MASNsports.com is your online home for the latest Orioles and Nationals news, features, and commentary. And now, you can connect with MASN on every digital level. From web and social media to our new mobile alert service, MASN has got all the bases covered.
Get the latest breaking news direct to your phone with our mobile texting service.
by
Remember Ironing Board Sam? No? Well, I'm not terrinly surprised. He was a somewhat obscure R & B singer in the 1960's who had a minor hit with a song called "Non Support." (Check him out on youtube.)
I thought about Sam today watching the Nationals once again provide next-to-no offense for Yunesky Maya. Through 5 starts and 26 innings, the Nats have scored exactly 2 runs for Maya, both on solo home runs. Now that's what I call non-support.
The disappearing Washington offense has resulted in the recent spate of low hit, low run games. It's hard to win real often when your hit total is in the single digits night-after-night, and you only cross the plate a couple of times. It's hard to take the mound with much confidence knowing anything you give up might cost you the game. Maya looked better today than he's ever looked; at least he didn't take the loss. Wilson Ramos also looked solid at bat and behind the plate. His immediate future may well be as Pudge's backup in 2011, though I bet he plays in 80+ games.
I wasn't surprised to hear that the Nats' brass has discussed Brandon Webb. Webb, a Cy Young winner in 2006 who hasn't pitched at all this year, was shut down in 2009 after an opening day start, and had shoulder surgery that he's been slow to respond to. He's throwing again, but his velocity has only been in the low 80's. His agent, Jonathan Maurer, has been quoted as saying the deals injured pitchers Ben Sheets, Rich Harden and Brad Penny got this year would be "conversation starters," but the thought of guaranteeing as much as $10 million (Sheets' deal) to Webb seems like insanity. Mike Rizzo knows Webb as well as anyone,and likely has a much smaller guarantee in mind. Webb has reportedly shown interest in the Nationals, and why not? Given his recent history, he has to be grateful that any teams are kicking his tires.
As for Adam Dunn, I don't think his departure is a foregone conclusion - yet. His walk-off against the Phillies last week may well be the swing he's remembered for, rather than the K's at CitiField this weekend. I'm sure we all hope what may be his final swings for the Nats connect with more than just air.
