For this week, we are turning to an apelike animal cryptid rumored to inhabit the Appalachian Piedmont region of Leesburg - however we have also seen evidence of previous inhabitance along the rolling hills of Damascus.

Dear The Raph,

Yetti

Well sir, to answer this question, I will open up the forum. Leave your comments, lets start a blog post comment argument. That way you can pretend to know what your talking about by quoting obscure sources and stuff…

Do you know what life is about? Life is about the transfer of funds. Think about it on the most basic level. Throw out emotions. Everything revolves around people taking your money. Gifts, bills, taxes, food, transportation, entertainment and health. Is it even possible to reap the rewards of hard work? (Note that I do not participate in this ideology of hard work).

Are the Nationals reaping the benefits of their hard work, or are they lucky? The future looks good, not great, but it always looks good. If the future wasn’t seen in a rosy hue, then people would not be people. We need to justify our transfer of money now for future gains. Bonafacio is pretty smooth. Lastings is hitting (this week). Zimmerman looks like he plays hard. Kearns hit a homerun. Lannan is a magician. Etc…

I have stock piled a few emails that are great topics and I will pull one out this week. We still cannot record any new podcasts, unless we go old school with the analog tape deck and I hold some office clerk hostage while I use their computer for digitization - that actually sounds like a good idea. Hold the thought.

So anyways, enjoy the team without our ramblings. We will be operational after we steal enough money to buy a new computer. Thanks for your patience and accept our apologies. If you actually care.

No doubt inspired by the recent play of the Nationals (READ: SWEEP!), due in part to the “new” guys coming and the “old” guys going, Natscast is going under the knife trying to establish our own winning streak. Please see the following press release:

Late last night (or early this morning, depending on your preference) the Wheelman packed Dewey’s bags, hog-tied him, drove him to Union Station, and tossed him on the Acela Express. Destination - Connecticut. Mission - Reconnaissance. Orders - Classified. Duration - 20 days.

Hopefully this “vacation” will cleanse Dewey’s mind and soul. A body cleanse would be nice, but not required. Knowing the bootcamp hell that is in store for our comrade, I fully expect new radio voices and a refined accent for at least 23 different forms of broken English.

In his absence the Producer and I will be hitting on all cylinders like a 1972 Buick Centurion. We will be having guest hosts from time to time, ranging from Natsfan Tim to Leo the Elder, or even the Wheelman if he is feeling chatty. But he usually just drives - so if you see him coming your way, you might be rooming with Dewey soon. Just a warning… But we are opening up the table for more contributions, so please inquire within.

And in other news, we were victims of cyber vandalism. The podcasts will resume after the Task Force locates the source of the problem.

A few trades, a few releases, all will be discussed on the next podcast. I can’t steal my own thunder. That would be like Thor fighting the Hulk, totally counterproductive.

Courtesy of a contact at Nationals Park, comes this heartwarming story… awwww.

Not a long post tonight, Trade deadline eve. But with the deals that went down today (Pudge to the Yanks) and the deals that might happen tomorrow (Manny to the Fish?). It’s worth thinking about the Nats and their position in late July. The Nationals have some young guys that many of the leagues GMs have to have taken notice of, and with the team not exactly in the playoff hunt… OK, they’re more likely closer to making the NHL playoffs than October… there might be a player to dump somewhere if the price is right. I stand by my previous rant of not getting rid of the young pitching and the guys they brought in to help build the team up, but a deal here or there to help out the future couldn’t hurt.

Let’s see if Bowden has any marbles left.

Add-on by the Raph 8:49 P.M. EST

Much thanks to Dewey for filling in for me today. I will have the Fan Email for the Friday edition. Here are my 5 players the Nats should trade in no particular order:

1. Paulie Walnuts. He is gone after the year, he provides nothing for the club other than his ‘leadership’, and quite honestly, I am rooting for the guy. I think he needs to play for a winner to get back into the game on all levels - emotionally, physically, statistically. With Pudge going to the Yanks, there seems to be a shortage of suitors. Get rid of him, somehow, for his sake.

2. Odalis Perez. I retract my previous statement of not trading him for the simple reason - he will not be back next year either. Get something in return, even if it is just filler. Transition Mock into the rotation or bring up Chico. Either way, get something. Perez will not be a Type-B, so it’s not like they will get a compensation pick. Interested teams? Anyone that needs a lefty - which is all contenders.

3. Flip-Flop. He is versatile, he has the ability, and he lacks enthusiasm. Being in Washington has drained this man’s soul. Much in the same vein with our catcher turned firstbasemen, a change of scenery benefits both parties. He also will not be back next year. Give him away. Dodgers, O’s, Cardinals, Twins. Anyone. Please.

4. Jesus ColumB. Does this guy have value for any club that needs an arm out of the bullpen? TBD. But he throws gas, in the buck shot style just hoping something hits the strike zone. Get some more filler. Anyone could use him, no one would need him. A true quandary.

5. Lenny Harris. Can you trade hitting coaches? In my world, you can. Straight up for Mike Gallego. It is a win-win for everyone. The Rockies could team Harris up with first base coach Glenallen Hill - and anyway you cut that it forms the shape of unintentional comedy.