nationals

Proof is in the pitching: Nationals staff is dominating

April 23, 2012, 12:01pm

The Nationals have played 16 games and have won 12 of them, resting in first place in the National League East in late April. The Nationals have had big extra-inning wins, like Saturday's thrilling 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins, or the timely hit to stay in games. They haven't blown out teams, going 6-2 in one-run games. They have played error-free baseball, tallying an 8-2 mark when they don't commit a miscue. But manager Davey Johnson said pitching, with starters Stephen Strasburg,...

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Joe Drugan: It's time to give Lombardozzi a chance

April 24, 2012, 5:29am

Nationals

Joe Drugan: It's time to give Lombardozzi a chance

The Nationals have come out guns blazing in the first 16 games of the 2012 season. The guns that are blazing thus far are radar guns from the pitching staff, though. The Nationals offense has struggled mightily in the first few weeks of the season, ranking 20th in batting average, 21st in runs, and 23rd in slugging. It's time to switch things up in NatsTown, and it starts in left field. With Michael Morse out of commission for at least another month, it's time for the Nats to look to options...

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Some minor matters

April 23, 2012, 9:39am

Nationals

Things are going pretty well at the major league level for the Nationals, and within the organization, there's a lot of positive stuff going on at the minor league ranks, as well. Bryce Harper hit his first home run at Triple-A Syracuse yesterday, crushing a 3-1 pitch from Buffalo's Jeurys Familia out to right. It took 16 games and 61 at-bats for Harper to finally go yard with Syracuse, but the Nats' top prospect finds himself in the home run category.

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Clubhouse Cliff Notes

April 22, 2012, 10:02pm

Nationals

Another Monday, another edition of Clubhouse Cliff Notes. As you might've noticed, there were a lot more wins than losses for the Nationals this week, so most of the chatter in the clubhouse was of an upbeat nature. Here you'll find some of the more interesting, humorous or insightful things said this week. As always, I've tried to keep this entry fresh by going with quotes that I didn't use in previous entries. And away we go: Ryan Mattheus April 18 pregame Context: On his most recent...

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Rounding the majors: O's on road, Humber's development, Nationals' potential quandary

April 23, 2012, 9:00am

Nationals Orioles

Rounding the majors: O's on road, Humber's development, Nationals' potential quandary

Thoughts on the early going: * The Orioles are getting good pitching from Jake Arrieta and Wei-Yin Chen, but the most impressive aspect of the Orioles' start is their character. After getting swept in three games at home by the Yankees, the Orioles responded well on a road trip that took them to three time zones. They won series at Toronto and Chicago, and then managed to take one of three over the Angels after two late rallies in Sunday's 3-2 10-inning win. Given how the Yankees have...

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Rainy day news and notes on Zimmerman, Strasburg

April 22, 2012, 11:43am

Nationals

Rainy day news and notes on Zimmerman, Strasburg

There are both positives and negatives that can be taken out of this afternoon's rained-out series finale between the Nationals and Marlins. First, the pluses. Ryan Zimmerman was scheduled to get today off to give his inflamed right shoulder a chance to rest. Now, he'll get that break without needing to miss an additional game. The rainout means Zimmerman will go into Tuesday's series opener in San Diego on three days of rest and having only been out of the Nats' lineup once....

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Strasburg showing patience when calls don't go his way

April 22, 2012, 6:10pm

Nationals

Strasburg showing patience when calls don't go his way

It was easy to understand why Stephen Strasburg would get upset. Maybe it was the calls he got at San Diego State. Or maybe it was the wide strike zone he occasionally enjoyed at the minor league level. But in his first season, Strasburg would sometimes get riled up when strikes were called balls. He would lose focus and a walk or hit would follow. Suddenly, the opponent was under his skin and gained an edge they could use. Against Cleveland in June of his first season, Strasburg had...

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Bryce Harper slams first Triple-A home run; Mandel adds new pitch

April 22, 2012, 6:24pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper slams first Triple-A home run; Mandel adds new pitch

Syracuse Chiefs center fielder Bryce Harper crushed his first homer at the Triple-A level off of Buffalo Bisons starter Jeurys Familia. Harper also added a single and finished 2-for-3, his average now standing at .242. Buffalo won the game 6-1. Double-A Harrisburg Senators starter Jeff Mandel has added a breaking ball to his repertoire. The breaking pitch has more depth and is "coming along," according to a team source. Mandel is 1-1 with a 0.96 ERA in three starts, striking out 10 and...

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Ted Leavengood: A flood of riches

April 22, 2012, 8:55am

Nationals

The rain is falling on the mound, It's falling on the plate, But when the Nats are 12 and 4, The next game's worth the wait. - Ted Leavengood There is nothing cloudy or damp about the superlatives being used to describe the Nationals' pitching staff. However, it is dedicated Nationals fans who are most aware of what it all means as they behold the endless parade of goose eggs, the never-ending lust for just one run, any run, no matter what it takes to make another great pitching...

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Marlins-Nationals series finale postponed due to rain (updated)

April 22, 2012, 6:34am

Nationals

The highly anticipated matchup of Gio Gonzalez and Josh Johnson will have to wait for another day. The final game of a three-game set between the Marlins and Nationals has been postponed due to inclement weather. No makeup date has yet been announced, but it will definitely not be tomorrow, as the Nats are flying out to West Coast for their six-game road trip. This means the Nationals will conclude their homestand with an impressive 8-2 record. They just missed out on securing a four-game...

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Marlins-Nationals game postponed

April 22, 2012, 7:39am

Nationals

Today's Nationals-Marlins game scheduled to begin at 1:35 p.m. at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., has been postponed due to inclement weather. The make-up date will be announced in the coming days. Tickets for today's game can be exchanged at the Nationals Park Box Office for seats of equal or lesser value for the rescheduled makeup game or a Regular or Value game during the 2012 regular season.* For more information on exchanging tickets purchased through nationals.com or the...

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Despite another blown save, Johnson committed to Lidge

April 21, 2012, 2:10pm

Nationals

Despite another blown save, Johnson committed to Lidge

Brad Lidge has blown two of his four save opportunities so far this season. Henry Rodriguez, meanwhile, has closed out all four games in which he's gotten the ball in a save situation. Don't read too much into those early results, however. Manager Davey Johnson said after today's game - which the Nationals won in 10 innings after Lidge lost a two-run lead in the ninth - that he still plans on giving Lidge opportunities to close games. Davey Johnson meets with the media to talk about the...

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Two-run lead disappears in the ninth (Nats walk off with 3-2 win)

April 21, 2012, 11:36am

Nationals

Two-run lead disappears in the ninth (Nats walk off with 3-2 win)

Brad Lidge entered the game with a two-run lead and needing three outs to lock down the Nationals' second straight shutout of the Marlins. He couldn't deliver. Lidge got up on leadoff hitter Hanley Ramirez 0-2, then tossed four straight balls to put Ramirez on first and bring the tying run to the plate. Then, two pitches into Lidge's battle with Logan Morrison, the game was tied. Morrison crushed a 91 mph fastball that was basically sitting on a tee into the second deck in right,...

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Zimmerman on shoulder injury: "It's nothing"

April 21, 2012, 1:32pm

Nationals

Zimmerman on shoulder injury: "It's nothing"

Given the injury luck that the Nationals have had so far this season, some might have feared the worst when they heard Ryan Zimmerman was scratched from this afternoon's starting lineup just prior to first pitch. But according to both Zimmerman and manager Davey Johnson, the right shoulder inflammation that Zimmerman is suffering is minor, and shouldn't keep him out for an extended period of time. "It's been bothering me a bit just from diving around and jammed it a little bit,"...

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What a difference a year makes for Ian Desmond

April 21, 2012, 1:45pm

Nationals

What a difference a year makes for Ian Desmond

Shortstop Ian Desmond has been a pleasant surprise through three weeks of the season. With a solo homer and a game-clinching sacrifice fly to center, Desmond helped to guide the Nationals to a 3-2 win in 10 innings over the Marlins. There were more than a few raised eyebrows when Desmond was chosen as the leadoff hitter and many wondered if the talented young player would have the patience at the plate to be the first man up. But through 16 games, the answer is pretty clear that Desmond is a...

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Strasburg, Sanchez dueling in D.C. (Nats lead 2-0)

April 21, 2012, 10:30am

Nationals

Strasburg, Sanchez dueling in D.C. (Nats lead 2-0)

We've got a good old fashioned pitcher's duel here at Nationals Park, as Stephen Strasburg and Anibal Sanchez are matching zeros. Through five innings of play, Strasburg has allowed just three hits and has struck out five Marlins hitters. He's thrown 71 pitches, 43 for strikes, and has overpowered Miami's lineup with a fastball that's topped out at 98 mph and a curveball which has been nasty. Sanchez, meanwhile, has completely held Nationals hitters at bay, allowing just two hits...

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Tracy gets the start at first base

April 21, 2012, 5:55am

Nationals

As promised, Chad Tracy is in the Nationals lineup for this afternoon's game against the Marlins. And he's hitting cleanup. Raise your hand if you ever thought you'd see a Nationals lineup that had Chad Tracy in the four-hole. Tracy spells another left-handed first baseman, Adam LaRoche, who will get his first day off of the season. Here are your Nationals and Marlins lineups as Washington looks to lock up another series win: Nats SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B...

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Ryan Zimmerman a late scratch from today's game (updated with diagnosis)

April 21, 2012, 9:19am

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman a late scratch from today's game (updated with diagnosis)

Ryan Zimmerman was written into today's lineup. He was scheduled to hit third and play third base. He was introduced with the Nats' starters to the crowd here at Nationals Park. But Zimmerman wasn't the guy standing at third when Stephen Strasburg threw his first pitch of today's game. Zimmerman has been scratched from today's game, with Mark DeRosa taking over at third base and replacing the Nationals All-Star in the three-hole in Davey Johnson's lineup. No reason has yet been...

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Johnson talks attendance, hot start, plans to rest Zimmerman

April 21, 2012, 8:42am

Nationals

Johnson talks attendance, hot start, plans to rest Zimmerman

Davey Johnson brought his sense of humor to today's pregame press conference. Asked why he thinks Edwin Jackson's been traded so many times in his career (the total is now at six), Johnson took the comical approach with his response. "I don't know; why have I been fired so many times?" he said. A few minutes later, Johnson mentioned that he doesn't normally view left-handers as being good athletes. Why's that? Davey Johnson talks about how the Nats' recent success has attracted...

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Washington Nationals welcome 15 millionth fan in franchise history

April 21, 2012, 10:09am

Nationals

Earlier today, the Washington Nationals proudly welcomed the 15 millionth fan in franchise history before the team hosted the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Sarah McCarty from Fairfax, Va., was designated as the 15 millionth fan to attend a Nationals game in Washington since the franchise relocated from Montreal in 2005. McCarty was presented with a Jayson Werth autographed jersey during an in-game presentation shown on the NatsHD scoreboard. McCarty will also receive four Lexus Presidents...