nationals

Harrisburg surging as second half begins

July 10, 2012, 4:36am

At Double-A Harrisburg, it's been a nice splash for shortstop Zach Walters, who in 20 games is hitting .338 with a slugging percentage of .623. He has eight doubles, one triple, four homers and 10 RBIs in that span. He has 26 hits, 12 runs and has walked five times. He has committed five errors, but the offensive numbers are big attention-getters after a fair start at high Single-A Potomac. To see him take it up a notch for the Senators is a very good sign. First baseman Jimmy Van Ostrand has...

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Looking back on an eventful and successful first half

July 09, 2012, 4:55am

Nationals

Looking back on an eventful and successful first half

The break has arrived. Sleep in past the alarm. Play some golf. Hit up the beach and improve that tan. OK, maybe not you. You might end up losing your job if you decide to just not show up these next four days. The Nationals, however, get to enjoy a well-deserved break after playing 83 games over the last three months. They enter this relaxation period on a bit of a sour note after yesterday's loss to the Rockies, but had no reason to hang their heads leaving the home clubhouse last night....

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Nationals Wounded Warrior amputee softball player Matt Kinsey named MVP of the 2012 Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game

July 09, 2012, 2:18pm

Nationals

Matt Kinsey, an infielder for the Washington Nationals Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team (WWAST), was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2012 Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game yesterday in Kansas City, Mo. Representing the Nationals as the starting first baseman for the National League team, Kinsey went three for three in the six-inning game, including a home run to help the NL topple the American League, 21-8. "To take the field representing the Washington...

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Ted Leavengood: A midterm examination

July 09, 2012, 5:29am

Nationals

The first half is in the books, and perhaps the better word to describe it is midterm exclamation. Even after losing the series to Colorado, there have still been 83 games played through injury and devastating heat to a result that few Nationals fans would have believed possible at the start. Suffice it to say that the Nationals have aced the first half of the season. They have the best record in the National League and are on pace to win 97 games. It is not difficult to think back to March...

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Handing out the hardware based on first-half performances

July 09, 2012, 4:47am

Nationals Orioles

Handing out the hardware based on first-half performances

The first-half awards: * AL Cy Young Award: Justin Verlander, Tigers. He has nine wins and a league-leading 128 strikeouts with a 2.58 ERA, but this is a close race. The Angels' Jered Weaver, who has been injured, is 10-1 with a 1.96 ERA and 73 strikeouts. The White Sox's Chris Sale is 10-2 with a 2.19 ERA and 98 strikeouts. This one will be interesting to watch. * AL Most Valuable Player: Mike Trout, Angels. How could it be any one else? He's been in the big leagues for a little bit...

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Bullpen puts up a rare stinker, but Nats find a positive in loss

July 08, 2012, 2:33pm

Nationals

Bullpen puts up a rare stinker, but Nats find a positive in loss

The Nationals are certainly frustrated with how today's game finished and the fact that they cost Jordan Zimmermann another win. But two guys in the Nats clubhouse feel that today's loss might actually benefit the team in the long-run. "I look at it as good timing," Tyler Clippard said. "You know, I think you don't ever want to get too comfortable or too confident out there, so this is a little, maybe, check for ourselves. We can kind of regroup and move forward with a new beginning in...

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Desmond just keeps doin' it (Nats close first half with 4-3 loss)

July 08, 2012, 11:05am

Nationals

Desmond just keeps doin' it (Nats close first half with 4-3 loss)

The numbers keep getting more impressive by the day. Ian Desmond is 2-for-2 today, and his two-run home run to the red seats in left-center in the fourth inning has given the Nationals a 2-1 lead over the Rockies. The All-Star shortstop now has 17 home runs and 51 RBIs on the season. A day before the All-Star break. Oh, and he added his 10th stolen base of the season this afternoon, as well. Desmond leads all shortstops in homers, RBIs, doubles and slugging percentage. He's tied for...

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Johnson discusses a tough 4-3 loss

July 08, 2012, 1:46pm

Nationals

The worst part of today's 4-3 loss to the Rockies from Davey Johnson's perspective was that it wasted a fantastic outing from starter Jordan Zimmermann, who allowed just one run over seven innings. Zimmermann lowered his ERA to 2.61 on the season, the ninth-lowest total in the majors among pitchers with at least 15 starts. Despite that low ERA and the fact that Zimmerman has gone at least six innings in all 17 outings, the righty goes into the All-Star break with just five wins. His shot at...

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Nats preparing for a welcome break (plus Tracy, Storen updates)

July 08, 2012, 9:39am

Nationals

Nats preparing for a welcome break (plus Tracy, Storen updates)

Davey Johnson isn't a big fan of team meetings. He doesn't feel he needs to stand up in front of his squad like a football coach and deliver a pep talk. But Johnson did walk around the Nationals clubhouse early this afternoon, talking to each player, giving out handshakes and wishing everyone well over the All-Star break. "I just talked to all the players individually, congratulated them on their first half," Johnson said. "Want them to relax. No horse riding, no jet skiing, no crashes...

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Johnson outlines probable post-All-Star break rotation

July 08, 2012, 8:48am

Nationals

Johnson outlines probable post-All-Star break rotation

While he'll have to see how things play out in the All-Star Game, Davey Johnson has set what he's calling his probable rotation after the All-Star break. That rotation has Jordan Zimmermann working the first game after the break, which will come Friday in Miami. Zimmermann will be followed by Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler. Johnson said there's "a little better probability than 50 percent" of that rotation coming to fruition. He'll wait to see how much...

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Rockies-Nationals lineups for first-half finale

July 08, 2012, 7:09am

Nationals

The Nationals close out the first half today with a 1:35 p.m. game against the Colorado Rockies and right-hander Jeremy Guthrie. Here are the lineups for today's game: For the Rockies: CF - Dexter Fowler 2B - Marco Scutaro LF - Carlos Gonzalez RF - Tyler Colvin 1B - Todd Helton 3B - Jordan Pacheco SS - Jonathan Herrera C - Wil Nieves P - Jeremy Guthrie For the Nationals: LF - Steve Lombardozzi CF - Bryce Harper 3B - Ryan Zimmerman RF - Michael Morse 1B - Adam LaRoche SS - Ian Desmond 2B -...

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Harper to replace Stanton at All-Star Game (updated with quotes)

July 07, 2012, 3:42pm

Nationals

Harper to replace Stanton at All-Star Game (updated with quotes)

Bryce Harper will be on the National League All-Star roster after all. Harper will replace Miami Marlins All-Star Giancarlo Stanton, who was forced to drop out following a knee injury that will require surgery. NL manager Tony La Russa hand-picked Harper following Stanton's injury. Harper is the fourth Nationals player named to the All-Star team, along with teammates Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg and Ian Desmond. However, Desmond was forced to pull out of the game Saturday with a sore left...

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Desmond discusses decision to sit out All-Star Game

July 07, 2012, 5:07pm

Nationals

Desmond discusses decision to sit out All-Star Game

After learning that he'd been selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career, Ian Desmond took a few days to decide how to proceed. He was honored to be chosen for the National League team by NL manager Tony La Russa, but given that he's been battling a sore left oblique recently, Desmond also wanted to use the All-Star break to get some rest. He talked things over with Nationals manager Davey Johnson, spoke to general manager Mike Rizzo, and then called La Russa to inform...

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Storen hit a bit in second rehab game, but felt like he took a "step forward"

July 07, 2012, 8:06pm

Nationals

Storen hit a bit in second rehab game, but felt like he took a "step forward"

Nationals right-hander Drew Storen came in for the eighth inning Saturday and got hit a bit during the second game of his rehab assignment for high Single-A Potomac. Leading 3-1, Storen allowed two runs on two hits and a walk, with only one of the runs earned. He did finish out the inning. Storen faced six batters. Storen told reporters he was a little disappointed the outing did not go as well as Thursday, but that is not the most important reason for these rehab games. It is about making...

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Oh yeah, there was a game today

July 07, 2012, 5:27pm

Nationals

We know Bryce Harper was named to the All-Star Game. We know Ian Desmond has opted out of the All-Star Game. Now, let's discuss the actual game which was played at Nationals Park today. Gio Gonzalez went six innings, allowing just one run on three hits in the Nationals' 4-1 win over the Rockies. "Gio pitched an outstanding game," manager Davey Johnson said. "He was going to fight me again after throwing 100 pitches in a tie ballgame, he didn't want to leave the game tied. I said,...

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Walters tearing cover off the ball, Tatusko impressive as Harrisburg edges Bowie

July 06, 2012, 5:54pm

Nationals

Walters tearing cover off the ball, Tatusko impressive as Harrisburg edges Bowie

Harrisburg Senators shortstop Zach Walters hit fairly well in his first 54 games at Single-A Potomac, batting .269. But since his call-up to the Double-A level, Walters has been on a serious tear. Friday night in Bowie, Walters crushed a three-run shot to account for all the Senators' offense in a 3-2 win over the Baysox. His fourth homer came in the fourth inning off of Bowie starter Richard Zagone. Senators play-by-play man Terry Byrom tweeted the blast traveled 425 feet. Walters is now...

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Harper replaces Stanton on NL All-Star roster

July 07, 2012, 3:58pm

Nationals

Harper replaces Stanton on NL All-Star roster

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has been named by 2012 National League All-Star manager Tony La Russa to replace Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton on the N.L.'s active roster for the 83rd All-Star Game, Major League Baseball announced today. Stanton, a first-time All-Star, will be inactive for the All-Star Game due to a right knee injury. Harper entered Saturday with a .283 batting average, eight home runs, 25 RBI and 42 runs scored in his 61 games played. The...

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Nats get a couple gifts in the sixth (also get a 4-1 win)

July 07, 2012, 2:25pm

Nationals

Nats get a couple gifts in the sixth (also get a 4-1 win)

The Rockies are not an incredibly talented or fundamentally sound baseball team. That's why they entered today 19 games under .500. The Nationals didn't see that Rockies team yesterday. They saw a squad which got a very strong performance from its starter and put up five runs in a game started by the Nats' ace. Today, at least for an inning, the Rockies played like they're the second-worst team in baseball. They threw the ball around in the bottom of the sixth, essentially giving the...

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Updates on Tracy, Nady, Storen, Wang

July 07, 2012, 11:02am

Nationals

Today is Photo Day at Nationals Park, which allows a group of fans to line the warning track all the way around the field and shake hands and pose for pictures with Nats players. What a perfect day for both players and fans to be standing outside for a lengthy period of time. Temperatures of 103 degrees with a heat index of close to 110 degrees? Just lovely. Bryce Harper and Ryan Mattheus came prepared to help the fans keep cool, as they brought a bag of freeze pops and tossed them out to...

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Desmond will sit out All-Star Game to rest oblique (plus game update)

July 07, 2012, 1:38pm

Nationals

Desmond will sit out All-Star Game to rest oblique (plus game update)

For a few weeks now, Ian Desmond has been battling a sore left oblique. It hasn't been enough to cause him to miss any game action, but it has bugged him. And so, instead of risking further aggravating the oblique by coming off the bench during the All-Star Game, Desmond has decided to skip the Midsummer Classic. He'll instead get some time to rest over the break. This decision was made after conferring with Nationals team doctors, management and the manager of the National League All-Star...