Ryan Zimmerman's extension

Manager Matt Williams said in a radio interview with CBS Sports last night that Zimmerman is dealing with an arthritic shoulder -- hardly good news for the Nationals as Zimmerman plays out the first year of a six-year, $100MM extension.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/04/08/matt-williams-ryan-zimmermans-got-an-arthritic-shoulder/

Manager Matt Williams said in a radio interview with CBS Sports last night that Zimmerman is dealing with an arthritic shoulder -- hardly good news for the Nationals as Zimmerman plays out the first year of a six-year, $100MM extension.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/04/08/matt-williams-ryan-zimmermans-got-an-arthritic-shoulder/

I feel his pain, literally, good news for myself, it doesn't hamper my activities, just a pain and nuisance, of course, I don't play professional baseball either.

I hope they can give him shots and let him play through the pain.

He'll most likely move to first next season. Rendon will play 3b.

After Harper spoke with reporters and changed from his uniform to workout clothes, he grabbed a bat and headed toward the batting cages. To snap out of his funk, Harper said he would pull up video of his swing to see his hand placement. He also said he would call his father, Ron, his unofficial hitting coach growing up.

"I'm pretty lost right now actually," he said. "I'm trying to see where my swing is at."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2014/04/06/bryce-harper-im-pretty-lost-right-now-actually/

I was at the game Saturday where he made his feeble throw that was simulaneously way too arced to have any chance of beating the runner, and also about 10 feet off the 1B bag. It was really sad to see; I'd venture to say that most former third basemen who have been retired for five years could make a stronger, more accurate throw without even warming up. Zimmerman was a spectacular 3B in his younger years, and he's not exactly old now.

It was a pretty questionable extension when he signed it. He was already having issues at third at the time.

After Harper spoke with reporters and changed from his uniform to workout clothes, he grabbed a bat and headed toward the batting cages. To snap out of his funk, Harper said he would pull up video of his swing to see his hand placement. He also said he would call his father, Ron, his unofficial hitting coach growing up.

"I'm pretty lost right now actually," he said. "I'm trying to see where my swing is at."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2014/04/06/bryce-harper-im-pretty-lost-right-now-actually/

I do hope he ends up as a "pretty good player".

Some ball got lost off Harper's bat tonight.

After Harper spoke with reporters and changed from his uniform to workout clothes, he grabbed a bat and headed toward the batting cages. To snap out of his funk, Harper said he would pull up video of his swing to see his hand placement. He also said he would call his father, Ron, his unofficial hitting coach growing up.

"I'm pretty lost right now actually," he said. "I'm trying to see where my swing is at."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2014/04/06/bryce-harper-im-pretty-lost-right-now-actually/

I do hope he ends up as a "pretty good player".

Here is a fact, from a seemingly mythical place where truth supersedes opinion: In baseball history, 11 players have finished their age-20 season with an on-base percentage of .350 or better and a slugging percentage of .475 and up. The first six are in the Hall of Fame. Vada Pinson sustained a long, underrated career. Ken Griffey Jr. is a first-ballot, no-doubt Hall of Famer. Alex Rodriguez, for his many warts, remains an all-time brilliant ballplayer. Mike Trout is the best player alive. Bryce Harper is the 11th.

Here is another fact, from a land in which perception takes a backseat to reality: Three players have logged more than 1,000 plate appearances through age 20 and put up that same .350-plus OBP and .475-plus slugging percentage. The first was Mel Ott. The second was Mickey Mantle. The third was Bryce Harper.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/everyone-hates-bryce-harper--here-s-why-they-shouldn-t-070048104.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/everyone-hates-bryce-harper--here-s-why-they-shouldn-t-070048104.html

Didn't say it was likely.

I was at the game Saturday where he made his feeble throw that was simulaneously way too arced to have any chance of beating the runner, and also about 10 feet off the 1B bag. It was really sad to see; I'd venture to say that most former third basemen who have been retired for five years could make a stronger, more accurate throw without even warming up. Zimmerman was a spectacular 3B in his younger years, and he's not exactly old now.

I assume he is now a First Baseman.

Some ball got lost off Harper's bat tonight.

It's not lost. It is in orbit.

I assume he is now a First Baseman.

They have LaRoche under contract for $12 mm. Maybe they can get the Yankees to take him off their hands and move Zim to first base. From what I've seen, Rendon is a decent 3B, but nowhere near as good as Zimmerman once was. Actually, Zimmerman is still very good with the glove at 3B, it's the throws that are the problem.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Nationals&src=hash">#Nationals</a> will be missing Ryan Zimmerman for 4-6 weeks after he broke his thumb on Saturday: <a href="http://t.co/HzXkruuf7R">http://t.co/HzXkruuf7R</a></p>— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) <a href="

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Nationals&src=hash">#Nationals</a> will be missing Ryan Zimmerman for 4-6 weeks after he broke his thumb on Saturday: <a href="http://t.co/HzXkruuf7R">http://t.co/HzXkruuf7R</a></p>— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) <a href="

">April 13, 2014</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Well. That removes any real threat from that lineup for a third of the season.