The Nationals are 2-10 since the All Star break, currently in a nine game losing streak, and have been swept in three straight series. Their two wins came in a three game series in Atlanta. Atlanta's response to losing a series to the Nationals was to trade Mark Teixiera and give up on their season, which is a reasonable reaction to losing a series to the Nationals.

The Nats are currently 38-70. The question for this team is, can they get to 63 wins and avoid losses in the triple digits? There are 54 games left in the season. The Nationals need to win 25 to avoid 100 or more losses. That is a .463 winning percentage, which is dramatically better than their current .385 percentage. It doesn't look good.

For those looking for a little hope, the Nationals are currently not last in the Major Leagues in Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position. That award goes to the Seattle Mariners, with a .235 average. The Nats are only second to last with a .236 average. Take that Seattlest!

Roster Changes
The trading deadline has passed, and that Nats have gotten younger. Starting with the trade of Rauch for Bonifacio, and then trading Jhonny Nunez to the Yankees for Alberto Gonzalez. No, not that Alberto Gonzales. Gonzalez and Bonifacio are expected to join the team soon, and start at Short and Second respectively.

The Nats then released Paul Lo Duca, Felipe Lopez, and Johnny Estrada. The three players combined salaries this year is around $11 million, or a fifth of the Nationals total payroll. They also take a combined batting average of .226, 41 RBIs, and 2 HRs., so the Nationals paid these guys $70,512.82 for every base they got. I would say that they are under performing, but I think that does a disservice to players who are just in a slump.

Photo by erin m

With these moves, the Nationals are essentially starting the audition process for next year's team. Think of the next 54 games as an early Spring Training! A lot of minor league players are going to get extended looks as the Nationals decide how far along they are in "The Plan." Ticket prices to watch these auditions will remain at normal rates.

Wily Mo Pena
Yahoo sports is reporting that Wily Mo Pena had been concealing his shoulder injury for the past two years. Pena has looked lost at the plate, and has been, arguably, the biggest disappointment for the Washington Nationals this year. Pena had surgery on his injured shoulder on July 22, and hopes to be ready for the real Spring Training. Pena was acquired from the Red Sox in a trade last August. Presumably, he had to undergo some sort of physical as part of that trade that missed this injury. This sounds like karma from the Gary Majewski trade.

Jason Bergman
Pitcher Jason Bergman is currently batting 0 for 27. While this is not that shocking for a pitcher, what is surprising is that he has no sacrifice bunts, hits, or flies. This is absolutely appalling, and Manny Acta should make him runs laps for every failed bunt attempt.

Game of the Week
The Game of the Week is Sunday, August 3, when the Nationals face the Reds at home. The first 10,000 fans 12 and under get free Panda Webkinz. Nats320 was there when some players visited the zoo yesterday to promote the event. The fact that the line was long shows the power of pandas. People are certainly not lining up to see Pete Orr or Charlie Manning.

Briefly Noted: Lastings Milledge visited a camp in Virginia, and revealed that he is a Cowboys fan... Sign the petition to get Jim Bowden fired... Frank Robinson visits Nationals Park.

Meaningless Statistic of the Week: The Nationals are leading the National League East in extra base hits by their number 8 hitter!