nationals

New-look lineup has Lombardozzi playing third, Werth batting cleanup

April 25, 2013, 11:35am

In desperate search of some more offense, Davey Johnson has inserted Steve Lombardozzi into today's Nationals lineup and moved Jayson Werth into the cleanup spot. Lombardozzi, who is off to a really strong start to 2013, batting .345 in 29 at-bats, will play third base and hit second in the new-look Nats batting order. Werth will hit fourth, with Adam LaRoche moving down to fifth in the lineup. Danny Espinosa, batting .155 on the season, remains in the lineup, batting seventh. Rookie...

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Players on board with a switched-up lineup

April 25, 2013, 6:06am

Nationals

Players on board with a switched-up lineup

Following Tuesday night's loss to the Cardinals, a defeat which was, at the time, the Nationals' third in a row and eighth in 11 games, a handful of Nats players sat around in the clubhouse and vented. It was pretty late at the time. Media members and most players and coaches had left. But Jayson Werth and a few of his teammates stuck around, letting their frustrations out and bouncing ideas off each other. "Just airing grievances," Werth said. "Just talking out, just complaining really,...

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Rachel Levitin: Can Goon Squad affect turnaround for Nats?

April 25, 2013, 4:56am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Can Goon Squad affect turnaround for Nats?

Three weeks into the 2013 season and the Nationals are struggling to get their 2012 groove back. Fact is, though, it's only April and there are months of baseball still to be played. The biggest factor haunting the Nats in present day is high expectations associated with coming off a successful run last year. "We've been pressing," outfielder Jayson Werth told MASNsports.com's Dan Kolko. "We've been trying to do too much. That's a common side effect. It's just one of those things....

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Werth says recent slide has left Nats pressing

April 24, 2013, 1:59pm

Nationals

Werth says recent slide has left Nats pressing

In his first at-bat of this afternoon's game, Ian Desmond bunted for a base hit and then stole second base, even after he was picked off by Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia. "Just trying to get something going," Desmond said. "A little spark here or there. You never know. Anything can turn into a snowball." In Desmond's final at-bat of the game, when he represented the tying run in the eighth inning, Desmond swung through three Trevor Rosenthal fastballs, with each swing bigger than the...

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Johnson says more lineup changes are coming after 4-2 loss

April 24, 2013, 1:20pm

Nationals

Johnson says more lineup changes are coming after 4-2 loss

Another Nationals loss, another postgame press conference with a frustrated Davey Johnson. The Nats fell 4-2 this afternoon, wrapping up a three-game sweep at the hands of the Cardinals and pushing the Nationals below .500 for the first time since the last day of the 2011 season. Johnson made some minor lineup changes for today's game and said we should expect more of the same tomorrow. Steve Lombardozzi will start tomorrow night, Johnson said, and it sounds like Lombardozzi will likely play...

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Strasburg fought himself in first, but then settled in to go seven innings

April 24, 2013, 1:34pm

Nationals

Strasburg fought himself in first, but then settled in to go seven innings

Stephen Strasburg tried not to do it, but he still did. He was trying again to be too perfect. He was being too fine around the plate. He told himself not to pitch that way. But it still happened. In the first inning, the Cardinals were able to put five of their first six batters on. They scored three runs on three hits. It ended up being the difference in a Cardinals' 4-2 win over the Nationals. But after the first inning, Strasburg really settled in. He allowed only two hits the rest of...

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Strasburg rebounds, still on the hook (Nats swept by Cardinals, fall below .500)

April 24, 2013, 11:23am

Nationals

Strasburg rebounds, still on the hook (Nats swept by Cardinals, fall below .500)

It took Stephen Strasburg an inning to get settled in. Once he did, he was almost unhittable. Strasburg allowed three runs on three hits and a walk in the first inning, but in his final six frames, the Nationals ace allowed just two hits, holding the Cardinals at bay. Overall, Strasburg struck out seven and walked just one. He threw 110 pitches, 76 for strikes. At one point, Strasburg set down 10 Cardinals hitters in a row. He struck out two in his final inning of work, a 1-2-3 sixth....

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Another early deficit (Nats still trail after six)

April 24, 2013, 9:30am

Nationals

Another early deficit (Nats still trail after six)

The Nationals and Cardinals have played just half an inning this afternoon, and we've already gotten a sample of the same issues that have been plaguing this Nats team for much of the first 20 games of the season. Stephen Strasburg allowed three hits and a walk in the top of the first, Anthony Rendon committed his second error in four big league games and the Nats trail 3-0 midway through the first inning. Strasburg got a bit of bad luck in the inning, allowing bloop hits to Matt Carpenter...

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Johnson explains lineup changes, decision to play Espinosa (with Ramos note)

April 24, 2013, 8:24am

Nationals

Johnson explains lineup changes, decision to play Espinosa (with Ramos note)

A frustrated Davey Johnson promised lineup changes after last night's 2-0 loss to the Cardinals, the Nationals' eighth defeat in their last 11 games. Today's lineup card, however, only saw two tweaks: Tyler Moore playing first base in place of the slumping Adam LaRoche and Jhonatan Solano behind the plate instead of Kurt Suzuki. With the Nats facing Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia in this afternoon's series finale, sitting LaRoche serves a dual purpose. It provides the 33-year-old a...

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Rizzo on 106.7: "I wouldn't trade this 25-man roster for any other 25-man in the league"

April 24, 2013, 7:54am

Nationals

Rizzo on 106.7: "I wouldn't trade this 25-man roster for any other 25-man in the league"

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo appeared with Holden Kushner and Danny Rouhier on 106.7 The Fan prior to Wednesday's finale against the Cardinals, getting fans updated on the state of the Nationals. With his team falling to 10-10, Rizzo is not pleased with the start, but believes the Nationals can get on a hot streak, and more than just one. "It is probably mediocre," Rizzo said of the Nationals' record out of the gate. "I'm not satisfied. Davey (Johnson) is not satisfied. There...

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LaRoche, Suzuki sit, Moore and Solano in Nats lineup (updated)

April 24, 2013, 5:37am

Nationals

LaRoche, Suzuki sit, Moore and Solano in Nats lineup (updated)

Having gone hitless in his last 10 at-bats with seven strikeouts, Adam LaRoche is getting a rest for today's matinee against the Cardinals. So is catcher Kurt Suzuki with a day game after a night game. Tyler Moore starts at first while catcher Jhonatan Solano gets his first start behind the plate since being called up on April 14. The Nationals are facing Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia today, so Johnson will get another right-handed bat in the lineup by putting Moore in there. With...

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Rodriguez learning to trust all of his pitches and Johnson noticing

April 24, 2013, 8:45am

Nationals

Rodriguez learning to trust all of his pitches and Johnson noticing

Right-hander Henry Rodriguez is starting to put together a few good outings and is gaining the confidence of manager Davey Johnson to put him in for longer stints. Johnson said because of the operation on Rodriguez's elbow last Aug. 31, the rehab prevented the hard thrower from having a full offseason of workouts and games. "He didn't have any winter ball," Johnson said. "He went through that arm operation. It is kind of a trust thing. The more he gets more comfortable and the more he...

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Frustration slowly building, but confidence remains

April 23, 2013, 8:02pm

Nationals

Frustration slowly building, but confidence remains

Davey Johnson says it's time to get mad. He's frustrated with the Nationals' 10-10 start to the 2013 season and wants to see his boys get their act in gear. That should start, Johnson says, with a little anger. How exactly do the guys do that, though? Do they smash bats over their knees following strikeouts? Do they throw their gloves to the ground after failing to get to a fly ball in the gap? Do they smack a security guard after yet another loss? (I sure hope not.) Johnson's point, of...

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David Huzzard: The Espinosa-Lombardozzi debate isn't much of one at all

April 24, 2013, 5:11am

Nationals

David Huzzard: The Espinosa-Lombardozzi debate isn't much of one at all

The Danny Espinosa/Steve Lombardozzi debate highlights many fascinating aspects of baseball fandom. It is tools vs. grit, slash line vs. batting average, and strikeouts vs. productive outs. The main issue is that in every meaningful category for their careers, Espinosa is a better player. Look at the two slash lines. Espinosa, for his career, is at .236/.311/.407 and Lombardozzi is at .273/.314/.352. While the increase in contact rate is aesthetically pleasing, it is close to meaningless...

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Davey Johnson: "It's time to get mad"

April 23, 2013, 6:54pm

Nationals

Typically a guy that preaches the need to keep an even keel over the course of a 162-game season, Davey Johnson has seen about enough. His Nationals team - the same one that was picked by many to win the World Series, the same team that Johnson felt was talented enough that he declared its motto to be "World Series or bust" - is now a .500 squad, owners of a 10-10 record. After tonight's 2-0 loss to the Cardinals, the Nats have now lost eight of their last 11 games, and Johnson is starting...

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LaRoche's four strikeouts a symbol of Nationals' recent offensive woes

April 23, 2013, 7:07pm

Nationals

The frustration that the Nationals feel as an offense can be summed up in the roughest of nights at the plate for first baseman Adam LaRoche. Four times he faced one of his best friends, Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, and four times the right-hander struck out LaRoche. The strikeout in the sixth was the toughest to take with the bases loaded and his team trailing by 2-0. Manager Davey Johnson said maybe it is time to get mad. It is obvious that everyone in this clubhouse is extremely...

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The offensive issues continue (Nats fall to Cardinals 2-0)

April 23, 2013, 4:57pm

Nationals

The offensive issues continue (Nats fall to Cardinals 2-0)

Ross Detwiler has turned in four really strong starts, but he only has one win to show for it. The Nationals left-hander allowed two runs over six innings tonight against a tough Cardinals lineup, but he leaves on the hook for the loss with the Nats trailing 2-0 heading to the seventh. The Nats offense was struggling coming into tonight, and they've had major issues with Adam Wainwright this evening. The Cardinals righty allowed just one hit through five innings and then worked his way out...

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Davey Johnson's theories on Detwiler's success, Nats' struggles

April 23, 2013, 2:27pm

Nationals

Davey Johnson's theories on Detwiler's success, Nats' struggles

Prior to last night's game, MASN cameras caught Nationals manager Davey Johnson doing push-ups against the dugout bench. Yes, the Nats' 70-year-old skipper was getting in a quick workout before first pitch. Dan Steinberg of The Post has the GIF of the push-ups. This afternoon, Johnson was asked what exactly was going on there. "I was trying to get some blood flowing, that's all I was doing," Johnson said, breaking into a smile. "I didn't know it was gonna be televised. Trying to get...

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Stammen's consistent outings are backbone of Nationals bullpen

April 23, 2013, 2:24pm

Nationals

Lost in some of the rough outings for the bullpen has been the consistent pitching of right-hander Craig Stammen. More often than not, Stammen has come in during high-pressure situations and delivered. A case in point was Monday night versus St. Louis. Stammen relieved starter Dan Haren, who had allowed a hit by pitch, two singles and walk. Already with a run in, the Cardinals were one big hit away from blowing a close game wide open. But Stammen steadied the inning. With the bases loaded,...

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Waiting for the offense to come around

April 23, 2013, 5:40am

Nationals

It seems there's been a bit of a power outage in D.C. over the last couple weeks. The Nationals, a team that on paper has a balanced, skilled lineup with a nice mix of guys who reach base at a high clip and can mash the ball out of the park, have seen their bats go quiet recently, to the surprise to some of the guys in the clubhouse. "We're not getting the big hits," Adam LaRoche said. "A lot of quick innings. Not a ton of baserunners. And five or six guys that aren't swinging the bat...