Byron Kerr

Peacock singled out by The Sporting News as "next in line"

August 28, 2011, 4:28am

Nationals

Peacock singled out by The Sporting News as "next in line"

Nationals right-hander pitcher

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September calling: Lombardozzi almost perfect in the field

August 27, 2011, 4:41am

Nationals

September calling: Lombardozzi almost perfect in the field

Nationals manager Davey Johnson has mentioned a few of the organization's top prospects the last few weeks as possibilities for September call-ups when rosters expand. Pitchers like Brad Peacock and Tom Milone, field players Chris Marrero, Corey Brown and Steve Lombardozzi and veterans such as Craig Stammen, Yunesky Maya and Roger Bernandina have all been talked about as those players at Triple-A Syracuse that could be donning Washington Nationals uniforms as early as next week. This week,...

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Facing adversity, Nats call on offense to prove they are better than 2010

August 26, 2011, 9:15am

Nationals

Facing adversity, Nats call on offense to prove they are better than 2010

Before Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, manager Davey Johnson said he felt good about the team and where they were despite being shut down two games in a row. But following an 8-1 loss in the series finale, the Nationals look back on three games where the offense could not put three hits together. Washington slapped four doubles in Thursday's game, but never could get back-to-back hits. Michael Morse had the lone RBI single in the seventh. "It is disappointing," Johnson...

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Mattheus shoulder tightens again, Nationals search for answers

August 25, 2011, 7:39pm

Nationals

Nationals right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus lasted only two batters in Thursday's 8-1 setback to the Arizona Diamondbacks, leaving for what was reported as right shoulder tightness. It was the same injury that got him removed from the Aug. 18 game against the Cincinnati Reds. Mattheus struck out the only batter he faced in that game and manager Davey Johnson noticed the pitcher working his shoulder in the dugout and alerting him of the tightness. A week later, he felt it again versus...

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Tyler Moore and Brad Peacock named Eastern League postseason All-Stars

August 25, 2011, 11:46am

Nationals

Tyler Moore and Brad Peacock named Eastern League postseason All-Stars

Double-A Harrisburg Senators first baseman Tyler Moore and current Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs right-hander Brad Peacock have been named to the Eastern League All-Star team. Moore has batted .269 with 29 doubles, four triples, 28 home runs and 81 RBIs in 126 games this season. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris said while Moore's numbers have been off the charts he has also worked very hard on his fielding at first base. "He had a tremendous year," Harris said. "His power...

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Mattheus: Strasburg heading into home stretch, but still has work to do

August 25, 2011, 10:24am

Nationals

Mattheus: Strasburg heading into home stretch, but still has work to do

Nationals right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus remembers a year after his July 2009 Tommy John surgery and how physically demanding his rehab workouts had become. He can empathize with Stephen Strasburg, who is scheduled to make his fifth rehab start Saturday night in Syracuse for the Triple-A Chiefs. Strasburg is scheduled to pitch a maximum of 80 pitches or five innings and then have another rehab start Wednesday, most likely in Double-A Harrisburg. "I know this part of my rehab, I was dead...

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Johnson takes blame for not pulling Hernandez, but when is right time?

August 24, 2011, 6:46pm

Nationals

Johnson takes blame for not pulling Hernandez, but when is right time?

Nationals manager Davey Johnson has said since his first week at the helm that he wants his starters to be able to go seven innings and then have the bullpen take over. Unfortunately, the last two games with Jordan Zimmermann, and Wednesday night with Livan Hernandez, the Washington starter has given up late runs that helped Arizona win those games. Obviously, the Nationals are having trouble scoring runs against the Diamondbacks' lethal starters. But that only exposes the point even more,...

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Johnson and McCatty: No concern for Strasburg's breaking ball command

August 24, 2011, 2:17pm

Nationals

Johnson and McCatty: No concern for Strasburg's breaking ball command

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg will take it up a notch Saturday night as he embarks on his fifth rehab start in recovery from Tommy John surgery. Strasburg will pitch five innings and/or a maximum of 80 pitches for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs against the Rochester Red Wings at Alliance Bank Stadium. Strasburg, who went through a side session Wednesday at Nationals Park, will look to continue to build on his last two outings where his fastball has had great velocity and his changeup...

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D-Backs' Upton said early confidence helped him, will guide Bryce Harper

August 24, 2011, 1:33pm

Nationals

D-Backs' Upton said early confidence helped him, will guide Bryce Harper

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton turns 24 on Thursday, enjoying his fifth season in the major leagues. At age 19, Upton made his major league debut on Aug. 2, 2007 and played in 43 games during the Diamondbacks' pennant race, relying on veterans on the team to gain experience. Upton said he concentrated on his job in those first few weeks in the big leagues. He didn't let the moment get away from him and made sure to work hard in every at-bat and every fly ball that came his...

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Boras says Harper's hamstring will be fine, won't confirm time for return

August 23, 2011, 4:06pm

Nationals

Boras says Harper's hamstring will be fine, won't confirm time for return

Agent Scott Boras was in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to introduce the three newest members of the "Boras Nationals" to the media at a news conference. The top three selections for the Nationals this season - Anthony Rendon, Alex Meyer and Brian Goodwin - were welcomed officially to Nationals Park. Following the news conference, Boras spoke about last year's No. 1 selection, 18-year old left fielder Bryce Harper and how the young star has gotten acclimated to Double-A Harrisburg the last...

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Balester and other California Nats provide perspective on quake

August 23, 2011, 1:55pm

Nationals

Balester and other California Nats provide perspective on quake

Nationals right-hander Collin Balester has been through his share of earthquakes growing up in Huntington Beach, Calif., so you would expect today's 5.9 magnitude seism to be no big deal to him. But he said the earthquake that shook the east coast Tuesday afternoon makes the list of one of the bigger quakes he has experienced in his lifetime. "You feel earthquakes all the time (in California) and most of the time you don't even feel them," Balester said. "I guess the building structures...

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Strasburg 2.0: the leaner and stronger version

August 23, 2011, 5:30am

Nationals

Strasburg 2.0: the leaner and stronger version

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has said the major physical difference in his pitching makeup, besides the obvious new ligament in his right elbow, is his overall strength and conditioning. He has said his body is in the best shape of his life. Following Tommy John surgery late last season, Strasburg had 365 days to get the rest of his body in better shape. He is leaner and stronger than he was in June 2010 when he debuted for the Nationals against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Strasburg is also...

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Strasburg focusing on breaking stuff as he looks to next level (video)

August 22, 2011, 6:20pm

Nationals

Strasburg focusing on breaking stuff as he looks to next level (video)

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg had another positive rehab start in Hagerstown, improving on last Wednesday's five-run outing, with six strikeouts, allowing just two singles and one earned run in three innings of work at Municipal Stadium. Strasburg sat between 95 and 97 mph and topped out at 98 mph during his 60-pitch, 40-strike performance, notching six punchouts of the nine outs, two of those looking. He admitted that he still gets pumped up for every start and...

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Strasburg allows two runs, one earned, striking out six over three innings

August 22, 2011, 4:14pm

Nationals

Strasburg allows two runs, one earned, striking out six over three innings

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg went three innings, allowed two hits, two runs, one earned and struck out six in his fourth overall rehab start, third with the Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Strasburg hit 98 mph and sat around 95 to 97 mph, firing 60 pitches, 40 for strikes. He struck out six Hickory hitters, two of them looking. He fell behind a few hitters in the first inning, and walked one. Hickory scored a run in the first and third frames. He had his best inning in...

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Hagerstown/Hickory lineups for Strasburg's fourth rehab start

August 22, 2011, 1:55pm

Nationals

Hagerstown/Hickory lineups for Strasburg's fourth rehab start

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - The Hagerstown Suns lineup is in against the Hickory Crawdads from Municipal Stadium. Stephen Strasburg is starting for the Suns again, his third rehab start at Municipal Stadium this month. He is scheduled to go four innings and a max of 65 pitches. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is in attendance to watch Strasburg pitch. Hickory lineup: Jurickson Profar SS Odubel Herrera 2B Tomas Telis DH Christian Villanueva 3B Jack Skole CF Alejandro Selen 1B Josh Richmond...

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Why Strasburg will have a shutdown performance tonight

August 21, 2011, 7:54pm

Nationals

Why Strasburg will have a shutdown performance tonight

Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to pitch four innings and a maximum of 65 pitches tonight for Single-A Hagerstown Suns in his fourth rehab start. Strasburg pitched at Hagerstown's Municipal Stadium on Wednesday and gave up five runs on 49 pitches in 1 2/3 innings. He said he liked his velocity but knew his breaking stuff wasn't hitting the spots he intended. Strasburg said he understood the decision to keep his work down after a rough first inning. "I didn't want them to pull me out (in...

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Be aggressive: Johnson has no problems sending the runner

August 20, 2011, 6:59pm

Nationals

Be aggressive: Johnson has no problems sending the runner

It is a decision made by the third base coach that comes up sometimes two or three times in a game: when to send the runner. In the first inning with two outs in a scoreless game Saturday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Zimmerman at first, Michael Morse doubled to right field. Zimmerman raced around second and as Hunter Pence gathered the ball, Nationals third base coach Bo Porter held up Zimmerman at third. The next batter, Laynce Nix struck out looking to end the threat. After...

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Flores: Solano is prime example of catching depth in organization

August 20, 2011, 2:18pm

Nationals

Flores: Solano is prime example of catching depth in organization

Nationals catcher Jesus Flores said that Jhonatan Solano is progressing well at Triple-A Syracuse. Solano is batting .293 in 65 games with five homers and 32 RBI, including a .375 hot streak last 10 games. He got to play alongside Solano for a few games while with the Chiefs and was able to get a measure of how well the Colombian receiver is progressing. Flores said the just turned 26-year old Solano is improving every day on his defense. He has been focusing on blocking pitches softly instead...

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Coffey makes adjustment; Lannan ready for Phillies

August 20, 2011, 8:27am

Nationals

Coffey makes adjustment; Lannan ready for Phillies

Nationals right-hander Todd Coffey notched the win Friday, firing a scoreless 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning. It was a quiet inning that might not have received much attention if he did not grab the victory. Washington scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth, highlighted by Ryan Zimmerman's walk-off grand slam. Coffey improved to 4-1. After he allowed three runs in Colorado August 6, Coffey has thrown four straight games without allowing a run and just one hit with no walks and three...