Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Ryan Church's Game Gone South
Washington Nationals manager Frank Robinson had good news and bad news for CF Ryan Church: The good news is an all-expense-paid trip to the colorful vacation destination of New Orleans. The bad news is Church had better start studying French, because he's not coming back. Actually, Church doesn't have to learn French because the city outlawed that language in 1925, so he should have no trouble following the present day tongue: Mexican. Church, who likely will bat cleanup for the Zephyrs triple A team in the Crescent City, lost his spot with the parent club after he batted just .200 for the spring while rival Brandon Watson batted .311 with seven SB and a .368 OBP, making him suitable to bat leadoff. Watson will play center with occasional spot starts against certain lefties by Marlon Byrd. Watson batted .354 last year in 373 AB at triple A.
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Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.