Ryan Church knows he’s only got so many more chances to prove to the Washington Nationals he can be a productive major league player. So the struggling outfielder also knows how important the next month could be for him.
With Alex Escobar out for the season after dislocating his right shoulder and tearing his labrum, Church figures to start almost every day in center field down the stretch. And while the Nationals may not have much left to play for, the 27-year-old’s mission for the next 32 games is clear.
“Myself, I’m playing for next year,” he said. “That’s my attitude for these last five weeks.”
Despite a brief hot streak after he was recalled from Class AAA New Orleans on July 22, Church has fallen back into some of his old habits. He’s hitting just .231 with three RBI over his last 16 games, and he’s again having trouble handling breaking balls on the outside corner of the plate.
With that in mind, Church already has made plans to play winter ball in Mexico, where pitchers are known to specialize in off-speed stuff.
“That’s something I need to work on,” he said. “The more [breaking balls], the merrier. It’s going to make myself even better. … I’m really looking forward to it.”
Church also will be working with a visualization specialist, hoping he can learn some techniques to better pick up off-speed pitches and thus make better contact.
“He’s got some things he needs to work on, but what I like is that he understands what it is he needs to work on,” general manager Jim Bowden said. “What he’s showing this organization is that he really wants it. He wants to get better.”
Wagner rediscovers self
Right-hander Ryan Wagner has impressed club officials with his recent resurgence on the mound. The reliever hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 71/3 innings and has displayed a nasty slider reminiscent of the one that made him a first-round draft pick in 2003.
The difference, according to Wagner and Bowden, has been Nationals pitching coach Randy St. Claire. St. Claire studied video of Wagner’s pitching motion from his days at the University of Houston, then worked with the 24-year-old to correct his delivery and return his arm slot to its original location.
The results have been noticeable, and they have left Bowden raving about his pitching coach.
“To see what he’s done with Ryan Wagner at this level is remarkable,” Bowden said. “Ryan shouldn’t have been here. He should have been in the minor leagues doing this. But we’ve watched right in front of our eyes, Randy St. Claire taking the video from where he was at the University of Houston and basically … gotten him right back to the slot he used to be in. That’s a hard thing to do if someone hasn’t done that for the last few years.”
Extra bases
Escobar’s slim hopes of returning to play this season were quashed yesterday when an MRI taken on his shoulder revealed a tear in his labrum. It’s not uncommon for such tears to happen during a dislocation, but the outfielder will need to have surgery in the next seven to 10 days to repair the injury. Escobar, who hit .356 with four homers and 18 RBI during another injury-plagued season, is expected to be ready by spring training. …
First baseman Nick Johnson is expected to be back in the lineup tonight when the Nationals face the Philadelphia Phillies at RFK Stadium. Johnson was held out of Sunday’s game because he was still feeling the effects of his collision Saturday with Atlanta’s Jeff Francoeur. Johnson suffered from whiplash and headaches, but team doctors do not believe he sustained a concussion.
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