Sorry for being out of touch for a little while. I came down with food poisoning Tuesday night and have been struggling to get myself back into working condition. I'll spare you the details, but let's just say I won't miss the Shea Stadium press dining room. They can't blow this place up soon enough...

But back to the actual news of the day, which is that Nick Johnson has been placed on the 15-day DL with a torn tendon sheath in his right wrist. Johnson hurt himself swinging in his final at-bat Tuesday and went home to D.C. yesterday to get an MRI, which revealed the tear. The club says he'll be out four to six weeks, which obviously is a big blow to the Nats both offensively and defensively.

On the bright side, Dmitri Young is returning. He'll be activated off the DL in time for tomorrow's game at Baltimore and will most likely serve as DH this weekend with Aaron Boone at first base. After that, Manny Acta suggested that Young will be the regular first baseman. Dmitri played in only two rehab games with Harrisburg, but he went 2-for-5 with a double and three walks, so he appears to have his swing together.