It’s tough to tell if the grey in Denard Span’s beard has increased. The lighter flecks among the black were there earlier in the season. When he spoke about returning to the Washington Nationals’ lineup on Tuesday, after his second trip to the disabled list this season, the discoloration around his chin had appeared to increase.
Span’s eighth big-league season has been lurching, aggravating and possibly a money-losing effort. An offseason surgery on his abdomen wiped out his winter work time. He started the season on the disabled list before debuting April 19 because of a second surgery.