Washington Nationals Notes, Quotes 2008-07-30

--SS Cristian Guzman is not likely to land on the disabled list with a left thumb injury that kept him from starting the Nationals' last three games. He pinch-ran for Paul Lo Duca and scored the Nationals' lone run Tuesday, and he will undergo an MRI on his thumb Wednesday as a precaution. "We feel that it's just a couple of days away because he was able to do some stuff to it that he wasn't able to do before," manager Manny Acta said. "I think these three days have really helped him."

--3B Aaron Boone is still unsure when he'll be able to return from a left calf strain that's kept him out since before the All-Star break. He has been able to run on a treadmill and swing a bat. "It has certainly been longer than I thought, but I just feel like I'm on the right track now," he said. "Hopefully it won't be too much longer."

--LF Wily Mo Pena said he has been playing through left shoulder pain for two years, concealing an injury from the team much of this season. Pena, who had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff earlier this season and will miss the rest of the year, said general manager Jim Bowden asked him several times if he was hurt during the year. "He'd always ask me, and I told him, 'No, no, I'm good, I'm good.' They know something was happening. They said, 'You're hurt,'" Pena said. "And I was like, 'No.' I keep everything (to) myself, just trying to play, trying to do something for the team."

--1B Paul Lo Duca didn't sound opposed to being traded before the July 31 deadline but is trying to focus on helping the Nationals for now. He said he expects the Nationals will decide whether to keep him or waive him if he isn't dealt. But Lo Duca, a catcher by trade, said the fact that he's been moved to first base and left field while Jesus Flores starts behind the plate might scare some teams off. "I think a lot of teams might be backing off because they think I might be still injured and they want me to catch, and I'm not catching," he said. "It's a tough proposition. We'll have to see what happens."

--LF Elijah Dukes is at Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) on a rehab stint and could return to the Nationals' lineup sooner than expected. He has been out since tearing his right patellar tendon July 5 and was scheduled to miss four to six weeks. "He's a strong man and a quick healer, which is good," manager Manny Acta said. "But again, that's why people use two to four, four to six (weeks), to give themselves two weeks' room in there."

BY THE NUMBERS: 9 -- Consecutive games the Nationals have lost at Dodger Stadium after getting swept July 25-27.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Redding pitched well enough to get three wins today." -- OF Willie Harris, on teammate Tim Redding, who allowed one run over eight innings July 25 at San Francisco but still suffered the loss.



Author: Fox Sports
Author's Website: http://www.foxsports.com
Added: July 30, 2008