nationals

Left field rotation not helping us forget about Morse

April 27, 2012, 11:48am

Of all the current Nationals who have faced Clayton Kershaw in their careers, guess who has recorded the highest batting average against the Dodgers left-hander? If you went with Craig Stammen, you are either a genius or your sarcastic sense of humor really backfired this time. Not surprisingly, most of the Nats who have faced Kershaw have struggled against him, but Stammen has actually gone 2-for-3 with a double in his career against the 2011 National League Cy Young Award winner. Kershaw...

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Teahen a nice choice at third if Zimmerman is out for extended time

April 27, 2012, 10:25am

Nationals

Teahen a nice choice at third if Zimmerman is out for extended time

With the status of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman up in the air, the Nationals have been essentially playing on the penalty kill (using the NHL analogy) for almost a week. Zimmerman has not played since Saturday, out with right shoulder inflammation. It has to be testing general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson as to what they should do for next week when Arizona and Philadelphia arrive at Nationals Park. You would expect the team to continue with just 24-man roster through the...

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Nationals renew agreement with physical therapist Gordon

April 27, 2012, 7:53am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals have renewed their working agreement with Angela T. Gordon, MPT, ATC, retaining her as the team's physical therapist. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Gordon provides comprehensive outpatient physical therapy services for the Washington Nationals' players, covering the team's pre-season evaluations in Florida and 40 home games during the regular baseball season. Among the job...

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Strasburg on RGIII, Gio's curve and the Nationals' young staff

April 26, 2012, 10:11am

Nationals

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg knows first-hand what it is like to be the No. 1 selection of a franchise and can empathize with what Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III is going through as he gets ready for the opportunity to join the Washington Redskins. But Strasburg believes Griffin has the makings of an elite quarterback in the NFL because of his physical talent and his overall makeup. "You don't see too many quarterbacks that have all the tools that he has," Strasburg...

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Before using brooms, Nats need their bats (Nats lose 2-1)

April 26, 2012, 7:54pm

Nationals

Before using brooms, Nats need their bats (Nats lose 2-1)

If the Nationals scored seven runs yesterday, does that mean they've used up their offensive allotment for the next three days? The Nats have managed just two hits tonight off Padres starter Edinson Volquez, and have yet to touch home plate as we go to the seventh inning. Wilson Ramos and Adam LaRoche are the only two Nationals hitters to have registered a tally in the hit column. Both guys reached scoring position with two outs (Ramos in the third inning, LaRoche in the fourth), but Ian...

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Nationals begin spring training negotiations with Lee County

April 26, 2012, 5:15pm

Nationals

The Nationals have officially begun negotiations with Lee County and the city of Fort Myers that could lead to the team moving its spring training facility as early as 2014.

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Dave Nichols: A dose of reality in an unreal start

April 26, 2012, 4:24am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: A dose of reality in an unreal start

The Nationals, now 14-4, own the best record in the National League, just a half-game behind the Texas Rangers for the best record in all of baseball. Heady stuff. Of course, a .778 winning percentage is impossible to keep up, but the Nats have taken strong advantage of a weak early schedule to race out to a good start. The pitching has, of course, been the big story. Dominant starters, shutdown relievers, two closers (for now). But the team - and the fans - got a shock this week with Ryan...

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Which player's start has been most impressive?

April 26, 2012, 9:52am

Nationals

Which player's start has been most impressive?

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