nationals

Rachel Levitin: Learning to cope without Zimmerman's impact

May 11, 2011, 4:59am

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...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz rachel levitin ryan zimmerman

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.

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr delmarva shorebirds hagerstown suns nationals frontstory_nationals1

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...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr delmarva shorebirds hagerstown suns nationals frontstory_nationals1

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...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr delmarva shorebirds hagerstown suns nationals

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)

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr delmarva shorebirds hagerstown suns nationals

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...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr hagerstown suns harrisburg senators nationals frontstory_nationals1

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....

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz nationals park rachel levitin

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals potomac nationals spin williams wirkin estevez frontstory_nationals3

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...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz rachel levitin

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals patrick lehman paul menhart frontstory_nationals1

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...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche byron kerr drew storen nationals featured_sidebar fmarlins

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...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_nationals4 frontstory_orioles4 ian desmond jayson werth mel antonen nationals

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...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

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...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole byron kerr nationals robbie ray spin williams

Ankiel to DL with wrist sprain; Bernadina likely call-up

May 06, 2011, 7:19pm

Nationals

Ankiel to DL with wrist sprain; Bernadina likely call-up

Following Friday's game, the Nationals placed center fielder Rick Ankiel on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 3, with a right wrist sprain. Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs outfielder Roger Bernadina is likely to be recalled to take Ankiel's place on the roster. Ankiel has a .302 on-base percentage with four doubles, one home run, seven RBIs and 12 walks in 28 games with the Nationals. The 31-year-old leads the team with two outfield assists.

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals rick ankiel roger bernadina frontstory_nationals1

Ankiel placed on 15-day disabled list by Nationals

May 06, 2011, 7:19pm

Nationals

Following tonight's game, the Washington Nationals placed center fielder Rick Ankiel on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to May 3, with a right wrist sprain. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ankiel has a .302 on-base percentage with four doubles, one home run, seven RBI and 12 walks in 28 games with the Nationals. The 31-year-old has played flawless defense in center field with a team-best two outfield...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Nationals upend Marlins 3-2 in extras

May 06, 2011, 4:24pm

Nationals

Update: The game headed to extra innings, but it didn't take long for the Nationals to respond. With runners on second and third in the top of the 10th, Adam LaRoche hit a sacrifice fly to center field, good enough to score Jayson Werth from third. The run would be enough for Drew Storen and Sean Burnett, who took care of the Marlins in the bottom half of the inning. Nationals win, 3-2. The Nationals' Jerry Hairston Jr. is off to a good start against the Marlins Ricky Nolasco with a double,...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr jerry hairston marlins nationals ricky nolasco frontfeatured_nationals

Nationals string two hits together for early lead at Fish

May 06, 2011, 3:49pm

Nationals

Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco has five strikeouts through two innings but somehow the Nationals got something going in the second. After two outs, Pudge got a base hit. Jerry Hairston followed with a double that scored Pudge. Ian Desmond then struck out swinging to end the inning. Nolasco struck out the side and had five strikeouts through two frames. The Nationals led 1-0 heading to the third. Jordan ZImmermann has allowed a first inning single to former National Emilio Bonifacio, but...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr jerry hairston jordan zimmermann marlins nationals frontfeatured_nationals

Dave Nichols: The only game in town

May 05, 2011, 10:59pm

Nationals

The Caps were swept in four games by a division rival after another first-place season. Maryland men's basketball coach Gary Williams shockingly retired, while his best player last year declared for the NBA draft. The Wizards recently completed a thoroughly uninteresting season. The lockout and subsequent lawsuits put the NFL season in jeopardy. Even if they do play, the Redskins went 6-10 last season and might start with John Beck as the quarterback. It's enough to make a D.C. sports fan...

Comments

Tags:

dave nichols guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz

Dave Nichols: Is Jason Marquis a key to Nats' future success?

May 05, 2011, 6:27am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Is Jason Marquis a key to Nats' future success?

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jason Marquis had a rough outing last night against the Philadelphia Phillies, getting knocked around in the fifth and sixth innings, leading to another loss against the bullies of the National League East. The loss drops the Nats' record for the season to 14-16 through 30 games. Two losses to start this 10-day, nine-game road trip, with the prospect of facing Roy Halladay tonight, is probably a bad omen if you believe in those things. But in the bigger...