nationals

Williams: Fister needs to sink the ball; updates LaRoche's recovery

May 14, 2014, 11:00am

Wednesday's starter Doug Fister would like nothing more than to put aside his season debut from last Friday in an 8-0 loss at Oakland. Manager Matt Williams believes Fister will have a better showing in today's start against Arizona. "I think he just needs to be down in the strike zone," Williams said. "I anticipate that today being on normal rest. We pushed him through an inning the last time out just to make sure his pitch count stayed up there and all of that worked the way we wanted it...

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Nats continue pursuit of new spring home in Palm Beach County

May 14, 2014, 9:17am

Nationals

Nats continue pursuit of new spring home in Palm Beach County

The Nationals are continuing their efforts to move their spring training headquarters to Palm Beach County, and they may not be the only team exiting Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. The Single-A Brevard County Manatees, a Brewers affiliate that plays in the Florida State League are listening to a pitch from Winter Park, Fla., near Orlando, where a new $30 million stadium would be built on a site owned by Rollins College. News of the Manatees' proposed move came on the same day that...

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Williams updates Zimmerman, McLouth, Ramos, Desmond, Storen and Frandsen

May 13, 2014, 4:43pm

Nationals

Williams updates Zimmerman, McLouth, Ramos, Desmond, Storen and Frandsen

Nationals manager Matt Williams received X-ray results on third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and his broken thumb. Zimmerman has been on the disabled list since April 13. Unfortunately, Zimmerman will not be able to begin strength exercises yet. "X-rays were good, but it is not fully healed yet," Williams said. "So the doctor is not comfortable with him starting any strengthening stuff yet. I imagine we will go back to that in about a week and see where he is at. It's only four weeks, doesn't...

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Rachel Levitin: Making do and searching for consistency

May 14, 2014, 5:24am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Making do and searching for consistency

Earlier this week, Nationals Buzz guest blogger Marty Niland pointed out something I agree with. He wrote, "The Nats need to make hay against the teams they are supposed to beat until injured stars (Adam) LaRoche, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman can return to the lineup and bring them back to full strength." One of the biggest problems facing the Nationals in 2014 is lack of consistency their overall performance due to health-related issues. This, of course, is a plague that haunts any...

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Desmond with another extra-base hit to get Nationals on board (D-backs win 3-1)

May 13, 2014, 6:07pm

Nationals

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond slammed a home run on Monday for his first extra-base hit since May 2. Sometimes when a hitter finally puts a charge in the ball, it can start something bigger. Desmond continued his good feeling at the plate in the second inning Tuesday in Arizona. After Wilson Ramos singled off of Diamondbacks starter Bronson Arroyo, Desmond hit a RBI triple to deep right field to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. It was Desmond's first triple of the season. Right-hander Stephen...

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About the late-game comeback

May 13, 2014, 1:35am

Nationals

PHOENIX - By no means would it have been time to panic if the Nationals had lost last night's game to the Diamondbacks. But, man, after a rough weekend in Oakland, getting swept by the A's and outscored 21-4 in that three-game set, last night's 6-5 comeback win over the D-backs sure felt good for the guys in the Nats clubhouse. "We needed that win," Danny Espinosa said. "Coming off the series we just came off, I thought we really needed that." "Let's be honest here: This weekend...

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Patriotic Series and Military Branch Days return for 2014

May 13, 2014, 1:00pm

Nationals

Patriotic Series and Military Branch Days return for 2014

The Washington Nationals will mark the return of the Patriotic Series Presented by SAIC when the team hosts Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 17. To pay tribute to the men and women who serve in the U.S. armed forces, the Nationals will offer complimentary tickets to military service members (active duty, dependent, reservist or retiree) for SaturdayÂ’s game. Service members may claim up to two complimentary tickets for each military ID and purchase additional tickets at a discounted rate....

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Stuart Wallace: Advanced metrics show third base isn't second nature for Rendon

May 13, 2014, 4:57am

Nationals

Stuart Wallace: Advanced metrics show third base isn't second nature for Rendon

In the face of a position change, Anthony Rendon has gotten off to a solid start with the bat in 2014. Despite a 2-for-12 showing against Oakland Athletics pitching extinguishing his dalliance with a .300 batting average for the time being, the third baseman is still in good shape, putting up a .349 weighted on-base average (league average is currently .310), good third on the Nationals. Currently manning the hot corner while Ryan Zimmerman is on the mend with a thumb injury, Rendon has done...

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Williams discusses Nats' thrilling comeback win

May 12, 2014, 9:32pm

Nationals

Williams discusses Nats' thrilling comeback win

PHOENIX - Talk about a roller coaster of a ballgame in the desert. Four lead changes, four multi-run half-innings, 13 extra-base hits and a ninth-inning comeback that featured two solo shots from guys who started the season on the Nationals bench. This one had quite a few twists and turns, all right. In the end, the Nats escaped with a dramatic 6-5 win, thanks largely to ninth-inning homers off the bats of Danny Espinosa (a shot that tied the game) and Kevin Frandsen (a shot that gave the Nats...

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Nationals look to forget Oakland at Arizona (Nats rally for 6-5 win)

May 12, 2014, 5:54pm

Nationals

After being unable to ever get comfortable against the Oakland A's and getting swept, the Nationals could ask for nothing more than to get off to a quick start in Arizona against the vulnerable Diamondbacks, a team that has won just three of their first 18 games at home. Facing Josh Collmenter, leadoff hitter Denard Span fought through four straight cutters before getting a changeup and lacing it for a triple to center field to begin the game. Anthony Rendon brought him home on a sacrifice fly...

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Williams on being back in Arizona, updates Zimmerman and Harper injuries

May 12, 2014, 4:56pm

Nationals

Williams on being back in Arizona, updates Zimmerman and Harper injuries

Tonight, Matt Williams makes his return to Phoenix where he was a coach for the Diamondbacks, but now he is in his new role as the manager of the Nationals. Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson was excited to see his old friend back in Arizona, but that doesn't change his competitive fire to try to beat the opponent. "I want to beat his (butt), too," Gibson said. "That is mutual. But (Williams) does it right. We have a lot in common. Just the way we were brought up. We talked a lot when he was...

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Nats sign Greg Dobbs to minor league deal

May 12, 2014, 7:26am

Nationals

Nats sign Greg Dobbs to minor league deal

PHOENIX - With Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche and Bryce Harper all currently on the disabled list, the Nationals added an experienced corner infielder and outfielder today, signing veteran Greg Dobbs to a minor league deal. Dobbs, 35, was designated for assignment by the Marlins back on April 29, and Miami released Dobbs last week. The California native appeared in 15 games for the Marlins this season, going 1-for-13 with four strikeouts. He hit .228/.303/.300 with two home runs and 22 RBIs in...

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Lineups for Nats' series opener in Arizona

May 12, 2014, 2:35pm

Nationals

Lineups for Nats' series opener in Arizona

PHOENIX - Matt Williams is back in Arizona for the first time as Nationals manager after being hired away from the Diamondbacks. Williams has a long history with Arizona as an original Diamondbacks player, a broadcaster, partial owner and coach. From 2010-13, he was a member of the team's staff, serving as first base coach and then third base coach. As for the lineup, Tyler Moore is back at first, Nate McLouth is in left and Jordan Zimmermann is on the mound. Wilson Ramos is catching after...

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A big series lies ahead

May 11, 2014, 11:31pm

Nationals

PHOENIX - I'm not one of those guys who calls a game in May a "must-win" or overreacts about a talented team's performance early on in the season. I'm really not. Trust me. I buy into the whole idea that it's a 162-game season and that there's plenty of time for things to come around, if a team plays well enough. That said, this three-game series coming up here in Arizona is a big one for the Nationals. And I say that for a couple of reasons. It's pretty evident that the Nats are...

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Nats down to 67 percent of opening day offense

May 12, 2014, 3:17am

Nationals

Nats down to 67 percent of opening day offense

With the news the Nationals will be without first baseman Adam LaRoche for what could be until the end of the month of May, the offense is now without three of its top hitters. It feels like catcher Wilson Ramos just got back from a left hand fracture. Now, LaRoche takes his place on the sidelines, out with a quad injury on the 15-day disabled list. And it is not like any of the three players will be coming back any time soon. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is likely out until mid-June with a...

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Marty Niland: In era of parity, Nats put disparity on display

May 12, 2014, 6:33am

Nationals

Marty Niland: In era of parity, Nats put disparity on display

Parity seems to be a buzzword in the major leagues these days. Much has been written about how the low-budget, small-market teams like the Oakland A's are competitive with big-spending clubs. It was disparity, however, that best described last weekend's series between Nationals and the A's. It played out like a three-day infomercial for "Moneyball," the 2003 book that chronicled Oakland general manager Billy Beane's tactics in assembling a ball club that is not only the two-time defending...

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Nats players react to Gonzalez's outing and dugout incident

May 11, 2014, 4:25pm

Nationals

Nats players react to Gonzalez's outing and dugout incident

Gio Gonzalez was far from his best when making his first start in Oakland since the A's traded him to the Nationals in December 2011. The game had essentially been decided by the time the second inning was done with the Nats trailing 7-0 after two on the way to a 9-1 loss to the Athletics. Gonzalez had easily his worst start of the season, allowing seven runs on nine hits, including two homers, in 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander walked three, struck out four and saw his ERA jump from 2.91 to...

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Williams on Nats' sweep-clinching 9-1 loss to A's

May 11, 2014, 4:51pm

Nationals

Williams on Nats' sweep-clinching 9-1 loss to A's

Nationals manager Matt Williams covered Gio Gonzalez's struggles, the dugout incident and other shortfalls he saw in Sunday's 9-1 loss to the A's, as well as the sweep as a whole. Here are some selections from Williams' postgame media session. On whether he had anything special to say to the team after being swept: "No. We got manhandled today. Last night, we had a chance to win one and that didn't happen. Three more tough games on this road trip, so we've got to regroup and play well...

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The injuries continue to mount (Moore called up)

May 11, 2014, 7:40am

Nationals

The injuries continue to mount (Moore called up)

OAKLAND - Get ready for a remarkable piece of information. You prepared? Even though we're just 35 games into the 2014 season, five of the Nationals' starting opening day position players have already landed on the disabled list. Adam LaRoche, Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos and Denard Span. That's five of the eight. And that doesn't even include fourth starter Doug Fister, who missed six weeks on the DL, and reserve outfielder Scott Hairston, who also missed time while on...

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Moore excited for opportunity to be back with Nats

May 11, 2014, 10:53am

Nationals

Moore excited for opportunity to be back with Nats

Tyler Moore didn't need to wait long to rejoin the Nationals. Just four days after being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, the Nats brought Moore back to help fill in for injured first baseman Adam LaRoche. Moore got in around midnight after playing one game for the Chiefs during a brief minor league stint. Is he rested to play today against the Athletics? "I've had worse," he joked. Syracuse was in Columbus when Moore got the call to head west. He didn't expect to be called...