nationals

Doubledays manager: Fifth-round pick Skole "impressive" so far

July 01, 2011, 9:42am

There is something about Atlantic Coast Conference third basemen and the Nationals. The team grabbed a guy by the name of Ryan Zimmerman from Virginia in 2005 and now have signed

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Hairston placed on DL, Ankiel activated

July 01, 2011, 12:03pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled from rehab and reinstated outfielder Rick Ankiel from the 15-day disabled list and placed infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. (right wrist fracture) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 30. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ankiel missed the last 14 games after being placed on the DL on June 19, retroactive to June 15, with a left intercostal strain. The...

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Dave Nichols: Zimmerman speaks from the heart at "Night in the Park"

June 30, 2011, 6:24pm

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Zimmerman speaks from the heart at "Night in the Park"

In his sixth full season with the Washington Nationals, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has become the face of the franchise. He has garnered many accolades, including being selected as an All-Star and winning a Gold Glove. A mild-mannered guy, ZImmerman usually leads not with words but with his actions and work ethic on the field. Last night, for the second consecutive year, Zimmerman spoke from the heart during "A Night at the Park," a benefit hosted by his ziMS Foundation, which funds...

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Is Harper's thumb preventing him from moving to his next assignment?

June 30, 2011, 7:04am

Nationals

Is Harper's thumb preventing him from moving to his next assignment?

Single-A Hagerstown Suns outfielder and No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper returned to the lineup Wednesday, after missing three games due to a sore thumb injury. Overall, Harper has sat out seven games and the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game because of the thumb problem. Last week, Nationals Director of Player Development Doug Harris reported that Harper is doing well in his recovery from the setback. "It is not really a thumb thing," Harris said. "It is the fatty tissue in between his index...

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First-year prospect Manny Rodriguez and others grab attention early in Florida

June 28, 2011, 11:12am

Nationals

First-year prospect Manny Rodriguez and others grab attention early in Florida

The Nationals are continuing to assemble and coordinate their rosters between Florida and Auburn (and I don't mean the Gators and the Tigers for you southeastern conference fans, although the Florida Gators obviously have some guys to watch in the College World Series). There are several players that have jumped out with their talent in the first few weeks of workouts from the Nationals training facility in Florida and Gulf Coast League competition. Also, a few of the guys are on the roster...

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Five Senators invited to Eastern League All-Star Game

June 29, 2011, 9:10pm

Nationals

Five Senators invited to Eastern League All-Star Game

Five members of the Double-A Harrisburg Senators have been named to the Western Division All-Star team for the Eastern League All-Star Game coming up in two weeks. Outfielder Archie Gilbert and Bill Rhinehart, infielder Tyler Moore and right-handers Brad Peacock and Erik Arnesen were honored with invitations to play in the July 13 Delta Dental Eastern League All-Star contest, hosted by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Peacock had another tremendous outing Wednesday, picking up the victory in 5...

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Dave Nichols: Jordan Zimmermann is ace in the hole

June 29, 2011, 7:47pm

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Jordan Zimmermann is ace in the hole

Ho-hum. Jordan Zimmermann threw another outstanding game last night. It's unfortunate that a defensive miscue set up the only run of the game allowed and his teammates couldn't muster an attack against the Angels in a 1-0 defeat, to drop the Washington Nationals one game below .500 exactly half-way through the 2011 baseball season. Tell me, right now, that at the beginning of the season if someone promised you the Nats would be 40-41 at the mid-point of the season you wouldn't have taken...

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Stellar stats not strong enough to earn sterling setup guys All-Star nods

June 29, 2011, 5:57am

Nationals Orioles

Stellar stats not strong enough to earn sterling setup guys All-Star nods

As All-Star roster selection time approaches, the Nationals' Tyler Clippard and the Orioles' Jim Johnson are in the usual predicament for pitchers that act as the bridge between starter and closer: They have dazzling statistics, but not much hope of making an All-Star roster for the July 12 game in Arizona. "Setup pitchers don't always get the credit they are due,'' Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty said. "It would be hard to imagine where a team would be without good middle...

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Dave Nichols: Losses put winning streak in perspective

June 29, 2011, 4:19am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Losses put winning streak in perspective

So the Washington Nationals lose two in a row and folks are ready to run Davey Johnson out on a rail? A quick look this morning at different social media indicates just how fickle this fan base is. Comments such as "the old man doesn't know how to manage a pitching staff" and "I stayed up to watch that?" are prevalent. All of a sudden, the Nats have lost three of four and the walls are crumbling down. People, Rome wasn't built in a day. The Nats' remarkable winning streak over the last...

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Adjustment to delivery helps Peacock increase strikeout numbers

June 28, 2011, 5:46pm

Nationals

Adjustment to delivery helps Peacock increase strikeout numbers

Double-A Harrisburg right-hander Brad Peacock makes his 13th start of the season tonight at Richmond as he continues to be one of the most dominant pitchers in the Eastern League. Peacock's eight wins and 114 strikeouts in 12 starts this season are tops in the league, while his 2.28 ERA is second overall. Peacock was honored last week with the announcement that he will be pitching in the All-Star Futures Game on July 10 in Phoenix. "I am very excited," Peacock said. "I didn't even know...

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Dave Nichols: Is it time to be worried about Werth?

June 28, 2011, 6:55am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Is it time to be worried about Werth?

To say that Washington Nationals $126 million man Jayson Werth is struggling would be a dramatic understatement. After last night's 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, Werth is hitting a robust .224/.329/.391, all career lows for seasons with more than 300 plate appearances. At the pace he's on, there's no way he'll even come close to his 162-game average of 25 home runs or 83 RBIs. Team officials are quick to assure Nats fans that Werth is just going through a slump, that he'll rebound...

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Nationals force extra innings, but Angels plate winner in 10th, 4-3

June 27, 2011, 9:13pm

Nationals

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fought off another late-inning comeback attempt by the Nationals, 4-3 in 10 innings at Angels Stadium, spoiling Davey Johnson's debut as manager. With the bases loaded, Maicer Izturis slapped an RBI single up the middle to win it off of Sean Burnett (3-4). Peter Bourjos with a ground-rule double got two runners in scoring position with one out. The Angels pounded out 16 hits for the win. Scott Downs notched the win (5-2). Davey Johnson meets with the media...

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Nationals and Angels go extra, tied 3-3, thanks to Espinosa

June 27, 2011, 8:52pm

Nationals

Danny Espinosa slammed a two-out top of the ninth solo shot to even the game with Angels, 3-3, off closer Jordan Walden. The game is in extra innings. The Angels spotted the Nationals an early lead, but nibbled away at John Lannan's pitches until they plated the go-ahead run, 3-2. Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman smacked solo homers off of Ervin Santana gave Washington a 2-0 lead. The Angels rallied with three RBI singles. The Angels' Alberto Callaspo with an RBI single in the fourth to...

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Angels take lead 3-2 over the Nationals (in progress)

June 27, 2011, 7:17pm

Nationals

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim lead the Nationals 3-2 after six innings. Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman with solo homers off of Ervin Santana gave Washington a 2-0 lead. The Angels' Alberto Callaspo with an RBI single in the fourth to get the Angels on the board against John Lannan. Then, a single by Peter Bourjos scored another run and the game was tied at 2. The Angels took their first lead of the game in the sixth inning on another RBI single, this one off the bat of Bobby Wilson,...

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Nationals' Morse and Zimmerman launch HRs for lead in Anaheim, 2-0

June 27, 2011, 7:00pm

Nationals

Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman connected with solo homers in the second and fourth innings, respectively, giving the Nationals a two-nothing lead over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim. Zimmerman's third homer of the season was down the left field line off of starter Ervin Santana to lead off the fourth frame. Morse's bomb led off the second to right center field, his 15th on the campaign. Morse also added a double deep to center field off the wall. John Lannan had trouble in the...

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Morse gives Nationals early advantage in Anaheim, 1-0

June 27, 2011, 6:38pm

Nationals

The Nationals first baseman Michael Morse smacked a solo homer to lead off the top of the second inning, giving Davey Johnson the early lead in his first game as manager for Washington. Morse took the second offering in the at-bat off of Ervin Santana to deep right center field over the wall for his 15th home run of the season. John Lannan got out of a two on jam in the first inning. Nationals lead the Angels1-0 in the second inning.

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Starting lineups: Nationals at Angels game one

June 27, 2011, 6:30pm

Nationals

Starting lineup for the Nationals in Game One against the L.A. Angels at Angels stadium: John Lannan opposes Ervin Santana. The National starting nine: Roger Bernadina CF Jayson Werth RF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Laynce Nix LF Michael Morse 1B Danny Espinosa 2B Wilson Ramos C Matt Stairs DH Ian Desmond SS The Angels lineup: Izturis 2B Aybar SS Abreu DH Wells RF Kendrick LF Trumbo 1B Callaspo 3B Bourjos CF Wilson C

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Davey Johnson the right answer for upward trending Nationals

June 27, 2011, 4:57pm

Nationals

Circumstances seem to be falling the Nationals' way this season. Those circumstances usually take the form of injuries to players. Injuries befell every baseball team, every year, and usually it means a tailspin that good teams figure out a way to recover If a team has depth on its roster, the downward spiral can be avoided. This season, the Nationals have found a way to get through injuries that would disrupt most team's rhythm. The Nationals watched as first baseman Adam LaRoche and...

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Dominican prospect Estevez bounces back in second start

June 27, 2011, 7:04am

Nationals

Dominican prospect Estevez bounces back in second start

Nineteen-year-old Dominican right-hander Wirkin Estevez settled in quite nicely to his second start Thursday for the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays. After getting knocked around in his first New York-Penn League start June 18, Estevez was very impressive Thursday against Mahoning Valley, throwing five innings of shutout ball, allowing just one hit and one walk, and striking out five. The 6-foot-1, 170-lb. prospect has his velocity up between 87 to 93 mph on his fastball, and hit 88...

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Peacock's slight adjustment keys pitching consistency

June 26, 2011, 6:05am

Nationals

Peacock's slight adjustment keys pitching consistency

One of the best stories of the season has been the rise of right-handed starter Brad Peacock with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Peacock has been stifling opposing hitters, going 8-2 in 12 starts (14 games). Opponents are hitting just .182 against the Miami, Fla., native, and Peacock has notched 114 strikeouts, which leads the Eastern League by a wide margin. The 23-year old Peacock also is tops in victories (8-2) and third overall in ERA (2.28) in the entire league. Alongside No. 1...