Fouled-Off Bunts: All Minutia Edition!

Shawn Hill's visit to Dr. Andrews turned out as well as could be possible. Tendinitis, and a shot of cortisone, and all is right with the world -- at least in a week or two.

John Patterson is on a mystical magical tour 'round the country to find the secret to his magical trick elbow. He's continuing to have nerve pain in his arm, this time centered on his elbow. Recall that last year, he had surgery to cut away and move some tissue that was pinching a nerve in his forearm. The "bright" side is that it doesn't seem like it's a ligament tear or something of that ilk, but that's about the only positive spin you can put on something like this. Nerve compression ain't a cup of tea.

The Nats traded one of the minor league scrubs they picked up in the offseason, Jermaine Van Buren, to the A's for a player to be named. Immediate speculation was that it was going to be for Milton Bradley, whose trade to the Royals fell through after a mysterious KC Rib injury popped up. The Nats say no, and now cite character as one of the reasons for the lack of interest. (This from a team that's employed a string of wife beaters, and was rumored to be interested in Elijah Dukes, a man who threatened to kill his own children, until a string of negative reactions locally and nationally helped to inspire them to deny it.)

Jesus Colome had surgery to remove the giant sac of pus hanging off his ass. No joke needed. (I'm trying to think of a Jim Hunter joke, though.)

In other strange injury news, Mr. Glass, Justin Maxwell (who's finally having the season he needs to to be a prospect) returned to the DL after straining his abs after -- wait for it! --- sneezing. Yes, sneezing. Some abs, huh? Maybe the Nats need to hire John Basedow? (If only to get that creepy guy and his commercials off my TV)

The Nats met with Josh "Not Jeff, no Maybe It Is Jeff" Smoker, the first of their sandwich picks. He's got an option to go to college, so the Nats are going to have to make him an offer he can't refuse.

The Nats have signed 31 of their picks, most of those in the middle and later rounds. No word on the other big bats (and arms!) yet.

Jordan Zimmermannnnnn, the highest pick to sign, made his debut for Vermont the other night, pitching 2 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts. Not a bad start!

Bill Ladson says that Adam Dunn strikes out too much, and that Alfonso Soriano was not a difference maker.

Tim Kurkjian writes an ode to Dmitri Young. Good story, but I found myself agreeing with one of the comments:

I loved Young when he was with the Reds, and it's great to see a story about someone making a positive change and doing well. But it's a real disservice to tell the story in a way that gives short-shrift to the domestic violence. What if that had been you, or your daughter or sister? Tell it like it is, in all the complexity. Domestic violence should not be reduced to something like "that legal thing."

Alex Escobar is still rehabbing, throwing the ball from a distance. He's still a few days away from running. And a few days + 1 from his next injury.

The Nats have been outrighting players left and right. Today it was Beltran Perez. He joins Larry Broadway, Mike Hinckley and Frank Diaz as the players taken off the 40-man roster. Brian from NFA pointed out that the Nats have just 6 minor leaguers currently on their 40-man roster, which has to be among the lowest in baseball, and tells you how terrible the player development has been over the last 3-4 years.

To outright a player, you need to place them on waivers. If they clear, they're off the 40-man, and you can assign them to the minors. Given all the moves they've made, I wonder if the Nats are systematically placing a number of their players on waivers and seeing what shakes out? I think (think!) this is a revocable move, meaning that if the player is claimed, you can pull back the waiver claim. Maybe they tried the same thing with Nook, so their pronouncements about how he'd have been claimed had he been sent down are informed pronouncements? I dunno. And it's entirely likely I'm misunderstanding the rules!

HOT BLOGGER ACTION!!!
--OMG thinks that Boz is full of it.
--JANF has a really unhealthy fascination with Robert #@$#$@ Fick.
--Nats320 is tired of Manny taking the few good hitters in the lineup out for defense.
--Distinguished Senators thinks that Boz should lay off Church. (Warning: Link may be stale)
--Nationals Power has the details on the Ryan Zimmerman pizza. (After your first bite, you think it's going to be the best ever, but after a few more bites, it tastes just like the same cardboard delivery crap)

--The Ladies at 3 Girls With Heart say that I'm an some bloggers are overly negative, and that we should lay off the greatness of MASN.

Quote o' the day!
"Some of those bloggers are quite devoted and quite astute, but you'd be surprised how often they opine on something and really have no idea what's truly going on inside the clubhouse."

Feckin' stupid know-it-all bloggers!111!