Nats swept in Denver, fall 4-3 to Rockies

Nats swept in Denver, fall 4-3 to Rockies
Colorado Rockies swept a day-night doubleheader from the Washington Nationals on Saturday, 4-3. The Rockies got to Luis Atilano with a pair of homers in the third inning, and a costly error by Ian Desmond (that could have been charged to Adam Dunn for not handling the throw) in the seventh gave Colorado the 4-3 lead that would hold. Manager Jim Riggleman on Atilano's outing: "Luis did a good job. A couple of times he walked some guys. He was behind a lot of guys, whether he walked them...
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Rockies late surge downs Nats in Game 1

Rockies late surge downs Nats in Game 1
Livan Hernandez and Ubaldo Jimenez did not disappoint, dueling into the late innings, as the Colorado Rockies blew open a close game with three runs in the eighth Saturday afternoon, downing the Washington Nationals 6-2 in the first game of a doubleheader from Coors Field in Denver. Unfortunately for the Nats, most will remember Brian Bruney's struggles in the Rockies last at bat. Ian Stewart's RBI double off of Bruney, followed by Clint Barmes 2-run single, turned a tight 3-2 Colorado lead...
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Nats vs. Rockies postponed; split doubleheader Saturday

Nats vs. Rockies postponed; split doubleheader Saturday
The Rockies have announced Friday's game at Coors Field between the Nationals and the Rockies has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game has been rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Saturday. Scheduled starters for the Nats remain as expected. Game 1, Livan Hernandez vs. Ubaldo Jimenez. Game 2, Luis Atilano vs. Jason Hammel, Hammel is returning from the disabled list and a groin injury to be activated for the start. First game scheduled first pitch at 2:10 p.m....
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Your P-Nats fix: Norris, Peacock, Morris and scoreboard news

Your P-Nats fix: Norris, Peacock, Morris and scoreboard news
I got to sit down and grab some more knowledge from Paul Menhart, pitching coach for the Potomac Nationals regarding their roster this year. We already talked about Fabian and Frias, and it was a big week for the P-Nats with the return of Derek Norris, who is back in the lineup in Potomac after getting over a hamate injury. "He is still trying to get back to 100 percent and he looks good behind the plate. He is blocking the ball well and is happy to be back playing healthy." With the...
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P-Nats progress for Fabian and Frias

P-Nats progress for Fabian and Frias
I had a chance to visit with Potomac Nationals pitching coach Paul Menhart and we talked about a few of his pitchers this season and how they are doing. Menhart, as you know, was the pitching coach for Stephen Strasburg during the Arizona Fall League and has been working with the Nats younger pitchers for years. We began with a focus on a pair of Dominican righthanders: Robinson Fabian and Marcos Frias. 21-year old Frias is a 6'2", 190 pound right hander out of Los Llanos, Dominican...
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Marquis: "I will be out 8-10 weeks"

Marquis: "I will be out 8-10 weeks"
Potomac Nationals pitching coach Paul Menhart gave me some quick insight on veteran Nats pitcher Jason Marquis and his outing Tuesday in Woodbridge. Jason told the media today it is a strong possibility he will need surgery to clean up bone chips in his elbow. He said he felt a lot of pain this morning and expects to be out 8 to 10 weeks. Menhart on Jason Marquis' pitching Tuesday in Woodbridge: "His velocity was not quite there from what I remembered from the past. He told me he...
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This and that

This and that
A few quick hit notes to finish out the evening... Jason Marquis struggled in his rehab start in Woodbridge as Potomac fell to Winston-Salem 8-5. Marquis allowed 6 hits and 3 earned runs over 3 2/3. Jason threw 54 pitches and 36 for strikes. Marquis has been on the disabled list since April with bone chips in his elbow. Former National Ryan Langerhans hit a homer for the Mariners at Camden Yards in their 5-1 win over the Orioles. Nationals starter Craig Stammen told me he will try to...
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A weakness exposed?

A weakness exposed?
The Mets got to Brian Bruney and Tyler Clippard Tuesday as New York erupted for six runs in the eighth inning that turned a 6-1 lead into an 8-6 loss. Bruney did not record an out but allowed 3 runs, 2 earned on 2 hits in the eighth. Clippard recorded only a strikeout to Jeff Francoeur in his worst outing of the season, giving up 4 hits and 3 earned runs. It seems recently that the Nats have been getting away with problems in the seventh inning because the starters have been able to get to...
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Minor notes

Minor notes
The rough early season for the Harrisburg Senators offense is starting to show with the moves the team is making. Unfortunately, the Nats have given up on outfielder Michael Daniel. Daniel batted only .182 with no homers and just 2 RBI in 19 games. The University of North Carolina product was a seventh round selection in the 2005 first year player draft. Bill Rhinehart has been transferred to Potomac after batting .196 in 28 games. Pedro Lopez has been promoted to Syracuse, but he is...
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Bryce and Bruney

Bryce and Bruney
Just so you have them when the Nats pick Bryce Harper with the number one overall selection, here are his stats: Bryce finished his first collegiate regular season with a .417 batting average, 71 runs, 17 doubles, 2 triples, 23 homers, 68 RBI, .917 slugging percentage, .509 on-base percentage, grounded into only 2 double plays, 16-20 stolen bases, .982 fielding percentage, 165 total bases in 55 games. The College of Southern Nevada finished 43-13 and won the Scenic West Conference. The...
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Rizzo and 33 days

Rizzo and 33 days
With the Nationals' victory over the Florida Marlins 3-2 Sunday, the Nats are 17-14 and won their 17th game of the season 33 days faster than last year's pace. The Nats did not secure the team's 17th win until June 11 last season and by then the Nats were close to 20 games out of first place. I caught up with Nats General Manager Mike Rizzo during the game and we reflected on the Nats great start and how he played it in spring training. He said he told the team to do three things this...
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Strasburg lights out against Gwinnett

Strasburg lights out against Gwinnett
Syracuse Chiefs starter Stephen Strasburg rolled past the Gwinnett Braves in his Triple-A debut from a sold out Alliance Bank Stadium. Strasburg continued to hit 96-99 miles per hour on his fastball, a drop off the table curve ball and an assortment of off-speed stuff that confused the G-Braves hitters. Strasburg also added 2 RBI as Syracuse led 3-0 when he left the game. He had run scoring single in the 2nd inning and a perfect bunt in the 4th that scored the 3rd Chiefs run. His line was...
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Strasburg ready for next step in Syracuse

Strasburg ready for next step in Syracuse
The next step in Stephen Strasburg's seemingly meteoric rise is Syracuse as he gets a chance to see what he can do at the Triple-A level. Jason Benetti, play-by-play announcer for the Chiefs, sat down with Strasburg as he arrived in Syracuse and asked him how his life has changed since being selected as the #1 overall selection. "Oh, obviously there are a lot more people watching me," Strasburg said. "I never knew this would happen so fast. I am learning along the way." What did Tony...
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Game 3 preview vs. Braves: Nieves on Olsen's hot start

Game 3 preview vs. Braves: Nieves on Olsen's hot start
Nats left-hander Scott Olsen gets the start tonight against the Braves' veteran Tim Hudson as the Nats look for their fifth series win of the season. Olsen, coming off a lights out performance in the win over Florida last Friday night, is 7-1. He tossed six innings and allowed five hits and no earned runs, while striking out four and walking three. He has a current 13-inning scorelesss streak. Catcher Wil Nieves likes what he has seen so far from Olsen: "He has been attacking the strike...
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Going for the win in the 10th

Going for the win in the 10th
Braves closer Billy Wagner, from nearby Crozet, Virginia, came on in the 10th inning with the lead and was able to stop the Nats rally. Wagner allowed a single by Cristian Guzman and it looked like the Nats would have a chance to tie or win the game. But Wagner retired the next three batters to notch only his third save of the season. Ian Desmond was next and was not asked to bunt with a man on first and no outs. Manager Jim Riggleman wanted to go for the win with the bullpen getting heavy...
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Chambers dispels Nats job rumor

Chambers dispels Nats job rumor
College of Southern Nevada baseball coach Tim Chambers told me that he has "absolutely not" been offered a job with the Nats. Tim said he called the Nats Assistant General Manager Roy Clark last night and they joked about how the media frenzy with him and the interest in his player, Bryce Harper, most likely fueled this type of speculation. "I was a 'bird-dog' while Roy was with the Atlanta Braves. As a matter of fact, when Clark left the Braves, the team sent me a letter that I was no...
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Game 2 Braves preview: Atilano riding sinker to Big Leagues

Game 2 Braves preview: Atilano riding sinker to Big Leagues
Nats starter Luis Atilano learned his best pitch the sinker from the Nats organization. He will prominently display that pitch again tonight as he takes on the Atlanta Braves in his 3rd overall start and 2nd at home. I asked Luis what he felt about his 2-0 start: "I feel happy about it. I am keeping my focus from day to day. I am trying to get quick outs during my starts." "I am working pitch by pitch. I am not trying to do too much. A lot of times I am behind in the count. But that...
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Desmond calls on Double-A coach to refine hitting

Desmond calls on Double-A coach to refine hitting
Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond went 2-4 with a home run, a single, 2 RBI and a run scored in the Nats 6-3 win over the Atlanta Braves Tuesday night at Nats Park. Desmond is batting .338 with 2 doubles and 5 RBI in last 6 games. His homer was number two on the season and came off Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami in the fifth inning. "He just threw me a slider. I was able to stay through it and get enough of it to get it out of the park. I was looking for it. He gave it to me. That's...
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Chambers insists Harper "very coachable"

Chambers insists Harper "very coachable"
College of Southern Nevada enters the final week of the regular season riding an eight game winning streak and a 42-10 overall record. The Coyotes are 29-7 in conference play, guaranteeing their 6th Scenic West conference regular season championship. They have two games remaining on their schedule at Salt Lake Community College, Friday and Saturday before the post season starts May 12th. Potential #1 overall selection Bryce Harper continues to lead the team with 21 HRs, .417 batting average...
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Strasburg versus Reds in June?

Strasburg versus Reds in June?
With the team announcement that Nationals number one overall selection Stephen Strasburg is moving on to the Syracuse Chiefs, I project the possible May starts for #37, and if all goes well, his first major league baseball start would be in early June for the home series against the Cincinnati Reds. Jim Callis, Executive Editor of Baseball America told me it makes sense for the Nats to have Strasburg in Harrisburg for a month, Syracuse for a month, then bring him up for 100 innings before...
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