nationals

Potomac fights to within one win of another postseason berth

August 31, 2011, 9:12am

It is almost September. Must be time for another P-Nats postseason push. The Single-A Potomac Nationals are putting together the finishing touches on another second half surge as they attempt to return to the Carolina League postseason and defend their Mills Cup championship. Following Tuesday's thrilling 5-4 win in 10 innings at Lynchburg, the P-Nats are now one win away from clinching a berth in the postseason. The Frederick Keys already secured the first-half division crown. If the...

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Rachel Levitin: Inflated expectations on home team's new mascot?

August 31, 2011, 6:56am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Inflated expectations on home team's new mascot?

These days, there appears to be a solid distinction in the way baseball fans - in Washington, D.C., especially - view the game. They watch the game and pick its intricacies apart with either a conservative, progressive or moderate lens. Nation's capital puns aside, it's a dichotomy that gets the Nationals' fan base riled up inside the ballpark, via Twitter or in the blogosphere. The baseball conservatives are traditionalists who tend to abide by the unwritten rule book. They say that fans...

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Harper, Solis and Norris head Arizona Fall League roster

August 30, 2011, 12:48pm

Nationals

Harper, Solis and Norris head Arizona Fall League roster

The Arizona Fall League has announced the 2011 roster for the Washington Nationals affiliated Scottsdale Scorpions. Outfielder Bryce Harper, pitcher Sammy Solis and catcher Derek Norris head the roster for the defending champions. It will be Harper's second season with the Scorpions, but his first as a full-time starter. Last year, he was on the taxi squad and was eligible to play only on Wednesdays and Saturdays. George Washington University pitcher Pat Lehman and Rafael Martin from the...

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Lifehouse to perform at Nationals Park

August 30, 2011, 5:21pm

Nationals

For those fans with a ticket to the Nationals' September 3 game against the Mets, you're in for a special treat. As part of the Washington Nationals Grand Slam Labor Day Weekend festivities, popular rock band Lifehouse will be on hand to perform a postgame concert on the field at Nationals Park. The concert will be immediately following Saturday's 7:05 p.m. game and is expected to last about an hour. Lifehouse has had several hits over their time on the music scene, including such songs...

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Boras: Goodwin could be a Michael Bourn-type center fielder

August 29, 2011, 4:27pm

Nationals

Boras: Goodwin could be a Michael Bourn-type center fielder

The Nationals selected outfielder Brian Goodwin from Miami-Dade Junior College with one of their three first-round selections. His combination of speed and skill was a perfect match for the Nationals' seemingly never-ending quest for a lead-off center fielder of the future. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said on draft night that they felt the 6-foot, 195-lb., Goodwin had a "huge upside." Goodwin batted .382 (60-for-157) with 11 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 37 RBIs and 42...

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Mark Hornbaker: Can Nationals' progression match 1920s Senators?

August 30, 2011, 5:31am

Nationals

Even with the Nationals in the midst of a six-game losing streak, I feel like this team is heading in the right direction overall. The Nationals organization is doing a very good job putting together the nucleus of a solid and soon to be a winning baseball team together in the nation's capital. I believe this team is on its way to become a team to reckon with in the National League East. I think during the next season or two we could find the Nationals contending for a playoff spot....

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6-foot-9 prospect Meyer has overpowering fastball, and is still growing

August 28, 2011, 5:15pm

Nationals

6-foot-9 prospect Meyer has overpowering fastball, and is still growing

Wait a minute. He's 6-foot-9. He played at Kentucky. Shouldn't we contact John Calipari? Or John Wall? Kentucky right-hander Alex Meyer said he knows Washington Wizards star guard Wall pretty well (they had the same academic adviser at UK), and the Wildcats did pretty well without him playing basketball (2011 Final Four appearance), so he will stick instead to throwing 97 mph fastballs, thank you very much. The tall and lanky pitcher was introduced last week with Rice third baseman Anthony...

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Dave Nichols: Time for a glimpse at Nats' future

August 29, 2011, 4:45am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Time for a glimpse at Nats' future

It's getting to be the time of the year when folks start turning their attention away from baseball and on to other pursuits. The kids are going back to school, football season kicks off next week and, before you know it, it's going to start getting chilly and hockey and basketball will begin again. With the local teams out of the pennant race, it would be easy to ignore their September progress, but real baseball fans will want to stay tuned. The Washington Nationals could be on the cusp...

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Peacock singled out by The Sporting News as "next in line"

August 28, 2011, 4:28am

Nationals

Peacock singled out by The Sporting News as "next in line"

Nationals right-hander pitcher

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Marrero recalled from Triple-A by Nationals

August 27, 2011, 10:37am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled first baseman Chris Marrero from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Marrero batted .300 (fifth in IL) with 30 doubles (tied for sixth), 14 home runs, 69 RBI and 59 runs scored in 127 contests this season with the Chiefs. His 145 hits rank second in the league, and thanks to 58 walks (tied for eighth) he has posted a .375 on-base...

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September calling: Lombardozzi almost perfect in the field

August 27, 2011, 4:41am

Nationals

September calling: Lombardozzi almost perfect in the field

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...