Livan Hernandez Under Scrutiny

Ageless Washington Nationals pitcher Livan Hernandez is under investigation for possible money laundering for a Puerto Rican drug kingpin after his name came up during a recent trial.

Hernandez's name was connected to Angel Ayala Vazquez, as well as other celebrities and entertainers. 

Prosecutors presented evidence at the trial ending Tuesday that Puerto Rican drug dealer Angel Ayala Vazquez had a Porsche, a Lamborghini and a warehouse containing a recording studio, a barber shop and a car repair shop registered in Hernandez’s name.

This is almost the same kind of case former NBA player Robert "Tractor" Traylor faced not too long ago. Maybe Livan should've learned something from that.

 

Special counsel to the U.S. Attorney in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jaqueline Novas, said that they are looking at who possibly laundered money, but also wouldn't say if Hernandez was going to be targeted for an investigation.

 

 

Nationals GM Rizzo,Jayson Werth Hates The Phillies

An excerpt from an article in the Washington Post caught an exchange between Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and new Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth.

Werth was taking some batting practice and Werth might've been taking a break when a reporter got this.

Once Werth got back behind the cage, Rizzo said, "I hate the [expletive] Phillies." The GM then ran off a list of borderline dirty plays and purpose pitches in recent years by the Nats' nemesis. "I hate the Phillies, too," said Werth. Unspoken, but hanging in the air was a new idea for the Nats: So, let's play more like the Phillies: mean, grimy and a little nasty. 

If this is the case then it's game on when the Phillies play the Nationals. I think it might've been more playful for Werth who probably has some friends on the Phillies. Besides they rescued him from the baseball scrap heap so how can he really hate them. Maybe it's because the Phillies didn't want him at an inflated price and brought back Cliff Lee instead.

I think it's Rizzo that has hate and contempt for the Phillies more than Werth. Maybe because the Washington experiment has turned out a bunch of losing seasons and the Phillies have turned into a National League powerhouse.

This might be the only time I check out a Nationals game this year.

Werth Is A Little Peeved At Lee

Cliff Lee and Jayson Werth had a special bond while they were teammates in Philadelphia. You know the story of Lee being shipped to Seattle before last season. I guess they were still boys despite being on different coasts. As free agency rolled around, Lee and Werth had talked about possibly ending up in the same place.

When Werth signed with the Washington Nationals that went out the window. Even though The Nationals made a slight play for Lee, it was nothing serious. Lee eventually signed Philadelphia and now they'll be division rivals. Werth doesn't seem to pleased about the turn of events.

"When he found out I was coming here, he wasn't the happiest person in the world", Lee said. I guess Werth is pouting because instead of playing together, they'll be rivals. Lee will be in the penthouse and Werth will be looking up at him since we all know the Nationals aren't going anywhere. It could also be because the Phillies couldn't find enough money to sign Werth, but pulled it out their behinds to sign Lee.

Maybe the Phillies thought they would be overpaying to keep Werth, and maybe know something we don't.


"The news in Philadelphia, they got their boy back, I guess," Werth said. "That's fine. I think that's good. I like that. If you're going to be the best, you've got to beat the best. They make their plays, and we're going to make ours.  Jayson, I don't think your team will be making too many plays.

Is Strasburg All Star material?

Washington Nationals rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg is for real. He has lived up to the hype surrounding him since he was drafted first overall out of San Diego State. True,he hasn't pitched against the elite teams in the majors,but the stats he's put up,you can't deny he's on the fast track to the Rookie of the Year award. The question is,if Strasburg continues at his current pace,does he deserve to be named to the All-Star team. True, it would be a case of too much too soon. But can you really name 7 or 8 better starters than Strasburg at this point. Halladay,Carpenter,Cain,Lincecum, and maybe Santana are clearly ahead of Strasburg in the pitching class of the National League. But right now I can't think of anyone else that stands above him. He may not named to the All Star squad this summer,but you can put money on it that he'll be a fixture there for years to come.