nationals

Rizzo discusses the acquisition of Kurt Suzuki

August 03, 2012, 12:05pm

The Nationals and Athletics had been discussing a trade centering around Kurt Suzuki in the days leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline, but they couldn't get it all finalized before 4 p.m. struck on Tuesday afternoon. Once the trade was finally settled on by both teams and Suzuki cleared waivers, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo got his guy, a guy who he has thought highly of for some time. "Kurt gives us a veteran presence in the clubhouse," Rizzo said. "He's a terrific guy....

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Nats bite the Hand that fed them (Nats win game one 7-4)

August 03, 2012, 1:52pm

Nationals

Nats bite the Hand that fed them (Nats win game one 7-4)

Poor Brad Hand. Not only did the Marlins starter allow a whopping seven runs over 3 2/3 innings before being pulled from the first game of today's doubleheader, he also teed up reporters in the press box, who fired off jokes playing on his last name. Things got out of Hand in the third inning. The Marlins Handed the Nationals a few runs today. Ozzie Guillen told his starter to Hand him the ball. I know, I know. Awful stuff. The Nationals broke things open against Hand and the Marlins by...

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Nats trade for catcher Kurt Suzuki (Maldonado DFA)

August 03, 2012, 10:47am

Nationals

Nats trade for catcher Kurt Suzuki (Maldonado DFA)

Attempting to add a veteran presence to their thinned crop of catchers, the Nationals have acquired veteran backstop Kurt Suzuki from the Oakland Athletics for minor league catcher David Freitas. Suzuki, 28, is likely to replace Jesus Flores as the Nationals' starting catcher. "He's a No. 1 catcher," said manager Davey Johnson, who managed Suzuki five years ago during qualifying for the 2008 Olympics. "I liked his catching skills and I liked his bat potential then. And that was (five)...

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Lannan called up, Harper gets a game off (Morse has stomach bug)

August 03, 2012, 10:02am

Nationals

Lannan called up, Harper gets a game off (Morse has stomach bug)

The Nationals have called up John Lannan to start the first game of today's doubleheader against the Marlins. No corresponding roster move was necessary because of a new rule that allows teams to carry 26 players on the active roster for doubleheaders. Also, Bryce Harper is sitting out Game 1 with Jayson Werth starting in center field. For the Nationals: SS Danny Espinosa 2B Steve Lombardozzi 3B Ryan Zimmerman CF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche LF Tyler Moore RF Mark DeRosa C Jesus Flores P...

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The Adam LaRoche dilemma

August 03, 2012, 6:51am

Nationals

Think about it for a second. So far this season, Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse, Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond have all spent time on the disabled list and have battled an injury for a fairly lengthy period of time. That's nearly every member of the middle of the Nationals' projected batting order. While his cohorts have been dinged up and out of the lineup, Adam LaRoche has quietly plugged away. He's consistently raked at the plate, hitting big home runs, plating baserunners and providing...

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Nats acquire catcher Kurt Suzuki from Athletics

August 03, 2012, 10:35am

Nationals

Nats acquire catcher Kurt Suzuki from Athletics

The Washington Nationals today acquired catcher Kurt Suzuki from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor-league catcher David Freitas. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Suzuki is a .254 (643-for-2530) career hitter with 134 doubles, 57 home runs, 302 RBI and a .689 OPS in 703 games spanning six seasons (2007-present) with Oakland. Defensively, Suzuki leads all qualified American League catchers in fielding...

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A long-awaited, and successful, return

August 02, 2012, 7:55pm

Nationals

In his first game in nearly three months, Jayson Werth went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a nice running catch in center field. "Like I never missed a step, really," Werth said of his return to the majors. "It was good." Werth broke his left wrist in a game against the Phillies back on May 6, an injury which required surgery, months of rehab and nine games on a minor league rehab assignment. On Thursday, he was finally back in the big leagues. Werth ripped a single to left field in his first...

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Nats recall left-hander John Lannan from Syracuse

August 03, 2012, 9:00am

Nationals

Nats recall left-hander John Lannan from Syracuse

The Washington Nationals today recalled left-handed pitcher John Lannan from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Lannan will start the first game of today's doubleheader against the Miami Marlins. The 27-year-old went 6-10 with a 5.24 ERA in 19 starts this season with Syracuse. Lannan earned the win in his lone start with Washington in 2012, holding the Atlanta Braves...

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Zach Walters promoted to Triple-A Syracuse

August 03, 2012, 7:13am

Nationals

Zach Walters promoted to Triple-A Syracuse

Making his second move of the season, shortstop Zach Walters has been promoted to Triple-A Syracuse, Nationals director of player development Doug Harris confirmed to MASNSports.com. Walters hit .293 in 43 games for Double-A Harrisburg, smacking 11 doubles, four triples, six homers and 19 RBIs. He scored 23 runs and walked eight times with one stolen base for the Senators. But what is more important is that he is a shortstop, and with the uncertainty of Ian Desmond's oblique injury and Steve...

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The continued evolution of Ross Detwiler

August 02, 2012, 7:34pm

Nationals

The continued evolution of Ross Detwiler

Stephen Strasburg (April), Gio Gonzalez (May) and Jordan Zimmermann (July) have all now been named National League Pitcher of the Month this season. That leaves Ross Detwiler and Edwin Jackson as the only two Nationals starters yet to win the award. "I've got to beat Edwin to the punch, then," Detwiler said after tonight's 3-0 win over the Phillies. It'd be fair to say he's off to a good start in August. Detwiler worked seven scoreless innings tonight, allowing just three hits and two...

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Solid rehab start for Chien-Ming Wang in Harrisburg

August 02, 2012, 8:00pm

Nationals

Solid rehab start for Chien-Ming Wang in Harrisburg

A very good showing for right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (hip) Thursday in a no-decision for Double-A Harrisburg in a 4-3, 12-inning loss to the Binghamton Mets. Wang went 6 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits, three runs, a solo homer, only one walk (which was intentional) and two strikeouts. Pitching coach Paul Menhart always monitors the groundouts for his pitchers, and Wang netted 12 grounders for outs plus four flyouts. He threw 99 pitches, 65 for strikes. The Mets scored one run in the...

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Marty Niland: Jordan Zimmermann finally gets his due

August 03, 2012, 4:32am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Jordan Zimmermann finally gets his due

It looks like Jordan Zimmermann's teammates - along with the rest of the baseball world - are finally starting to appreciate him. Of all the moves Davey Johnson has made this season, the best may have been resetting his pitching rotation after the All-Star break with the 26-year-old right-hander at the top. Zimmermann has been the team's most consistent pitcher all season, with an major league-leading 19 quality starts in 21 outings. In fact, he has never pitched fewer than six innings - one...

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Werth returns, Rodriguez to the DL (plus Nats lineup)

August 02, 2012, 1:37pm

Nationals

Werth returns, Rodriguez to the DL (plus Nats lineup)

Less than three months after breaking his left wrist in a game against Cole Hamels and the Phillies, Jayson Werth is back in the Nationals' lineup and will start in center field against Hamels and the Phillies. It all comes full circle. Manager Davey Johnson announced minutes ago that Werth has been activated off the 60-day disabled list. Reliever Henry Rodriguez will land on the 15-day DL with a lower back injury, clearing space on the 25-man roster for Werth. Werth, who has missed 75...

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Big bats team up to put Nats on top (Nats shut out Phils 3-0)

August 02, 2012, 4:38pm

Nationals

Big bats team up to put Nats on top (Nats shut out Phils 3-0)

Finally, the middle of the Nationals' lineup looks like Davey Johnson thought it would back in spring training. Ryan Zimmerman is in the No. 3 spot, Michael Morse is hitting cleanup, Adam LaRoche is batting fifth, and Jayson Werth is back in there hitting sixth. And the Nationals are reaping the benefits of having their big hitters all healthy. Zimmerman, Morse, LaRoche and Werth are a combined 5-for-7 with three RBIs so far tonight as the Nationals lead the Phillies 3-0 in the fifth. Two...

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Talking pitchers and baserunning

August 02, 2012, 6:24am

Nationals

These days, you rarely ever see a pitcher involved in a play at the plate when he's the guy barreling towards home trying to score. Teams seem to go out of their way to protect their hurlers, and that generally includes avoiding situations in which the pitcher might be forced to lay a shoulder into a catcher or somehow end up contorting his body in an attempt to touch home plate safely. That's why it was a little strange to see Nationals third base coach Bo Porter wave Edwin Jackson home...

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Zimmermann named NL Pitcher of the Month

August 02, 2012, 2:30pm

Nationals

Zimmermann named NL Pitcher of the Month

Despite battling some shoulder inflammation, which has made it tough for him to get loose before games, Jordan Zimmermann still pitched well enough in six July starts in order to earn National League Pitcher of the Month honors. Zimmermann becomes the third different Nationals starter to win the Pitcher of the Month award this season, joining Stephen Strasburg (April) and Gio Gonzalez (May). It's time for Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler to step it up, I guess. The three Nationals hurlers...

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Nationals reinstate OF Jayson Werth, place RHP Henry Rodriguez on 15-day DL

August 02, 2012, 2:18pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated outfielder Jayson Werth from the 60-Day Disabled List and placed right-handed pitcher Henry Rodriguez on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to Aug. 1, with a low back strain. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Werth, who missed the last 75 games with a left radius fracture, is batting .276 (27-for-98) with five doubles, a triple, three home runs, 12...

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Zimmermann named NL Pitcher of the Month for July

August 02, 2012, 2:16pm

Nationals

Zimmermann named NL Pitcher of the Month for July

Washington Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann has been voted National League Pitcher of the Month for July, becoming the third different Nationals hurler to earn N.L. Pitcher of the Month honors this season, which is the most since 1979, when Houston Astros pitchers Ken Forsch (April), Joe Niekro (May), Joaquin Andujar (June) and J.R. Richard (September) all won monthly honors. This is Zimmermann's first monthly award. In six July starts, Zimmermann led qualifying Major League pitchers with...

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Rendon's ankle "fine" after hit-by-pitch; goes 3-for-4 with two doubles, RBI

August 02, 2012, 1:06pm

Nationals

Rendon's ankle "fine" after hit-by-pitch; goes 3-for-4 with two doubles, RBI

Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon had one of his best all-around games of his rehab stint Thursday, going 3-for-4 with three runs, two doubles and an RBI in short-season Single-A Auburn's 11-3 rout of the Staten Island Yankees. Rendon played third base until there were two outs in the bottom of the seventh, replaced by Khayyan Norfork. Rendon was hit by a pitch on his surgically repaired left ankle in Wednesday night's game, and left the contest early for precautionary reasons. Despite...

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Werth could be activated today (updated)

August 02, 2012, 11:39am

Nationals

Werth could be activated today (updated)

Jayson Werth is in the clubhouse and it looks like he could be activated prior to tonight's game. No move has been announced yet, but we're waiting on word. Werth could return in time to face his former team before the Phillies leave town tonight. Update: Werth is currently shagging flies in center field during batting practice. Davey Johnson's pregame session with reporters has been pushed back at least 45 minutes and we're still waiting on a lineup for tonight. Meanwhile, two...