Some news before the Nats take on the Marlins in the series-finale in Miami. Most of it revolves around Nyjer Morgan, who just can’t seem to avoid controversy the last few weeks. He’s waiting on an appeal of a seven-game suspension for allegedly throwing a ball at a fan in Philadelphia on Aug. 21. He caused a ruckus on Saturday night against St. Louis after going out of his way to hit back-up catcher Bryan Anderson at home plate when no throw was made. Replays showed Morgan didn’t even touch the plate and was called out when teammate Ivan Rodriguez pushed him back towards it to score the run. The Cardinals were furious and Nats manager Jim Riggleman made it clear the next morning he didn’t like what Morgan had done.
Morgan has also been upset about getting dropped to No. 8 in the lineup, instead of his customary leadoff spot. Yes, he wisely refrained from commenting on that directly. But his anger has been pretty evident and even Riggleman has made public comments on it. Morgan is back in the leadoff spot tonight, which should be just in time to see him get drilled in the ribs by Florida starter Chris Volstad. The Marlins weren’t happy that Morgan chose to drill catcher Brett Hayes in the top of the tenth inning last night. Morgan was out on a phenomenal play by shortstop Hanley Ramirez. Florida third baseman Chad Tracy had pointed comments about the play and how Morgan should have slid. The collision left Hayes with a separated shoulder, according to reports.
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Morgan claims he would have hurt himself if he’d tried to slide. I agree with that. His St. Louis incident was dumb. But in this case he was way down the line and couldn’t have known the Ramirez throw would be towards the first-base side of home plate. That split-second probably was enough for Morgan to slide as Hayes stepped off the plate. But , to me, when Morgan committed Hayes’ foot was clearly still on the plate in perfect position. I don’t get the criticism here. Then again, Morgan’s previous transgression means he doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt from opposing players.
In other news, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman gets the day off to rest some aches and pains, which is nice because the team has a scheduled day off on Thursday anyway as they travel to Pittsburgh. Alberto Gonzalez takes his place there and bats No. 7 in the lineup.
The Nats also recalled two players from Triple-A Syracuse now that rosters have expanded as of Sept. 1. Second baseman Danny Espinosa and catcher Wilson Ramos are now with the team. Ramos, acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Twins in July, batted .258 with eight home runs and 38 RBI at Triple-A Syracuse and Rochester and has appeared in eight big-league games this season, one with the Nats. Espinosa, the team’s third-round draft choice in 2009, is on the major-league roster for the first time. Moved to second base last month and had a combined 22 homers at Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse.
And, of course, the team and the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network announced that on Wednesday that television analyst Rob Dibble has left that position. The team offered no further comment and did not clarify if Dibble was fired or resigned. Dibble has been absent from MASN’s broadcasts since Aug. 25. He was under fire for controversial comments about Washington rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who was diagnosed with a significant tear of a ligament in his right elbow and will miss most of the 2011 season. Before the extent of that injury was known Dibble said on his Sirius XM radio show that “for me, a little bit has to be put back on Strasbug here. Okay, you throw a pitch, it bothers your arm, and you immediately call out the manager and the trainer? Suck it up, kid. This is your profession. You chose to be a baseball player. You can’t have the cavalry come in and save your butt every time you feel a little stiff shoulder, sore elbow.”
Those comments came just 11 days after Dibble repeatedly made fun of two female fans talking on their cell phones during an Aug. 11 game against the Florida Marlins. He later apologized. MASN announced last week that Dibble had requested “time off” and denied he had been suspended. But he also did not return, as expected, for Saturday night’s broadcast.
MASN’s Ray Knight, the primary analyst on the network’s pregame and postgame shows, has taken Dibble’s position in the booth and will finish out the current road trip in Pittsburgh. But sources say Knight has not yet been informed if he will finish the season as MASN’s main analyst. Here are the lineups.
Nationals:
Morgan – CF
Desmond – SS
Bernadina – LF
Dunn – 1B
Morse – RF
Kennedy – 2B
Gonzalez – 3B
Nieves – C
Olsen – SP
Marlins:
Maybin – CF
Morrison – LF
Ramirez – SS
Sanchez – 1B
Murphy – 2B
Helms – 3B
Stanton – RF
Davis – C
Volstad – SP
