nationals

Werth campaigning to lead off upon his return (plus Strasburg, Harper notes)

August 01, 2012, 2:46pm

Jayson Werth is back with Single-A Potomac as his rehab assignment appears to be entering its final stage. Werth will play center field and hit leadoff for the P-Nats tonight. He might want to get used to the leadoff spot before rejoining the Nationals, as there's a chance Davey Johnson will slot him there once he's back in the majors a few days from now. "I've talked to him about leading off," Johnson said. "He normally was hitting, I think, last year, was hitting fifth. But he might...

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It's a battle for Edwin Jackson (Nats trail late)

August 01, 2012, 5:03pm

Nationals

It's a battle for Edwin Jackson (Nats trail late)

It hasn't been the smoothest night for Edwin Jackson. He's allowed 11 baserunners in five innings, surrendered three home runs and has needed 94 pitches to get himself through his five frames. Somehow, despite all that action on the bases and all the lengthy innings, Jackson has managed to give up just three runs this far. The Nationals trail 3-2 as we go to the sixth. All three homers off Jackson have been solo shots (two by Jimmy Rollins, who is absolutely on fire right now), and the...

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A few bad pitches, a few missed opportunities

August 01, 2012, 8:00pm

Nationals

A few bad pitches, a few missed opportunities

The Phillies hit so many balls hard off Edwin Jackson tonight that the Nationals starter initially thought he might have been tipping his pitches. After going back and watching some film, Jackson shot down that theory. He came away from that mini film session with a new idea of why he surrendered three home runs and gave up eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. "I just got hurt on balls up in the zone," Jackson said. Yeah, that'll usually do it. "Got behind in some counts," Jackson...

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Bats absent in Nationals' 3-2 loss

August 01, 2012, 6:21pm

Nationals

In the 18 innings played so far in this series, the Nationals have scored just two runs off Phillies pitching. Think they miss Ryan Zimmerman, who has been out of the starting lineup for both of these games because of a back injury? The Nats dropped their second straight contest to the rival Phils tonight, this one by a 3-2 score. Phillies starter Vance Worley held the Nationals to just two runs (both unearned) on six hits over his seven innings of work. He walked just one and needed only 86...

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Zimmerman again missing, LaRoche returns to Nats lineup

August 01, 2012, 12:16pm

Nationals

Zimmerman again missing, LaRoche returns to Nats lineup

Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will miss his second straight game with a sore back when the Nationals host the Phillies at 7:05 p.m., though the Nats will welcome first baseman Adam LaRoche back from a sore back. Here's the Nationals lineup: 2B Steve Lombardozzi RF Bryce Harper 3B Chad Tracy LF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Danny Espinosa CF Roger Bernadina C Jesus Flores P Edwin Jackson

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Recent slump has Harper a bit out of whack

August 01, 2012, 1:14am

Nationals

Recent slump has Harper a bit out of whack

Given his age and experience level, Bryce Harper's rookie season has been pretty impressive. Harper has appeared in every game but one since his promotion to the big leagues and has found a way to make an impact on nearly all of them. Even when he isn't hitting, he's able to make highlight-reel defensive plays and put pressure on the defense with his full-throttle baserunning. There have been plenty of positives. But after a hot start to his major league career, even the rookie can admit...

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Strasburg knows his emotions must stay more even-keeled

July 31, 2012, 8:13pm

Nationals

Strasburg knows his emotions must stay more even-keeled

The overwhelming theme of both Davey Johnson and Stephen Strasburg's sessions with reporters after tonight's game was that Strasburg needs to do a better job of managing his emotions when things aren't going his way. Johnson commented that Strasburg "lost a little poise" tonight. Strasburg wasn't about to disagree with that theory, acknowledging that after allowing a few runs early, he got a bit rattled and got out of his gameplan instead of just rolling with the punches. "Yeah, it's...

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Rendon schedule heats up through weekend

August 01, 2012, 10:12am

Nationals

Rendon schedule heats up through weekend

Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon's rehab from a fractured left ankle is gaining momentum, and this week will become a bigger test for the young third baseman to see how the injury reacts to sustained play in the field. Short-season Single-A Auburn manager Gary Cathcart confirmed that Rendon will play six innings tonight and Thursday morning at third base. He will be the designated hitter Friday. Then, on Saturday, Rendon is scheduled to play a full nine innings at third base for the first...

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Just because July 31 deadline has passed doesn't mean trades will end

August 01, 2012, 7:32am

Nationals Orioles

Just because July 31 deadline has passed doesn't mean trades will end

Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline has passed, but doesn't mean players can't change teams. The Orioles could still get a third baseman, and the Nationals a catcher. But there's a slight twist in the process. In August, players can be traded if they clear waivers. For example, if the Nationals wanted to trade a big league player for Boston catcher Kelly Shoppach, all big league players in the deal would have to clear waivers. The Nationals and Red Sox would have to let other teams know...

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Johnson discusses 8-0 loss to Phillies

July 31, 2012, 7:23pm

Nationals

Three starts ago, Stephen Strasburg pitched six scoreless innings, striking out seven Marlins. Two outings ago, Strasburg got hit around a bit by the Braves, allowing four runs and 11 baserunners over 5 1/3. His last time out, the Nationals ace was dominant, striking out 11 over seven one-run innings in Flushing, NY. Tonight, the run of inconsistency continued, as Strasburg lasted just four innings, surrendering six Phillies runs on eight hits. In Davey Johnson's eyes, it wasn't hard to...

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Rachel Levitin: Which Nationals player is worthy of Ring?

August 01, 2012, 6:02am

Nationals

Forgive me while I sin momentarily and dream of baseball that has yet to played. And, no, I'm not talking about Washington baseball in October or the remaining games of the 2012 season. I'm talking about way out into the future, decades down the line. The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., inducted two new members on July 21. Then a week or so later, a friend and fellow baseball enthusiast packaged the Cooperstown 2012 induction program up and sent it to me in the mail....

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This one has gotten ugly (Nats lose 8-0)

July 31, 2012, 4:37pm

Nationals

This one has gotten ugly (Nats lose 8-0)

One of the teams playing at Nationals Park tonight has the best record in the major leagues. The other has essentially given up on the 2012 season. Hard to tell which is which, isn't it? The Nationals trail the Phillies 6-0 entering the fifth inning, and frankly, the Nats are lucky their deficit is only a half-dozen. They've been completely pushed around by their division rivals so far tonight. Stephen Strasburg tied a career-high by allowing six earned runs. He and catcher Jesus Flores...

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Lannan to rejoin Nats Friday, team sticking with eight-man 'pen

July 31, 2012, 3:01pm

Nationals

Lannan to rejoin Nats Friday, team sticking with eight-man 'pen

Chad Tracy has rejoined the Nationals after a lengthy injury absence. Jayson Werth isn't too far behind him. Manager Davey Johnson said today that Werth will likely get a few more games on a rehab assignment before getting activated, but that he's still hopeful that Werth will be ready to return to the Nationals' lineup before the end of this current homestand, which runs through the weekend. "He feels like he could play, but he's not quite 100 percent," Johnson said. "He's only,...

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The deadline approaches

July 30, 2012, 11:15am

Nationals

The rumors continue to swirl throughout the day as the clock ticks down on tomorrow's trade deadline, which now sits a little less than 25 hours away. The new bit of news around the majors is that the Phillies are seriously entertaining trade offers for starter Cliff Lee, who has struggled this season and has just a single win and a 3.95 ERA. Lee hasn't been at his best this season and still has three additional years and $87.5 million left on his contract. Still, if you had told me before...

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Nats stand pat at trade deadline (Zimmerman, LaRoche out of lineup)

July 31, 2012, 12:28pm

Nationals

Nats stand pat at trade deadline (Zimmerman, LaRoche out of lineup)

Well, 4 p.m. has come and gone, and there's no word of any trade involving the Nationals that has been completed. The Nats appear to be standing pat at the non-waiver trade deadline, willing to stick with their current roster - for the time being, at least. Again, a trade can still be completed after today's deadline, as long as the players pass through waivers. That would allow the Nats to still look to upgrade their catcher depth over the next month. Update: Manager Davey Johnson wanted...

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Rizzo: "We didn't see the need to make a big splash"

July 31, 2012, 2:26pm

Nationals

Rizzo: "We didn't see the need to make a big splash"

Why didn't the Nationals make a trade of some kind prior to today's 4 p.m. no-waiver deadline? The reasoning is simple. They didn't feel they needed to. General manager Mike Rizzo held discussions with a number of teams over the last couple weeks, and there were a couple times that negotiations ramped up a bit. But at no point did Rizzo feel a deal was "imminent." He didn't see any major holes on his roster, and thus didn't force a trade of some kind. "It's not about complacency,...

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Phillies purge, National League contenders improve

July 31, 2012, 9:19am

Nationals

Phillies purge, National League contenders improve

The Phillies are throwing in the towel, dishing veterans off and, for the first time in years, looking to build toward the future. In the process, the Nationals' National League competitors are bolstering their rosters for a playoff push. Both the Giants and Dodgers have swung deals to acquire a Phillies outfielder, with San Francisco reportedly trading for Hunter Pence and Los Angeles bringing in Shane Victorino. I'm not sure who the Phillies plan on putting in the outfield over the next...

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Tracy activated, Brown optioned to Triple-A

July 31, 2012, 11:08am

Nationals

Tracy activated, Brown optioned to Triple-A

If you were looking for the Nationals to make a move before the trade deadline, you're in luck. OK, it's not a trade, but it is a roster move. The Nats announce that they have activated infielder Chad Tracy from the disabled list and optioned outfielder Corey Brown to Triple-A Syracuse. Tracy landed on the DL all the way back on May 28 with a right adductor strain. He's missed the last 55 games, and still somehow is tied for the second-most pinch-hit RBIs in the majors. In many ways,...

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Nats reinstate Chad Trady from DL, option Corey Brown to Syracuse

July 31, 2012, 11:43am

Nationals

Nats reinstate Chad Trady from DL, option Corey Brown to Syracuse

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated outfielder Chad Tracy from the 15-Day Disabled List and optioned outfielder Corey Brown to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Tracy, who missed the last 55 contests with a right adductor strain, is batting .265 (13-for-49) with three doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI in 32 games this season with the...

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Rendon at third base Wednesday; updates on Purke, Giolito and Solis

July 31, 2012, 8:25am

Nationals

Rendon at third base Wednesday; updates on Purke, Giolito and Solis

Third baseman Anthony Rendon (ankle) will continue his rehab schedule Wednesday in New York. The short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays have the day off and are traveling to New York City. Rendon will play third base against the Staten Island Yankees on Wednesday night. The team then faces the Brooklyn Cyclones starting Aug. 4. Rendon's recent schedule has followed the pattern of playing third the first day, serving as the designated hitter the next and then resting for a day. When in the...