Washington Nationals news & notes: Nats & D-backs smoked out; Victor Robles out for a rehab assignment; Random Anecdote time

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Davey Martinez has addressed concerns about DC’s Air Quality Index ahead of Game 2 of a three-game series against the Nationals. diamondbacksCanada’s wildfire smoke blanketed the capital (And in the last few days, across much of the northeastern United States). But while other games in New York and Philadelphia were postponed by Major League Baseball on Wednesday, the Nationals played as they did the night before.

GM Mike Rizzo talks to DC’s The Sports Junkies about Audacy’s ‘106.7 the FAN’ The air in Washington early Wednesday was a factor in Tuesday night’s series opener.

“There was like smoke over the ballpark, it was so hazy, it looked like there was a haze in the air preparing for the rain,” Rizzo explained.

“You can definitely see it, you can definitely see it. What is it? It’s really crazy.”

However, at that time he had heard nothing of any health problems.

“I didn’t have any trouble breathing or anything, but I noticed that the air was noticeably heavier and different.”

“The air is a little bit weirder than usual,” manager Davey Martinez said before Wednesday night’s game.

Ahead of the scheduled series finale against Arizona, he said he feared the air in Washington, D.C., could deteriorate over the past 24 hours heading into the 1:05 p.m. start time yesterday. .

Martinez and the team were awaiting a decision from MLB, but said two hours before the first pitch that air conditions were “pretty bad outside.”

With government officials encouraging people to stay indoors, the games seemed unlikely.

“I saw the warning come out this morning,” Martinez told reporters. Everyone is here. “

Photo Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

At least one player appears to have felt the effects of the smoke-filled air over the past few days.

“I know about Lane.” [Thomas] He came in today and said he’s been coughing since last night,” Martinez said.

“So it’s kind of worrying. I said, ‘Hey, go see your trainer.’ But just try to get through the day and hope everything goes well. ”

Shortly after the sixth-year captain spoke, the ball club announced that it had been forced to postpone due to poor air quality in Washington, DC.

According to the team, the content of the pitching will be maintained as it is. Josiah Gray will take part in the series opener tonight in Atlanta, followed by Mackenzie Gore and Trevor Williams over the weekend.

Good news!!:

After saying the above about air quality at Nationals Park, Davey Martinez said he has good news.

“Victor Robles is out on a rehab mission,” he said.

“That would be good. We’re going to get him. He’s going to go to Rochester and start rehab. So I hope all goes well and we get him back here soon.” ”

Robles, 26, batted .292/.388/.360 with four doubles, eight stolen bases and 10 walks this season, and had a strong season before landing in the IL on May 8 with a back injury. got off to a good start. He had 14Ks in 107 at-bats, making his seventh major league opener. It ended up being a bigger problem than originally thought, and the outfielder has now been out of the game for over a month.

Photo Credit: G. Fiume/Getty Images

“It was really hard for him,” admitted Martinez.

“He was hitting really good balls and playing really well, so he was frustrated. But I said to him, ‘Hey, let’s make sure this doesn’t last too long.’ We have to deal with it, so hopefully he’ll get over it.'” In the rehab part, he’s given the opportunity to go out and play and we’ll bring him back on the field. It’s always tough for a player no matter what the conditions are. Because they always want to be on the field and play. And for him, playing outside with his teammates, which was really, really annoying not being able to do that because there’s too much energy. ”

What checklist does Robles need to check before being called up from Triple-A? Martinez said it’s important to get to game speed right now.

“He has to go out and start playing and at bat,” the manager said.

“I want to see him do everything he normally does. If he has an opportunity to steal a base, he can steal extra bases, play good defense, and all that stuff.” But it will be—I think we scheduled him to play only four innings on day one, and we’ll build him up from there.”

Photo Credit: G. Fiume/Getty Images

As it has done in recent weeks, the Nationals will take time to see if Robles is ready for his return.

“Well, I don’t think he will be here in a couple of days,” Martinez said.

“I want him to play and I really want him to test himself, and when we decide he’s ready, we’ll bring him back here.”

Random Anecdotal Theater:

The Nationals didn’t officially announce their line-up until yesterday’s game was postponed, but manager Davey Martinez wanted Ildemaro Vargas at right and Lane Thomas at center to avoid the club being overwhelmed by the D-backs. He said he was planning to hire him.

It would have been Vargas’ second major game on the right wing and first start on the right wing.

The 31-year-old has played all four positions infield, left field, and pitched in his seven-year MLB career…and there’s ambition behind it. wait what? what is he

“I’m not kidding,” Martinez said. So I said, “What are you doing?”

Gary A. Vazquez – USA TODAY Sports

“And he said, ‘You’ll never know!'” And I said, “Oh, I know.” 』

“But hey, it was funny. And he was actually doing the framing and all that, and I was like, ‘What the hell is going on here?'”

To be clear, Martinez found this really funny. And he likes Vargas. Well he doesn’t like…

“I love him, I really do,” Martinez told reporters. “He belongs to us [Gerardo] Para right now. I really do. He brings a lot of energy to our clubhouse and like I said, he just loves playing games.

“He loves games. [see] ask him He will tell you, he will say, ‘I love my life’. ”