nationals

A wave of experience for Rizzo in next round of interviews

October 14, 2015, 4:41am

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...

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Nationals reportedly interview Phil Nevin

October 13, 2015, 11:03am

Nationals

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...

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Top of the order never got in line with injuries to Span, Werth and others

October 14, 2015, 4:55am

Nationals

Top of the order never got in line with injuries to Span, Werth and others

Imagine the Cleveland Cavaliers without LeBron James for half the season or the New England Patriots with quarterback Tom Brady only available for eight games instead of the usual 16. And as the Capitals learned last night when they were blanked without leading scorer Alexander Ovechkin, not having your best player affects the entire team and its ability to score. These are dramatic examples, but the Nationals were without crucial parts of their offense for extended periods of time in 2015,...

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Anthony Rendon tested by "brutal" season

October 12, 2015, 9:38pm

Nationals

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...

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Salt River Rafters open season tonight in Arizona Fall League

October 13, 2015, 7:26am

Nationals

Salt River Rafters open season tonight in Arizona Fall League

The Salt River Rafters open Arizona Fall League play tonight against Scottsdale at 9:35 p.m. Eastern time at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. High Single-A Potomac's Tripp Keister is the manager of the team. Keister said that Oscar Hernandez, a Diamondbacks prospect, will do the bulk of the catching, and that Nationals farmhand Spencer Kieboom will do some catching and get to DH to build at-bats. Kieboom is coming off a concussion this recently completed season, so Keister said he will get...

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Knorr, LeCroy and Henley stay with Nationals in new roles, Daubach promoted

October 12, 2015, 8:53am

Nationals

The Nationals announced Monday that three of the coaches that did not have their contracts renewed with the major league club will stay in the organization in different roles. Former bench coach Randy Knorr assumes the position of senior assistant to the general manager, player development. Knorr brings a wealth of knowledge and minor league managerial and coaching experience with the Nationals to the position, which will be critical to maintaining cohesion within the system. Knorr managed the...

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Nationals would be wise to continue relationship with Ripken, just not as manager

October 11, 2015, 5:47pm

Nationals

Major League Baseball came down swiftly on Dodgers infielder Chase Utley following his slide into second base Saturday night that broke Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada's leg in the National League Division Series between New York and Los Angeles. Utley was suspended for Games 3 and 4 of the series. Utley will appeal the suspension, and because the series shifts to New York, where MLB is headquartered, expect a speedy resolution to the appeal. "After thoroughly reviewing the play from all...

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The Nationals and qualifying offers

October 12, 2015, 6:18am

Nationals

Baseball is a game dictated by numbers, and we now know an important one that will help shape the offseason. Sports Business Journal reported late last week that the qualifying offer for pending free agents this year will be $15.8 million, up from $15.3 million last offseason. The figure is determined by averaging together the top 125 salaries in the major leagues. Teams have until five days after the World Series to extend a qualifying offer to their prospective free agents, and the players...

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Searching for Adam LaRoche

October 10, 2015, 7:19am

Nationals

The Nationals will have a new look next season in many respects. They will have a new manager for the first time since 2013. They will also be without Ian Desmond and Jordan Zimmermann, two of the longest-tenured starters in their clubhouse. Not only will the players that step onto the field next season be guided by a new skipper, there also will need to be players in the clubhouse that lead by example. Those players may also need to be the sounding board for the younger players, who may need...

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Cal Ripken Jr. shows interest in Nationals' manager job

October 09, 2015, 7:36pm

Nationals

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...

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Jayson Werth battled through a tough season

October 09, 2015, 1:33am

Nationals

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,...

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Trea Turner will not play in Arizona Fall League, gets a rest after whirlwind season

October 09, 2015, 8:16am

Nationals

Trea Turner will not play in Arizona Fall League, gets a rest after whirlwind season

Nationals shortstop Trea Turner will not be participating in the Arizona Fall League, a club source confirmed. The organization has decided that Turner will get some rest after playing in 116 minor league games and 27 major league games this season. He is not injured. Turner was originally scheduled to be on the Salt River Rafters taxi squad, which meant he could participate only in games on Wednesday and Saturday. But Turner played for two organizations and four teams this season, and still...

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Nationals' managerial opening is attractive to Bud Black

October 08, 2015, 4:34am

Nationals

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...

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Ian Desmond delivers gracious message to Nationals fans

October 07, 2015, 4:24am

Nationals

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...

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Bostick replaces Difo in Arizona Fall League

October 08, 2015, 9:44am

Nationals

Bostick replaces Difo in Arizona Fall League

Double-A Harrisburg Senators second baseman Chris Bostick will replace injured infielder Wilmer Difo in the Arizona Fall League for the Nationals. Difo is out with a fractured left hand sustained against the Mets in the final weekend of the season and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. Bostick hit .375 (15-for-40) in his last 10 games of the season. The 22-year-old hit a combined .258 in 137 games for two teams, with 22 doubles, eight triples, 31 stolen bases, 12 homers and 58 RBIs....

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Jordan Zimmermann pens heartfelt farewell to Nationals fans

October 06, 2015, 6:11am

Nationals

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...

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Plenty of blame falls on Mike Rizzo as well

October 06, 2015, 4:50am

Nationals

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...

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Update on instructional league in Florida, prospect spotlight on Osvaldo Abreu

October 07, 2015, 8:55am

Nationals

Update on instructional league in Florida, prospect spotlight on Osvaldo Abreu

There is one week remaining in fall instructional league play in Viera, Fla., for the Nationals. They continue to work out and have also played a schedule against other major league instructional league teams. Rain hampered the start of the camp last week, but low Single-A Hagerstown Suns manager Patrick Anderson, who is coaching at the facility in Viera, said they are moving along well now. "We were able to get back on the field," Anderson said. "We're doing a lot of individual stuff,...

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Manager search: Triple-A Syracuse's Billy Gardner Jr. brings wealth of experience to post

October 06, 2015, 8:30am

Nationals

Manager search: Triple-A Syracuse's Billy Gardner Jr. brings wealth of experience to post

The Nationals open their search for their next manager looking for a skipper who has a good amount of experience in the job and communicates well with his players and staff. Triple-A Syracuse's Billy Gardner Jr. just finished his 21st consecutive season as a manager in the minor leagues. Very few can match his resume as far as pure baseball experience goes - and at almost every level. In 2007, his Montgomery club won the Double-A Southern League title. In 2012, he was named Southern League...

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Experience is key for Mike Rizzo in searching for new manager this time around

October 05, 2015, 12:37pm

Nationals

Experience is key for Mike Rizzo in searching for new manager this time around

With a turbulent season in the rear view mirror, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo immediately begins the task of staging a run back to the postseason in 2016. This morning, Rizzo took a giant first step in firing Matt Williams as manager. "We're going to immediately begin the process of the search of the manager," said Rizzo, wasting no time. "It will start this afternoon here in the front office and continue painstakingly until we have a manager under contract that we think is going to...