Katherine Connors: Can Miguel Batista walk in a swimsuit
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Apologies, Iowa
Katherine Connors responds! When Miguel Batista was announced as the replacement starter for Stephen Strasburg on Tuesday, the crowd at Nationals Park booed. After the game, a 3-0 Nationals win, Batista said to reporters, "Imagine if you go to see Miss Universe, then you end up having to Miss Iowa, you might get those kind of boos."
It seems Batista has been misinterpreted.
Batista said Wednesday that his point was not that the crowd was getting a bad pitcher/ugly pageant contestant. It was that they thought they were getting that, and ended up with something different altogether -- five innings of scoreless ball/a beautiful woman.
"People started booing me, and they hadn't seen me throw a pitch yet," Batista said. "It's like you hear Miss Iowa, and you say, 'Iowa?' And then you see her up close and you say, 'Wow, she's gorgeous.' "
Batista wanted to make sure the reigning Miss Iowa, Katherine Connors, understood his sentiment. He arranged for flowers to be sent to Connors. "Hopefully," he said, "they get there today."
It's a good thing, because it seems Connors was none too pleased with Batista.
"I know I can throw a pitch or two!" Connors said in a statement on Wednesday, according to the Des Moines Register. "The question is, can Miguel Batista walk the runway in a swimsuit?"
Marquis in Syracuse
Marquis in Syracuse
Jason Marquis overcame a disastrous start and pitched five innings in his latest rehab start at Class AAA Syracuse. He threw 72 pitches.
After opening the game with a walk, an infield single, a hit by pitch, a grand slam, then getting hit on the ankle by a line drive, Marquis retired 14 of the 15 hitters he faced. He struck out seven. He could be ready to return to Washington, although the only open spot in the rotation would likely be Sunday, on just three days' rest, if Stephen Strasburg is passed over.
Marquis in Syracuse
Rizzo hears offers, but isn't in hurry
With the trade deadline looming, the Washington Nationals are considering a multitude of options and offers on several players, biding their time in order to gather as many choices as they can before weighing them all. Calls have been pouring into the Nationals' offices, far more than last year, and General Manager Mike Rizzo will wait before making any deals.
"The phones are ringing, but there are no decisions," a Nationals source said. "Mike is working his [rear end] off. Mike's a prudent guy. I don't think he's even close to a decision."
Speaking Wednesday on ESPN 980, Rizzo reiterated his stance that acquiring Adam Dunn, Josh Willingham or Matt Capps would have to be "very painful" for the team hoping to land one of the Nationals' most valuable trade pieces. He also said the Nationals have received calls from teams about veterans Willie Harris, Adam Kennedy and Cristian Guzmán, players who would likely help a contender off the bench. He has also received inquiries about relievers other than Capps.
Asked if Dunn would be a National on Aug. 1, Rizzo replied, "You'd probably have to ask the teams that are trying to acquire him more than me." Rizzo placed Willingham and Capps in the same category.
Marquis in Syracuse
Jason Marquis overcame a disastrous start and pitched five innings in his latest rehab start at Class AAA Syracuse. He threw 72 pitches.
After opening the game with a walk, an infield single, a hit by pitch, a grand slam, then getting hit on the ankle by a line drive, Marquis retired 14 of the 15 hitters he faced. He struck out seven. He could be ready to return to Washington, although the only open spot in the rotation would likely be Sunday, on just three days' rest, if Stephen Strasburg is passed over.
-- Adam Kilgore
