Shorthanded

If any player in Baseball comes up lame, hurt or broken--Team Management has the right to replace that player with a fresh face.

So--why do Our Washington Nationals continue to leave Our Manager Manny Acta shorthanded in most every game?

From the get go in 2008, Washington has competed with less than the 25 players available to use--most every night. No, I don't get that. These scenarios started early on--in April--with Dmitri Young's back problems, Chad Cordero's shoulder, Paul LoDuca's knee (later hand), Johnny Estrada's elbow, eventually on to Nick Johnson's wrist and has continued through Ronnie Belliard's infected finger and subsequent hamstring--then on to Austin Kearns' elbow and finally with Our Franchise Player--Ryan Zimmerman's shoulder. None were put on The Disabled List until time had passed--to the detriment of Our Team. Is "The Z-Man" next?

Considering the fact that Our Washington Nationals are struggling in nearly every offensive statistic in the game. Last in The Majors in most categories--why limit what little aggression is available at our disposal?

For the past week--Our Number 11 has sat out each and every game played on the just completed West Coast Swing. A 2 Win, 4 Loss trip--dropping Washington to 10 games below .500. What was first diagnosed, and reported, as a slight irritating shoulder strain--"nothing big"--now has aggravatingly moved from Day-To-Day to maybe "Z" will have to deal with this problem for the remainder of the year.

Say what? Have we not heard this exact same "floating" diagnosis from the medical staff in each of the previous season's since baseball's return to Washington for like every single player that has ever donned a Nationals Jersey?

OK, fine--I understand the fact--as frustrating as it may be--they are injured. And each and everyone needs to the time heal--properly.

But, why do Our Washington Nationals continue to give Our Number 14 less than a full roster of players at his disposal because someone can't go--for an extended period of time? Sorry, someone has got to know the truth. This is not a guessing game. And that makes no sense to me. If Ryan Zimmerman should be put on the Disabled List--please put him there. His absence for 14 days is not going to have an overall effect on the progress of Our Team THIS SEASON. Washington is not going anywhere this year. Why not do what's best for HIS, and OUR FUTURE, and sit him down for a required period of time?

If "Z" goes on the DL, it would disappointing. But--his extended injury is not going to drastically change the outcome of 2008.

No matter if those available down on the farm are of supposed lesser talents--or simply not ready for the Big Time--should Manny not be given a Full Fighting Chance to Win? Every single player will have their day in the sun. On any given day--anything can happen. Our Manager should not have to maneuver with a less than full compliment of players.

Shutting yourself down is one thing. Shutting yourself out of every opportunity to win is another.

Someone, Anyone, Is Always Better Than No One.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN--UNTIL YOU GIVE SOMEONE A CHANCE.

Many times in the first two months of 2008 and now continuing into June--Our Washington Nationals have positioned themselves where their bench players and even their closer were unavailable due to a "nagging" injury. Situations that had nothing to do with giving someone a deserved rest. Being cautious is fine. Medical conditions are sometimes difficult to determine. But this is getting painfully silly.

Hockey teams are forced to play shorthanded when a penalty is called. Soccer teams play shorthanded when a red card is waved. Both are ruled decisions. Our Washington Nationals are playing shorthanded by choice--not by a judgement on the field by an arbiter. And in doing so--are limiting Our Manager Manny Acta's skills to manage each and every game to his fullest capability.

Please JimBo--just make it happen. You know as well as I-- playing shorthanded is a huge disadvantage.

PS--My workload has been quite significant over the past week. A never ending Presidential Primary by The Democratic Party, The Scripps National Spelling Bee (which Steinberg even admits is really a great event) and the busiest weekend in some time---has made it impossible to closely watch all the games from San Diego and Phoenix of Our Washington Nationals. Considering the fact that Washington was shutout over their last 18 innings played--maybe I was more fortunate than I realized.

But you can bet--Sohna and I will be there for EVERY SINGLE GAME this coming week against The St. Louis Cardinals and The San Francisco Giants at New Nationals Park--as always.