nationals

Stop pitching to Andrew McCutchen (Nats reach new low with 6-5 loss)

July 22, 2013, 4:00pm

Seriously. Just stop. Andrew McCutchen has come to the plate twice tonight in three innings of play. He's twice hit a two-run homer off Dan Haren. This is McCutchen's 27th career game against the Nationals. In those 27 games, McCutchen is hitting .444 with 13 homers, 26 RBIs and a 1.448 OPS. Yes, those numbers are accurate. Yes, those numbers are insanely high. McCutchen has now homered every 7.62 at-bats against the Nats in his career. Yes, that number is insanely low. You get the idea...

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Veteran players' reactions to firing of hitting coach Rick Eckstein

July 22, 2013, 1:30pm

Nationals

Veteran players' reactions to firing of hitting coach Rick Eckstein

A trio of Nationals veterans - third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, first baseman Chad Tracy and shortstop Ian Desmond - reacted for the first time to the news that hitting coach Rick Eckstein was relieved of his duties and replaced by the Nationals roving hitting instructor Rick Schu. Zimmerman reacted to Eckstein's release, saying it was not Eckstein's fault for the team's paltry hitting numbers and that the player has to take the responsibility for his hitting. "It is tough," Zimmerman said....

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Hairston says Rick Schu brings the right balance to the art of hitting

July 22, 2013, 2:43pm

Nationals

Hairston says Rick Schu brings the right balance to the art of hitting

Outfielder Scott Hairston remembered working with new hitting coach Rick Schu when he was battling back and forth between Triple-A Tucson and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004 and 2005. Hairston remembered a hitting coach that communicated well with the players and knew his craft. "It was good with Rick," Hairston said. "I think he is good at communication. From what I remember, he really didn't say much right away until he saw you hit in the cage or in a game. "It wasn't always...

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Rizzo: "I felt we needed a change and so I made the change"

July 22, 2013, 2:11pm

Nationals

Rizzo: "I felt we needed a change and so I made the change"

When Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo approached manager Davey Johnson and informed him the decision had been made to fire Rick Eckstein, Johnson stood up for his hitting coach. Johnson told Rizzo that if he wanted to change up the coaching staff, perhaps firing the manager was the way to go. Rizzo declined that offer, and instead made the decision to let Eckstein go and hire Rick Schu - a guy he worked with when both men were with the Diamondbacks - as the Nats' new hitting...

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Johnson on Eckstein: "Today is arguably the toughest day I've had in baseball"

July 22, 2013, 1:45pm

Nationals

Johnson on Eckstein: "Today is arguably the toughest day I've had in baseball"

One thing is clear about the Nationals' decision to fire hitting coach Rick Eckstein today: The move was not endorsed by manager Davey Johnson. General manager Mike Rizzo approached Johnson today and told him that he was going to fire Eckstein, who has served as the Nats' hitting coach for the last five years. Johnson, who has called Eckstein the best hitting coach he's ever been around, disagreed with the call to the point that he put his own job on the line, suggesting that Rizzo could...

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A look into some depressing numbers

July 22, 2013, 6:02am

Nationals

Into torturing yourself? Not already feeling enough pain on a Monday morning and want some more? I've got some numbers that should do the trick. The Nationals sent their best three starters to the mound in their weekend series with the Dodgers. They got swept anyway. Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez combined to allow two runs over 13 innings with 17 strikeouts. It didn't matter. Jordan Zimmermann had a fluky outing, one that was actually the worst of his career. He's certainly allowed...

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Ohlendorf's long outing prepares him well for Friday's start

July 21, 2013, 2:04pm

Nationals

Ohlendorf's long outing prepares him well for Friday's start

As a relief pitcher, it is never easy to come into a game with your team already down 7-1. But your job is always to attempt to keep the score where it is to give your guys a chance to come back. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf was able to do that Sunday in the Nationals' 9-2 loss to the Dodgers. In a game that was decided early, it is sometimes easy to forget the contributions of a long reliever in keeping the game from getting further out of hand. Ohlendorf went six innings and allowed just...

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Harper hitting leadoff again

July 22, 2013, 11:29am

Nationals

The Nationals lineup with Rick Schu as their hitting coach looks a lot like their lineup when Rick Eckstein was their hitting coach. Bryce Harper will remain atop the lineup today, with Denard Span returning and hitting seventh. Harper will be in left, Span in center. Dan Haren will look to continue his recent turnaround; he's allowed just two earned runs over 11 innings in his last two starts. For the Nats LF Bryce Harper 2B Anthony Rendon 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Jayson...

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Eckstein out as Nats' hitting coach, replaced by Schu (updated)

July 22, 2013, 11:00am

Nationals

Eckstein out as Nats' hitting coach, replaced by Schu (updated)

Two days after getting a vote of confidence from Nationals manager Davey Johnson, who called him the best hitting coach he's had in his 17 seasons as a major league manager, Rick Eckstein has been relieved of his duties. The news came in a press release issued a few minutes ago. Rich Schu, a former major leaguer who has served as he Nationals' minor league hitting coordinator for the past four seasons, has been promoted to fill the vacancy. Schu played for nine seasons in the majors with...

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Nationals relieve Rick Eckstein of duties, name Rick Schu new hitting coach

July 22, 2013, 11:09am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today relieved Rick Eckstein of his duties and promoted Rick Schu to hitting coach. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Schu joins Davey Johnson's staff after spending the last four seasons as Nationals minor-league hitting coordinator. Schu's resume includes 16 seasons as a hitting coach and a nine-year big league career. In Washington, Schu has pre-existing relationships with Bryce...

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Johnson on Zimmermann's rough outing, another Nats loss

July 21, 2013, 2:02pm

Nationals

Johnson on Zimmermann's rough outing, another Nats loss

If you thought there wasn't anything positive to take out of today's 9-2 drubbing at the hands of the Dodgers, a loss that wrapped up a three-game sweep, I've got something for you. Jordan Zimmermann's health isn't a concern. Zimmermann's neck had been bothering him for the last couple of months, but it appears that he might be over the soft tissue problem at this point. Both Zimmermann and manager Davey Johnson said the right-hander felt great today health-wise, even though he had the...

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Zimmermann and Werth discuss Nats' latest defeat

July 21, 2013, 2:19pm

Nationals

Zimmermann and Werth discuss Nats' latest defeat

Jordan Zimmermann has battled through a stiff neck and found a way to pitch at a very high level over the last couple of months. Strangely enough, with the discomfort in his neck dissipating, Zimmermann turned in the worst outing of his career this afternoon in the Nationals' 9-2 loss to the Dodgers. Zimmermann has been on anti-inflammatories over the last week or so, and he made a conscious effort over the All-Star break to rest the neck to try and get it back to full strength. While the...

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Dave Nichols: Nationals have 10 days to decide whether or not they're contenders

July 22, 2013, 5:11am

Nationals

The Nationals were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in their first series back from the All-Star break, losing close ballgames Friday and Saturday, while having their lunch handed to them Sunday, with Jordan Zimmermann getting rocked for seven earned runs in two innings. It's the stuff of nightmares for a team that needs to win just about every series from here on out to remain relevant in the standings. Forget about the playoffs for a moment. The Nats, at 48-50, sit in third place in the...

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Win opportunity to throw out first pitch at Nats Park

July 19, 2013, 7:34pm

Nationals

Win opportunity to throw out first pitch at Nats Park

If you haven't seen it yet, check out this first pitch thrown out by singer Carly Rae Jepsen at Tropicana Field a few nights ago. (Spoiler alert: It's terrible.) After watching this, you're probably thinking: I could throw a better first pitch than that. Well, MASN is giving you the chance to show off your arm at Nats Park! One lucky winner playing MASN's "Touch 'Em All" Rewards Program will be randomly selected to throw out the first pitch in front of thousands at Nationals Park on...

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It goes from bad to worse (Nats swept by Dodgers)

July 21, 2013, 10:28am

Nationals

It goes from bad to worse (Nats swept by Dodgers)

Well, this is a nightmare of a start for Davey Johnson, Jordan Zimmermann and the Nationals. The Dodgers sent 11 men to the plate in the second inning. They notched six hits, walked twice and scored seven runs. Can the Nationals score eight times against Clayton Kershaw - the major league leader in ERA - and the Dodgers today? They'll need to plate at least that many runners to have a shot at avoiding a brutal three-game sweep. Matt Kemp started the damage with a homer to left leading off...

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Getting in on the latest Eckstein discussion

July 21, 2013, 6:07am

Nationals

Getting in on the latest Eckstein discussion

Anytime the Nationals offense has struggled over the last few years, Rick Eckstein's name has surfaced. The Nats hitting coach has been the target of plenty of criticism - perhaps some warranted, some not - during the rough stretches, and since Eckstein came on board five seasons ago, there have been a number of rough stretches. And so it probably shouldn't surprise Davey Johnson when he gets a question about Eckstein's job security after another loss in which the Nats scored just one run...

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LaRoche returns, Harper leading off, Hairston in left

July 21, 2013, 8:02am

Nationals

LaRoche returns, Harper leading off, Hairston in left

After missing two games with the flu, Adam LaRoche is back in the Nationals lineup today against Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw. LaRoche had been battling the flu for a few days now, an illness that left his body achy and confined him to a back room in the Nats' clubhouse during games so as not to infect his teammates. He returns in time to face the major league leader in ERA (1.98) and WHIP (0.91). LaRoche is 4-for-16 (.250) with a homer and two RBIs in his career against Kershaw,...

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Desmond and Gonzalez react to Nats' 10-inning loss

July 20, 2013, 8:45pm

Nationals

Desmond and Gonzalez react to Nats' 10-inning loss

Ian Desmond had some interesting thoughts on the Nationals' season-long struggles and their current collective state of mind after tonight's 3-1 10-inning loss to the Dodgers. One of the more thoughtful, forthcoming players in the Nationals clubhouse, Desmond will tell it how he sees it. And tonight, after being a part of an offensive performance that again was subpar, Desmond said he felt the approach tonight was fine, but the results were just lacking. "I can only speak for myself,"...

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Stammen on 10th inning: "I made some really bad mistakes"

July 20, 2013, 8:24pm

Nationals

Stammen on 10th inning: "I made some really bad mistakes"

Right-hander Craig Stammen was one of the most consistent relievers early on this season. In April and May, Stammen allowed a combined eight earned runs in 27 2/3 innings. In June, he allowed a total of seven earned runs in 15 innings. Since June 27, however, Stammen has surrendered 10 earned runs in the past 10 games. On Saturday, it was two earned runs following back-to-back doubles to the Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez in the 10th inning of a 3-1 Los Angeles victory over...

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Detwiler out through the homestand

July 20, 2013, 1:56pm

Nationals

The Nationals had hoped to have Ross Detwiler back in their rotation coming out of the All-Star break, ready to go after missing some time due to a lower back strain. Now, barring a surprise development, Detwiler, who last pitched July 3, won't be appearing in a major league game until after the current 11-game homestand. Detwiler threw a bullpen session today, but it was a brief one. The left-hander threw just 20-25 pitches, and manager Davey Johnson said pitching coach Steve McCatty...