nationals

Is MLB's new slide rule too severe?

April 07, 2016, 2:50pm

Major League Baseball is trying to make sliding plays at second base safer, but, as the season starts, the debate has shifted to whether MLB has gone overboard with regulations. This started in October's playoffs when the Dodgers' Chase Utley slid late into second base and broke the leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. A rules committee was formed. Now there are rules that put restrictions on the play where a runner can break up a double play. Are the rules too severe? The new Rule 6.01 says...

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After wild first inning, rain hits home opener (Nats lose 6-4)

April 07, 2016, 1:04pm

Nationals

After wild first inning, rain hits home opener (Nats lose 6-4)

The Nationals and Marlins took the field at 4:05 p.m. knowing they had a window of clear weather to begin today's game and probably get several innings in the books before the expected rain returned to the area. Turns out both lineups were just too darn productive out of the chute to get more than an inning and a half completed before the first delay of the afternoon. Both the Marlins and Nationals scored three runs in the first inning, turning the home opener into a slugfest. Miami got to...

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Rizzo on roster depth, payroll and relationship with Baker

April 07, 2016, 12:18pm

Nationals

Rizzo on roster depth, payroll and relationship with Baker

Mike Rizzo knows too much about injuries to his roster, having spent the majority of the 2015 season trying to patch and re-patch his Nationals club together for months after a host of key players went down. So when it happened again on opening day in Atlanta, when Ben Revere strained a right oblique muscle on his very first swing in the very first inning, Rizzo knew he'd be calling upon his organizational depth yet again. "We try and think of every different type of scenario for injuries,...

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Ranking the Nationals' previous 11 home openers

April 06, 2016, 7:03am

Nationals

After an oh-so-quick, two-game road trip to Atlanta to open the season, the Nationals have returned to D.C. and today will get to celebrate their home opener. That's weather permitting, of course, and the forecast does not look good for today's scheduled 4:05 p.m. game against the Marlins, with heavy rain predicted pretty much all day. If this one gets postponed, look for it to be made up Friday (major league clubs purposely schedule an off-day following the home opener specifically for this...

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"Antsy" Gio Gonzalez will make initial 2016 start Monday

April 07, 2016, 10:40am

Nationals

"Antsy" Gio Gonzalez will make initial 2016 start Monday

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez confirmed he will make his first start of 2016 on Monday night as the Nationals play host to the Braves. "I'm looking forward to getting that ball and finally attacking that strike zone," Gonzalez said. "I haven't felt so excited like this in awhile. Hopefully here it goes." Gonzalez said pitching coach Mike Maddux put forward the scenario of holding him until the April 11 game. One schedule for the starters manager Dusty Baker said that might work is a...

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Nats game blog: Roark gets the ball for home opener

April 07, 2016, 11:14am

Nationals

Nats game blog: Roark gets the ball for home opener

With today's home opener, the Nationals begin a three-game, four-day series against the Marlins. It's right-hander Tanner Roark facing left-hander Adam Conley. The Marlins played the Nationals tough last season. The Nats led the season series 10-9 in 2015, but have won 37 of their 57 games (.649) against the Fish. The Nationals have won three straight in the series. Tanner Roark begins this season as a starter. Two years ago as a starter, he won a career-high 15 games over 31 starts. But last...

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Game 3 lineups: Marlins at Nats

April 07, 2016, 8:44am

Nationals

And for the first time in 2016 (exhibition games excluded), hello from Nationals Park! The home opener has arrived at last, though this could end up being a long day of waiting around for a game that may or may not be played. I don't know any more than all of you do, but my trusty weather app is showing dry skies until about 6 p.m. So maybe we'll be alright after all. Once they do play, it's Tanner Roark on the mound for the Nationals against the fearsome Giancarlo Stanton and the rest of...

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den Dekker caps wild day with game-winning double

April 06, 2016, 7:53pm

Nationals

den Dekker caps wild day with game-winning double

ATLANTA - Matt den Dekker was at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse at 2:30 p.m. today, taking batting practice in 35-degree weather, when Chiefs manager Billy Gardner called him into his office. The Nationals were placing Ben Revere on the disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle, Gardner explained, and were calling up den Dekker to take his place. The young outfielder needed to get back to his apartment ASAP, pack his bags and get to the airport so he could make a late-afternoon flight to...

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David Huzzard: Dusty Baker is already in charge

April 07, 2016, 5:25am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Dusty Baker is already in charge

It is good to have baseball back. Of the conclusions that can be drawn from this young season, there are none aside from the fact that A.J. Pierzynski cannot catch baseballs. There was one little mentioned and almost unnoticed event. While everyone was distracted by Bryce Harper's hat, Jayson Werth batted in the bottom half of the Nationals lineup and didn't tear up the lineup card or complain to the media after the game. Dusty Baker has passed his most important test as manager. He has shown...

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Opposite dugout: With Mattingly at the helm, Marlins look to contend in NL East

April 06, 2016, 7:19pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: With Mattingly at the helm, Marlins look to contend in NL East

Manager: Don Mattingly (1st season) Record: 0-2 Last 10 games: 0-2 Who to watch: RF Giancarlo Stanton (27 HR, 67 RBIs), 2B Dee Gordon (.333/.359/.418), 1B Justin Bour (23 HR, 73 RBIs), RHP Tom Koeler (11-14, 4.08 ERA), RHP A.J. Ramos (32 saves, 2.30 ERA) Note: Statistics from 2015 Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (9-10 in 2015) Pitching probables: April 7: LHP Adam Conley vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 4:05 p.m., MASN April 9: RHP Tom Koeler vs. RHP Joe Ross, 4:05 p.m., MASN April 10: RHP...

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Strasburg is Nats' new all-time strikeout king (Nats win 3-1)

April 06, 2016, 4:09pm

Nationals

Strasburg is Nats' new all-time strikeout king (Nats win 3-1)

ATLANTA - Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann will forever be linked as the Nationals' two young aces who helped transform their rotation into one of baseball's best, and the right-handers in some ways had a friendly competition between them for the last six years. Well, with Zimmermann now wearing the old English D on his cap in Detroit, the competition is no more. Which leaves Strasburg free to pursue as many of Zimmermann's club records as he can reach before becoming a free agent...

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Revere lands on DL with oblique strain, den Dekker recalled

April 06, 2016, 1:57pm

Nationals

Revere lands on DL with oblique strain, den Dekker recalled

ATLANTA - The Nationals managed to stay remarkably healthy all spring, offering a glimmer of hope they would enjoy some better fortune this season than the last two. But that good luck didn't even last one batter into the 2016 campaign. The club was forced to place Ben Revere on the 15-day disabled list this afternoon with a right oblique strain, an injury the new leadoff man and center fielder suffered on his very first swing in the top of the first inning during Monday's opener at Turner...

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Nats game blog: Strasburg looks to turn tables on previous visits to Atlanta

April 06, 2016, 12:55pm

Nationals

Nats game blog: Strasburg looks to turn tables on previous visits to Atlanta

The Nationals look to start the season 2-0 as they wrap up a series in Atlanta against the Braves. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has gone just 3-3 with a 4.79 ERA in nine career starts at Turner Field. His 19 walks there are the most he has surrendered in any visiting ballpark. But last season, Strasburg finished strong, going 6-2 with a 1.90 ERA in his final 10 starts of the season. He battled injury in the first half, going just 5-5 with a 5.16 ERA in 13 starts. Right-hander Bud Norris split...

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Game 2 lineups: Nats at Braves

April 06, 2016, 11:37am

Nationals

ATLANTA - Hello again from Turner Field, where tonight the Nationals and Braves wrap up their abbreviated, two-game series to open the season. Odd scheduling for this one, with the 4:10 p.m. start on Monday, then an off-day, then a 7:10 p.m. start tonight. The Nats aren't real happy this is a night game, what with their own home opener scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Thursday. All of this, of course, is weather permitting. Tomorrow's forecast in D.C. looks awful (90 percent chance of rain), so the...

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Nats' opening day payroll down for first time since 2007

April 05, 2016, 2:28pm

Nationals

Nats' opening day payroll down for first time since 2007

ATLANTA - For the first time in nine years, and for only the second time in club history, the Nationals' opening day payroll is down from the previous season. The Nationals' current roster (the 25 active players, plus those on the major league disabled list) is earning a combined $141,652,646 this season, ranking 11th in baseball, according to figures calculated by USA Today in its annual salary survey). That's down nearly $25 million from last year's opening day payroll, which ranked sixth...

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Nationals recall outfielder Matt den Dekker

April 06, 2016, 1:00pm

Nationals

NATIONALS RECALL OF MATT DEN DEKKER, PLACE OF BEN REVERE ON 15-DAY DISABLED LIST The Washington Nationals recalled outfielder Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday and placed outfielder Ben Revere on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to April 5) with a right oblique strain. President of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. den Dekker, 28, joins the Nationals before having a chance to appear in a game with Triple-A Syracuse, where he was...

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New takeout slide rule benefits Nats in opening day win

April 05, 2016, 10:47am

Nationals

New takeout slide rule benefits Nats in opening day win

ATLANTA - To anyone who has watched baseball for the last, oh, century or so, it looked like just about every double play that has been attempted. In the bottom of the seventh inning Monday afternoon at Turner Field, Hector Olivera grounded to third. Anthony Rendon threw to second baseman Daniel Murphy to force out Nick Markakis, who slid into and then through the bag. Murphy's turn and throw to first was way too late to get Olivera. So just a typical 5-4 fielder's choice, right? Not...

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Charlie Fliegel: Staying healthy and on field is key to Nats' season

April 06, 2016, 5:09am

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Staying healthy and on field is key to Nats' season

There are plenty of things that really help swing a season one way or the other. For the 2016 Nationals, the answer is painfully obvious. Let's look at a few possibilities: The bullpen - it stunk last year, except maybe not as much as you remember. The Nats ranked 10th in the majors in bullpen ERA. Mismanaged and maybe too much in its own head (a.k.a. mismanaged), but not necessarily what made 2015 bad. I have more faith in their free agent acquisitions, young talent and a dnew pitching coach...

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Scherzer dominates, but once again plagued by home runs

April 05, 2016, 7:36am

Nationals

Scherzer dominates, but once again plagued by home runs

ATLANTA - Seven innings of three-hit ball shouldn't be a footnote, but given everything else that happened during the Nationals' wild opening day victory over the Braves, Max Scherzer's impressive start did kind of get lost in the shuffle. Let's give the man his due, though, because he pitched awfully well. Scherzer looked very much like the guy who dominated most of last season, keeping the opposition from stringing together hits and walks, using his deep repertoire of pitches to strike...

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Keister intrigued by team speed as Potomac introduces 2016 roster

April 05, 2016, 1:13pm

Nationals

Keister intrigued by team speed as Potomac introduces 2016 roster

WOODBRIDGE - High Single-A Potomac manager Tripp Keister introduced his 2016 P-Nats roster Tuesday at media day and is looking forward to working with the talent the club has assembled again this season. Keister believes they can be aggressive with some speed on basepaths and on defense. "It's exciting. I think the group of position players, there's some depth to the group, there's some length to the lineup," Keister said. "We're going to have some pretty good hitters one through nine....