nationals

McCatty to Stammen: Go to the curve early and often

May 21, 2010, 4:43pm

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...

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Strasburg Bottom of 1st

April 11, 2010, 10:23am

Nationals

Harrisburg did not score Top 1st 1-2-3 Altoona Bottom 1st Jim Negrych 2B leftie up high fastball 1-0 ball thrown out for sens to keep 1-1 foul tip 1-2 foul tip all fastballs breaking ball 2-2 POP SS 1 out 5 pitches Gorkys Hernandez CF rightie 0-1 pop foul 5-3 groundout 2 pitches Alex Presley LF leftie up high fastball outside 1-0 fastball outside 2-0 DOUBLE right field off wall 3 pitches Miles Durham RF rightie base hit center field rbi single Altoona 1-0 Kris...

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Strasburg Bottom of 2nd

April 11, 2010, 10:35am

Nationals

Harrisburg top 2nd base hit by adam fox but did not score. 24 pitches for Strasburg in 1st so he has 61 to 66 pitches left in pitch count Altoona Bottom 2nd Shelby Ford 1B leftie 99mph fastball swing miss 4-3 groundout Jose de los Santos SS leftie 99mph fastball swing miss 0-1 foul pop behind 3rd 0-2 struck out swinging 85 mph breaking pitch K Rudy Owens P 99mph 100mph fastball swing miss K 32 pitches 0 runs 0 hits 2 K After 2nd, Altoona 1, Harrisburg 0.

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Strasburg Bottom of 3rd

April 11, 2010, 10:49am

Nationals

Harrisburg 1-2-3 top 3rd including Strasburg at bat 3-1 groundout Altoona Btm 3rd Negrych 3-2 F-7 Hernandez K Presley 100mph K total pitches 47 pitches, 31 K, BB 16 excellent control 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 K, 0 bb 5 total K retired 7 straight after 3 innings Altoona 1, Harrisburg 0.

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Strasburg Bottom of 4th

April 11, 2010, 11:10am

Nationals

Harrisburg only 1 hit vs. Rudy Owens who is making his Double AA debut for Altoona no runs in 4th 1-2-3 BTM of 4th Durham F-9 Watts 99mph fastball WALK both walks to Watts Harrison grounder to SS, SS hand to 2B drops the ball everyone safe error 2nd base Ford struck out looking K de los Santos rbi single CF run scores error CF on throw to plate another run scored 3-0 Owens base hit CF for the pitcher rbi 4-0 Negrych K looking 3 runs, 2 hits, 2 K, 1 BB, 2 errors total pitches:...

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Strasburg Bottom of 5th

April 11, 2010, 11:35am

Nationals

Harrisburg scores 3 runs T5 on Solano RBI single scoring Jesus Valdez who led off with single rbi double for STRASBURG helping own cause Altoona Btm 5th hernandez sturck out looking presley 5-3 durham 5-3 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 0 K 82 pitches, 52 strikes that might be it with 85-90 pitch count strasburg line 5 inn 4 hits 4 runs 1 ER 8 K 2 BB Harrisburg 000 03 -- 3 5 2 Altoona 100 30 -- 4 4 0 after 5 Altoona 4-3

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Strasburg line in Harrisburg debut

April 11, 2010, 11:48am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg 5 innings pitched 4 hits 4 runs 1 earned run 2 bb 8 K 82 pitches/55 strikes rbi double and run scored for Strasburg in 5th, 1-2 rbi run and double. left with Altoona up 4-3 after 5, but Harrisburg took lead in 6th, Strasburg leaves with lead. Erik Arnesen pitching btm 6th.

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Stammen says Red Sox game will help him against Phillies

April 07, 2010, 2:01pm

Nationals

Stammen says Red Sox game will help him against Phillies

Thursday getaway day matchup features Nationals righthander Craig Stammen taking on Phillies righthander Kyle Kendrick. Stammen made 19 starts last year and went 4-7 with a 5.11 ERA and did not pitch after August 29th. He had off-season surgery to clean out bone spurs in his elbow. He said the pain had bothered him to the point where he couldn't straighten his arm out completely and every off day was an attempt to get back to feeling good instead of refining his pitches or working on...

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After three long months, it's deadline day (maybe)

February 27, 2022, 5:46pm

Nationals

After three long months, it's deadline day (maybe)

Major League Baseball's lockout began three months ago. Three long months. And the reason those three months have felt so long was the fact we knew all along there was little chance of anything getting done until owners and players faced a real deadline with real pressure. In other words, the postponement of opening day. Well, three long months later, we've finally arrived at deadline day. Maybe. In MLB's eyes, today is the deadline. Commissioner Rob Manfred has made it painfully clear the...