nationals

How close is Ryan Perry to fifth starter material?

November 16, 2012, 6:09pm

On Saturday afternoon, the Salt River Rafters face Peoria in the championship game of the Arizona Fall League. Converted Nationals reliever Ryan Perry gets the start and could go five innings. The right-hander has a 4.98 ERA in the AFL, but is 2-0 and has allowed a .213 batting average against. With all the talk of Edwin Jackson, John Lannan or others as the fifth starter, this question can be put out there: Would an outstanding outing help Perry to be considered for that role in 2013? ...

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Nats release 2013 spring training schedule

November 16, 2012, 7:50am

Nationals

Nats release 2013 spring training schedule

Start planning your vacations, folks. The Nationals have released their full 32-game 2013 spring training schedule today, featuring 15 home games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. The Nats open their Grapefruit League schedule against the Mets on Feb. 23 in Port St. Lucie and will wrap up spring training with a March 28 home game against the Mets. The first home game on the Nationals' 2013 spring schedule will come Feb. 24 against the Marlins. No report date has been announced for...

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Nationals announce 2013 spring training schedule

November 16, 2012, 8:13am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today released their 32-game 2013 Spring Training schedule, which features 15 home games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, FL. The National League East champions will commence their Grapefruit League schedule on Feb. 23 when they play the New York Mets in nearby Port St. Lucie, FL. The Nationals will host the Miami Marlins one day later (Feb. 24) at Space Coast Stadium for their initial home contest. The Nationals' home schedule will include a matchup against the...

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An idea of how big a deal Burnett could land

November 16, 2012, 6:00am

Nationals

An idea of how big a deal Burnett could land

You know your team has probably put together a solid season when five different players receive votes in your league's Most Valuable Player balloting. As I mentioned last night, first baseman Adam LaRoche, shortstop Ian Desmond, left-hander Gio Gonzalez, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and center fielder Bryce Harper all found their way onto at least one National League MVP ballot. It was nice to see LaRoche recognized for his strong season and finish tied for sixth, and Desmond (tied for...

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A take on last night's result and a minor signing

November 14, 2012, 9:47pm

Nationals

A take on last night's result and a minor signing

On Tuesday night, shortly after Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton expressed his frustration with the monster trade which shipped five of his teammates to the Blue Jays, Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper sent a tweet Stanton's way. The message, which has since been deleted, read: "you can always come play for the Nats! We will take you anytime! Get some red, white, and blue in your life!" Last night, Stanton replied to Harper via Twitter with the following: "Dang bro, If only my...

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Five Nationals receive MVP votes

November 15, 2012, 1:39pm

Nationals

Giants catcher Buster Posey claimed National League Most Valuable Player honors, getting 27 of the 32 first-place votes handed out. The 25-year-old Posey has had a decent year; he won the batting title, got himself a World Series ring and now has taken home the NL MVP award. The Nationals, meanwhile, were well-represented in the MVP voting. Five Nats received MVP votes. Adam LaRoche finished tied for sixth with the Mets' David Wright in the voting, accumulating 86 points. LaRoche received...

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Martinson pinch-hit HR highlights Salt River's 7-3 victory in finale

November 16, 2012, 4:22am

Nationals

Martinson pinch-hit HR highlights Salt River's 7-3 victory in finale

Taxi squad member Jason Martinson hit a ball so hard and so far in his first game in Arizona last month that pitching coach Mark Grater said the umpires did not know how to rule it and called it foul. But it definitely was close to being fair. There was no doubt Thursday for Martinson, who crushed a two-run shot in the eighth as a pinch hitter, capping off a 7-3 regular season finale win for the Salt River Rafters over Surprise. Designated hitter Brian Goodwin had a double and run scored,...

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Salt River advances to AFL championship game; Ryan Perry will start

November 14, 2012, 5:34pm

Nationals

Salt River advances to AFL championship game; Ryan Perry will start

The Salt River Rafters downed Billy Hamilton and the Peoria Javelinas, 6-4 Wednesday afternoon at Salt River Fields in Arizona Fall League competition. Salt River improves to 16-13, guaranteeing a winning regular season record, and with one game left to play Thursday. Scottsdale (15-15) will be unable to catch them because the Scorpions would have played one more game, and they lost that game. First baseman Matt Skole went 0-for-3 with a walk, but is still batting .305. Third baseman Jason...

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Gonzalez finishes third in NL Cy Young voting (updated)

November 14, 2012, 1:55pm

Nationals

Gonzalez finishes third in NL Cy Young voting (updated)

The Nationals won't go 3-for-3 in the major end-of-season awards. Bryce Harper won the National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year and Davey Johnson won the NL Manager of the Year, but Gio Gonzalez came up short in his bid for the NL Cy Young Award. That went to Mets starter R.A. Dickey, a 38-year-old knuckleballer who has taken the league by storm the last few years. Dickey picked up 27 of 32 first-place votes and 209 points overall. Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw finished second,...

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Nats tab Gary Thurman as new minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator

November 14, 2012, 2:46pm

Nationals

Nats tab Gary Thurman as new minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator

The Nationals have announced Gary Thurman has been named the new minor league outfield/baserunning coordinator. Thurman comes over from the Miami Marlins, where he served as first base coach in 2012. He was also the Marlins' outfield and baserunning coach. Thurman has been a manager, coach or instructor for 14 years in professional baseball. From 2008-2011, Thurman was in the Cleveland Indians' organization as minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator. He previously worked nine...

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Nats set coaching staff, add Tarasco to coach first base (Thurman joins Nats)

November 14, 2012, 9:57am

Nationals

Nats set coaching staff, add Tarasco to coach first base (Thurman joins Nats)

The Nationals have announced that Tony Tarasco has been added to Davey Johnson's coaching staff for the 2013 season. Tarasco will serve as the first base coach. Previously a roving outfield instructor/baserunning coordinator within the Nationals' organization, Tarasco will replace Trent Jewett in the first base coach's box. Jewett will move across the diamond and become third base coach, taking over for Bo Porter, who was hired as the Astros' manager. Johnson's coaching staff is now...

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Nationals name Gary Thurman minor league outfield/baserunning coordinator

November 14, 2012, 12:43pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today named Gary Thurman their minor league outfield/baserunning coordinator. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone, Director of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Minor League Operations Mark Scialabba made the joint announcement. Thurman, 48, brings 14 years of experience as a manager, coach or instructor in professional...

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Nationals holiday gift packs now on sale

November 14, 2012, 10:36am

Nationals

With the holiday season just around the corner, Washington Nationals fans will be able to take advantage of two different Holiday Gift Packs beginning today, Wednesday, November 14. For a limited time, fans will have the opportunity to purchase the 4th of July Pack or the Interleague Pack, each of which include tickets to four of the hottest matchups of the 2013 season. One FREE George Racing President holiday ornament will be included with each order, creating the perfect holiday gift for...

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Marlins' megadeal hurts Miami, but helps Nats

November 13, 2012, 9:31pm

Nationals

Marlins' megadeal hurts Miami, but helps Nats

The Marlins have been a bit of a problem for the Nationals in recent years. And that's putting it quite nicely. Over the last five seasons, the Marlins have absolutely dominated the Nats, going 59-30 against Washington in that time frame. Even this year, with the Marlins floundering (awful pun, I know) and the Nationals taking the division title, Miami played Davey Johnson's team tough, and ended up taking half of the 18 games between the two squads. Those days might be over for a while,...

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Nationals name coaching staff for 2013

November 14, 2012, 9:53am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today announced that bench coach Randy Knorr, pitching coach Steve McCatty, hitting coach Rick Eckstein, third base coach Trent Jewett, first base coach Tony Tarasco and bullpen coach Jim Lett will comprise manager Davey Johnson's coaching staff for the 2013 season. Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Eckstein and McCatty return for their fifth seasons on the Nationals coaching staff, while Lett and...

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Johnson discusses his second Manager of the Year award

November 13, 2012, 3:29pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses his second Manager of the Year award

Seventeen months ago, Davey Johnson was working as a consultant for a Nationals team that ended up posting its seventh straight losing season since relocating to D.C. Tonight, Johnson was named National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America after leading the Nats to the best record in Major League Baseball and an NL East division title. It's Johnson's second time winning the award as a league's top manager, and as you might expect, he yet again was...

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Davey Johnson named NL Manager of the Year

November 13, 2012, 12:56pm

Nationals

Davey Johnson named NL Manager of the Year

The Nationals' 20-year-old center fielder was recognized last night as the National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year. Tonight, the Nationals' 69-year-old manager earned some hardware himself after being named the National League Manager of the Year. Davey Johnson beat out Reds manager Dusty Baker and Giants skipper Bruce Bochy, the two other finalists for the award. Johnson earned 23 first-place votes. Baker received five and Bochy four. You can review the voting

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Johnson selected National League Manager of the Year

November 13, 2012, 1:37pm

Nationals

Johnson selected National League Manager of the Year

Washington Nationals field manager Davey Johnson tonight was named National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. In 2012, Johnson's first full season as Nationals skipper, he led Washington to an MLB-leading 98 wins, an NL East title and DC's first postseason berth in 79 years. The Nationals either led the NL East or shared its top spot for all but 10 days this season, and by season's end, owned the best run differential (+137) in MLB. Along the way,...

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Watch out for Harper in year two

November 13, 2012, 5:25am

Nationals

After Bryce Harper won the National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award last night, Davey Johnson has a chance to make the Nationals 2-for-2 in the major end-of-season awards tonight. The Manager of the Year awards will be announced live on MLB Network at 6 p.m. Johnson, who is a finalist along with Reds manager Dusty Baker and Giants skipper Brucy Bochy, is considered the favorite for the NL award. I didn't have a vote for NL Rookie of the Year, but if I did, it would have gone...

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Harper wants to steal more bases in 2013, loves RGIII and weightlifting

November 13, 2012, 10:33am

Nationals

Harper wants to steal more bases in 2013, loves RGIII and weightlifting

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper, appearing on 106.7 the Fan's "Holden and Danny Show" on Tuesday morning, was happy to win the coveted award for top rookie in the National League, but reiterated his top desire is to win a championship for the nation's capital. "I am really excited about it," the 20-year old Harper said. "The biggest thing for me is, seriously, I like to win. That is what I have done my whole life. I just want to come back and give a title to D.C." Harper said...