Jon Heyman of SI.com provides an interesting wrinkle on the Bryce Harper-Nationals connection, as the club is working to sign College of Southern Nevada coach Tim Chambers as an “associate scout.” Nationals assistant general manager Roy Clark insists that the potential hiring is unrelated to Harper, pointing out that he previously employed Chambers when he…

I knew this day was coming since September. It actually came later than I thought it would, based on all we heard about his diagnosis. But neither its inevitability nor its delay softens my sorrow. Ernie Harwell has died at the age of 92.  I wrote this back in September, but it bears repeating: I…

Jair Jurrjens told Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he doesn’t think he will be ready to make his next scheduled start on Saturday. “If I had to make a decision today, no,” Jurrjens said Tuesday afternoon before the Braves opened a three-game series with the Nationals. “I still feel it. I’m not going…

OPS Leaders 1. Steve Pearce (Pirates) – .349/.452/.605 – 1057 2. Dan Johnson (Rays) – .304/.375/.674 – 1049 3. Chris Carter (Mets) – .348/.408/.607 – 1015 4. Carlos Santana (Indians) – .300/.446/.550 – 996 5. Mike Hessman (Mets) – .297/.353/.637 – 990 6. Chase Lambin (Nationals) – .333/.385/.583 – 968 7. Dustin Martin (Twins) –…

Rafael Furcal, who hasn’t played since April 27 because of strained left hamstring, was placed on the disabled list Tuesday and replaced by Nick Green on the Dodgers’ roster. The Dodgers gave Furcal a week to see if he could recover without a DL stint, but the 32-year-old shortstop has never been known as a…

Bad news for the Phillies’ bullpen: closer/setup man Ryan Madson, who had surgery on his toe today, is expected to miss eight weeks. The Phillies bullpen is not the utter disaster area it was been portrayed as being as recently as a week ago, but it is third worst in the NL in batting average…

I’m not sure what’s the most surprising thing about this article: 1. That the Giants are on pace to hit into 209 double plays, which would beat the current record by a country mile; 2. That the Giants’ offense has actually produced enough base runners to hit into that many double plays; or 3. That…

What’s that you ask? Why, a comparison between Stephen Strasburg and Mark Prior, which is what Rob Neyer is offering today. It’s not a scary comparison — he’s talking about their brief minor league tracks, not mechanics or injuries or anything — but it’s an unsettling reference all the same.  One that makes you realize,…

Tom Verducci believes he’s figured out what’s wrong with baseball, and, in the course of what really is an interesting article, says what it is: there is simply not enough contact: . . . we are missing an essential part of the game’s allure and romance: the crack of the bat. You hear it less…

Over the weekend agent Darek Braunecker made headlines and drew criticism for saying he “wouldn’t anticipate” Cliff Lee re-signing with the Mariners, with my main beef being that there’s just no need to say stuff like that six months from free agency and immediately after Lee’s first start. Lee apparently agreed, because he quickly tried…

I missed this one from last week, but given that today seems to be all about Constitutional rights and unruly fans and everything, it’s timely enough. The Athletics had a fan removed from the Coliseum last month for holding up a sign that said “Wolff Lied. He Never Tried,” obviously referring to owner Lew Wolff’s…

What happens when you’re supposed to be tuning up for a return to the majors with a rehab start at Double-A and instead you cough up five runs without making it out of the first inning? Well, in the case of Chris Young and his injured shoulder the Padres have ordered “further testing.” “I think…

Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik says that he’s looking to improve the M’s anemic offense, but there’s just nothing happening out there: “I’ve made a tremendous amount of phone calls. I continue to make phone calls. I’ve made several phone calls in the last three or four days. But it’s like hunting season. It’s not hunting…

As expected, the Nationals officially promoted Stephen Strasburg to Triple-A today. Strasburg struggled in his final Double-A start, but finished his time there with a 1.64 ERA, .165 opponents’ batting average, and 27/6 K/BB ratio in 22 innings. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post speculates that Strasburg is now “roughly one month away” from the…

Let me start out by acknowledging a couple of things: 1. That kid at the Phillies game had no business whatsoever being on the field last night. He should be arrested and charged to the fullest extent the law allows. 2. Fans on the field represent a threat to the athletes. I remember the Monica…

On Saturday I opined that if the Brewers keep stinking up the joint they should consider trading Prince Fielder.  Ken Rosenthal makes a good point however: it may not be the best time to trade the guy. Specifically, Rosenthal notes that, of the current contenders, not too many of them need a first baseman. And…

Sunday afternoon Wilson Ramos went 4-for-5 against the Indians to become the 12th player in baseball history and the first since 1998 to have four hits in his MLB debut. For an encore he went 3-for-4 with two doubles last night versus the Tigers, becoming the eighth player to ever collect three or more hits…

Reports last week had Carlos Beltran “not close to returning” from knee surgery, but yesterday the All-Star center fielder told the New York Daily News that he at least plans to begin running by early next week. Physically, I’m in good shape. I feel strong. When I’m hitting, I feel like I’m hitting good, with…

The Post’s Adam Kilgore reports that the talk of his allegedly bad attitude and his high asking price has apparently done nothing to dissuade the Nats from drafting Bryce Harper first in next months’ draft. In fact, it sounds like Washington is hotter for Harper than they ever have been: Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo went…