Byron Kerr

Williams believes Harper not too far off from getting going

April 05, 2014, 1:57pm

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper is scuffling just a bit to begin the season. Manager Matt Williams is not worried about Harper, saying his 21-year-old left fielder has seemed just a "tick off" at the plate the last few days. Williams said Harper might be bit frustrated with the slow start at the plate, as he's just 3-for-17 (.176) with no homers and no RBIs in four games. But that does not mean he tosses his whole approach out and reconstructs his swing. It is only April 5. "Everybody...

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Williams: Fister set to throw Sunday, Gonzalez under the weather

April 05, 2014, 1:15pm

Nationals

Williams: Fister set to throw Sunday, Gonzalez under the weather

This afternoon, manager Matt Williams said right-hander Doug Fister is doing well in his rehabilitation from a right lat strain. Fister has been on the disabled list since March 23. Williams said Fister did "heavy exercise" today and felt no issues with the lat. The Nationals manager expects Fister to get back to baseball-related activities as early as Sunday. "We look to get him out there throwing, the plan is tomorrow, depending on how he feels, but in the next couple of days, anyway, so...

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Nats focus on aggressive baserunning mistakes in loss to Braves

April 04, 2014, 1:36pm

Nationals

Nats focus on aggressive baserunning mistakes in loss to Braves

The Nationals were aggressive on the basepaths Friday in their 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves in the home opener. Unfortunately, they came up short on three critical plays: a pair of caught stealings and another runner thrown out at the plate. Left fielder Bryce Harper was caught in a rundown in the second inning on a pitchout when he tried to swipe second. Shortstop Ian Desmond was thrown out in another rundown when he thought he had a shot to steal third base in the fifth inning. First...

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Catching prospect Severino more comfortable and assured

April 04, 2014, 11:01am

Nationals

Catching prospect Severino more comfortable and assured

Twenty-year-old catcher Pedro Severino continues to progress well in the Nationals system with his promotion to high Single-A Potomac this spring. There is a lot of buzz surrounding the young Dominican backstop, primarily for his solid defense and great hands. The 6-foot-1, 180-lb. Severino started his first game with the P-Nats on Thursday at Carolina. He expects to get a ton of at-bats with Potomac to see now how his bat advances. "He has got a real good swing," said Nationals vice...

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Lerner: Nats will not seek temporary spring training site prior to next move

April 04, 2014, 8:13am

Nationals

Lerner: Nats will not seek temporary spring training site prior to next move

Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner said before Friday's home opener against the Atlanta Braves that his team will not seek a temporary home for spring training while the club tries to work out a deal with the Houston Astros on a possible future joint facility in Florida. "No, I don't think that is the right move," Lerner said. "I think you do it, we do it, and we move on to our permanent spot. It seems painful to go through the last three years what we did to try to find it. The economy...

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Williams says home opening day might be even more special than season opener

April 04, 2014, 8:00am

Nationals

Williams says home opening day might be even more special than season opener

Manager Matt Williams said opening day in Washington, D.C., is just as special - or even more so - because it is the team's home opener in front of Nationals fans. Monday in New York was the season opener, of course, and Williams said because the team played so well in a series sweep, it makes today even more distinctive for the players. "It is probably even more magnified because you have already played and you have experienced that road atmosphere," Williams said. "Today is a nice thing...

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Hagerstown sets 25-man roster, ready for opening night

April 03, 2014, 8:44am

Nationals

Hagerstown sets 25-man roster, ready for opening night

The low Single-A Hagerstown Suns make their season debut tonight against the Rome Braves under new manager Patrick Anderson with game time at 6:35 p.m. from Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, Md. Tonight's pitching matchup is right-hander Nick Pivetta against right-hander Frank Lafreniere. Pivetta was 1-1 with a 2.91 ERA in nine games for the rookie-level GCL Nats and short-season Single-A Auburn. He was the Nationals' 2013 fourth-round selection out of New Mexico Junior College. The...

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LaRoche's health carries significant weight in Nats' chances this season

April 02, 2014, 6:31am

Nationals

LaRoche's health carries significant weight in Nats' chances this season

First baseman Adam LaRoche battled through 152 games in 2013 for the Nationals, but would be the first to admit he wasn't 100 percent healthy the entire season. Whether it was his elbow or attempting to maintain his weight, LaRoche struggled with his consistency at the plate. His .237 batting average was the lowest in his career in a season where he played at least 150 games. His previous low was .259 in 141 games for the Braves in 2005. LaRoche went through surgery to remove loose bodies...

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P-Nats' Mooneyham irons out mechanical issue, is confident to start 2014

April 02, 2014, 5:40am

Nationals

P-Nats' Mooneyham irons out mechanical issue, is confident to start 2014

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Left-hander Brett Mooneyham cruised to an outstanding start last season for low Single-A Hagerstown. But when he got called up to high Single-A Potomac late in the season, he struggled a bit with his mechanics. With the Suns, Mooneyham was 10-3 with a 1.94 ERA in 17 starts with 79 strikeouts in 93 innings, and 41 walks. For the P-Nats, the 6-foot-5, 235-lb., Stanford product went 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA in three starts over 11 1/3 innings with only six strikeouts and 13...

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Espinosa's at-bat signal of renewed confidence at plate

April 01, 2014, 7:28am

Nationals

Espinosa's at-bat signal of renewed confidence at plate

It was not a start for Danny Espinosa, but his ninth-inning at-bat turned into a positive beginning for a veteran coming off a rough season. With the Nationals down 5-4, two out and Ian Desmond at first base, Espinosa strode to the plate to face Mets closer Bobby Parnell. Espinosa fought off several two-seam fastballs in an eight-pitch at-bat. "I am taking at-bats as they come. I got my name ... called," Espinosa said. "I was ready and I was prepared. I felt good going into that...

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Strasburg able to settle in after early homer, kept Nats in game

March 31, 2014, 2:44pm

Nationals

Strasburg able to settle in after early homer, kept Nats in game

NEW YORK -- Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg persevered in his opening day start against the Mets, battling back following an early three-run homer by Mets left fielder Andrew Brown. That battle to stay in the game and keep his team within striking distance became critical as the Nationals rallied to defeat the Mets 9-7 in a 10-inning seesaw affair. Even though the day didn't start off with a 1-2-3 first, Strasburg was able to stay focused and managed to go on a run of 10 consecutive outs...

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Matt Williams thrilled, relieved in first major league win

March 31, 2014, 2:25pm

Nationals

Matt Williams thrilled, relieved in first major league win

NEW YORK - Nationals skipper Matt Williams witnessed a season's worth of twists and turns in his first major league victory as manager, a 9-7 10-inning thriller over the Mets. "Yeah, how about that?" he said. "Lots of stuff. That is good, right in the thick of it, so that was fun." Williams leaned on his coaching staff when strategy points came up during the game. "We talked through everything," Williams said. "I have a stomach ache right now. which is probably pretty normal. Yeah, I...

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Williams updates Ramos, Harper injury news, Zimmerman's status

March 31, 2014, 2:05pm

Nationals

Williams updates Ramos, Harper injury news, Zimmerman's status

NEW YORK - Nationals manager Matt Williams updated the apparent hand injury suffered by catcher Wilson Ramos with somewhat promising news that preliminary X-rays at Citi Field came back negative. "He will see our hand specialist tomorrow," Williams said of Ramos. "There was a foul tip and he took a swing he didn't feel good on. We got him out of the game and took a picture of it." Williams said he feels for any player who gets injured, especially Ramos because of all the injuries the...

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Harper escapes collision, LaRoche homers (Nationals win 9-7)

March 31, 2014, 9:11am

Nationals

NEW YORK - Bryce Harper appeared to be injured when he collided with Mets second baseman Eric Young Jr. in the second inning of Monday's opener, but the Nationals left fielder remained in the game. Harper drew a leadoff walk and was erased at second on a fielder's choice on Ian Desmond's grounder to David Wright. But a sliding Harper's head struck Young's knee and shin on the relay and Harper down on the field for a couple of minutes. Harper was attended to by the Nationals training staff...

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Williams reflects on opening day as a player and now as a manager

March 31, 2014, 8:26am

Nationals

Williams reflects on opening day as a player and now as a manager

NEW YORK - Manager Matt Williams was the first to admit he was nervous and excited for opening day, his first as a major league manager and with the Nationals - so much so that he didn't sleep very well Sunday night. But he did appear relaxed in his red Nationals long-sleeve sweatshirt and athletic shorts, fresh-faced after completing a morning workout. How does day one feel now that it is here? "Good," Williams said from his office in the visiting clubhouse at Citi Field. "Nervous...

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The strategy behind the Nationals' opening day lineup

March 31, 2014, 8:16am

Nationals

NEW YORK - Nationals manager Matt Williams put out a somewhat surprising opening day lineup, placing Wilson Ramos in the cleanup spot with Denard Span, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth at the top of the order, and Bryce Harper hitting behind Ramos in the five-hole. Williams believes Zimmerman can showcase his immense talent from the second spot in the order. "We look at our lineup and we say, 'How do we get to the best lineup?' " Williams said. "Zim has the ability to do a lot of things...

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Williams, Ramos, LaRoche and Desmond on Ramos batting cleanup

March 31, 2014, 7:29am

Nationals

Williams, Ramos, LaRoche and Desmond on Ramos batting cleanup

NEW YORK - Nationals manager Matt Williams decided to make a big splash to begin the 2014 campaign with a surprise in his lineup. Catcher Wilson Ramos will hit in the cleanup spot on opening day today against the Mets. It is a rare start at the cleanup spot for Ramos, only the seventh of his career in the majors, which spans 238 games. But he has had a lot of experience in the fourth spot while playing in his native Venezuela. "I feel excited right now," Ramos said. "Not the first time....

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Double-A Harrisburg announces opening day roster

March 31, 2014, 7:02am

Nationals

Double-A Harrisburg announces opening day roster

The Harrisburg Senators have released their 2014 opening day roster for manager Brian Daubach. Catcher Sandy Leon starts the season at Double-A, giving Jhonatan Solano a lot more at-bats at Triple-A. This also means Steven Souza Jr. will start season at Syracuse, as well. PITCHERS Alfaro, Gabriel Bates, Colin Cole, A.J. Gilliam, Rob Grace, Matt Herron, Tyler Holland, Neil Jackson, Zach Mirowski, Richie Perry, Ryan Purke, Matthew Rivero, Felipe Schwartz, Blake CATCHERS Canham, Mitch Leon,...

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Cool, calm, collected Strasburg ready for opening day start

March 30, 2014, 11:54am

Nationals

Cool, calm, collected Strasburg ready for opening day start

On the eve of another opening day start for the Nationals, you can see the difference in Stephen Strasburg. He appears more poised, more confident. He talks with an assuredness and calmness of a Tom Glavine or Mike Mussina. Strasburg has battled expectations, a major injury, a great season for the team when he had to be shut down, and then another season when the team and his play did not meet their early hopes. Now in his fifth year with the club, Strasburg's speech and demeanor...

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Nationals set 25-man opening day roster

March 29, 2014, 11:11am

Nationals

The Nationals set their 25-man roster for Opening Day, placing right-hander Doug Fister on the 15-day disabled list with a right lat strain, retroactive to March 23. Here is the opening day roster for the 2014 Washington Nationals: Pitchers (12) LHP Jerry Blevins LHP Ross Detwiler LHP Gio Gonzalez RHP Aaron Barrett RHP Tyler Clippard RHP Taylor Jordan RHP Tanner Roark RHP Rafael Soriano RHP Craig Stammen RHP Drew Storen RHP Stephen Strasburg RHP Jordan Zimmermann Catchers (2) Jose...