Nats Notes: A Plethora of Pitchers?

| Print Post This | Like (0) | Comments (0)

WHEN A STARTING PITCHER has gone down with an injury — and there have been many such instances this year — the Washington Nationals generally have been able to find an adequate replacement.

There have been second-chance veterans, like Tim Redding or Mike Bacsik, resurrecting a career. There also have been wide-eyed rookies — young like John Lannan or slightly older as in Joel Hanrahan — notching their first big-league victories and staking a claim to future consideration.

There's the blessing. Here's the curse: The injured guys are going to start coming back soon, and something's got to give.

"There's about nine guys, seriously, that I'd like to see take the ball every five days," GM Jim Bowden said. "We can't do that, but I really would like to see nine of them."

Between now and September, when rosters expand, the Nationals are expected to welcome back from the disabled list right-handed starters Shawn Hill, Jason Bergmann, Jason Simontacchi and John Patterson.

Many in the organization also would like to give a look to minor-league prospects Colin Balester and Ross Detwiler.

» Bacsik and Bonds
Lost in all the hoopla and controversy surrounding Barry Bonds' 756th home run was the grace and humor with which Bacsik handled his less-glamorous place in history.

Someone had to give up Bonds' record home run, and it turned out to be the soft-tossing, 29-year-old left-hander. Barring a surprising career turnaround, this will be his defining moment.

"As a kid, you always dream of this moment," Bacsik told reporters on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, you dream of being the one hitting the home run, not giving it up."

» Leadoff Lopez
Felipe Lopez's first try at batting leadoff this season didn't turn out well. He didn't get hits, didn't get walks, didn't bunt, didn't steal.

Acta temporarily moved Lopez to the bottom of the order and, with less pressure, Lopez found his game. And he's batted .292 since returning to the leadoff spot on July 18.

Written by Express contributor Derek Turner
Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images