Wilbon & Kornheiser Yell About Nats vs Dodgers On PTI

PTI is talking Washington Nationals baseball again. During the shows mini-game called Toss Up, where both hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon pick between two choices, the following toss up question was asked.

"Who is the National League favorite, the Nationals or the Dodgers?"

Here's what Tony & Wilbon had to say:

Michael Wilbon Thinks Bryce Harper Should Be Sent To The Minors

Nationals manager Matt Williams appeared on the Sports Junkies radio show on WJFK 106.7 The Fan on Wednesday, as he does each week, to talk about the Nats. One of the hosts of the Junkies, Jason "Lurch" Bishop asked Williams a sort of throwaway question about if it was a good idea to send 2 time All-Star Bryce Harper to the minors to get him out of a slump.

The Junkies, probably expecting a quick "Hell no" answer so they could just move on, got a little more out of Matt Williams, who didn't exactly shut down the possibility.  Lurch didn't even just ask the question, he asked if it was "stupid". Williams told the radio host that he was not an idiot for considering that action, but mentioned that Harper was too special to send down.

Well of course this story has hit ESPN, and my favorite show PTI. Here's what Wilbon & Kornheiser had to say:


Should they send Bryce Harper down?

"They should! But I don't think they can." - Michael Wilbon

...saying it would be good for his "baseball" but bad for the franchise, manager, town, emotions...and later reiterating that he could use the work in the minors. More from Wilbon.

"I think now we're talking about 2 separate things. We're talking about what's good for his baseball and what's good for him and that franchise and as you know there's already this delicate balance, this dance that's being done around this kid, even though to me, he's not even close to being the kind of player that he ought to be, and injuries have played a good part of that."

"The relationship with the town, the manager, the club, I don't think emotionally the Nationals can afford to send him down to the minors to get well"


"They absolutely can not do that." - Tony Kornheiser

...saying it would fracture his relationship with Matt Williams which is already shaky due to an earlier benching incident.

Jayson Werth's Birthday On PTI

Today is Jayson Werth's birthday and since they are from DC, the guys on PTI threw him in as the birthday of the day.  They took the time to wish Werth a happy birthday and then crush him for his contract/production.  Here's what they had to say:

PTI on Stephen Strasburg's Inning Count 2013, RG3

Stephen Strasburg popped up as the 2nd story on PTI today (slow news day I guess) and TK and Wilbon discussed if the Nats would allow Strasburg to pitch 200 innings this upcoming season.

"No, I don't. I look at their recent history, last year they didn't have a single pitcher who went 200 innings..." - Tony Kornheiser

"Strasburg is playing in the same place that Robert Griffin III was allowed to keep himself in a game, and the metropolis has not stopped having angst over that in the weeks since... ...I think there will be a lot of pressure on the Nationals to limit those innings again" - Mike Wilbon

PTI Files: Bernadina's Catch & Stros vs Nats

On Wednesday's episode of PTI the guys discussed Roger Bernadina's catch in a game called What's the word, where the guys come up with words, real or fake, to describe certain plays.

Tony Kornheiser: "Copperfieldian" (the magician)

"because he disappeared when he was making this catch

Mike Wilbon: "Non-Existent" (because there is no baseball talk in England) and "Party-Pooping"

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On Thursday's episode of PTI the guys played a game called Oddsmakers where they put a percentage on certain situations.  This time it was the following:

Chances the Astros Beat The Nationals On Thursday Night?

Mike Wilbon 60%

Dan LeBetard 55%

Just in case you didn't see the result of the game, the Nats won the game 100% 5-0.

Davey Johnson On PTI Talking Harper & Strassy

"Ignite Your Natitude Wilbon!" -TK



Davey Johnson joined PTI to talk to Mike Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser on Thursday.  Here are some of the good quotes:

"I don't just say that because I'm an unabashed Nats homer, and I am." -TK

"We have a lot of young players, thats the key.  And that's really the only joy for a manager seein guys do the things you know they are capable of doing" - Davey

On would he fight Rizzo's Strasburg shutdown?

Basically no, "What's best for today, with an eye on tomorrow" "If all the reports that I get is the best thing we can do is after 160 innings shut him down..."

On Bryce Harper:

"He probably hits 1,000 balls a day.  He's just driven to be as good as he can be"

"He remind's me a lot of maybe a Strawberry, he's a little bit better, he knows the strike zone a little bit better"

On Stephen Strasburg:

"Reminds me a lot of Dwight Gooden, great command, great stuff"

So did we learn anything new?  Not really...