nationals

Rachel Levitin: Time to focus on the 2013 Nationals' positives over negatives

June 13, 2013, 5:30am

With a win against the Colorado Rockies last night, the Nationals are back at .500 with a 32-32 record and are six games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East. There's been a lot of talk about expectations for the 2013 Nationals and how they're not living up to the alleged hype. Instead of getting bogged down in that, it may be best to realign expectations moving forward for the rest of the season. It's time to focus on what is working as opposed to what's not. Ian...

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Nats win 5-1 in Ohlendorf's dazzling debut

June 12, 2013, 7:59pm

Nationals

Nats win 5-1 in Ohlendorf's dazzling debut

Even if you had faith that Ross Ohlendorf was going to follow up his last three starts at Triple-A Syracuse - in which he allowed just three earned runs and struck out 27 over 17 1/3 innings - and pitch pretty well tonight, you probably couldn't have imagined this. Pitching in Coors Field against a Rockies team with the third-highest batting average in the majors and third-most home runs of any big league squad, Ohlendorf held the Rockies to just two hits and one run over six fantastic...

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Ohlendorf off to a good start (a heck of an outing)

June 12, 2013, 5:41pm

Nationals

Ohlendorf off to a good start (a heck of an outing)

I had seen Ross Ohlendorf messing with an old-school wind-up when he threw back in spring, but forgot just how awesome it was until he fired his first pitch to Dexter Fowler tonight. I love the arms rocking back and forth and the slow turn on the rubber. Feels like I'm watching a game in the early 1900s. Ohlendorf is off to a fantastic start to his Nationals debut, throwing three scoreless innings thus far out at Coors Field. The veteran right-hander has retired nine of the 10 hitters he's...

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Space Coast Stadium beer vendor - yes, that one - coming north

June 12, 2013, 6:43pm

Nationals

Space Coast Stadium beer vendor - yes, that one - coming north

You might not know Vincent Rainey's name, but you know him - well, you know him if you've ever watched a spring training game on MASN, caught a broadcast on the radio or taken in a Grapefruit League contest at Space Coast Stadium. He's the beer guy with the phrase and unique delivery that pays dividends. In the middle of an inning, you'll hear him - above the din of the crowd, the chatter on the field, the fire engines screaming from the nearby station. "Ice ... cold ... beer," he...

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Ramos suffers setback in return from hamstring injury (with Espinosa note)

June 12, 2013, 3:09pm

Nationals

Ramos suffers setback in return from hamstring injury (with Espinosa note)

Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, who has already landed on the disabled list twice this season due to a hamstring strain, suffered a setback in his rehab and likely won't be returning before the All-Star break, according to MASN's Julie Alexandria, who is with the team in Colorado. Manager Davey Johnson told reporters that Ramos pulled up doing first-to-third drills while at the Nationals' minor league complex in Viera, Fla. Ramos had reported to Viera last Wednesday night and had been...

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Ohlendorf coming up, Garcia transfered to 60-day DL

June 12, 2013, 9:36am

Nationals

Ohlendorf coming up, Garcia transfered to 60-day DL

The Nationals have announced they've officially selected the contract of right-hander Ross Ohlendorf from Triple-A Syracuse, and they'll hand the ball to the 30-year-old tonight out in Colorado. To make room for Ohlendorf on the 25-man roster, the Nats optioned right-hander Nathan Karns to Double-A Harrisburg. Karns went 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA in three starts with the Nats. To make room for Ohlendorf on the 40-man roster, which is currently full, the Nats have transferred right-hander...

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Ohlendorf making Nats debut at Coors Field

June 12, 2013, 2:01pm

Nationals

Ohlendorf making Nats debut at Coors Field

The Nationals send right-hander Ross Ohlendorf to the mound at Coors Field tonight, hoping the veteran can square the series at a game apiece in his Washington debut. In three career starts in the Mile High City, Ohlendorf is 1-1 with a 6.94 ERA, having only lasted a combined 11 2/3 innings and yielding four homers in the thin Denver air. Maybe Ohlendorf can use his Princeton education to come up with a game plan to keep the ball in the park. He hasn't pitched in the majors since last...

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Unable to go streaking

June 12, 2013, 5:17am

Nationals

You ready for something remarkable? The Nationals, a team loaded with talent and built up by expectations of a deep playoff run, have not won more than two consecutive games in over a month. It's pretty tough for a team not to run off a simple three-game winning streak at some point over an extended stretch. The lowly Marlins put together three wins in a row a couple of weeks ago. Bo Porter's Astros had a six-game winning streak recently. The Nats, however, continue to be stuck in neutral,...

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Nationals select right-hander Ross Ohlendorf from Syracuse, option right-hander Nathan Karns to Harrisburg

June 12, 2013, 9:25am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals selected right-handed pitcher Ross Ohlendorf from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and optioned right-handed pitcher Nathan Karns to Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. Additionally, the Nationals transferred right-handed pitcher Christian Garcia to the 60-Day Disabled List. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Ohlendorf, who is scheduled to make his Nationals debut tonight...

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Nationals announce finalists in "Tribute for Heroes" campaign

June 11, 2013, 10:31am

Nationals

Major League Baseball and People magazine today announced the 90 finalists (three per MLB Club) for the "Tribute for Heroes" campaign, a national initiative that recognizes veterans and military service members and builds upon MLB and People magazine's commitment to honoring our country's heroes. The Washington Nationals are proud to announce the three finalists selected to represent the team: John Belcher, Lori Kelly and Julie Weckerlein. Fans are encouraged to visit...

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David Huzzard: Jordan Zimmermann's great start makes waiting on long-term deal a smart move

June 12, 2013, 5:47am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Jordan Zimmermann's great start makes waiting on long-term deal a smart move

Before the start of the 2013 baseball season, the Washington Nationals and Jordan Zimmermann were at a crossroads. The Nationals would have liked to have extended him in the same manner they did Gio Gonzalez before his 21-win season. If Zimmermann had been paying attention to that and to the money that right-handed aces such as Zack Greinke, Matt Cain, Felix Hernandez, and Justin Verlander were commanding, then he was smart to turn aside the Nationals' advances to commit to a long-term...

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Haren and Span doing the job early (Nats lose 8-3)

June 11, 2013, 6:06pm

Nationals

Haren and Span doing the job early (Nats lose 8-3)

Dan Haren got smacked around pretty good his last time out, allowing five runs on seven hits in just four innings of work in a loss to the Mets. Haren was left incredibly frustrated with himself after the game, saying he felt like he was letting his team down. Tonight, Haren's the one frustrating the Rockies. The veteran right-hander has pitched four scoreless innings thus far tonight, allowing just two runners to reach base in that span. Haren's retired 11 of the last 12 Rockies hitters...

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Nats acquire RHP Ian Dickson from Cubs for Henry Rodriguez (Karns optioned)

June 11, 2013, 8:00pm

Nationals

Nats acquire RHP Ian Dickson from Cubs for Henry Rodriguez (Karns optioned)

A week after designating right-hander Henry Rodriguez for assignment, the Nationals have traded the flame-throwing but inconsistent 26-year-old to the Cubs for minor league right-hander Ian Dickson. Dickson's numbers are far from impressive; the 22-year-old has posted a 6.88 ERA in 11 games (35 1/3 innings) for high Single-A Kane County this season. A 35th-round pick of the Cubs back in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Lafayette College, Dickson has struck out 8.2 batters per nine...

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Harper to rest a week after getting cortisone, PRP shots in knee

June 11, 2013, 3:36pm

Nationals

Harper to rest a week after getting cortisone, PRP shots in knee

Bryce Harper will miss at least another week due to bursitis in his left knee, a diagnosis that was confirmed by Dr. James Andrews upon Harper's visit to the renowned orthopedic surgeon on Monday. According to MASN's Julie Alexandria, who is with the Nationals out in Colorado, Harper was given a cortisone shot in the inflamed bursa sac in his left knee yesterday, and was also given a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) shot, as well. That news was passed along to reporters by Nationals head trainer...

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Nationals acquire right-hander Ian Dickson from Cubs in exchange for right-hander Henry Rodriguez

June 11, 2013, 7:56pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today acquired right-handed pitcher Ian Dickson from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for right-handed pitcher Henry Rodriguez. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Dickson went 2-2 with one save and posted 8.2 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (32 K/35.1 IP) in 11 games/three starts this season with Kane County of the Single-A Midwest League. The 22-year-old is 5-5 with one save and a 6.06 ERA in 26...

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Nats sign veteran righty Mark Lowe to minor league deal (with lineups)

June 11, 2013, 1:22pm

Nationals

Nats sign veteran righty Mark Lowe to minor league deal (with lineups)

The Nationals added some bullpen depth today, signing veteran right-handed reliever Mark Lowe to a minor league deal. The team announced that Lowe has been assigned to Triple-A Syracuse. Lowe started this season with the Angels, posting a 9.26 ERA in 11 2/3 innings. He allowed 11 hits, walked 11 and struck out seven in his 11 appearances with the Angels. Over his eight-year big league career, the 30-year-old Lowe has a 4.17 ERA. He's coming off a fairly strong 2012 season, in which he...

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Looking at the impact of the two new lefties

June 11, 2013, 9:53am

Nationals

Looking at the impact of the two new lefties

Asked recently whether he's more comfortable with the current makeup of the Nationals bullpen than he was earlier in the season, manager Davey Johnson responded with a fairly resounding, "Yeah." A large part of that is due to the presence of two guys who many Nats fans had never heard of coming into this season - Fernando Abad and Ian Krol. The two left-handers haven't been on the Nats' major league roster for too long, but they've already made a fairly significant impact. Abad (a...

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Waiting to hear on Harper

June 11, 2013, 5:28am

Nationals

A day after Bryce Harper went to Florida to get a second opinion on his swollen left knee from Dr. James Andrews, we're still waiting on the details of Andrews' findings. The Nationals have been pretty quiet on the Harper front so far, choosing not to release much information to this point, but we should know more today on what lies ahead as far as treatment options on Harper's knee and the rehabilitation process needed to get Harper back on the field. One sign that Harper received some...

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Go head-to-head with Ryan Zimmerman in the CareFirst Fan Challenge

June 10, 2013, 4:04pm

Nationals

Go head-to-head with Ryan Zimmerman in the CareFirst Fan Challenge

So maybe you can't knock 95 mph fastballs out of Nats Park. Can't glove line drives at the hot corner like Ryan Zimmerman either? Well, that's OK because MASN's giving you the chance to challenge Zimmerman at your own game. With the CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Ryan Zimmerman Fan Challenge, we're giving you the chance to submit a video to our Facebook page challenging the third baseman to anything. Think you can eat more hot wings than him in a minute? Can you paint a better picture...

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Strasburg return would change a lot for the Nationals

June 10, 2013, 5:38pm

Nationals

The Nationals need their leader back. Injuries hit the Nationals pretty hard this season. Bryce Harper being out has made it difficult for the offense to look scary. Every opposing pitcher has to contend with how to pitch Harper or pitch around him. Several times when others were not rolling, Harper was the igniter for the offense. His homer when others can't even connect on a base hit made all the difference to altering the momentum of a game and giving the Nationals a chance. Stephen...