nationals

Will the Nats be taking home any hardware?

October 30, 2013, 4:35am

Fans didn't have a say in how the Rawlings Gold Glove Award voting turned out, but if you'd like, you can place your vote for what's called the

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Debating whether the Nats can return to their 2012 form

October 29, 2013, 6:16am

Nationals

Debating whether the Nats can return to their 2012 form

Even with the way the Nationals underachieved this season, following up a 98-win campaign and a National League East title in 2012 by winning just 86 games and missing out on the postseason this year, there is a sense held by most around the game that the Nats are still a team on the rise. A good portion of the roster from the 2012 season is still in place. The starting rotation is headlined by three pitchers 28 years old or under (Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann), all of...

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Should Span be golden?

October 27, 2013, 11:24pm

Nationals

It's too bad the World Series hasn't been more entertaining through its first four games. All we've seen so far is a game end on an obstruction call (which had never happened before in the postseason), a game end on a pickoff (which had never happened before in the postseason), Jonny Gomes hit a game-winning homer after learning 90 minutes before first pitch he'd been inserted into the starting lineup, David Ortiz posting a Fall Classic OPS of 2.114 (even with him being robbed of a grand...

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Looking deeper into the Matt Williams hire

October 26, 2013, 5:59am

Nationals

Looking deeper into the Matt Williams hire

The first, and most significant, task the Nationals had to complete this offseason is all but done. Matt Williams is in line to become the Nationals' next manager, something that should become official shortly after the World Series comes to an end. Not surprisingly, the hire has created quite a discussion among many fans, some of whom like the decision made by the Lerner family and general manager Mike Rizzo, and some of whom wanted to see the Nats go in another direction. In reality,...

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Plotting out the injury timetables

October 27, 2013, 7:00am

Nationals

They got the call right. I hate the fact that a World Series game ended with a controversial call by the umpires, but the important thing is that the correct call was made. The issue last night, and this morning, and going forward, should be that Jarrod Saltalamacchia made a poor decision to throw down to third after the initial out at the plate, and also made a poor throw. If he holds the ball in that situation, we get a Koji Uehara-Pete Kozma matchup with two outs and runners at the...

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Strasburg, Harper, LaRoche all have "successful" surgery

October 26, 2013, 7:32am

Nationals

Strasburg, Harper, LaRoche all have "successful" surgery

The Nationals announced this morning that three players - Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Adam LaRoche - underwent "successful" surgery this week. All three guys are expected to be ready for the start of spring training. Strasburg underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow on Friday. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Strasburg is scheduled to resume his throwing program in four to six weeks and is expected to be ready for...

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Nationals plan to hire Matt Williams as next manager (updated)

October 25, 2013, 5:35am

Nationals

The Nationals likely won't make an announcement on who has been hired as their next manager until after the World Series has come to an end, but they've already made their selection. The Nats plan to hire Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams to replace Davey Johnson as their new skipper, a source familiar with the situation confirms. FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal was first to report the expected hire. In addition to hiring Williams, the Nats will try to keep Randy Knorr on as...

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Desmond, Span named finalists for Gold Glove awards

October 25, 2013, 7:11am

Nationals

Desmond, Span named finalists for Gold Glove awards

For the second straight year, the Nationals have had two players selected as finalists for Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. Last year, it was first baseman Adam LaRoche and shortstop Ian Desmond, with LaRoche taking home his first career Gold Glove. This year, it's Desmond and center fielder Denard Span. The Gold Glove winners will be announced Tuesday beginning at 8 p.m. on ESPN2. Desmond will go up against the Braves' Andrelton Simmons and the Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki for the Gold Glove...

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Marrero outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse

October 24, 2013, 1:18pm

Nationals

Former first-round pick Chris Marrero, once viewed as the Nationals' first baseman of the future, was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse today. This removes Marrero from the Nationals' 40-man roster and means that he'll become a minor league free agent after the World Series is over. The 25-year-old Marrero's time with the Nats is almost certainly now over. Marrero was taken by the Nats with the 15th overall pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Monsignor Edward Pace High School in...

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Time to get defensive

October 24, 2013, 5:52am

Nationals

Last night's game was perhaps the sloppiest I've ever seen the St. Louis Cardinals look. And man, did they pick a bad time to kick the ball all over the place. The Cardinals committed three errors in Game 1 of the World Series last night, but that doesn't even fully tell the story of how poorly they played defensively. In total, four unearned runs were allowed by the Cardinals. Nationals-killer Pete Kozma dropped a throw in the first inning that should have started a 4-6-3 double play and...

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Weekly Wrap: New manager announcement on horizon

October 24, 2013, 8:27pm

Nationals

Weekly Wrap: New manager announcement on horizon

Have you watched the Red Sox and Cardinals duke it out in the first two games of the World Series? While you continue watching to see who emerges as World Series champs, let's catch you up on things you may have missed around the Nationals organization this week. The Nats are continuing managerial interviews, including one with DeMarlo Hale this week. In addition, they have met with Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams, Padres executive Brad Ausmus and Randy Knorr. An announcement...

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An early glimpse at the free agent market plus a prediction (updated)

October 23, 2013, 5:48am

Nationals

An early glimpse at the free agent market plus a prediction (updated)

I'm going to give you the stat lines of two right-handed starters who were set to enter the offseason as free agents. These stat lines contain each player's numbers over the last two seasons. For the sake of a decent chuckle, let's compare the two, shall we? Player X: 20-29, 4.76 ERA, 383 2/3 IP, 72 ERA+, 1.389 WHIP, 1.0 HR/9, 3.9 BB/9, 9.0 K/9, 2.31 K/BB Player Y: 22-27, 4.50 ERA, 346 1/3 IP, 84 ERA+, 1.265 WHIP, 1.5 HR/9, 1.8 BB/9, 7.6 K/9, 4.25 K/BB Player X just landed himself a...

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Nats interview DeMarlo Hale for managerial job

October 22, 2013, 8:48am

Nationals

Nats interview DeMarlo Hale for managerial job

Another candidate for the Nationals' managerial job has emerged, as the team recently interviewed Blue Jays bench coach DeMarlo Hale, a source familiar with the situation confirmed this afternoon. Hale joins Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams and Padres executive Brad Ausmus as external candidates to have interviewed for the Nationals' managerial opening. Nats bench coach Randy Knorr and third base coach Trent Jewett are the two clear candidates from within the organization. Hale...

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Moving ahead, what happens to the coaching staff?

October 21, 2013, 8:53am

Nationals

Moving ahead, what happens to the coaching staff?

NatsTown is prepared for a new manager, and one should be named during the first week of November. But whether general manager Mike Rizzo decides to turn the managerial reins over to an in-house candidate or picks someone from outside the organization to succeed Davey Johnson, there will likely be a ripple effect that changes the makeup of the Nationals coaching staff. A new manager will want the latitude to assemble his own staff. Obviously, if either current third base coach Trent Jewett or...

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More manager rumblings, arbitration projections

October 22, 2013, 3:34am

Nationals

More manager rumblings, arbitration projections

Yesterday was a pretty big day across the Major League Baseball managerial landscape, with Tigers manager Jim Leyland announcing his retirement, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly publicly pressing for a multi-year contract and the Reds reportedly getting set to hire former pitching coach Bryan Price as their new skipper. Leyland's announcement was a bit of a surprise, but now opens up another managerial gig that arguably rivals the Nationals' in terms of attractiveness. The Tigers have loads of...

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Could Clippard or Storen be dealt this offseason?

October 21, 2013, 5:32am

Nationals

Could Clippard or Storen be dealt this offseason?

Outside of finding a new manager, which clearly tops the Nationals' list of offseason priorities, general manager Mike Rizzo has said that one of his biggest goals this winter will be to bolster the bullpen. As a team this season, Nationals relievers pitched to a 3.56 ERA, 17th-best in the majors, and had a .252 batting average against, which ranked 24th in the bigs. Compare that to 2012, when the Nats bullpen posted a 3.23 ERA (seventh) and .231 batting average against (seventh), and you...

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Managerial search slowly progressing

October 17, 2013, 4:45am

Nationals

The Nationals continue to keep the details of their managerial search hush-hush, but as we get deeper into October, things are slowly starting to progress in that area. The team will interview former big league catcher and current Padres special assistant to baseball operations Brad Ausmus, a source familiar with the Nationals' plans confirmed. FOXSports.com first reported that Ausmus would interview for the Nationals' managerial job. Ausmus, 44, played 18 seasons in the big leagues from...

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Mirowski, Benincasa get in, but Mesa falls 8-2 to Salt River

October 21, 2013, 5:42am

Nationals

Mirowski, Benincasa get in, but Mesa falls 8-2 to Salt River

Mesa hung in its game Saturday night until the ninth inning, before surrendering seven runs in an 8-2 loss to Salt River in Arizona Fall League play. Leading 2-1 heading into the top of the ninth, Salt River tallied seven runs on R.J. Alvarez, who blew the save. It was not all of his fault as four of the runs were unearned. Nationals prospects Richie Mirowski and Robert Benincasa got in before the onslaught. Mirowski went one inning, allowing two hits, a run and struck out one batter....

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Some of this, some of that

October 20, 2013, 6:38am

Nationals

Well, we have our World Series pairing. It'll be a rematch of the 2004 World Series, as the Cardinals will face the Red Sox, both of whom have advanced after winning their respective League Championship Series in six games. Two big swings propelled the Red Sox to their ALCS win - David Ortiz's grand slam into the bullpen in Game 2 and Shane Victorino's Green Monster grand slam last night in Game 6. Boston got average starting pitching, a mediocre offensive effort and tremendous work out...

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Timing out the managerial hire, plus notes on two former Nats

October 19, 2013, 6:07am

Nationals

Timing out the managerial hire, plus notes on two former Nats

The Nationals are already working their way through the first round of interviews for their vacant managerial position, having met with Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams and Padres executive Brad Ausmus, as well as Randy Knorr, who has served as Nats bench coach the last two seasons. But don't expect to hear any final word on who lands the Nats' managerial job until November. Things have ramped up a bit in general manager Mike Rizzo's search for a new manager, but according to...