Catcher Nieto determined to make impression in second chance at Hagerstown

Catcher Nieto determined to make impression in second chance at Hagerstown
Catcher Adrian Nieto has been moved from advanced Single-A Potomac to Single-A Hagerstown. The organization needs another catcher in Hagerstown, and Nieto will be able to get a lot of playing time there. It is a chance for Nieto to show how far he has come after struggling in Hagerstown last season. Nieto hit just .195 with 44 strikeouts in 2010 for the Suns. This season, he has worked very hard on his plate presence and swing at short-season Single-A Auburn. He came out on fire and was...

Mark Hornbaker: You never know what will happen at a game

Mark Hornbaker: You never know what will happen at a game
Like most Washington Nationals fans, I also get a little frustrated when the Nats struggle to win ballgames. I actually have friends that don't quite understand why I keep renewing my season tickets year after year. When they ask me why I keep doing it, I answer quickly: I do it because you never know when you may witness a little bit of D.C. baseball history. I believe the ballgame is more than just the winning and losing of the game. It is more about what you may see at the game. You never...

Nationals recall Balester from Triple-A Syracuse

Nationals recall Balester from Triple-A Syracuse
The Washington Nationals today recalled right-handed pitcher Collin Balester from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Balester is 1-1 with a 4.61 ERA in eight appearances this season with the Nationals. In 25 career relief appearances with Washington, Balester is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA and a .234 batting average against. Balester, 25, went 2-1 with one save and a 4.35 ERA in...

Severino returned to Triple-A Syracuse

Severino returned to Triple-A Syracuse
Following tonight's 5-3 win over Atlanta, the Washington Nationals optioned left-handed pitcher Atahualpa Severino to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Severino, 26, did not make any appearances during his two-game stint with Washington.

Club source: Discussions have Strasburg's first rehab start at Hagerstown on Aug. 6

Club source: Discussions have Strasburg's first rehab start at Hagerstown on Aug. 6
Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg continues to make solid progress as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery in Viera, Fla., and the team is nearing its decision to get him in rehab starts closer to home. Manager Davey Johnson said Strasburg is in "great shape" and is on target to have his first rehab assignment in the first week of August at Double-A Hagerstown. A club source said Hagerstown has been discussed as site for the first rehab start Aug. 6. Strasburg would then move on to high...

Lefty Rosenbaum to be promoted to Double-A Harrisburg

Lefty Rosenbaum to be promoted to Double-A Harrisburg
After a career performance Sunday in Potomac's win over Frederick, left-hander Danny Rosenbaum is headed to Double-A Harrisburg. Rosenbaum was electric Sunday, going eight innings and striking out a career-high 11 hitters, and has been the most consistent hitter at Potomac all season, going 6-5 with a 2.59 ERA in 20 games (19 starts). He has 108 strikeouts and has gone 4-2 with a 2.23 ERA in his last 10 starts. The P-Nats will activate left fielder J.P Ramirez and catcher Brian Peacock off...

Nationals unconditionally release Matt Stairs

Nationals unconditionally release Matt Stairs
The Washington Nationals today unconditionally released outfielder/infielder Matt Stairs. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Stairs, 43, batted .154 with one double and two RBI in 56 games this season with Washington.

Potomac lefty Rosenbaum "sharp" with 11 K's in win over Frederick

Potomac lefty Rosenbaum "sharp" with 11 K's in win over Frederick
Potomac Nationals left-hander

Reactions to a busy non-waiver trade deadline

Reactions to a busy non-waiver trade deadline
The July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is gone, but that doesn't mean trades have stopped. They get trickier, though. Now, if a team wants to trade a player, he has to clear waivers. For example, if the Orioles wanted to trade a pitcher to the Yankees, that pitcher would have to be offered to every other team in the standings before the Yankees could get him. If, say, Cleveland wanted him, the Indians would put a claim on him. Then, the Orioles could either pull the pitcher back and or let...

Dave Nichols: Strange weekend answers some questions, leaves others open

Dave Nichols: Strange weekend answers some questions, leaves others open
With the major league trade deadline at 4 p.m. Sunday, fans and media were already on the edges of their seats even before Sunday's game with the New York Mets started. So of course it would turn out to be a tense, nerve-wracking affair - scoreless until the fifth inning - adding to what was an already drama-filled day. When the dust settled, the Washington Nationals had earned their 51st victory of the season and everyone that started the game on the roster remained there. The Nats might be...

Detwiler settling into long role, solidifying bullpen

Detwiler settling into long role, solidifying bullpen
It was a crucial moment for the Nationals Saturday against the New York Mets. Starter Yunesky Maya had slightly hurt himself running the base paths after five seamless innings on the hill. In the top of the sixth, with the Nationals clinging to a 3-0 lead, manager Davey Johnson had considered pulling Maya when he saw him come up lame. But Maya convinced Johnson to stay in and got Mets second baseman Justin Turner to fly out to center field for the first out. However, the next two batters,...

Solis says newest Nats prospect Walters is "textbook player"

Solis says newest Nats prospect Walters is "textbook player"
The Nationals acquired minor league shortstop Sammy Solis lived in the same dormitory as a freshman with Walters at the University of San Diego, and they spent three seasons as teammates on the Toreros. "Walters is a textbook player," Solis said. "He has got the build, the arm, the speed and the plate presence. Once he gains experience and is able to put it all together, he will be a big leaguer. It would be hard to find someone with better tools than him." The 6-foot-2, 195-lb.,...

Bixler recalled from Syracuse by Nationals

Bixler recalled from Syracuse by Nationals
The Washington Nationals today recalled infielder Brian Bixler from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Bixler posted a .314 batting average and .439 on-base percentage in 25 games this season with Syracuse. The 28-year-old scored 17 runs with five doubles, one home run, six RBI and four stolen bases for the Chiefs. In 45 games this season with Washington, Bixler has...

Johnson eyes Triple-A Syracuse to call up top pitching talent

Johnson eyes Triple-A Syracuse to call up top pitching talent
Following the Nationals' sixth consecutive loss Friday night, manager Davey Johnson admitted the organization is seriously considering calling up some of its talent from the pitching staff at Triple-A Syracuse. Johnson referenced both starters and relievers that would be available either to replace a struggling pitcher here, or fill a roster spot of a player that was traded. But make no mistake, Johnson was clear that they believe there could be at least two pitchers currently in Triple-A he...

Nationals acquire Erik Komatsu from Brewers in exchange for Hairston

Nationals acquire Erik Komatsu from Brewers in exchange for Hairston
The Washington Nationals today acquired 23 year-old outfielder Erik Komatsu from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Komatsu was named the Brewers' 2010 Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .323 with 31 doubles, five home runs and 63 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 130 games for Brevard County of the Single-A Florida State League....

Wang struggles early, Mets take advantage over Nationals, 8-5

Wang struggles early, Mets take advantage over Nationals, 8-5
Following major shoulder surgery two years ago, it was a major accomplishment for Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang to pitch in a major league game again. In his first game as a National, Wang hit 89 to 93 mph with his fastball, but had difficulty missing bats in the first inning and the New York Mets were quick to take advantage. New York scored four times in the first inning, and with a steady 6 2/3 innings from starter Dillon Gee, were able to hold off the Washington Nationals, 8-5,...

Johnson looking for some way to rest overworked bullpen

Johnson looking for some way to rest overworked bullpen
Even with the changes recently in the outfield, Nationals manager Davey Johnson was quick to point out that his biggest concern at this moment is the status of the pitching staff. A great deal of focus recently has been on the outfield with the acquisition of left fielder Jonny Gomes from Cincinnati, today's pending option of center fielder Roger Bernadina to Syracuse and various reports that the Nationals were interested in outfielders from other clubs, such as Denard Span and B.J. Upton....

Wang goes four as Nats trail Mets

Wang goes four as Nats trail Mets
Nationals' right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang suffered through a taxing first inning as the New York Mets were able to pound out four straight hits and take a 4-0 lead. Then in the fourth, the Mets went to work again with three hits and a fielding error by Danny Espinosa. Pitcher Dillon Gee had an RBI single off of Wang, who left after four innings. The Mets led 6-0. Wang went four innings, allowed six runs (four earned), one walk, two strikeouts and one wild pitch. He threw 60 pitches, 39...

Mets add to lead against Nationals' Chien-Ming Wang (updated)

Mets add to lead against Nationals' Chien-Ming Wang (updated)
The New York Mets greeted Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang with big opening inning. The Mets drew a walk and then slapped four straight hits off Wang. Daniel Murphy and Angel Pagan with RBI singles. Jason Bay added an RBI groundout and Lucas Duda a sacrifice fly to score two more runs. Bay's out was the first for Wang after five straight hitters reached base. He also threw a wild pitch during the half inning, firing 24 piches with 14 for strike. Wang was having trouble getting sink...

With Wang reinstated, Bernadina optioned to Triple-A Syracuse

With Wang reinstated, Bernadina optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
With right-hander Chien-Ming Wang set to be activated to pitch tonight against the New York Mets tonight, the Nationals will have to make a roster move before first pitch. Outfielder Roger Bernadina was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse prior to first pitch. Manager Davey Johnson said he was impressed with Bernadina's work in D.C. but believes the outfielder has a few things to work on. "I have really liked his enthusiasm," Johnson said. "I have really liked his work. He has been working on...