District Daily: Rendon still Needs Support in Final Vote Race, Desmond Discusses Present and Future
By Pablo Roa
Jul 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman
Anthony Rendon(6) throws over to first base to get out Baltimore Orioles shortstop
J.J. Hardy(not shown) in the ninth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Nationals defeated the Orioles 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Rendon still needs support in NL Final Vote race
WASHINGTON — Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon still trails in the National League All-Star Game Final Vote contest.
As of Wednesday night, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo had taken the lead, followed by Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau and Justin Upton of the Braves. Rendon and Marlins third basemanCasey McGehee are in fourth and fifth places, respectively.
Rendon, 24, is more than just the best player on the Nats this season. He is still learning the game of baseball, according to teammate Jayson Werth. Read full article here.
Desmond discusses his present, future with Nats
Ian Desmond is the longest-tenured member of the Nationals. He was drafted by the Expos in the third round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft and has been a steady influence on and off the field since he became a Major Leaguer in 2009.
After a slow start this year, Desmond has been solid at the plate and with the glove. Entering Wednesday’s action, Desmond leads the team in home runs (15) and RBIs (53). However, one wonders if he will be a member of the Nationals after the 2015 season, as he will become a free agent. MLB.com caught up with Desmond before Wednesday’s game against the Orioles to talk about his season and his future with the Nationals.
MLB.com: What kind of season do you think you are having? You have the home runs and the RBIs, but the batting average is down.
Desmond: I’m not overly satisfied, but it’s hard to complain when the team is in first place. As a team, I feel we are in a great position and we are waiting for a lot of guys to get hot. That’s a good thing. Read full article here.
Nats’ Harper, Zimmerman and Ramos enduring a prolonged power outage
(Thomas Boswell, Washington Post)
Sherlock Holmes once solved a murder and the theft of a famous racehorse because he investigated “the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime.” But the dog did nothing in the nighttime, a Scotland Yard detective said. “That was the curious incident,” Holmes replied.
To find clues, you sometimes have to look for things that are not occurring. For example, the biggest cause for the Washington Nationals’ struggles this season is hiding in plain sight — a case of something that isn’t happening. Since their respective returns from a broken thumb, a broken hamate bone in the hand and a torn thumb ligament, Ryan Zimmerman, Wilson Ramosand Bryce Harper — all power hitters — have come to the plate 306 times and hit a total of just three home runs. Their power has simply disappeared. Read full article here.