Pete Kerzel

Some pregame Nationals notes

September 13, 2014, 12:32pm

Nationals right-hander Doug Fister has feasted on the Mets during his career, going 3-0 with a 0.44 ERA in three career starts against them. At Citi Field, he's 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA. In September/October (the two months are grouped together as one for statistical purposes, just March/April are), Fister has 16 victories in his career. That's his most for any month. He's got 11 wins apiece in July and August). * First baseman Adam LaRoche has sizzled in September, leading the National League in...

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Saturday's Nationals-Mets lineups

September 13, 2014, 12:02pm

Nationals

It's rainy and cool at Citi Field, where the Nationals are scheduled to play the third of four games this evening against the Mets. Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. on MASN HD. According to Weather Bug, there's a 40 percent change of precipitation at 7 p.m. in Flushing, N.Y., which rises to 60 percent at 8 p.m. and drops to 50 percent by 9 p.m. Temperatures will hold steady in the mid-60s, but the rain should be gone by 10 p.m. So there's a window. A late one, but a window...

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Rendon, Desmond return to lineup for Mets opener (with MLB postseason schedule)

September 11, 2014, 11:13am

Nationals

Rendon, Desmond return to lineup for Mets opener (with MLB postseason schedule)

The flu-like symptoms that caused third baseman Anthony Rendon to miss yesterday's game against the Braves are apparently no longer an issue, and he's back in the Nationals lineup for today's opener of a four-game series at Citi Field against the Mets. Ditto for shortstop Ian Desmond, who sat out yesterday's contest after leaving Tuesday's game early with tightness in his back. Tanner Roark (12-10, 2.91 ERA) faces Bartolo Colon (13-11, 3.96 ERA) in a battle of right-handers. For the...

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Nats, Astros pitching Palm Beach County tourism council about spring training site today (updated)

September 11, 2014, 7:34am

Nationals

Nats, Astros pitching Palm Beach County tourism council about spring training site today (updated)

Today's the day officials from the Nationals and Astros meet with the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council to make their pitch for a new shared spring training site. According to news reports, the teams will ask for Palm Beach County to chip in almost $155 million from a hotel tax to help offset costs for the stadium project. About $50 million in funds from a state program designed to retain Grapefruit League teams would be combined with almost $57 million from the Astros and...

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Horse named after Markakis triumphs at Laurel Park

September 11, 2014, 6:42am

Orioles

Horse named after Markakis triumphs at Laurel Park

We all know Nick Markakis has some kind of glove. What about yesterday's diving grab at Fenway Park that kept Wei-Yin Chen's perfect game intact, or the game-saving grab at the wall at U.S. Cellular Field last month? Yep, Markakis can flash the leather. But Markakis also has some pretty impressive closing speed. What's that? You say Markakis has only stolen four bases this season, six in the last three seasons and has only reached double digits in swipes twice in his nine-year career? Or...

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Nationals sign two-year working agreement with Single-A Potomac

September 09, 2014, 12:40pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today announced the signing of a two-year Player Development Contract extension (which begins in 2015) with the Potomac Nationals of the Single-A Carolina League through the 2016 season. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Vice President of Player Personnel Bob Boone, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Player Development Mark Scialabba made the joint...

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Rendon's triple-digit runs total has impressed Williams

September 06, 2014, 10:37am

Nationals

Rendon's triple-digit runs total has impressed Williams

With three runs scored in Friday night's loss, Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon now has 101 for the season and has retaken the major league lead in that category from Minnesota's Brian Dozier (100). Rendon is only the fourth player in team history to eclipse the 100-run mark in a season, joining Alfonso Soriano (119 in 2006), Ryan Zimmerman (110 in 2009) and Nick Johnson (100 in 2006). But the triple-digit total is just one aspect of Rendon's game. In addition to playing sparkling...

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Orioles announce 2014 award winners for player development and scouting

September 04, 2014, 10:40am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced the winners of their player development and scouting awards for 2014, including infielder Christian Walker as the club's top minor league player and right-hander Tyler Wilson as the club's top minor league pitcher. The winners will be honored in an on-field ceremony before tonight's game against the Cincinnati Reds, with awards presented by Director of Player Development Brian Graham and Director of Minor League Operations Kent Qualls. Walker, the Brooks Robinson...

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Hearing from the clubhouse after Nats prevail in wild 14-inning marathon

September 03, 2014, 6:16pm

Nationals

Hearing from the clubhouse after Nats prevail in wild 14-inning marathon

If this was a preview of what we can expect in the postseason should the Dodgers and Nationals meet, well, sign me up. The Nats' 8-5 victory in 14 innings had more twists and turns than Mulholland Drive. Based on the run-on reactions I saw on Twitter, fans were alternately emboldened with the hope that the Nats could pull off miracle after miracle or perilously close to running out of optimism over and over. It took 5 hours, 34 minutes and required the Nationals to use 26 players, both team...

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Williams charts Zimmerman's progress, says LaRoche should be available Friday

September 03, 2014, 10:46am

Nationals

Williams charts Zimmerman's progress, says LaRoche should be available Friday

Ryan Zimmerman is continuing the strengthening phase of his recovery from a torn right hamstring, and Nationals manager Matt Williams said Wednesday that the team would re-evaluate the next steps in the process once they return to D.C. on Friday for a six-game homestand against Philadelphia and Atlanta. "The last MRI was good," Williams told reporters in Los Angeles before the Nats faced the Dodgers in the finale of a three-game series. "He's continuing his strengthening. He's jogging and...

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Orioles recall Webb, Clevenger, McFarland; select contract of Berry

September 02, 2014, 11:01am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Ryan Webb from Triple-A Norfolk and catcher Steve Clevenger and left-hander T.J. McFarland from Class-A Aberdeen. Additionally, the club has selected the contract of outfielder Quintin Berry from the Tides. To make room for Berry on the 40-man roster, infielder Manny Machado has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Webb, 28, went 3-2 with a 3.80 ERA (42.2IP, 18ER) in 42 appearances for the Orioles earlier this...

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Williams and Harper on slugger's resurgence, plus more clubhouse chatter

August 31, 2014, 4:19pm

Nationals

Williams and Harper on slugger's resurgence, plus more clubhouse chatter

Two wins in three games against a Mariners team fighting for a spot in the postseason is nothing to sneeze at. Though the Nationals have largely had their way with the Mariners over the years, a series win in Seattle this season is significant. Losing pitcher Tanner Roark lamented one bad pitch to Dustin Ackley on Sunday afternoon: a meaty fastball that Ackley turned on for a three-run homer that helped the Mariners to a 5-3 victory and prevented a Nationals sweep at Safeco Field. The Nationals...

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Harper goes yard for second time (Nats fall 5-3)

August 31, 2014, 1:05pm

Nationals

Harper goes yard for second time (Nats fall 5-3)

You can't say Bryce Harper doesn't take instruction well. At Safeco Field, there's an eatery on the second deck in right field called the Hit It Here Cafe. Guess where Harper deposited his ninth home run of the season in the second inning? The mammoth blast, measured at 418 feet by the Mariners, staked Tanner Roark and the Nationals to a 1-0 lead. It was a no-doubter off the bat; the only question was how far it was going to carry. It glanced off a Plexiglass window of the cafe, bouncing...

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Orioles acquire De Aza from White Sox

August 30, 2014, 5:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired outfielder Alejandra De Aza from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league right-handers Miguel Chalas and Mark Blackmar. De Aza, 30, batted .243/.309/.354 (96-395) with five home runs, 31 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 122 games for the White Sox in 2014. In 545 career major league games, De Aza is a .268/.331/.398 hitter. De Aza has a .986 career fielding percentage in the major leagues and has seen action at all three outfield...

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Orioles recall Paredes from Triple-A Norfolk

August 28, 2014, 11:18am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that infielder Jimmy Paredes has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Paredes, 25, has batted .258/.286/.394 in 32 games at third base and second base for the Tides after being acquired from Kansas City on July 24. He batted .305/.332/.457 in 65 games for Triple-A Omaha in the Kansas City system earlier this year. Paredes will wear #38.

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Sept. 14 Yankees-Orioles game moved to 8:05 p.m. for ESPN broadcast

August 28, 2014, 11:01am

Orioles

Major League Baseball and the Orioles today announced that the start time for the Sunday, September 14 game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park has been moved from 1:35 p.m. to 8:05 p.m. The change in time is due to the selection of the game for exclusive television broadcast by ESPN. Eutaw Street gates will open at 6:00 p.m., with the rest of the ballpark opening at 6:30 p.m., on September 14.

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Nationals extend player development contract with Auburn Doubledays

August 28, 2014, 9:09am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today announced the signing of a two-year Player Development Contract extension (which begins in 2015) with the Auburn Doubledays of the short-season Class A New York-Penn League through the 2016 season. Nationals President of Baseball Operations & General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Vice President of Player Personnel Bob Boone, Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Player Development Mark Scialabba made the...

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Williams, Desmond and Fister weigh in after Phillies complete sweep

August 27, 2014, 7:56pm

Nationals

Williams, Desmond and Fister weigh in after Phillies complete sweep

Think Nationals manager Matt Williams is stewing over the Phillies' 8-4 come-from-behind win Wednesday night that gave them a series sweep? Think again. Sounds more like the skipper has already filed the three games at Citizens Bank Park away. The Nats might not be landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for another six hours, but Williams might as already be in the Pacific Northwest. The Nats didn't look so good Wednesday night. Doug Fister struggled through 5 2/3 innings and gave up...

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Umpires visit Johns Hopkins Children's Center

August 27, 2014, 3:57pm

Orioles

Umpires visit Johns Hopkins Children's Center

You've no doubt heard the old expression, "Nobody loves the umps." (Check out this clip from "I Love Lucy" with Bob Hope.) Well, that's not necessarily true. After a visit from the men in blue earlier today, a bunch of kids at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center think the oft-criticized arbiters are some of their favorite people. Scott Barry, Laz Diaz, Pat Holberg and Jeff Nelson - the crew assigned to tonight's Rays-Orioles game at Camden Yards - spent part of Wednesday at the hospital...

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Inactivity is LaRoche's enemy, while Fister shuts down running game

August 27, 2014, 3:01pm

Nationals

Inactivity is LaRoche's enemy, while Fister shuts down running game

Adam LaRoche's night off Tuesday because of a tightness in his back was nothing new for the veteran first baseman. He's battled back issues for five or six years now, and knows the triggers that cause him trouble. Inactivity is a problem, and this time, the 2Â½-hour bus ride from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia on Sunday evening apparently was the culprit. "I felt it for a couple days, just a little bit of stiffness, and then the bus ride just really got me," LaRoche said before...