Nationals’ Mock Pitches Well but Falls Short – The Post
Riggleman, Nats pay for poor decision – The Wash. Times
For the second time in three games, the Nationals got solid starting pitching only to fall in St. Louis to the Cardinals. Yesterday, Garrett Mock gave up two runs over six innings, but the Nationals offense could only muster one run. On Friday evening, John Lannan pitched eight innings of 2-run ball, his best start since the beginning of the month, but Albert Pujols ended it with a homer in a 3-2 Washington loss. Oh and in the MASN doesn’t do anything right ever, they didn’t show MissChatter‘s “Lannan vs. Smoltz” commercial, even though that was the pitching matchup. Fargin iceholes.

Saturday’s game, a 9-4 loss, was more typical with Craig Stammen walking batters and giving up long homers, Cristian Guzman booting grounders and so on.

Belliard Is Now A Dodger – The Post
Belliard shipped to Dodgers for a pair of pitchers – The Wash. Times
IF Ronnie Belliard is no longer a National — he was traded to the Dodgers for 22 year-old Luis Garcia, a single-A pitcher. Let’s hope he is a late bloomer. A pitcher to be named later will be sent for Belliard later.

I’m glad they got something for Belliard. He was a solid bench player during his 2+ seasons in D.C. Justin Maxwell has been called up to take his roster spot. Pete Orr is back too.

Pitching Phenom Arrives – The Post
Making a good impression – The Wash. Times
Stephen Strasburg was surprised by the fuss his first pro workout generated with several reporters watching him throw and learn how to field his position. Frankly, Strasburg, media attention comes with the territory of being a #1 pick who signed a record contract. You have $15+ million reasons to prepare yourself for this sort of thing.

TRACEE HAMILTON – Nats’ Other First-Rounder Is Beginning to Emerge From Strasburg’s Shadow – The Post
I missed this Friday column about the Nats other 2009 first-rounder, Drew Storen.