nationals

Nationals reportedly interview Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach

October 23, 2015, 4:18am

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...

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

October 22, 2015, 7:08am

Nationals

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...

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Bob Carpenter nominated for call of controversial moment in Max Scherzer's near perfect game

October 22, 2015, 7:24am

Nationals

Bob Carpenter nominated for call of controversial moment in Max Scherzer's near perfect game

It was one of the most controversial moments - not just in the Nationals' 2015 season, but in the team's history - and MASN's Bob Carpenter has been recognized for his efforts in bringing it to you. Carpenter has been nominated for the Esurance MLB Award for his call of when Pirates pinch-hitter Jose Tabata was hit in the elbow with a two-out, two-strike pitch in the ninth inning of Max Scherzer's near-perfect game. Scherzer was coming off a one-hitter in Milwaukee on June 16, when he...

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

October 21, 2015, 4:45am

Nationals

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'...

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Ron Gardenhire reportedly next to interview with Nats for managerial opening

October 20, 2015, 4:48am

Nationals

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...

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Palm Beach County commissioners approve construction bonds for spring training complex

October 20, 2015, 7:59am

Nationals

Palm Beach County commissioners approve construction bonds for spring training complex

Looks like the cost of the spring training complex the Nationals will share with the Astros has gone a little higher than expected. The teams have told Palm Beach County that the budget for the shared facility that is due to open in West Palm Beach for the 2017 Grapefruit League campaign has risen to at least $144 million from the $135 million that was approved in August. Any increase over the original $135 million budgeted for the project will be split between the Nationals and Astros, per an...

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Pedro Severino to play winter ball; Vladimir Guerrero tips cap to the Nationals

October 21, 2015, 7:24am

Nationals

Salt River edged Surprise 2-1 on Monday in a pitchers' duel between left-hander Ian Clarkin, a Yankees prospect, and right-hander Jeremy Gabryszwski, a Blue Jays farmhand. Clarkin allowed one run in four innings and Gabryszwski gave up one run in three frames. Nationals prospect Spencer Kieboom caught for four pitchers, who allowed only one run. The Rafters relievers combined for six innings of shutout ball, allowing only three hits, striking out four and walking one. Kieboom also went...

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AFL update: Estevez joins Salt River; Bostick off to good start in first week

October 19, 2015, 5:49am

Nationals

AFL update: Estevez joins Salt River; Bostick off to good start in first week

Second baseman Chris Bostick is ninth in OPS with 1.500 to begin the first week of Arizona Fall League play. He is fourth in slugging at 1.125. It is a small sample size, but Bostick has crushed two homers and has gone 3-for-8 in two games. He has scored four runs, has four RBIs and has stolen two bases. This hot-hitting run and display of power is a carryover from the end of the season for Bostick, Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba told me. "Chris Bostick had a really...

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Sammy Solis flashed in rookie season and finished strong

October 19, 2015, 5:16am

Nationals

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...

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Taylor Hearn and Koda Glover highlight strong pitching field in Florida

October 18, 2015, 6:08am

Nationals

Taylor Hearn and Koda Glover highlight strong pitching field in Florida

Instructional league has completed in Florida at the Nationals facility. The players now move on to offseason workouts and winter league competition. Focusing on the pitchers at instructional league, the group included the likes of Lucas Giolito, Erick Fedde and Reynaldo Lopez, plus many other of the top prospects in the Nationals system. A couple pitchers that did well during instructs were Taylor Hearn and Koda Glover. The 21-year-old Hearn is a left-hander who pitched at Oklahoma Baptist. He...

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

October 18, 2015, 6:54am

Nationals

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...

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

October 17, 2015, 6:08am

Nationals

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...

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Jose Marmolejos-Diaz has the lefty power bat the Nationals love

October 17, 2015, 4:39am

Nationals

I can't stop talking about first baseman Jose Marmolejos-Diaz, who tore up the South Atlantic league for the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns on his way to earning organizational Player of the Year honors. First and foremost, it is fun for play-by-play announcers just to roll his name off the tongue when he steps to the plate or makes a backhanded stab of a hot shot at first base. "First time you say it, it's kind of a fun name to say, let alone how good a player he is," said Hagerstown manager...

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On Mike Rizzo and the Nationals' managerial search

October 15, 2015, 8:31am

Nationals

Well, the parade has begun. Just not the one Bryce Harper envisioned when he uttered, "Where's my ring?" and thought hopefully of what a Constitution Avenue celebration might look like. The procession of potential candidates to replace the fired Matt Williams as manager of the Nationals is under way on South Capitol Street. Well, we assume the candidates are interviewing at the team's Nationals Park offices. The way the Nationals are handling this managerial search is so surreptitious that...

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

October 16, 2015, 1:51pm

Nationals

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...

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Notes on Bostick, Simms, Harper, Strasburg and Turner

October 16, 2015, 8:43am

Nationals

Notes on Bostick, Simms, Harper, Strasburg and Turner

Second baseman Chris Bostick, a late addition to Arizona Fall League play, unloaded Thursday with two homers as Salt River outpaced Peoria 9-7. Bostick went 3-for-4 with two-run shots in the sixth and eighth innings. He finished with three runs and four RBIs. Each of his homers gave the Rafters the lead: Down 4-3, his first made it 5-4 and tied at 5-5, his homer made it 7-5. He had two stolen bases on Wednesday and is hitting .375 in his first three games in Arizona. The speedy Bostick replaced...

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Nats forced to watch as Mets advance to NLCS

October 16, 2015, 4:52am

Nationals

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...

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Bud Black reportedly set to interview with Nationals today

October 15, 2015, 4:26am

Nationals

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...

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All talk about Trea Turner for 2016, but where will Danny Espinosa fit in?

October 15, 2015, 7:52am

Nationals

All talk about Trea Turner for 2016, but where will Danny Espinosa fit in?

The Nationals will have to adjust their infield next season with the departure of longtime shortstop Ian Desmond. Of the in-house candidates, should Yunel Escobar, Trea Turner or Danny Espinosa take over? Escobar has played most of his career as a shortstop. Last season, he played third base for the Nationals with Anthony Rendon out to begin the season due to injury. Escobar played 134 games at third base and hit a career-high .314. He had last played third base in 2007 with the Braves for 22...

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Salt River wins first game, Nats rank high in ESPN fan voting

October 14, 2015, 8:20am

Nationals

Salt River wins first game, Nats rank high in ESPN fan voting

Salt River beat Scottsdale 5-3 in its Arizona Fall League opener Tuesday night. The Rafters pitching was the story here, allowing the Scorpions only five hits in their first game in AFL play. Chris Bostick went 0-for-4, but scored a run thanks in part to his two stolen bases. Dakota Bacus came on in relief and pitched a scoreless frame late in the game, striking out two. Former Nationals prospect Danny Rosenbaum went 1 1/3 innings for Scottsdale, allowing two hits, no runs, one walk and struck...