nationals

Storen called up to Nats; Bruney DFA'ed

May 16, 2010, 2:29pm

The Nationals have called up pitcher Drew Storen from Triple-A Syracuse and designated reliever Brian Bruney for assignment. Riggleman says Storen has earned the promotion. "We are going to bring Drew Storen up and work him into the mix in the bullpen," Riggleman said. "Anywhere from that sixth inning through the eighth inning. We probably would not use him in real long stints. It will kind of find itself where his innings may be." Riggleman hopes that Bruney clears waivers and...

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2011 in 2010

May 17, 2010, 8:14am

Nationals

The Nationals are going for it. With Drew Storen called up Sunday and Stephen Strasburg starting (most likely) June 4, Mike Rizzo is announcing to the senior circuit that you can't spell National League without the National(s). This was not the case last season (or the year before that, or the....stop!). The Nats would make mistakes or get crushed in the bullpen and nothing would happen. Now, the team is making moves to get the guys on the 25-man who can play and play now. Rizzo told me...

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Clippard helps Balester in reliever transition

May 18, 2010, 9:15am

Nationals

Clippard helps Balester in reliever transition

After he was roughed up in Syracuse to start the season, the Nationals decided to convert right-hander Collin Balester from a starter to a reliever. So they sent Collin to extended spring training in Viera, Florida, where he has faced off against the Astros, Braves and Tigers, among other squads. In his most recent outing, Balester told me he went two innings and allowed no runs. "I felt my changeup was a lot better. The two-seam fastball and curveball were good. This experience will help...

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Lambin stays consistent at Syracuse, hopes for the call

May 19, 2010, 11:16am

Nationals

Lambin stays consistent at Syracuse, hopes for the call

The 30-year old switch-hitting second baseman Chase Lambin from Houston, Texas is having his best season as a minor leaguer for the Syracuse Chiefs. Lambin is batting .311 through 33 games with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers and 18 RBI. He says having Stephen Strasburg in Syracuse has changed the feeling in the stadium and the clubhouse. "When Strasburg pitches there is a whole other buzz to the stadium. It is fun to play in that environment. With a big hit the crowd reacts with a loud...

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Atilano never loses confidence in sinker

May 19, 2010, 2:25pm

Nationals

Atilano never loses confidence in sinker

Nats right-handed starter Luis Atilano (3-0, 3.90) faces Mets right-hander John Maine (1-3, 6.13) in the finale of the two-game set tonight at Nats Park. Atilano is coming off a start against the Colorado Rockies in which he allowed back-to-back homers. He did not have the best control with four walks in five innings and was often behind in the count. A lot of times it was because the sinker was not catching the lower half of the plate. I asked Luis how he adjusts when his sinker...

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Storen and Clippard help Nats close the door on the Mets

May 19, 2010, 7:07pm

Nationals

Storen and Clippard help Nats close the door on the Mets

Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard shut down the Mets in the 7th and 8th innings Wednesday to help the Nats snap a 5-game skid and win 5-3. Storen made his Nats Park debut, getting a nice ovation from the 19,384 as he was introduced following 6 and 1/3rd innings from starter Livan Hernandez. With a man on 2nd, Drew induced Jose Reyes to line out and Luis Castillo to ground out to end the 7th. Clippard had a nice bounce back after allowing the go ahead homer Tuesday in St. Louis by striking out...

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Olsen credits Pudge for best run of career

May 20, 2010, 5:16pm

Nationals

Olsen credits Pudge for best run of career

The Nationals will attempt to stay above .500 as they welcome in the Baltimore Orioles for the start of three at Nats Park. The pitching match-up in game one features left-hander Scott Olsen (2-1, 3.15) against rightie David Hernandez (0-5, 5.84). I caught up with Scott to get a preview of his start against the Birds. He has been lights out recently. In Olsen's last five starts, he has allowed only 4 earned runs in 32 1/3 innings pitched for a 1.12 ERA. Is this your best run of your...

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Dunn knew Feliciano would not give him much to hit

May 20, 2010, 7:52pm

Nationals

Dunn knew Feliciano would not give him much to hit

Down 10-1, the Nats battled back to get within 10-6 and the bases loaded in the 8th. There were two outs for slugger Adam Dunn. 23,612 at Nats Park knew this was the best chance the Nats were going to have to save a miserable night in the field. But Mets reliever Pedro Feliciano did not give Dunn the opportunity to beat him. Dunn flew out to Jason Bay to end the threat. The Mets won the game 10-7. "I have faced Feliciano a lot of times. He is a tough guy to not only get a hit off of...

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McCatty to Stammen: Go to the curve early and often

May 21, 2010, 4:43pm

Nationals

McCatty to Stammen: Go to the curve early and often

Game 2 Saturday afternoon at Nats Park features the Nationals righthander Craig Stammen against the Orioles righthander Brad Bergesen (3-3, 5.45). Stammen is coming off a bad first inning against the Cardinals on Monday night where he allowed four runs, but then he settled down, not allowing another run for his final five innings of work. I asked Craig about how he recovered from that rough start to the game at St. Louis: "Yes, it was one of those innings where I got two quick outs and...

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Batista keeps Nats in game despite little rest

May 21, 2010, 7:59pm

Nationals

Batista keeps Nats in game despite little rest

In a game where the Nats got down early to the Orioles and lost their starter Scott Olsen by the third inning due to injury, 39-year old righthander Miguel Batista kept them in the ball game and gave them a chance to come back. Just like he did Thursday against the Mets, and countless other times in his career. Down 4-0 to Baltimore after three innings and without a hit, Batista extended the game to 8th inning, allowing no runs and only two hits, two walks, and striking out two in four...

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Harper provides spark in NJCAA Western District Tourney

May 22, 2010, 6:36pm

Nationals

Harper provides spark in NJCAA Western District Tourney

Bryce Harper and College of Southern Nevada won the NJCAA Western District Tournament over the weekend in Lamar, Colorado. CSN lost the first game of the championship series Saturday to Central Arizona College 21-14 but then rebounded to crush CAC in the second game 25-11. According to Dan Cabrera from CSNCoyotes on Twitter, Bryce Harper was 6-for-6 with 4 HRs, a double, a triple and 10 RBIs in Game 2. The Coyotes have a week off to prepare for the NJCAA College World Series which begins...

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Bryce Harper's homer: "One of the biggest shots I had ever seen"

May 23, 2010, 6:05pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper's homer: "One of the biggest shots I had ever seen"

Updating Bryce Harper's big weekend, I interviewed Matt Youmans of the Las Vegas Review-Journal on "Nats Insider" on Federal News Radio Sunday. Youmans was at the NJCAA Western District Finals in Lamar, Colorado. Harper's team, the College of Southern Nevada, won the tourney 25-11 Saturday over Central Arizona College. True to form, 17-year-old catcher continued to rewrite the record books for his team, which plays for the JUCO national title starting Saturday in Grand Junction,...

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Strasburg solid in five innings vs. Toledo

May 24, 2010, 7:16pm

Nationals

Strasburg solid in five innings vs. Toledo

Stephen Strasburg went five innings Monday night for Syracuse in the Chiefs 6-3 win over Toledo. He allowed only one earned run (two runs total) on five hits, no walks and five strikeouts. He threw 52 pitches and 36 for strikes which included four groundouts and four flyouts. He left with the game tied 2-2. Strasburg was happy with the work he got in Monday's no-decision. "I tried to stick the with game plan. If they want to swing early they can get themselves out. We were able to...

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Walker on how to solve "ultra hot" Ryan Howard

April 07, 2010, 8:21pm

Nationals

Walker on how to solve "ultra hot" Ryan Howard

Nationals pitcher Tyler Walker has bounced back from a slow start to spring training. He put his latest resurgence on display Wednesday night during the Phillies 8-4 win. Walker retired six consecutive Phillies hitters in the 5th and 6th innings. During that run he prevented the Phils from tacking on to a 6-3 advantage. The line was impressive: 2 innings, no hits, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts of Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins. Shortstop Ian Desmond started his...

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Chambers: "I don't compare Bryce to anybody"

April 08, 2010, 3:24pm

Nationals

Chambers: "I don't compare Bryce to anybody"

From time to time, Tim Chambers, baseball coach and athletic director at College of Southern Nevada checks in to give us an update on 17-year old catcher/outfielder sensation Bryce Harper. Harper is eligible for the June amateur draft in which the Nationals again hold the number one overall selection. The Coyotes are doing very well this season at 30-6 and lead the Scenic West conference. The Coyotes welcome in Southern Idaho for a pair of doubleheaders Friday and Saturday. Bryce...

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Bullpen takes down Phils as easy as 7-8-9

April 08, 2010, 4:01pm

Nationals

Bullpen takes down Phils as easy as 7-8-9

The Nationals played a complete baseball game Thursday on getaway day, dropping the Phillies 6-5 for their first win of the season. Ryan Zimmerman with two doubles, including a blooper down the right field line for the go ahead run in the 7th, Willie Harris smacked a 2-run shot and Nyjer Morgan ignited a 3-run rally to begin the game with a big triple for the offense to put up 6 runs. And there it was: the opportunity the Nats had been looking for since the first game of the series. A 6-5...

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Game 4 preview: Garrett Mock vs. Mets

April 09, 2010, 9:07am

Nationals

Nationals Garrett Mock is preparing for tonight's matchup against the N.Y. Mets from Citi Field. Before he left for the road trip, I had a chance to talk with Garrett on his spring training, feelings about making the team and what he will try to do to take down the Mets tonight. To listen to the audio interview, in its entirety, click here. So, are you all set for your season debut tonight? "I feel like as far as making the steps to get ready 'yes'. As far maintaining the consistent...

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Arrived Blair County Ballpark heading down to Sens clubhouse

April 11, 2010, 8:08am

Nationals

Arrived Blair County Ballpark heading down to Sens clubhouse

Beautiful day here in Altoona, arrived about 15 minutes. There is a horseshoe curve outside Altoona for the railroad, that is why the team is called "Curve", but curveball works as well. The team was almost called Altoona "Fish". Stephen Strasburg faces leftie Rudy Owens. The Sens looking for first win at 0-3. I will blog throughout the game so stay tuned to masnsports.com. Heading down to the clubhouse, I will tell you what I can find out when I get down there. Looking to talk...

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Randy Knorr's plan for Strasburg today

April 11, 2010, 9:24am

Nationals

I just spoke with Harrisburg manager Randy Knorr. Strasburg is on an 85-90 pitch count and Jhonatan Solano will catch Stephen today, as he did a lot during spring training. Randy, what are you looking for from Stephen today? "I just want him to go out there and just get the first one over with, relax, and just be himself. I am going to look to see if he goes after it. I hope he is not hesitant. I just want him to go out there and pitch like Stephen can." And Solano will catch for...

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Harrisburg at Altoona starting lineups

April 11, 2010, 9:55am

Nationals

Starting lineups for Stephen Strasburg's debut in Altoona, PA: Harrisburg Michael Martinez 2B Pedro Lopez SS Leonard Davis CF Chris Marrero QB Jesus Valdez RF Adam Fox 3B Bill Rhinehart LF Jhonatan Solano C Stephen Strasburg P Altoona Jim Negrych 2B Gorkys Hernandez CF Alex Presley LF Miles Durham RF Kris Watts C Josh Harrison 3B Shelby Ford 1B Jose de los Santos SS Rudy Owens P About 70 media on hand for Strasburg's debut. As he walked out to the left field bullpen area the line of...