Byron Kerr

Rizzo says Harper delivering as expected in early returns

May 01, 2012, 3:14pm

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo made the decision to call up 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper on Saturday. After two games, Rizzo said Harper showed exactly what he had shown in the minor leagues, a player that can hit, hit for power and go after every ball in the outfield. Rizzo said Harper's final at-bat was his best of the weekend when he earned a walk off Dodgers right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen. Harper didn't strike out or flail at every pitch. He measured Jansen well and hung...

Tags:

Zimmerman's progress on schedule for possible Sunday return

May 01, 2012, 2:21pm

Nationals

Zimmerman's progress on schedule for possible Sunday return

Positive news on the progress of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who threw Tuesday during batting practice and his throwing motion looked good. Zimmerman has been out with right shoulder inflammation of the AC joint. Manager Davey Johnson said Zimmerman can't hit until the weekend. The doctors don't think he can re-injure his shoulder by swinging. The injury occurred hitting the ground diving for a ball on defense. So, is there anything that Zimmerman could do to prevent the injury from...

Tags:

byron kerr davey johnson nationals ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals3

Hague finally returns to Potomac Nationals

May 01, 2012, 3:53am

Nationals

The Nationals have activated shortstop Rick Hague to Single-A Potomac's roster. The 6-foot-2, 190 lb., infielder missed over a year with dislocated shoulder suffered in the first week of last season. Hague went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, scored a run and had two strikeouts in his first game back in Woodbridge, Va., since April 2011. When healthy, Hague is considered one of the top infielders in the system and was one of the top choices to accelerate through the system quickly before...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals potomac rick hague frontstory_nationals2

Bryce Harper's catch at wall a reminder of what's yet to come

April 29, 2012, 5:40pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper's catch at wall a reminder of what's yet to come

Those kinds of catches must be second nature to Bryce Harper. But they are new to Nationals fans. Get used to it. The kid can make the spectacular seem routine. Showing no fear, the 19-year old went hard to his left toward the center field wall at Dodger Stadium after a shot off the bat of Juan Uribe on Sunday. Not breaking stride, Harper jumped into the padded concrete wall and caught the ball as the collision occurred. Falling onto his back it took a moment or two for Harper to get back...

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr dodgers nationals frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals2

Tyler Moore called up to Nationals (updated)

April 29, 2012, 5:37am

Nationals

In has been a rough couple of days on the field, but the Nationals are not resting on their laurels. With injuries to key personnel continuing to mount, general manager Mike Rizzo has made another move to shore up an offense that is averaging just three runs per game. When third baseman Ryan Zimmerman went on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, Rizzo called up phenom Bryce Harper. Now it appears the Nationals are ready to make another big move. According to this tweet from the...

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr nationals ryan zimmerman tyler moore frontstory_nationals2

Dodgers take early lead, outlast Detwiler and Nationals, 3-2

April 27, 2012, 6:42pm

Nationals

The Nationals opened their series in Los Angeles against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers with phenom Bryce Harper arriving for Saturday night. Kershaw crashed that good feeling early and often, as the Dodgers hung on for a 3-2 win over the Nationals at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw set the tone early by striking out the side in the first inning, sandwiched around an error that got Steve Lombardozzi on base. Kershaw (2-0) notched his 12th straight win at home, going eight innings, allowing just...

Tags:

byron kerr clayton kershaw dodgers matt kemp nationals ross detwiler frontfeatured_nationals

Beasley on Bryce Harper's reaction: "He was stunned"

April 27, 2012, 3:00pm

Nationals

Beasley on Bryce Harper's reaction: "He was stunned"

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo revealed to the media Friday that phenom left fielder Bryce Harper was being called up to the majors for the first time in his career, replacing third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the Nationals' 25-man roster. Zimmerman was placed in the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury. But was it Rizzo that told Harper he was heading to the bigs? No, Rizzo said he gives that "honor and luxury" to the manager of the player. So, Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs...

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr mike rizzo nationals ryan zimmerman tony beasley frontstory_nationals2

Teahen a nice choice at third if Zimmerman is out for extended time

April 27, 2012, 10:25am

Nationals

Teahen a nice choice at third if Zimmerman is out for extended time

With the status of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman up in the air, the Nationals have been essentially playing on the penalty kill (using the NHL analogy) for almost a week. Zimmerman has not played since Saturday, out with right shoulder inflammation. It has to be testing general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson as to what they should do for next week when Arizona and Philadelphia arrive at Nationals Park. You would expect the team to continue with just 24-man roster through the...

Tags:

byron kerr mark teahen mike rizzo nationals ryan zimmerman syracuse frontstory_nationals2

Strasburg on RGIII, Gio's curve and the Nationals' young staff

April 26, 2012, 10:11am

Nationals

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg knows first-hand what it is like to be the No. 1 selection of a franchise and can empathize with what Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III is going through as he gets ready for the opportunity to join the Washington Redskins. But Strasburg believes Griffin has the makings of an elite quarterback in the NFL because of his physical talent and his overall makeup. "You don't see too many quarterbacks that have all the tools that he has," Strasburg...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals robert griffin III stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals2

The time has come for Moore to arrive

April 25, 2012, 10:53am

Nationals

With cleanup hitter Michael Morse on the shelf for quite some time with a strained lat muscle, and now the news that third baseman Ryan Zimmerman could be headed to the disabled list with a shoulder injury, the time is now to get some power into this lineup. Mark DeRosa, Xavier Nady, Steve Lombardozzi and Chad Tracy are all outstanding utility players that combine energy, experience and ability to keep this team on pace. It is obvious the Nationals' pitching is for real. It still has a long...

Tags:

michael morse mike rizzo nationals ryan zimmerman syracuse tyler moore frontstory_nationals2

Nady's experience is buying him time as he tries to get back in groove

April 24, 2012, 8:30am

Nationals

Nady's experience is buying him time as he tries to get back in groove

This isn't the real Xavier Nady. Who would be the first to admit it? Xavier Nady. The Nationals outfielder is looking to get back to a consistent level after a slow start. Nady has hit only .159 through 14 games and 44 at-bats. He has managed only seven hits in the early stages with nine strikeouts. But there has been a pretty significant highlight. Nady's pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning April 13 against the Cincinnati Reds was the Nationals' first run and saved the game. It was...

Tags:

byron kerr davey johnson nationals xavier nady frontstory_nationals3

Proof is in the pitching: Nationals staff is dominating

April 23, 2012, 12:01pm

Nationals

The Nationals have played 16 games and have won 12 of them, resting in first place in the National League East in late April. The Nationals have had big extra-inning wins, like Saturday's thrilling 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins, or the timely hit to stay in games. They haven't blown out teams, going 6-2 in one-run games. They have played error-free baseball, tallying an 8-2 mark when they don't commit a miscue. But manager Davey Johnson said pitching, with starters Stephen Strasburg,...

Tags:

byron kerr davey johnson nationals padres phillies steve mccatty frontstory_nationals2

Bryce Harper slams first Triple-A home run; Mandel adds new pitch

April 22, 2012, 6:24pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper slams first Triple-A home run; Mandel adds new pitch

Syracuse Chiefs center fielder Bryce Harper crushed his first homer at the Triple-A level off of Buffalo Bisons starter Jeurys Familia. Harper also added a single and finished 2-for-3, his average now standing at .242. Buffalo won the game 6-1. Double-A Harrisburg Senators starter Jeff Mandel has added a breaking ball to his repertoire. The breaking pitch has more depth and is "coming along," according to a team source. Mandel is 1-1 with a 0.96 ERA in three starts, striking out 10 and...

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr danny rosenbaum frontstory_nationals1 jeff kobernus jeff mandel nationals

Strasburg showing patience when calls don't go his way

April 22, 2012, 6:10pm

Nationals

Strasburg showing patience when calls don't go his way

It was easy to understand why Stephen Strasburg would get upset. Maybe it was the calls he got at San Diego State. Or maybe it was the wide strike zone he occasionally enjoyed at the minor league level. But in his first season, Strasburg would sometimes get riled up when strikes were called balls. He would lose focus and a walk or hit would follow. Suddenly, the opponent was under his skin and gained an edge they could use. Against Cleveland in June of his first season, Strasburg had...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

What a difference a year makes for Ian Desmond

April 21, 2012, 1:45pm

Nationals

What a difference a year makes for Ian Desmond

Shortstop Ian Desmond has been a pleasant surprise through three weeks of the season. With a solo homer and a game-clinching sacrifice fly to center, Desmond helped to guide the Nationals to a 3-2 win in 10 innings over the Marlins. There were more than a few raised eyebrows when Desmond was chosen as the leadoff hitter and many wondered if the talented young player would have the patience at the plate to be the first man up. But through 16 games, the answer is pretty clear that Desmond is a...

Tags:

byron kerr davey johnson ian desmond nationals frontstory_nationals2

Rodriguez showing confidence in closer role

April 21, 2012, 8:26am

Nationals

Rodriguez showing confidence in closer role

Quickly, name the leader in saves for the Nationals after 15 games. Brad Lidge? Drew Storen? Tyler Clippard? Keep guessing. It is right-hander Henry Rodriguez, who showed how far he has come as a closer Friday night in a tough ninth inning matchup with the Miami Marlins. Battling the heart of a lethal Marlins order while holding a 2-0 lead, Rodriguez got a couple of key outs, but also walked two batters and uncorked a wild pitch. Last year, that might have rattled the young reliever to...

Tags:

brad lidge byron kerr davey johnson drew storen henry rodriguez nationals tyler clippard frontstory_nationals2

Clippard's epic battle with Bonifacio signature moment in shutout win

April 20, 2012, 7:26pm

Nationals

Clippard's epic battle with Bonifacio signature moment in shutout win

Right-hander Tyler Clippard remembered an at-bat like the 14-pitch marathon he endured versus former Nationals infielder Emilio Bonifacio on Friday night. It wasn't last year or when he was starter with the Yankees in 2007. It was this season: the second game at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. In the eighth inning on April 7, Clippard squared off against outfielder Reed Johnson. The 11-pitch battle ended with a foul tip strikeout to end the frame. On Friday, also in the eighth...

Tags:

byron kerr cubs davey johnson emilio bonifacio hanley ramirez marlins nationals reed johnson tyler clippard frontstory_nationals2

Marlins have had Nationals' number, but tide is turning

April 20, 2012, 1:29pm

Nationals

The new-look Miami Marlins arrive this weekend for another critical series. The Nationals are off to their best start since arriving in D.C. in 2005, and face a confident Marlins squad that has won four straight and stands at 7-6. "I think they had a great offseason," manager Davey Johnson said of the Marlins. "They have a lot of quality players. We have had trouble with them in the past. We saw them quite a bit in spring training. I am looking forward to this series. They have a fine ball...

Tags:

byron kerr davey johnson marlins nationals frontstory_nationals2

Jackson undeterred after rough first inning and first loss

April 19, 2012, 7:32pm

Nationals

Jackson undeterred after rough first inning and first loss

Nationals right-hander Edwin Jackson was fresh off a spectacular complete game two-hitter Saturday over the Reds, 4-1. Jackson was taxed for only 92 pitches, striking out nine and walking one. Cincinnati managed one runner past second base the entire game. But it was a whole different story Thursday. Facing a Houston team that had scored five runs in three games of the series against the Nationals, the Astros set a franchise record with three triples in a five-run first inning to stun Jackson...

Tags:

astros byron kerr davey johnson edwin jackson nationals tom gorzelanny frontstory_nationals1

Updates on Tyler Moore, Corey Brown and Brian Goodwin

April 19, 2012, 2:13pm

Nationals

Updates on Tyler Moore, Corey Brown and Brian Goodwin

The Nationals started Tyler Moore in left field again Thursday night for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. It was his second career game in the outfield after playing first base exclusively. Moore made one catch Monday with no problems and general manager Mike Rizzo said the 25-year-old will continue to see time in the outfield this season. "He just started working out in the outfield," Rizzo said. "We've got our outfield coordinator, Tony Tarasco, kind of putting him through the paces. He's...