nationals

Examining candidates with big league experience who could become Nationals' next manager

October 05, 2015, 12:29pm

The Nationals fired manager Matt Williams and his coaching staff Monday. The team's general manager, Mike Rizzo, said that he'll keep an open mind in hiring Williams' replacement, but major league experience will likely be a necessity. Nationals coach Randy Knorr, Nationals players' choice two years ago when Rizzo hired Williams, may or may not be a candidate. Knorr has plenty of experience as a minor league manager and bench coach in the big leagues. If Rizzo is looking for a big league...

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Max Scherzer finishes season with NL Player of the Week honors after historic no-no

October 05, 2015, 1:51pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer finishes season with NL Player of the Week honors after historic no-no

In a bittersweet ending to a rocky year, Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer was named the National League Player of the Week after throwing his second no-hitter of the season on Saturday night. Yunel Escobar's sixth-inning throwing error was the only blemish that stood between Scherzer and a perfect game. From the end of the sixth until the middle of the ninth, Scherzer went on a rampage, striking out a franchise-high nine straight batters. Scherzer struck out a career-high 17 batters overall...

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Mike Rizzo explains decision for firing Matt Williams

October 05, 2015, 11:14am

Nationals

Mike Rizzo explains decision for firing Matt Williams

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo met with Matt Williams early this morning in his office just outside the clubhouse to inform him that the organization decided to end his two-year run as manager. "It was face-to-face, man-to-man," Rizzo said. "Matt took it as a professional. He was very thankful of the opportunity to manage this baseball team. He also was thankful for me showing a faith in him to give him his first managerial job. He's obviously very disappointed in the result and the...

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New voice and new leader for Nationals must meld clubhouse personalities to succeed

October 05, 2015, 7:59am

Nationals

The 2015 season came crumbling down for the Nationals despite having an extremely talented roster returning from a divisional title season. Injuries, bullpen issues, leadership and communication from the manager were many of the reasons why this promising season got untracked. On Monday morning, Matt Williams was dismissed as manager of the Nationals, one season removed from 96 wins and a National League Manager of the Year award. The Nationals stumbled to only 83 wins in 2015, playing well...

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Nationals fire Matt Williams and coaching staff

October 05, 2015, 1:36am

Nationals

After a season that ended woefully short of championship expectations, the Washington Nationals will search for a new leader for 2016 after firing manager Matt Williams this morning, according to a report from The Washington Post. General manager Mike Rizzo made the difficult decision less than two years after handpicking Williams, who had never managed in the majors before, to direct the Nationals' highly talented roster after Davey Johnson departed following the 2013 season. The Nationals...

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Bryce Harper ends remarkable "MVP-caliber" season

October 04, 2015, 5:50pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper ends remarkable "MVP-caliber" season

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Bryce Harper stepped to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning late this afternoon and the Nationals trailing 1-0. Harper, who couldn't possibly end his historic season without a hit, slapped a sharp grounder off Mets closer Jeurys Familia down the left field line. As Mets left fielder Michael Conforto chased the ball, Harper charged for second base, narrowly sliding in safely to keep the Nats alive for a few more moments. "Definitely excited to get that last knock...

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Bryce Harper already has a wish list for 2016

October 05, 2015, 12:22am

Nationals

Bryce Harper already has a wish list for 2016

FLUSHING, N.Y. - What was a stunningly impressive season for Bryce Harper turned out to be not as satisfying for the the young slugger as the Nationals exchanged handshakes and hugs on Sunday evening without a playoff series to move on to. "You look back on the year and you wish you were in the postseason," Harper said. "That's the main goal every single year when you start out. It's a bummer that we didn't get there this year. As a team, as an organization, we thought we had one of the...

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Wilson Ramos "very happy" to call all three Nationals no-hitters

October 04, 2015, 8:41am

Nationals

Wilson Ramos is in the record books, becoming only the 14th catcher in Major League Baseball history to catch three or more no-hitters. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first ever to catch three in a 162-game span. Right-hander Max Scherzer tossed his second no-hitter since June 20 on Saturday night in New York, striking out a career-high 17 in a 2-0 Nationals win over the Mets. Ramos also called Jordan Zimmermann's no-hitter at the end of 2014. Ramos has also called all three...

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Ian Desmond: "I'm extremely proud to say that I was a Washington National"

October 04, 2015, 4:46pm

Nationals

Ian Desmond: "I'm extremely proud to say that I was a Washington National"

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Ian Desmond stood up in front of his locker as reporters approached. The bright lights of the cameras popped on reflecting off of the welling tears in Desmond's eyes. Desmond, the only player left from the organization's move from Montreal to D.C., had just finished playing most likely his final game with the Nationals. "When I got drafted by the Expos, they didn't know where the team would be," Desmond said fighting back tears. "But they couldn't have found a better...

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Matt Williams: "I think we're all disappointed in the outcome"

October 04, 2015, 3:34pm

Nationals

Matt Williams: "I think we're all disappointed in the outcome"

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Nationals manager Matt Williams decided against speaking on his future with the organization following today's season-ending 1-0 loss to the division-winning Mets. "I'm with (general manager Mike Rizzo) in that everything will be evaluated," Williams said. "So we'll get home and evaluate everything." Given the chance to defend himself further and asked how much he would like to return as Nationals manager in 2016, Williams simply responded "It'll be...

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Nationals manage only two hits, losing season finale 1-0

October 04, 2015, 12:56pm

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - A day after their ace Max Scherzer fired his second no-hitter of the season, the Nationals have failed to come up with a hit through six innings. Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom held Washington hitless in the first four innings before leaving the game to stay rested for the National League Division Series later this week. deGrom struck out seven and walked two. Right-handers Bartolo Colon and Logan Verrett combined for two perfect innings in relief. Bryce Harper is 0-for-3 with...

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Rizzo's decision on Williams soon: "We're not gonna let people twist in the wind"

October 04, 2015, 11:25am

Nationals

Rizzo's decision on Williams soon: "We're not gonna let people twist in the wind"

FLUSHING, N.Y. - As we come to the end of the road on a season that finished far too prematurely for the Nationals, many questions face the organization regarding the future. First on the general manager Mike Rizzo's list is a decision on who will manage the Nationals in 2016. A report on CBSSports.com on Friday indicated that Williams will be relieved of his managerial duties after the season. "We're gonna jump into our postseason mode probably on the plane leaving New York City," Rizzo...

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Nationals game blog: Tanner Roark starts the season finale

October 04, 2015, 11:47am

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Coming off the high of Max Scherzer's dazzling no-hitter last night, the Nationals enter today's finale with the realization that their season is coming to an end. A roller coaster season of bouncing back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation for Tanner Roark ends with a start today. Roark is coming off arguably his best outing of the season last Tuesday. The right-hander held the Braves to just two runs over 6 2/3 innings in the Nationals' 2-0 loss. Roark is 3-0 with a...

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Max Scherzer nearly reached baseball immortality with two perfect games this season

October 04, 2015, 7:03am

Nationals

Max Scherzer nearly reached baseball immortality with two perfect games this season

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Max Scherzer became just the sixth pitcher in Major League Baseball history to throw two no-hitters in the same season in the game's storied history. But do you know how close he was to tossing two perfect games? How about Jose Tabata's dropped elbow and Yunel Escobar's skipped throw across the diamond. That close to baseball immortality. Of course you'll remember Scherzer just one strike away from perfection against the Pirates on June 20 at Nationals Park when Tabata...

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Max Scherzer "speechless" after joining elite company with second no-hitter this season

October 03, 2015, 9:35pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer "speechless" after joining elite company with second no-hitter this season

FLUSHING, N.Y. - For much of the night, Max Scherzer faced a lineup filled with Mets reserves. But in the ninth inning of a 2-0 game, New York manager Terry Collins sent his heavy hitters - Yoenis Cespedes, Lucas Duda and Curtis Granderson - to the plate and Scherzer responded. "That's where I had to check myself," Scherzer recalled. "'Hey, stay within yourself. Don't let the intensity, the moment get too big. Just do what you do. You know these hitters. You know what you want to execute...

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Bryce Harper chasing batting title, home run crown in finale (with lineups)

October 04, 2015, 9:25am

Nationals

Bryce Harper chasing batting title, home run crown in finale (with lineups)

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Bryce Harper takes a shot at a National League batting title and home run crown in this afternoon's season finale at Citi Field. Miami's Dee Gordon and Harper share the batting lead with a .331 average. The Mets throw All-Star right-hander Jacob deGrom against Harper and the Nationals, while Gordon faces Phillies right-hander David Buchanan, who brings a 7.54 ERA in 14 starts into today's game. Harper is also evened up with Colorado's Nolan Arenado at 42 homers. Colorado...

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With authority, Max Scherzer throws no-hitter: "I'm coming at you with all I've got"

October 03, 2015, 7:10pm

Nationals

With authority, Max Scherzer throws no-hitter: "I'm coming at you with all I've got"

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Max Scherzer did it again. The dominant right-hander became the first pitcher since Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan in 1973 to throw two no-hitters in the regular season as the Nationals shut out the Mets 2-0. "You're speechless when you hear stuff like that," Scherzer said. A sixth-inning throwing error from Yunel Escobar interfered with Scherzer's bid for perfection but not much else bothered him tonight. He struck out a career-high 17 batters, including nine straight during a...

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Max Scherzer makes history with second no-hitter of season

October 03, 2015, 4:31pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer makes history with second no-hitter of season

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Nationals ace Max Scherzer has not allowed a baserunner through the first five innings. The right-hander has struck out eight Mets and only gone to two three-ball counts. This is the fourth time Scherzer has taken a perfect game into the sixth inning this season. It's also the second time he has taken a no-hitter into the sixth against the Mets. Scherzer has thrown just 55 pitches. The Nationals took the lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Wilson Ramos scoring Michael...

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Matt den Dekker and Clint Robinson ending strong

October 03, 2015, 2:12pm

Nationals

Matt den Dekker and Clint Robinson ending strong

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Matt den Dekker starts in right field again tonight with Bryce Harper out of the lineup. den Dekker doubled in the first game and helped the Nationals to victory with a spectacular running catch in the third. With two on and one out and left-hander Gio Gonzalez laboring, Daniel Murphy belted a fastball deep to right-center field which appeared headed for extra bases. The speedy den Dekker sprinted to the gap, making a sensational run-saving grab high over his head for the...

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Rivero and Robinson display potential in what could be expanded roles in 2016

October 03, 2015, 4:08pm

Nationals

Rivero and Robinson display potential in what could be expanded roles in 2016

The Nationals dropped the Mets 3-1 in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday in New York. Clint Robinson and Felipe Rivero played important roles in the win. They also should play significant roles for the Nationals in 2016. Robinson launched a solo homer three-quarters up the second level of right field at Citi Field to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead leading off the top of the seventh. It was his second homer in as many games, giving him 10 homers on the season. He hit 141 homers in his...