frontstory_nationals2

Callis: Harper "best power prospect I have ever seen"

June 07, 2010, 8:06pm

Nationals selection of Bryce Harper as the top pick in the amateur draft could be one for the ages. In Bryce's only season at the junior college level, he set almost every major school record at the College of Southern Nevada, batting .443, including 31 homers and 98 RBI. The Coyotes hit 17 homers AS A TEAM in 2009. How good will Bryce Harper be and when could he make his major league debut with the Nationals? Jim Callis, Executive Editor at Baseball America had some strong words to...

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Strasburg, Storen Impress

April 11, 2010, 2:35pm

Nationals

In front of a sell-out crowd of 7,887 on a beautiful Sunday in Altoona, Pa., baseball fans in small town Pennsylvania got a glimpse at the future of the Washington Nationals. Just over nine months ago, the Nationals drafted an ace and a closer, Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen, two very different young men who will, over time, be asked to accept important roles in the organization's future. On Sunday, the duo did what they hope to continue doing in Washington for years to come. Pitching...

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Tomlin: "Strasburg will make a name for himself"

April 15, 2010, 5:21pm

Nationals

Tomlin: "Strasburg will make a name for himself"

Harrisburg Senators pitching coach Randy Tomlin took some time after batting practice Thursday to talk about Stephen Strasburg as he gets ready for his second start of the season. Strasburg was impressive last Sunday, going 5 innings, allowing 1 unearned run and striking out 8 Altoona Curve batters in a 6-4 win. We talked about Strasburg getting into a rhythm last week, is that again what you would like to see in his next outing? "Yes, we want him to get into a rhythm. Stephen was a little...

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Strasburg versus Reds in June?

May 04, 2010, 10:24am

Nationals

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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Going for the win in the 10th

May 05, 2010, 7:39pm

Nationals

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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Marquis: "I will be out 8-10 weeks"

May 12, 2010, 12:13pm

Nationals

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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Stammen says Red Sox game will help him against Phillies

April 07, 2010, 2:01pm

Nationals

Stammen says Red Sox game will help him against Phillies

Thursday getaway day matchup features Nationals righthander Craig Stammen taking on Phillies righthander Kyle Kendrick. Stammen made 19 starts last year and went 4-7 with a 5.11 ERA and did not pitch after August 29th. He had off-season surgery to clean out bone spurs in his elbow. He said the pain had bothered him to the point where he couldn't straighten his arm out completely and every off day was an attempt to get back to feeling good instead of refining his pitches or working on...

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What's going to happen once lockout ends?

February 25, 2022, 4:17pm

Nationals

What's going to happen once lockout ends?

It's a matter of when, not if, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement and the lockout ends. Spring will bloom and a new baseball season will be underway. The real question is what is going to happen once the lockout does, in fact, end? It wasn't our direct topic of conversation, but that question was discussed a bit on this week's episode of the "MASN All Access Podcast." I came up with three things that fall under that...

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Although young, Nats farm restocked with position players

February 11, 2022, 5:33am

Nationals

Although young, Nats farm restocked with position players

Last week, we discussed which Nationals pitching prospects could make their major league debuts this season, aside from Cade Cavalli. This week, we're pivoting our attention to the position players on the farm. Amy Jennings and I wondered, during this week's episode of the "MASN All Access Podcast," when we might see them in Washington. But for the purposes of this post, this exercise is going to be more of an appreciation of the restocking of the Nats farm system with position players...

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Despite issues, MLB still has more parity than other leagues

February 13, 2022, 8:07pm

Nationals

Despite issues, MLB still has more parity than other leagues

The National Football League crowned a new champion Sunday night, the Rams winning their first Super Bowl in 22 years (when they still played in St. Louis), making this their first Lombardi Trophy while representing Los Angeles. And they did so by beating a Bengals franchise making its first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years, a franchise still seeking its first title after this heartbreaking loss. The NFL, with its salary cap and even distribution of television money (something it can do...

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Who backs up Bell at first base?

February 18, 2022, 7:33am

Nationals

Now that the celebration of Ryan Zimmerman's retirement has had its moment in the spotlight - and don't worry, I'm sure there will be plenty more celebrations this season and in the years to come - it's time for the Nationals to look ahead as to what their future looks like without their face of the franchise. The long-term ramifications are still to be determined. But as it pertains to the 2022 season, Zimmerman's retirement leaves an immediate hole to be filled on the Nats roster: backup...

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Baseball America Nats No. 8 prospect: RHP Mason Denaburg

February 05, 2020, 5:17pm

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 8 prospect: RHP Mason Denaburg

The Nationals would like to see 2018 first-round selection Mason Denaburg build innings this upcoming season after battling through nagging injuries in 2019. The 20-year-old starter dealt with a shoulder issue that prevented him from enjoying most of his 2019 campaign. Baseball America Nats correspondent Lacy Lusk agrees this is an important year coming up for Denaburg. The right-hander is locked in as Baseball America's No. 8 prospect in its latest Nationals Top 10. No. 8 Mason Denaburg "The...

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How Condra-Bogan's fastball compares to Doolittle's four-seamer

November 16, 2019, 2:14am

Nationals

How Condra-Bogan's fastball compares to Doolittle's four-seamer

We continue our conversations with top Nationals prospects with Jacob Condra-Bogan. The first part of our sitdown is a look back on a very good campaign for the Duncan, S.C., native. The right-hander was acquired in 2018 in a trade with the Royals. He is a reliever who can fire upper 90s with his fastball on a consistent basis. Condra-Bogan sits at 95 mph with his fastball and can reach back for 97-98 mph. Condra-Bogan pitched in 38 games over 62 1/3 innings at Double-A Harrisburg, finishing...

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Rendon and Scherzer are finalists for postseason accolades

November 04, 2019, 2:27pm

Nationals

Rendon and Scherzer are finalists for postseason accolades

Right-hander Max Scherzer is a finalist for the National League Cy Young Award and third baseman Anthony Rendon is one of three finalists for NL Most Valuable Player, but the Nationals got as many snubs as finalists when the top three finishers for Baseball Writers' Association of America awards were announced live on MLB Network tonight. Manager Davey Martinez wasn't listed among the top three vote-getters for NL Manager of the Year and right-hander Stephen Strasburg was not among from the...

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Podcast provides interesting insight into Nationals analytics department

November 30, 2019, 2:53pm

Nationals

On his "Sports Info Solutions Baseball" podcast last week, Mark Simon (Twitter: @MarkASimonSays) talked about analytics and how the Nationals use data in several aspects of their baseball seasons. Simon visited with Nationals assistant general manager for baseball research and development Samuel Mondry-Cohen. Mondry-Cohen referred to his department as the "R&D department" within the Nationals organization. He said the development side of the club's analytics study is devoted to...

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Minor League Baseball refutes Major League Baseball's claims industry is "heavily subsidized"

December 14, 2019, 4:38am

Nationals

Minor League Baseball refutes Major League Baseball's claims industry is "heavily subsidized"

In the ongoing discussion regarding Major League Baseball's intention to eliminate 42 minor league teams in 2020, the two sides met during the Winter Meetings in San Diego. Following the meetings, Minor League Baseball contends MLB misrepresented several of facts "repeatedly and inaccurately" pertaining to the conditions and financial burden undertaken by each team based on the current Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA). A detailed four-page press release was sent out to the media...

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Baseball America Nats No. 9 prospect: SS Yasel Antuna

February 03, 2020, 5:40pm

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 9 prospect: SS Yasel Antuna

At No. 9 on the Baseball America top 10 Nationals prospects list is 20-year-old shortstop Yasel Antuna. Antuna is from Peravia, D.R., and is a switch-hitter who battled injuries in 2019, which held him to only three games for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals. In 2018, Antuna played in 87 games for Single-A Hagerstown. The infielder slashed .220/.293/.331 with 14 doubles, two triples, six homers, eight stolen bases and 27 RBIs. Baseball America Nationals correspondent Lacy Lusk says...

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MLB proposal would eliminate 42 minor league teams, including two Nats affiliates

November 18, 2019, 2:47am

Nationals

MLB proposal would eliminate 42 minor league teams, including two Nats affiliates

Major League Baseball has a proposal on the table that would eliminate 42 minor league teams - including the Nationals' short-season Single-A affiliate in Auburn, N.Y., and their low Single-A farm team in Hagerstown - in a reorganization plan first reported by Baseball America and the New York Times. In the statement to the New York Times, MLB said: "We are in discussions with the owners of the minor league teams to reorganize elements of the system with the goal of improving the working...

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Nats prospect watch: Denaburg building strength back in shoulder

March 23, 2020, 3:52am

Nationals

Nats prospect watch: Denaburg building strength back in shoulder

A promising future awaits right-hander Mason Denaburg, who is looking to get back to full health and get back to baseball once the season (hopefully) gets back on track. The 20-year-old Denaburg was a first-round 2018 selection for the Nationals, but has been recovering from shoulder issues this offseason and had most recently started throwing again in spring training. MLB Pipeline has Denaburg at No. 7 in their Nats Top 10 list. No. 7 Mason Denaburg "I see him a lot, but I have not seen him...

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Strasburg and Scherzer on losing Rendon in free agency

December 17, 2019, 9:01am

Nationals

Strasburg and Scherzer on losing Rendon in free agency

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg got his first opportunity to speak publicly about his legacy deal with the club Tuesday at Nats Park. Strasburg also talked about the departure of Anthony Rendon. "I was in contact with Tony," Strasburg said. "I have so much respect for that guy and for that family and everything he represents. I just wanted him to be in a situation that was best for him and his family. I'm happy for him. I think that's the way the game is, is that some guys might...