nationals

A chance to put the final nail in the divisional race

September 13, 2012, 10:57pm

Yesterday sure made for an interesting off-day. We had Nationals third base coach Bo Porter, who lives in the Houston area, interviewing for the Astros' managerial job. Porter is highly thought of within the Nationals organization and is considered a candidate to eventually replace Davey Johnson once Johnson decides to step out of the managerial role. Porter missed out on two past managerial openings after interviewing for the position; he was up for the Pirates job in 2010 and the Marlins...

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Marty Niland: G. Gonzalez primed to join elite company

September 14, 2012, 4:30am

Nationals

Marty Niland: G. Gonzalez primed to join elite company

Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez will be looking to join an exclusive club this weekend in Atlanta. He's set to take the mound Sunday bidding for his 20th win of the season. If he gets it, he'll not only be the first 20-game winner in the major leagues this year, he'll be the first player in a Washington uniform to do it in 59 years. With a win in Atlanta or another of his final starts this season, Gonzalez will join a club that includes Walter Johnson, who won at least 20 a dozen times...

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Who's your most surprising National?

September 13, 2012, 10:31am

Nationals

As Ian Desmond's 23rd homer of the season sailed over the fence last night at Citi Field, I thought to myself, "Self, there's no way you could've seen this coming." Desmond hit .253 with eight home runs and a .656 OPS last season. Anyone that says they expected the Nationals' shortstop to be batting .295 with 23 homers and a .854 OPS and to have a suddenly near-flawless glove this season is lying to themselves. Given what he's done this season, Desmond is a sure candidate for the most...

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A quiet start for Lannan, and that's a good thing (Nats sweep Mets)

September 12, 2012, 4:19pm

Nationals

A quiet start for Lannan, and that's a good thing (Nats sweep Mets)

If you were thinking that John Lannan might be a little too hyped up for his first major league start in over five weeks, you don't really know John Lannan all that well. The veteran lefty, who isn't the type to let his emotions affect him too much on the mound, has thrown three scoreless innings to start tonight's ballgame. Lannan's allowed three hits so far, but he hasn't walked a batter (walks were his issue during his last start with the Nats) and he's gotten six groundball...

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He's not Strasburg, but he doesn't have to be

September 12, 2012, 10:23pm

Nationals

He's not Strasburg, but he doesn't have to be

Bring the magic numbers down another couple notches. The Nationals keep grooving while seemingly everyone else around them in the National League with the exception of the suddenly unstoppable Phillies (what's up with those guys?) is faltering. With last night's win over the Mets and another Atlanta loss, the Nationals' lead in the NL East is up to a season-high 8 1/2 games and their magic number to win the division is now 11. Toss in another Dodgers loss, and Washington's magic number...

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David Huzzard: Nats need statement wins as they look toward postseason

September 13, 2012, 5:48am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Nats need statement wins as they look toward postseason

At 8 1/2 games up in the division, it would take a momentous collapse for the Washington Nationals to lose it. Think about it this way. If the Nationals go 9-10 in their remaining games to finish with a record of 98-64, the Braves would have to win every game to win the East outright or go 17-1 to tie. As commanding as the Nationals' lead is, nothing is over. Every one of the Nationals' remaining opponents are over .500 and in the hunt for the wild card, the two most dangerous being the...

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Teaching Nationals' Tyler Moore left field last season paying huge dividends now

September 12, 2012, 6:56pm

Nationals

This and that as the Nationals earned their 89th win of the season in a 2-0 win at New York against the Mets: Ã¢â‚¬Â¢ Pretty amazing to think Tyler Moore had played first base his entire career and had two games in left field at Triple-A Syracuse before being promoted to the Nationals. Now with Michael Morse laboring with a sprained wrist, Moore's play in left field, and that forward thinking the franchise had to work him in the outfield at instructional league last season, are paying...

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Nationals announce 2013 schedule (updated)

September 12, 2012, 9:20am

Nationals

The Nationals have announced their 2013 schedule, which sees them open at home against the Miami Marlins and finish the season with six straight road contests - three at St. Louis and three at Arizona. The season opener will come on Monday, April 1. The Nats will host the Marlins for three games before hitting the road for three against the Reds. The annual Battle of the Beltways series will continue for an eighth straight season. Both the Nationals and Orioles will host two games over a...

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Dickey: Nats have "the best lineup I have faced"

September 12, 2012, 4:05am

Nationals

Dickey: Nats have "the best lineup I have faced"

The Nationals got back on track in New York, winning another series, and beating a pitcher who had been unbeatable most of the season. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, lost for just fifth time in his last 29 starts, allowing a game-changing two-run homer to pinch-hitter Tyler Moore, and the Nationals went on to win 5-3. Dickey, who allowed only three runs in seven innings, said he has not seen anyone else hit like the Nationals have this season. "That is the best lineup I have faced," Dickey...

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Morse, Espinosa out of Nats lineup as Lannan takes the hill

September 12, 2012, 11:52am

Nationals

Morse, Espinosa out of Nats lineup as Lannan takes the hill

Today was originally scheduled to be Stephen Strasburg's final start of the 2012 season. Those who bought tickets to tonight's Nationals-Mets game at Citi Field hoping to see Strasburg's finale will get John Lannan instead. Lannan makes his return to the Nationals' rotation tonight as he takes on the Mets in the finale of this three-game series. The veteran left-hander has made two starts with the Nats this season, going 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA over 13 innings. Those starts were merely...

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Nationals announce 2013 schedule

September 12, 2012, 9:19am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today released their 2013 schedule, which includes 81 home dates, beginning with Washington's 80th home opener since 1901 on Monday, April 1 vs. Miami and is highlighted by an attractive slate of weekend visits from the Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Twins. The annual Battle of the Beltways Series between the Nationals and Orioles continues for an eighth consecutive season with each club hosting a pair of contests over a four-game span, May 27-30. The...

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Zimmermann not at his sharpest (Nats win 5-3)

September 11, 2012, 4:33pm

Nationals

Zimmermann not at his sharpest (Nats win 5-3)

For the second straight night, a Nationals starter is getting the job done against the Mets despite having some command issues. Last night, Gio Gonzalez walked five and was frustrated by his inability to locate his pitches, but he still worked six innings and allowed just a single run. Tonight, Jordan Zimmermann has walked three through four innings and has needed 83 pitches to get to this point, but he's thrown four scoreless frames. The Nats lead the Mets 1-0 thanks to Ryan Zimmerman's...

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Rachel Levitin: Nats, MLB need to work something out with Metro before the playoffs

September 12, 2012, 4:36am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Nats, MLB need to work something out with Metro before the playoffs

There's one big problem with the Nationals being as good as they are this season. What's ironic about that problem is that it has nothing to do with baseball and has everything to do with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority closing at midnight. This is a topic of conversation that will continue to come up until the end of the season and will persist until the season officially comes to a close (pending playoff games). I've sounded off regarding my Metro pet peeves before, but...

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Nationals set instructional league roster and schedule

September 11, 2012, 11:24am

Nationals

The Nationals have set their roster for instructional league competition, which will originate from their Viera, Fla., training facility, and begins this weekend. The report date is Sept. 14 with the first workout set for Sept. 15. The first game on the 14-game schedule is Sept. 22 on the road against the Mets. The last game is Oct. 10 against the Astros. As we first reported, third baseman Matt Skole and right-hander Aaron Barrett will begin their offseason in Florida and then leave for...

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Slowes advances to second round in Ford Frick voting

September 11, 2012, 1:40pm

Nationals

Slowes advances to second round in Ford Frick voting

The Nationals continue to shine on the field as one of the top teams in baseball. The postseason accolades will come in due time, but as the season pushes forward into fall, it's the voice of the Nationals - Charlie Slowes - who finds himself in his own awards race. Slowes is among 41 veteran broadcasters chosen as candidates for the 2013 Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., for excellence in baseball...

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Nats set to face Dickey, Zimmermann hoping for carryover performance

September 11, 2012, 10:35am

Nationals

Nats set to face Dickey, Zimmermann hoping for carryover performance

We've got quite a pitching matchup on our hands tonight up in Flushing, N.Y. Two of the top seven in the National League in ERA - R.A. Dickey and Jordan Zimmermann - will toe the rubber at Citi Field. Dickey (18-4, 2.64) is probably the leading candidate for the NL Cy Young award at this point, while Zimmermann (10-8, 2.99) is looking to carry some momentum from his last start out, when he allowed just two runs over seven innings with nine strikeouts in a win over the Cubs. That was the...

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Nationals, Mets lineups

September 11, 2012, 11:51am

Nationals

The Nationals have won 10 of their last 11 games at Citi Field, including six straight. They look to continue that road dominance tonight against R.A. Dickey and the Mets. For the Nationals: RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche LF Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki P Jordan Zimmermann For the Mets: SS Ruben Tejada 2B Daniel Murphy 3B David Wright 1B Ike Davis RF Mike Baxter LF Jason Bay CF Andres Torres C Josh Thole P R.A. Dickey

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When is power too much of a good thing?

September 11, 2012, 7:10am

Nationals

After Monday's three-homer offensive attack in a 5-1 win over the Mets, the Nationals have now hit 33 homers in their last 13 games and an incredible 27 homers in the month of September. That is 11 more than Milwaukee for best in the National League. The Nationals have 168 homers on the season, second only to the Brewers (177) in the National League, and better than Cincinnati (163), Pittsburgh (149) and Colorado (148). Looking down the starting nine, the top seven have displayed legitimate...

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Breaking down Gio's Cy Young chances

September 11, 2012, 5:38am

Nationals

The magic number to clinch the division is down to 15 with 21 games left on the Nationals' schedule. Last night's 5-1 win over the Mets coupled with Atlanta's loss to the Brewers boosted the Nationals' lead in the division back up to 6 1/2 games, seven in the loss column. Never mind that the Nats didn't register a hit from the fourth inning on last night or that Gio Gonzalez walked five hitters in his first four innings, tying a season high for most walks in a game. None of that matters...

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The homer-fest continues (Nats win 5-1)

September 10, 2012, 4:45pm

Nationals

Another game, more Nationals longballs. The Nats have played just four innings tonight and they've already smacked three home runs - a solo shot by Kurt Suzuki, a two-run bomb to straightaway center by Ryan Zimmerman and a two-run opposite-field shot by Ian Desmond. That's been nothing unusual over the last week; in the Nationals' last seven games, they've hit 23 homers. Not bad, I guess. The Nats lead the Mets 5-1 after four innings thanks to the homer-fest and four decent innings from...