Morning coffee: On Game 7 guarantees, the backups shining and minors notes

I kind of feel for Alex Ovechkin this morning.

He made a guarantee statement after the Capitals lost a heartbreaking Game 6 to the New York Rangers in the NHL Playoffs. After such a loss, Ovechkin was bold enough to predict the Capitals would go to New York Wednesday night and topple the first-seed Rangers in Game 7.

They almost did it, forcing the Rangers into overtime before falling 2-1. He did everything he could to will the win, scoring the only goal of the game for the Capitals in giving them an early 1-0 lead.

We have heard "World Series or Bust" quotes from the Nationals a couple of times the last few seasons, whether it be in different forms from former manager Davey Johnson or young star Bryce Harper. Critics jump on those who make those predictions as being foolish and giving the opponent bulletin board material for motivation.

Another way to look at it is to tip your cap to a player who has the courage to stand up and demonstrate with his words and his play that he believes in his team until the final buzzer or the final out, every game, every situation. Takes some cojones.

I am proud of those type of players who are not afraid, and who don't really care whether it is politically correct or if it motivates the other team. I am proud of Ovechkin and others like him, even if it didn't come true this time around.

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Manager Matt Williams rolled the dice like he was a pro from his hometown of Las Vegas on Wednesday.

The Diamondbacks had just gone up 5-3 on Gio Gonzalez, so in the sixth with a man on, Williams opted for pinch-hitter Tyler Moore. Moore was hitting .179 prior to his game-tying two-run homer off of reliever Randall Delgado that knotted the game at 5-5.

Bryce Harper was ejected in the seventh for questioning a check-swing third strike call by home plate umpire Rob Drake. Williams came out and argued for Harper, and was also tossed.

In the ninth with the bases loaded, rookie Michael A. Taylor launched his first-ever grand slam that took a 6-5 deficit and turned it into a stunning 9-6 victory and series win for the Nationals.

Six of the Nats' RBIs on Wednesday came from backup players called into the game. It is great to see the bench step into the limelight and deliver. Dan Uggla did it a couple of weeks ago in a similar game that appeared like a loss in the late innings.

Of course, Harper is from Las Vegas too, but anyway.

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The Nationals have three players in their lineup hitting .300 or better: Denard Span (.316), Yunel Escobar (.333) and Harper (.308).

The Nationals have scored six or more runs in six of their last seven games and gone 6-1 in that stretch. This sets the stage for a showdown against the National League's best offensive team for the season as the Padres await in San Diego for a four-game set at Petco Park.

The Padres scored the most runs of any NL team in the month of April with 105. The Nationals were second with 103. The Padres are aggressive on the base paths with 28 stolen bases so far this season, good for third. The Nationals are dead last in the NL with only six so far this season. Of course, Span missed most of the first month recovering from core surgery. He had 31 stolen bases last season.

Plus, the Nationals catchers slowed down a speedy Diamondbacks team in this week's first series. Arizona had no stolen bases the entire series. They weren't getting many shots either, with only 11 men left on base in the first two games of the set.

Then on Wednesday, leadoff man Ender Inciarte was caught stealing by Aaron Barrett and Jose Lobaton.

The Diamondbacks are right behind the Padres in National League thefts with 27. It will be an interesting theme in the San Diego series to see how much the Padres attempt to challenge the arms of Wilson Ramos and Lobaton.

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Triple-A Syracuse lost to Gwinnett 2-1 in 10 innings but Taylor Jordan was impressive. Jordan tossed eight innings allowing just one run, striking out six Braves.

Double-A Harrisburg swept Reading 4-3. Caleb Ramsey had a pinch-hit two-run double, and Kevin Keyes a two-run homer.

Left fielder and leadoff man Isaac Ballou had two hits, including a double and a run scored as high Single-A Potomac was edged out by Wilmington, 4-3 in 10 innings. Ballou is hitting .292. Starter Nick Pivetta allowed only one earned run in six innings. Pivetta's ERA is 1.42.

Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns center fielder and leadoff man Alec Keller is hitting .318 after a 1-for-3 Wednesday in a 4-0 loss at Greenville. The 23-year-old former Princeton player from Richmond, Va., has five doubles, three triples, five stolen bases and four RBIs in 23 games. He has earned at least one base hit in nine of his last 10 games. He has no errors in 41 chances from the outfield.

Don't forget to check in tonight or tomorrow for a Lucas Giolito update. The Nationals' top prospect is expected to make his second high Single-A start tonight for Potomac at Wilmington. 6:35 p.m. is the first pitch from Frawley Stadium.

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I am excited to get the opportunity to co-host "Nats Xtra" on Sunday on MASN alongside Ray Knight. It should be a good matchup with the Nationals hoping hometown pitcher Stephen Strasburg can bounce back from a couple of uneven starts and get his back feeling good against the Padres.