nationals

Rachel Levitin: Watching Harper play is just plain fun

June 06, 2012, 5:15am

If I were to keep it simple, I'd summarize watching Bryce Harper play baseball as fun because it is - whether it was his post-draft introductory press conference (where he took batting practice before the formal session), his home debut at Nationals Park, the time he stole home off Cole Hamels or Tuesday night's first career walk-off. I know I'll always kick myself for missing his first career home run. A friend and I were going to make it to that game too. We were planning on it, rain got...

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How 'bout some bonus baseball? (Harper walks 'em off in 12)

June 05, 2012, 6:00pm

Nationals

How 'bout some bonus baseball? (Harper walks 'em off in 12)

As if nine innings of tonight's Nationals-Mets contest hasn't been entertaining enough, we're going to extras. The Nats and Mets are tied 4-4 after nine in an up-and-down game which saw both teams squander a lead in the late innings. After tying it in the eighth, Washington had a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth when Roger Bernadina singled with two outs, bringing Bryce Harper to the plate and the crowd to its collective feet. Harper smoked a ball to left field on a line, but...

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Morse is on the board (we're tied in the ninth)

June 05, 2012, 4:08pm

Nationals

Morse is on the board (we're tied in the ninth)

In his 10th at-bat of the 2012 season, Michael Morse got into the hit column. Up in the bottom of the fourth, Morse roped a double to the opposite field in right-center and galloped into second base standing up. It was a vintage Morse swing and result, and had to feel nice for the big guy after going hitless in his first nine at-bats since coming off the disabled list. Unfortunately for the Nationals, Morse stayed stuck at second, as Ian Desmond flied out to shallow center and Danny Espinosa...

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Nationals select 14 players on second day of First-Year Player Draft

June 05, 2012, 5:20pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today selected 14 players on the second day of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Player Personnel Roy Clark and Nationals Director of Scouting Kris Kline made the joint announcement. The Nationals kicked off today's action selecting University of California-Berkeley second baseman Tony Renda with their...

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Your latest Drew Storen update (plus Lidge, DeRosa tidbits)

June 05, 2012, 1:32pm

Nationals

Your latest Drew Storen update (plus Lidge, DeRosa tidbits)

With the Nationals back in town for another few days before shipping up to Boston, reliever Drew Storen has rejoined the team to check in with team doctors and continue his throwing program. And believe me when I tell you, he's thrilled to be back in D.C. and away from the heat he was dealing with while rehabbing at the Nats' extended spring training complex in Viera, Fla. "I can't explain to you (how hot it is)," Storen said. "Actually, I can. Go to the steam room, and go play catch in...

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Clippard quietly grabbing hold of closer's job (Mooneyham, Miller go to Nats)

June 05, 2012, 8:38am

Nationals

Clippard quietly grabbing hold of closer's job (Mooneyham, Miller go to Nats)

Since Davey Johnson announced that he was going with a closer-by-committee approach following Henry Rodriguez's struggles in the ninth inning, the Nationals have had four save opportunities. Tyler Clippard has gotten all four of them. And he's converted all four times. Johnson's closer-by-committee has been more of a closer-by-Clippard so far, and it's not hard to see why the Nationals skipper keeps going back to the 27-year-old right-hander when Washington has a slim lead in the ninth...

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Mets-Nats lineups (plus fifth-, sixth-round picks)

June 05, 2012, 11:42am

Nationals

Mets-Nats lineups (plus fifth-, sixth-round picks)

The Nationals welcome the Mets to town for a three-game set starting today, and they'll face starter Chris Young, making his season debut. Here are the lineups for both teams: For the Nationals LF Steve Lombardozzi CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Jesus Flores P Jordan Zimmermann For the Mets LF Kirk Nieuwenhuis CF Andres Torres 3B David Wright RF Lucas Duda 2B Daniel Murphy 1B Ike Davis C Josh Thole SS Omar Quintanilla P...

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Giolito "speechless" to get call from Nationals

June 05, 2012, 10:03am

Nationals

The Nationals' top selection in the 2012 draft, right-hander Lucas Giolito, met with reporters via conference call today and said that his elbow is making good progress as he rehabs the strain. "The doctors have treated me," Giolito said. "I have had some of the best doctors around to treat me. I feel really good. I have thrown off of flat ground. I have thrown long toss from 280 feet to 300 feet. I have been throwing pretty hard from 60 foot flat ground. I look forward to pitching...

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In no-hit bids, pitch counts come into play

June 05, 2012, 8:21am

Nationals Orioles

In no-hit bids, pitch counts come into play

Thanks to Johan Santana's no-hitter last week versus St. Louis, the Nationals won't have to face the lefty with the elite changeup when the Mets play in D.C. this week. Santana, in his first season back after shoulder surgery, threw 134 pitches, about 20 more than he was supposed to throw, and the Mets want to give him extra time to allow his arm to get back to full strength. He'll pitch Friday. Santana is the Mets' best pitcher, but this no-hitter story could turn sour for the Mets if...

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Rizzo on Giolito: "We felt the reward outweighed the risk"

June 04, 2012, 6:08pm

Nationals

Rizzo on Giolito: "We felt the reward outweighed the risk"

Asked about an hour ago which major leaguer

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Will Yoder: In Giolito, Nats have another project with potential upside

June 05, 2012, 5:24am

Nationals

Will Yoder: In Giolito, Nats have another project with potential upside

They always say you can never have too much pitching. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo must be listening. In the first round last night's First-Year Player Draft, the club selected right-handed hurler Lucas Giolito out of Harvard-Westlake High School in California. That might strike some as odd considering the team currently has seven quality starting pitchers trying to fill five rotation spots. The Nationals' rotation continues to be the best in baseball, their trademark even, but...

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Rizzo: Nats not necessarily focused on pitching in draft

June 04, 2012, 10:43am

Nationals

Rizzo: Nats not necessarily focused on pitching in draft

In each of the last five years, the Nationals have owned a top-10 pick in the First-Year Player Draft. In 2009 and 2010, they held the top overall selection, and everyone and their mother knew that Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper would be the Nats' picks in those two respective drafts. This year, there's much less certainty when it comes to what the Nats might do with their first-round selection. Holding the No. 16 pick, general manager Mike Rizzo and the Nats will rank their top 16...

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Nationals love pure power and Giolito delivers

June 04, 2012, 6:31pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals' first-round selection, right-hander Lucas Giolito, is another in the long line of big power pitchers that general manager Mike Rizzo and his staff covet. And as it seems every year in early June, Rizzo finds a way to get his man. "We have been on this guy from day one," Rizzo said. "The reward outweighs the risk. He is a power body with a power arm with three plus pitches."

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Nats take RHP Lucas Giolito at No. 16 overall

June 04, 2012, 4:57pm

Nationals

Nats take RHP Lucas Giolito at No. 16 overall

With the 16th pick in the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Nationals went the pitching route, selecting right-hander

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A tight one in the middle innings (Ramos injured)

May 12, 2012, 5:12pm

Nationals

A tight one in the middle innings (Ramos injured)

Jordan Zimmermann is getting just 2.1 runs of support while he's in the game this season, the third-lowest total in the majors. That number isn't rising tonight. Zimmermann has done his job on the mound this evening, holding the Reds to just one run through five innings of work, but outside of a Wilson Ramos solo home run, the Nationals' starter hasn't gotten much offensive help from his teammates. We're tied 1-1 after five frames. Part of the reason why Zimmermann doesn't have...

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Nationals select prep right-hander Lucas Giolito 16th overall in 2012 First-Year Player Draft

June 04, 2012, 4:58pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today selected 17 year-old right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito (Harvard-Westlake School, California) with the 16th-overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Personnel Roy Clark and Nationals Director of Scouting Kris Kline made the joint announcement. The 6-foot-6, 230 lbs. Giolito is regarded as one of the...

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Callis: Nationals can find a major league gem at No. 16

June 03, 2012, 7:26pm

Nationals

The Nationals ride into the 2012 First-Year Player Draft with a different feel about their first-round selection. Gone is selecting first two years in a row, or even sixth last year. This season, the team selects at No. 16, and as Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel Roy Clark told me Sunday, "We want to pick No. 30 every season." It is great to get the top selection, but that also means you were bad the prior season. That is no longer the case for the...

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Baseball America's Callis believes Nats can get quality hitting at No. 16

June 04, 2012, 7:18am

Nationals

Baseball America's Callis believes Nats can get quality hitting at No. 16

One guy is a great fielder and has a strong arm. Another hits for average and has great hands. Still another is an outstanding teammate and leader, and despite not having incredible tools, somehow finds a way to get on base almost every time. So which one should the Nationals select in tonight's First-Year Player Draft? After all, the Bryce Harpers of the world don't grow on trees. "It is makeup," Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel Roy Clark told me...

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Nats preparing for a different type of draft

June 04, 2012, 6:12am

Nationals

Nats preparing for a different type of draft

The Nationals have an off-day on the schedule today, but for nearly everyone in the organization with the exception of the players, today is no day off. The First-Year Player Draft is tonight, making today Nats general manager Mike Rizzo's favorite day of the year. He calls it his Super Bowl Sunday. This draft is very different for the Nationals than ones in seasons past, largely because, due to their improved record last season, they will no longer be picking within the top 10. It will also...

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Call-up Leon has made huge strides last two seasons

May 13, 2012, 7:02am

Nationals

Call-up Leon has made huge strides last two seasons

Due to a torn right ACL sustained by starting catcher Wilson Ramos, another top prospect in the Nationals' system will get a shot at the big leagues earlier than planned. But the Nationals are confident Sandy Leon is ready for this next challenge because of the talent he has shown on the field at Double-A Harrisburg. Assistant general manager Bob Boone and assistant to the general manager Pat Corrales - both former major league catchers - have worked very hard to develop Leon and they have...