CSN Washington dot com. And they're nets fans welcomed the beltway baseball presented by The Washington Times with. Mark Zuckerman on Tracy's year out and that's part. Livan rain has the same here at the auxiliary press box hobbled a bit of nice view yeah I'll let you guys can see the city behind us but will not love a man comment on. And just a little bit let's talk about this week but the draft was earlier this weaker I guess it's still kind of going on. The nationals kind of surprised people with the sixteenth pick. Lucas -- leap to fell to them a pitcher who a lot of people thought had number one overall pick potential. Has kind of an arm injury I think the nationals -- making a calculated risk here they seem confident. What do you think about that. -- yeah I mean it is a risk but in the nationals minds they think it's the potential reward for this is worth the risk was the deal is this the kid. From my high school in California who can throw it up to -- hundred miles an hour when he was healthy but it during his senior year now. Don't an elbow issues. Officially they've been calling it a little murky weather partners when he strained elbow. They haven't checked out into the doctor -- who -- the big elbow doctor there who did Strasburg average in -- -- -- operation. He's told them hey your fine he's been throwing on flat ground -- up to 300 he said well this summer so that feeling is that he's okay. I think even -- it in the worst case scenario and you answered. And nationals feel like. It's so well done now that the success rate -- so good and it is a young age seventeen. You -- a year would ever come back and ultimately come back and he doesn't get a picture. There and kind of a nice position because they have so much pitching depth because they were taken number one pick in the draft this year and maybe take a chance on it in the years to know what is work out or not. And and be fastening the scene was that either this could have been a great job by them out the side is that sixteenth or was kind of -- it turns out there. And I guess the potential was just a little too -- near the sixteenth pick and get a guy is top of the rotation. 66230. Pound page seventeen at age seventeen innings on a hundred miles per hour -- come back I mean that sounds like. Projects is innings yes and if nothing else he always join him in Hollywood his grandfather. Was on site -- -- Sox critics say that Iran. Right reality go back and watch an opposite. 11 more note on the draft before -- on I think it's instinct the way that they baseball draft words that they're still playing. And that is don't have a lot of guys -- kind of -- that pattern or the third round pick moving him and I think it's the seventh round. -- Costa. Stanford and Florida State next to playing this week and their pitchers. But still you know you can tune in NC to Nash future potential nationals played yet that is cool thing I remember when Stephen Strasburg was -- -- couple years ago Virginia still in the and -- playoffs and a chance to watch him -- -- -- it's. How gamely took the loss it is a cool thing to you know get to see especially because. How many of us really follow College Baseball guys will be posted on these guys so isn't it. May we we we try ask Mike -- that Sunday what's it like to draft a guy and then have him not under drumming he's he's pitching for college team that yet that coach. It's the stakes are high and the motivations. The college coach -- a lot different motivations of the right exactly run -- Exactly well moving on -- want to talk about Michael Morse he recently returned displayed. Handful of games really struggled starting on his sense got a few extra base hits. Talk about them the boost Morse has brought in May -- what what he could potentially bring -- they're they're almost fully healthy on the offensive yet really and -- Currently -- work I mean you know that problems come back this year. What Morse does for them I mean -- just being good at Carolina and -- -- you know along on and don't worry about he's too good hitter. But it allows everyone else to be more in the proper position line. Morse is important that the other one using growth. And -- has been good spot it's Espinoza. Go down a spot. And given the current outfield alignment and they're going away. You still have harper in center field -- goes left with those two guys on the order and Morse in the middle of the lineup it just. I think stretches it'll outing gives you -- more fearsome lineup and a lineup that opposing managers. Have to think twice about it. You know if LaRoche is not a -- They were walking him when there's nobody behind him now that works. Is behind him you can't do that so I think it helped the -- can help him and just the threat of power like Morse and lines now talking about the lineup. It really. You know kind of starts -- Bryce Harper doesn't mean there's there's been debate around town where he where -- hit he's kind of moved around she hit in the middle order or not and what. What I wanted to know is is harper may be the best -- player on the nationals. I think -- an educational -- he's up there in slugging percentage -- on base percentage. In OPS which combines all that. It's remarkable what he's done as a nineteen year old I think everybody expected there'd be some struggles along the way. But. There really haven't lasted long you know I'm at bat. In the end twelve inning game against the -- the other night struck out in the eleventh inning really -- -- out of them one of the few times they've seen him do that. It comes right back the next inning in the same pitcher falls behind -- -- and it just calm and collected in -- announcement excellent field for the game winner. That's the maturity you're seeing that's why maybe he's not gonna go drink and a long slumps and that's why would you yeah he should be considered among the best players. Obviously -- never seen anything this like this since nationals have been in town but. In your experience and usually if a guy is this precocious and you know doing so well at this point it's usually a pitcher. How often does a guy like this come around where he's hitting this well this -- Atlanta especially for nineteen Europe and if you go back and look at the annals of baseball history there are hardly any nineteen year olds. It really produced at this level. You're talking don't know hot back in 1930s. And Tony neatly -- for the Red Sox in the sixties and that's it and you you know this is a list that includes Ken Griffey. Mickey Mantle running out guys who became all the games and by age twenty and 21 they took off. Very few could do it in nineteen I think that it's yet another thing that's so impressive is that not only getting an opportunity to play every game has -- But has shown the maturity. Clearly that -- looked at it as a nineteen -- me you know even as a rookie anymore because the approaching. Adding yet to go so far back up into this thing graphs that did the numbers on who's done this well in nineteen. Guy's name like butter cup Dickerson and and -- and yet the way they were named acting -- it. Teens and twenties when. -- harper certainly done well and a topic that's gonna kind of become more. Of -- -- conversation is whether he'll make the all star team that's actually something that mark in Amanda -- discussed and whether some other national should be caught in their name called. Okay back here at the nationals park press box with a man come back of The Washington Times and were just talking about Bryce Harper what he's done so far in the field. Has he done enough to maybe start considering. The all star didn't. I think -- demeaning he didn't almost 290 acting in not. He's consistently been going upward I think when he first got here he was pretty hot and he pulled off a little bit but. I mean he makes adjustments really well I think any time around actually be a lot easier for him and me. Maybe than it has been for some of the other younger guys who pitchers young ones are nice and they kind of feed them out but. -- outlandish I mean the competition in the outfield is pretty steep. But he's pretty recognizable name that would. I I would think Major League Baseball might be pushing a little bit to make that happen I don't think the nationals would have a problem with that in a couple of years ago. When Stephen Strasburg was rookie his name came up I think it was reluctant about that but really only made about 45 starts at that point -- come up so early June. Harper will have been in the big leagues for over two months at an all star game comes around again I don't think playing time. As much as -- Now I don't think so yeah I mean you get I don't know is easily -- happening and I mean it's probably almost as many as friends and honestly it is yeah. Is he considered it and missed almost two weeks in harper missed a month. So I don't think his playing time would be all that in in compare apples to a lot of the other guys that are up. -- -- -- Now I just talk about some other potential players that can make it for the first time. In a long time there are legitimately several players who could probably make the team and probably should have more than one represented yet that's what's our pitching staff. You Gonzales Stephen Strasburg can they can both make. You think that it is those so us two wild card because fans don't -- you don't really know it and I think it's much more merit base. In that regard. I don't see how you. Create -- -- doesn't -- -- yet and I'll -- it you know I mean you're talking about Cy Young with that you have to talk about the outstanding with them. On and just thinking you know he did have -- -- three. Rough starts there so you know when Oscar -- -- Sosa smiled at times so scrutinize. But I do think that if if they have their environment -- You pretty sure that I mean he's. -- right now. This is and I think just the fact that. They start add more more pitchers to the all star roster and in part because anybody who pitches on Sunday before the all star game. To be voted on the team but then doesn't appear in the games and actually pick a replacement so I think that makes me more opportunity as well as make it. I think if one makes it almost I have to put the other because they're very comparable in a lot of ways yes that's no action now let's talk position players and it's maybe less. A sure thing here maybe Adam -- -- -- a street -- Well I mean the French it was you know -- -- I think about it may eighteenth ourselves. We were talking how can you mean I mean are there to first baseman in the nationally that are better than him. I mean he's he's obviously I'm not dramatically offensively in the defense with them knowing there. I -- so you know he was in fifth in the in the fan voting right now I don't probably drop off I think in the next round or two. I'm as more and start to vote. But you know and if he just pick it up you again would be in that same conversation -- first base position in the National League is so much weekend this year because they lost -- a lot Albert levels. That I did think he would have shot. When it comes in that's I think you know. It's hard to know what he's done this year but. We also look at what does and has done this year sort of in me. Looking also what we're conference throughout our he's not. Which I think makes this season you know obviously. A lot better than if you're looking at it in and a microscope. You know I -- -- tunnel. But I mean again it's a position where you can you -- -- three or -- guys that have played better defense and have much power and have performed as well offensively in doesn't it. I don't know the ET it's. Power numbers that stand out about him for shortstop so we'll see as -- quite the same next national recognition. Some other guys. Just a little bit you know he could. Thought when you never know what can happen where I think he could get her a little bit more than more. I'm more well known player. Would it if that happens. Lot lot of time to go home so about a month but it's kind of fun to start look at these possibilities now and it's fun for the first time or are really talking about multiple nationals. Being an exports and it just really pitchers and how to street. Now won't as the token all starts right now thanks to Amanda Jason rejoining -- any moment force reader questions. I were back here and that's mark ready for some reader questions wanna thank you guys once again got a lot of good ones this week. First -- from doc who has a familiar name for a through it or had great wants to know about the bullpen got a few guys coming back -- has come back sooner. Mathieu is on the way back storm over the back here at some point he got three guys are going to be in the -- -- bullpen at some point. -- to know what's your best guess for who goes and who stays in the -- yeah I mean they're actually kind of. Creating a logjam. Situation here and there aren't a whole lot of easy answers to. -- and Matthews are probably a week to two away from returning stores a little further on the road more like the all star break so it I think they'll. Pushed that went off for now. They've got a weird bullpen alignment right now with four left handers there since the addition of Michael Gonzales. I can't see him sticking with for long but Gonzales is a veteran he pitches halfway decent you're knocking -- it would risk losing him and options. -- sent him down in the minors. I think ultimately what we're maybe looking at their roster to acquire the one of the rotation at some point. And -- -- it's on its kind of odd scenario but he's so I think that's one spot. And the other question is Henry Rodriguez. Who they've given opportunities to yard loss to closers role. -- -- and put him in this low leverage situation or use them well he pitches in that twelve inning game if -- no choice but you against the nets. That's the go ahead run potential winning run -- while it's. Things -- -- and better and I know we have no options and you don't wanna ever totally give up on par but at some point Nancy eight. As a team in first place in the pennant race all season that you need when he five guys that helped you guys you confidence in the use it to him in situations. I don't hear it -- fits that description. With Hendry does it come down to what they gave up four. Unfortunately a lot of times yeah I mean that was the the Willingham trade with the aids and Rodriguez Corey brown. As much as GM's don't like talk about this sure it's there you go on the line you know their reputations you don't wanna give up on the premiere -- -- got. In return for trade and not to say that this guy can't ultimately become a successful pitcher. And in years past I don't think of the question you have to keep them because they weren't in a pennant race. Now so you know like -- said you need to have guys you can count on him really we're just actually projects on your roster when you're in the middle and. Exactly. Next questions from grand stander who has another rostrum to question points -- -- three catchers right now. And we know Casey's or sustained a -- thing it's gonna shake out of yet another unconventional. Roster situation in that -- Maldonado. And -- and the reason they did that was because floors with young with a hamstring injury. Salon I was coming back from his own neck injury now Mulder Hudson -- the fact. Issue you can't go on for long with these guys especially when one moment home although not in the right place you played him man down. I think you may see him end up on the idea here at some point. It's unfortunate that's come to but I think that's the situation they like Solano. Both his game calling skills -- think it just enough. If you start once or twice. To be successful this level so I think ultimately you can see floors and some Lotto ticket. And I mentioned that twelve inning game just recently -- one of the best. Finishes games of the entire MLB season that's a lot of people are saying. And it kind of brings up and -- issue with tee which -- constant points out coast and points out. Are the Lerner is looking to do. Looking into getting the metro to ensure there's always a train after a game and play because when I understand people where we had had a lead yet. Those kind of massive exodus does that put up on the scoreboard announcement that the last train leaving and I think 1125. Game ended at 1120 Lotta people had to leave early for that it's not a good situation. I can tell you that the learners -- don't like it they've tried to work. -- metro folks it's Friday you established on on certain nights that later train leaving. The issue is who pays for the cost much. I think since I've gotten. Is that metro once the team to -- for that went after extend their hours team owners and made him be so happy to spend their own money to do that. It's gonna come up anymore nation knows they've played more. Prime time games on baseball games they'll sort of 8 o'clock and if we get to a point in October their plan. In the post season these games don't start to 8830 and we know how late -- he's in. You know it can't be in a situation where fans have to make that decision to stay at the end of the game we're -- is my last chance you get home. Well if if you put it that way let's hope it's problem because the nationals will keep playing long. Important games. It was another good episode of -- way baseball lots to talk about loved. Checking in on these topics as we move forward isn't including the all star game the ball then Morse is impact. For all that coverage in written form go to CSN Washington and that's insider dot com. Thanks brought to go this well. CSN Washington dot com.