Dear Ryan,
I can't tell you how excited NatsTown and myself are at recently hearing the news you are on your way back to Viera, Fla., to take your rehab to "high gear with more baseball specific activities." You posted that on your Facebook page. I know. I liked you.
Top-notch, old chum, top-notch! Florida is beautiful this time of year and having spent some time in The Sunshine State myself, I'm envious. I recommend the Shamrock & Thistle Irish bar in Titusville for drunken revelry and...
Here are some updates from Nationals director of player development Doug Harris on a few of the players you have asked for in the comments section.
RHP Russell Moldenhauer, who was named to the 2009 College World Series all-tournament team with the Texas Longhorns:
"Moldenhauer has had some physical things that he has dealt with," Harris said. "(Moldy) is kind of a Matt Stairs type. He is a dangerous guy but we really have to grind his defense. He didn't defend in college. He was a...
Washington Nationals outfielder Rick Ankiel has joined Double-A Harrisburg Senators on a rehab assignment. Ankiel has been in Viera, Fla., rehabbing a sprained right wrist taking live batting practice.
He was placed on the disabled list May 7, retroactive to May 3, and was batting .221 with one homer and seven RBIs in 28 games.
The Washington Nationals today placed first baseman Adam LaRoche (torn labrum, left shoulder) on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to May 22. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
LaRoche is batting .172 with four doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI in 43 games this season. The 31-year-old leads the Nationals with 25 walks.
LaRoche is playing flawless defense (no errors/412 total chances) this season at first base...
I got to be honest with you: There are some nights I lay around my blogging cave believing that Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is a real life Baron Victor von Frankenstein.
Wouldn't it make sense? I can perfectly visualize a dark and stormy night sometime in late 2010 at Nationals Park. The field is covered, not a soul in sight and there is only one light on in the whole park coming from Rizzo's office. Inside the dusty, cobwebbed foundry sits Rizzo - tired but ravenous, what is left...
A lot of the starters at Triple-A Syracuse - such as Ross Detwiler, Craig Stammen, Garrett Mock, J.D. Martin and Yunesky Maya - have pitched in front of Nationals' fans. We could see them again soon on 1500 South Capitol St.
One question is: Who might be the next starting pitcher that we haven't seen yet get the call to D.C.?
How about starting with two Brads?
Right-hander Brad Peacock continues his dominance at Double-A Harrisburg. This weekend, he had another double-digit strikeout...
BALTIMORE - The Nationals found themselves down Saturday 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning against Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie. Following an Ian Desmond line out, Laynce Nix drew a walk and Jayson Werth smacked a solid single to get men on first and second.
Designated hitter Matt Stairs stepped in and had a chance to get Washington back in the game. But Stairs grounded into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play. It was one of the few opportunities against Guthrie that the Nationals were...
BALTIMORE, Md. -- The Nationals' clubhouse was loose and relaxed. Guys were chatting up each other, playing cards and some joked around. Hardly the feeling you think you would find from a team that just lost two games in New York without plating a run.
Yes, this was before Friday night's offensive explosion at Baltimore. The Nationals scored 17 runs and pounded out 19 hits, including six homers and a pair of triples.
Nationals third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. said the guys were relaxed...
BALTIMORE, Md. - Nationals starter Jason Marquis was the beneficiary of six runs early on from the offense for his second straight start, but this time he was not around long enough to factor into the decision.
It was the first no decision for Marquis since way back on April 10.
Marquis managed to get through the first two frames unscathed, but the Orioles scored three runs in the third inning, benefiting from a Roger Bernadina misplay in center field that allowed two runs to score with two...
BALTIMORE - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo offered updates on injured players Ryan Zimmerman and Rick Ankiel during batting practice prior to Friday's interleague opener at Baltimore.
Zimmerman is rehabilitating from abdominal surgery in early May. Rizzo said it is likely Zimmerman will leave for Florida in about one week, when the team returns from this extended road trip, which ends May 25 at Milwaukee.
"We will get (Zimmerman) into baseball activities and then some game action,"...
Blake Kelso is off to a great start to his season on a very talented first place Single-A Hagerstown Suns ball club.
The talented third baseman has been leading off for manager Brian Daubach, and with good reason. Kelso is batting .358 through 38 games with 10 doubles, a homer and 22 RBIs. His on-base percentage is .411 and he has 12 walks and stolen six bases.
Those numbers reflect consistency that Kelso showed with the Vermont Lake Monsters in the NY/Penn League last season. Kelso hit .309...
We have all seen the incredible success Bryce Harper has had thus far at Single-A Hagerstown. It hasn't just been the talk of the town, it's been national news, and will continue to be as he makes his march to Washington, D.C. We saw the same phenomenon occur with Stephen Strasburg last season.
One problem, though, is that when you draft superstars first overall in back-to-back seasons, you can lose focus on the other 50-plus selections that you took in that same draft. While Harper and...
Nationals left-handed pitching prospect Sammy Solis has fully recovered from a couple of injuries and is ready for what is expected to be his final start in extended spring training in Florida.
Solis first injured his quadriceps running late in spring training. Then, he suffered a groin strain that the team's medical staff originally thought might have been a hernia.
"It turned out it was not a hernia, so everything is fine," Solis said.
If the 6-foot-5, 230-lb., University of San...
Former Nationals general manager Jim Bowden was well-known for his ability to buy really cheap talent and sell it as gold. Not sell it to opposing franchises in transactions, mind you, but to the fan base. Year after year, fans were convinced that Bowden had found a good group of diamonds in the rough, and that given the right opportunity in Washington, we could help tap into their true talent. It wasn't until Bowden was gone that we realized he had us looking through rose-colored glasses....
Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told ESPN 980 yesterday that mega-prospect Bryce Harper would not play in the major leagues this year, despite the fact that he is currently playing well above the level of the league he is currently in. Through 37 games, Harper is hitting .366/.448/.657 with nine home runs and 31 RBI,s which leads all Nationals minor leaguers in just about every important offensive category.
Still, Rizzo remains steadfast in his assertion that Harper, under no...
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Suns outfielder Bryce Harper">Bryce Harper laced a double down the right field line in the fifth inning and then scored on a double by first baseman David Freitas, giving Hagerstown a 3-2 lead over Kannapolis.
Hagerstown now leads Kannapolis 4-2 through seven frames.
Getting his fourth at-bat in the seventh inning, Harper was intentionally walked and stranded at second.
Harper is 1-for-3 with a double, run scored, strike out and line out to left field. The hit ended an...
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - David Freitas collected three hits and three RBIs as the Hagerstown Suns held off the Kannapolis Intimidators 4-3 to complete Tuesday's suspended game at Municipal Stadium.
Wade Moore bowled over Kannapolis catcher Mike Blanke at home plate in the seventh inning, knocking the ball loose and scoring what turned into the winning run, putting the Suns ahead, 4-2.
The Washington Nationals organization today announced the passing of Vito Rizzo, 103, the father of Nationals Senior Advisor to the General Manager Phil Rizzo and the grandfather of Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo. Vito passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2011, in Chicago, IL from natural causes.
"My grandfather was a long time Chicago railroad worker, who doubled as a terrific semi-professional ballplayer. A lifelong fan and student of...