nationals

For Hairston, a step in the right direction

August 21, 2013, 11:32pm

CHICAGO - In the three days before he was shipped from the Cubs to the Nationals in a July 8 trade, Scott Hairston hit two home runs over just five at-bats. Then, the power disappeared for a little while. Hairston got off to a slow start with the Nats, hitting just .200 with a .529 OPS over 37 plate appearances entering last night. He wasn't showing any frustration outwardly, keeping his cheerful, joking demeanor in the clubhouse, but he was getting a bit annoyed with his inability to...

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Desmond, LaRoche, Span out of Nats lineup

August 22, 2013, 8:01am

Nationals

Desmond, LaRoche, Span out of Nats lineup

CHICAGO - The Nationals' lineup for this afternoon's series finale in Chicago is without three regulars - Ian Desmond, Adam LaRoche and Denard Span. Desmond felt his back tighten up on him during batting practice yesterday and was pulled from last night's game as a precaution as part of a double-switch in the fifth inning. He said after the game last night that he was fine and that on a scale of 1-to-10 of injuries that he's played through, this was a one. Still, Desmond is out of the...

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Rachel Levitin: Acquiring DeJesus an example of Nats trying to maintain first-place roster

August 22, 2013, 5:48am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Acquiring DeJesus an example of Nats trying to maintain first-place roster

When I got a text message from a Cubs fan friend of mine on Monday night, I can't say I was surprised by the what he had to say: "Look for me at the game. And David DeJesus is a good pickup." While I didn't see that friend on my television set, I did shoot him a message back in agreement. It's this move - a veteran pickup for the Washington bench - that continues to demonstrate that the Nationals organization is willing to make changes when changes need to be made. They showed that when...

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The lead is gone, Desmond leaves (Nats win 11-6)

August 21, 2013, 6:20pm

Nationals

The lead is gone, Desmond leaves (Nats win 11-6)

CHICAGO - What was a five-run lead is now gone. And we have a tie ballgame. The Nationals had a comfortable 6-1 advantage going to the bottom of the fifth, and just like that, the Cubs have come back to knot this game 6-6. The Cubs batted around in the fifth, sending 10 hitters to the plate and notching seven hits. Ross Ohlendorf surrendered a two-run homer to Anthony Rizzo (Rizzo's second longball of the night) that made it 6-3, and then the Cubs ran off five straight singles. The final...

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Squeezing out some runs (Werth keeps on crushing)

August 21, 2013, 5:04pm

Nationals

Squeezing out some runs (Werth keeps on crushing)

CHICAGO - Last night, the Nationals put 21 runners on base and just four of them came around to score. Through two innings tonight, they've put four runners on and plated three of them. That's a much better ratio there, fellas. The Nats have a 3-1 lead going to the third thanks to a couple hard-fought at-bats, a hot-shot Kurt Suzuki groundball that got under the glove of Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and a well-executed squeeze by Ross Ohlendorf. With one out in the inning, Ian Desmond...

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On Espinosa and a possible September call-up (plus Roark note)

August 21, 2013, 3:19pm

Nationals

On Espinosa and a possible September call-up (plus Roark note)

CHICAGO - When the Nationals optioned Danny Espinosa to Triple-A Syracuse in mid-June, they certainly hoped that the struggling second baseman would be able to get on track in the minors and then come back up to help the big league club in some capacity this season. At this point, however, it's not looking likely that we'll see Espinosa in the majors the rest of this year. Manager Davey Johnson seemed to indicate today that Espinosa's chances of being among the Nats' September call-ups...

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Bernadina signs with Phillies, Ohlendorf returns (plus Nats lineup)

August 21, 2013, 12:25pm

Nationals

Bernadina signs with Phillies, Ohlendorf returns (plus Nats lineup)

CHICAGO - Roger Bernadina was released by the Nationals on Monday, but he won't be going too far, either geographically or within the realm of Major League Baseball. Bernadina has signed with the Phillies, the team announced today, meaning the Nats will see the speedy outfielder in about a week and a half when they head to Philadelphia for a three-game set against their division rivals. After clearing waivers, Bernadina - who had been the longest-tenured Nats player prior to Monday - was...

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Haren's turnaround and its implications beyond this season

August 20, 2013, 11:25pm

Nationals

Haren's turnaround and its implications beyond this season

CHICAGO - It really wasn't too long ago that Dan Haren could have, based on the numbers, been legitimately considered the worst starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. As of June 22, Haren led the majors in home runs allowed and had the highest ERA of any qualified starter in the National League. His WHIP was 1.43 (in other words, he was allowing an average of nearly 1 1/2 batters to reach via a hit or a walk every inning) and his OPS against was .888. Over the last six weeks, things...

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Nationals launch its first-ever season plan eCash reward incentives for 2014

August 21, 2013, 10:49am

Nationals

Renew your expiring Season Plan or become a new Season Plan Holder now and you are eligible to receive up to 15% in Bonus eCash rewards loaded directly onto your Ultimate Ballpark Access Account to use at concessions and for merchandise Plus, receive loyalty points for free tickets, upgrades, parking and access to one-of-a-kind experiences with your new purchase of a season plan Washington Nationals fans who renew their expiring season plan or purchase a new 2014 season plan can earn Bonus...

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Should Nats let Davey Johnson manage last month if they don't turn it around?

August 21, 2013, 8:42am

Nationals

Should Nats let Davey Johnson manage last month if they don't turn it around?

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo hasn't given up on the season, but at a time when the Phillies fired a legend, Charlie Manuel, there is a similar question for the Nationals: If there is no hope for the team by Sept. 1, is it best for manager Davey Johnson to work the final month? Johnson, who said before the season that this would be his last, deserves to go out on his own terms, but the final month could give Rizzo a chance to see how Randy Knorr looks as a manager and how he handles...

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David Huzzard: David DeJesus and the Nats' 2014 bench

August 21, 2013, 5:26am

Nationals

David Huzzard: David DeJesus and the Nats' 2014 bench

Sometimes the best moves a general manager can make are the ones that look confusing at first. Keep in mind general managers are allegedly smarter than the media and bloggers, and should be a couple of steps ahead of us. One the surface, the David DeJesus trade looks weird. The Nats don't need him for this season and his $6.5 million option is a lot to pay for a bench player for 2014, but let's look at the Nationals bench, or let's not because H.P. Lovecraft couldn't describe a monster as...

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Johnson, Desmond and Span talk missed chances, clutch hits late in 4-2 win

August 20, 2013, 9:09pm

Nationals

Johnson, Desmond and Span talk missed chances, clutch hits late in 4-2 win

CHICAGO - It's easy to chuckle about the fact that the Nationals put 21 runners on base and scored just four runs now that tonight's 4-2 win is in the books. Had the end result been different, Davey Johnson and the guys in the Nats clubhouse wouldn't have been laughing. The Nats had 14 hits and drew seven walks off Cubs pitching tonight. But somehow, entering the ninth inning, they still had put just two runs up on the scoreboard. They got two big insurance runs in the ninth on RBI...

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Nats option Krol to make room for Ohlendorf

August 20, 2013, 8:24pm

Nationals

Nats option Krol to make room for Ohlendorf

CHICAGO - Needing to clear a roster spot for right-hander Ross Ohlendorf, who will come off the disabled list and start tomorrow, the Nationals have optioned left-handed reliever Ian Krol to Triple-A Syracuse. Krol got off to a tremendous start with the Nats after his promotion from Double-A Harrisburg in early June, throwing 9 2/3 scoreless innings to start his big league career, with 12 strikeouts and one walk in that span. The 22-year-old has had a much tougher time of late, however,...

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Missed chances galore for both sides (Nats win 4-2)

August 20, 2013, 5:40pm

Nationals

Missed chances galore for both sides (Nats win 4-2)

CHICAGO - Call this the game of missed opportunities. And not just for the Nationals, for once. For both teams. The Nats and Cubs have combined to go 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position through the first four innings tonight. Seven of those missed chances have fallen at the feet of the Cubs, who have put runners on early in innings but haven't been able to do much of anything with them. Ryan Zimmerman's RBI double in the first inning and Brian Bogusevic's solo homer in the fourth...

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Source: Strasburg, Johnson won't be suspended for Atlanta incident

August 20, 2013, 1:43pm

Nationals

Source: Strasburg, Johnson won't be suspended for Atlanta incident

According to a Major League Baseball source, neither right-hander Stephen Strasburg nor manager Davey Johnson will be suspended for Saturday's incident in Atlanta during which the Nationals starting pitcher hit Justin Upton with a first-inning pitch and later threw behind Andrelton Simmons, earning ejections for both himself and Johnson. After Strasburg drilled Upton with a first-pitch fastball in the first inning, home plate umpire Marvin Hudson warned both benches that any further...

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What's next in the Nats' long search for a new spring home? (updated)

August 20, 2013, 4:55pm

Nationals

What's next in the Nats' long search for a new spring home? (updated)

So Kissimmee, Fla., is out as a possible spring training base for the Nationals. Where does that leave the Nats in terms of their longstanding desire to relocate spring camp to a location that offers both a new stadium and more teams closer by? For the time being, they'll stay in Viera, Space Coast Stadium and the adjacent minor league complex. Though it's not their preference, the Nationals at least have a functional facility at their disposal - at least until their lease runs out at the...

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Source: Nationals promote three more prospects

August 20, 2013, 3:05pm

Nationals

One day after promoting top prospect Lucas Giolito to short season Single-A Auburn, according to a source the Nationals have announced plans to promote three more prospects. Left-hander Brett Mooneyham will start for Single-A Potomac on Thursday, weather permitting. Mooneyham was 10-3 with a 1.94 ERA in 17 starts with Single-A Hagerstown. Austin Voth and Jake Johansen will also be promoted to Hagerstown. Both started the season with Auburn. Johansen, the Nats' top pick in the June draft,...

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Pregame notes on Moore, Storen, Harper

August 20, 2013, 3:24pm

Nationals

CHICAGO - Adam LaRoche is making the most of his day off today, as the first baseman spent part of batting practice getting some ground balls at shortstop, rotating in with Ian Desmond. LaRoche was casually scooping grounders with his first baseman's mitt and then whipping the ball across the diamond to first. It's a bit weird seeing a left-hander on the left side of the infield, I'll tell you that. The day off for LaRoche comes as a result of Davey Johnson wanting to get Tyler Moore into...

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Moore, Hairston starting for Nats

August 20, 2013, 12:29pm

Nationals

CHICAGO - Davey Johnson is again loading up his lineup with right-handed hitters against a left-handed starter, leaving Adam LaRoche and Denard Span on the bench in favor of Tyler Moore and Scott Hairston. Moore will play first base and bat sixth, while Hairston will play left field and bat eighth. Bryce Harper will slide over and play center field tonight and hit leadoff as the Nats face Cubs left-hander Chris Rusin. Rusin has a 3.06 ERA in six starts this season, and he's surrendered just...

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A twist in the DeJesus saga

August 20, 2013, 9:26am

Nationals

CHICAGO - As reported by FOXsports.com's Ken Rosenthal last night, just hours after the Nationals acquired David DeJesus in a trade with the Cubs, they placed him back on revokable trade waivers. In essence, that means DeJesus might not be around for all that long, after all. This is a strange bit of news, and I'm not entirely sure what to make of it, but there are a couple of theories here. First, it's possible that the Nationals simply made a mistake putting in a waiver claim on...