The Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 9-7 in the season opener on Monday, but the big story after the game was the injury Nats' catcher Wilson Ramos sustained at the end of the game. All the links that are fit to print can be found below...
Unfortunately, the big story at the end of the Washington Nationals' comeback win over the New York Mets on Opening Day was that Wilson Ramos has once again suffered an injury. Nats' skipper Matt Williams told reporters that the initial X-rays were negative, but the 26-year-old catcher will see a specialist today. Williams, a major league for 17 years, said he experienced issues with his own hands back in his playing days, but things are different now.
"The difference between today and all those years back was now they have -- the imaging today is incredible," Williams explained. "That's why he's going to see our specialist. To make sure that they're along the lines as the X-ray just to rule out everything."
Though they didn't announce a decision yesterday, Williams did say there were discussions about calling up a catcher. Ramos, meanwhile, will get a second opinion. "He'll got tomorrow and see the specialist and they'll go through the whole gamut of things that they have to put him through," Williams said.
If there is no fracture or break, could Ramos come back in a few days? Or will he miss time either way?
"We don't know," Williams responded. "We'll have to see. We'll have to see how it goes and what we find and what we learn tomorrow and go from there. So, we have to get the test results first and then we can plan accordingly from there."
Not the best way to end Opening Day. Having a day off after the season opener is not ideal either. To keep you busy while you wait for Game 2 of 162, links and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:
• UPDATE: Nationals' Bench Coach Randy Knorr was on 106.7 the FAN in D.C.'s The Sports Junkies this morning and he talked Ramos injuring his hand earlier than previously reported:
"That really sucks, man. This guy, he's a really good player and he can't -- I mean, stuff just shows up. He did this about a week ago. We were playing down in Jupiter and he took a swing -- that's part of being a bench coach, I watch all that stuff too to see how guys, if they pull up lame or something doesn't look right -- I noticed that and he came in after an at bat in Jupiter, I said, 'You alright, man?' and he said, 'I don't know, my wrist feels funny.' And yesterday we were watching and that last at bat he had, he took a swing -- it was like the second pitch -- he took a swing, he fouled it off like over to the first base dugout and I saw it and Rick Schu our hitting coach came over and he goes, 'Randy, did you see that?' and I go, 'Yeah.' And then he takes a fastball down the middle. Now, Wilson Ramos has never taken a fastball down the middle. Ever. So when he came in I said, 'What's going on with you man?' and he said, 'I don't know, it doesn't feel right.'"
Knorr too reiterated that no one knows the extent of the injury until Ramos sees a specialist today. "But for Wilson Ramos to come out of the game, it just doesn't look good," Knorr said...
• THE BIG STORY!!:
• "According to a person close to Ramos, however, the catcher fractured a bone in his left hand." - "Wilson Ramos’s hopes for an injury-free season take a hit on opening day" - James Wagner, The Washington Post
Your 2014 Washington Nationals are lined up and ready to go! #Nats#OpeningDaypic.twitter.com/LnlSf0aHhs
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 31, 2014• NATS BEAT:
• "X-rays on site at Citi Field were inconclusive, according to manager Matt Williams, and there was no immediate diagnosis of a broken bone." - "Nationals notes: Wilson Ramos out with hand injury" - Brian McNally, Washington Times
• "According to manager Matt Williams, the injury occurred during the top of the seventh when Ramos was in the batter's box against Mets right-hander Dillion Gee." - "Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos injures hand; X-rays negative" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "Thrilling comebacks, clutch hits and scary moments of potential injury to stars all arrived in one big crash at Citi Field." - "Matt Williams and the Washington Nationals see a bit of everything on opening day" - Thomas Boswell, The Washington Post
• "X-rays on site at Citi Field were inconclusive, according to manager Matt Williams, and there was no immediate diagnosis of a broken bone." - "Nationals notes: Wilson Ramos out with hand injury" - Brian McNally, Washington Times
• "The Nationals trailed 3-0 after the first, 4-2 after the second and 5-4 after the eighth, and yet, they kept coming back." -"Nationals Pastime: Recapping a wild opening day in New York" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
#Nats Manager Matt Williams draws a crowd after his first victory as an MLB manager! pic.twitter.com/jKqCtgEsPD
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 31, 2014• "Rendon, the sixth overall pick in the 2011 draft, was viewed as a prime breakout candidate coming into this season." -"Anthony Rendon breaks out opening day" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post
• "Very little about the Nationals’ 9-7, 10-inning victory on Opening Day was normal." -"Matt Williams pushes all the right buttons in debut victory" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "Left-hander John Lannan entered the game for New York and allowed a three-run homer to Anthony Rendon to make it a four-run game." -"Washington Nationals at New York Mets - March 31, 2014" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap
• "Williams leaned on his coaching staff when strategy points came up during the game." - "Matt Williams thrilled, relieved in first major league win" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "In his first regular season game as Nationals manager, Matt Williams experienced nearly every possible situation on the field." - "Matt Williams loses first replay challenge" - James Wagner, Washington Post
• "Starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg, rocked by a three-run home run in the first inning, settled in and finished with 10 strikeouts in six innings." - "On Opening Day full of storylines, Danny Espinosa makes quiet impact" - Mike Harris, Washington Times
• "Beating the New York Mets isn’t normally a cause for a major celebration since the Kings of Queens haven’t finished with a winning record since 2008." -"Opener Could Set Tone For Washington Nationals" - David Elfin, CBS DC
• "Strasburg’s newly developed slider — a pitch he only began throwing competitively in spring training — suddenly became a go-to weapon." -"Stephen Strasburg guts out six innings in Opening Day start" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "In his major league debut, Barrett pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts and sent opening day to extra innings." - "Aaron Barrett earns win with dominant ninth in big league debut" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post
This is what you call a keepsake. @aaronbarrett30 with the ball from his first MLB strikeout. #Natspic.twitter.com/KzzlF6WY3J
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 31, 2014• "Now imagine that you're making your major league debut on opening day. In front of a sold out crowd of more than 42,000 people. In a tie game. In the bottom of the ninth." - "Nationals Pastime: Aaron Barrett on getting the win in his major league debut: 'That was unbelievable'" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "If there is any player on the Nationals' roster poised for a breakthrough season, it is second baseman Anthony Rendon." - "Anthony Rendon strikes big blow as Nats rally past Mets in opener" - Brian McNally, Washington Times
• "He was a bullpen catcher with a minor league contract. intended to appear in games only in an emergency." - "Bullpen catcher Sam Palace finally gets his major league opportunity with the Nats" - James Wagner, Washington Post
• "The radar gun was showing 91 to 93 mph fastballs from Strasburg, below his upper 90s mph fastball averages." - "Strasburg able to settle in after early homer, kept Nats in game" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama):
When you are concerned for the welfare of others, bullying and exploitation cease.
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) April 1, 2014• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
• "The 2013 incarnation of the Washington Nationals underachieved. Can more of the same be expected, or will they recapture the National League East?" - "2014 Season Preview: The Washington Nationals" - Josh Duggan, MLB Daily Dish
• "Sports Illustrated also called him 'Baseball’s LeBron James.' At 21, Harper has quickly become one of the most valuable players in the MLB — and we like winners." -"MLB Crush Monday: Five Reasons Why We Love Washington Nationals Outfielder Bryce Harper" - Eileen Reslen, MTV
• "After the collision, Harper lay on the ground as Manager Matt Williams and the team trainer ran onto the field and helped him to his feet so he could walk off the field on his own." - "Concussion Testing for Nationals’ Harper During Game" - Matt Krupnick, NYTimes.com
• "But on Opening Day, the Mets left open-ended the type of questions that raised skepticism of Alderson’s threshold..." - "Mets fall to Nationals 9-7 on Opening Day as bullpen falters" - Mike Vorkunov, NJ.com
• "The Mets were one out from a victory on opening day." -"Opener of Built and Dashed Hopes for Mets" - Tim Rohan, NYTimes.com
• "Over the past two seasons, Ramos has played a combined 103 games — undergoing knee surgery in 2012 and sustaining two hamstring strains in 2013." -"Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos injures left hand" - David Brown, Big League Stew - Yahoo Sports
• "Aaron Barrett, an Evansville native and Central High School graduate, pitched a scoreless ninth inning and earned the win as the Washington Nationals topped the New York Mets..." - "Central grad Aaron Barrett picks up win for Nationals in major league debut" - Evansville Courier & Press
• ""Central High School graduate Aaron Barrett has made it to the show. The former Bear's baseball star has made the Washington Nationals Opening Day roster." - "Central's Aaron Barrett Records First Career MLB Win" - Tristatehomepage-Eyewitness News
• "Overall, Mets relievers walked four and surrendered five runs in the final 3 ¹/₃ innings." - "Mets bullpen ruins Opening Day in loss to Nationals" - Mike Puma, New York Post
• NATS MINORS:
• Class-A Auburn: "With some help from former Auburn Doubledays, the Washington Nationals opened the 2014 season with a 9-7 extra-innings win over the New York Mets Monday." - "Where are they now? Former Auburn Doubledays climbing ranks in Nationals organization" - Jeremy Houghtaling, Auburn Citizen
• Low-A Hagerstown: "Headlining the group of players headed to Hagerstown this season is Nationals 2012 first round draft pick RHP Lucas Giolito." - "Suns Announce Opening Day Roster" - Eli Pearlstein, Hagerstown Suns News
• High-A Potomac: "The Washington Nationals have released the 25-man 2014 Opening Day Roster for the Class-A Advanced Potomac Nationals." -"Potomac Nationals Announce 2014 Opening Day Roster" - Potomac Nationals News
• High-A Potomac: "The highest ranked prospect on Potomac’s roster is 2B Tony Renda (#13) who had a stellar ’13 campaign with Hagerstown..." - "Potomac Nationals' 2014 Opening Day roster" - INSIDENOVA.COM
• Double-A Harrisburg: "Highly regarded prospects and familiar faces fill the Harrisburg Senators’ 2014 opening-day roster released by the team Monday morning." - "Top prospects, familiar faces fill Harrisburg Senators' opening-day roster" - Dave Sottile, PennLive.com
• Triple-A Syracuse: "Syracuse's active Opening Day roster features 17 former major leaguers and nine players on the Nationals' 40-man roster. The Chiefs also return 14 players from last year's Syracuse squad." - "Chiefs Announce 2014 Opening Day Roster" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• NATSTOWN:
• "A new mobile website look and an app coming out in May will let fans check out ticket options from their phones, buy seats and get into games, all without having to print a ticket." - "Washington Nationals: New App and Other Tech for Fans" - Eric Hal Schwartz, InTheCapital
AUDIO: #Nats Nightly: #Nationals Win Season Opener, 9-7 Over #Mets In Citi Field http://t.co/wugEPAPqQ8
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) April 1, 2014• "Bobbleheads are popular, and the Nats have increased the give-aways to seven. There are redesigned stands with digital menus -- and even an increased farm-to-table program." - "Opening Day 2014: What's New at Nationals Park" - Robert Devaney, The Georgetowner
• "In honor of Opening Day of this year's baseball season, C-SPAN has compiled decades' worth of footage into a nearly three-minute-long video of politicians declaring their love and support for America's pastime." - "Opening Day: Politicians Show Their Love For Baseball For Opening Day 2014 [Video]" - Tess VandenDolder, InTheCapital
• "According to sources, the Washington Nationals have traded Doug Fister to Baltimore for Steve Lombardozzi." - "Nationals trade Doug Fister to Orioles for Steve Lombardozzi" - Nats Enquirer
• "Opening Day Starter Trivia – Updated for 2014" - Nationals Arm Race
• "Get to Know a Division: Washington Nationals" - scviadc, Nationals 101
• "If Opening Day was any indication, this will be a wild season of baseball for the Washington Nationals." - "Washington Nationals Game 1 Recap: Nats comeback against Mets pen, win 9-7" - Dave Nichols, District Sports Page
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Mets: "For 8-2/3 innings, Sandy Alderson’s team looked capable of actually winning 90 games." - "Mets fall to Nationals on Opening Day, 9-7, as Bobby Parnell can't shut door in the 9th at Citi Field" - Kristie Ackert, NY Daily News
• Phillies: "Not that you needed yesterday’s 14-run outburst against the Rangers to identify that. The premise of the title does requires some suspension of disbelief." - "With Good Health, the Phillies Should Score Many More Runs in 2014" - Bill Baer, Crashburn Alley
• Marlins: "Getting somebody other teams fear to hit behind the Stanton is vital to the Marlins’ success." - "Miami Marlins’ Casey McGehee first to fill cleanup spot" - Manny Navarro, MiamiHerald.com
• Braves: "[Alex] Wood, who posted a 3.13 ERA in 77 2/3 MLB innings last year, faces a Brewers club that mashed southpaws in 2013." - "Atlanta Braves at Milwaukee Brewers" - Joe Morgan, MLB.com Preview