nationals

Nationals live chat set for Tuesday, Nov. 29

November 25, 2011, 4:44am

We may be on the cusp of December, but here at Nationals Buzz, it's always baseball season. We love it and we know you love it, so why not talk a little Nationals baseball? That's exactly what's going to happen. This Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m., join MASNsports.com's Byron Kerr and Pete Kerzel for a live video chat as they update fans on everything in the world of Nationals baseball, including the team's strategy for the upcoming Winter Meetings and details of baseball's new collective...

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Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 2: Anthony Rendon

November 27, 2011, 2:30am

Nationals

Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 2: Anthony Rendon

As the 2011 First-Year Player Draft moved along, it was apparent that there was a run on pitchers, and with guys like Danny Hultzen and Gerrit Cole setting the tone, the Nationals quickly realized top position players would still be available at No. 6. Only outfielder Bubba Starling was taken before Washington selected Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon with the sixth pick. Many mock drafts had Rendon as the No. 1 talent on the board and the Nationals were thrilled the heralded corner infielder...

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Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 3: Brad Peacock

November 24, 2011, 12:37pm

Nationals

Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 3: Brad Peacock

In 2011, right-hander Brad Peacock had one of the best overall seasons of any minor league pitcher in the Nationals' short history. Peacock went an incredible 15-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 23 starts in the minor leagues. In 146 2/3 innings, Peacock fanned 177 batters. Then in September, Peacock continued his dominance with the Nationals, going 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three games with two starts. He allowed a single run in 12 innings of work. Baseball America has watched Peacock steadily climb the...

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HGH testing in new labor pact gives baseball added credibility

November 23, 2011, 5:39am

Nationals Orioles

HGH testing in new labor pact gives baseball added credibility

The latest agreement between the owners and players, announced Tuesday, means baseball will have 21 consecutive seasons of labor peace, and that makes baseball look good compared to the NBA and, to a certain extent, the NFL. The key to this year's agreement was the workable personalities of Rob Manfred, the owners' top negotiator, and Michael Weiner, who heads the players' union. The two worked together much better than the Bud Selig-Donald Fehr battles that were part eight work stoppages...

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Adjustments to Purke's delivery led to outstanding Arizona finish

November 23, 2011, 4:12am

Nationals

Adjustments to Purke's delivery led to outstanding Arizona finish

Former Texas Christian pitcher Matt Purke was one of the bigger headlines coming out of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft and with good reason. The tall southpaw could bring the heat and had an impeccable college career with the Horned Frogs, leading them to their first College World Series. After looking very good in instructional league camp with the Nationals, Purke was sent to the Arizona Fall League to pitch for the Scottsdale Scorpions under the watchful eye of pitching coach Paul...

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Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 4: A.J. Cole

November 21, 2011, 8:20pm

Nationals

Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 4: A.J. Cole

Right-hander A.J. Cole made a nice splash in the Nationals' system in his debut season with the Single-A Hagerstown Suns. The fourth-round selection from the 2010 draft posted a 4-7 record with a 4.04 ERA in 20 games, 18 of those as a starter. He struck out 108 batters in 89 innings, allowing only 24 walks. His best month was in June, where he went 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA with 23 punchouts in 20 innings. The lanky, 6-foot-4, 180-pounder from Winter Springs, Fla., has always been noticed by...

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Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 5: Brian Goodwin

November 18, 2011, 9:16pm

Nationals

Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 5: Brian Goodwin

The Nationals were very impressed with the speed and hitting ability of outfielder Brian Goodwin at instructional league. The coaches marveled at his speed from home plate to first base and were equally appreciative of his work at the plate. The way Goodwin played in Viera, Fla., showed a little bit of the potential and a great deal of the talent that the Nationals were looking for when they selected the speedy outfielder early in the First-Year Player Draft in June. Baseball America has also...

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Nationals add five players to 40-man roster

November 18, 2011, 12:03pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today selected the contracts of first baseman Tyler Moore, catchers Derek Norris and Jhonatan Solano, and outfielder Eury Perez. Additionally, the Nationals claimed right-handed pitcher Cole Kimball off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Moore hit .271 with 35 doubles, 31 home runs and 90 RBIs in 137 games with Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League in...

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Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 6: Alex Meyer

November 17, 2011, 10:21am

Nationals

Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 6: Alex Meyer

The Nationals' prospect list has moved into the fast lane this offseason, thanks to the franchise's big take in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. The team was able to select Anthony Rendon, Matt Purke, Brian Goodwin and pitcher Alex Meyer with their early June selections. Meyer, at 6-foot-9 and 220 lbs., could be an imposing force in the Nationals' rotation once he gains experience and consistency. Recently in Florida at the team's instructional camp, Nationals director of player...

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Nationals announce coaching staff for 2012

November 17, 2011, 3:22pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today announced that hitting coach Rick Eckstein, pitching coach Steve McCatty, third base coach Bo Porter, first base coach Trent Jewett and bullpen coach Jim Lett will return as members of manager Davey Johnson's coaching staff for the 2012 season. The Nationals also announced that Randy Knorr will join the staff as bench coach. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Eckstein and McCatty return...

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Pitcher's perspective: The art of throwing a ball

November 14, 2011, 10:39am

Nationals

Pitcher's perspective: The art of throwing a ball

While watching and listening to postseason baseball, I came upon a conversation going on during a radio broadcast of the Texas Rangers/Detroit Tigers series. The announcer and newly appointed Marlins hitting coach Eduardo Perez were discussing how difficult it is for a pitcher to throw a ball instead of a strike. One of the pitchers in the series had given up a game-changing home run when attempting to throw a pitch out of the zone. Perez opined it was actually a very difficult art for the...

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Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 7: Matt Purke

November 13, 2011, 3:37am

Nationals

Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 7: Matt Purke

BERKELEY, Calif. - Greetings from the Golden State. College basketball season is under way and this weekend, I am on assignment with the George Washington Colonials as they venture into Haas Pavilion to take on the No. 24 California Golden Bears. When we arrived, I got a good report on the pitching of left-hander Matt Purke, who threw another scoreless inning in the Arizona Fall League on Saturday. The Nationals are very proud of the progress the former TCU standout has made since a rocky...

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

November 10, 2011, 6:34am

Nationals

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

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...