It was an extra bases night for the Nats, even though there weren’t enough of them to win.  Jesus Flores hit his first career triple and Willie Harris, who continues his hot streak, went 2 for 5 with a home run.  Lopez, Kearns and Lo Duca all hit doubles.  Lo Duca drove in 2 of the Nats 3 runs.  Newly extended Guzman went 0 for 4 with a walk. 

After a day full of other news, wasn’t it great to see Zimmerman back on the field? (and he already blogged about it!)  Ryan went 1 for 3 with 2 walks but somehow, someway, it seems like the universe is back in order with him on the field.

Bergmann struggled early giving up three runs in the first inning.  Homers to Lewis and Molina gave the Nats an early deficit. The Giants would add 2 more runs in the 4th off of Molina’s second home run of the night and an RBI double to Vizquel.  They added the final run in the 8th off of Saul Rivera.  Aaron Rowand collected the RBI single to bring the final score to 6-3 and hand the Nats their 62nd loss, albeit one overshadowed by much more important news.

It was hard to stay focused on the late West coast game when all the big news broke earlier in the evening.  Rauch gone, Guzman extended, Mock back up and a new second baseman announced for next season. We’re still trying to figure out where we stand on all of that.  Look around the blogosphere for some great research and analysis about the big moves.  One thing we did expect was Joel Hanrahan to get the opportunity to close, and it looks like that will in fact be the case.  Ayala and Rivera will continue to share the 7th and the 8th inning roles.  Ryan Wagner continues to rehab, but will likely join the bullpen soon.  The call-up of Mock is curious too.  Does Jim have a trade in the works for Redding or Perez that will offer Mock a rotation spot?   

Nats 320 celebrates the news about the Weekender Promotion - which is good for you non-season ticket holders.  Half Street Blues echoes the complaints we’ve heard from a lot of season ticket holders who have already spent a lot of money watching this not-so-great team.

Chico Harlan’s chatting at 2pm.

The Nationals traded Jon Rauch to Arizona today for prospect Emilio Bonifacio.

From the Nationals:

The Washington Nationals today acquired second baseman Emilio Bonifacio from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch. Bonifacio was optioned to Triple-A Columbus of the International League. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.

The switch-hitting Bonifacio entered the 2008 season rated as Arizona’s No. 6 prospect according to Baseball America. The same publication also cited Bonifacio as its 2008 Winter Player of the Year—an award encompassing the three Caribbean winter leagues (Dominican, Venezuelan and Mexican)—after he batted .300 and posted a .359 on-base percentage with Licey of the Dominican Winter League.

“This trade brings us a quality, young player, who has the potential to develop into a solid leadoff hitter and outstanding defensive second baseman,” Bowden said. “He is a high-energy player with a lot of potential, and we anticipate he’ll fit nicely into our long-term plan of drafting, acquiring and developing a solid nucleus that will lead our club in the near future.”

In Washington, Bonifacio joins third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, outfielder Elijah Dukes, outfielder Lastings Milledge, and catcher Jesus Flores as building-block position players who began this season 23 years-old or younger. Bonifacio, Dukes and Milledge were all aquired via trades within the last year.

Widely recognized as one of the fastest runners in professional baseball, Bonifacio is viewed as having all of the tools necessary to hit leadoff in the big leagues. Last season, playing for Double-A Mobile, Bonifacio led the Southern League in stolen bases (41) and hits (157), while ranking second in runs scored (84). For his career, Bonifacio owns a stout stolen base percentage of 78.1 percent (280 of 357).

Bonifacio batted .302 (111-for-367) with 18 doubles, five triples, one home run, 29 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 85 games with Tucson of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League before being recalled by the Diamondbacks in early July. He was a Pacific Coast League All-Star selction, marking his fourth consecutive All-Star season.

Originally signed by Arizona as a non-drafted free agent on December 21, 2001, Bonifacio is a career .284 (788-for-2770) hitter with 107 doubles, 36 triples, 13 home runs, 231 RBI and 280 stolen bases in seven minor-league seasons in the Diamondbacks’ system.

Considered well-above average defensively, Bonifacio’s sure-handedness and range are reminiscent of Orlando Hudson, the Diamondbacks’ current second baseman. Baseball America named Bonifacio as the best defensive infielder in Arizona’s chain entering this season.

The 29 year-old Rauch was 4-2 with 17 saves (22 save opportunities) and a 2.98 ERA (16 ER/48.1 IP) in 48 appearances with Washington at the time of the trade.

We’re going to think about this some more.  We imagined we’d get a few more prospects for Rauch, since prospects are so unknown and Rauch has been a quality closer. 

From the Nationals:

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with shortstop Cristian Guzman on a two-year contract extension through the 2010 season. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made this announcement.

Guzman has led the Nationals’ offense this season, batting .310 with 56 runs scored, 26 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 34 RBI in 96 games. For his efforts, he was chosen to represent the Nationals in this year’s All-Star Game, which was played last week in New York. Guzman entered today leading the National League with 129 hits (third in MLB), and boasts the circuit’s seventh-best batting average. His 38 multi-hit games are second in the NL, and his 13 three-hit games are tops in the league.

The switch-hitting shortstop has been the Nationals’ most-durable player this season, playing in a team-high 96 games. He also leads the club in batting, runs scored, hits, doubles and triples (tied). His 25 hits with runners in scoring position are tops on the Nationals, and his RBI total is second only to Jesus Flores’ 40.

Guzman became the franchise’s first All-Star shortstop since Wil Cordero represented the Montreal Expos in the 1994 Midsummer Classic. He became the first DC-based shortstop to represent The District in an All-Star Game since Rocky Bridges was selected but did not play in the 1958 game. This season marks the second All-Star campaign of Guzman’s career, as he also participated in the 2001 All-Star Game as a member of the Minnesota Twins.

The 30-year-old has batted .315 with 32 doubles, nine triples, seven home runs, 48 RBI and a .352 on-base percentage over the last two seasons (2007-08), since missing the entire 2006 campaign due to right-shoulder surgery. His batting average over the last two seasons is second-best among major league shortstops, behind only Florida’s Hanley Ramirez (.320).

Guzman was originally signed by the Nationals as a free agent on November 16, 2004, after playing his first six major league seasons with the Twins. The nine-year veteran has batted .268 with 193 doubles, 76 triples, 50 home runs, 368 RBI, 114 stolen bases and a .305 on-base percentage during his career.

So, we’re here in Atlanta.  Listen, it was planned along time ago, before the lineup looked this terrible.  Noone in their right mind would travel to Atlanta in July to watch a AAA beaten down and broken team on a whim.  But it was planned and so - we’re here.  We’re also having some wireless problems, so posts will be short until we can get a connection.  Pictures will have to follow later too.

So, Turner Stadium is really nice.  It’s a lot like Nationals Park.  We arrived only to get yelled at by three different ushers for various innocent things.  Eventually, we were able to watch batting practice.  Despite a few days off, everyone looks cranky and lethargic.  Guess that’s how this season will continue in the second half.

Though the stadium is much like ours, it also has some great unique components.  We’re planning to take a tour tomorrow, so we’ll have more thoughts on the stadium and pictures soon.

Eventually, we met a few nice ushers and have to acknowledge that, despite very poor customer service all around.

Upon entering the stadium, we were dishearted (I can think of a stronger word) to see that both Estrada and Lo Duca were in the lineup.  Four catchers.  Well done Jim.  This team is truly pushing me to my fandom limits.  If we spent all this money to come to Atlanta for the weekend and have to watch these two old overpaid barely capable catchers play, just as trade bait or to soothe Jim’s ego, we’re coming home to DC disgruntled.  Release them, trade them (ha! right..to who), just get them off my roster.

Speaking of moves, anyone know where Jon Rauch was tonight?  Not in the bullpen.  Not at BP.  The game was close, could have been tied if Austin hadn’t swung at a first pitch after Atlanta’s closer Gonzalez issued a walk and a hit by pitch. Rauch’s services may have been needed.  But, our closer was nowhere in sight.  You can’t miss a 6′11” closer.   So where is he?  Sick, visa problems (ha)?  Hopefully in route to his new team… A girl can dream.

The Columbus AAA roster was in good form tonight - with Casto and Langerhans hitting for extra bases.

We sat near the bullpen and left field.  The price structure is a little more reasonable here (even though they win lots of division titles, and last I checked, we don’t.)  It was strange seeing Bergy work out of the bullpen, but he did alright.  Manning also did well.  Colome, Hanrahan and Rivera all looked good warming up, but their services weren’t needed.  Speaking of, during BP, Randy St. Claire spent a lot of time working with and yelling at Luis Ayala.  Back to basics for the struggling set up man.  He threw maybe 30-40 pitches to St. Claire in the outfield (one soared way over Randy’s head) while Flores watched on.

Tough times for this team.  Tough times for its fans.  Sure would be nice to see a win…or some effort…or some happy faces once in awhile.  It’s getting unbearable.  More tomorrow. 

Today, the Nationals announced that they have agreed to terms with 2nd round draft pick Destin Hood.  Hood will report to the Gulf Coast League affiliate in Viera, FL.

From the Nationals:

Hood, 18, was a two-sport standout for St. Paul’s Episcopal High School in Mobile, AL. This year, the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder batted .485 with 19 extra-base hits, eight home runs, 32 RBI and 17 stolen bases while leading his team to the 5A state semifinals and earning a spot on the USA Today All-USA High School Baseball Team. Hood was recognized as the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 5A Player of the Year, and was named the High School Baseball Player of the Year by the Mobile Press-Register. He was a 2008 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American, after batting .517 with seven home runs, 36 RBI and 43 stolen bases as a junior. His impressive junior campaign earned him AFLAC All-American honors and a spot in the AFLAC All-American Home Run Derby, which he won with eight homers.

Okay, so I admittedly don’t know a lot about the Detroit Tigers.  What I do know is that a dear friend is distraught over the destruction of Old Tiger Stadium.  The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy is an organization working “to preserve, re-develop, and program Tiger Stadium as a public park, youth sports venue, and destination for baseball fans in a practical and economically viable manner to both honor the site’s history and create value for the surrounding neighborhood and the city of Detroit.”

I also love Ernie Harwell.  The long time Tigers announcer is intimately involved with the project to save the stadium.  Harwell has promised to donate his baseball memorabilia collection to the museum, valued at 4 to 5 million dollars.

But, two days ago, “Detroit’s Economic Development Corporation reconfirmed its recommendation to the City Council to dismantle all of Tiger Stadium if the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy is unable to meet its payment obligations by Aug. 1.”

As of Tuesday, the Conservancy had only raised half of the needed funds ($200,000).

With the August 1 deadline fast approaching, you can donate to this important cause here and help save an important piece of baseball history.

Today, on the White House lawn, the USPS will release the “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” stamp.  The stamp was designed by Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, Arizona.  President Bush will join the Postmaster General at the first White House All-Star Tee Ball Game to introduce the stamp.

From the USPS:

This issuance commemorates the 100th anniversary of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” one of the most popular baseball songs of all time. For decades, the song’s catchy chorus has been part of the musical tradition at ballparks around the country, especially during the seventh–inning stretch.The song was born on a New York City train in the summer of 1908, when passenger Jack Norworth (1879–1959), an actor, singer, and songwriter who had never attended a major league ball game, saw a sign about an upcoming game at the Polo Grounds. Suddenly inspired, he took out a piece of paper and began dashing off lines about a fictional fan.

You can pick up the stamps at your local post office or order online here.  The postal service is also selling a commemorative postmark keepsake.  Additionally, there are player and team stamps available too.

The United States Postal Service has also teamed up with Little League Baseball and Pitch In For Baseball to collect used baseball equipment for underserved communities around the world.  From July 16-August 30th, post offices around the country will encourage customers to ship donated equipment using the Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box.

Lots of impressive swings tonight…some from All Star Josh Hamilton…Hamilton hit a record 28 homers during the first round of tonight’s Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium.

…Some from Ryan Zimmerman, making his first rehab start for the Potomac Nationals in Salem, VA.  Ryan, the DH, went 2 for 5 with 2 doubles and a run.  Potomac lost 8-6.  Detwiler started, but received a no decision.  We’re thrilled that Ryan’s on his way back.

News came this morning that the cause for Wily Mo Pena’s shoulder pain will require surgery.  He has a small tear and impingement in his left rotator cuff, as well as, fraying of the labrum in his left shoulder.  Surgery will take place within the next week or so. 

Meanwhile, Nats Farm Authority says that outfielder Alex Escobar was released from Columbus. 

Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge are both on the disabled list as well.  Austin Kearns just recently returned to action after over a month on the DL.