nationals

Nats lineup vs. Hefner, Mets

June 06, 2012, 11:31am

Who would you rather face if you were the Nationals - Johan Santana, coming off a no-hitter his last time out, or Jeremy Hefner, making his third career start? Yeah, me too. Santana might have been a bit tired had he pitched tonight on normal rest, but if I'm Nats manager Davey Johnson, I'll take a matchup with an unproven hurler over one with a worn-down yet in-the-zone veteran any day. The Mets have opted to push Santana back to Friday to give him a chance to rest up from his lengthy...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko mets nationals frontstory_nationals2

Harper's play leaving teammates in awe

June 06, 2012, 5:25am

Nationals

The list of superlatives that were used to describe Bryce Harper in the Nationals' clubhouse late last night was a lengthy one. "He's a man-child," outfielder Michael Morse said. "He's unbelievable." "The kid's a gamer," said shortstop Ian Desmond. "He's unbelievable. One of the best players I've ever seen, to be honest." This all came after Harper delivered another big-time moment - his first career walk-off hit in the Nats' 7-6 12-inning win over the Mets last night. It was...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko ian desmond michael morse nationals ross detwiler featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Nats just wouldn't give up in wild, wacky 12-inning affair

June 05, 2012, 9:19pm

Nationals

Nats just wouldn't give up in wild, wacky 12-inning affair

Well, this one was nuts. Twelve innings, 14 total pitchers used, three blown Mets leads in the eighth inning or later, countless misplayed balls (two in the bottom of the 10th by poor Jordany Valdespin), three wild pitches and the first walk-off hit by a teenager in nearly 24 years. It felt like it might never end, but it did. A thrilling - and exhausting - contest finally went to the Nationals by a 7-6 score. "It was a wild game," manager Davey Johnson said. "They didn't play very well,...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko davey johnson ian desmond mets michael morse nationals ross detwiler frontstory_nationals2

Desmond uses inspiration from different place to deliver clutch RBIs

June 05, 2012, 9:10pm

Nationals

Desmond uses inspiration from different place to deliver clutch RBIs

Shortstop Ian Desmond continues to deliver in the clutch. On Tuesday, Desmond produced three straight RBIs, with his team trailing each time. In the eighth frame, Desmond's RBI single tied the game at 4-4. In the tenth, Desmond reached on an error hit so hard that Ryan Zimmerman scored to knot the contest at five. And finally, in the game-changing 12th inning with the Nats trailing 6-5, Desmond's RBI double scored Michael Morse to even the game again. Whether it has been leading off or...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr ian desmond nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Could interest in Lannan intensify after latest quality start?

June 06, 2012, 7:19am

Nationals

Could interest in Lannan intensify after latest quality start?

The Nationals have spoken to a good amount of teams since the beginning of the season regarding left-hander John Lannan. General manager Mike Rizzo said their had been "mild interest" in early April. Now, Ken Rosenthal of FOXsports.com reports that the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers have had "recent discussions" with the Nationals about their former front line starter. It seems that the talks have yet to intensify, but with Lannan's latest impressive start Tuesday, and team's...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr frontstory_nationals1 john lannan nationals featured_sidebar

Rachel Levitin: Watching Harper play is just plain fun

June 06, 2012, 5:15am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Watching Harper play is just plain fun

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...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz rachel levitin

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...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko mets nationals frontfeatured_nationals

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...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko danny espinosa jordan zimmermann michael morse nationals frontfeatured_nationals

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...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

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...

Comments

Tags:

brad lidge dan kolko davey johnson drew storen mark derosa nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

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...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson nationals tyler clippard featured_sidebar tony renda frontstory_nationals3

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...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko lineups mets nationals hayden jennings spencer kieboom frontstory_nationals1

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr frontstory_nationals2 lucas giolito nationals

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...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper frontstory_nationals4 frontstory_orioles4 mel antonen nationals orioles

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

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko kris kline lucas giolito mike rizzo nationals roy clark featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

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...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger lucas giolito mike rizzo nationals nationals buzz will yoder

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...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko mike rizzo mlb draft nationals frontstory_nationals3

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."

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr draft frontstory_nationals2 lucas giolito mike rizzo nationals

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

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko lucas giolito nationals frontstory_nationals1 featured_sidebar

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...