nationals

Dave Nichols: Setting realistic goals for the second half

July 17, 2011, 3:19pm

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...

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Solano responding as everyday catcher in Syracuse

July 17, 2011, 5:47pm

Nationals

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...

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

July 15, 2011, 5:43pm

Nationals

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...

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

July 16, 2011, 6:17pm

Nationals

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....

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Jenn Jenson: On loving and blogging about baseball

July 15, 2011, 7:24am

Nationals

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...

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Food drive a major success

July 16, 2011, 8:39am

Nationals

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...

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Peacock focused on job at hand, earning promotion to Syracuse

July 14, 2011, 1:38pm

Nationals

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...

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Nationals agree to terms with four 2011 more draft picks

July 14, 2011, 8:28am

Nationals

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...

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

July 13, 2011, 11:58am

Nationals

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...

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Wang to now pitch Thursday for Double-A Harrisburg

July 13, 2011, 3:09pm

Nationals

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...

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Prospect Moore excelling at next level after historic Potomac season

July 12, 2011, 11:38am

Nationals

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...

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Wang set for fourth rehab start Wednesday at Potomac

July 12, 2011, 3:18am

Nationals

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...

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Antonelli added to International League All-Star team

July 11, 2011, 5:53pm

Nationals

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...

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Johnson looking to alter Sean Burnett's role in bullpen

July 08, 2011, 1:17pm

Nationals

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...

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

July 10, 2011, 2:53pm

Nationals

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 5Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â½-game lead over Richmond atop the division. The Senators begin the second half of the season with a seven-game...

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Guest bloggers rotation set for season's second half

July 10, 2011, 6:30pm

Nationals

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,...

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Thoughts at the All-Star break

July 11, 2011, 4:46am

Nationals Orioles

Here are one writer's thoughts as baseball shifts to the All-Star break: * The Orioles' season is in shambles. The only way to fix it is to get more pitching into system, and the only way to do that is to make everyone available before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and hope that market will allow pitching to come their way. The Orioles' biggest trade chips are Jeremy Guthrie, Jim Johnson, Koji Uehara and J.J. Hardy, assuming he doesn't sign. * The Nationals should try to trade...

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Prospect Ramirez sees bat wake up just in time for Potomac to get going

July 09, 2011, 6:24pm

Nationals

Prospect Ramirez sees bat wake up just in time for Potomac to get going

Single-A Potomac Nationals outfielder J.P. Ramirez crushed his first career grand slam this week as he continues to swing a hot bat with the second half of the Carolina League season underway. You will remember this is the time of year the P-Nats got on an incredible roll last season en route to their second Mills Cup championship in three seasons. The team raced out to 7-6 start to begin the final three months of the season and Ramirez is one of the reasons for that success. The...

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Nationals play host to 50th Congressional Baseball Game

July 09, 2011, 1:02pm

Nationals

Looking for some baseball to fill the void during the All-Star break? Nationals fans, you're in for a treat. On Thursday, July 14, Democrats and Republicans will meet on the diamond, as Nationals Park serves as host for the 50th anniversary of the Congressional Baseball Game for charity. It's a chance for fans to watch our nation's two primary political parties become even more divided, this time substituting the podium and microphone for a glove and a bat. The game itself is an intense,...

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Nationals place C Ivan Rodriguez on 15-day DL, recall C Jesus Flores from Syracuse

July 08, 2011, 11:33am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today placed catcher Ivan Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 7, with a right oblique strain and recalled catcher Jesus Flores from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Flores, 26, joins the Nationals after batting .234 (49-for-209) with 15 doubles, five homers and 30 RBIs in 56 International League contests with Syracuse....