Jamie Mottram's Sports Blog - www.misterirrelevant.com

Before tonight's Battle of the Beltways(!), Nats 1B/DH/mascot Dmitri Young hit .507 over the past 23 games. Capitol Punishment broke this down and the only comparable tear he came up with is Joe DiMaggio in 1941 a particularly hot stretch from Ichiro in '04. Da Meathook's now batting .342 on the year, good for second in the NL, despite being so unwanted this winter that the Nats front office (thrifty like grandma at the grocery store ... with coupons) signed him to a minor league deal.

Of course, the big man -- I'd say he goes about a deuce-and-a-half -- isn't hitting for power (only 20 extra-base hits) and even made Bugs & Cranks' Lead Glove Team, but he's got to be worth something to a contender, right? You'd think so, yet a quick scan of Ben Maller's MLB rumors reveals nothing, which is probably a good thing for us Nats fans mired in The Plan. Even if/when Nick Johnson comes back from his broken leg to play first, we'll still want Dmitri around for spot starts and always entertaining pinch-hit duty. It's just too bad his hair isn't as fun as it used to be.

Speaking of Nats players on the midseason meat market, Chad Cordero has righted the ship after early season struggles that may have had to do with his grandmother falling ill. Since her passing, he has allowed just one run in 14 innings and recorded his 100th save (the second youngest ever to do so, behind only Francisco Rodriguez). And while we may get something decent for The Chief, I'd rather keep him around. The guy's young and portly, has a great nickname, wears his cap brilliantly and is actually damn good (lifetime 2.63 ERA and 1.16 WHIP). Let him stay in DC for when things come to fruition.

Voodoo Sabermetrics - Dmitri Young [The Extrapolater]

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