Five Alive – 1979, originally uploaded by Waffle Whiffer.

Always start your day with a cup of frozen-as-hell, straight from the freezer and tin can orange juice, Nats fans–

The Rule V Draft was held this morning and the Nationals grabbed a few players, let go of one and satisfied the Baseball Gods by offering up their first choice to the Yanks to complete the exchange for Brian Burney. From the Press Release:

The Washington Nationals today selected four players in Major League Baseball’s Rule 5 Draft and traded their top selection to the New York Yankees to complete Monday’s deal for right-handed pitcher Brian Bruney. Prior to today’s Draft, Washington unconditionally released right-handed pitcher Zack Segovia. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

The Nationals selected outfielder Jamie Hoffmann from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft, then traded him to the Yankees. Washington selected three players in the Triple-A Phase of the Draft: right-handed pitcher Arismendy Mota from the Chicago White Sox, left-handed pitcher Michael Wlodarczyk from the Tampa Bay Rays and outfielder Nicholas Moresi from the Houston Astros.

Can someone tell me how to pronounce, “Wlodarczyk?” My tongue falls out of my mouth anytime I try.

Really nothing was gained but minor league fodder which is typical of most Rule V Drafts, but I think Nats fans may be a little spoiled when it comes to this Draft. I hear some fans complaining they basically got nothing. Well, that is the point of Rule V. Why do you think teams leave players like these exposed?

But Nats fans got spoiled. Nats fans got Jesus Flores in the Rule V of 2006 and a lot of fans got exposed to the Rule V for the first time that year. Jesus Flores was an incredible pick up, but he was the exception, not the norm. To pick up a talent like that in Rule V is absolutely rare– like finding a living Brontosaurus with a diamond up it’s butt.

So thanks, Jesus Flores. Thanks a lot. You took the joy out of the Rule V for some of us. Now it’s just boring. So boring, I didn’t wake up to cover it until about 10 minutes ago.

We are totally on top of things here, ready to act and post at a moment’s notice. We sizzle.

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