nationals

Some of this, some of that

May 16, 2012, 5:06am

Is anyone else blown away by the fact that yesterday was just the second time in 25 career starts that Stephen Strasburg allowed more than three earned runs in a game? I still had trouble believing that was accurate, even after I had looked over all of Strasburg's outings and then double-checked the numbers later on yesterday afternoon. That's remarkable consistency out of the 23-year-old. While Strasburg has been grooving through much of this season, Ryan Zimmerman has not yet been able...

Comments

Tags:

corey brown dan kolko davey johnson matt skole nationals ryan zimmerman stephen strasburg xavier paul yunesky maya frontstory_nationals1

An uncomfortable outing for Strasburg, in multiple ways

May 15, 2012, 1:55pm

Nationals

An uncomfortable outing for Strasburg, in multiple ways

As unusual as Stephen Strasburg's start was today, with an eight-minute rain delay disrupting the first inning and the Nationals righty allowing the second-most runs of any start in his career, a bit of information revealed postgame might have been even more bizarre. According to manager Davey Johnson, Strasburg had some "hot stuff" get "misplaced" during his start, which contributed to his struggles on the mound. "It was on his shoulder and evidently ... I don't know how it got to...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson nationals stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Rachel Levitin: What if the Nats lost a starting pitcher to injury?

May 16, 2012, 5:01am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: What if the Nats lost a starting pitcher to injury?

What would happen if a member of the Nationals' starting rotation were to suffer an injury? What would happen if there's more than one man down over the course of the season? I'm not saying such a tragedy is inevitable nor am I saying it will happen, but it's a definite "what if" that should be thrown into the season-long equation as a safety measure. The starting staff remains the sole portion of the Nats' lineup that hasn't seen a harsh blow thrown its way in the form of a trip to...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz rachel levitin

Not much to rave about in 6-1 loss

May 15, 2012, 12:01pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper hit his second home run in as many days. Yeah, that's about all the positive stuff to report coming out of the Nationals' 6-1 loss to the Padres this afternoon. The Nationals couldn't get much of anything done against Padres starter Anthony Bass, who went eight strong innings in his best outing of the season, allowing just one run on five hits with seven strikeouts. Outside of Harper's home run, the Nats only had three runners in scoring position all afternoon (that counts...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko nationals padres stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals1 s

Fly ball misplay was swing Padres needed against Strasburg

May 15, 2012, 1:43pm

Nationals

Fly ball misplay was swing Padres needed against Strasburg

It looked like an innocent pop up between left field and right field midway towards the warning track from the first hitter of the game, Padres right fielder Will Venable. Nationals left fielder Roger Bernadina and center fielder Rick Ankiel, as well as right fielder Bryce Harper converged on the fly ball. Bernadina and Ankiel appeared to look down at each other as they tracked the ball and suddenly it fell in front of Bernadina's feet. Venable scampered to second on a double and San Diego...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr davey johnson nationals padres roger bernadina stephen strasburg will venable frontstory_nationals2

Johnson's familiar lineup card starting to pay dividends for Nationals

May 15, 2012, 8:19am

Nationals

The lineup is starting to show a familiar refrain. Ian Desmond and Roger Bernadina. Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche and Bryce Harper. Danny Espinosa and Rick Ankiel. The catching spot. The starting pitcher. Johnson said the genesis of this particular starting nine was given boost into motion when he had a conversation with outfielder Roger Bernadina, who was off to a slow start due in part to a lack of consistent at-bats. With the unfortunate injury to Jayson Werth, Johnson was looking to mix...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr davey johnson jayson werth nationals ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals2 featured_sidebar

An abbreviated day for Strasburg (Harper homers again)

May 15, 2012, 10:47am

Nationals

An abbreviated day for Strasburg (Harper homers again)

This didn't look like the Stephen Strasburg we've seen much of this season. Strasburg, who entered today with a 1.64 ERA on the year, was clearly battling himself this afternoon against the Padres, stepping off the mound and taking deep breath after deep breath. He didn't have his good stuff, allowing seven hits and four runs before seeing the bullpen door open to begin the fifth inning. It's just the third time in his 25 career starts that Strasburg had failed to pitch into the fifth,...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals stephen strasburg bryce harper frontfeatured_nationals

Strasburg in an early hole after brief rain delay (updated)

May 15, 2012, 9:41am

Nationals

Strasburg in an early hole after brief rain delay (updated)

For about three minutes, Stephen Strasburg was forced to pitch in a downpour with the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning. Finally, home plate umpire and crew chief Brian Gorman called for a rain delay and brought the grounds crew onto the field. Nearly as soon as he did so, the rain all but stopped. The tarp never got rolled out, and the players were quickly called back onto the field. We were all set to resume play, only the three base umpires were still in the tunnel. Tony...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals stephen strasburg frontfeatured_nationals

Catching up on things

May 15, 2012, 8:18am

Nationals

Despite the initial forecast for today, it's turned into a beautiful day at Nationals Park. The sun is beaming down right now, and the grounds crew is tending to the infield and taking squeegees to the outfield turf to spread out the water that accumulated overnight and into the morning. We might get some light rain later in the afternoon, but it appears the heavy stuff will miss us. And weatherman Dan is done for the day. Davey Johnson was asked what his plans are for catcher Jhonatan...

Comments

Tags:

carlos maldonado dan kolko davey johnson jhonatan solano nationals sandy leon frontstory_nationals1

Some bullpen bullet points

May 14, 2012, 11:51pm

Nationals

If you were wondering whether last night's performance by Henry Rodriguez - in which the righty walked the bases loaded while leading by three runs in the ninth - changed Davey Johnson's view on how Rodriguez will be used, the answer is a simple one. Nope. Within a five-minute press conference after last night's game, Johnson referred to either himself or the Nationals as a team having "confidence" in Rodriguez four separate times. "I went up to him after the game, I said, 'Henry,...

Comments

Tags:

craig stammen dan kolko davey johnson henry rodriguez nationals ross detwiler sean burnett featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Maldonado activated, Ramos placed on 60-day DL (plus Nats lineup)

May 15, 2012, 6:52am

Nationals

Maldonado activated, Ramos placed on 60-day DL (plus Nats lineup)

The Nationals have officially placed catcher Sandy Leon on the 15-day DL with a high right ankle sprain and selected catcher Carlos Maldonado from Triple-A Syracuse. Maldonado made it here in time for today's game, although he might be a little bit worn out after making the late-night trip from Columbus, Ohio. To make room for Maldonado on the 40-man roster, the Nats have moved catcher Wilson Ramos from the 15-day to the 60-day DL. Lot of catcher maneuverings today. Here is the Nats'...

Comments

Tags:

carlos maldonado dan kolko nationals sandy leon wilson ramos frontfeatured_nationals

Nats select Maldonado from Triple-A, DL Leon, move Ramos to 60-day disabled list

May 15, 2012, 6:48am

Nationals

Nats select Maldonado from Triple-A, DL Leon, move Ramos to 60-day disabled list

The Washington Nationals today selected catcher Carlos Maldonado from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed catcher Sandy Leon on the 15-Day Disabled List with a high ankle sprain (right ankle). The Nationals also transferred catcher Wilson Ramos from the 15- to the 60-Day Disabled List. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The 33 year-old Maldonado, who will wear No. 49 when he joins the Nationals...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Joe Drugan: Cruel and unusual punishment

May 15, 2012, 5:52am

Nationals

Joe Drugan: Cruel and unusual punishment

The Nationals are dealing with lots of injuries. I mean, lots and lots of injuries. If you look at the list of Nats players that are down and out, it would be comical if it weren't so brutally sad and frustrating. Let's remind ourselves of these injuries, consider how ridiculous it is that the team is somehow still 22-13 and evaluate the biggest need for the team. Wilson Ramos, Sandy Leon: This is quickly becoming the biggest storyline for the Nats. Catchers are always a commodity for a...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger joe drugan nationals nationals buzz

How close was Stephen Strasburg to being a Padre?

May 14, 2012, 8:52pm

Nationals

How close was Stephen Strasburg to being a Padre?

It was the close of a miserable 2008 campaign. The Nationals were in the midst of losing 14 of their final 17 games en route to dismal 59-102 overall mark. In late September 2008, the San Diego Padres traveled to D.C. for a three-game set against the Nationals. The Padres swept the Nationals - winning 11-6 in 14 innings, 6-1 and 6-2 during a weekend series from Sept. 19-21, 2008. Following that sweep, the Padres went 2-4 the rest if the way. The Nationals went 1-4. San Diego finished...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals oakland athletics san diego padres seattle mariners stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Harper on first home run: "Hopefully, it's one of many"

May 14, 2012, 9:01pm

Nationals

Harper on first home run: "Hopefully, it's one of many"

With it being a Monday night and rain falling throughout the afternoon and into the evening, there wasn't a huge crowd on hand at Nationals Park Monday. But in the third inning, when Bryce Harper bounded into the dugout after his first major league home run, those in attendance stayed on their feet, kept clapping and called for the 19-year-old rookie to take a bow. It was all set up to be a great Nationals moment, similar to the one Stephen Strasburg had when he took his curtain call out of...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko nationals frontstory_nationals1

Leon has high ankle sprain, Maldonado to be called up

May 14, 2012, 7:51pm

Nationals

Leon has high ankle sprain, Maldonado to be called up

A player's major league debut is supposed to be a thrilling time in his life, a day he'll never forget. Unfortunately, years from now, Sandy Leon will not look back too fondly on his first-ever game in the big leagues. Manager Davey Johnson announced after today's game that Leon suffered a high right ankle sprain when he was run into at the plate by Padres third baseman Chase Headley in the fourth inning, an injury which will land Leon on the DL just a day after he was officially activated...

Comments

Tags:

carlos maldonado dan kolko davey johnson jesus flores nationals sandy leon frontstory_nationals1

Nats win a wild one, 8-5

May 14, 2012, 6:14pm

Nationals

It was a wacky night in the nation's capital. We had four errors (one of which scored a run), another Nationals catcher leave with an injury, a phenom hit his first major league home run, a journeyman hit a big pinch-hit homer and a total of 13 runs score in a game played between two of the worst offensive teams in baseball. In the end, the Nats escaped with an 8-5 win, with Sean Burnett bailing out Henry Rodriguez to earn the save. It wasn't easy, though. Rodriguez walked the bases loaded...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals bryce harper frontfeatured_nationals henry rodriguez ross detwiler

Harper not embarrassed by bat-to-face incident

May 14, 2012, 7:50pm

Nationals

Harper not embarrassed by bat-to-face incident

Before Monday's series opener against the Padres, Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper said his left eye was feeling better three days after he struck himself with his bat off a runway wall in the Cincinnati visitors' clubhouse. The pain had subsided and he didn't have to sleep a certain way to avoid laying on his left side. When asked if the injury was embarrassing, Harper said, "No, I'm not embarrassed." He said the incident would not make him change his future reaction to a bad game...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr davey johnson nationals

Burnett saves H-Rod and roller coaster night at Nats Park

May 14, 2012, 7:47pm

Nationals

Burnett saves H-Rod and roller coaster night at Nats Park

The Nationals lost another catcher. Bryce Harper hit his first major league homer. Down 5-4, Ian Desmond smacked 2-run double. Chad Tracy and Xavier Nady added insurance solo shots. Nationals led 8-5. Someone please find the off switch for this roller coaster. This is Nationals Park not Kings Dominion. Showing confidence again in his young closer, manager Davey Johnson summoned Henry Rodriguez for the ninth frame. Not feeling confident, Rodriguez walked the bases loaded. With one out,...