if celebrating a win is the worst we get, ummmm, I will take it.  Instead of getting mad at Dukes for celebrating, maybe Manny Acta and Jim Bowden should get mad because the team simply stinks.

“It’s over with,” Acta said. “What happens in Pittsburgh stays in Pittsburgh.”

“We talked through the incident behind closed doors,” Bowden said. “It was a miscommunication and a misunderstanding. We’ve resolved it, going forward. I support the manager 100 percent. And it’s behind us.”

Perhaps instead of getting angry at Dukes for being happy over a win, there should be anger over Bowden and the front office for the position the team is in, AGAIN.