nationals

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

September 12, 2012, 6:56pm

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr john lannan nationals ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals2

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...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr mets nationals r.a. dickey tyler moore frontstory_nationals3

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...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko danny espinosa john lannan lineups mets michael morse nationals frontfeatured_nationals

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...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

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...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko jayson werth jordan zimmermann nationals frontstory_nationals2

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...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz rachel levitin

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...

Comments

Tags:

aaron barrett byron kerr matt skole nationals rick hague frontstory_nationals3

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...

Comments

Tags:

charlie slowes nationals nationals buzz brian eller

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...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko jordan zimmermann mets nationals r.a. dickey frontstory_nationals2

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

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko lineups mets nationals featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

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...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr nationals ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals3

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...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko gio gonzalez nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

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...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko gio gonzalez ian desmond kurt suzuki nationals ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals2

Stephen Walker: Nothing is certain, but Nats are built to last

September 11, 2012, 4:43am

Nationals

Stephen Walker: Nothing is certain, but Nats are built to last

In all the hullabaloo surrounding the Nationals' decision to end Stephen Strasburg's season, one common comment from the media outside the Washington area has been, "How can Washington shut down its best pitcher when they are so close to the playoffs? This is the team's dream season. They may never be in this position again." The implication? The Nationals' 2012 season, despite the fact that they currently own baseball's best record, is a fluke, a one-year wonder of good fortune and...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz stephen walker

Zimmerman, Desmond return as G. Gonzalez guns for 19th win

September 10, 2012, 11:55am

Nationals

Zimmerman, Desmond return as G. Gonzalez guns for 19th win

The Nationals have Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond back in the lineup after both infielders sat out Sunday's 8-0 loss to the Marlins. Manager Davey Johnson has planned to give Zimmerman Sunday off and Desmond asked for a bit of a breather to rest his sore hamstring. The Nats will have both their third baseman and shortstop on the field tonight when they open a three-game set with the Mets. Gio Gonzalez will take the mound for the Nats, shooting for his 19th win of the season. Should he get...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko gio gonzalez ian desmond lineups mets nationals ryan zimmerman

Some final thoughts Strasburg, the shutdown and scrutiny

September 10, 2012, 8:48am

Nationals

Some final thoughts Strasburg, the shutdown and scrutiny

So Stephen Strasburg has thrown his final pitch of the 2012 season, with the Nationals pulling the plug on their ace right-hander. We all knew it was coming - and have since general manager Mike Rizzo announced a strict though nebulous innings limit before spring training. It shouldn't have come as a surprise, even though manager Davey Johnson's Saturday morning announcement caught most people off guard, since the Nationals had previously said he'd pitch Wednesday at Citi Field. Well, at...

Comments

Tags:

davey johnson mike rizzo nationals nationals buzz pete kerzel stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Hitting the road and going for gold

September 09, 2012, 9:38pm

Nationals

Of course, the Nationals were disappointed they couldn't pick up a win yesterday to close out their homestand on a positive note and stay even with the Braves, who won in 10 innings to cut the gap in the National League East to 5 1/2 games. The postgame frustration didn't linger too long, however. As the Nats packed up for a six-game road trip and put their 8-0 defeat behind them, they commenced with their annual rookie hazing, giving the veterans a chance to get a few laughs at their...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche dan kolko jayson werth nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Despite Sunday loss, Nationals' homestand one for the ages

September 10, 2012, 5:39am

Nationals

The Nationals lost 8-0 to the Miami Marlins on Sunday, but the 11-game homestand was a rousing success and will be an example of another major step in their most memorable season to date. The Nats went 8-3, sweeping Chicago Cubs, getting three of four against the Cardinals and one from the Marlins. Starting Monday, the Nationals have a 5 1/2-game lead over the Braves. The Nats match up with their final regular season series with Atlanta this weekend at Turner Field. But back to an amazing...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr marlins nationals ricky nolasco ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals3

Nationals sending Skole and Barrett to Arizona Fall League

September 10, 2012, 9:28am

Nationals

The Nationals have added third baseman Matt Skole and right-handed pitcher Aaron Barrett to their Arizona Fall League team, the Salt River Rafters, per a club source with knowledge of the situation. Skole and Barrett will still attend instructional league workouts, which begin September 15, in Viera, Fla., before they travel to Scottsdale, Ariz., for the AFL season. Skole was named the Nationals' minor league Player of the Year last week after hitting 27 homers and 104 RBIs for low Single-A...