nationals

Zimmerman remains in Nationals lineup for finale against O's

June 24, 2012, 7:48am

For at least another day, Ryan Zimmerman will stay in the Nationals lineup, hitting third and playing third. Zimmerman and manager Davey Johnson said last night that the third baseman might have to land on the DL and receive a cortisone shot because of inflammation in his right shoulder, but he'll be out on the field today as the Nats look to take their rubber game with the Orioles. Here's the Nationals lineup: LF - Steve Lombardozzi RF - Bryce Harper 3B - Ryan Zimmerman 1B - Adam...

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When Storen returns, Clippard likely remaining the closer

June 23, 2012, 8:09pm

Nationals

When Storen returns, Clippard likely remaining the closer

What seemed like a nice, quiet 3-1 Nationals win turned into a lot more shortly after the game. We learned Ryan Zimmerman might need to get another cortisone shot in his inflamed right shoulder and could land on the disabled list. And, we also learned that even when Drew Storen returns to the Nationals, he's unlikely to take over the closer's role that he's held for much of his major league career. Manager Davey Johnson said tonight that given how Tyler Clippard has been performing in save...

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Ryan Zimmerman could be heading back to DL

June 23, 2012, 7:31pm

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman could be heading back to DL

It's been clear for a while now that Ryan Zimmerman's not healthy. He's just too good a hitter to be batting .218 with three home runs on the season. After tonight's 3-1 Nationals win, both Zimmerman and manager Davey Johnson acknowledged that the shoulder inflammation, which landed Zimmerman on the disabled list back in late April, is still a problem, and it might be something that will send him to the DL yet again. "I'm obviously not 100 percent," a somber Zimmerman said in the...

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If Jackson is No. 4, then Nationals might have four No. 1 starters

June 23, 2012, 7:26pm

Nationals

Edwin Jackson didn't have his best stuff Saturday night, but the stuff he had was good enough to hold the Orioles hitless for 4 1/3 innings as the Nationals evened the series following a 3-1 victory before 46,298 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. "It was one of those days when you don't have blow-away stuff," Jackson said. "You just have to just go out and pitch. That is pretty much what it was from the time I started throwing the 'pen. I knew what kind of day it was going to be. It is not...

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DeRosa could return in next couple days

June 23, 2012, 4:03pm

Nationals

How does a player who's on a rehab assignment get in touch with his manager to find out when he'll be back in the majors? In Mark DeRosa's case, he shoots his skipper an email. DeRosa, who is currently rehabbing from a strained left oblique at Single-A Potomac, punched up a few lines that told his manager he's feeling great after two games. He then asked Davey Johnson what the plan was regarding his eventual promotion to the bigs. "I said,'Well, the plan was for you to get some...

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Nationals exude confidence and stability with Davey Johnson at the helm

June 23, 2012, 2:51pm

Nationals

It has been one year. June 23, 2011, fresh off a hot streak, Jim Riggleman resigned as manager of the Nationals, and Davey Johnson was asked to take over. The Nationals were 38-37. After that day, the team finished 42-44 and have gone 82-72 since Riggleman resigned. Flash forward 365 days. Under the direction of Davey Johnson, the Nationals have gone 40-28 this season and are 80-71 since that stunning Thursday. "It was a very sad day for me," Johnson recollected. "I like Jimmy. I hate to...

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Johnson unwilling to address managerial future

June 23, 2012, 2:59pm

Nationals Orioles

Johnson unwilling to address managerial future

Davey Johnson's had some entertaining press conferences lately. The ones during the Tampa Bay series certainly qualify, with Johnson calling Rays manager Joe Maddon a "weird wuss," a "guru" and telling him to read the rule book after the GloveGate incident with Joel Peralta. Today, Johnson took a playful jab at 49-year-old hurler Jamie Moyer, who was granted his release this afternoon by the Orioles. "I think he's had a remarkable career," Johnson said. "I thought he was 50. I felt...

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Nats lineup vs. Orioles, Hammel

June 22, 2012, 11:52am

Nationals

The Nationals will take on Orioles righty Jason Hammel tonight from Camden Yards. That is, if the weather allows it. Here's the Nats lineup: LF Steve Lombardozzi CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche DH Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa RF Roger Bernadina C Jesus Flores P Jordan Zimmermann

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Nationals' Perry, DeRosa, Perez, Maldonado and Moore news

June 23, 2012, 2:02pm

Nationals

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Mark DeRosa emailed him and said he "feels great" and would like to return to the roster. Johnson wants DeRosa to spell third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, maybe every once and awhile if he needs to rest his shoulder. Currently, Steve Lombardozzi is the backup for Zimmerman, but has gotten a lot of playing time in the outfield. This is again another opportunity for Tyler Moore to solidify his spot on the roster. The right-handed first baseman starts in left...

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Zimmerman stays in three-spot in Nats lineup

June 23, 2012, 11:53am

Nationals Orioles

Zimmerman stays in three-spot in Nats lineup

Davey Johnson admitted last night that he's given some thought to moving Ryan Zimmerman down in the order given his struggles this season. But Johnson said he planned to keep the .222-hitting Zimmerman in the three-spot in the lineup for now. That familiar three-hole is where Zimmerman remains today. The Nationals are going with their right-handed-heavy lineup today against Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen, who is 7-2 with a 3.36 ERA on the season. Tyler Moore will play left, Xavier Nady will...

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The one-year anniversary of a shocking decision

June 22, 2012, 11:32pm

Nationals

The one-year anniversary of a shocking decision

A year ago today, Jim Riggleman decided he'd had enough. The then-Nationals manager wanted to have his contract option for the 2012 season picked up. He was tired of working under one-year contracts and having to worry about his future. He wanted some sort of long-term security, even if another year was as long as that security would get at the time. His team had won 11 of its last 12 games. He and his players had fought their way above .500. They had just earned a walkoff win over the...

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Zimmermann the tough-luck loser yet again

June 22, 2012, 7:54pm

Nationals

Zimmermann the tough-luck loser yet again

Jordan Zimmermann entered tonight getting just 3.2 runs of offensive support when he's been in the ballgame this season. That total was the sixth-lowest in the National League. It got lower tonight. The Nationals were able to give Zimmermann just one run to work with here in Baltimore, largely due to the dominant effort put up by Orioles starter Jason Hammel. They couldn't get much going against the righty, who worked in the mid-90s with his fastball, showed a hard slider and a tough...

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Helpless against Hammel

June 22, 2012, 6:28pm

Nationals Orioles

The Nationals were able to get to Jason Hammel a bit on May 19, plating four runs off the Orioles' righty over 5 1/3 innings. Hammel still took the win that day, even though it was one of the few games this season when he wasn't really on his game. Hammel was on his game tonight, that's for sure. The Nats managed just one run and five hits against Hammel over eight innings tonight in a 2-1 loss to the Orioles. They struck out 10 times and forced Hammel to throw just 96 pitches over his...

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Nationals' Zimmerman on hitting struggles: "I want to get out of this"

June 22, 2012, 7:40pm

Nationals

Two trends remained the same Friday at Camden Yards, and both didn't help the Nationals' cause. Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel was close to dominant in twirling eight innings against the Nationals for a Friday night win, and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman continued to struggle at the plate. Zimmerman went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and two groundouts. He has now gone 3-for-27 (.111) in his last seven games. Dating back to June 10, Zimmerman is 5-for-44 (.114). But whether it was Hammel or...

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Mooneyham signed, Storen happy with throwing session (first pitch set for 8 p.m.)

June 22, 2012, 3:17pm

Nationals

Mooneyham signed, Storen happy with throwing session (first pitch set for 8 p.m.)

Davey Johnson sat down in the visitor's dugout at Camden Yards and cracked a big smile. "This looks familiar," Johnson said. "Little different angle from here." The Nationals' skipper seemed legitimately happy to be back in Baltimore, shaking hands with Jim Palmer and Rick Dempsey and soaking in the atmosphere at the park he once managed in. Johnson will also be happy to know that the Nats have signed Stanford left-hander Brett Mooneyham, their third-round pick in this year's...

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Zimmerman's struggles continue, Desmond's hustle continues (updated)

June 22, 2012, 5:29pm

Nationals Orioles

Zimmerman's struggles continue, Desmond's hustle continues (updated)

Boy, Ryan Zimmerman is in a bad way right now. The third baseman has gone 0-for-2 so far tonight, grounding out to short in the first and striking out looking in the fourth. His average now sits at a lowly .224, the lowest it's been since May 9. Zimmerman has struck out in four of his last six at-bats, three of them looking. He went down on three Jason Hammel pitches in the fourth inning tonight, with strike three coming on a ball right down the middle. He doesn't have an extra-base hit...

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Nationals' Burnett and Clippard pose an unstoppable 1-2 punch in win over Rays

June 21, 2012, 8:18pm

Nationals

The quiet assassins, that is what they are. Sean Burnett and Tyler Clippard. This is their fourth season together in the same bullpen. That experience with the Nationals, side by side in the bullpen, is now paying dividends. There is something about how they go about their business - quietly, smoothly and efficiently - that shortens every game they pitch in. They seem to play off each other, and the rest of the staff - even the starters - feed off that inner drive. The pair combined to...

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Johnson believes Desmond is All-Star quality

June 22, 2012, 2:34pm

Nationals

Johnson believes Desmond is All-Star quality

Manager Davey Johnson said he voted for shortstop Ian Desmond as a National League All-Star on his ballot for the Midsummer Classic in Kansas City this July. With all the outstanding shortstops to choose from, does Johnson really think Desmond is deserving? "I do," Johnson said. "He made my ballot, so that should tell you something." His batting average isn't eye-popping, but he has shown good power numbers. His error total is about on pace with last year's 11. His fielding average is...

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Johnson back in Baltimore (plus rehab updates)

June 22, 2012, 10:44am

Nationals Orioles

Johnson back in Baltimore (plus rehab updates)

Making his second rehab appearance for Triple-A Syracuse last night, Henry Rodriguez walked two batters but worked a scoreless ninth inning in the Chiefs' win over Pawtucket. This comes after Rodriguez delivered a scoreless frame for Syracuse on Tuesday, but tossed a pitch to the backstop. The control issues will need to get worked out at some point before Rodriguez works meaningful, high-leverage innings for the Nationals again. The righty landed on the DL on June 7 with a strained right...

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Postgame thoughts from Espinosa, Mattheus, Desmond

June 21, 2012, 8:38pm

Nationals

Postgame thoughts from Espinosa, Mattheus, Desmond

Danny Espinosa isn't going to lie. When the Rays intentionally walked Adam LaRoche to get to the Nats second baseman with two outs in the sixth inning, he took it as a bit of a smack in the face. "I definitely take it personally in the sense that I want to get 'em," Espinosa said. "I want to make 'em pay for what they're doing. I definitely don't gear up and try to do anything that I can't do. Just try to have a good at-bat and get a good pitch to hit." He sure did, ripping a 1-1...