P-Nats' Olbrychowski makes move from bullpen to starter; gains momentum

P-Nats' Olbrychowski makes move from bullpen to starter; gains momentum
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Single-A Potomac Nationals right-hander Adam Olbrychowski found himself in a jam and it was only the first inning. He could not get his first pitch over for a strike. With one out, he gave up a triple to Lynchburg shortstop Andrelton Simmons. But Olbrychowski did not panic, he settled down and got the two outs. Second inning, same trouble, the 6-foot-3 Olbrychowski left a ball up and catcher Christian Bethancourt cracked a double and then went to third on a wild pitch. This...

Chad Gaudin reinstated from disabled list, designated for assignment

Chad Gaudin reinstated from disabled list, designated for assignment
The Washington Nationals today announced that right-handed pitcher Chad Gaudin has been recalled from rehab, reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and designated for assignment. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Gaudin missed the last 75 games after being placed on the DL on April 27, retroactive to April 26, with right shoulder inflammation. He is 1-1 with two holds and a 6.48 ERA in 10 relief appearances this...

Mike Henderson: Natmosphere awakens writing instincts in new breed of fan

Mike Henderson: Natmosphere awakens writing instincts in new breed of fan
When I was growing up as a Pittsburgh Pirates fan in Wheeling, W.Va., in the 1970s, it pains me to say that I had no idea who the Washington Senators were. Or rather, I should say, had been - since after 1971 there was, of course, no baseball in Washington. That state of affairs continued into the mid-1980s when I moved to the Washington area after college. For a decade, I lived in Frederick, Md., and while it was kind of fun to root for the Orioles as a local team, it turned out to be more...

Marrero's steady progress at first base paying dividends in Syracuse

Marrero's steady progress at first base paying dividends in Syracuse
The Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs were rained out Monday, so this is a good opportunity to check out first baseman Chris Marrero as he continues to swing a hot bat. Marrero is batting .305 through 91 games, with 20 doubles, nine homers and 49 RBIs. He has hit 44 homers in the last two and a half seasons and increased his average from .284 in 2009 to .294 in 2010 and now to .305. Nationals hitting instructor Rick Schu told me on "Nats Insider on 106.7 FM" that he spent eight games with Marrero...

Dave Nichols: Setting realistic goals for the second half

Dave Nichols: Setting realistic goals for the second half
The Washington Nationals start play today one game below .500 at 47-48. That's a pretty dramatic increase from seasons past and has many folks in the area, including within the organization and media members as well as fans, thinking the Nats can compete for the Wild Card this season. If Sunday's mistake-filled loss to the Atlanta Braves wasn't enough to sway your opinion from that, let me drop some sobering numbers on you. First, let me preface what I'm about to say with this: I am...

Solano responding as everyday catcher in Syracuse

Solano responding as everyday catcher in Syracuse
With the promotion of Jesus Flores to the big leagues, the door opened for catcher Jhonatan Solano to get every day work with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, and he has responded. Before Sunday, he had hit safely in eight of his last nine games, including three multi-hit games. The right-handed-hitting Solano is batting .315 in his last 41 games with six doubles, three homers and 16 RBIs. Nationals hitting instructor Rick Schu told me Sunday on "Nats Insider on 106.7 FM" that Solano has been...

Hector Nelo clocked in mid-90s, leads talented Potomac bullpen

Hector Nelo clocked in mid-90s, leads talented Potomac bullpen
Nationals prospect reliever Patrick Lehman was rolling early on this season and quickly got his promotion to Double-A Harrisburg. So, as is the case all the time in minor league baseball, when a player advances, an opportunity is made available to allow another top prospect a shot to shine in the organization. With a vacancy in the closer role, the Potomac Nationals have turned to right-hander Hector Nelo, and he has delivered. In his last 10 games prior to Friday's outing, Nelo went 1-0...

Peacock falls in Triple-A debut; Solis wins; Wang update

Peacock falls in Triple-A debut; Solis wins; Wang update
Right-hander Brad Peacock took the loss in his debut for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs on Saturday night. He got roughed up a bit in the first inning against Lehigh Valley, allowing two homers, one a three-run shot, in a five-run initial frame. Lehigh Valley won the game 8-6. Peacock was left in and made it to the fifth inning. He posted zeroes in innings two through four. He then allowed a one-out single, hit a batter and was replaced. Zech Zinicola later gave up a three-run home run....

Jenn Jenson: On loving and blogging about baseball

Jenn Jenson: On loving and blogging about baseball
If five years ago today, you predicted my future would include blogging about baseball for MASNsports.com, I would have given you an odd look. Before 2006, I had never been to a professional baseball game, and I still thought baseball was about as interesting as watching paint dry. Goes to show you never know what will happen. I think a lot of baseball fans, especially lifelong baseball fans, have a story to tell about their love of the game. That story might begin with a young boy playing...

Food drive a major success

Food drive a major success
Congratulations, Nationals fans. After tallying the donations made during the 2011 Harris Teeter Food Drive held at Nationals Park last weekend, the results are in, and they're impressive. The event, which helps the Capital Area Food Bank nourish thousands of children and families, resulted in an astounding 6,942 pounds of food. It was the most successful food drive at Nationals Park to date. Your donations will help these ailing children receive the proper meals and nutrition they...

Peacock focused on job at hand, earning promotion to Syracuse

Peacock focused on job at hand, earning promotion to Syracuse
Right-hander Brad Peacock capped off a whirlwind week with a well-deserved promotion to Triple-A Syracuse. Peacock started the week in the XM All-Star Futures Game, was invited to the Eastern League All-Star Game and then got the call to the Chiefs. The Miami, Fla., native went 10-2 with a career-low 2.01 ERA in 16 games (14 starts) for Double-A Harrisburg, including a career-high 129 strikeouts and 23 walks. The numbers are even more gaudy when you just show his starting statistics: In 14...

Nationals agree to terms with four 2011 more draft picks

Nationals agree to terms with four 2011 more draft picks
The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with four players selected in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft: right-handed pitchers Taylor Hill (6th round), Greg Holt (8th round) and Dixon Anderson (9th round) and left-handed pitcher Nicholas Lee (18th round). To date, the Nationals have now agreed to terms with 22 players from this year's Draft. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Assistant General Manager & Vice President of...

Rhinehart and Gilbert with base hits as West rolls in All-Star game

Rhinehart and Gilbert with base hits as West rolls in All-Star game
Double-A Harrisburg Senators outfielder Bill Rhinehart, who smacked a double and scored a run in the Eastern League All-Star Game for the West, finished the first half of the season on a surge. The Western All-Stars beat the Eastern All-Stars 8-3 on Wednesday in Manchester, N.H. Rhinehart has gone 8-for-18 the last five games, including three straight multi-hit games. He has crushed six homers in the last 10 games, with a .394 average during that run. Overall, the former Arizona Wildcat has...

Wang to now pitch Thursday for Double-A Harrisburg

Wang to now pitch Thursday for Double-A Harrisburg
Nationals right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang will now make his fourth rehab start on Thursday for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, confirmed a team source. Wang was scheduled to pitch Wednesday night for the Single-A Potomac Nationals, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Woodbridge, Va. Wang has looked very good so far as he recovers from a right shoulder surgery in July 2009. Wang has gone 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings, allowing two earned runs, two walks and...

Prospect Moore excelling at next level after historic Potomac season

Prospect Moore excelling at next level after historic Potomac season
Double-A Harrisburg Senators first baseman Tyler Moore has continued his solid play all season, seeking to match his defense with the power he displayed last season on the way to the Carolina League Player of the Year honor. No one will forget his amazing run in 2010, where he ended up with 31 homers and 111 RBIs, leading the Single-A Potomac Nationals to the Mills Cup championship title. This season Moore is batting .254 with 23 doubles, four triples, 18 homers and 58 RBIs in 87 games. His...

Wang set for fourth rehab start Wednesday at Potomac

Wang set for fourth rehab start Wednesday at Potomac
Nationals right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang will make his fourth rehab start Wednesday for the Single-A Potomac Nationals against the Kinston Indians at 7:05 p.m. in Woodbridge, Va. Wang has looked very good so far as he recovers from right shoulder surgery in July 2009. Wang has gone 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings, allowing two earned runs and two walks and striking out seven batters. He has not allowed a run in his last nine innings of work. He last pitched for the New York Yankees...

Antonelli added to International League All-Star team

Antonelli added to International League All-Star team
Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs second baseman Matt Antonelli began the season with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators and played just four games before being promoted. He has not missed a beat at the next level, batting .308 at Triple-A. This week, Antonelli was named to the International League All-Star squad alongside teammate and pitcher Tom Milone in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game from Salt Lake City, Utah. The pair are the lone Syracuse players so honored this season. Antonelli's overall...

Johnson looking to alter Sean Burnett's role in bullpen

Johnson looking to alter Sean Burnett's role in bullpen
As he had said before, Nationals manager Davey Johnson has complete confidence in left-hander Sean Burnett, despite his recent struggles. Thursday, Burnett allowed a game-tying two-run shot to the Cubs' Carlos Pena after inheriting a man on first with the Nationals leading 8-6 in the seventh inning. Burnett has now allowed four earned runs and seven hits in his last four appearances, and was pretty hard on himself last night, saying he has been struggling with all of his pitches since the...

VanAllen is major part of first-place Senators' relief corps

VanAllen is major part of first-place Senators' relief corps
It is an extremely noteworthy accomplishment for the franchise to see five All-Star invites for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Even prior to the arrival of heralded No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper, the Senators were 13 games above .500 and cruising along in the western division of the Eastern League. Harrisburg stands at 53-36 at the All-Star break, with a 5½-game lead over Richmond atop the division. The Senators begin the second half of the season with a seven-game...

Guest bloggers rotation set for season's second half

Guest bloggers rotation set for season's second half
It's hard to believe the first half of the 2011 season has come to a close. And for the Nationals, it has to be one filled with great optimism. With impressive starting pitching, the surprise power from first baseman Michael Morse and a bullpen that's been solid throughout the first few months, the Nationals, a team that was poised to do great things in 2012 or later, look like they're not really willing to wait that long to make some noise in the National League. Here at Nationals Buzz,...