Acta fired, 14 is free.

Nationals manager Manny Acta has been fired. While NatsTown dances, his number 14 jersey lays in his office, ready to be taken away. The number 14 is an oddity in Nationals history, having been only one of three numbers from 0-59 that has never been worn by a player (20 and 46 are the other two). So, that being said, will a September call up or acquisition take this number in 2009? We'll have to wait and see.

Mock is back in town.

Starter Garrett Mock was recalled from Syracuse today after Ross Detwiler, who has been struggling in the majors, had been sent back down. Mock, who was expected to be a candidate to eventually be the closer before the season started, will return to the rotation where he last pitched in 2008. Mock was slightly above average as a starter and could not cut it in the pen, but after a spectacular run in AAA this season, the Nats have rewarded him with the call. 

Garrett Mock by the numbers: Mock wore number 50 when he first pitched in the majors, but was forced to number 49 after Julian Tavarez took the number while Garrett pitched in the minors.

HANRAHAN GETS THE WIN

Last night Joel Hanrahan picked up the win as the Nationals beat the Astros in the bottom of the 11th inning (in Houston).








Here's the deal. The game was a continuation of a contest that took place on May 5th, only to be suspended to July 9th. It was in Houston instead of Washington because of scheduling, hence the reason we won in the bottom of the inning. In that month long period, Joel Hanrahan, who had pitched in the top of the 11th, got the win because Nyjer Morgan was able to score in the bottom of the inning. So, Hanrahan, who was traded in the deal for Morgan, got the win because of his run. What a weird game.

Custom Zim Propoganda Poster

And buy the shirt too! Only $17! Click the shirt picture.

Zim Wants You! by NatsBTN

Ryan Zimmerman on Scott Van Pelt

If you missed it on ESPN Radio or ESPN2, here it is - sorry about the quality, I didn't have my TV recording thing ready and just used a cam:

Bergmann's Back!

 Jason Bergmann has been recalled from AAA Syracuse, after DFAing Jesus Colome. Bergmann, Guzman, and Johnson are the only three players remaining from 2005, all of whom have retained their original numbers.

FACTOID DURING THIS OFF-DAY

Austin Kearns (25), Wil Nieves (23), and Ronnie Belliard (10) are the only three players who have been on the active roster the entire year who have less RBIs than their jersey numbers.

OCHO CINCO OUT

Well, as we look at the latest NBTN poll results, you guys got what you wanted!

Yeah, 92% wanted him out. With Milledge and Hanrahan sent packing for Morgan and Burnett, comes two new numbers. Burnett has worn number 17 this year, and since Reddings' depature, that is free for his taking. Nyjer Morgan, however, has worn number three which is occupied by injured Jesus Flores. Per Chico Harlan:

Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett, acquired today from Pittsburgh in the Milledge-Hanrahan trade, will be in uniform for the Nats tomorrow. Morgan will wear number 1. Burnett will wear number 17.

NEW STORE!

The Nationals certainly leave a void in merchandising. They sell no creative or abstract shirts and aside from T-Shirt Tuesdays, it's hard to ever find new shirts or merch.

Well, through Zazzle I will now be selling a bunch of custom designed Nationals stuff that stealthily avoid copyright infringement. Access the store through the banner in the right column of the page. This is not a way for me to make money, as you hardly make anything by selling things through Zazzle, but it's more for fun and to get more more creative stuff out there! Enjoy!!

Here is some stuff you'll see there:

Also, if you have any of your own ideas, let us know! Comment or shoot an e-mail to info@natsbtn.com.

MARTIS - OUT

 Shairon Martis was demoted today to make room for the Nationals' worst starter this year, Scott Olsen. Olsen had been injured and the front office seemed determined to fit him into the rotation no matter how much harm it would cause our succeeding young staff. Nevertheless, Craig Stammen will remain in the rotation after rumors floated around about a possible bullpen allocation. 

Martis had been our most successful starter early in the season, going 5-0 to start the year on a team who couldn't seem to win a series. At that point, Martis had 45% of the team's total wins. His struggles began as he hasn't won a game since June 13th, going 0-3 with 2 quality starts in 8 trips to the mound.

OCHO CINCO BACK IN ACTION

I'm sure you have all missed Lastings "Ocho Cinco" Milledge since his early season slump and subsequent send-down. After getting off to a rough start in AAA, it only went downhill from there has he broke his hand. WELL, he is now in the Gulf Coast League with Dmitri Young rehabbing. At this point, he is either a September call up or a "better luck next season" type player.

Clip ACTUALLY up, Wells DFA'd

Kip Wells gone, Clippard up! The number 32 has exited, and now 36 has finally been called up. For full Clippard analysis, check some posts down for a nice summary. Finally the team has woken up, Clip is here!!

False Alarm! Clip call up a farse...

Bill Ladson, MLB.com

This is kind of curious. Major League Baseball's official registry of transactions notes that Tyler Clippard, a reliever with Class AAA Syracuse, has been promoted to the big leagues. As such, you currently find his name on the 25-man roster. (There are 26 names here.) However, I am told by a reliable front office source that Clippard has not been called up, and has been involved in no transaction whatsoever. Not sure how Clippard's name surfaced on the transaction list, but the Nationals have no immediate plans to bring the right-hander to the big leagues, even on tomorrow's off day. And certainly, they haven't done so already.

One possibility of what maybe happened: It's quite possible the team was prepared to call up Clippard if it had needed to place Jesus Colome on the DL. Colome tweaked his right quad last night, and this morning tested the injury by throwing in the bullpen as a few front office members watched his form. But Colome came away from that trial just fine, and appeared in this afternoon's game. A source up in Syracuse indicated to me that Clippard had been put on alert if Colome wasn't able to go.

Clip Called Up!

Today Tyler Clippard was recalled from AAA Syracuse. It's about time, he's been lights out down there. Clip was acquired from the Yankees before last season for number 53, Jonathan Albaladejo. Clippard, wearing the number 19, came up to the big club last year for two spot starts, going 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA. In an attempt to revamp the 24 year old's career, the organization decided to convert him to a reliever this year. In 23 games down in AAA this season, Clippard has sported a .96 ERA, having struck out 41 in 37.2 innings - while only allowing a .155 batting average against!

Having dominated in Syracuse, combined with out suffering bullpen this year, fans have been wondering what has taken so long for this call up to be made.Well, the time has finally come. Clip, now wearing number 36, will be on a mound near you in the coming days. Stay tuned!

Numbers Fact: The number 36 has now been worn five times in Nationals history. The last four have all been relief pitchers. The first was Tony Armas Jr. in 2005.

Willie's Walk-Off

 Willie Harris just blasted a walk-off home run to right field in the bottom of the twelfth inning, winning the fourth straight game for the Nationals. Coincidentally, this was only his 22nd home run, which is the number he changed to this season once he switched from 1. Harris has also struck out only 22 times this year.

Uniform Malfunctions

Yeah, a "Natinals" fan - you must get it all the time. The infamous jersey error has been the punchline to our horrible season. That was, however, not the only time Majestic (jersey supplier) has screwed our threads.

Error 1: Mike Hinckley's 8

That may not look like an upside-down 8, but it is. On April 10th this season, Hinck came onto the mound with this error, and continued on with it uncorrected until he was cut from the roster.

Compare the 8s, check the gold lining.

Error 2: Wil Ledezma's N

Wil Ledezma trotted out to the mound with the "N" in Nationals flipped upside-down on April 13th. It's a wonder how they screwed up the FRONT of the jersey - fans are still baffled...this was obviously not the worst case of a front-of-jersey error. See below.

Error 3: "Natinals" Dunn and Zim

In one of the most talked about jersey errors in MLB history, Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn took the field only four days after Ledezma's error with "Natinals" displayed across their jerseys. It's a wonder how this error was missed - locker room uniform distributors claimed they only check the backs of the jerseys. After Ledezma's error you would think they changed that policy. As you will see next, they still didn't care to check the fronts.

Error 4: Ron Villone's Peeling 41

Another #41 with a jersey error. After Ledezma's departure from the Nationals, Villone took over the 4-1 and his away jersey on Mother's Day featured almost a completely peeled off front number.

Welcome to Nats by the Numbers!

People say baseball is a game of numbers....not these numbers. NBTN is dedicated to jersey numbers, uniforms, and the aesthetics of the Washington Nationals. It is one of the only things a player can choose, and one of the only elements of baseball that has no effect on the outcome of the game. So, why not write about it? NBTN is a blog and archive that will follow the Nationals by their jersey numbers. A rookie debut? We'll lead off with what number they chose. I think you get the idea. Enjoy! Check out the numbers archive, every Nat in our history and every number they have worn (included those who have switched).

Since this blog is based on numbers, daily posting isn't necessarily going to happen - so subscribe or something (below).