nationals

Rendon making strides in AFL to look the part defensively

October 28, 2012, 11:47am

Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon continues to work on his defense at third base as the Arizona Fall League's Salt River Rafters work through their schedule. At the plate, it is all about timing. "I am just trying to get my rhythm back while I am hitting," Rendon said. "I am trying to get more efficient and getting started earlier to be ready to hit." Defensively, though, Rendon admitted there has been a perception that he looks on the field like he isn't all the way into every pitch....

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Looking at the rotation and the available starters on the market

October 27, 2012, 7:51am

Nationals

Looking at the rotation and the available starters on the market

When it comes to the back of their rotation, the Nationals have options. They could tender John Lannan a contract and go into spring training thinking he'll take the No. 5 spot in their rotation. They could re-sign Edwin Jackson to a multi-year deal and go forward with him as one of their top five guys. They could also dip into the free agent market and bring someone in to round out what sets up as one of baseball's top starting staffs with Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann...

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Zimmerman, Tracy undergo arthroscopic surgery

October 25, 2012, 2:16pm

Nationals

Zimmerman, Tracy undergo arthroscopic surgery

A pair of Nationals went under the knife today. Ryan Zimmerman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, while infielder Chad Tracy had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Both players are expected to be ready for the start of spring training. Both surgeries were performed by the Nationals' team doctor, Dr. Wiemi Douoguih, at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center in D.C. I wonder if the team got some type of multi-player discount. Zimmerman battled inflammation in the...

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Prospect updates: Benincasa, Self, Miller, Kieboom

October 25, 2012, 9:54am

Nationals

Prospect updates: Benincasa, Self, Miller, Kieboom

Several pitchers did very well at instructional league, including a couple of right-handed relievers who were noticed by Single-A Potomac pitching coach Chris Michalak over the last few weeks of fall camp in Viera, Fla. Right-handers Robert Benincasa and Derek Self, who spent the summer at short-season Single-A Auburn after their selections by the Nationals in the 2012 draft, made good progress. "Benincasa threw the ball well for us in Florida," Michalak said. "He was an aggressive...

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A closer look at Zimmerman's remarkable season (plus some spring training dates)

October 26, 2012, 5:54am

Nationals

A closer look at Zimmerman's remarkable season (plus some spring training dates)

The Nationals have yet to release their full 2013 spring training schedule, but for those of you interested in getting a head start on your vacation planning, I've got some tentative dates courtesy of the Grapefruit League master schedule put together at SpringTrainingOnline.com. Here's what's listed so far. The Nats, of course, will play their home games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. Feb. 23: Nats at Mets (Port St. Lucie) Feb. 24: Marlins at Nats Feb. 26: Nats at Braves (Lake...

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Rendon's ankle at "full strength"

October 26, 2012, 7:37pm

Nationals

Nationals infield prospect Anthony Rendon checked in from the Arizona Fall League, where he is playing for the Salt River Rafters. He is batting .231 in 11 games so far for the Rafters, with four doubles and five RBIs. He has seven walks and eight strikeouts. Rendon has played third base exclusively for the Rafters and said that he feels 100 percent healthy following recovery from a fractured left ankle suffered in April with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. "It is back to full...

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What a healthy Wilson Ramos would mean for Kurt Suzuki

October 25, 2012, 5:57am

Nationals

What a healthy Wilson Ramos would mean for Kurt Suzuki

The previously unhittable Justin Verlander gets smacked around and sees his postseason ERA jump from 0.74 to 11.25? Barry Zito throws a gem in the World Series and then is relieved by Tim Lincecum? Pablo Sandoval joins Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols in elite World Series company? You never know what will happen in this game. We certainly didn't know what the Nationals would get from Kurt Suzuki when he came over from the Athletics in a trade at the beginning of August. He had...

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Johnson named Sporting News NL Manager of the Year

October 24, 2012, 7:55am

Nationals

Johnson named Sporting News NL Manager of the Year

Finally, some postseason recognition for the Nationals. Davey Johnson has been named National League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News. While this isn't the official baseball-sanctioned award - which is voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and will be announced Nov. 13 - it's the first of what could be several nice honors following the team's best season since arriving in D.C. In his first full season at the Nationals' helm, Johnson guided them to a 98-64...

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Cole Kimball "glad to be playing again"

October 24, 2012, 5:54am

Nationals

Right-hander Cole Kimball is finally back to feeling completely healthy following shoulder surgery. He is making his second appearance in Arizona and is excited to be back on the bump. Even though he is one of the older guys in the Arizona Fall League, he said he excited to be pitching again, keeping quiet and working hard. Kimball had rotator cuff surgery in July 2011, and has rehabbed to the point where his shoulder feels strong. He said the injury was a "freak accident," something he...

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Davey Johnson named Sporting News NL Manager of the Year

October 24, 2012, 8:05am

Nationals

Davey Johnson named Sporting News NL Manager of the Year

Davey Johnson of the Washington Nationals has been named the National League's Manager of the Year within SN's 2012 MLB Awards, presented by Gillette Odor Shield. Johnson not only delivered the Nationals' first winning record since the team relocated to Washington, D.C., in 2005, he led the team to a major-league best 98 wins during the regular season. Johnson accomplished that thanks to a dominant rotation and bullpen, and a lineup that was able to overcome extended absences by...

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How will Storen respond? (plus AFL updates)

October 23, 2012, 8:50pm

Nationals

How will Storen respond? (plus AFL updates)

After two straight subpar outings to open his Arizona Fall League season, Nationals farmhand Ryan Perry pitched a gem yesterday. Perry threw four perfect innings for the Salt River Rafters, striking out four. The 6-foot-4 right-hander finished out the regular season on an absolute tear for Double-A Harrisburg after being converted to a starter, and could continue to creep his way back up the organizational depth chart with a strong AFL performance. Also impressing out in Arizona is center...

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LaRoche a close second for Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year award

October 23, 2012, 11:56am

Nationals

LaRoche a close second for Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year award

Yesterday, it was Bryce Harper who fell short of the Sporting News Rookie of the Year award. Today, it's Adam LaRoche coming up just a few votes shy of the Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year honors. LaRoche was edged out by Giants catcher Buster Posey, who won the award by earning 31 votes to LaRoche's 29. The voting was done by a panel of major league players. LaRoche battled shoulder issues through his first season with the Nationals last year, hitting just .172 with a .546 OPS...

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Clippard's stock rose, but so will his price tag

October 22, 2012, 5:35am

Nationals

Clippard's stock rose, but so will his price tag

Maybe the Giants are this year's Cardinals. Two straight San Francisco victories over St. Louis in win-or-go-home situations have forced the National League Championship Series to a decisive Game 7 tonight. That's now five victories in must-win spots for the Giants during this postseason, which brings back memories of the high-wire act the Cardinals walked during their 2011 World Series run. The Giants will stay at home for Game 7 with Matt Cain taking the mound against Kyle Lohse. Should...

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Harper comes in third in Sporting News Rookie of the Year voting

October 22, 2012, 10:49am

Nationals

Harper comes in third in Sporting News Rookie of the Year voting

Major League Baseball's official Rookie of the Year award, voted on by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, won't be announced until Nov. 12. The Sporting News has announced the results of its own Rookie of the Year award, however. Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley will take home that honor, with Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper finishing third in the voting. Reds infielder Todd Frazier was second. The Sporting News polled 203 major league players for the award, and...

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Then there were two

October 22, 2012, 10:14pm

Nationals

It wasn't the tight, dramatic Game 7 that many, including myself, were hoping for. No, it certainly wasn't that. The Giants crushed the Cardinals 9-0 in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series last night, giving them the NL pennant and perhaps giving Nationals fans a bit of a reason to smile. The Nats watched a 6-0 lead over St. Louis slip away in Game 5 of the Division Series, but the Cardinals had a big lead of their own disappear in the NLCS with a spot in the World Series oh...

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Ted Leavengood: Dick Bosman talks innings limits and young pitchers

October 22, 2012, 12:27pm

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: Dick Bosman talks innings limits and young pitchers

As the roving minor league pitching instructor for the Rays, former Senators pitcher Dick Bosman has helped groom some of the best pitching talent in the majors. I asked Bosman, a recent guest on the "Outta the Parkway" podcast show, to comment on the Nationals' handling of Stephen Strasburg this season on our podcast show Friday night. His response provided one of the most well-informed perspectives on the issue I have heard or seen. Bosman was probably the best arm the expansion...

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Some more on Moore

October 19, 2012, 8:33pm

Nationals

Tyler Moore's role for next year is very much uncertain. He could become the Nationals' everyday first baseman. He could become their everyday left fielder. He could be a right-handed bat off the bench. He could even be a trade candidate, if the Nats re-sign Adam LaRoche and other teams in need of some power come calling. Very little regarding Moore is clear at this point. But this much is clear - the 25-year-old has shown he can flat-out hit at every level at which he's played, and that...

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Southpaw Mooneyham showed stuff and potential at instructional league

October 22, 2012, 9:55am

Nationals

Southpaw Mooneyham showed stuff and potential at instructional league

One of the 2012 draft picks on the pitching side, left-hander Brett Mooneyham, showed well at instructional league the last few weeks. The Nationals' third-round draft pick pitched in 10 games (nine starts) for short-season Single-A Auburn, going 2-2 with a 2.55 ERA, striking out 29 batters and walking 16. He allowed only three earned runs in his last three starts. That was a very good start for the 22-year-old, but instructional league provided another great opportunity to work on a couple...

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Matt Skole lighting it up for Salt River in AFL

October 21, 2012, 6:58am

Nationals

Matt Skole lighting it up for Salt River in AFL

High Single-A Potomac Nationals third baseman Matt Skole has played in six games so far for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League. He has had at least one hit in each game. Saturday was Skole's third multi-hit game, and he went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. He is batting .500 (11-for-22) with three doubles, one homer and five RBIs. His slugging percentage is .773 and his OPS (on-base plus slugging) is 1.380. Skole has been playing some first base with Anthony Rendon...

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Examining Desmond's remarkable turnaround

October 18, 2012, 6:35am

Nationals

Examining Desmond's remarkable turnaround

Coming into spring training, was there any player on the Nationals roster who had more riding on this season from an individual perspective than Ian Desmond? Sure, guys like Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche felt the need to put up bounceback campaigns after really tough 2011 seasons. But they were proven big leaguers who simply were coming off a down year. Yeah, Ross Detwiler's emergence this year allowed him to establish himself as a true major league starter and cement a spot in the Nats'...