nationals

Shippin' up to Boston

June 08, 2012, 4:38am

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...

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Dave Nichols: Nationals continue to look good a third of the way through the season

June 07, 2012, 4:56am

Nationals

There's an old adage in baseball that goes, you win 60 and lose 60, it's what you do with the rest that makes or breaks you. While that's not quite an even one-third split, we have reached that point in the season. With last night's 5-3 win over the New York Mets, the Nats have played 54 games, exactly one-third of the season. Hey, I'm all for a little analysis using arbitrary end-points, so here goes. The Nats are 32-22, first in the NL East by two games over the Braves and the Marlins....

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Maldonado to DL, Moore returns to Nats

June 06, 2012, 7:23pm

Nationals

Manager Davey Johnson said after tonight's game that the Nationals will place catcher Carlos Maldonado on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury and will call up outfielder/first baseman Tyler Moore from Triple-A Syracuse. Maldonado said that he's having an issue with a muscle in the right side of his back, and described the injury as somewhat of a spasm. He has played in four games since getting called up from Syracuse back on May 15, going hitless in nine at-bats with two walks and...

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Jackson remains the same, nets first win in 53 days

June 06, 2012, 7:23pm

Nationals

Jackson remains the same, nets first win in 53 days

Nationals right-handed starter Edwin Jackson had not recorded a win in more than a month and a half, but he didn't let that frazzle him. On April 14, Jackson through a complete game, two-hitter to subdue the Cincinnati Reds, 4-1. Since then, Jackson threw five straight no decisions, then lost back-to-back games at Philadelphia and at Miami. So Wednesday, when Jackson went seven innings and threw 100 pitches, only allowing two earned runs, the victory tasted even sweeter in a 5-3 dispatch of...

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Veteran trio has Nats on top of Mets (Nats never trail in 5-3 win)

June 06, 2012, 4:53pm

Nationals

Veteran trio has Nats on top of Mets (Nats never trail in 5-3 win)

After a stretch where it seemed like none of the Nationals' middle-of-the-order hitters could get anything done at the plate, Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche and Michael Morse have done all the damage for the Nats tonight. The three veteran hitters are now a combined 5-for-8 with a walk, and they've delivered all four Washington RBIs. LaRoche got the scoring started in the first, drilling a three-run homer to right. It gave the Nats an early 3-0 lead and snapped what had been a brutal slump at...

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Nationals select 24 players on Day 3 to conclude 2012 First-Year Player Draft

June 06, 2012, 4:15pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today selected 24 players on the third 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. Over the three-day Draft, the Nationals selected a total of 40 players: 14 right-handed pitchers, six left-handed...

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Final draft update (with Morse notes and quotes)

June 06, 2012, 2:37pm

Nationals

Final draft update (with Morse notes and quotes)

I'll say it again - if draft experts handed out grades based on the quality of the names in a draft class, the Nationals would be getting stellar marks. They took Stanford left-hander Brett Mooneyham in the third round, Clemson catcher Spencer Kieboom in the fifth, Florida Southern catcher Austin Chubb in the 21st (is Chubb a great name for a catcher, or what?) and prep outfielder Skye Bolt in the 26th. The draft is now complete after three long days, and here's how the Nats' class breaks...

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Tough bullpen decisions to come shortly (plus Maldonado injury note)

June 06, 2012, 2:59pm

Nationals

Tough bullpen decisions to come shortly (plus Maldonado injury note)

With the addition of Michael Gonzalez a couple days ago, the Nationals now have four lefties in their bullpen. It might not be that way for long, however. Both Brad Lidge and Ryan Mattheus are closing in on returns to the Nats, and when the righties are ready to come back, the team will need to make some tough decisions on how they want to structure their bullpen. Lidge is pitching in his second rehab game for Single-A Potomac tonight as he works back from hernia surgery, while Mattheus, who...