nationals

Nats selected for three early-season Sunday night games

December 26, 2017, 6:33pm

Catching up on more news during my vacation last week, I see that ESPN unveiled roughly one-half of its "Sunday Night Baseball" slate for the 2018 season. And lo and behold, the Nationals are actually prominently featured in a manner we haven't seen before by the Worldwide Leader in Sports. The Nats were selected to play in three of the first seven "Sunday Night Baseball" games of the season, including the April 8 finale of their opening home series against the Mets. They'll also appear...

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Grace preparing body and arm for big responsibilities in 2018 bullpen

December 28, 2017, 3:38am

Nationals

Grace preparing body and arm for big responsibilities in 2018 bullpen

Left-hander Matt Grace made quite a transformation in his role out of the bullpen in 2017. He faced lefties and righties, came at different points in the game and even started a game at San Diego, providing a versatility on the roster that was close to unmatched. But that was no big deal to Grace, who didn't appear in a game until April 26 and bounced around in May before finally staying on the Nationals roster beginning with a June 17 game. Hit total usage was less than seven innings in May...

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Goodwin healthy after groin strain slowed end of rookie season

December 25, 2017, 1:29am

Nationals

Goodwin healthy after groin strain slowed end of rookie season

A groin strain almost derailed a promising 2017 campaign for Nationals outfielder Brian Goodwin. His last game was Aug. 13, but was able to return to make the postseason roster. "It was just a battle," Goodwin said at Nationals Winterfest. "It was devastating the time that it happened. Clearly, I wasn't in the best mood, but I think it pushed me to do what I had to do to get back for my guys and my team and for myself, because I knew how important that postseason potentially was." And it...

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Chip Hale on Dave Martinez, analytics, Max Scherzer and more

December 21, 2017, 12:11pm

Nationals

Chip Hale on Dave Martinez, analytics, Max Scherzer and more

It didn't take long for Dave Martinez's coaching staff to come together. Barely two weeks after Martinez was introduced as Dusty Baker's successor, he and general manager Mike Rizzo assembled a staff deep in savvy baseball men that included a pair of former managers, first base coach Tim Bogar, who skippered the Rangers for 22 games late in the 2014 season, and bench coach Chip Hale, who managed the Diamondbacks for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Martinez and his coaches - Hale, pitching coach...

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Thoughts on last week's Adams and Milone signings

December 25, 2017, 6:10pm

Nationals

Thoughts on last week's Adams and Milone signings

If I've learned nothing else in 13 years on this beat, it's this: The best way to ensure the Nationals make some offseason news is to go on vacation. It has happened before, and it happened again last week. While I was soaking up the sun (and watching the Capitals blow a sure-win over the wretched Coyotes) with my family in Arizona, the Nats went and signed two free agents: Matt Adams and Tommy Milone. These weren't major moves, not in the least. In Milone's case, it's actually a minor...

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Wieters' guidance helped Nats pitching staff flourish in 2017

December 22, 2017, 6:01pm

Nationals

Wieters' guidance helped Nats pitching staff flourish in 2017

Catcher Matt Wieters' influence on the success of the Nationals pitching staff cannot be underestimated. From Gio Gonzalez increasing his tempo between pitches to Tanner Roark using all of his pitches in unique situations, Wieters has been able to bring out the best in each of his pitchers. Wieters said his philosophy has always been to measure and think out each pitch he suggests to the pitcher and not necessarily what the pitcher might have thought he should throw in a particular moment....

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Severino on opportunity as backup: "I still have to do my job"

December 21, 2017, 9:10am

Nationals

Severino on opportunity as backup: "I still have to do my job"

Nationals fans have been hearing for years how Pedro Severino is the catcher-in-waiting on the organizational depth chart. Sometimes, it's hard to remember Severino is only 24 and has only 35 games and 61 at-bats on his major league resume. That's hardly enough time for a rookie to make much of an impression. But with Jose Lobaton signing a minor league contract with the Mets last week, Severino is firmly entrenched as the backup to starting catcher Matt Wieters entering the 2018 season....

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For Difo, confidence and comfort were keys to breakthrough

December 20, 2017, 4:42am

Nationals

For Difo, confidence and comfort were keys to breakthrough

For Wilmer Difo, a little confidence went a long way. When shortstop Trea Turner broke his wrist last season, Difo stepped in to fill the void, starting 52 games in the speedster's stead and slashing .303/.359/.398 in those outings. It seemed that the more Difo played, the more comfortable he felt and the better he got. "I felt super good," Difo said through translator Octavio Martinez at Nationals Winterfest. "I felt better when I started playing every day. I felt more comfortable, better,...

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Bobby Henley adds outfield coach to responsibilities

December 20, 2017, 3:15am

Nationals

Bobby Henley adds outfield coach to responsibilities

Only one coach was kept from the previous regime: third base coach Bobby Henley, who has been with the organization for more than 20 years, dating to its time in Montreal. It is an important point. Henley is obviously very good at his job, but he also can be a sounding board for the players to help in the transition to the new coaching regime. Henley was thrilled to stay with the Nationals when we caught up with him at Winterfest. "It means a lot. I been here so long," Henley said. "I been...

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Harper drops puck before Capitals face off against Golden Knights

December 23, 2017, 5:01pm

Nationals

Harper drops puck before Capitals face off against Golden Knights

Perhaps Nationals slugger Bryce Harper has learned a thing or two about being politically correct from his time in the nation's capital. Tonight, before the Capitals played the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas native Harper was at center ice to drop the ceremonial first puck between Caps star Alex Ovechkin and Golden Knights left wing James Neal. Pay particular attention to the ensemble Harper wore for his pregame duties: a Golden Knights jersey (he's a regular at T-Mobile arena for the home...

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Nationals agree to terms with first baseman/outfielder Matt Adams

December 22, 2017, 9:27am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with first baseman/outfielder Matt Adams on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Adams, 29, joins the Nationals after hitting .274 with 22 doubles, one triple, 20 home runs, 65 RBI, 23 walks and 46 runs scored in 131 games for the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves in 2017. His 20 home runs marked a new career high, besting his previous high of 17 with St....

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Nationals sign Matt Adams to one-year deal

December 20, 2017, 1:16pm

Nationals

The Nationals' search for a backup first baseman with a power left-handed bat is over. Matt Adams has agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Nationals, according to industy sources. The deal also reportedly includes $400,000 in incentives. Adams' arrival in D.C. fills the void on the bench left by Adam Lind, who served as a backup to Ryan Zimmerman at first base and in the corner outfield positions. Lind's power lefty bat was a useful tool at former manager Dusty Baker's disposal...

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Nationals agree to terms with right-hander Brandon Kintzler

December 21, 2017, 9:54am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a two-year contract that includes a club/player option in the second year with right-handed pitcher Brandon Kintzler on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Kintzler, 33, returns to the Nationals after serving as one of the key members of Washington's bullpen down the stretch in 2017. Acquired from Minnesota moments before the non-waiver trade deadline, Kintzler, went 2-1 with...

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Tommy Milone returning to Nationals (updated)

December 20, 2017, 5:47am

Nationals

A former Nationals pitcher is returning to D.C. The Nats have signed left-hander Tommy Milone to a minor league contract, an industry source has confirmed. He will receive an invitation to major league spring training. Milone, 30, was drafted by the Nats in the 10th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Southern California and made his major league debut with the club in 2011, going 1-0 with a 3.81 ERA in five September starts and homering in his major league debut on Sept. 3 against...

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Changed Cole wants to lay claim to fifth starter's job

December 18, 2017, 5:46am

Nationals

Changed Cole wants to lay claim to fifth starter's job

Some players trying to carve out a spot on a 25-man roster get frustrated by riding the shuttle between Triple-A and the majors, their role changing on a whim because of a parent club's immediate needs. Nationals right-hander A.J. Cole has used his frequent trips between Syracuse, N.Y., and Washington, D.C., as a motivational tool. "It always gives you little extra fight in there because you are going back and forth between Triple-A and the big leagues," Cole said at Nationals Winterfest....

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Wieters improves diet, still wants to play 130 games

December 17, 2017, 9:10am

Nationals

Wieters improves diet, still wants to play 130 games

Matt Wieters would be the first to admit that his 2017 offensive numbers were not close to where he wanted them to be. Unfortunately, his first season outside of the American League was his worst with the bat in his nine big league seasons. Wieters hit .225 in 2017, a year after hitting .243 with the Orioles. In April, he started off hot, hitting .301. Steadily, though, he saw his average drop each month as the season progressed: .247, .202, .230, .213, .118. Wieters had seven homers before the...

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Lilliquist ready to lead top-flight pitching staff to new heights

December 17, 2017, 8:46am

Nationals

Lilliquist ready to lead top-flight pitching staff to new heights

Fired by the Cardinals at the end of the regular season, Derek Lilliquist had to wonder if it would take a while to find another pitching coach job as good as the one he held the previous six seasons. That kind of job opening, for a perennial postseason contender, doesn't come around all that often. And then one did. When the Nationals came calling last month, needing a new pitching coach after Dusty Baker's departure led to Mike Maddux leaving (for St. Louis, of all places), Lilliquist...

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Turner healthy for 2018, confident as everyday shortstop

December 18, 2017, 2:23am

Nationals

Turner healthy for 2018, confident as everyday shortstop

It will be exciting to see what shortstop Trea Turner can accomplish after a season that was interrupted by injury. Turner was limited to 98 games after missing all of July and most of August, yet still hit .284 and stole 46 bases. One big question for Turner: How will he handle the regime change at manager? Turner valued his time with the experienced Dusty Baker. "Unfortunate," Turner said of Baker's dismissal over the weekend at Nationals Winterfest. "I really enjoyed Dusty as a manager...

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Strasburg: All-Star Game interrupted routine, led to arm issue

December 17, 2017, 7:57am

Nationals

Strasburg: All-Star Game interrupted routine, led to arm issue

Stephen Strasburg quieted his critics last season, his seven shutout innings in the Nationals' Game 4 of the National League Division Series victory capping a workmanlike season that saw the right-hander take the ball from opening day until final outing, the dominant start-to-finish season that had eluded him. Yes, there were some speed bumps along the way, just to test his mettle. His spot in the rotation changed when staff ace Max Scherzer's start of the season was delayed by a fractured...