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As much as Drew Storen tried to block out the trade speculation swirling around him before Sunday's 4 p.m. deadline, he knew his first trip through the July rumor mill would be an exhausting one. Storen has a Twitter account with more than 17,000 followers, so even if he'd wanted to shut himself off from it, there was a good chance the rumors about him
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo met with reporters in the Nationals' clubhouse after the team's 3-2 win over the Mets today, to debrief the team's activity - or lack of it - at the 4 p.m. trade deadline. After shipping out two veterans (utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. and pitcher Jason Marquis) yesterday, the Nationals stood pat on Sunday, though Rizzo said they were engaged with
Drew Storen blew a save attempt minutes after today's 4 p.m. trade deadline, giving up a game-tying homer to Scott Hairston. But it didn't matter; the Nationals were able to bail him out anyway. They put together a ninth-inning rally with a single, a hit-by-pitch, a wild pitch and a chopper up the middle from Ian Desmond, which skipped off the top of Bobby Parnell's
We're in the bottom of the eighth inning at Nationals Park, with the Nationals leading the Mets 2-1. And barring an announcement of a last-minute deal, it would appear closer Drew Storen is staying with the team. Storen was playing long toss before the eighth inning, getting ready to warm up for the ninth. As the day went along, sources were growing increasingly skeptical of
We're in the fifth inning at Nationals Park, and the Nationals and Mets are still in a scoreless tie. A couple quick observations on the game: * Jordan Zimmermann looks back to normal after a couple bad outings - and for him, normal is obviously very good. He's had a sharp fastball again today, striking out three batters. He's thrown 85 pitches, but he should
The Nationals started trade deadline day with a minor move, sending Yunesky Maya back to Triple-A Syracuse after he got his first major league win in a spot start on Sunday. In his place, they've recalled reliever Atahualpa Severino, giving them an extra reliever in the event of a trade. We'll know by 4:00 today whether the Nationals are willing to give up Drew Storen
Good morning from Nationals Park; here are the lineups for today's game between the Nationals and Mets. Brian Bixler leads off, in his first start in center field, as the Nationals try to get a series win today at 1:35 p.m. Mets: Reyes - SS Harris - 2B Murphy - 1B Wright - 3B Pagan - CF Bay - LF Duda - RF Thole -
If there were ever a day that was set up to test the Nationals' mental resolve, it was Saturday. They have had others this season that have surpassed it for sheer uniqueness - flying to Chicago after manager Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned in June comes to mind - but there might not be anything like good, old-fashioned trade deadline stress to put a player's head
After a busy - and hectic - day at Nationals Park, when probable starter Jason Marquis was informed roughly 90 minutes before the first pitch that he'd been traded, the Nationals ended the night with a sigh of relief. They snapped a six-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over the Mets on Saturday night, with spot starter Yunesky Maya earning his first major league
With less than 24 hours to go before the trade deadline, the Nationals continue to be linked to one of the center fielders on the trade market. They've been talking to the Twins about a deal for Denard Span, and it's believed they would have to give up one of their top relievers - Tyler Clippard or Drew Storen - to get the deal done.
The idea that the Nationals would trade Jason Marquis at the trade deadline was no surprise to anyone who has followed the team this year; the 32-year-old is a free agent at the end of the year, and the Nationals were intending to get something of value for him before he went to another team. But the way the deal sending Marquis to the Diamondbacks
The Nationals made their second trade of the day this afternoon, shipping out a pitcher most expected them to deal before the trade deadline. They sent right-hander Jason Marquis to the Diamondbacks, hours before he was scheduled to start at Nationals Park against the Mets. The team had prepared for the trade, bringing Yunesky Maya up from Syracuse in case Marquis was dealt. In return
The Nationals recalled infielder/outfielder Brian Bixler from Triple-A Syracuse this afternoon, filling the spot on their roster that opened when they traded Jerry Hairston Jr. to the Brewers earlier today. It will give them another versatile right-handed hitter who can play multiple positions, but it still seems like they'd like to do something with their center field situation this weekend. They can get by with
The Nationals made their first move of trade deadline weekend, sending utility player Jerry Hairston Jr. to the Brewers for minor league outfielder Erik Komatsu, according to a source familiar with the trade. Hairston was hitting .268/.342/.385 in 75 games for the Nationals, playing third base for a large chunk of the season with Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list. With the Nationals having sent
Chien-Ming Wang's return to the majors might not be the same kind of event as, say, Stephen Strasburg's debut. But when the right-hander makes his debut for the Nationals tonight, it will certainly have some significance. Wang, of course, has won 19 games in the majors twice, the last time coming in 2007 for the Yankees. The Taiwanese pitcher is a major presence in China,
The Nationals still don't have enough polished talent to afford themselves much room for error, and for most of the season, they've played like they know that. They've kept walks low, ran the bases aggressively and had a stunning 130 2/3-inning errorless streak in June, when they were playing their best baseball in six years. Since the All-Star break, though, they've been nothing like that
In three hours and 38 minutes of baseball on a muggy afternoon at Nationals Park on Thursday, the Nationals managed to pull everything they've been doing wrong for the last week into one nine-inning stretch. Davey Johnson discusses the Nationals' 5-2 loss with the media John Lannan let the Marlins start rallies with walks, and paid for them with runs. He failed to look Mike
We've played 4 1/2 innings at Nationals Park, and between a tedious outing from John Lannan and some baserunning mistakes from the offense, things aren't going well for the Nationals. Lannan has thrown 95 pitches in five innings, walking four batters in addition to giving up three hits. He's managed to allow only two runs, but both of the runners that scored were batters who
We know this much: Chien-Ming Wang will start for the Nationals on Friday night, and Tom Gorzelanny will be available out of the bullpen in case Wang has trouble in his first start in two years. Beyond that, the Nationals' rotation up to and through the trade deadline is up in the air. Jason Marquis is scheduled to start on Saturday night, but the Nationals
Here are the Nationals' and Marlins' lineups for today's 12:35 start at Nationals Park. Jerry Hairston Jr. starts in center field for the Nationals, and Jonny Gomes gets his first start in Washington, playing left field. Marlins: Bonifacio - 3B Infante - 2B Morrison - LF Ramirez - SS Stanton - RF Cameron - CF Helms - 1B Hayes - C Hand - P Nationals:
For most of the season, it's been easy - and accurate - to blame most of the Nationals' losses on their inability to hit. They're still among the worst teams in the National League in most offensive categories, and headed into the ninth inning on Wednesday night, they'd scored four runs in a span of 26 innings. But the Nationals have been able to stay
The Nationals aren't playing well at home. Their pitching is sinking quickly. And their offensive rally on Wednesday came too late. It's been two months since they looked anywhere near this bad, and in their 3-8 skid to start the second half of the season, they've erased almost all of the momentum they built with a 17-10 record in June. They fell to five games
We've played three innings at Nationals Park, and while the Nationals have gotten a few things going against Javier Vazquez, they've also done what they do far too often: strand runners in scoring position. They left three in scoring position in the first two innings, ending both innings with a man on third. Meanwhile, the Marlins got out to a 1-0 lead after another breathtaking
Nationals manager Davey Johnson held his first closed-door clubhouse meeting before Wednesday's game, seeking to energize a club that's lost seven of 10 since the All-Star break. Johnson, who shuffled the Nationals' lineup on Wednesday and sat right fielder Jayson Werth, center fielder Roger Bernadina and shortstop Ian Desmond, said he told the team he'd be using his bench more often than he has in
Jonny Gomes arrived in Washington on Wednesday afternoon, immediately surrounded by a handful of players he's met in other cities and still trying to process the latest wrinkle in his travels as a major leaguer. The outfielder, who is in his ninth year in the majors, had never been traded before, but he had a hunch in the last few weeks that he might be
After hinting he might shake things up following the Nationals' 11-2 loss to the Marlins last night, Davey Johnson certainly followed through. He's sitting Jayson Werth, Roger Bernadina and Ian Desmond against the Marlins, starting Laynce Nix in right field and batting Jerry Hairston Jr. in the leadoff spot. Here are the lineups for both teams: Marlins: Â Bonifacio - 3B Infante - 2B Dobbs
A day after trading for former Reds outfielder Jonny Gomes, the Nationals officially added him to their roster, and made room for him by designating pinch hitter Matt Stairs for assignment. Stairs, 43, made the team out of spring training with the thinking that the game's all-time leader in pinch homers could add some spark to the Nationals' bench. But he looked overmatched all season,
Watching the Nationals on TV from his home in Florida for the first part of the season, Davey Johnson came to the opinion that the team's struggling hitters were trying to do too much at the plate. Now that he's taken over as manager and seen it first-hand every day, he's flipped that opinion. The Nationals' offense has been one of the more selective in
As much as anything they've done this season, the Nationals have stayed around .500 because of their ability to avoid long losing streaks. This isn't a supremely talented team, but it is a sturdy one, and aside from one stretch in May, the Nationals have maintained their composure surprisingly well. But there's no denying that in the last week, they've played some of their worst
The Nationals just issued a statement from director of player development Doug Harris in response to a story in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated on Bryce Harper, in which Harris said the scrutiny the 18-year-old Nationals prospect faces is unlike anything since Jackie Robinson was coming up through the minors to break baseball's color barrier. In the story, which hits newsstands this week, Harris
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo met with reporters a few minutes ago to explain the team's trade for Reds outfielder Jonny Gomes. Essentially, the thinking is this: The Nationals need a right-handed bat off the bench with some power. The fact that Gomes could be a Type B free agent after the year helped raise the Nationals' interest level. And they were able to deal
Last Tuesday in Houston, Jordan Zimmermann had what might have been his worst outing of the season, allowing six runs in five innings in a loss to the Astros. He's struggling again early tonight. He's thrown an efficient 39 pitches in the first three innings, but he's left his fastball up in the zone and gotten himself in trouble; the Marlins have scored four runs
The Nationals announced a minute ago they've acquired outfielder Jonny Gomes and cash considerations from the Reds for two minor leaguers: outfielder Bill Rhinehart and left-hander Chris Manno. Gomes has hit 20 homers in a season three times, and he'd give the Nationals another right-handed bat, but this doesn't seem like the kind of move that fits in the Nationals' long-term plans. Gomes is 30,
The Nationals are back home for the first time after the All-Star break tonight, as they take on the Marlins at Nationals Park. And we're going to bring back something we've done from time to time on this blog: a live chat. I'll be answering your questions on the game and the team for the first five innings here; come back at the first pitch
The Nationals plan to activate Chien-Ming Wang from the disabled list Friday and put him in the rotation for his first major league start in more than two years. How they'll adjust their rotation to make room for him is still somewhat uncertain. He'll take Tom Gorzelanny's spot in the rotation, and it's possible the left-hander - who sprained his ankle two outings ago and
The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association released their list of Heart and Hustle Award winners on Tuesday - one player from each team whom former players feel best embodies the "values, spirit and tradition of the game." The Nationals' winner was Ian Desmond. He's hitting .226 in his second season in the majors, striking out more frequently than any shortstop in the game. But
Here are the Marlins' and Nationals' lineups for tonight's game at Nationals Park: Marlins: Â Bonifacio - 3B Infante - 2B Dobbs - 1B Ramirez - SS Morrison - LF Stanton - RF Cameron - CF Buck - C Nolasco - P Â Nationals: Â Bernadina - CF Espinosa - 2B Zimmerman - 3B Morse - 1B Werth - RF Nix - LF Ramos -
As the Nationals have climbed back toward the .500 mark in the last two months, nudging their way up the division standings and getting a brief chance to see how things look from third place, there's been one little point to consider: They haven't made much of their climb against division opponents. If there's been anywhere the Nationals have struggled this season, it's in the
After a year and a half of watching Chien-Ming Wang rehab without throwing a pitch in the majors - and spending the first year of that time waiting for him to throw a pitch in a real game, period - the Nationals will finally get to see him in their rotation Friday. The team announced last night that Wang will start Friday against the Mets,
The Nationals began the second half of the season at .500, heading into an important series with the Braves and talking openly about trying to put themselves in the playoff race. Nine games into the second half, they're officially in a skid. They went 3-6 in their nine-game road trip to open the second half, blowing one four-run lead in Atlanta and another in Los
It's been a rare occasion this season where the Nationals have had to deal with a team running all over them. But then, they've only played four games this season where neither Wilson Ramos nor Ivan Rodriguez started behind the plate. The fourth of those games came today, with Jesus Flores catching against the Dodgers. And two years after looking like the Nationals' solution at
Chien-Ming Wang has sailed through his minor league rehab assignment to this point, allowing only five earned runs in 23 2/3 innings. He had a hiccup today, though, giving up five runs in five innings at Triple-A Syracuse. But the right-hander, who is likely to join the Nationals' rotation after this start for the Chiefs, struck out five batters and only walked one. He'd be
After the Nationals scored three runs in the third inning to take a 6-2 lead over the Dodgers, it looked like they had a series win in their hands. But then, they were in the exact same situation the last time Tom Gorzelanny was on the mound. And just like last Sunday in Atlanta, when they blew a 6-2 lead after Gorzelanny left early with
A three-run third inning has the Nationals ahead of the Dodgers 6-2, and has the boo birds out at Chavez Ravine. Rick Ankiel doubled home two runs and later scored when Ian Desmond beat out an infield single with two down. Tom Gorzelanny has just allowed a leadoff double to Matt Kemp in the bottom of the third and James Loney's sac fly plated Kemp.
After splitting open a close game last night with a Jerry Hairston Jr. grand slam in the ninth inning, the Nationals haven't wasted nearly as much time flexing some offensive muscle tonight. They scored three runs in the first and three runs in the third, and they lead the Dodgers 6-5 after three innings in Los Angeles. They've tagged Ted Lilly for seven hits, two
Here is the Nationals' lineup for tonight's game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. With left-hander Ted Lilly on the mound, the Nationals will start Jerry Hairston Jr. in left field and give Laynce Nix the night off. If they're going to find him time to rest his sore right Achilles tendon, it might as well be with a lefty on the mound. Roger Bernadina
At every level he's played, Bryce Harper has been something of a slow starter. That's probably had something to do with him being the youngest player at every level he's reached, but after an adjustment period, Harper usually catches fire and never looks back. The 18-year-old isn't there yet at Double-A Harrisburg. But in a doubleheader on Friday, he might have turned a corner. Harper
If the Nationals were going to get big home runs from two players to get them back on track on Friday night in Los Angeles, John Lannan and Jerry Hairston Jr. were about the last two players you'd expect to deliver them. Lannan had never homered before Friday, while Hairston began the night on the bench. By the end of it, though, they were the
Here is the Nationals' lineup for tonight's game in Los Angeles, as they try to win the first game of their series with the Dodgers by beating right-hander Hiroki Kuroda: Bernadina - CF Espinosa - 2B Zimmerman - 3B Morse - 1B Werth - RF Nix - LF Ramos - C Desmond - SS Lannan - P
The Nationals' 2007 rotation wasn't so much a starting five as it was an act of defying gravity - at least moderately. The group compiled a mediocre 5.11 ERA, but when you consider who was starting for the team that year (Matt Chico, Mike Bascik, Jason Bergmann, Shawn Hill, Tim Redding and Jason Simontacchi all made at least 13 starts), it probably could have been
The Nationals released reliever Chad Gaudin on Thursday, after designating the right-hander for assignment on Tuesday once he'd finished his rehab assignment from right shoulder inflammation. Gaudin went 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA before going on the disabled list in April and missing 75 games. He made the team out of spring training as a long reliever, but wound up pitching (and struggling) in late-inning
One of the hallmarks of Jayson Werth's game has always been patience at the plate; he's second in the National League in pitches per plate appearance and led the National League the last two years in the category. But Wednesday, he proved once again that good things can happen when he gets aggressive early. He doubled in the fourth inning Wednesday, getting his first extra-base
Last season, the Nationals fell below .500 for good in Houston, when they lost three of four to an Astros team that had the worst record in the National League at the time. They came in this week, facing an Astros team that was again the worst in the NL - and hadn't won back-to-back games in more than a month. But the result was
Before today, Jayson Werth hadn't had an extra-base hit since June 28. His last homer came 12 days before that. He's got both a double and a homer today, and both of them came after Werth did something he's usually loathe to doing: swing at the first pitch. Both Werth's fourth-inning double and his sixth-inning homer - a two-run shot that tied the game -
The Nationals have played 3 1/2 innings with the Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston, and this looks like it could be one of those days where Livan Hernandez has a hard time because he's not getting as many called strikes as he typically needs. He's allowed four hits and a walk in the first three innings, and the Astros have taken a 2-0
Chien-Ming Wang threw 5 2/3 innings at Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday night, allowing three runs, and manager Davey Johnson told reporters in Houston the Nationals plan to have him in their rotation by the end of the month - possibly by the start of their three-game series with the Mets on July 29. That's something of an odd plan, considering the Nationals still have their
The Nationals had their best starter (Jordan Zimmermann) on the mound Tuesday, facing the worst team in the National League with a lineup loaded with right-handers against Astros lefty J.A. Happ. It turned into a reverse lock loss. Zimmermann had his shortest outing of the season, allowing six runs in five innings as the Nationals fell 7-6 to the Astros on Tuesday night. They dropped
Reliever Chad Gaudin, who made the Nationals' roster out of spring training but missed the last 75 games because of right shoulder inflammation after an ineffective start, was designated for assignment today after his rehab assignment ended. Because Gaudin has more than five years of major league service time, he'd have to consent to being sent to the minors. If he does, and he clears
As the Nationals go for a series win against the Astros tonight, they're trotting out a bit of a different look against left-hander J.A. Happ. Danny Espinosa is in the leadoff spot and Ian Desmond is batting second, as manager Davey Johnson tries to stack a number of right-handed hitters near the top of his lineup. Espinosa has a .903 career OPS against lefties, so
A few of you were asking yesterday about some trade rumors floating around as we approach the July 31 deadline - specifically the one that had the Nationals listening to calls for Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen - so I thought I'd answer some of those questions in one shot here with my take on the trade market. Essentially, I'd say this: You should expect
With everything that's gone wrong for the Nationals in Houston over the years - misplayed fly balls and pop-ups, check swings and walk-off home runs - it's appropriate that their 5-2 victory over the Astros ended the way it did: with closer Drew Storen ending the game after home plate umpire Ed Welke called Carlos Corporan for a strikeout after he tried to check his
Here are the Nationals' and Astros' lineups for tonight's game at Minute Maid Park: Nationals: Bernadina - CF Espinosa - 2B Zimmerman - 3B Morse - 1B Werth - RF Nix - LF Ramos - C Desmond - SS Marquis - P Astros: Bourn - CF Sanchez - SS Keppinger - 2B Pence - RF Lee - 1B Michaels - LF Johnson - 3B Corporan
With his 3-for-5 performance yesterday, including a two-run homer and a triple that came inches from leaving the park, Danny Espinosa did more to burnish his Rookie of the Year credentials. He looks like the favorite in the National League this year, leading all NL rookies in homers (17), RBIs (55), Wins Above Replacement (3.7) and slugging percentage (.472). He could get a run from
Despite everything that went wrong for them on Sunday against the Braves, the Nationals entered the eighth inning with a one-run lead, a chance to take two out of three from Atlanta and jump-start their second half with an important victory. Instead, they lost for the second time in three games when their bullpen, stretched virtually to its limit, cracked one too many times. Every
Through 5 1/2 innings, the Nationals and Braves have supplied no shortage of plot twists. The Nationals scored four runs in the fourth inning, gave up five in the fifth and just went back ahead of the Braves, 8-7, on a Danny Espinosa home run. Espinosa, who had a RBI triple that nearly left the park in the fourth inning, is now a double away
Remember in Little League, when you'd hit a double, take second and third on a pair of errors and brag to your friends that you hit a home run? The Nationals just tied the game in that fashion. Roger Bernadina drove a ball into the gap in right center, and pitcher Tom Gorzelanny raced all the way around from first, colliding with catcher Brian McCann
After the Nationals got thumped 11-1 by the Braves in their first game of the second half, they were in a precarious position on Saturday: They needed to get themselves back to .500 against a team that's been tough to beat at home this season and a formidable starter (Atlanta's Tommy Hanson) and they needed to solve what went wrong for them in their ugly
Wilson Ramos hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, and the Nationals lead the Atlanta Braves 5-2. After Rick Ankiel led off the sixth with a single to left, Ramos ripped a 1-1 Tommy Hanson pitch into the left-field stands for his ninth homer, expanding a 3-2 Washington lead. Ramos had earlier doubled in a run in the second, starting a three-run rally that
Chien-Ming Wang, whose latest start in his impressive rehab assignment came Thursday when he pitched six shutout innings for Double-A Harrisburg, will take his next step Tuesday, when he starts for Triple-A Syracuse. Wang, who has allowed just two runs in 12 innings of minor league games while working his way back from a shoulder injury that's kept him out for two years, could be
Here are the Nationals' and Braves' lineups for tonight's game at Turner Field, as the Nationals try to get back to .500 and even their series with Atlanta. Nationals: Bernadina - LF Espinosa - 2B Zimmerman - 3B Morse - 1B Werth - RF Ankiel - CF Ramos - C Desmond - SS Lannan - P Braves: Schafer - CF Prado - 3B McCann -
Stephen Strasburg has started throwing to hitters in Florida, tossing 45 pitches on Tuesday, manager Davey Johnson said yesterday on 106.7 FM. That's another significant step in the right-hander's rehab from Tommy John surgery. But in light of what general manager Mike Rizzo told reporters in Atlanta about Strasburg's schedule, there are still several more hurdles to cross before last year's rookie sensation is back
When the Nationals opened the season against the Braves, they quickly had their spring training momentum dulled by a 2-0 loss to Atlanta. They at least opened the second half by scoring a run on Friday. But that was about all they could take out of their start to the post All-Star break schedule. They entered the second half with a .500 record, talking about
The Nationals may talk about how big their series is this weekend with the Braves all they want, but early in their game at Turner Field tonight, they came out like an overmatched prizefighter with wobbly knees. They've made four errors so far - three of them in the first inning and three of them by first baseman Michael Morse - and trail the Braves
There's nothing inaccurate about saying the Nationals' series with the Braves this weekend is the biggest one they've played since 2005. They're at .500 at their latest juncture in the season since their first year in Washington, and they head into Atlanta this weekend with 12 games left on their schedule against the team currently leading them by eight games in the National League Wild
Here is the Nationals' lineup for tonight's 7:30 p.m. game against the Braves, as they begin the second half of their season. I'll post Atlanta's lineup once it's available. Nationals: Bernadina - CF Espinosa - 2B Zimmerman - 3B Morse - 1B Nix - LF Werth - RF Ramos - C Desmond - SS Hernandez - P
Chien-Ming Wang keeps rolling through his rehab assignment, and at this point, it seems hard to believe the right-hander won't be in the majors soon. He threw six shutout innings for Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday night, allowing six hits and no walks in the Senators' win over Akron. Wang's sinker touched 94 mph at least once, according to Senators broadcaster Terry Byrom, and he's allowed
The Nationals begin the second half of their season tonight in Atlanta, facing old nemesis Tim Hudson in what could actually be classified as a meaningful series. This is the latest in a season the Nationals have been at .500 since 2005, and because baseball's post-All-Star break schedule starts so late in the season - there are only 70 games left - the Nationals have
After Single-A Potomac was rained out for the second night in a row - on a clear night in Northern Virginia - because conditions at Pfitzner Stadium weren't suitable for the Nationals to play a doubleheader against Kinston, general manager Mike Rizzo issued a strongly-worded statement on the field conditions at the stadium. The Nationals' frustration with the field conditions at the stadium have been
This morning, we looked at Davey Johnson's background as one of the early statistical innovators in the game, and how it's shaped his career as a player and manager. When I caught up with Johnson, though, I also wanted to hear what he thought of the current trends in statistical analysis, and the sabermetrics movement that largely hit the mainstream in the 11 years since
Good afternoon. A few quick Nationals notes for you: * The Nationals have set their rotation for this weekend against the Braves, and in effect, lined up their entire pitching staff to start the second half. Livan Hernandez will pitch the first game of the second half in Atlanta tomorrow night, followed by left-handers John Lannan and Tom Gorzelanny. Manager Davey Johnson had already said
In the last 10 years, as the statistical revolution has washed over baseball, Nationals manager Davey Johnson has probably received less publicity for his role in it than he should. That's largely because, as teams have added sabermetrics departments and hired former investment bankers to be their general managers, Johnson has been off doing other things, whether it's serving as a bench coach for the
PHOENIX - At the halfway point of the season, the Nationals are 46-46, their best record at the All-Star break since 2005. It would be easier for them to feel good about that, though, if the progression toward that record had been a little more even - or made a little more sense. The starting pitching staff that everyone thought would be the team's weakest
PHOENIX - Good morning, one last time, from Phoenix, where things are winding down from last night's All-Star Game. There's an unwritten rule that teams aren't supposed to make news during the Midsummer Classic; apparently the Mets and Brewers took that quite literally, announcing their surprising Francisco Rodriguez trade minutes after the National League had recorded the final out in a 5-1 win. As well
PHOENIX - For the second year in a row, the only Nationals player to appear in the All-Star Game has earned a win for the National League. And Tyler Clippard did it as only he could. The setup man boosted his win total to a team-leading 11 last year and gained some notoriety by "vulturing" a handful of them - or getting the win after
PHOENIX - It's been a while since we've seen Tyler Clippard vulture a win the way he did last year - when the Nationals often took leads after Clippard had pitched, sometimes regaining them after he gave them up. Well, he's got a chance to do that at the All-Star Game tonight. Clippard allowed a single to Adrian Beltre in the fourth inning, but when
PHOENIX - We're in the fourth inning of the All-Star Game, the American League has taken a 1-0 lead and has put runners on first and second with two out. So naturally, manager Bruce Bochy called for Tyler Clippard. Clippard's entire role this season has been pitching out of jams; he's only allowed five of 36 inherited runners to score. And the Nationals' lone All-Star
PHOENIX - We've got another edition of our Nationals podcast, and once again, WTOP's Craig Heist and MLB.com's Bill Ladson stopped by to share their thoughts on the team. The three of us got together before tonight's MLB All-Star Game to review the Nationals' first half, look at what they need to do at the trade deadline and name our team MVPs and MDPs (most
PHOENIX - Former Nationals manager Jim Riggleman, who resigned from the team June 23, will interview for a scouting job with the San Francisco Giants next week, manager Bruce Bochy said. Bochy, who is managing the National League All-Star team tonight, has been a close friend of Riggleman's for years, and replaced him as Padres manager in 1995. Bochy had named Riggleman to the NL
PHOENIX - Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino has watched Jayson Werth go through slumps before - maybe not to the length of the one he's endured during his first half in Washington, and certainly not with the scrutiny he's received after signing a seven-year, $126 million deal with the Nationals. But Victorino has watched Werth on TV this season. He's traded text messages with his
PHOENIX - This year's MLB Home Run Derby is in the books, with the Yankees' Robinson Cano setting a new record with 12 homers in the final round to defeat Boston's Adrian Gonzalez by one. If you didn't watch it on ESPN, you can get most of the results elsewhere. And if you haven't sought out either of those avenues, you probably don't care too
PHOENIX - The Joel Hanrahan that sat at a table on Monday and talked about the pitching philosophy that got him to his first All-Star Game is not the Joel Hanrahan that gained and lost the Nationals' closer's job, over and over again, in 2009. Even Hanrahan would acknowledge that now. That season, Hanrahan was locked in a kind of endless dance with his doubts.
PHOENIX - To catch up with Manny Acta at one of baseball's big gatherings, like the All-Star Game or the Winter Meetings, feels a bit like bargain-hunting on Black Friday: it requires both persistence and quick reflexes. The former Nationals manager can barely walk 20 feet in a conference room without running into an old friend who used to coach with him, reporter who used
PHOENIX - The first conversation came on the drive from Viera, Fla., to Syracuse, N.Y., at the end of spring training in 2009. On the last day of camp, Tyler Clippard got the news that his time as a starting pitcher - what he'd been for his entire career - was probably over. The Nationals had decided to make the onetime prospect a reliever, and
PHOENIX - Good morning from Arizona, where we're about to get started with the longest (and newsiest) day of All-Star week - All-Star Monday. Players from both the National League and American League teams will be available to the media this morning, leading up to the workout at Chase Field this afternoon and the Home Run Derby tonight. In addition to Tyler Clippard being here
PHOENIX - The scenes around Bryce Harper and Brad Peacock after Sunday's All-Star Futures Game were about as different as their paths to this point. Harper packed his locker as more than a dozen reporters stood waiting for him, while Peacock was standing dressed at his locker, unsure if any media types wanted to chat about his day. That's how things are going to be
PHOENIX - Through two innings of the All-Star Futures Game, we've seen both Bryce Harper and Brad Peacock. Harper struck out looking in the first inning, and Peacock pitched a perfect second inning in nine pitches. Facing highly-touted Braves prospect Julio Teheran, Harper took a 95 mph fastball for a strike, then watched a changeup for a ball. Teheran got him to swing out in
PHOENIX - By most accounts, the Nationals' top pitching prospect right now is a former 41st-round pick who looks an inch or two short of his listed 6-foot-1, has a fresh face that should get him for another decade or so and has never posted a full-season ERA under 4.00 in the minor leagues. Brad Peacock has shot through Double-A Harrisburg this year with little
PHOENIX - In a practical sense, there's probably always going to be a divide between Bryce Harper and his teammates for as long as he's in the minor leagues. He's anywhere from four to 10 years younger than the players with whom he shares a clubhouse at Double-A Harrisburg, and while many of them are scraping their way through the Nationals organization, the 18-year-old has
When the Washington Nationals limped to the 2010 All-Star break 11 games under .500, Davey Johnson didn't have an inkling he'd be managing the club a year later. He was more focused on relaxation, fishing the creeks near his home in Winter Park, Fla. Jordan Zimmermann was a couple of months away from returning to the Nationals' rotation, in the infancy of his fast-tracked rehabilitation
Jordan Zimmermann pitched 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball, Roger Bernadina snapped a scoreless tie with an RBI single in the sixth and the Washington Nationals reached .500 at the All-Star break with a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. The Nationals' 46-46 record at the break gives them seven more victories in three more games than at the 2010 hiatus, when they
Finally, a run. The Nationals have taken a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning against Colorado right-hander Jhoulys Chacin on a bat-shattering RBI single by Roger Bernadina. Ian Desmond led off the inning with an infield single that glanced off the glove of third baseman Ian Stewart, Washington's second hit of the afternoon. He moved to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Jordan
PHOENIX - Good morning from Chase Field (or good afternoon, back on the East Coast). I flew to Phoenix this morning, and have just set up shop in the press box, where I'll be for the next three days of All-Star Game festivities. Let's get a couple things out of the way first: It's hot. But it's true what they say - it's a dry
Stop me if you've heard this one before: Through three innings, the Nats are being no-hit by a Colorado Rockies pitcher. This time, it's right-hander Jhoulys Chacin doing the honors. He's retired the first nine Nats hitters in order and we're heading to the fourth inning in a scoreless tie. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann is pretty much matching Chacin, save for a two-out, first-inning single by
Tyler Clippard has been concentrating on the last few games before the All-Star break, so the Nationals' lone representative in the Midsummer Classic hasn't had much downtime to pay attention to all the little details surrounding his participation in Tuesday's American League-National League clash in Phoenix. "I'm still trying to fit everything in," he said before Sunday's Rockies-Nationals game. "It's been good. I've got everything
Good morning from Nationals Park, where the first half of the season ends with today's 1:35 p.m. game between the Rockies and Nationals. It's a getaway day before the All-Star break, but the Nats are focused on today's contest and the opportunity to end a three-game losing streak and finish at .500 heading into the three-day break for the Midsummer Classic. Here are today's lineups:
There won't be quickie vacation to some exotic Caribbean destination for Nationals manager Davey Johnson during the All-Star break. In fact, there won't be a lot of relaxing of any kind. When Johnson accepted general manager Mike Rizzo's offer to skipper the Nationals upon Jim Riggleman's abrupt resignation, he left behind a list of chores back home in Winter Park, Fla. Not honey-dos, mind you,
It's not like Sunday's game, on the heels of three straight losses, is a make-or-break event for the Nationals heading into the All-Star hiatus. But the skid consists of three one-run losses - after a string of three one-run victories - and a 2-1 defeat to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night left the Nats with a 45-46 record, one game under .500. "I feel
Jason Marquis rebounded from his shortest start of the season with a decent outing that wasn't enough. Colorado's Todd Helton drove in a pair of runs - one on a solo homer leading off the fourth - and the Rockies edged the Nationals 2-1 on Saturday night, Washington's third straight loss. It's the sixth consecutive one-run game for the Nationals, who are 3-3 over that
There will be no no-no for Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez tonight. Michael Morse just singled with one out in the fifth to break up the right-hander's perfect game. In the fourth, Jimenez got Roger Bernadina to bounce out to first unassisted, induced a grounder from Danny Espinosa to first that turned into a 3-1 putout and coaxed a grounder to short off the bat of Ryan
Colorado Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez already has one no-hitter to his credit. Can he do it again? Jimenez has breezed through the Nationals' lineup, retiring the first nine hitters in order. He's got three strikeouts, four ground balls and only Danny Espinosa and Jesus Flores have gotten a ball to the outfield, flying out in the first and third innings, respectively. On April 17, 2010,
Seventy-five minutes before Saturday's scheduled first pitch, Nationals catcher Jesus Flores was nestled in a leather recliner, watching the Game of the Week on TV. In the recliner next to Flores was right-hander Jason Marquis, Saturday night's starting pitcher. Between innings and during breaks in the action, the battery mates went over the Colorado Rockies' lineup, discussing hitters' tendencies and their own game plan. For
Nationals manager Davey Johnson isn't ready to reveal the team's entire pitching staff for the start of the second half - when asked for it Saturday afternoon, he quickly responded, "Has Atlanta announced theirs?" But he did give enough detail that it's fairly easy to figure out where the Nationals will line up their starters once they return from the All-Star break against the Braves
Now that he's seen the video replay of the lined shot by Colorado's Ty Wigginton that struck him in the face Friday night, Nationals left-hander John Lannan has been able to fill in the blanks from the incident that forced him from the game after 3 1/3 innings. The good news: A little swelling and redness, and some nasal bleeding, are all that remain from
Here is the Nationals' lineup for tonight's game with the Rockies, as Washington tries to even the three game series by putting Jason Marquis on the mound against his former team. Marquis spent the 2009 season with Colorado, and said he still has good relationships with most of the players and coaches on the team. Jayson Werth is back in the No. 6 spot for
All season, the Nationals have gotten by with an underperforming offense because of a bullpen that's been as solid as expected and a starting pitching staff that, after being pegged as one of the weak spots of the team, has fared surprisingly well. The Nationals' starters have consistently avoided walks, generated ground balls and kept pitch counts low enough to work at least into the
John Lannan, who was hit in the face by a Ty Wigginton line drive during the Nationals' game with the Rockies on Friday night, was diagnosed with a nasal contusion and is day-to-day. And though he was taken to a local hospital for further testing, the Nationals are optimistic he escaped any lasting injury and might even be able to make his next start after
The Nationals are back to .500, having lost their second game in a row. They lost their starting pitcher in the fourth inning after he got hit in the face by a line drive. They got back to having problems on offense. And with two games to go before the All-Star break, they've squandered a fair amount of their momentum. They lost 3-2 to the
We're in the fourth inning at Nationals Park, and John Lannan - who had struck out five batters in the first 3 1/3 innings - is out of the game after a scary moment. He just got drilled in the face by a Ty Wigginton line drive, tumbling to the ground after the ball struck him under the left eye. Lannan got up right away,
Talk about tonight's game as the Nationals try to win the first of three against the Rockies at Nationals Park. You can leave your thoughts on the game or the team in the comments section, and if you've got any questions, fire away and I'll respond to you here. I'll also have a couple longer blog posts throughout the game analyzing the action on the
Ivan Rodriguez, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a strained right oblique muscle, said he feels confident he caught the injury soon enough that he should be back when he's eligible to come off the DL next Friday. Rodriguez was scratched from last night's game after straining his oblique during batting practice yesterday. He said he had to ice it five
Nationals reliever Cole Kimball has a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder and will have surgery next week in New York with Dr. David Altchek. He will likely miss the rest of the season. Kimball, who made his major league debut on May 14, went on the disabled list on June 10 with right shoulder inflammation, and was shut down from a throwing program
Good afternoon from Nationals Park, where it's currently raining and the tarp is on the infield. Batting practice could get rained out today, but the forecast looks like we should be able to start the game on time. Here is the Nationals' lineup for tonight's game. I'll post the Rockies' lineup once it's available. Bernadina - LF Espinosa - 2B Zimmerman - 3B Morse -
Catcher Ivan Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a strained right oblique, after being scratched from the lineup last night. Jesus Flores was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, and should be available for tonight's game. Rodriguez said he had to ice his abdominal muscles five times during the game last night, and was doubtful he'd be able to play today. He'll be
The way Davey Johnson talks to reporters is nothing like what most of his contemporaries do. His daily media sessions have the feeling of an open workshop, conducted away from microphones and cameras, where the manager can tell stories and think his way around all sides of a question without the structure of a press conference. Coming from a writer, that might sound like a
Through five innings Thursday night, it looked like Davey Johnson would have less to worry about than in any game so far in his short tenure as Nationals manager. The offense - which needed a suicide squeeze to score the winning run against the Cubs the night before - needed no such help, battering Matt Garza for seven runs and adding another in the fourth.
Four innings into their game against the Cubs on Thursday night, the Nationals looked all but guaranteed an easy win, a chance to rest their bullpen, a four-game sweep of the Cubs and a record three games above the .500 mark heading into the final weekend before the All-Star break. Instead, they wound up with what might be their biggest gut-punch loss of the season.
Hey, where's that sound effect of a record scratching to a halt? The Nationals' 8-0 lead, built over the course of two innings, is all gone. The Cubs needed just two innings of their own to score the same number of runs, and we're tied at 8 in the seventh inning. Livan Hernandez gave up hits to six of the last seven batters he faced,
Chien-Ming Wang made his third rehab start at Double-A Harrisburg tonight, and it's looking even more likely he could be back in the majors within a matter of weeks. The right-hander, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2009 because of shoulder surgery, allowed just two hits in five innings at Harrisburg, and threw his sinker as hard as 92 mph. He's only allowed two
Before today's game against the Cubs, Nationals manager Davey Johnson talked about how he wouldn't mind a "laugher" of a game to spare a bullpen that's worked 10 2/3 scoreless innings in the last three days and has carried the team through a stretch where it's won six straight one-run games. Looks like he's got his wish. The Nationals scored seven runs in the third
With the All-Star break fast approaching, Roger Bernadina still has a decision to make: He could take a few days to relax, like he'd originally been planning to do, or he could accompany Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens, his countryman and teammate from the 2004 Dutch National Team, to Phoenix for the All-Star Game. Jurrjens was selected to the National League team, and could wind up
Good afternoon from Nationals Park. Here are a couple of quick pregame notes; I'll have a little more before the game on Roger Bernadina's progress in center field and as a leadoff hitter. * Ivan Rodriguez was just scratched from the Nationals' lineup with a right oblique injury; he was scheduled to hit seventh, but Wilson Ramos will play in his place and start for
Here is the Nationals' lineup for tonight's game against the Cubs, as they try for a four-game sweep of Chicago. I'll post the Cubs' lineup once it's available, but Matt Garza will be on the mound for Chicago. That should make former MASNsports.com blogger Kristen Hudak (we call her Who Dat) very happy. Laynce Nix is out of the Nationals' lineup tonight, so Roger Bernadina
Fear not, all you who were fretting that some team might snatch Collin Balester out of transactional limbo and smuggle him to another team: He's cleared waivers and is eligible to play tonight for Triple-A Syracuse. The Nationals designated Balester for assignment Tuesday, putting him on optional waivers because his major league debut had occurred more than three years ago. Because of that, the Nationals
If the Nationals are going to go well above the .500 mark, as manager Davey Johnson hopes they will, and if they're going to win most of their games by a narrow margin, as they've done all season, they're going to need to spread out the workload in their bullpen. That's what Johnson was initially trying to do in the bottom of the eighth inning
Why in the world would the Nationals be expected to run a suicide squeeze play in the seventh inning of a tie game, with one of their slowest runners at third base, a batter who'd had one sacrifice bunt in his career and a manager who'd rather pluck his eyebrows with a pair of needle-nose pliers than bunt? With the way their offense has been
The Nationals might have started to turn things around on offense, and their best player might have had his most productive game in 10 months, but they were still in a one-run game. It seems to be what they're destined to do. Not that they mind. They beat the Cubs 5-4 on Wednesday, getting their sixth straight win by a run and moving back to
The Nationals have the lead back after seven innings against the Cubs, and they took it on one of the more bizarre sequences you're likely to see. With one out in the inning, Michael Morse broke from third on the first pitch Kerry Wood threw Wilson Ramos. But Ramos missed the sign for a suicide squeeze, swung away and hit a foul ball that nearly
The Nationals had a 4-2 lead over the Cubs going into the sixth inning, after Ryan Zimmerman hit his third homer since coming off the disabled list. But a mistake by Jayson Werth in the top of the inning helped the Cubs tie the game once again. Werth took a step in on Starlin Castro's fly ball to right, and couldn't retreat in time to
The Nationals and Cubs are tied at two runs, with each team having hit a two-run homer (Danny Espinosa in the first inning for the Nationals, Carlos Pena in the second for the Cubs). But the way Tom Gorzelanny has pitched in the first three innings has brought some cause for concern. The groundout he just recorded against Marlon Byrd in the fourth inning was
The Nationals are trying for a series win against the Cubs tonight, with Tom Gorzelanny facing the team that traded him to Washington. And as things get going, talk about the game here - you can leave your thoughts on the game in the comments section, and if you've got any questions on the game or the team, I'll respond to them there. You can
A couple more notes before the Nationals and Cubs get started at Nationals Park: * Manager Davey Johnson said the decision to put Jayson Werth in the sixth spot in the lineup wasn't a dramatic change, and said it had as much as anything to do with Michael Morse being back. With Morse and Laynce Nix in the lineup most days, it's possible Werth will
After toying with the idea of skipping Jordan Zimmermann's last start before the All-Star break to ration the right-hander's innings, manager Davey Johnson said on Wednesday afternoon that Zimmermann will make his scheduled start on Sunday, pitching against the Rockies in the Nationals' last game of the first half. Zimmermann, who is in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery, will be shut
Jayson Werth, who went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts and a double play last night and is hitting .161 since June 1, will bat sixth for the Nationals tonight as they take on the Cubs. Michael Morse is back in the lineup, hitting fifth. Here are the lineups for both teams: Cubs: Johnson - RF Castro - SS Ramirez - 3B Soto - C
When the Nationals signed Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million contract last winter, the deal was viewed around baseball as too rich for a player who'd had three impressive, but not transcendant seasons in Philadelphia. Most expected Werth to come to Washington and do about what he'd done the last three years in Philadelphia - hit around .275/.370/.500 with 25 homers and 85 RBIs.
If Ross Detwiler's career with the Nationals has been about anything, it's been about the process of searching for a comfort zone. He's been through several mechanical refinements in his career, with coaches first telling him to straighten out his across-the-body delivery, then telling him to do what feels comfortable, only to work on streamlining his mechanics again late last season. And this year, after
In their 44 wins this season, there have probably been only a handful where the Nationals did fewer things right than they did on Tuesday. They stranded 10 runners, going 2-for-11 with men in scoring position, and got enough runs to win largely because Cubs second baseman Jeff Baker had back spasms on what should have been an easy throw in the first inning. Generally,
The Nationals are winning right now almost in spite of their offense, and while there's no question they'll have to fix it if they want to make any kind of push above the .500 mark, they've done a remarkable job of surviving in the meantime. They moved back to a game over .500 on Tuesday night despite stranding 10 runners, getting an 0-for-4 night from
Remember what we were saying a little while ago about Ross Detwiler's numbers the third time through a lineup? That's where he got in trouble again tonight. The first hitter to see Detwiler for a third time - Reed Johnson - doubled to deep center against him. And after Blake Dewitt hit a fly ball to center, Aramis Ramirez - who had grounded into a
In his first start in the majors this season, Ross Detwiler has been about as good as the Nationals could have hoped. He's allowed just two hits, including an infield single, gotten five groundouts and kept the Cubs scoreless after his throwing error in the third inning - pitching out of a jam in a spot where he got burned several times last season. He's
As the Nationals try to take their second of four games against the Cubs this week, putting Ross Detwiler on the mound for the first time this season, talk about the game here. You can leave your thoughts or questions on the game (or the team) in the comments section, and I'll respond to you there. I'll also have a couple longer posts throughout the
Bryce Harper's ascension through the Nationals' farm system has taken him to Harrisburg, Pa., where he'll play left field for the Double-A Senators. It's a new position in a new city for the team's top prospect, who tore up low Single-A South Atlantic League pitching at Hagerstown. MASNsports.com's Dan Kolko and videographer Matt Winter caught up with Harper this afternoon as he made the rounds,
Nationals first baseman Michael Morse is in fourth place in the National League's Final Vote balloting as of Tuesday afternoon, trailing three players in his bid for the last spot on the NL All-Star team with 48 hours to go. Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino leads the NL vote, followed by Dodgers first baseman Andre Ethier, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, Morse and Diamondbacks pitcher Ian
Now that he's started the second week of his tenure as Nationals manager, Davey Johnson is starting to get a better feel of what he wants to do with the roster. His talk with reporters before tonight's game with the Cubs was a wide-ranging session in which Johnson discussed a few of his preferences for where he'll put players. Here are the highlights: * Johnson
Good afternoon from Nationals Park. Here are the lineups for the Cubs-Nationals game tonight. Ryan Zimmerman is back in the lineup, batting third, and Laynce Nix is starting at first base for the first time in his major league career. Cubs: Johnson - RF Baker - 2B Ramirez - 3B Soto - C Soriano - LF Byrd - CF Pena - 1B Barney - SS
The Nationals officially called up Ross Detwiler to pitch for tonight against the Cubs, and in his place, they designated Collin Balester for assignment. But the Nationals are saying the move with Balester is more procedural than anything else, much like what they did with Matt Chico last season. Update at 4:36 p.m.: Here's the skinny on what the Nationals are doing with Balester: They
Left-hander Ross Detwiler will be called up in time for tonight's game against the Cubs, making a spot start for the Nationals after their Saturday doubleheader against the Pirates bumped their pitchers up a day. Collin Balester was packing up his locker at Nationals Park on Monday afternoon, and the team will likely announce he's headed back to Triple-A Syracuse when it officially announces the
The Nationals knew going into yesterday's game that their roster would be stretched. Ryan ZImmerman was out of the lineup, resting with general soreness in his abdomen, and Michael Morse was sitting out after getting drilled in the forearm with a pitch Saturday night, though general manager Mike Rizzo said before the game that Morse was available to pinch hit. As the game went on,
The Nationals didn't give Jayson Werth $126 million for the next seven years to be a gritty ballplayer, be good in the clubhouse or bring any other intangible characteristic they've touted about their new right fielder. They paid him because for the last three years in Philadelphia, he drew walks, hit homers, stole some bases and played a solid right field. And in his first
A day after getting hit by a pitch in the left wrist, Jayson Werth texted manager Davey Johnson asking him to keep him in the lineup on Sunday. Werth wanted to play, even though he was hurting and flailing at the plate - he'd had four hits in his last 32 at-bats, and was getting booed through much of Sunday's loss to the Pirates. Those
The Nationals have battled back to tie the game with the Cubs through seven innings, with nothing more than an infield single in the seventh. But the way Kerry Wood was throwing in the seventh, they could have taken a lead. He walked Ryan Zimmerman (who pinch hit for Alex Cora and was promptly lifted for a pinch runner), hit Danny Espinosa in the right
In many of his starts this year, Jordan Zimmermann has used his stellar stuff more to get quick outs than to put batters down swinging. He's only struck out more than five batters three times this year, and two of those three games were the only times he's thrown more than 100 pitches this season. But when Zimmermann is on - particularly when his slider
Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse are both out of the Nationals' lineup today, nursing a pair of injuries the Nationals don't believe are serious. But manager Davey Johnson is being cautious with both players, taking two major pieces out of the Nationals' lineup to avoid losing them for a longer stretch. Zimmerman, Johnson said, has some "tenderness" in his abdomen, and after having surgery to
The Nationals' decision to promote Bryce Harper from Single-A Hagerstown to Double-A Harrisburg didn't come as a major surprise; there had been rumblings in the organization for a while that Harper might skip Single-A Potomac. But when the Nationals finally made the move this morning, the rationale they gave was, more than anything, a reminder of what makes Harper special: his ability to hunt down
Happy July 4. Hope you've carved out some time for the all-American pastime in your Independence Day celebration, between the cookouts, frosty libations and fireworks. The Chicago Cubs have arrived in D.C. for a four-game series and today's lineups are below. There's both good and bad news for the Nationals. The good news is that right fielder Jayson Werth, who was struck on the left
Turn the page, put it behind us, tomorrow's another day - pick the appropriate move-past-it cliche of your choice and it probably fits the aftermath of the clunker the Nationals endured Sunday, a 10-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Splitting a four-game weekend series definitely left a worse taste in the Nationals' mouths than they'd have had winning three of four heading into a July
Right-hander Jason Marquis lasted only 1 1/3 innings - his shortest outing in 17 starts this season - and the Nationals were not able to dig out of a deep hole in a 10-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon. Marquis (7-3) yielded seven runs - six earned - on eight hits, throwing only 42 pitches before being replaced by Collin Balester with
Jayson Werth has been removed from Sunday's game against the Pirates after being hit in the left wrist by a Kevin Correia pitch leading off the Nationals sixth. He was struck by a 93 mph cut fastball on a 1-2 count. Werth immediately slammed his bat to the ground in disgust and slowly moved up the first base line, where he was met by manager
Nationals manager Davey Johnson has been waiting for a spot to use right-hander Collin Balester in long relief, and Jason Marquis' 1 1/3-inning start Sunday provided a good opportunity for Balester to get stretched out. Midway through the sixth inning, the Pirates still hold an 8-2 lead, but Balester has been strong in relief after a shaky start. Balester allowed an RBI single to Neil
Jason Marquis has been pulled after just 1 1/3 innings, and the right-hander's shortest start of 2011 was eerily reminiscent of the April 18, 2010 outing in which he allowed the Milwaukee Brewers to score seven runs without retiring a batter in his last game before elbow surgery. In short, it was as if batting practice were extended past first pitch. This time around, the
The next step in Chien-Ming Wang's recovery from shoulder surgery will come this week at Double-A Harrisburg, where the right-hander will try to build on the success from his latest rehabilitation assignment outing with an eye on pitching in the major leagues later this season. Wang, who has not appeared in the majors since 2009 with the New York Yankees and signed a second one-year
Right-hander Tyler Clippard was selected to the National League All-Star team, but he might not be the Nationals' lone representative in Phoenix for the Midsummer Classic on July 12. First baseman Michael Morse is one of five finalists for the last spot on the NL roster in The Final Vote, where fans get a shot at choosing one more All-Star. "I think it's great ...
So much for the notion that successful setup guys toil in anonymity, providing only a bullpen bridge to the closer and impressive statistics that are largely ignored. Nationals right-hander Tyler Clippard is headed to the All-Star Game in Phoenix on July 12, chosen to the National League squad after posting a 1-0 record, 1.96 ERA, 57 strikeouts in 47 innings and an uncanny knack for
Matt Stairs will get the start at first base for today's series finale with Pittsburgh, as Michael Morse sits out after getting hit by a pitch in the forearm. For the Nationals: LF Roger Bernadina 2B Danny Espinosa 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Matt Stairs RF Jayson Werth CF Rick Ankiel C Wilson Ramos SS Ian Desmond P Jason Marquis
If he had his druthers, there's little mystery to how Davey Johnson would prefer to win games. He favors the three-run home run over small ball, likes to see his team club an opponent into submission instead of nitpicking them for a run here and a run there. Get the lead and then defend: It's a mantra that Johnson has repeated frequently during his first
Nationals first baseman Michael Morse sustained a contusion to the left forearm when he was hit by Chris Resop pitch in the eighth inning of Saturday's second game. Results of X-rays are pending, but Morse said he expects to be available to play Sunday. "I feel fine," he said, sporting a protective covering over his lower left arm. "It's just a bruise. I wish I
John Lannan has cruised through seven innings, but a pair of singles to start the seventh proved too much for the Nationals left-hander to overcome. The Pirates scored a run on a double play, snapping a 2-2 tie. Matt Diaz opened the seventh with a single to right and Neil Walker followed with a grounder between second and first. Second baseman Danny Espinosa dove to
It wasn't much, just a simple little ground ball to shortstop. But for a team having trouble scoring runs, it provided a second-inning lead. The Nationals went up 1-0 on the Pirates in Saturday's nightcap, parlaying a one-out walk to Jayson Werth, a single by Rick Ankiel and Wilson Ramos' run-scoring grounder in the hole into an early lead. John Lannan's getting lots of ground
It's a quick turnaround to Game 2 of tonight's doubleheader, and here are the Pirates-Nationals lineups for the nightcap. The most interesting development is that manager Davey Johnson will hit Jayson Werth fifth instead of second. Yesterday, Johnson said he thought the five-hole was the best place for Werth because he's traditionally been a run-producer. Pirates: LF -Presley SS - d'Arnaud CF - McCutchen 1B
Reliever Sean Burnett allowed successive homers by Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen in the eighth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 5-3 in the first game of their doubleheader at Nationals Park on Saturday. Burnett (3-5) couldn't preserve a 2-2 tie, allowing Jones to put the Pirates ahead with his ninth home run of the season, a blast to center field off
Livan Hernandez's day is done,and he accomplished exactly what manager Davey Johnson needed the wily veteran to do: gutted through seven innings on a hot and humid day when an early exit could have thrown an already undermanned bullpen into shambles in the first game of a doubleheader. Rick Ankiel pinch hit for Hernandez with one down in the bottom of the seventh, ending the
Nationals right-hander Livan Hernandez just flashed some serious leather, turning what looked like a sure-fire drag-bunt single into an out. With Michael McKenry on first after a leadoff single in the top of the fifth, Pirates starting pitcher James McDonald laid down a beauty of a bunt. Hernandez recovered from his follow-through, but the roller appeared destined to push past the mound for a single.
The Nationals put together three singles off Pirates starter James McDonald, and Ivan Rodriguez's RBI single in the second cut the Pittsburgh lead to 2-1. With one out, Michael Morse singled up the middle and went to second on Danny Espinosa's single to right. Rodriguez followed with a single to center, scoring Morse and moving Espinosa to second. Any hopes of a big inning, however,
The Nationals have yet to bat, but they're already squarely behind the eight-ball, trailing 2-0 after the first half-inning. A bad call by first base umpire Alan Porter and Roger Bernadina's inability to make a diving catch conspired against the home team. Alex Presley led off the game with a single to center and Chase d'Arnaud hit what appeared to be a nicely turned around-the-horn
Today's doubleheader, coupled with Nationals manager Davey Johnson's insistence that he won't bring back Friday night starter Tom Gorzelanny on three day' rest, means the Nats will need someone to cover Tuesday night's start against the Chicago Cubs. The most likely pitcher to make that start is left-hander Ross Detwiler, who is 6-6 with a 4.53 ERA in 16 starts for Triple-A Syracuse. Detwiler was
Davey Johnson may still be relatively new in his tenure as the Nationals' manager, but he's already spouting what has become a familiar recent refrain: "I'm going to be a little short in the bullpen today." Saturday's doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates has the potential to tax even the most rested relief corps. But the Nats are already a man down after right-hander Henry Rodriguez
It's going to be a scorcher at Nationals Park, where the Nationals entertain the Pirates in a doubleheader this afternoon (a result of a May 17 rainout). There's no TV for today's 3:35 p.m. opener, as I explained in a previous post, so check back frequently to MASNsports.com for updates. Here are the starting lineups for today's first game: Pirates: LF - Presley SS -
You're used to coming to MASN for the very best in Washington Nationals broadcast coverage, and we do our best to televise every Nats game possible in crystal-clear high definition. However, you won't be able to watch the first game of today's doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates on our air. If you remember, Saturday's first game was the make-up of a game originally scheduled for
If Matt Stairs cared about such things, he would have breathed a sigh of relief when new Nationals manager Davey Johnson gave him a ringing pregame endorsement that was part wishful thinking, part knowledge that veteran hitters will eventually find a way to escape slumps. Asked about Stairs' role with the club before Friday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates - and given the opportunity
Pinch hitter Matt Stairs hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Washington Nationals broke a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night and gave Davey Johnson his first win since taking over the managerial reins. Michael Morse opened the bottom of the ninth by singling up the middle off the first
Tom Gorzelanny is doing what he can to remove the stigma that he's the weak link in the Nationals' rotation. The left-hander, who took both losses when the Nats won 13 of 15 games, is preventing his old Pittsburgh teammates from adding to their 1-0 advantage. In the the fifth inning, when Alex Presley hit a two-out double into the right-field corner, Gorzelanny got Chase
Michael Morse's third-inning throwing error snapped a streak of 214 consecutive errorless games by the Nationals' first baseman. Morse hadn't committed an error since Aug. 15, 2005, when he was playing for the Seattle Mariners against Kansas City. He had handled 764 chances without a miscue since his last error, which came while he was playing shortstop. With two down, Morse ranged to his right
Greetings from Nationals Park, where the Pirates have arrived for a weekend series. It's a four-game match-up, despite what your pocket schedule says (remember that rained out May 17 game that's being made up as a single-admission doubleheader Saturday?). Anyway, I'm pinch hitting for Ben Goessling for the holiday weekend, so you'll get your regular dose of Nationals news. Here is today's Nationals lineup, which
He's only three games into his tenure as the Nationals' manager, so Davey Johnson remains firmly in the evaluation phase of his new job. But a few days is all it's taken Johnson to realize that Washington's power-deficient lineup is better when the threat journeyman left fielder Laynce Nix creates for opposing managers. For that reason, expect to see more of the left-handed hitting Nix
New Nationals manager Davey Johnson has turned to an old friend and former foe to be his new bench coach. Pat Corrales joined Johnson's staff Friday night, marking his third tour of duty as the Nats' bench coach. Corrales - for nine years a major league catcher with Philadelphia, Cincinnati, St. Louis and San Diego - previously served as a bench coach for former Nats
The Nationals have placed utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. on the 15-day disabled list with a broken right wrist. Hairston was hit on the wrist by a Dan Haren pitch in Anaheim, Calif., on Wednesday and is expected to miss two to four weeks. "I know what I can and can't do, and I think I'd be hurting the team if I'd be out there
The Nationals return home tonight to Nationals Park, where they've got a 22-13 record this season, for their longest homestand of the year. They'll play 11 games in the next 10 days, making up a rainout from May in a doubleheader with Pittsburgh on Saturday, and they'll face three teams - the Pirates, Cubs and Rockies - who are a collective 15 games under .500.
