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Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 8: Sammy Solis

November 10, 2011, 6:34am

Scottsdale left-handed starter Sammy Solis gave up three early runs, only two earned, in Wednesday's loss to Phoenix, 5-0, but has continued to show the stuff in the Arizona Fall League that has the Nationals abuzz over the potential of the former University of San Diego standout. The Nationals have always been very pleased with the makeup Solis possesses, especially his plus-plus fastball and changeup. He has worked on adding a traditional 12-to-6 curve to complement his rare knuckle curve....

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Baseball reacts to Ramos' kidnapping

November 10, 2011, 7:18am

Nationals

Many major leaguers, including some Nationals players and prospects, spend their offseasons playing winter ball in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and other places. Since yesterday's news of catcher Wilson Ramos' kidnapping, several of them have expressed their concern via Twitter or on Internet blogs. Nationals pitching prospect Ryan Tatusko is playing in the same Venezuelan winter league that Ramos was about to play in before he was kidnapped. Tatusko is playing for a...

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Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 9: Derek Norris

November 09, 2011, 8:17am

Nationals

Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 9: Derek Norris

Scottsdale Scorpions catcher Derek Norris' bat has made a lot of noise in the Arizona Fall League, with coaches, scouts and media noticing across the nation. Considered one of the Nationals' top catching prospects for a few seasons now, Norris hit just .210 during the season at Double-A Harrisburg. But Norris said he realized he was freezing up a bit in the batters' box this summer but now is swinging "free and easy" in Arizona. The results have been very impressive. Norris is tied with...

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Dream Foundation to take part in "Give to the Max" day

November 08, 2011, 10:26am

Nationals

Dream Foundation to take part in "Give to the Max" day

Beginning at midnight on Wednesday, November 9, Washington Nationals fans are encouraged to visit http://give2max.razoo.com/story/Washington-Nationals-Dream-Foundation to donate money to the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation as part of "Give to the Max Day: Greater Washington," a one-day regional online fundraiser to help raise money for D.C.-area nonprofit organizations. The Dream Foundation is calling on the support of Nationals fans across the region to donate money during the 24...

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Stuff those stockings with Nationals tickets

November 07, 2011, 3:46pm

Nationals

The holidays are less than two months away and, let's face it, nobody wants another itchy sweater or a deluxe meat and cheese platter. Looking for something special to put under the tree or for that sixth night of Hanukkah? How about a three- or five-game ticket plan for the Nationals? Right now, fans can purchase Nationals Holiday Gift Packs, complete with tickets to either three of the Nationals' 2012 games or, for a few bucks more, five games. One option is the Opening Day Pack. At...

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Baseball America's top 10 Nationals prospects

November 07, 2011, 1:29am

Nationals

Baseball America is out with its annual top 10 list of prospects for the Nationals and it is no surprise who is listed at No. 1. Here's the full list: 1. Bryce Harper, OF 2. Anthony Rendon, 3B 3. Brad Peacock, RHP 4. A.J. Cole, RHP 5. Brian Goodwin, OF 6. Alex Meyer, RHP 7. Matt Purke, LHP 8. Sammy Solis, LHP 9. Derek Norris, C 10. Steve Lombardozzi, 2B/SS Harper has torn up the Arizona Fall League, batting over .314. He has hit .462 with six homers and 21 RBIs in his last 10 games. Joining...

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Solis wins AFL Pitcher of the Week honors

November 07, 2011, 8:44am

Nationals

Solis wins AFL Pitcher of the Week honors

Scottsdale left-hander Sammy Solis has been named the Pitcher of the Week for Week 5 of the Arizona Fall League. Solis worked eight innings, allowing no earned runs with 14 strikeouts in his last two outings. He shone Friday in his only start of the week, striking out nine batters in four scoreless frames in a win over Phoenix. The nine punchouts were a single-game best in the AFL this season. Solis ranks second in strikeouts (23) and is tied for third in innings pitched (23). It is big for...

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Duquette finally gets another shot; forget Fielder, Nats should focus on pitching

November 07, 2011, 8:08am

Nationals Orioles

Duquette finally gets another shot; forget Fielder, Nats should focus on pitching

In 2002, when Dan Duquette was fired by the Boston Red Sox as their general manager, he vowed to make a comeback. Now, he gets his chance as the Orioles' top executive. Duquette left Boston in cloud of controversy, and because of that, he probably didn't get proper credit for his role in building the Red Sox's 2004 World Series championship team. His strengths are his Latin American connections and his ability to develop players. He gets credit for pulling off the most lopsided trade in...

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Bo Porter will remain third base coach for the Nationals

November 04, 2011, 4:06pm

Nationals

Bo Porter will remain the third base coach of the Nationals, according to general manager Mike Rizzo. Porter spoke with Rizzo about the vacancy on the coaching staff at the bench coach position, following manager Davey Johnson's announcement that Pat Corrales would not return at that post next season. The Nationals believe Porter is very valuable to the organization as a coach, especially as the third base coach. They mutually decided that Porter best serves the Nationals at third base and...

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Harper, Solis and Norris AFL updates

November 06, 2011, 3:43am

Nationals

Nationals prospects Bryce Harper and Derek Norris played in Saturday's AFL Rising Stars Game in Surprise, Ariz. The AFL West, led by former Virginia standout Danny Hultzen, beat the AFL East 11-2 at Surprise Stadium. Harper connected on an RBI sacrifice fly in the fourth for the East. He finished 0-for-2 with a walk and two strikeouts. Norris went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout. As the second half of the season begins Monday, Norris is batting .339 and Harper connecting at .314. The...

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Nationals agree to one-year contract with Chien-Ming Wang

November 04, 2011, 8:09am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with free-agent right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang on a one-year contract for the 2012 season. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Wang went 4-3 with a 4.04 ERA in 11 starts with the Nationals in 2011, returning to the big leagues after missing more than two seasons with a right shoulder injury. The 31-year-old went 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA in his final nine starts last...

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Harper goes yard again as Scottsdale rolls over Surprise

November 03, 2011, 6:22pm

Nationals

Harper goes yard again as Scottsdale rolls over Surprise

So much for a slow start. That is ancient history, again, for Bryce Harper. The Scottsdale outfielder slammed a home run in the third inning, his fifth round tripper in the past six games, leading the Scorpions to a 10-6 win over Surprise in Arizona Fall League play. He went 3-for-3 with two runs, a homer, two walks and three RBIs in the victory. Harper is now hitting .323 with three doubles, one triple, six homers and 23 RBIs in 17 games. He has now hit six homers in AFL play, and has 17...

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Solis adds traditional curve to pitching repertoire

November 03, 2011, 3:04am

Nationals

Solis adds traditional curve to pitching repertoire

Scottsdale Scorpions left-hander Sammy Solis has the stuff: a lethal, high-velocity fastball and mesmerizing changeup. Since high school, he has featured a rarely seen knuckle-curve taught to him by his father Bob, who was a southpaw at Notre Dame. But as the competition got better and he had trouble throwing the knuckle-curve for strikes, Solis, pitching for the Nationals in the Arizona Fall League, realized he would have to make a change to be successful at the next level. "It has always...

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Lehman believes adjustment is helping delivery; also working on slider

November 01, 2011, 10:19am

Nationals

Lehman believes adjustment is helping delivery; also working on slider

Scottsdale Scorpions right-hander Patrick Lehman believes the mechanical adjustment recently implemented by pitching coach Paul Menhart is having a positive effect on his delivery. "(Menhart) observed a bad habit coming from where my legs were positioned," Lehman said. "I needed to throw in more of a downhill plane instead of a straight line. My focus was to stay tall and throw down more." He did not see the results instantly, but said sometimes it takes time for an adjustment to...

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Bryce Harper, Derek Norris named to AFL Rising Stars Game

November 01, 2011, 1:12pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper, Derek Norris named to AFL Rising Stars Game

Two of the topNationals prospects, Bryce Harper and catcher Derek Norris, have been named to the East squad for the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game set to be played Saturday night in Surprise, Ariz., according to the league's Twitter account. The AFL Rising Stars game is Saturday at 8:10 p.m. Eastern time at Surprise Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the MLB Network. Norris has had a tremendous fall season behind the plate for the Scottsdale Scorpions, batting .356 in 13 games...

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Lannan: Johnson is "best out there to lead us"

October 31, 2011, 10:56am

Nationals

Lannan: Johnson is "best out there to lead us"

Nationals left-hander John Lannan, coming off his first 10-win season, was very pleased to hear that Davey Johnson will return as manager for 2012. Lannan said he was impressed with the way Johnson kept the Nationals going after Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned in late June. "It is great (to see Davey back)," Lannan said. "Davey inherited a tough situation. He said he was never a man to quit. He stuck with us. The way we played at the end of the season (winning 15 of our last 20 games),...

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Nationals' 2012 interleague schedule no easy task

October 30, 2011, 9:44pm

Nationals Orioles

Nationals' 2012 interleague schedule no easy task

The Nationals got on their biggest roll in 2011 when they feasted on Seattle, Baltimore and the Chicago White Sox in June. It was one of the many reasons that factor into how a season plays out: the strength of schedule. The Nationals won 15 of their final 20 games to finish with at least 80 wins for the first time since 2005. Those two runs turned out to be crucial in the 80-81 finish. The Nats were able to post winning records of 17-10 in June and September. Ironically, Washington was able...

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Solis gets even better, Lehman rebounds, Harper homer streak

October 30, 2011, 4:00am

Nationals

Solis gets even better, Lehman rebounds, Harper homer streak

Scottsdale left-hander Sammy Solis built on last week's solid performance with a gem Saturday, pitching four innings, allowing one unearned run, scattering five hits, striking out five and walking two. Solis left with the game tied at one, and did not factor in the decision. Salt River eventually won 4-3 over Scottsdale. He also picked off a runner. Solis faced 18 hitters, ending up with 71 pitches, 45 for strikes. His ERA fell to 5.21. Reliever Patrick Lehman came in a pitcher later and...

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Solis looking to put back-to-back consistent outings together

October 28, 2011, 6:25pm

Nationals

Solis looking to put back-to-back consistent outings together

Left-hander Sammy Solis bounced back from a pair of starts where he allowed a total of eight runs by pitching five innings with just two runs allowed in his last outing for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League. Tonight, the University of San Diego product makes his fifth start as the Scorpions entertain Salt River. Scorpions pitching coach Paul Menhart reports Solis has been hitting between 92 and 96 mph with his fastball and the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder looked back in a groove...

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Rafael Martin doing all the right things in Arizona (plus Harper update)

October 26, 2011, 6:04pm

Nationals

Rafael Martin doing all the right things in Arizona (plus Harper update)

Despite the Scorpions' 5-13 last-place record, Scottsdale right-handed reliever Rafael Martin has pitched well this month in the Arizona Fall League. The San Fernando, Calif., native has pitched six relief innings over four games since Oct. 11, allowing just one run on four hits, with two walks and five strikeouts, for an impressive 1.50 ERA. Scorpions and Potomac Nationals pitching coach Paul Menhart said Martin is "one of the bright spots overall on the pitching staff and really stands...