nlds - Blog

Strasburg ready to deal with the emotion of his first playoff start

October 03, 2014, 4:40am

Happy postseason, folks. Playoff baseball officially started three days ago. Nationals players and fans have had to wait patiently for their time to come, but we're now just a few hours away from the start of the National League Division Series and Stephen Strasburg's first pitch. It won't just be Strasburg's first pitch of this postseason, of course. It'll be the first playoff start of his career, the first time he's taken to a big league mound in October. And there's a lot of pressure...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals stephen strasburg doug fister featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2 nlds

Jake Peavy: "I'm a Stephen Strasburg fan"

October 03, 2014, 3:55am

Nationals

Jake Peavy: "I'm a Stephen Strasburg fan"

Veteran pitcher who has seen it all vs. rising fireballer who watched him growing up. New buddy vs. new buddy. Workout partner vs. workout partner. Nationals vs. Giants. In Game 1 of the National League Division Series, right-hander Jake Peavy will face right-hander Stephen Strasburg. San Diegan vs. San Diegan. Or is it San Diego-an? Will Ferrell, help me out here. It is San Diegan, of course. Either way, the two righties who exchanged texts throughout the season now pitch against each other...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr giants jake peavy nationals stephen strasburg featured_sidebar nlds frontstory_nationals1

NLDS notebook: Hearing from Ramos, Zimmerman and Williams

October 02, 2014, 9:06am

Nationals

NLDS notebook: Hearing from Ramos, Zimmerman and Williams

Wilson Ramos may play in his first postseason game tomorrow, and could catch right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who will be making his playoff debut in the opening game of the best-of-five National League Division Series. October inexperience aside, Ramos had an interesting response when he was asked this afternoon whether Strasburg was mature enough the the marquee assignment. "That's a good question, because it's not easy starting the first game of the playoffs," said Ramos, who missed the...

Comments

Tags:

matt williams nationals nlds pete kerzel rafael soriano ryan zimmerman stephen streasburg wilson ramos

Bochy on Nats: "They really don't have a weakness" (with Morse update)

October 02, 2014, 1:19pm

Nationals

Bochy on Nats: "They really don't have a weakness" (with Morse update)

Giants manager Bruce Bochy had nothing but compliments for the Nationals in his Thursday afternoon media session. But that's what you'd expect from a wise veteran manager who is more interested in preparing his club for the National League Division Series than lighting a fire under the opposition. "They have the best record in the National League," Bochy said of the Nats. "You know, they have such a balanced club, starting pitching, bullpen, their lineup. You know, they have been tough on...

Comments

Tags:

bruce bochy michael morse nationals nlds pete kerzel

Zimmerman on his hamstring: "It keeps feeling better and better each day"

October 02, 2014, 11:39am

Nationals

Zimmerman on his hamstring: "It keeps feeling better and better each day"

The deeper the Nationals are able to go into the playoffs, the more Ryan Zimmerman's right hamstring will have a chance to get back to full strength. For now, Zimmerman will have to continue plugging away, hoping he can get healthy as soon as possible and willing to contribute as much as he can prior to that. Zimmerman took part in yesterday's intrasquad scrimmage at Nationals Park, playing left field and getting some at-bats to continue to try and hone his timing. He then took BP and shagged...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar nlds frontstory_nationals2

The experience factor

October 02, 2014, 5:48am

Nationals

After three days of relative quiet, Nationals Park will open its doors to the media again late this morning, as the Nats will hold their league-mandated workout leading up to the National League Division Series. Nationals players had Monday off, then a heavy workout at the park on Tuesday, followed by an intrasquad scrimmage on Wednesday. Those sessions were closed to the public and the media. Now they'll have a light workout on the field again today, this one with plenty of cameras and...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar nlds ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals2

Strasburg "thankful for the chance" to start Game 1 against Giants

October 02, 2014, 9:58am

Nationals

Strasburg "thankful for the chance" to start Game 1 against Giants

Nationals manager Matt Williams named right-hander Stephen Strasburg his Game 1 starter for Friday's National League Division Series opener against the San Francisco Giants. Strasburg was proud to get the call because he knew the Nats have several outstanding starters to chose from for such an crucial game. "I was excited. I think it wasn't an easy decision by any means," Strasburg said. "I think that's a testament to the guys we have in the rotation. I think every single one of them is...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals stephen strasburg nlds frontstory_nationals1

What you need to know about the Giants, Nats' foe in NLDS

October 02, 2014, 6:48am

Nationals

What you need to know about the Giants, Nats' foe in NLDS

Looking for ways to impress your friends with tidbits about the San Francisco Giants? You've come to the right place. Here are 10 things to know about the Giants, who play the Nationals in the National League Division Series starting Friday. * Lefty Madison Bumgarner, who pitched an 8-0 shutout to beat Pittsburgh in the wild card game Wednesday night, is their best pitcher. He's to the Giants what Stephen Strasburg is to the Nationals. Bumgarner is 18-10 with a 2.98 ERA. He's got a 2.22 ERA...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_nationals4 giants mel antonen nationals nlds

Giants advance to face Nats in NLDS

October 01, 2014, 7:05pm

Nationals

The Nationals' opponent in the National League Division Series is finally set. It'll be the Giants coming to D.C. to face Matt Williams' ballclub. San Francisco advanced with an 8-0 win over the Piratesin the NL wild card game. Half of those runs came from one Brandon Crawford swing of the bat, as the Giants shortstop crushed a fourth-inning grand slam to put his team on top and give the dominant Madison Bumgarner more than enough run support. Bumgarner was terrific, and the good news for...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar nlds frontstory_nationals1

Who do you want - Pirates or Giants?

October 01, 2014, 6:00am

Nationals

The postseason is officially under way, and we've now reached October. And if what we're about to see over the next month in any way resembles the drama and excitement we witnessed last night during the American League wild card game, we'll be in good shape. The Royals pulled out a thriller over the A's last night, coming back from a four-run deficit in the late innings to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, and then again coming from behind with two runs in the bottom of the 12th to...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals frontfeatured_nationals nlds

Start times announced (kind of) for NLDS

September 29, 2014, 2:07pm

Nationals

Start times announced (kind of) for NLDS

Major League Baseball has announced start times for the early Division Series games, and while we don't know exactly when the Nationals will play their first postseason game, we now have a better idea. If the Pirates win the National League wild card Game on Wednesday, Game 1 of the NLDS at Nationals Park will start at 12:07 p.m. on Friday. If the Giants win the wild card game, then they will take on the Nats in Game 1 starting at 3:07 p.m. Saturday's Game 2 between the Nats and the wild card...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar nlds frontstory_nationals3

Rizzo on the loss, Strasburg and his message for Storen (plus a thank you)

October 13, 2012, 1:56am

Nationals

Rizzo on the loss, Strasburg and his message for Storen (plus a thank you)

I just got home from Nationals Park a few minutes ago, and wanted to post some quotes from Nats general manager Mike Rizzo before hitting the pillow for the next 3 1/2 weeks. Before I share Rizzo's postgame comments, though, I wanted to say thank you to all of you who read my work here on MASNsports.com, commented, interacted with me on Twitter or in any way helped make this season so fun for me. I joined the Nationals beat a couple weeks into spring training this year and had to play a bit...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko mike rizzo nationals nlds stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Storen tries to deal with a blown save he'll never forget

October 12, 2012, 10:48pm

Nationals

Storen tries to deal with a blown save he'll never forget

Drew Storen stood in front of his locker wearing his grey undershirt with red sleeves. He looked at the floor, paced around the Nationals clubhouse a bit, then came back to his locker. Veteran infielder Mark DeRosa walked over and gave Storen a hug and a few words of encouragement. Starter Gio Gonzalez followed, as did general manager Mike Rizzo. Storen stared at the ground a bit more, playing at the carpet with his toes. Plastic sheets were pulled up above the lockers towards the ceiling. A...

Comments

Tags:

cardinals dan kolko drew storen nationals nlds featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Storen blows lead in ninth (Nats lose an absolute stunner, are eliminated)

October 12, 2012, 8:23pm

Nationals

Storen blows lead in ninth (Nats lose an absolute stunner, are eliminated)

Drew Storen was handed a 7-5 lead in the ninth inning, but the Nationals' 25-year-old closer allowed four runs to give the Cardinals a 9-7 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth. Storen allowed a double to Carlos Beltran leading off the ninth, then retired the next two Cardinals hitters and got two strikes on Yadier Molina to bring the Nationals to within a strike of the National League Championship Series. He then walked Molina and David Freese, loading the bases for Daniel Descalso....

Comments

Tags:

cardinals dan kolko nationals nlds frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals2

Gonzalez nearly implodes in the fifth (Suzuki adds a huge insurance run)

October 12, 2012, 6:38pm

Nationals

Gonzalez nearly implodes in the fifth (Suzuki adds a huge insurance run)

It looked like Gio Gonzalez was on cruise control. He'd faced just one over the minimum through the first three innings, had struck out four and was having no trouble pounding the zone with both his fastball and dazzling curve. Then the Game 1 Gio Gonzalez returned. We remember that Gio Gonzalez - the one who couldn't find the strike zone, handed out walks to anyone who was willing to take one and forced the Nationals' bullpen into action in the early innings. Staked to a 6-0 lead after...

Comments

Tags:

cardinals dan kolko gio gonzalez nationals nlds frontfeatured_nationals

Nats deliver a haymaker right off the bat (another follows in the third)

October 12, 2012, 5:06pm

Nationals

Nats deliver a haymaker right off the bat (another follows in the third)

The Nationals needed just seven pitches to send the Nats Park crowd into a frenzy and to deliver a massive body blow to the Cardinals. Adam Wainwright, who struck out 10 and gave up just a single run in his Game 1 outing against the Nats, gave up a double to Jayson Werth to open the bottom of the first, a shot ripped down the left field line to get things started. Bryce Harper, who had gone just 1-for-18 over the first four games of the series, then crushed a triple off the center field wall,...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper cardinals dan kolko jayson werth nationals nlds ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals1

Jackson available in 'pen, Zimmermann would start Game 1 of NLCS

October 12, 2012, 2:36pm

Nationals

Jackson available in 'pen, Zimmermann would start Game 1 of NLCS

If the Nationals win tonight and get their way to the National League Championship Series, Jordan Zimmermann will get the ball for Game 1. Nats manager Davey Johnson said today that Zimmermann would be his guy to open the NLCS on Sunday, this after working a perfect inning of relief yesterday and striking out all three hitters he faced. Like Zimmermann yesterday, Edwin Jackson will be available in relief tonight because it's his throw day. Unlike Zimmermann yesterday, however, Jackson will...

Comments

Tags:

cardinals dan kolko davey johnson edwin jackson jordan zimmermann nationals nlds sean burnett featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

No changes in Nats lineup for Game 5

October 12, 2012, 2:55pm

Nationals

The Nationals have announced their lineup for the decisive Game 5 of the National League Division Series, and it's the same one that's faced the Cardinals throughout the series. Well, save for the starting pitcher - Gio Gonzalez, in this case. For the Nationals against the Cardinals' Adam Wainwright: RF - Jayson Werth CF - Bryce Harper 3B - Ryan Zimmerman 1B - Adam LaRoche LF - Michael Morse SS - Ian Desmond 2B - Danny Espinosa C - Kurt Suzuki P - Gio Gonzalez It's already pretty chilly...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko frontstory_nationals1 lineups nationals nlds

Johnson on Harper's struggles at plate: "He will be all right"

October 12, 2012, 2:10pm

Nationals

Johnson on Harper's struggles at plate: "He will be all right"

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has not been able to get on track in the National League Division Series against tough St. Louis pitching. He has gone 1-for-18 in four games with a double in Game 2. He has struck out six times. Harper is a perfectionist and focuses more and more when he struggles. Manager Davey Johnson said before Game 5 that may not be the best strategy. "With Bryce, when he doesn't do something spectacular, he tries harder," Johnson said. "And trying harder is not...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr davey johnson nationals frontstory_nationals2 nlds

Looking at Game 5 by the numbers

October 12, 2012, 11:14am

Nationals

A few Nationals players said after Wednesday's Game 3 loss that if they could just force a Game 5, they felt like they had the advantage. Gio Gonzalez, a 21-game winner this season who posted a 1.35 ERA in his final six regular season starts, would take the mound for the Nats in that Game 5 with a chance to pitch them to the National League Championship Series. Well, here it is. The Nats did what they needed to do last night to force a game today to decide the National League Division...