nationals

September calling: Lombardozzi almost perfect in the field

August 27, 2011, 4:41am

Nationals manager Davey Johnson has mentioned a few of the organization's top prospects the last few weeks as possibilities for September call-ups when rosters expand. Pitchers like Brad Peacock and Tom Milone, field players Chris Marrero, Corey Brown and Steve Lombardozzi and veterans such as Craig Stammen, Yunesky Maya and Roger Bernandina have all been talked about as those players at Triple-A Syracuse that could be donning Washington Nationals uniforms as early as next week. This week,...

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Facing adversity, Nats call on offense to prove they are better than 2010

August 26, 2011, 9:15am

Nationals

Facing adversity, Nats call on offense to prove they are better than 2010

Before Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, manager Davey Johnson said he felt good about the team and where they were despite being shut down two games in a row. But following an 8-1 loss in the series finale, the Nationals look back on three games where the offense could not put three hits together. Washington slapped four doubles in Thursday's game, but never could get back-to-back hits. Michael Morse had the lone RBI single in the seventh. "It is disappointing," Johnson...

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Nationals place Mattheus on D.L.

August 26, 2011, 1:57pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today placed right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus (right shoulder strain) on the 15-Day Disabled List. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Mattheus, 27, is 2-2 with six holds and a 2.40 ERA in 32 relief appearances this season with Washington.

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Mattheus shoulder tightens again, Nationals search for answers

August 25, 2011, 7:39pm

Nationals

Nationals right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus lasted only two batters in Thursday's 8-1 setback to the Arizona Diamondbacks, leaving for what was reported as right shoulder tightness. It was the same injury that got him removed from the Aug. 18 game against the Cincinnati Reds. Mattheus struck out the only batter he faced in that game and manager Davey Johnson noticed the pitcher working his shoulder in the dugout and alerting him of the tightness. A week later, he felt it again versus...

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Tyler Moore and Brad Peacock named Eastern League postseason All-Stars

August 25, 2011, 11:46am

Nationals

Tyler Moore and Brad Peacock named Eastern League postseason All-Stars

Double-A Harrisburg Senators first baseman Tyler Moore and current Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs right-hander Brad Peacock have been named to the Eastern League All-Star team. Moore has batted .269 with 29 doubles, four triples, 28 home runs and 81 RBIs in 126 games this season. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris said while Moore's numbers have been off the charts he has also worked very hard on his fielding at first base. "He had a tremendous year," Harris said. "His power...

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Mattheus: Strasburg heading into home stretch, but still has work to do

August 25, 2011, 10:24am

Nationals

Mattheus: Strasburg heading into home stretch, but still has work to do

Nationals right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus remembers a year after his July 2009 Tommy John surgery and how physically demanding his rehab workouts had become. He can empathize with Stephen Strasburg, who is scheduled to make his fifth rehab start Saturday night in Syracuse for the Triple-A Chiefs. Strasburg is scheduled to pitch a maximum of 80 pitches or five innings and then have another rehab start Wednesday, most likely in Double-A Harrisburg. "I know this part of my rehab, I was dead...

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Johnson takes blame for not pulling Hernandez, but when is right time?

August 24, 2011, 6:46pm

Nationals

Johnson takes blame for not pulling Hernandez, but when is right time?

Nationals manager Davey Johnson has said since his first week at the helm that he wants his starters to be able to go seven innings and then have the bullpen take over. Unfortunately, the last two games with Jordan Zimmermann, and Wednesday night with Livan Hernandez, the Washington starter has given up late runs that helped Arizona win those games. Obviously, the Nationals are having trouble scoring runs against the Diamondbacks' lethal starters. But that only exposes the point even more,...

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Ted Youngling: The legend of Livan Hernandez continues

August 25, 2011, 4:53am

Nationals

Ted Youngling: The legend of Livan Hernandez continues

How is it that a 6-foot-2, 245-lb.,36-year-old can be one of the game's most consistent starters? That is the question on everyone's mind as Livan Hernandez puts together yet another incredibly dependable season. Amazingly, Hernandez has started at least 30 games in each season dating to 1998. Despite bouncing around the league having pitched for seven different clubs, Hernandez may be best known for his time with the Nationals/Expos franchise. For a team that has been anything but steady...

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Johnson and McCatty: No concern for Strasburg's breaking ball command

August 24, 2011, 2:17pm

Nationals

Johnson and McCatty: No concern for Strasburg's breaking ball command

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg will take it up a notch Saturday night as he embarks on his fifth rehab start in recovery from Tommy John surgery. Strasburg will pitch five innings and/or a maximum of 80 pitches for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs against the Rochester Red Wings at Alliance Bank Stadium. Strasburg, who went through a side session Wednesday at Nationals Park, will look to continue to build on his last two outings where his fastball has had great velocity and his changeup...

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Second blood drive set for Saturday, August 27

August 24, 2011, 1:55pm

Nationals

Second blood drive set for Saturday, August 27

Here's the deal, folks: You've got blood, lots of it, enough to spare, and the Nationals have tickets to come see them play. Basically, the Nats are looking for a straight up trade. You give your blood, they'll give you two tickets to a game. Sound fair? I've got a bag filling as I type (not really, that'd be kind of gross). But as someone who has given blood in the past, I'm proud to announce the Washington Nationals' second blood drive of the season to be held this Saturday, August...

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D-Backs' Upton said early confidence helped him, will guide Bryce Harper

August 24, 2011, 1:33pm

Nationals

D-Backs' Upton said early confidence helped him, will guide Bryce Harper

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton turns 24 on Thursday, enjoying his fifth season in the major leagues. At age 19, Upton made his major league debut on Aug. 2, 2007 and played in 43 games during the Diamondbacks' pennant race, relying on veterans on the team to gain experience. Upton said he concentrated on his job in those first few weeks in the big leagues. He didn't let the moment get away from him and made sure to work hard in every at-bat and every fly ball that came his...

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Rachel Levitin: Quake can't shake fans out of baseball routines

August 24, 2011, 4:59am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Quake can't shake fans out of baseball routines

Tuesday was no average day in Washington, D.C. Residents, tourists, visitors and members of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Nationals felt a 5.9 jolt from the earth beneath their feet. The tremor was shallow, at just 6 kilometers underground, and was felt from the epicenter in Virginia to a widespread portion of the East Coast. While the earthquake has nothing to do with baseball itself, baseball as a game did play a role in getting D.C. back to its normal pace. The game between the Diamondbacks...

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Boras says Harper's hamstring will be fine, won't confirm time for return

August 23, 2011, 4:06pm

Nationals

Boras says Harper's hamstring will be fine, won't confirm time for return

Agent Scott Boras was in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to introduce the three newest members of the "Boras Nationals" to the media at a news conference. The top three selections for the Nationals this season - Anthony Rendon, Alex Meyer and Brian Goodwin - were welcomed officially to Nationals Park. Following the news conference, Boras spoke about last year's No. 1 selection, 18-year old left fielder Bryce Harper and how the young star has gotten acclimated to Double-A Harrisburg the last...

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Tonight's Diamondbacks-Nationals game set for 7:25

August 23, 2011, 3:07pm

Nationals

Tonight's Nationals-Diamondbacks game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., is expected to begin at 7:25 p.m. As a precautionary measure following today's earthquake, the team delayed opening gates to the ballpark to allow D.C. inspectors and structural engineers to survey the facility prior to tonight's game. Due to the delay, unused game tickets for tonight's game may be exchanged at the Nationals Park Box Office in order to receive new tickets for seats of equal or lesser value to...

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Balester and other California Nats provide perspective on quake

August 23, 2011, 1:55pm

Nationals

Balester and other California Nats provide perspective on quake

Nationals right-hander Collin Balester has been through his share of earthquakes growing up in Huntington Beach, Calif., so you would expect today's 5.9 magnitude seism to be no big deal to him. But he said the earthquake that shook the east coast Tuesday afternoon makes the list of one of the bigger quakes he has experienced in his lifetime. "You feel earthquakes all the time (in California) and most of the time you don't even feel them," Balester said. "I guess the building structures...

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Danny Espinosa's post-baseball career is in marketing

August 23, 2011, 10:59am

Nationals

Danny Espinosa's post-baseball career is in marketing

When Danny Espinosa's playing career is over, the rookie second baseman has a bright future as a marketing executive to look forward to. On the heels of today's 5.9 magnitude East Coast earthquake, Espinosa sent out the following tweet, figuring there might be a few workers sent home earlier than anticipated as a result of the temblor: "If you get out of work early today because of the quake, come to the Nats game tonight!!!" The tweet came after Espinosa turned to the social media...

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Strasburg 2.0: the leaner and stronger version

August 23, 2011, 5:30am

Nationals

Strasburg 2.0: the leaner and stronger version

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has said the major physical difference in his pitching makeup, besides the obvious new ligament in his right elbow, is his overall strength and conditioning. He has said his body is in the best shape of his life. Following Tommy John surgery late last season, Strasburg had 365 days to get the rest of his body in better shape. He is leaner and stronger than he was in June 2010 when he debuted for the Nationals against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Strasburg is also...

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Mark Hornbaker: Ryan Zimmerman is Nats' Mr. Clutch

August 22, 2011, 5:30pm

Nationals

Mark Hornbaker: Ryan Zimmerman is Nats' Mr. Clutch

Since his first full season in 2006, Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has shown a real knack of hitting walk-off home runs. His latest walk-off happened Friday evening. The Phillies and the Nationals were tied 4-4 and the bases were loaded with Nats when Zimmerman hit a two-out grand slam off Ryan Madson. For Zimmerman, it was his second career walk-off grand slam and his eighth career walk-off home run. The 26-year-old Zimmerman, who is in his sixth full season with the Nats, has hit...

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Strasburg focusing on breaking stuff as he looks to next level (video)

August 22, 2011, 6:20pm

Nationals

Strasburg focusing on breaking stuff as he looks to next level (video)

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg had another positive rehab start in Hagerstown, improving on last Wednesday's five-run outing, with six strikeouts, allowing just two singles and one earned run in three innings of work at Municipal Stadium. Strasburg sat between 95 and 97 mph and topped out at 98 mph during his 60-pitch, 40-strike performance, notching six punchouts of the nine outs, two of those looking. He admitted that he still gets pumped up for every start and...