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Rachel Levitin: Horning in on an unsound change of plans

May 13, 2011, 5:22am

It's Friday night in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are in town to start a series against the Florida Marlins. If this was 2010, there would be fireworks to look forward to. But in 2011, there are no more fireworks at Nationals Park. In April, fans found out about the change. According to Dan Steinberg at the DC Sports Bog, there had been some complaints from neighbors about the noise and some fans said their children were scared by the noise. Nationals Chief Operating Officer Andy Feffer...

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P-Nats righty Demny gets paid back with first win

May 12, 2011, 5:22am

Nationals

P-Nats righty Demny gets paid back with first win

Advanced Single-A Potomac Nationals righthander Paul Demny finally got credit for his outstanding pitching in a game where he gave up four runs. But a win is a win, and his resume from the first seven weeks has been an impressive one. The East Bernard, Texas, native went six innings and allowed four runs on two homers with six strikeouts and two walks in a 10-4 victory at Winston-Salem. The 21-year-old, a 2008 sixth-round selection out of Blinn Junior College, saw his ERA climb to only 2.94...

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Rachel Levitin: Would Veeck's wacky promotion play at Nationals Park?

May 12, 2011, 5:34am

Nationals

It was August 24, 1951 when the St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck Jr. decided to host Grandstand Manager's Day. This ballpark promotion had fans sending in a newspaper form that allowed them to set the last-place Browns' lineup against the Athletics, in addition to getting free admission the special Grandstand Managers Section at Sportsman's Park. When a decision from the manager was necessary, a sign was raised over the Browns dubout asking the fans sitting in the Grandstand Managers...

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Suns' manager: Harper seeing a lot of lefties

May 11, 2011, 2:06am

Nationals

Suns' manager: Harper seeing a lot of lefties

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Suns right fielder Bryce Harper extended his hitting streak to 14 games Tuesday with two hits in his final two at-bats of Single-A Hagerstown's 7-3 win over Delmarva. Suns manager Brian Daubach has noticed a trend on how opponents are trying to go after the No. 1 prospect. "It seems like he is facing a lot of lefties," Daubach said. "A lot of other teams (are) bringing the lefties when he is coming up. Probably to see what their guy can do, but also a challenge for...

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Harper has two singles, RBI as Hagerstown wins 21st game

May 10, 2011, 9:16am

Nationals

Harper has two singles, RBI as Hagerstown wins 21st game

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Right fielder Bryce Harper extended his hit streak to 14 games with two hits, including an RBI single to left in the fifth inning, as the Single-A Suns downed the Delmarva Shorebirds 7-3 before 1,808 on school day at Municipal Stadium. Harper also had a single to right in the eighth. He flew out to center field in his first at-bat and struck out twice. Harper has reached base in 19 consecutive games and has had 14 multi-hit games. He has had 14 RBIs in those 14 multi-hit...

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Georgia on my mind

May 11, 2011, 3:51am

Nationals

I'm off to Atlanta this morning - land of peaches, CNN, Coca-Cola and Braves baseball. I thought I would check in quickly from Dulles airport to mention a few odds and ends for the Nationals' next homestand. I'll be at the Turner Field on Wednesday and Thursday, so check back for more updates. And make sure to follow Matthew Kaminski, the Braves' organist, on Twitter. Kaminski asks fans for suggestions on songs played for visiting team at bats. Other news: * The Nationals recently...

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Rachel Levitin: Learning to cope without Zimmerman's impact

May 11, 2011, 4:59am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Learning to cope without Zimmerman's impact

John Feinstein of The Washington Post once wrote that anyone playing one of the major sports "knows that the way to make the highlight shows isn't to hit a jump shot or a home run, it is to dunk and dance; score a touchdown and salute; or hit a home run and pose." Ryan Zimmerman, 26, is a poser - and not the bad kind. Since it was first announced April 11 that Zimmerman would be heading to the disabled list for the longest stint of his young career, the Nationals have been playing in a...

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Harper has RBI single as hit streak reaches 14 games

May 10, 2011, 8:36am

Nationals

Harper has RBI single as hit streak reaches 14 games

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Hagerstown Suns right fielder Bryce Harper slapped a clean single to left in the bottom of the fifth inning that scored Adrian Sanchez from second and gave the Single-A Suns a 7-3 lead over Delmarva. Harper was gunned down trying to stretch the single to a double, but it did allow the run to score. Harper now has a 14-game hit streak and is 1-for-4 in the game.

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Hagerstown rallies in second; Harper strikes out

May 10, 2011, 7:18am

Nationals

Hagerstown rallies in second; Harper strikes out

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Single-A Delmarva scored two runs off of Suns starter Bobby Hansen in the second frame. Michael Flacco, younger brother of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, smacked an RBI double and Dudley Leonara added a run-scoring hit two batters later to give the Shorebirds a 2-0 lead. The Suns rallied for three runs in the bottom of the second. Michael Taylor drove in a run with a double and Blake Kelso had a two-run double. Bryce Harper struck out on a 3-2 count with a man on third and...

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Harper nice catch in right; flies out in first at-bat

May 10, 2011, 6:55am

Nationals

Harper nice catch in right; flies out in first at-bat

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Single-A Hagerstown Suns right fielder Bryce Harper made a nice over-the-shoulder running catch to rob the Shorebirds' Jonathan Schoop of extra bases in the top of the first inning in a morning affair from Municipal Stadium. In the bottom of the first with one out and a man on first, Harper swung on the first pitch pitch from Delmarva right-hander Luis Noel and popped up to center field for the second out. No score after one inning on school day in Hagerstown. Robbie Ray...

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Hagerstown vs. Delmarva lineups; game under way

May 10, 2011, 6:44am

Nationals

Hagerstown vs. Delmarva lineups; game under way

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Game under way, Bryce Harper batting third, lineups are in on a pleasant morning start at Municipal Stadium. Delmarva (20-11) Planeta CF Hornback LF Schoop SS Schutz RF Flacco 1B Ohlman DH Dalles C Gaylord 3B Leonara 2B RH Luis Noel (2-2, 4.75 ERA) Hagerstown (20-11) Blake Kelso 3B Adrian Sanchez 2B Bryce Harper RF David Freitas DH Jason Martinson SS Wade Moore LF Brett Newsome 1B Cole Leonida C Michael Taylor CF LH Bobby Hansen (3-1, 4.37)

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Suns' Harper, Senators' Gilbert grab Player of the Week honors

May 09, 2011, 10:49am

Nationals

Suns' Harper, Senators' Gilbert grab Player of the Week honors

Good news from the offensive side of the ball in the minor leagues as outfielders Archie Gilbert and Bryce Harper have been named Player of the Week in their respective leagues for the week of May 2-8. This is the first such honor in Single-A Hagerstown for Harper, who was the 2010 Golden Spikes Award winner for best amateur player in the country. Gilbert is a two-time minor league All-star and was Texas League player if the week for almost the same seven days last season (May 3, 2010). From...

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Rachel Levitin: Giving thanks for endearing features at Nationals Park

May 10, 2011, 5:31am

Nationals

Last Wednesday marked the five-year anniversary of the groundbreaking at Nationals Park. Since then, there hasn't been too much activity around the Navy Yard, minus the days the Nats are in town. To celebrate, I took a few minutes to remind myself why Nationals Park is a treasured entity over the Nats old home, RFK Stadium. It's not RFK: Here's the thing - I'm a baseball traditionalist. If it's got a Monument Park or ivy, I'll jump on it like Ryan Zimmerman hitting a walk-off to win it....

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Nationals pitching prospect update, including Dominican Estevez

May 09, 2011, 2:33am

Nationals

Here is a good rundown of some of the pitchers in the Nationals system to get your week off to good start. I had a chance to catch up with Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams, who is (always!) on the road checking in with and checking out Nationals prospects and just got back from Florida, Single-A Potomac and the Dominican Republic. Williams had an update on several pitchers, including right-hander Wirkin Estevez, the Pitcher of the Year in the Dominican Republic last season. A...

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Rachel Levitin: Fans often forget that baseball's still a difficult job

May 09, 2011, 5:25am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Fans often forget that baseball's still a difficult job

A couple weeks ago when the Giants were in town, I got to talking with Orioles Buzz guest blogger Anthony Amobi of Oriole Post. Pitchers Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson of the world champion San Francisco squad were the topics of conversation. We threw around ideas of what it would be like to hang out with those guys, even if just for a few minutes. I wondered, "Gee, I bet that Lincecum fella is a hoot to be around." As for Brian Wilson, well, I still haven't figured that one out, but I'm...

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Former GW pitcher Lehman comfortable in new role as closer

May 08, 2011, 4:44am

Nationals

Former GW pitcher Lehman comfortable in new role as closer

It has been a very good start for former George Washington pitcher Pat Lehman with the Single-A Potomac Nationals. The 6-foot-3, 210 lb., right-hander from Fair Lawn, N.J., is transitioning well to the back end of the bullpen in the first month and a half of the season. "Things are going pretty well," Lehman said. "It is a new role for me. Back at GW, in the early years, I was a reliever or a spot starter so I have a little bit of experience (doing this). But this kind of a role as a closer...

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Nationals hold off Marlins 3-2 in thrilling 10th frame

May 06, 2011, 6:40pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals got out of a two men on, nobody out situation in the 10th inning to survive the Marlins, 3-2 in a thrilling extra-inning affair at Sun Life Stadium, snapping their losing streak at three. The Nationals are now 4-1 in extra innings this season. The game was tied 2-2 from the sixth inning on. With one out in the 10th, Jayson Werth walked against Michael Dunn (2-2) and then Laynce Nix slapped a double to get Werth to third base. Adam LaRoche, who has struggled early on...

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Rewind replay push and keep human drama in play

May 07, 2011, 12:42pm

Nationals Orioles

Rewind replay push and keep human drama in play

Maybe somebody could explain to me why proponents think it is a good idea to have more instant replay in baseball. Baseball already has replay for close calls on home runs and is thinking of adding replay to help umpires with trapped balls. Too much replay puts the sport on a slippery slope toward technological umpiring. Even after last season, when umpire Jim Joyce cost pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game in Detroit on a blown call at first base, I couldn't agree with those who think...

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Nationals recall OF Roger Bernadina

May 07, 2011, 11:44am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled outfielder Roger Bernadina from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Bernadina batted .270 with four doubles, one home run, two RBI and seven walks in 18 games with the Chiefs. The 26-year-old is tied for fifth in the International League with eight stolen bases. Bernadina is a career .243 hitter with 21 doubles, four triples, 11...

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Prospects Cole and Ray promoted to Single-A Hagerstown

May 06, 2011, 1:00pm

Nationals

Prospects Cole and Ray promoted to Single-A Hagerstown

Nationals high draft picks A.J. Cole and Robbie Ray have been promoted to the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Cole starts Saturday and replaces Cameron Selik who was promoted to high Single-A Potomac. "They are both throwing very well in extended (spring training)," Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams said. "We wanted to give them an opportunity to pitch under the lights." Ray will start Monday for the Suns and replaces Taylor Jordan. Jordan is being placed on the seven-day...