Sunday Smorgasbord 8-20

• Nats drop the last two of three to the Phillies. Now at 54-70 with 38 games remaining, the Nats are 21.5 games back of the Mets in the NL East. Their elimination number from the NL East title is now down to 18. The Nats are now 10 games back of the Reds for the NL Wild Card and their elimination number from the playoffs is 29. After giving up 23 runs in the last two games, does anybody else remember Jim Bowden saying that you can never have enough pitching? Only the Royals, Pirates, Devil Rays, and the Cubs have worse records than the Nats. The loathsome B.O.'s have passed us.
• I was at D.C. United's 1-1 tie with Colorado yesterday with my good buddy Sparky from Washington Hockey. I'll leave the expert analysis to those who know more than me. But I will express my dismay at United's stupid and often lazy turnovers in the midfield and, when they weren't turning the ball over in the midfield, their insistence on bringing the ball right down the middle of the field and into the heart of the defense. But all that aside, they got a point and they now are 13-2-8 with 47 points after getting another tie this past Wednesday night vs. New York. Their magic number for a playoff spot is now down to 11 points. Their magic number for the Eastern Conference title is also, 11 points. One more point and D.C. United will lock out Columbus from the Eastern Conference Title and 4 more points will eliminate Kansas City from the Eastern Conference Title. D.C. United's Magic Number for the MLS Supporter's Shield is 22 points with the Dallas loss at Los Angeles earlier tonight.
• After taking in the D.C. United game, Sparky and I met up again at the lackluster 27-14 Redskins loss to the New Jets. Once again, this is preseason, the whole idea to keep players healthy and the only news on that front is Cornelius Griffin is day-to-day with a sprained knee. You also want to find out who among your non-regulars can play. The Skins are taking a hard look at quarterback Jason Campbell and he played alright. He had a stupid interception but was the victim of numerous drops. The only other big concern is the lack of somebody to kick off. But there are 22 days until the regular season opens, so some of these problems should be ironed out by then.
• I meant to but I forgot to mention last the Redskins are being forced to defend their name again. I think I speak for most people when I say that I wouldn't have known that it was considered by some to be a "racial slur" if those people who did hadn't told me. But besides the whole P.C. connotations here, I find this attempted end run around the patent laws laughable. The last challenge was dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired, just because somebody younger is challenging now shouldn't make any difference.
• The defending Women's NCCA Basketball Champions, Maryland Terrapins, also released their 2006-2007 schedule this past week. The most notable game, outside of the ACC tilts, is the home game vs. Michigan State on January 6th that See-BS has picked up for a national telecast. In other Terp women news, Kalika France, who was medically red shirted last year, is transferring. No word on where just yet, but with the Terps absolutely loaded at the guard position and all of last-year's important players returning (along with highly touted transfers and recruits coming on board this season) there just wasn't any room left for Kalika, so this isn't much of a surprise.
• And if I am giving out Women's Basketball news, I must not have much material tonight. So this week the Nats continue their road trip by finishing off the season series with the Marlins for three games starting tomorrow night. After a day off on Thursday, they spend next weekend in Atlanta playing three games with the Braves. D.C. United hosts the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night at RFK for a U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal. They then host the L.A. Galaxy in an MLS regular season game that William Yurasko says he will be attending next Saturday night. The Redskins will pay a visit to the New England Patriots on Saturday night for another pre-season game.
• Finally, as always, please send all comments, complaints, criticisms, questions, and indecent proposals to "capsnut" over at gmail dot com. If I ever stop spending my $$$$$, I might just read what you send and give you the courtesy of a reply.