Byron Kerr

Incredibly, Teddy finally wins, shattering longest losing streak in majors

October 03, 2012, 9:02am

It has happened. No, not the Nationals winning the division. No, not the first playoff game in D.C. since 1933. It is the larger-than-life fourth-inning hero, the legendary former president, represented with oversized clothing from his bygone era and a huge melon head, steel-wire rope spectacles and neon green running shoes. Teddy Roosevelt has won the race he had lost 525 times in a row. Forget 61. Forget 2,130. Try 525. It is over. In the most amazing of races, Roosevelt crushed his...

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Johnson believes Nats' inexperience won't hamper them in postseason

October 03, 2012, 8:41am

Nationals

Johnson believes Nats' inexperience won't hamper them in postseason

Manager Davey Johnson is not thrilled about the playoff setup in 2012 and that is why he was adamant all year long about winning the division so his team would not have its whole season riding on a one-game wild card so early in the playoffs. "I hate it," Johnson said. "I am old school." Of course, Johnson knows that whether it is a Game 7 or an elimination game in a series, that must-win game is eventually going to occur, but the wild card play-in game would have been an uncomfortable...

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DeRosa relished opportunity to play shortstop one more time in Nationals' win

October 02, 2012, 7:19pm

Nationals

Mark DeRosa did not remember the last time he started at shortstop. He thought it was 2005. When told it was Sept. 2, 2006, DeRosa nodded his head and said, "OK, that sounds about right." So for the first time as a starter at shortstop in six seasons, DeRosa went 2-for-4 with a single, double and run scored in the Nationals' 4-2 victory over the Phillies. He did have one errant throw from the position, but was in the middle of a 1-6-3 double play to end the second inning. "I botched...

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Johnson updates Rodriguez, Ramos, Stammen, Jackson and more

October 02, 2012, 3:05pm

Nationals

Johnson updates Rodriguez, Ramos, Stammen, Jackson and more

Reliever Henry Rodriguez and catcher Wilson Ramos will not play winter ball, according to manager Davey Johnson. Rodriguez is recovering well from surgery to remove a bone spur in his throwing elbow. "Henry is doing great," Johnson said. "He was on the bench last night and I shook hands with him and he reached out with that iron fist. He is getting full extension already." Johnson said Rodriguez should be ready for spring training. As for Ramos, who was seen moving pretty well around a...

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Bryce Harper named NL Rookie of the Month for second time

October 02, 2012, 1:47pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper named NL Rookie of the Month for second time

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that outfielder Bryce Harper has been named National Rookie of the Month for the month of September. It was the second time Harper has won the honor this season, also taking home the distinction in May. Harper hits .330 (35-for-106) in 28 games in September, with seven homers, 26 runs, 69 total bases, a .651 slugging percentage, seven doubles, three triples, four stolen bases and 14 RBIs. His 26 runs scored was tops in the majors and he was second in...

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Harper, Clippard, Stammen and Morse react to NL East clinching Monday

October 01, 2012, 8:59pm

Nationals

Harper, Clippard, Stammen and Morse react to NL East clinching Monday

"We were at the bottom of the barrel when I came over to this organization, it was in shambles," Tyler Clippard said. "A lot of great things have happened since then. We have worked our tails off to get to this point, and it is extra special because of that. "That is what has been great about this team. Guys have went down. Injuries have happened. Young guys have stepped up. Everyone has played a part. It has been a storybook kind of season for us so far. That is just motivation to keep...

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Strasburg, Rizzo and Detwiler reflect on clinching night at Nats Park

October 01, 2012, 7:47pm

Nationals

Strasburg, Rizzo and Detwiler reflect on clinching night at Nats Park

"It has been a long three years, and everybody in here has had their ups and downs. We all pushed on and kept trying to get better and, you know what, now we are NL East champs," right-hander Stephen Strasburg said, speaking on how this team was built and on what the Nationals went through to get to this point. "I don't think this is going to be our only time," he added. "We are living in the now, and we got lot of work to do. But we are going to make the most of it, play in the moment,...

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Remembering 2010: Nationals have chance to turn tables on Phillies

October 01, 2012, 2:08pm

Nationals

The Phillies defeated the Nationals 8-0 on September 27, 2010, before 14,309 at Nationals Park, to clinch the NL East crown. The Nationals managed just two hits that day, as Roy Halladay tossed a complete game for his 21st win. A look back at the starting lineups that day: Phillies Victorino CF Polanco 3B Utley 2B Howard 1B Werth RF Ibanez LF Ruiz C Valdez SS Halladay P Subs: Wilson Nationals Espinosa 2B Morgan CF Desmond SS Dunn 1B Morse RF Bernadina LF Ramos C Gonzalez 3B Lannan...

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Lannan gets the call to clinch division for Nationals on Monday

September 30, 2012, 8:30pm

Nationals

It is with a bit more than just a little irony that the Nationals have three chances to clinch their first NL East title, at home, against the Phillies, and with none other than left-hander John Lannan getting the call. Lannan gets the start because it is his turn in the rotation in a season where he has made only five starts with the Nationals. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg? No, he reached his innings limit. Gio Gonzalez? He gets the chance Tuesday. Edwin Jackson, Jordan Zimmermann and...

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Suzuki's clutch hit another example of his importance to Nationals' success

September 29, 2012, 6:51pm

Nationals

The amazing emergence of catcher Kurt Suzuki has been another example of how general manager Mike Rizzo finds a way to make the right choice in a time of need for the Nationals. With a major injury to starter Wilson Ramos, Rizzo was looking for a veteran backstop who could handle a young pitching staff. He focused on Suzuki, who had hit well in his career and had done a good job over the years of throwing runners out, something the Nationals had struggled with in 2011. Suzuki was brought in...

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Can Harper get to 25 in the final week?

September 28, 2012, 11:03am

Nationals

Can he get to 25 home runs? Of course, it is possible. The amazing rookie season of Bryce Harper continues into its final week of the regular season. With six games remaining before the postseason, Harper needs three homers to tie Tony Conigliaro's 1964 rookie home run record as a teenager. In that season, Conigliaro hit .290 in 111 games with 24 homers and 52 RBIs. This season, Harper has hit .264 with 21 homers, 17 stolen bases and 58 RBIs in 133 games. He has hit a home run in his last...

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For one night, Morse's power returns and Clippard shuts them down

September 27, 2012, 8:51pm

Nationals

For one night, Morse's power returns and Clippard shuts them down

The Nationals certainly showed they are the better team after taking two of three against the Phillies, winning the series finale, 7-3. Some of the headlines include Gio Gonzalez winning his career-high 21st game and Bryce Harper hitting his 21st homer. But how about the two home runs from Michael Morse and four RBIs? The second home run was a mammoth shot, travelling 451 feet and landing in Tom Gorzelanny's hat in the second level where the visitor's bullpen is situated in Citizens Bank...

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Could Lannan replace Gorzelanny on postseason roster?

September 27, 2012, 7:43am

Nationals

Could Lannan replace Gorzelanny on postseason roster?

With the postseason beginning next Friday(!), the Nationals will have to make a decision on their pitching roster for the second season. Starters Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler are set. But an interesting alteration that might occur is the possible addition of left-hander John Lannan and right-hander Christian Garcia to the postseason roster. Lannan improved to 4-0 with a 4.23 ERA in the Nationals' 8-4 win over the Phillies on Wednesday night, going 5 1/3...

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Getting starters ready for the postseason: Where to begin?

September 26, 2012, 6:24am

Nationals

Getting starters ready for the postseason: Where to begin?

The playoff picture in the National League is close to being set with four teams already assured of spots in the postseason. The Nationals, Reds, Giants and Braves have clinched berths, while the Cardinals are the second-closest wild card team with eight regular season games remaining. Manager Davey Johnson has said he is not going to speculate as to who his starters will be for the postseason, but you can bet at his desk he has penciled in his thoughts on how he wants to set up his top guns...

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Perry and Garcia candidates to start in 2013

September 25, 2012, 11:49am

Nationals

Perry and Garcia candidates to start in 2013

Manager Davey Johnson said Monday he would consider Christian Garcia as a starter next season. Going up to Garcia and saying this, Johnson said the right-hander responded, "I'm good with being in the bullpen." "Of course you are," Johnson laughed. "You are in the major leagues". But Double-A Harrisburg pitching coach Paul Menhart, who worked with Garcia before he was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse, said Garcia can start because that is all he ever knew coming into this season. "That...

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Zimmermann hitting stride again at right time for Nationals

September 24, 2012, 2:03pm

Nationals

With nine games remaining in the regular season, the Nationals would like nothing better than their starting rotation to get into a groove right before the postseason begins. No. 1 starter Gio Gonzalez continues to roll, earning win No. 20 Saturday in a 10-4 gem over the Brewers. Two days later, the No. 2 starter Jordan Zimmermann dispatched Milwaukee 12-2. On cue, Zimmermann went 6 2/3 innings on Monday, allowing four hits with just one run, a solo shot by Corey Hart, with just two walks...

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Johnson: Nationals' Garcia could be a starter next season

September 24, 2012, 8:01am

Nationals

The Nationals have been so impressed with reliever Christian Garcia and his power arm that manager Davey Johnson said today they would consider converting the right-hander to a starter next season. Garcia complained of right biceps fatigue following Saturday's win over the Brewers, in which he allowed a two-run shot in the ninth to the Brewers' Taylor Green. Johnson said Garcia was on "cruise control" before the homer, and after the homer he got "amped up." Did he ever - Garcia struck...

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Blinded by the light, Nationals outfielders must figure out how to block out the sun

September 23, 2012, 2:33pm

Nationals

It was an uneven defensive performance for the Nationals Sunday, as they committed two errors and lost two fly balls in the sun in a 6-2 loss to Milwaukee. Outfielders Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth each lost fly balls in the sun. The fly balls dropped to the ground in front of them for base hits. Harper said it was tough to see the ball as the afternoon sun moved through the sky. "You can't catch what you can't see," Harper said. "Nothing you can do about it. The sun monster got me and...

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Nationals high on outfielder Destin Hood's athleticism (update)

September 22, 2012, 10:10am

Nationals

Outfielder Destin Hood fought through injuries and sickness this season in the minors. Battling through an injured wrist, Hood managed to come back and get on track by the end of the season. The Alabama native is now playing in the instructional league. Hood, a second-round selection in 2008, hit .242 in the minors for Double-A Harrisburg and a few rehab games at short-season Single-A Auburn, with 21 doubles, three triples, three homers, six stolen bases and 21 RBIs. He struck out 89 times in...

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Jackson leads by example with eight solid innings

September 21, 2012, 7:38pm

Nationals

Jackson leads by example with eight solid innings

Edwin Jackson did not join the other four Nationals starters in double-digit wins Friday night. In a heartbreaking 4-2 loss to Milwaukee, Jackson's no decision might have been literally lost in the shuffle. It should not be. Instead, it might be his biggest and most important no-decision of the season for the Nationals. Jackson went eight strong innings, allowing a solo homer to Jonathan Lucroy but virtually nothing else. He walked none, struck out six and gave up only five other...