nationals

Nats drop series finale 5-1

August 22, 2012, 6:27pm

A sweep would've meant a nice eight-game lead in the division. Instead, the Nationals will have to settle for taking two out of three and holding a six-game lead over the Braves. The Nats dropped the series finale 5-1 tonight, allowing the Braves to leave town with a bit of momentum when they entered today staring down a possible three-game sweep. If you're Nationals manager Davey Johnson, this one sure wasn't pretty. The Nats managed little off Braves starter Kris Medlen and only got on...

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Harper's rough stretch carries over into the field (a rally falls apart)

August 22, 2012, 5:20pm

Nationals

Harper's rough stretch carries over into the field (a rally falls apart)

It's no secret that Bryce Harper has been struggling at the plate recently. Last night, Harper notched the dreaded Golden Sombrero, striking out all four times he came to the plate. Tonight, he's gone 0-for-2 with a weak ground ball and a pop up. But through his offensive issues the last couple months, Harper has still managed to play strong defense, getting good reads on fly balls and covering lots of ground. Tonight, one defensive miscue from Harper has cost the Nationals two runs and put...

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Mapping out the Strasburg timetable (we're underway)

August 22, 2012, 2:51pm

Nationals

Mapping out the Strasburg timetable (we're underway)

At the risk of this blog becoming all Stephen Strasburg, all the time, I wanted to pass along some quotes from Davey Johnson which set a bit of a rough timetable for when the Nationals might shut down their ace right-hander. Because of off-days down the stretch, Johnson said that the Nationals will only need an extra starter (we're talking about you, John Lannan) for two or, at most, three starts once Strasburg is shut down. Knowing that, we can map out Strasburg's next few starts and take...

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Nats lineup for series finale vs. Braves

August 22, 2012, 11:37am

Nationals

Nats lineup for series finale vs. Braves

We've got a battle of promising 26-year-old hurlers in the series finale between the Nationals and Braves. The Nats will take their hacks at right-hander Kris Medlen, who has torn it up for the Braves since moving into the rotation July 31. He's 3-0 in his four starts this season, and hasn't allowed more than one run in any of those four outings. His last time out, Medlen pitched a five-hit, complete-game shutout against the Padres, walking none and striking out six. So yeah, he's kind...

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Rizzo confirms Giolito likely needs Tommy John surgery (with audio)

August 22, 2012, 10:08am

Nationals

Rizzo confirms Giolito likely needs Tommy John surgery (with audio)

It is almost time to begin the Tommy John clock for right-hander Lucas Giolito. Appearing on the "Holden & Danny Show" on Wednesday on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed that first-round selection Giolito will likely need Tommy John ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow. "It looks like he is going to need Tommy John surgery," Rizzo said on "The Mike Rizzo Show." "He has seen our medical people. We're going to give him a second...

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Strasburg still feeling strong, Nats shooting for a sweep

August 22, 2012, 6:42am

Nationals

Strasburg still feeling strong, Nats shooting for a sweep

After last night's outing, Stephen Strasburg has now thrown 145 1/3 innings this season, nearly 22 more than he's put up in either of his two prior professional seasons. Is the hard-throwing right-hander starting to tire at all? If you watched him work last night, you can probably guess the answer. "No, it's a tribute to the program that I've been on," Strasburg said. "It's really helped me get stronger and I think I've been able to refine my mechanics as the season went on. I feel...

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Strasburg, Johnson recap the ace's stellar start

August 21, 2012, 8:21pm

Nationals

Strasburg, Johnson recap the ace's stellar start

If tonight's rain delay had lasted longer than an hour, Davey Johnson said he was going to pull Stephen Strasburg from the game. That was the "drop-dead" point for Strasburg, as far as the Nationals' skipper was concerned. I guess it's a good thing the delay was just 51 minutes. Strasburg stepped back on the mound after the rain delay, which hit Nats Park in the top of the third inning, and immediately got into a zone. He wasn't bad before heavy rain forced the stoppage, giving up two...

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More Strasburg stuff, plus quotes on Flores, Clippard

August 21, 2012, 9:02pm

Nationals

More Strasburg stuff, plus quotes on Flores, Clippard

As you might imagine, Stephen Strasburg was the talk of the Nationals' clubhouse after this one. "He was totally locked in tonight," catcher Jesus Flores said. "I love it. He was hitting my spots. We were pitching a lot inside to those guys and then the breaking ball was so effective to them that they (were) pretty much swinging at everything." "He was on," shortstop Ian Desmond said. "He was just painting. Had everything working. It was fun to watch. Changuep, curveball, fastball....

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Rachel Levitin: Enough with the Strasburg shutdown hoopla

August 22, 2012, 4:54am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Enough with the Strasburg shutdown hoopla

It's impossible to avoid the name Stephen Strasburg upon mention of the Washington Nationals these days. Everyone around the country from sportscasters to politicians to your average Joe wants to weigh in and share their two cents about why they feel the Nationals' ace shouldn't be shut down later this season due to a post-Tommy John surgery innings limit. I, for one, just have to say it - I'm sick of hearing and having to talk about Strasburg. He's not the only guy on the team. For the...

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Why not alter Strasburg's throwing schedule? Here's why...

August 21, 2012, 2:29pm

Nationals

Why not alter Strasburg's throwing schedule? Here's why...

Another Stephen Strasburg start, more questions about The Shutdown. They've become expected at this point. Death, taxes, lengthy rain delays at Nats Park and questions about the Nationals' decision to go into the playoffs with Strasburg watching from the dugout. I've had numerous conversations, dating all the way back to spring training, with people both within and outside the organization about the reason why the team didn't decide to somehow stretch Strasburg's innings out so that...

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Desmond surge a good sign, even if he still isn't 100 percent

August 21, 2012, 7:31pm

Nationals

Desmond surge a good sign, even if he still isn't 100 percent

Shortstop Ian Desmond went 0-for-11 in his return from a left oblique strain that forced him to miss 25 games on the disabled list. But in the last two games Desmond has returned to his All-Star form with home runs in his first at-bat. Desmond smacked a two-run shot off of Braves' starter Tim Hudson in the first inning Monday, capping a four-run inning that gave the Nationals a 4-1 lead. He finished with two hits in the 13-inning marathon. On Tuesday, with rain pouring down, Desmond...

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Davey says bullpen is good to go in Game 2

August 21, 2012, 1:24pm

Nationals

Davey says bullpen is good to go in Game 2

Despite using all seven relievers in Monday's 5-4, 13-inning marathon win over the Atlanta Braves, Nationals manager Davey Johnson said they will all be available for Tuesday's Game 2. Even Craig Stammen, who went two full innings, will be available. "He is probably good to go too," Johnson said. "He is the strongest one out there." Johnson said the bullpen, which includes three lefties and four right-handers, will be ready if needed after Stephen Strasburg tonight. "They are all...

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Rain or no rain, Strasburg is dealing (Nats take two in a row from Braves)

August 21, 2012, 5:16pm

Nationals

Rain or no rain, Strasburg is dealing (Nats take two in a row from Braves)

Prior to the rain delay, which hit in the third inning, Stephen Strasburg had struck out four hitters over 2 2/3 innings, much of that in the pouring rain. He sat around for 51 minutes as the tarp sat on the infield, but that time away from the mound didn't slow him down. If anything, Strasburg came back from the delay even stronger than before. Since the delay, Strasburg has been absolutely filthy. He's struck out six of the eight hitters he's faced; three swinging, three looking. All of...

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Another rain delay at Nats Park (Strasburg on mound as game resumes)

August 21, 2012, 3:52pm

Nationals

Another rain delay at Nats Park (Strasburg on mound as game resumes)

Mother nature is trying to work her way into the National League East pennant race. For the third straight day, we've got a rain delay at Nationals Park. Sunday's delay lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours, last night's game was delayed 56 minutes and now we'll have to wait and see how long we're stuck with the tarp on the field today. The delay started at 7:43 with the Nationals leading the Braves 1-0 with two outs in the top of the third. Ian Desmond got the Nats on the board in a pouring rain...

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Chipper out of Braves lineup vs. Strasburg

August 21, 2012, 11:42am

Nationals

Chipper out of Braves lineup vs. Strasburg

The Nationals won't have to deal with Chipper Jones tonight, as the future Hall of Fame third baseman is out of the Braves lineup. The 40-year-old Jones played all 13 innings last night, but won't be starting against Stephen Strasburg in Game 2 of this big division series. Jones went 1-for-5 with a walk last night. He came into this series with three homers in his past three games. The Nats will face off against left-hander Paul Maholm, who the Braves acquired from the Cubs prior to the...

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The emotional swing between a thrilling win and a frustrating loss

August 21, 2012, 8:46am

Nationals

The emotional swing between a thrilling win and a frustrating loss

Think a postgame entry and a morning entry is enough to encapsulate all that happened at 1500 S. Capitol St. last night? Think again. I've got more. Those of us who haven't played major league baseball don't know how it feels to win a big 13-inning game over a division opponent in the midst of a pennant race. We don't know how it feels to lose that type of game, either. So how dramatic is the swing of emotions from one end of the spectrum to the other? How much does it hurt to lose a...

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Prospect Ricky Hague's shoulder "feels great"

August 21, 2012, 9:32am

Nationals

Prospect Ricky Hague's shoulder "feels great"

High Single-A Potomac Nationals shortstop Ricky Hague is putting together a full season after missing most of last year with a shoulder injury. Hague has worked very hard to strengthen the shoulder and game repetition has helped him maintain his range of motion. "The shoulder feels great," Hague said recently. "It has given me no problems. It feels strong. No pain at all." Hague has also learned that playing 92 games so far in a season is the true test every baseball player at the...

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Digesting the details from last night

August 21, 2012, 12:28am

Nationals

Remember that 11-inning game on July 20, in which the Nationals jumped on top of the Braves 9-0 only to blow the lead and fall in extras 11-10? Of course you do. How could you possibly wipe that disaster out of your memory bank? Is it possible last night's 5-4 13-inning Nationals win was even wackier? Thanks to my four hours of sleep, I'm too tired to really compare the two, but they're close. For whatever reason, these two teams love playing ridiculous extra-inning games which drain...

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Stephen Walker: Enjoying Espinosa more and more

August 20, 2012, 3:25pm

Nationals

Stephen Walker: Enjoying Espinosa more and more

During the dark days of 2009, with the Nationals mired in first place in the Bryce Harper draft sweepstakes, I looked to the minor leagues for solace. I decided to attend a Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) trip to Woodbridge, Va., to watch the Single-A Potomac Nationals, at that time the defending Carolina League champions. Excitement ran high as recent draftees, including Drew Storen, had just joined the team. Seeing potential future stars numbed the pain I felt watching the big...

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Recapping Nationals' weird, wild 13-inning win

August 20, 2012, 10:06pm

Nationals

The final play of tonight's (or should I say, last night's) ballgame epitomized how strange the contest was as a whole. We had a 56-minute rain delay. The Nationals scored four runs in the first inning, then didn't score again for another 12 frames. The major league leader in ERA, Jordan Zimmermann, had an outing which tied for the shortest of his season and in which he allowed tied for the most runs he's allowed all year. The Nats and Braves combined to go 5-for-25 with runners in scoring...