52 Comments
User's avatar
Bob Loeb's avatar

I like the move to CJ leading off. Maybe the 2-5 hitters can drive him in.

Mark Miller's avatar

I wish they would give House a chance to play everyday and see what happens!

MacMom54's avatar

I think at this point, that would be the best course for the future team.

Beached56's avatar

Who will have the first complaint about Vivas? Interesting about Littell.

Rebecca's avatar

I'm actually shocked they DFA'd Littell before Miklolas.

Bill S formerly dclivejazz's avatar

Joey Wiemer was also unconditionally released earlier today to clear a 40-man spot.

Dave Nemec's avatar

Two open spots now on the 40-man roster. I don't believe any of the 60-day IL guys are ready to come back, so I wonder if they're putting in some waiver claims.

Maybe for Yoyo Morales, Trey Lipscomb, and/or Phillip Glasser?

Or possibly Jackson Kent?

Mark's avatar

My understanding is that they have some players that will be Rule 5 eligible if not on 40 man roster so that may be at work.

Chris Tharrington's avatar

Littell DFA'd. Wow. I figured they'd keep him until the end of this season.

Darryl Shawgo's avatar

Why did Littell go before Mikolas?

BassMan's avatar

Interesting that they kept Mikolas and let Littell go. I would have thought the reverse would happen.

natsclop's avatar

Wouldn’t be surprised if Mikolas is left around just to make his next start and gets the similar boot

BassMan's avatar

Very possible. If we are looking at next year, I'd rather see Perales or Jackson Kent and see how they do.

Susan V's avatar

That's my guess. It can't be because they think he's any better.

Bill S formerly dclivejazz's avatar

I wonder about that, too. Mikolas has a higher ERA and lower ERA+. They owe Littell more money but aren’t going to save it because he has something like a $4 million buyout on a mutual option for next year. Nobody is going to put in a claim for him until he is dropped and the Nats are left on the hook for that.

Ziggy's avatar

A distinction without a difference.

natsclop's avatar

Over under CJ gives us one of his iconic leadoff first pitch home runs we saw so many times last season?

Frederick Kiel's avatar

Well, in CJ's first at bat yesterday, he drilled it down the first base line and the right fielder had a hard time reaching it as it bounced all over the place. But CJ slowed up going into second and stopped there. He, 90% certain, could've been on third with no outs. I don't blame him. Why kill yourself now?

Chris Hughes's avatar

I do not understand playing Vivas instead of House. If House is indeed the possible 3rd baseman of the future, why not play him every day and find out? I acknowledge that he is going against a right handed pitcher but again, if he's going to be the guy he should be able to hit against any pitcher regardless of the side he's throwing from.

Greg10ike's avatar

I wish Toboni would DFA Vivas.

Susan V's avatar

And he can't learn how to hit them if he never gets the chance!

This reliance on Vivas is sure irritating.

gonatsgo1's avatar

Feel like a broken record on House. Not even gonna say it. I guess I did.

Mark's avatar

Vivas like Mikolas and Littell has established he is not a part of the future…

Greg10ike's avatar

I wonder if Toboni tried to see what he could get for Littell at the deadline. We never saw his name as a trade piece. Obviously no one wanted him. We’ll see if he’s claimed off waivers.

gonatsgo1's avatar

Funny thing is I think just about all of our DFA guys have gone unclaimed. Including one that rhymes with Book.

Dave Nemec's avatar

We all have our players who frustrate us. Safe to say Matty the Natty is yours. 😄

LEE MCDOWELL's avatar

Remember - THE NATS "reclaimed" him.

gonatsgo1's avatar

More than once!

LEE MCDOWELL's avatar

Wouldn't be a total shocker if somebody did - he could be an innings eater for somebody, of course they would have to be reasonably clean innings. Maybe the financials had something to do with it too?

Mark's avatar

Don’t think they saved any money and as noted, they owe him money for next year.

LEE MCDOWELL's avatar

Ah, and NEXT year too. Good call.

McMerc7MHDC's avatar

Littell gone before Mikolas? Now THAT is a shocker.

Sounds like they want to go all-in on youth. Might as well. Nothing to lose. Keeping vets around is only useful if they can play well.

Carl Rosendorf's avatar

I am not going to beach the Nats for as the movie title was "For love of the game"...

It's all player development and evaluating now.

Maybe they can sign Roy Hobbs now.

Carl Rosendorf's avatar

Meant now going to watch the Nats for Love of the Game

Sorry for typos

Frederick Kiel's avatar

Wow, the Nats six thru nine are a real Murderers Row. Philly's gonna be quaking in their sneakers.

Frederick Kiel's avatar

Wow, we've got a real Murderers Row in the guys six thru nine. Phlly's gotta be shaking in their boots.

Rich's avatar

They DFA’d Littel before Mikolas? Guess that happens when Early is ready, right?

LEE MCDOWELL's avatar

Has Early done his AAA rehab start yet - thought Aug 3rd was bandied about as a possible date?

Mark's avatar

Don’t expect Early to be called up till later - September.

gonatsgo1's avatar

ICYMI: Lots of transactions down on the farm (Dave N. posted about this on another thread).

As we wait for first pitch, here are a few highlights.

- Many of the pitchers we picked up are now active at AA Harrisburg. Cebert, Hartle, Glassey, Grable.

- Elijah Green (yeah, that one) has been promoted to AA.

- Marquis Grissom, Jr.has been released. As has Konnor Pilkington.

LEE MCDOWELL's avatar

Short on OF bodies, Green next up. What are his stats this year?

gonatsgo1's avatar

Still strikes out too much but he's been improving the last couple of months (I just saw him up in Frederick last weekend in a High A game).

326AB 74 H 52R 12 HR 38 RBI 47W 168SO !

.227/.324/.390

LEE MCDOWELL's avatar

Thanks - yeah I would say 168 is too much LOL. HALF his ABs. So whatever the NEW regime has tried with him didn't help much either. Another Rizzo draftee...

gonatsgo1's avatar

Indeed. Fully 1/2 his career ABs have been strikeouts.