nationals

Giolito pick draws rave reviews

June 05, 2012, 4:55am

After being selected by the Nationals in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft, I'm told Lucas Giolito received a congratulatory text message. That text was from none other than Bryce Harper. Quite a classy, veteran-like move by the 19-year-old former first-round pick, if you ask me, welcoming the 17-year-old Giolito to the organization. At right is a picture of Giolito taken last night and passed along by the right-hander's high school coach, Matthew LaCour. Apparently when...

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A heck of a six innings for Strasburg (Nats beat Sox 7-4)

June 08, 2012, 5:46pm

Nationals

A heck of a six innings for Strasburg (Nats beat Sox 7-4)

BOSTON - A career-high 119 pitches. A stretch of 11 straight hitters retired. A span of 12 outs in which 10 were strikeouts. A ridiculous 13 strikeouts in six innings. A K of Kevin Youkilis to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. Yeah, it was an eventful evening for Stephen Strasburg. The Nationals' ace put up a double-digit strikeout performance for the fifth time in his career, and tonight's 13 strikeouts is the second-most he's recorded in a game. The highest Strasburg...

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Clippard officially named closer, Lidge to set up

June 08, 2012, 2:43pm

Nationals

Clippard officially named closer, Lidge to set up

BOSTON - File this in the "duh department," but Tyler Clippard is the Nationals' closer. That's been perfectly clear considering the way manager Davey Johnson has handled his team's save opportunities since he announced he was going to a closer-by-committee two-and-a-half weeks ago. The Nationals have had five save chances, and all have gone to Clippard. But today, for the first time, Johnson actually referred to Clippard as his closer. The Nats' skipper also said that Brad Lidge, who...

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A complete effort at the Fens

June 08, 2012, 4:49pm

Nationals

BOSTON - The Nationals seem to be enjoying their time in Beantown. Through four innings tonight, the Nats have six extra-base hits - five doubles (two of which are from Danny Espinosa) and a home run. They lead 6-2, having put up three runs in both the third and fourth innings, and seemingly everything Red Sox lefty Felix Doubront serves up is getting smoked out to the gaps. The hardest-hit ball of the night came off the bat of (who else?) Bryce Harper, who absolutely demolished a Doubront...

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Lineups from a damp Fenway Park

June 08, 2012, 11:40am

Nationals

BOSTON - Literally as soon as I stepped foot in the press box at Fenway Park, the grounds crew pulled the tarp over the infield. I'm pretty excited to be here for this series (my first time at Fenway in a professional capacity), and I'm not going to let Mother Nature rain on my parade. Actually, they're only calling for a brief thunderstorm here shortly and then possibly another sprinkling later on. Nothing too big, it seems. With the Red Sox throwing two lefties this series and having...

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Chris Marrero to Potomac, starts at DH tonight

June 08, 2012, 10:07am

Nationals

Chris Marrero to Potomac, starts at DH tonight

Chris Marrero, recovering from a torn hamstring, played two games with low Single-A Hagerstown this week. Now he is headed to high Single-A Potomac, according to club sources. It was the first baseman's first pro action since he tore his hamstring in winter ball. His recovery was slowed a bit this year because he also had to battle shoulder soreness, spending more time in extended spring training. The right-handed hitter finally returned to the field for two games with the Suns this week,...

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Hagerstown's Nieto out with ab strain, hopeful for SAL All-Star game

June 08, 2012, 9:41am

Nationals

Hagerstown's Nieto out with ab strain, hopeful for SAL All-Star game

Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns catcher

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Shippin' up to Boston

June 08, 2012, 4:38am

Nationals

For whatever reason, the Nationals have no problem winning games early in series this season. Ten times this season, they've gone into the series finale with a chance to earn a sweep. Only once (not including a two-game, rain-shortened series win over Miami) have they actually brought out the brooms and finished the job. Kind of a quirky stat that is tough to explain, but as Ryan Zimmerman said last night, the fact that the Nats have had 10 shots to sweep means they're winning a good...

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Arm slot an issue in Wang's latest shaky outing

June 07, 2012, 1:47pm

Nationals

Arm slot an issue in Wang's latest shaky outing

As Davey Johnson puts it, when Chien-Ming Wang is throwing from the correct arm slot, his stuff is "almost unhittable". The problem was, Wang was rarely throwing from the proper arm slot today. As a result, he was very hittable. Wang allowed 12 baserunners (eight hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch) during his 5 1/3 innings against the Mets today, and while he only gave up two runs, it wasn't the type of outing the Nationals were looking for. Since returning to the Nats' rotation eight...

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Dickey's varying speeds on knuckleball befuddled Nationals' bats

June 07, 2012, 1:09pm

Nationals

There is a reason Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey has nine wins already this season: His knuckleball is very good, and Dickey can throw more than one variation of it. His best is a hard knuckleball that caused the Nationals serious trouble in a 3-1 setback Thursday at Nationals Park. In Dickey's first meeting with Bryce Harper, he threw the young phenom seven straight knuckleballs that varied in speed from 75 mph to 81 mph. He then struck out Harper on the eighth pitch, a 63 mph,...

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Harper nursing sore back, insists he's fine

June 07, 2012, 1:05pm

Nationals

Harper nursing sore back, insists he's fine

Bryce Harper gave Nationals fans a scare when he dropped to his knees following a failed attempt at a diving catch in the top of the ninth inning this afternoon. Manager Davey Johnson made things sound even scarier when he said that Harper has been nursing a tender back lately, and that there's a chance the 19-year-old might need to miss tomorrow's game at Boston as a result of the injury. Harper brought the panic level down a few notches during his session with reporters. During that...

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Kline: Two of Nats' top four picks already agreed to terms, Rizzo will work on Giolito deal

June 07, 2012, 9:11am

Nationals

Kline: Two of Nats' top four picks already agreed to terms, Rizzo will work on Giolito deal

Nationals director of scouting Kris Kline met with reporters via conference call Thursday to discuss the draft, which wrapped up earlier in the week. The Nationals selected right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito, out of Harvard-Westlake High School in Calif., at No. 16. The 6-foot-6, 230 lb., hurler has an explosive fastball and a power curve. Kline said general manager Mike Rizzo will handle negotiations with Giolito's representatives in hopes of getting him signed before the July 13 deadline at...

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The art of facing a knuckleballer, plus DeRosa, Lidge, Mattheus updates

June 07, 2012, 8:33am

Nationals

The art of facing a knuckleballer, plus DeRosa, Lidge, Mattheus updates

The next wave of injured Nationals appears to be close to returning. Manager Davey Johnson said today that infielder Mark DeRosa, who has been sidelined since April 29 with a strained left oblique, has been cleared to go on a rehab assignment, likely at Single-A Potomac. The discomfort in the oblique is still lingering, but DeRosa's going to try to play through it. "I'm going to let him go out, and for me, as much as experience as he's got, if he can go through a couple days without...

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Another average outing for Wang (Nats manage five hits in 3-1 loss)

June 07, 2012, 11:17am

Nationals

Another average outing for Wang (Nats manage five hits in 3-1 loss)

Since getting inserted into the Nationals' starting rotation, Chien-Ming Wang has made two starts. Neither have been awful. Neither have been that good, either. Wang went 5 1/3 innings today against the Mets, allowing two runs on eight hits. The veteran righty walked three and struck out one, throwing 81 pitches, 54 for strikes. He tossed a 1-2-3 first inning, but things slowly went downhill from there. Wang loaded the bases in both the second and third innings, and was able to get out of...

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Hagerstown's Skole, Ramsey, Nieto and Barrett selected to SAL All-Star game, but more deserving of election

June 07, 2012, 8:00am

Nationals

Hagerstown's Skole, Ramsey, Nieto and Barrett selected to SAL All-Star game, but more deserving of election

Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns will have four players and their manager represented at the 53rd annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game June 19 at Riley Park in Charleston, S.C. Infielder Matt Skole, catcher Adrian Nieto, outfielder Caleb Ramsey, pitcher Aaron Barrett and manager Brian Daubach have been elected to represent Hagerstown for the Northern Division squad. Skole has been hitting consistently throughout the season, batting .298 with 11 doubles, 12 homers and 53 RBIs in 56...

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Lidge activated, Rodriguez lands on DL (Renda, Miller agree to terms)

June 07, 2012, 9:08am

Nationals

Lidge activated, Rodriguez lands on DL (Renda, Miller agree to terms)

Davey Johnson indicated in his pregame session with reporters that in addition to Tyler Moore being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, another roster move might be on the way. That move was announced less than 20 minutes prior to today's first pitch. Reliever Brad Lidge has been reinstated from the disabled list, while fellow reliever Henry Rodriguez has landed on the 15-day DL with a strained right finger. Lidge missed the Nationals' last 38 games due to an abdominal injury which required...

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Nationals reinstate RHP Brad Lidge from DL, place RHP Henry Rodriguez on DL

June 07, 2012, 8:43am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Brad Lidge from the 15-Day Disabled List and placed right-handed pitcher Henry Rodriguez on the 15-Day DL, retroactive to June 6, with a strained right index finger. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Lidge, who missed the Nationals' last 38 contests with an abdominal injury, went 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA (one ER/1.1 IP) during a...

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An immature man's pitching matchup (Moore addition official)

June 07, 2012, 7:31am

Nationals

An immature man's pitching matchup (Moore addition official)

Being as immature as I am, I can't help but chuckle at today's pitching matchup, which features the Nationals' Chien-Ming Wang against the Mets' R.A. Dickey. Wang vs. Dickey. For all the marbles. It was an incredibly low-key morning, as players slowly trickled into the Nats' clubhouse with their suits ready for the road trip which they'll leave for after the game. Tyler Moore has officially been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse and Carlos Maldonado was placed on the 15-day DL with a...

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Nats' 3-4-5 looking like a dangerous group

June 06, 2012, 7:59pm

Nationals

Nats' 3-4-5 looking like a dangerous group

For much of the first two months of this season, the Nationals have been working without two of their key power hitters. Now, even though Jayson Werth is still sidelined, they've finally got Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche and Michael Morse all healthy at the same time. And they know what that can mean for their outlook the rest of this season. "Oh, it's a whole new ballgame," manager Davey Johnson said. Tonight, we got a sample of what Nats fans have been waiting to see out of the middle...

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Nationals recall 1B/OF Tyler Moore from Syracuse, place C Carlos Maldonado on DL

June 07, 2012, 6:34am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed catcher Carlos Maldonado on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to May 30, with a lower back strain. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Moore has played in 12 games this season with Washington, going 3-for-19 at the plate. The 25-year-old batted .310 with six doubles, one...