Nationals reportedly interview Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach

Nationals reportedly interview Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach
The news early Thursday of the Dodgers and manager Don Mattingly parting ways immediately led to the potential of adding a new, attractive candidate to the race for the Nationals' opening. Meanwhile, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was reportedly interviewing Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach for the managerial job, according to Yahoo Sports. If Wallach somehow ended up as skipper of the Nats, he would see his career come full circle. Wallach was drafted in the first round by the Expos in...

The Mets, not the Nationals, are headed to the World Series

The Mets, not the Nationals, are headed to the World Series
The Mets, not the Nationals, are headed to the World Series. New York just stormed through the Chicago Cubs, capping off a sweep of the National League Championship Series with an 8-3 win last night. Entering the season, the Nationals were the betting man's favorite with 6-1 odds to win the Fall Classic. Most expected the Mets to be improved, but finish in the middle of the pack with 30-1 odds of being crowned champions in early November. It would be nice to be holding one of those Vegas...

Mike Rizzo reportedly dips back in Diamondbacks' pool with Andy Green's interview

Mike Rizzo reportedly dips back in Diamondbacks' pool with Andy Green's interview
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo's affinity for the Diamondbacks organization surfaced again yesterday during his managerial search. Rizzo, Arizona's director of scouting from 2000 to 2006, interviewed current Diamondbacks third base coach Andy Green on Tuesday, according to a report from FOXSports.com. Recently dismissed manager Matt Williams also landed the job in 2013 after coaching third with Arizona. And Rizzo recently interviewed Phil Nevin, the manager for the Diamondbacks'...

Ron Gardenhire reportedly next to interview with Nats for managerial opening

Ron Gardenhire reportedly next to interview with Nats for managerial opening
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo will interview Ron Gardenhire today in his search for the team's new skipper, according to a report from MLB.com. Gardenhire led the Twins to six American League Central titles during his 13 years as manager. He compiled a 1,068-1,039 record over his tenure, but was dismissed in 2014 following four straight seasons of 90-plus losses. Gardenhire was drafted by the Mets in 1979 and played parts of five seasons in New York between 1981-1985 before injuries cut...

Sammy Solis flashed in rookie season and finished strong

Sammy Solis flashed in rookie season and finished strong
Beyond the enormous task of hiring the team's next manager, there are a number of personnel decisions Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo faces as the winter coats come out early in the nation's capital. Chief among the problems that helped the Nationals self-destruct in August and September is the bullpen. After trading away Tyler Clippard - who pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Mets in their 4-1 National League Championship Series win last night - the Nats lost late-inning...

Looking back at the Nats' top 10 quotes from the second half: "It's pretty tired"

Looking back at the Nats' top 10 quotes from the second half: "It's pretty tired"
When we reflected on the Nationals' top 10 quotes of the first half of the season during the All-Star break, the list was mostly filled with awestruck comments after Bryce Harper homers or sheer euphoria following epic comebacks. Back then the Nationals held a two-game division lead over the Mets. Now as we take inventory of the most significant words uttered during the Nationals' second half collapse, we can't help but notice the theme of the Jonathan Papelbon disturbance littered...

Alex Cora has ties to the Nationals and Mike Rizzo's respect

Alex Cora has ties to the Nationals and Mike Rizzo's respect
When names are floated as the potential next manager of the Washington Nationals, none has the ties to the organization as Alex Cora. Sure Cora only played one of his 14 years in the majors with the Nationals, but he quickly and clearly made an impression. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo signed Cora before spring training in 2011 and the veteran infielder batted .224 in 91 games in what ended up as his last season in the majors. But Rizzo took note of Cora's work around the field as a...

Giants bench coach Ron Wotus reportedly due to interview for Nats' job

Giants bench coach Ron Wotus reportedly due to interview for Nats' job
When Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo addressed the media after dismissing Matt Williams, much of the attention was focused on Rizzo's repeated mention of the next manager bringing previous managerial experience in the majors to the table. But Rizzo also stressed several other important qualities. "As we go through the laundry list of things that we look for in our manager and the perfect leader of the ballclub on the field, leadership qualities, knowledge of the game, Xs and Os, are all...

Nats forced to watch as Mets advance to NLCS

Nats forced to watch as Mets advance to NLCS
Maybe you share the sentiments of Bryce Harper in hoping the Mets proudly represent the National League East and carry on to win this year's Fall Classic - if you actually believe the words of the future NL Most Valuable Player from late September. But most likely, you were probably angrily thinking last night how the Mets were able to accomplish what the Nationals couldn't over the past four seasons: win the division and then advance in the playoffs. After six straight losing seasons, the...

Bud Black reportedly set to interview with Nationals today

Bud Black reportedly set to interview with Nationals today
Former Padres manager Bud Black will reportedly get his chance to impress Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo today. The Washington Post was first to report Black's interview after the ex-San Diego skipper called the opening in the nation's capital a "very attractive position" during an MLB Network Radio appearance last week. Black may be the early frontrunner to take over after Washington fired Matt Williams last week. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, "Black is the preferred...

A wave of experience for Rizzo in next round of interviews

A wave of experience for Rizzo in next round of interviews
It appears that Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is focusing his attention on a few veteran managers in his next wave of interviews for the Nats' vacancy. "We feel that where we're at in our timetable of winning a championship, we certainly would lean toward someone that has some type of managerial experience, especially at the major league level," Rizzo said last week. "But, again, we're going to be open-minded and look for the best candidate that we can that allows us to win a...

Nationals reportedly interview Phil Nevin

Nationals reportedly interview Phil Nevin
After firing Matt Williams eight days ago, Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo indicated that his next skipper would likely have previous experience managing in the majors. It seems Rizzo has taken a different approach with his first interview. According to a report from USA Today, Phil Nevin, who has never managed past Triple-A, recently met with Rizzo about the opening. The Astros made Nevin the top pick in the 1992 First-Year Player Draft after a stellar career at Cal State...

LUNGevity Foundation's Breathe Deep Baltimore 5K walk moved to Oct. 18

LUNGevity Foundation's Breathe Deep Baltimore 5K walk moved to Oct. 18
Due to inclement weather, the LUNGevity Foundation's Breathe Deep Baltimore 5K walk has been moved to Oct. 18. The event raises funds and awareness for lung cancer in memory of late Orioles public relations director Monica Pence Barlow. Because of the date change, you still have time to sign up or donate for the walk. Start your Sunday by joining fellow Orioles fans to raise money for the LUNGevity Foundation! The walk will take sports fans on a scenic walk around Oriole Park and M&T Bank...

Anthony Rendon tested by "brutal" season

Anthony Rendon tested by "brutal" season
Anthony Rendon's season was filled with inconsistencies. Injuries interrupted his year three different times beginning early in spring training. When Rendon did play, he was shifted back and forth from second base to third base, and shuffled all over the lineup. "It was brutal," Rendon said. "It was rough. They always say baseball is 90 percent mental, 10 percent physical - whatever that saying is. I don't even think I know it. But this game is already a game of failure. Going into it not...

Cal Ripken Jr. shows interest in Nationals' manager job

Cal Ripken Jr. shows interest in Nationals' manager job
Before the Nationals hired the Matt Williams to be their manager in 2013, there was reportedly a bit of flirting with Cal Ripken Jr. Fast-forward two years and Williams is out while Ripken has yet to sit on bench as a major league manager. As speculation of Williams' potential firing escalated as the Nationals' playoff hopes faded away over the past two months, Ripken's name was floated again as a possible replacement. Hours after firing Williams, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo held a...

Jayson Werth battled through a tough season

Jayson Werth battled through a tough season
As Jayson Werth sat in front of his locker late on Sunday afternoon, he reflected on one of the more chaotic seasons in his 13-year big league career. "Obviously, the injuries are the one thing that sticks out," Werth said searching for reasons why the Nationals were heading home on separate flights instead of a charter to the playoffs. "We didn't win games. You look at what the Mets did down the stretch. That's how you win a division: Timely hitting, timely pitching, they matched up well,...

Nationals' managerial opening is attractive to Bud Black

Nationals' managerial opening is attractive to Bud Black
Hours after Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo fired first-time manager Matt Williams on Monday, he presented a more seasoned approach for choosing the team's next skipper. "We feel that where we're at in our timetable of winning a championship, we certainly would lean toward someone that has some type of managerial experience, especially at the major league level," Rizzo said. Former San Diego Padres manager Bud Black is on the market and has been floated as potentially a good fit for...

Ian Desmond delivers gracious message to Nationals fans

Ian Desmond delivers gracious message to Nationals fans
The sentimental goodbyes unfortunately continue for Nationals fans. On Monday afternoon, it was veteran right-hander Jordan Zimmermann offering his gratitude for the Natitude over the last seven years. Beloved shortstop Ian Desmond, who had already poured his heart out following Sunday's season finale, reflected further on his Nationals career in a message delivered on Twitter last night: pic.twitter.com/MIr1GunMpV -- Ian Desmond (@IDesmond20) October 7, 2015 The Montreal Expos selected...

Jordan Zimmermann pens heartfelt farewell to Nationals fans

Jordan Zimmermann pens heartfelt farewell to Nationals fans
Jordan Zimmermann likely made his final start with the Nationals on Wednesday, taking a hard-luck 2-0 loss to the Braves. Zimmermann, 29, is expected to leave in free agency this offseason after spending his entire professional career in the Nationals organization since he was drafted in 2007. Zimmermann went 70-50 with a 3.32 ERA over seven seasons with Washington. The bulldog of the rotation started at least 32 games in each of his last four years and provided a lasting memory with his...

Plenty of blame falls on Mike Rizzo as well

Plenty of blame falls on Mike Rizzo as well
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo made a difficult decision yesterday. Sure, on the surface, it appeared an easy call to dismiss Matt Williams after the Nationals' second-half collapse and the recent dugout fiasco. But recognize that it's never easy for anyone, especially in a high-profile position, to admit their mistake and fire an employee they hired. "A tough day for me personally," Rizzo said in his opening statements during yesterday's media conference call. Rizzo knows the focus...