nationals

Werth excited to take on Phillies

April 12, 2011, 2:52pm

Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth knew this day would arrive. The day he would take the field against his former teammates with the Phillies after four seasons in Philadelphia. "I am looking forward to it," Werth said. "I really am. It is good to see those guys. The last time I saw all these guys was after the last game we played last year. I haven't seen some of them since then. There is still a lot of feelings there. We accomplished a lot together. When you go to war with guys, most...

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Norris suffers sprained ankle, placed on DL

April 12, 2011, 2:56pm

Nationals

Norris suffers sprained ankle, placed on DL

Double-A Harrisburg Senators catcher Derek Norris suffered a sprained ankle Monday running to first base. The reports are it was his right ankle. Norris stepped on first base awkwardly trying to beat out a ground ball versus New Britain. A team spokesman says Norris' ankle is "just sore and stiff" and he has been placed on the 7-day disabled list.

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Nationals place 3B Ryan Zimmerman on DL, recall C Jesus Flores

April 12, 2011, 9:57am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today placed third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to April 10, with a left abdominal 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. Zimmerman's DL stint marks just the second of his career (2005-present). The 26-year-old is batting .357 (10-for-28) with one triple, one home run,...

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Rachel Levitin: As Ramos takes root, Nationals catch good fortune

April 12, 2011, 5:20am

Nationals

When Matt Capps was traded to the Minnesota Twins last summer it was hard for even the most faithful Nats fan to think, "Gee, where's the silver lining on this trade? Why get rid of our only 2010 All-Star?" Capps had an eventful year, including a strikeout against Red Sox power-hitter David Ortiz during the 2010 All-Star Game in Anaheim. Thanks to that strikeout, the National League won its first home-field advantage in a World Series since 1996. Capps was the Nationals' only All-Star...

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Milone's wicked curveball leads to sterling season debut

April 11, 2011, 6:54pm

Nationals

Milone's wicked curveball leads to sterling season debut

Syracuse Chiefs left-handed starter Tom Milone had a very impressive 2011 debut with seven innings of shutout ball in a 2-0 win over Lehigh Valley on Sunday. Milone allowed just five singles with no walks and four strikeouts. Milone says he was able to throw strikes early on, but the biggest thing is his mistake pitches weren't over the upper half of the plate. "I am very happy with the way it turned out (Sunday)," Milone said. "The best thing I took out of that (start) was I wasn't as...

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Dave Nichols: Baseball driven by stats, stoked by hope

April 04, 2011, 8:32am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Baseball driven by stats, stoked by hope

Hi, my name is Dave NIchols and I write about the Washington Nationals. No, that's not my introduction at some self-help meeting, but it may as well be. I started a general baseball blog several years ago that grew into what Nats News Network is today: one of the very few independent Web sites credentialed to cover Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals. I am also credentialed to cover, and have a site dedicated to, the Washington Capitals. I consider it a great privilege and...

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Dave Nichols: Rehab, not hitters, is Strasburg's new challenge

April 05, 2011, 5:08am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Rehab, not hitters, is Strasburg's new challenge

The most important development for the Washington Nationals this season won't take place on the field. With no disrespect to an up-and-coming middle infield, a $126 million dollar man in right field or the growth of a potential All-Star phasing out one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, the biggest story to watch this season will take place in doctor's offices and on minor league fields across the mid-Atlantic. As much as Nats fans want to see a winner in Nationals Park in 2011,...

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Dave Nichols: Rizzo defends remade bench against early criticism

April 06, 2011, 6:44am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Rizzo defends remade bench against early criticism

The Washington Nationals spent much of the offseason trying to land a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, chasing after Cliff Lee, Zack Greinke and others to stabilize a starting staff that was in the lower third in the National League in almost every meaningful category in 2010. But general manager Mike Rizzo had a secondary goal: to strengthen the bench and to add players that would know and understand their roles as part-time players, something the Nats have had trouble with in the...

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Dave Nichols: Morgan's departure forces tough fit at leadoff spot

April 07, 2011, 5:43am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Morgan's departure forces tough fit at leadoff spot

When the Nationals traded Nyjer Morgan to the Milwaukee Brewers this spring, manager Jim Riggleman was left with an interesting decision. Having no prototypical leadoff hitter on the roster, who would he slot in that position? It's not like Morgan was the perfect choice. Once heralded as the center fielder of the present and future by general manager Mike Rizzo, Morgan has some serious flaws as a player and some will cite his erratic behavior last season, saying he may have significant...

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Rachel Levitin: Growing up with the Nats, new extended family

April 11, 2011, 5:23am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Growing up with the Nats, new extended family

Nationals fans watch the team's hiccups as they happen. Those hiccups are what make Washington baseball worth cheering for from the stands of Nationals Park. It's that whole underdog thing the north side of Chicago knows so well - minus the Billy Goat and alleged curse. Kind of. I feel obligated to admit that I grew up five minutes, walking, from Wrigley Field. Ever since I can remember, my late father would take me to Wrigley all the time. And, when he didn't, we passed that ivy-covered...

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Dave Nichols: A few of my favorite things

April 08, 2011, 5:46am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: A few of my favorite things

It's Friday, the Nationals had had a bit of a tough week, and I've brought enough gloom and doom in my first four posts this week to last for a while. If you've read all of my previous posts here, or follow my blog or my Twitter account, some of you may even wonder if there's anything about this team I actually do like. Well, with apologies to Oprah and Julie Andrews (how's that for obscure references in a baseball blog)?, let me share with you some of my favorite things about the 2011...

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Prospect Hague shortens swing to success

April 10, 2011, 10:41pm

Nationals

Prospect Hague shortens swing to success

Potomac Nationals shortstop Rick Hague crushed a 10th-inning, walk-off double to lift the P-Nats to a dramatic, 7-6 victory over the Lynchburg Hillcats Sunday. It marked the first win of the season for the defending Mills Cup champions and involved big plays from Eury Perez, Destin Hood, Cutter Dykstra Stephen King, Brian Peacock, Jeff Kobernus and Steven Souza. The Rice University product from Spring, Texas, says the work the team did in Florida is showing off even this early in the...

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Bowie at Harrisburg starting lineups for Sunday

April 10, 2011, 9:11am

Nationals

Bowie at Harrisburg starting lineups for Sunday

Here arethe starting lineups for today's Double-A Bowie-Harrisburg game: Bowie Xavier Avery CF Greg Miclat 2B Jeff Fiorentino LF Brandon Waring 3B Robbie Widlansky DH Caleb Joseph C Ronnie Welty RF Billy Rowell 1B Carlos Rojas SS Rick Zagone LHP Harrisburg Josh Johnson SS Jonathan Tucker CF Steve Lombardozzi 2B Tyler Moore 1B Devin Ivany C R Buck Coats DH Jesus Valdez LF Adam Fox 3B Archie Gilbert RF Luis Atilano RHP

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Thoughts and observations about the early days of the season

April 09, 2011, 11:47am

Nationals Orioles

Thoughts and observations about the early days of the season

The Yankees need inconsistent pitcher A.J. Burnett to be consistent, and so far, thanks to an improved changeup, Burnett has won his first two starts. Also, catcher Russell Martin has made a good impression. No need to worry about the slow starts of Orioles first baseman Derrek Lee, or his Nationals counterpart, Adam LaRoche. Each is making good contact. Lee, hitting. 182 after being out a good chunk of March, is in late-spring training mode. LaRoche, who hit a game-winning home run Thursday,...

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One final case of Manny being Manny

April 09, 2011, 4:38pm

Nationals Orioles

Manny Ramirez is one of the best right-handed hitters in history, but that's not how he's going to be remembered. Manny should be putting the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career, but he's never going to have a plaque in Cooperstown. Ramirez has retired from the Rays after it was reported that Major League Baseball was suspending him for 100 games for violating the sport's drug policy. Ramirez has already served a 50-game suspension with the Dodgers for using steroids. Manny has a...

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Harper still No. 1 in position-by-position rankings

April 09, 2011, 7:14am

Nationals

Harper still No. 1 in position-by-position rankings

Baseball America has released their position-by-position rankings for the top prospects in the game. To see the list you will need a subscription, but I wanted to share with you how it looks from a Nationals perspective. The Nats' No. 1 prospect, Bryce Harper, is still at the top of the list, and the organization can take pride in seeing some other familiar names in the top-20 at each position. At catcher, Jesus Montero of the New York Yankees is listed No. 1. Nationals prospect and...

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Senators' Meyers pumped to notch opening win, get 9 Ks

April 08, 2011, 9:35am

Nationals

Senators' Meyers pumped to notch opening win, get 9 Ks

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators could not have asked for a better way to start the campaign than a season-opening 5-0 shutout of rival Bowie before 4,042 at Metro Bank Park on Thursday. Right-hander Brad Meyers tossed five innings of scoreless ball, scattering four hits with no walks and nine strikeouts. He twice struck out the side for his first win of the season. "My fastball was on the first couple of innings," Meyers said. "I was finding my spots pretty good. They started to figure...

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Harper with two base hits in professional debut

April 07, 2011, 6:06pm

Nationals

Harper with two base hits in professional debut

2010 No. 1 pick Bryce Harper posted a solid professional debut Thursday night, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a strikeout. Harper's Hagerstown Suns held off Rome, 3-2, in Rome, Ga. in Harper's first regular season game as a pro. Harper, playing right field and batting third in the order, had an RBI single and stole a base in the top of the first inning. In the top of the third, Harper singled on a bunt. He was later caught off first base and was tagged out in a rundown, pitcher to first base...

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Prospect Solis doing just fine, still pitching in Viera

April 06, 2011, 5:10pm

Nationals

Prospect Solis doing just fine, still pitching in Viera

With the rosters at Single-A Hagerstown, Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg all announced as of this week, conspicuously not listed was the Nationals' 2010 second-round pick, pitcher Sammy Solis. But not to worry, there is nothing wrong with Solis, and he has pitched well in spring training. The Nats' left-handed pitching prospect says he expects to remain in Viera, Florida, for about two more weeks as he works in extended spring training. Solis suffered a quad injury while running...

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Marquis confident as he makes season debut tonight against Fish

April 05, 2011, 8:31am

Nationals

Marquis confident as he makes season debut tonight against Fish

Nationals right-hander Jason Marquis won his last start at Sun Life Stadium on Aug. 30, 2010, but he has a 7.07 career ERA in South Florida. Marquis hopes to repeat the most recent past as he takes the mound in his season debut tonight against the Florida Marlins. Marquis was very disappointed at the start he had to the 2010 season, and was determined in the offseason to put in the work necessary to come in ready to go in camp. Last season was Marquis' first losing campaign since 2006, going...