D.C. Pro Sports Update – 6/15

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Even though the Nationals are not winning very many games there is still a buncha of good stuff going on with our local professional sports teams. The Nats just drafted the best pitching prospect ever. The Redskins just closed up shop on their last OTA. The Wiz are looking to add a current NBA superstar to their roster. And everyone’s current favorite DC sports franchise the Capitals are about to make some very important decisions concerning their roster for next year.

Nationals

No doubt you’ve heard that the Nationals have selected the college phenom Steven Strasburg, the consensus number one player in the draft and perhaps the best college prospect ever to come along. The biggest item on the Nats agenda for now is getting the guy signed. Once the signing occurs the excitement that will follow will allow the rebuilding process to move forward. The Nationals also selected Drew Storen, a relief pitcher from Stanford with the 10th pick. Look for both of these guys to be in the majors before the season is through depending on how soon Strasburg is signed. Because of the innings Strasburg has already thrown this season, I wouldn’t anticipate either pitcher making multiple big league starts, however both could come out the bullpen to provide some much needed help as the Nats continue to lose close games in the late innings. Take a look at Mr. Strasburg.

Wizards

A lot of rumors are floating around concerning the number 5 pick that the Wizards currently possess. Numerous teams from the Suns, Spurs and Mavericks are looking to move up in the draft and are offering a top player to do so. It was confirmed my ESPN that the Mavericks offered Josh Howard or Jason Terry to the Wizards to move up to 5 to select Jordan Hill the PF from Arizona. Because of the Wizards cap situation some additional players will need to be added to the trade in order to make it work for both teams but the situation could get very interesting come draft night.

Redskins

They just finished up there last OTA. The next time the players show back up to the park as a team it will be for training camp. Perhaps the most interesting item to come out of OTA’s other than Laron Landry’s absence was the release of James Thrash after he failed his physical. The release creates some drama concerning who will fill his role. The Redskins return ten starters on offense and 8 on defense as well as most of their backups. Thrash’s release means that not only is the number 3 WR spot up for grabs but also his spot on Special Teams. Marcus Mason, Anthony Aldridge, and Dominick Dorsey are the three names you will hear come preseason time as more than likely only one of those guys will make the squad. Marcus Mason has been the preseason MVP for the Redskins the past 2 seasons. Last year he led the NFL in rushing in the preseason. Aldridge is the guy the Skins signed at the urging of Mike Shanahan, who called him €œthe fastest RB he has ever seen in the NFL.€ Dorsey was a Canadian Football League all-star and specializes in returning kicks and punts. The battle for this spot could be the most entertaining of all to watch come this preseason. Take a look at Aldridge. He had some unreal runs in college.

Capitals

This offseason should be very interesting for the Caps. It looks like they will lose at least three significant contributors. Kozlov, Federov and perhaps Nylander or Theodore this offseason, if they decide to cut the last two. Will the Caps look to spend big money to sign players to replace them or simply call up guys from their loaded up farm system and use the money to lock up the core guys like Semin and Green for the forseeable future. If they elect to go the second route pay attention to these names Keith Aucoin and Alexandre Giroux. Aucoin is a Center who has torn up the AHL for the Hershey Bears and has been even better in the playoffs. The same can be said for Giroux who is a left winger for the Bears. Both of these players led the league in points by a large margin. Aucoin is an assist man which is exactly what the Caps need to set up some of the best finishers in the NHL. Giroux is a finisher that could give the Caps some much needed scoring outside of the first two lines. A congratulations is in order for the Hershey Bears and South Carolina Stingrays. Both of the Capitals’s farm teams won their respective league’s championship this season. So even though PA seems to have the NFL and NHL on lock we can find comfort in the fact that our minor leaguers are substantiating our past drafts.  Take a look at the young buck Giroux for the Bears.

udothedishes . . .