nationals

Nationals' Bryce Harper named NL Rookie of the Year

November 12, 2012, 2:04pm

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper tonight was named National League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The BBWAA citation is the first bestowed upon a National since the club's arrival in D.C. in 2005. Harper hit .270 with 26 doubles, nine triples, 22 home runs, 59 RBI, 56 walks and 18 stolen bases in 139 games as a true rookie for the Nationals in 2012. For his efforts, the youngest player in MLB was named an All-Star by NL manager Tony La...

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Awards week has arrived

November 12, 2012, 5:06am

Nationals

We've already had The Sporting News Rookie of the Year award and the Players Choice Award for Outstanding Rookie. Tonight, Major League Baseball's official Rookie of the Year award will be handed out. Awards week begins tonight at 6 p.m., with the announcement of the American League and National League's top rookies, kicking off four days of presentations recognizing the top performances put up this season. The Rookie of the Year awards will be followed by the announcement of Manager of...

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Will new-age stats or traditional thinking rule baseball's awards week?

November 12, 2012, 4:24am

Nationals Orioles

Will new-age stats or traditional thinking rule baseball's awards week?

The American League's Most Valuable Player race is between the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera and the Angels' Mike Trout. The subplot is about new-age statistics versus traditional MVP thinking. Of all the awards given out this week by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, the AL MVP should spark the most vigorous debate, much like when the Mariners' Felix Hernandez won the 2010 Al Cy Young Award over the Rays' David Price and the Yankees' CC Sabathia. That year, Hernandez had 13 wins,...

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Goodwin, Martinson, Barrett shine in Salt River's 11-5 victory

November 10, 2012, 5:59pm

Nationals

Goodwin, Martinson, Barrett shine in Salt River's 11-5 victory

Brian Goodwin scored two runs and Jason Martinson added two RBIs as Salt River dropped Phoenix, 11-5. Goodwin, leading off and playing center field, went 1-for-4, but had two walks, the two tuns and a double. He had a stolen base but was also picked off first base in the first inning after reaching on a fielding error. Goodwin's batting average is .239. Martinson, playing for only the second time in a week, went 1-for-3 with a two-run double to give the Rafters a 3-0 lead. He scored a run,...

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Searching for southpaws

November 10, 2012, 5:36am

Nationals

During the bulk of the 2012 season, the Nationals carried three left-handed relievers in their bullpen. For the final month of the season, they had four southpaws working in relief. As of today, the Nats don't have a single lefty reliever under contract for 2013. Sean Burnett, Michael Gonzalez and Zach Duke are all free agents this offseason, and will test the market before determining where they land for next year. Tom Gorzelanny is entering his final arbitration year, and while the...

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Johnson will return to manage in 2013, shift to consultant role in 2014

November 10, 2012, 7:15am

Nationals

Johnson will return to manage in 2013, shift to consultant role in 2014

The Washington Nationals today announced that Davey Johnson will return in 2013 for his final managerial campaign before shifting to a consultant position with the Nationals in 2014. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. "I love managing this ballclub in this town, and for that, I owe a debt of gratitude to the Lerner Family and Mike Rizzo," said Johnson. "As everyone knows, we have some unfinished business to tend...

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Johnson to return as Nationals manager for 2013

November 08, 2012, 10:29am

Nationals

It doesn't come as much of a surprise, but it's news most Nats fans will probably embrace: Davey Johnson will be the Nationals' manager for the 2013 season. The Nationals have reached an agreement with Johnson that brings him back to the dugout in a managerial role next season, according to multiple reports. This comes after Johnson led the 2012 Nats to their first playoff appearance in team history and the first postseason appearance for a D.C.-based major league team since 1933. Johnson...

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Goodwin and Skole have RBI doubles, but Mesa drops Salt River 7-5

November 10, 2012, 2:03am

Nationals

Goodwin and Skole have RBI doubles, but Mesa drops Salt River 7-5

Brian Goodwin and Matt Skole smacked RBI doubles, but a four-run second inning set the tone as Mesa edged Salt River 7-5 in Arizona Fall League competition Friday afternoon. Batting leadoff as the designated hitter, Goodwin went 1-for-5, with a RBI double, a run scored and two strikeouts. His average is at .239. Skole, at first base, went 1-for-3 with a run-scoring double and a walk. His average is .302. Anthony Rendon, playing third base, went 0-for-4 and struck out twice. The Solar Sox...

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LaRoche, Desmond, Strasburg win Silver Sluggers

November 08, 2012, 12:46pm

Nationals

LaRoche, Desmond, Strasburg win Silver Sluggers

Not only did Adam LaRoche win a Gold Glove as the National League's best defensive first baseman, he also will take home a Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger as the NL's top offensive first baseman. It's the first time LaRoche has won a Silver Slugger. And LaRoche wasn't the only Nationals player to be honored for his offensive production tonight. Shortstop Ian Desmond and right-hander Stephen Strasburg also won their first career Silver Sluggers. The Nationals continue to rack up the...

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LaRoche declines Nats' qualifying offer

November 09, 2012, 12:16pm

Nationals

Free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche has declined the Nationals' qualifying offer, which would have given him a one-year contract for the 2013 season worth $13.3 million. In no way should this be a surprise; LaRoche is the top free agent first baseman on the market and clearly has his eyes set on a multi-year contract. LaRoche had until 5 p.m. today to accept the one-year deal. The Nationals knew that LaRoche would decline their qualifying offer, but by extending it to him, they're...

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Goodwin, Skole get day off; Surprise edges Salt River 5-4

November 09, 2012, 1:46am

Nationals

Goodwin, Skole get day off; Surprise edges Salt River 5-4

Surprise returned the favor Thursday with a 5-4 win at Salt River, despite a furious ninth-inning rally that came up short. Down 5-1 heading into their last at-bat, the Rafters scored three runs, but Chris Owings struck out to end the game. Matt Davidson's solo shot and Jake Marisnick's two-run homer had cut the deficit to one. The Rafters did not have that many opportunities against the Surprise pitching staff, going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Nationals prospect Anthony...

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For starters, Nats will keep their options open

November 08, 2012, 4:24am

Nationals

For starters, Nats will keep their options open

When you survey the Nationals' roster, you see only four starting pitchers locked in for the 2013 season: Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann and Ross Detwiler. These four starters all put up strong 2012 campaigns and could easily end up being slotted one through four in the Nationals' rotation next season. The current state of the Nats' starting staff has led many observers to assume that they'll end up signing another starting pitcher, but one that will be tucked at the...

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Desmond, LaRoche, Strasburg earn NL Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger awards

November 08, 2012, 2:06pm

Nationals

Desmond, LaRoche, Strasburg earn NL Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger awards

Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond, first baseman Adam LaRoche and pitcher Stephen Strasburg tonight were named recipients of the 2012 National League Louisville Silver Slugger Awards for their respective positions. Desmond, LaRoche and Strasburg each won the coveted Silver Slugger for the first time. Washington paced MLB with three Silver Slugger recipients (only the Tigers and Yankees had two) and matched the Nationals' combined total from their initial seven seasons (2005-11) in...

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Nationals Park to host Hiring our Heroes job fair

November 08, 2012, 6:25am

Nationals

As an extension of the team's military outreach conducted throughout the baseball season, the Washington Nationals will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's National Chamber Foundation in hosting a Hiring Our Heroes job fair at Nationals Park on Wednesday, December 5. This free event aims to help veterans and military spouses transition from military service to the civilian workforce. It will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Stars & Stripes Club and will be open to veterans,...

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Johnson, Harper, Gonzalez all finalists for end-of-season awards

November 07, 2012, 2:03pm

Nationals

Johnson, Harper, Gonzalez all finalists for end-of-season awards

The Nationals are well-represented in Major League Baseball's end-of-season award discussion. Nats manager Davey Johnson was named one of three finalists for National League Manager of the Year, Bryce Harper is up for NL Rookie of the Year and left-hander Gio Gonzalez is a finalist for the NL Cy Young Award. Johnson joins Reds manager Dusty Baker and Giants skipper Bruce Bochy as the finalists for NL Manager of the Year. Johnson led the Nats to a 98-win season and their first NL East...

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Skole blasts two-run shot in Salt River's 8-3 victory

November 08, 2012, 2:36am

Nationals

Skole blasts two-run shot in Salt River's 8-3 victory

Nationals prospect Matt Skole picked up where he left off, going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and four RBIs in Salt River's 8-3 win over Surprise on Wednesday night in the Arizona Fall League. Skole crushed the two-run shot in the fifth inning, walked in the first and smacked a two-run single in the third. He grounded out and flew out in his final two at-bats. His four RBIs marked the second game in a row a Nationals prospect connected for that total, and ran his RBI mark to a team-high 12...

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Rendon still has something to prove before reaching bigs

November 07, 2012, 6:17am

Nationals

Rendon still has something to prove before reaching bigs

Today marks the beginning of the GM meetings out in Indian Wells, Calif., an event that runs through Friday. These meetings aren't nearly as significant as the annual Winter Meetings when it comes to free agent action or trade talk, but they serve as a nice starting point for a lot of offseason deals which are completed at a later date. While Mike Rizzo is taking part in all that action out in California, Anthony Rendon is starting to heat up in nearby Arizona. As pointed out by my...

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A non-update update on LaRoche

November 05, 2012, 10:16pm

Nationals

How much should the Nationals be prepared to pay in order to keep Adam LaRoche in D.C.? How long a contract should they be willing to offer? Those are questions that are being tossed around both by people within the Nationals organization and within LaRoche's camp. Contract talks are still not to the point where a deal is expected in the very near future, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. But don't take that to mean that the Nationals aren't still very much in the...

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Jackson hasn't "closed the doors" on a return to Nats

November 06, 2012, 11:50am

Nationals

Jackson hasn't "closed the doors" on a return to Nats

Back at home after returning from a recent trip out west, Edwin Jackson isn't stressing about his contract negotiation process. The free agent right-hander hit the open market more than a week ago and has had plenty of chances to check in with his agent and ask which teams have already come calling. But Jackson says he's been pretty hands-off when it comes to the business side of things at this stage, choosing to relax, get some vacation time in and start some light agility training rather...

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Rendon with two doubles as Salt River wins slugfest, 14-12

November 07, 2012, 1:45am

Nationals

Rendon with two doubles as Salt River wins slugfest, 14-12

Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon went 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs as Salt River outscored Scottsdale 14-12 in the Arizona Fall League on Tuesday night. Rendon also had a single, two runs, sac fly and a stolen base, raising his average to .317. He has hit .382 (13-for-34) with five doubles, a triple and seven RBIs in his last 10 games. The third baseman has four stolen bases and 12 runs scored in 17 AFL contests. He has totaled 10 RBIs and 11 walks in Arizona. Rendon had the sac...