nationals

Which player's start has been most impressive?

April 26, 2012, 9:52am

There have been plenty of positives for the Nationals through the season's first 18 games - the franchise-best start, the league-best ERA, the clutch hitting and the play of the Nats' bench to name just a few. Individually, there has been plenty to like, as well. A number of Nationals players have gotten off to hot starts and have helped lead the team to the best record in the National League. But I'm curious as to who you think has been the most impressive performer so far this...

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Nats lineup in series finale against Padres (updated)

April 26, 2012, 2:51pm

Nationals

Nats lineup in series finale against Padres (updated)

The Nationals have already locked up their sixth straight series win to start the 2012 season, but they'll look for their first sweep of three games or more when they take the field against the Padres tonight. Washington will face Padres right-hander Edinson Volquez, who has started the season with an 0-2 record and a 4.30 ERA. Chad Tracy will play third base tonight, as Ryan Zimmerman is still not in the lineup as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Here's manager Davey Johnson's lineup...

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Runs aplenty within the Nats' organization

April 26, 2012, 5:11am

Nationals

Runs aplenty within the Nats' organization

When Adam LaRoche crossed the plate with the Nationals' seventh run yesterday, those in the visiting dugout at Petco Park must not have known how to react. First of all, their seven runs scored matched their season high. Compared to the Nats' previous five wins (in which they scored a combined 12 runs), yesterday seemed like an absolute offensive explosion. Secondly, they'd actually gotten starter Jordan Zimmermann some run support. Accustomed to pitching in games in which his offense...

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The time has come for Moore to arrive

April 25, 2012, 10:53am

Nationals

With cleanup hitter Michael Morse on the shelf for quite some time with a strained lat muscle, and now the news that third baseman Ryan Zimmerman could be headed to the disabled list with a shoulder injury, the time is now to get some power into this lineup. Mark DeRosa, Xavier Nady, Steve Lombardozzi and Chad Tracy are all outstanding utility players that combine energy, experience and ability to keep this team on pace. It is obvious the Nationals' pitching is for real. It still has a long...

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Nats win fourth in a row, top Padres 7-2

April 25, 2012, 5:28pm

Nationals

Nats win fourth in a row, top Padres 7-2

Jordan Zimmermann allowed a run? Boy, this rotation is getting soft. The Nationals' scoreless innings streak from their starters ended at 26 tonight when Zimmermann allowed a run in the fifth inning, but that was about all the Padres could muster off Nats pitching today, with the exception of a tack-on run in the ninth. Backed by six strong innings from Zimmermann, the Nats beat the Padres 7-2, moving to 14-4 on the season. Washington now has tied the Rangers for the best record in...

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Nady's experience is buying him time as he tries to get back in groove

April 24, 2012, 8:30am

Nationals

Nady's experience is buying him time as he tries to get back in groove

This isn't the real Xavier Nady. Who would be the first to admit it? Xavier Nady. The Nationals outfielder is looking to get back to a consistent level after a slow start. Nady has hit only .159 through 14 games and 44 at-bats. He has managed only seven hits in the early stages with nine strikeouts. But there has been a pretty significant highlight. Nady's pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning April 13 against the Cincinnati Reds was the Nationals' first run and saved the game. It was...

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Zimmermann helps himself

April 25, 2012, 3:56pm

Nationals

If Jordan Zimmermann isn't going to get much run support from the eight guys above him in the order, he might as well get the job done himself. Zimmermann smacked an RBI single to center in the second inning, giving the Nationals a 2-0 lead over the Padres. The righty is actually a pretty good hitter, and now has six career RBIs. His base knock brought in Rick Ankiel, who doubled in Adam LaRoche earlier in the second inning. This is Zimmermann's first outing in his last right times to the...

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Enjoying life atop the National League

April 24, 2012, 10:32pm

Nationals

How's it all look from up top, folks? Think you could get used to this view? After toiling toward the bottom of the league for the vast majority of their previous seven years of existence, the Nationals went to bed last night owners of the best record in the National League. Their 3-1 victory over the Padres yesterday coupled with the Dodgers' loss to the Braves made Washington's 13-4 mark tops in the NL and tied the franchise record for best 17-game start to a season. It's still...

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Lots o' zeros (Nats win 3-1)

April 24, 2012, 7:50pm

Nationals

Nationals starters have now thrown 22 consecutive scoreless innings. Gio Gonzalez himself has tossed 20 straight scoreless frames. That's all well and good. Actually, it's more than that; it's pretty damn impressive. But at some point, the Nationals are going to have to score a run or two if they want to win this ballgame. The Nats and Padres are scoreless in the middle of the sixth, and Washington has managed just one hit off San Diego starter Clayton Richard. They have walked four...

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Rachel Levitin: Die-hard Nats fans have been waiting for this

April 25, 2012, 5:07am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Die-hard Nats fans have been waiting for this

As it stands, the Nationals are 13-4 and the division rival Phillies are 8-10. It's early yet, but that doesn't mean it's not fun for fans to fantasize about winning baseball in Washington. This tiny taste of what it feels like to sit atop the standings for more than a day or two is special for long-time Nats fans. It's been less than a decade, but the die-hard Nats fan contingent have held out for what they expected would eventually occur. These are the fans who braved the conditions at...

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Ryan Zimmerman not in Nats lineup

April 24, 2012, 2:35pm

Nationals

The Nationals said over the weekend that they felt confident if Ryan Zimmerman rested Saturday, Sunday and Monday, he'd be ready to go come Tuesday's game against the Padres. Tuesday's game against the Padres is here, and Zimmerman is not in the lineup. Zimmerman has now had the benefit of three days of rest, but his inflamed right shoulder is apparently still an issue. The Nationals third baseman was a late scratch from Saturday's lineup, but said after the game that the shoulder injury...

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Carroll outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse

April 24, 2012, 6:35am

Nationals

Outfielder Brett Carroll, who was designated for assignment by the Nationals on April 14, has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse. Carroll, who had to clear waivers before he could be outrighted to the minors, has accepted the assignment. Nationals manager Davey Johnson was high on Carroll in spring training because of his versatility, but the journeyman outfielder saw limited playing time with Washington through the season's first nine games, going just 0-for-2 with two...

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Flipping through some insane numbers

April 23, 2012, 10:15pm

Nationals

I've never been a fan of power rankings. I think they're silly and worthless, especially this early in the season. (Come on, Dan, tell us how you really feel.) But when I saw the Nationals ranked sixth on

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Proof is in the pitching: Nationals staff is dominating

April 23, 2012, 12:01pm

Nationals

The Nationals have played 16 games and have won 12 of them, resting in first place in the National League East in late April. The Nationals have had big extra-inning wins, like Saturday's thrilling 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins, or the timely hit to stay in games. They haven't blown out teams, going 6-2 in one-run games. They have played error-free baseball, tallying an 8-2 mark when they don't commit a miscue. But manager Davey Johnson said pitching, with starters Stephen Strasburg,...

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Joe Drugan: It's time to give Lombardozzi a chance

April 24, 2012, 5:29am

Nationals

Joe Drugan: It's time to give Lombardozzi a chance

The Nationals have come out guns blazing in the first 16 games of the 2012 season. The guns that are blazing thus far are radar guns from the pitching staff, though. The Nationals offense has struggled mightily in the first few weeks of the season, ranking 20th in batting average, 21st in runs, and 23rd in slugging. It's time to switch things up in NatsTown, and it starts in left field. With Michael Morse out of commission for at least another month, it's time for the Nats to look to options...

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Some minor matters

April 23, 2012, 9:39am

Nationals

Things are going pretty well at the major league level for the Nationals, and within the organization, there's a lot of positive stuff going on at the minor league ranks, as well. Bryce Harper hit his first home run at Triple-A Syracuse yesterday, crushing a 3-1 pitch from Buffalo's Jeurys Familia out to right. It took 16 games and 61 at-bats for Harper to finally go yard with Syracuse, but the Nats' top prospect finds himself in the home run category.

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Clubhouse Cliff Notes

April 22, 2012, 10:02pm

Nationals

Another Monday, another edition of Clubhouse Cliff Notes. As you might've noticed, there were a lot more wins than losses for the Nationals this week, so most of the chatter in the clubhouse was of an upbeat nature. Here you'll find some of the more interesting, humorous or insightful things said this week. As always, I've tried to keep this entry fresh by going with quotes that I didn't use in previous entries. And away we go: Ryan Mattheus April 18 pregame Context: On his most recent...

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Rounding the majors: O's on road, Humber's development, Nationals' potential quandary

April 23, 2012, 9:00am

Nationals Orioles

Rounding the majors: O's on road, Humber's development, Nationals' potential quandary

Thoughts on the early going: * The Orioles are getting good pitching from Jake Arrieta and Wei-Yin Chen, but the most impressive aspect of the Orioles' start is their character. After getting swept in three games at home by the Yankees, the Orioles responded well on a road trip that took them to three time zones. They won series at Toronto and Chicago, and then managed to take one of three over the Angels after two late rallies in Sunday's 3-2 10-inning win. Given how the Yankees have...

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Rainy day news and notes on Zimmerman, Strasburg

April 22, 2012, 11:43am

Nationals

Rainy day news and notes on Zimmerman, Strasburg

There are both positives and negatives that can be taken out of this afternoon's rained-out series finale between the Nationals and Marlins. First, the pluses. Ryan Zimmerman was scheduled to get today off to give his inflamed right shoulder a chance to rest. Now, he'll get that break without needing to miss an additional game. The rainout means Zimmerman will go into Tuesday's series opener in San Diego on three days of rest and having only been out of the Nats' lineup once....

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Strasburg showing patience when calls don't go his way

April 22, 2012, 6:10pm

Nationals

Strasburg showing patience when calls don't go his way

It was easy to understand why Stephen Strasburg would get upset. Maybe it was the calls he got at San Diego State. Or maybe it was the wide strike zone he occasionally enjoyed at the minor league level. But in his first season, Strasburg would sometimes get riled up when strikes were called balls. He would lose focus and a walk or hit would follow. Suddenly, the opponent was under his skin and gained an edge they could use. Against Cleveland in June of his first season, Strasburg had...