nationals

Nats react to Teddy winning

October 03, 2012, 3:06pm

Teddy Roosevelt winning the Presidents' Race was the highlight of the afternoon for many Nationals fans. Ryan Zimmerman does not fit into that group of people. "I am so glad Teddy won so we can stop talking about Teddy," an exasperated Zimmerman said after today's 5-1 Nats win. "People get more excited for a mascot race than a game." Zimmerman then gave a massive eye-roll and cranked the sarcasm meter to the limit. "Yes, I'm excited Teddy won," he said. "I'm ecstatic." Jayson...

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Nats lock up top seed in National League (plus attendance notes)

October 03, 2012, 12:08pm

Nationals

Nats lock up top seed in National League (plus attendance notes)

Game 162 is in the books. All that's left now is the postseason run. By way of this afternoon's 5-1 win, the Nationals have earned the No. 1 seed in the National League and at least a tie for the best record in the majors. Even if the Reds win tonight, finishing in a tie with Washington with an identical 98-64 record, the Nats will get the top seed in the NL because they won the season series between the two teams. That means the Nationals will play the winner of the Braves-Cardinals wild...

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Riding a Teddy high, Nats crank up the offense (updated)

October 03, 2012, 10:46am

Nationals

Riding a Teddy high, Nats crank up the offense (updated)

Yes, the losing streak is over. As my colleague Byron Kerr wrote, Teddy won the Presidents Race today. Print Byron's story out. Frame it. Tell the grandkids about this moment one day. The crowd got all riled up by Teddy's big victory, and apparently the players did, too. (Either that, or they just got better pitches to hit and put the barrel on them. One of the two.) The first three Nationals to come to the plate after Teddy's win - Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse and Tyler Moore - went...

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Incredibly, Teddy finally wins, shattering longest losing streak in majors

October 03, 2012, 9:02am

Nationals

Incredibly, Teddy finally wins, shattering longest losing streak in majors

It has happened. No, not the Nationals winning the division. No, not the first playoff game in D.C. since 1933. It is the larger-than-life fourth-inning hero, the legendary former president, represented with oversized clothing from his bygone era and a huge melon head, steel-wire rope spectacles and neon green running shoes. Teddy Roosevelt has won the race he had lost 525 times in a row. Forget 61. Forget 2,130. Try 525. It is over. In the most amazing of races, Roosevelt crushed his...

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Lannan still in play for postseason roster spot

October 03, 2012, 9:17am

Nationals

Lannan still in play for postseason roster spot

It's been widely assumed that the Nationals will go with a postseason rotation made up of Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler, though not necessarily in that order, as the starting pitching spots for Games 3 and 4 have yet to be determined. It's possible, however, that John Lannan finds himself in the playoff rotation, as well. Lannan has gone 9-5 with a 3.20 ERA in 16 career starts against the Braves, and he held Atlanta to two runs over seven innings in a win...

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Nats lineup for Game 162

October 03, 2012, 7:45am

Nationals

The bulk of the Nationals' regulars are back in the starting lineup, while the two that started yesterday - Bryce Harper and Adam LaRoche - are taking a seat for today's regular season finale. The Nats have a magic number of one to clinch the top seed in the National League, giving them home-field advantage through the playoffs and setting them up to play the wild card play-in winner. If they win today against the Phillies or the Reds lose to the Cardinals tonight, the Nationals will get...

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Johnson believes Nats' inexperience won't hamper them in postseason

October 03, 2012, 8:41am

Nationals

Johnson believes Nats' inexperience won't hamper them in postseason

Manager Davey Johnson is not thrilled about the playoff setup in 2012 and that is why he was adamant all year long about winning the division so his team would not have its whole season riding on a one-game wild card so early in the playoffs. "I hate it," Johnson said. "I am old school." Of course, Johnson knows that whether it is a Game 7 or an elimination game in a series, that must-win game is eventually going to occur, but the wild card play-in game would have been an uncomfortable...

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Nats to make select number of standing room only tickets for NLDS available today

October 03, 2012, 8:24am

Nationals

Nats to make select number of standing room only tickets for NLDS available today

Due to unprecedented demand and excitement surrounding the Washington Nationals first NL East Division Championship, the team will release a limited number of Standing Room Only tickets this afternoon in advance of the National League Division Series games. Beginning at 4:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, October 3, Nationals fans can purchase Standing Room Only tickets at nationals.com/postseason or via phone by calling 888.632.NATS(6287). Standing Room Only tickets can be purchased for $30 each on...

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Rachel Levitin: Savor Nats' success because it's been a long wait

October 03, 2012, 5:52am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Savor Nats' success because it's been a long wait

Here it is, Nats fans - today is last the day of the 2012 regular season. Your Nationals secured their first-ever National League East division title and hold the best record in baseball. Can anyone honestly say this is what they thought would happen this season? After Monday night's clinch of the NL East title, outfielder Jayson Werth mentioned that his decision to play baseball for Washington was motivated by the desire to play for a team that had a chance to win for a long time. "And it...

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DeRosa relished opportunity to play shortstop one more time in Nationals' win

October 02, 2012, 7:19pm

Nationals

Mark DeRosa did not remember the last time he started at shortstop. He thought it was 2005. When told it was Sept. 2, 2006, DeRosa nodded his head and said, "OK, that sounds about right." So for the first time as a starter at shortstop in six seasons, DeRosa went 2-for-4 with a single, double and run scored in the Nationals' 4-2 victory over the Phillies. He did have one errant throw from the position, but was in the middle of a 1-6-3 double play to end the second inning. "I botched...

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LaRoche has another reason to celebrate

October 02, 2012, 8:16pm

Nationals

Adam LaRoche popped champagne with his teammates last night, celebrating the Nationals clinching the NL East division title. He didn't exactly have any bubbly waiting for him in the clubhouse tonight after reaching 100 RBIs for the season, but he still took pride in a nice individual goal which he feels also symbolizes how effective the Nats have been offensively as a team. "It feels pretty good," LaRoche said. "That's something that, again, anybody in the middle of the lineup, it's...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 4-2 win, chance at top seed

October 02, 2012, 7:31pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' 4-2 win, chance at top seed

Last night, a team made up of the Nationals' regulars was held scoreless and managed just five hits in a 2-0 loss to the Phillies. Tonight, a lineup filled with bench players did the job in a 4-2 win. "How about that goon squad?" said manager Davey Johnson, calling the bench guys by their self-appointed nickname. "Told you they were tough." A night after clinching the division, the guys that round out the roster got a chance to see some action, and they made the most of their...

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A bullpen battle with an eye on the scoreboard (Nats win 4-2)

October 02, 2012, 4:57pm

Nationals

A bullpen battle with an eye on the scoreboard (Nats win 4-2)

Both the Nationals and Phillies went into this game knowing they'd be relying on Johnny Wholestaff. In other words, we were going to see a whole host of relievers take the mound tonight. We've gotten just that so far. Tom Gorzelanny, coming out of the bullpen to spot-start for the Nats, went 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run and striking out five. B.J. Rosenberg, a reliever who was called on to start for the Phillies, went four innings, giving up one run over four frames. We now find...

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Johnson updates Rodriguez, Ramos, Stammen, Jackson and more

October 02, 2012, 3:05pm

Nationals

Johnson updates Rodriguez, Ramos, Stammen, Jackson and more

Reliever Henry Rodriguez and catcher Wilson Ramos will not play winter ball, according to manager Davey Johnson. Rodriguez is recovering well from surgery to remove a bone spur in his throwing elbow. "Henry is doing great," Johnson said. "He was on the bench last night and I shook hands with him and he reached out with that iron fist. He is getting full extension already." Johnson said Rodriguez should be ready for spring training. As for Ramos, who was seen moving pretty well around a...

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Gonzalez to pitch Game 1 in Division Series, Zimmermann to pitch Game 2

October 02, 2012, 2:37pm

Nationals

Gonzalez to pitch Game 1 in Division Series, Zimmermann to pitch Game 2

Despite all the madness that went on in the Nationals' clubhouse last night, it looked good as new this afternoon. The only indication that gallons of champagne, beer, juice and water had been spilled everywhere just 16 hours earlier was the faint odor of beer. Clubhouse manager Mike Wallace stayed until 5:30 this morning cleaning up, and a cleaning crew worked through the night to get the place looking nice and spiffy by the time players showed up this afternoon. Gio Gonzalez got to the...

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How's this for a post-clinch Nats lineup?

October 02, 2012, 1:04pm

Nationals

How's this for a post-clinch Nats lineup?

Davey Johnson got hit with a champagne shower three times last night. After he got dried off from the first attack, Adam LaRoche ambushed Johnson and soaked him again. Johnson may not have loved it, but he took it in stride. "He got me good," Johnson said. Then, rookie reliever Christian Garcia, a guy battling for a spot on the postseason roster, was gutsy enough to soak his 69-year-old skipper yet again. "'Son, that's a no-no,' " Johnson recalled himself saying, chuckling as he...

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Bryce Harper named NL Rookie of the Month for second time

October 02, 2012, 1:47pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper named NL Rookie of the Month for second time

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that outfielder Bryce Harper has been named National Rookie of the Month for the month of September. It was the second time Harper has won the honor this season, also taking home the distinction in May. Harper hits .330 (35-for-106) in 28 games in September, with seven homers, 26 runs, 69 total bases, a .651 slugging percentage, seven doubles, three triples, four stolen bases and 14 RBIs. His 26 runs scored was tops in the majors and he was second in...

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Gorzelanny starting tonight, bumping Gonzalez

October 02, 2012, 11:41am

Nationals

Gorzelanny starting tonight, bumping Gonzalez

Now that the Nationals have locked up the National League East title, they're going about preparing for the postseason. Step one: sitting Gio Gonzalez. Davey Johnson has decided to rest Gonzalez, tonight's scheduled starter, and will instead have left-handed reliever Tom Gorzelanny start against the Phillies. Gonzalez could have started tonight and thrown just a couple innings to stay fresh for a possible Game 1 start Saturday or Sunday, but Johnson will instead give the ball to...

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Harper, Clippard, Stammen and Morse react to NL East clinching Monday

October 01, 2012, 8:59pm

Nationals

Harper, Clippard, Stammen and Morse react to NL East clinching Monday

"We were at the bottom of the barrel when I came over to this organization, it was in shambles," Tyler Clippard said. "A lot of great things have happened since then. We have worked our tails off to get to this point, and it is extra special because of that. "That is what has been great about this team. Guys have went down. Injuries have happened. Young guys have stepped up. Everyone has played a part. It has been a storybook kind of season for us so far. That is just motivation to keep...

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Bryce Harper voted NL Rookie of the Month for September

October 02, 2012, 1:22pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper voted NL Rookie of the Month for September

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has been voted National League Rookie of the Month for the month of September. In 28 September contests, Harper led the Majors with 26 runs scored while ranking second among all National Leaguers with a .651 slugging percentage and 69 total bases. Harper's seven homers and 35 hits ranked first among N.L. rookies, while his .330 (35-for-106) batting average was good for second. The 19-year-old added seven doubles, three triples and 14 RBI to his...