39-year old righty swinging catcher Ivan Rodriguez is fighting Father Time in his chase for 3,000 career hits. He currently has 2,842 hits but he’s stuck on the bench behind 23-year old righty swinging Wilson Ramos. Rodriguez has played in 39 games for the Nationals so far this year and he is 25 for 117 (.214 avg, .600 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 2 homers and 19 RBIs. Ramos has played in 63 games for the Nationals so far this year and he is 53 for 209 (.254 avg, .750 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 7 homers and 27 RBIs. I think the Nationals are going to deal Rodriguez this month to a contender (like the Giants) as they already have a replacement (Jesus Flores) waiting to replace him.

UPDATE: (7/8/2011) - The Nationals have placed Ivan Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique muscle. The Nationals have called up 26-year old righty swinging catcher Jesus Flores to replace Rodriguez on the roster. Flores has played in 2 games for the Nationals already this year and he is 1 for 2 (.500 avg, 1.000 OPS). He has also played in 56 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 49 for 209 (.234 avg, .630 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 5 homers and 30 RBIs.

31-year old lefty swinging CF Rick Ankiel has been awful this year for the Nationals. In 22 games so far in May and June, Ankiel is 9 for 55 (.164 avg) with 4 runs scored, 0 homers, 2 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 48 games for the Nationals this year and he is 31 for 152 (.204 avg, .547 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 1 homer, 9 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Ankiel has already lost P.T. to Roger Bernadina in CF and the Nationals are in the trade market for a CF. With that in mind, Ankiel’s time with the Nationals could be coming to an end soon if he doesn’t start hitting the ball soon.

UPDATE: (6/19/2011) - The Nationals have placed Rick Ankiel on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained left intercostal muscle.

Starting 2B Danny Espinosa has had a really rough time so far in May. He has played in 23 games in May so far this year and he is 13 for 77 (.169 avg, .696 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 4 homers, 12 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Espinosa has now played in 49 games this year for the Nationals and he is 33 for 165 (.200 avg, .694 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 6 homers, 27 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has whiffed 40 times already this year but that’s the price the Nationals pay for his power. Despite his issues making contact and hitting for average, Espinosa has maintained his power which is very impressive for a 2B.

31-year old lefty swinging 1B Adam LaRoche is a notorious slow starter but this is bordering on the insane. He has played in 15 games so far in May and he is 8 for 49 (.163 avg, .504 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 0 homers, 5 RBIs and 19 whiffs. LaRoche has now played in 39 games for the Nationals so far this year and he is 25 for 137 (.182 avg, .575 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 3 homers, 15 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has walked 23 times already this year which is pretty solid but he has also whiffed 34 times and that’s not so good. I have little doubt that LaRoche will start hitting at some point in the 2011 season, but it still hurts the Nationals by have to wait it out for him.

LF Mike Morse finally won himself a full-time starting gig in the majors this spring but he isn’t trying to hard to keep it. Morse has played in 9 games for the Nationals so far this year and he is 4 for 27 (.148 avg, .398 OPS) with 1 run scored, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has also whiffed 9 times as pitchers have dominated him so far this year. I’m thinking that the Nationals will give him another week or two to turn things around or he’s going to start losing P.T.