Dunn, 29, hit .236 with 40 home runs and 100 RBIs with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds last season. He has hit at least 40 home runs each of the past five seasons. In 1,131 games, Dunn has 278 home runs. Dunn is expected to play first base for the Nationals.
]]>Cabrera went 8-10 last season with the Baltimore Orioles but he does have a pretty active arm and should have had more than eight wins last season. He features a lively fastball and also throws a pretty good curveball and changeup.
Cabrera spent the last five years with Orioles and compiled a 48-59 record with a 5.05 ERA for Baltimore.
I like this signing for the Nationals as I think there is a lot of upside to Cabrera. Hopefully he has a great season with the Nats!
What do you think about the signing? – Nationals Blog
]]>The Marlins received second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers: second baseman Jake Smolinski and right-hander P.J. Dean.
Olsen went 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA in 2008, his third consecutive season with at least 31 starts — he has never been on the disabled list. The left-hander is 31-37 with a 4.63 ERA in the majors. Willingham hit .254 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs this year but also missed 50 games with a herniated disk.
It will be interesting to see what other moves the Nationals pull off this off season.
]]>Tim Redding took the loss after only lasting 2 2/3 innings. Redding was rocked for seven hits and seven runs in the game as he didn’t have it from the beginning of the game. Levale Speigner was also bad in the game as he was charged with three hits and two runs. Not that Speigner’s runs would have matters because Redding sucked it up so bad.
Emilio Bonifacio, Alberto Gonzalez, Pete Orr, and Wil Nieves all had rbi’s for the Nationals but it wasn’t even close to being enough to pull out the victory.
The Nationals can win the series with a victory over the Marlins on Thursday however. I expect them to pull out a win somehow as they play their final game at home for the 2008 season.
]]>The Nationals offense tagged Mets starter Pedro Martinez for eight hits and four runs. Elijah Dukes led the team with three rbi as he hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning. Anderson Hernandez helped out with two rbi of his own while Aaron Boone chipped in with one rbi of his own.
On the mound it was John Lannan tossing seven innings and picking up the victory. Lannan gave up one hit and one run as he had a very good start. Lannan is now 9-13 on the year after picking up the victory.
]]>Cristian Guzman led the Nationals with five rbi’s as he had a three-run home run as well as a two-run shot in the game. Besides Guzman’s five rbi’s, the nationals also got rbi’s from Kory Casto (two rbi), Ryan Zimmerman (one rbi), Elijah Dukes (one rbi), and Wil Nieves (one rbi). It was a good offensive showing for the Nationals.
The bad side of the game was the Nationals pitchers who allowed 13 runs to score. Odalis Perez only lasted three innings as he gave up eight hits and seven runs. Just a terrible outing for Perez who should have pitched better. Saul Rivera allowed four hits and four more runs while Joel Hanrahan gave up two more runs.
]]>Joel Hanrahan gave up both runs in the ninth inning that allowed the Phillies to win the game. Matt Stairs had a rbi double for the first run and then Chase Utley hit a rbi sac fly to add an insurance run. Odalis Perez was the starting pitcher but he only lated five innings as he gave up four hits and three runs. Perez did give up one home run as well. Marco Estrada was terrible out of the bullpen as he didn’t record an out and gave up three his and two runs.
Cristian Guzman tied the game in the eighth inning when he his a bases loaded clearing double. He led the team with three rbi on the night. Ryan Zimmerman had a solo home run and a rbi double in the game to finish right behind Guzman with two rbi. Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes, and Kory Casto finished up the scoreing with one rbi each.
Just another loss for the Nationals, I’m sure there will be plenty left over the next three to four weeks.
]]>Hope everyone has a great day!
]]>Redding was good as he pitched six innings. He allowed eight hits and three runs in the game while improving to 9-8 on the year. All three runs that Redding gave up were solo home runs. He did get lucky that they were all solo shots that is for sure. Saul Rivera gave up one run and then Joel Hanrahan pitched 1 1/3 innings to get his sixth save of the season.
Ryan Zimmerman had a solo home run for the Nationals as he was the only Nats player to go deep in the game. Lastings Milledge, Ronnie Belliard, and Jesus Flores all added rbi’s as well in the game for the Nationals.
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