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A few additional takeaways from yesterday's incident in Clearwater

March 06, 2013, 8:34pm

VIERA, Fla. - At one point late yesterday afternoon, after the Nationals-Phillies game had ended, interviews had been completed and reporters had all made our way back up to the press box to work on our postgame stories, I turned to another local writer and asked him if he had any idea what the final score of the game was. About five minutes later, one of the Phillies beat writers, sitting a row in front of me, turned to his left and asked another writer a similar question. "Who the hell won...

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Johnson, Moore, Manuel discuss Nationals-Phillies incident

March 06, 2013, 12:03pm

Nationals

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg hit Chase Utley on the left ankle. Roy Halladay threw behind Tyler Moore. Strasburg said he had no reason to hit Utley. Halladay said the pitch to Moore slipped. Then Halladay smiled. What was set up to be another quiet Grapefruit League game between the Phillies regulars and a Nationals lineup made up primarily of minor leaguers turned a bit more interesting in the third and fourth innings this afternoon. Strasburg and Halladay already shared their...

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Strasburg done, Halladay throws behind Moore (Rendon homers again)

March 06, 2013, 9:30am

Nationals

Strasburg done, Halladay throws behind Moore (Rendon homers again)

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Davey Johnson tried to give Stephen Strasburg four full innings of work this afternoon, but after Strasburg gave up a two-out single and a walk in the fourth, "Captain Hook" came trotting out of the dugout to get his right-handed starter. Strasburg finishes his third spring outing having allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one, struck out six, hit a batter and threw one wild pitch in 3 2/3 innings. The Nationals' ace threw 67 pitches, 40 strikes this...

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Now in a Phillies uniform, Lannan holds no grudges against Nats

March 06, 2013, 8:22am

Nationals

Now in a Phillies uniform, Lannan holds no grudges against Nats

CLEARWATER, Fla. - When Nationals manager Davey Johnson saw John Lannan in a Phillies uniform during warm-ups on the field at Bright House Field late this morning, he had a message for his former starter. "You look like (expletive) in that uniform," Johnson told Lannan. Lannan's response to reporters a little bit later, while chatting in the Phillies clubhouse: "He's gonna have to get used to that. He's gonna see me a couple times." After spending the first eight years of his major...

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Johnson closing in on an opening day starting lineup (with Nats, Phillies lineups)

March 06, 2013, 7:47am

Nationals

Johnson closing in on an opening day starting lineup (with Nats, Phillies lineups)

CLEARWATER, Fla. - After using up about half a tank of gas on the trek across Florida, I've arrived at Bright House Field for today's Nationals-Phillies Grapefruit League contest that will feature two of the game's best pitchers. Stephen Strasburg and Roy Halladay will toe the mound today, and while Strasburg will face a Phillies lineup filled with major leaguers, Halladay won't get that luxury. The Nationals brought just three position players who are expected to crack the opening day...

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Things getting interesting in the NL East

January 25, 2013, 3:07am

Nationals

Things getting interesting in the NL East

I'd imagine there aren't many baseball fans who would object to me saying that not much is being expected of the Miami Marlins or New York Mets this season. The Marlins, who downright stunk last year, traded away the vast majority of their established major leaguers, and while there is buzz around the league that the Mets could be major players for free agent center fielder Michael Bourn, they dealt Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey this offseason and are coming off a second half of the...

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Some surprising pitching news within the division

December 15, 2012, 6:02am

Nationals

Some surprising pitching news within the division

Given we currently have a free agent market in which Anibal Sanchez, a pitcher coming off a nine-win, 3.86-ERA season, can land a five-year, $80 million deal, it's shocking that the Mets aren't willing to offer R.A. Dickey the two-year, $26 million extension he's seeking. Instead, the Mets are on the verge of dealing the Cy Young Award-winning knuckleballer to the Blue Jays, according to reports, for top catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud and other pieces. I guess this is the move you make...

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Phillies' catcher suspended, Nats' catcher healing

November 27, 2012, 12:20pm

Nationals

Phillies' catcher suspended, Nats' catcher healing

The Phillies had a rough 2012 season, but catcher Carlos Ruiz helped them fight through the tough patches, batting .325 and posting a .935 OPS, both career highs. He was arguably the Phillies' top position player over the course of the season. This upcoming year, the Phillies will be without Ruiz for nearly the first month of the season. Major League Baseball has announced that Ruiz has been suspended for 25 games for testing positive for amphetamines. The suspension means that Ruiz has...

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Experienced pitcher and leadoff hitter top Nats' wish list

November 01, 2012, 8:57am

Nationals

Experienced pitcher and leadoff hitter top Nats' wish list

As the offseason kicks into high gear, the Nationals are a defending champion in an unusual position: They could stand pat and be picked to win the National League East for a second consecutive season in 2013. But that's not how the Nationals operate. They'll likely be looking for an experienced pitcher and a leadoff batter. The Nationals rotation will have Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Ross Detwiler, but the fifth guy is up for debate. It could be Zack Greinke,...

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Rollins takes parting shot, plus Jackson, Morse notes

October 03, 2012, 2:47pm

Nationals

Rollins takes parting shot, plus Jackson, Morse notes

The Phillies wrapped up a .500 season today with a loss to the Nationals. The year didn't go as the Phils had expected, as they relinquished the NL East crown and failed to record a winning record for the first time in 10 years. But Jimmy Rollins feels his team would have prevented the Nats from winning their first division title in team history if key guys on the Phillies' roster (Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Carlos Ruiz, Placido Polanco) had spent less time on the...

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Riding a Teddy high, Nats crank up the offense (updated)

October 03, 2012, 10:46am

Nationals

Riding a Teddy high, Nats crank up the offense (updated)

Yes, the losing streak is over. As my colleague Byron Kerr wrote, Teddy won the Presidents Race today. Print Byron's story out. Frame it. Tell the grandkids about this moment one day. The crowd got all riled up by Teddy's big victory, and apparently the players did, too. (Either that, or they just got better pitches to hit and put the barrel on them. One of the two.) The first three Nationals to come to the plate after Teddy's win - Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse and Tyler Moore - went...

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Nats lineup for Game 162

October 03, 2012, 7:45am

Nationals

The bulk of the Nationals' regulars are back in the starting lineup, while the two that started yesterday - Bryce Harper and Adam LaRoche - are taking a seat for today's regular season finale. The Nats have a magic number of one to clinch the top seed in the National League, giving them home-field advantage through the playoffs and setting them up to play the wild card play-in winner. If they win today against the Phillies or the Reds lose to the Cardinals tonight, the Nationals will get...

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How's this for a post-clinch Nats lineup?

October 02, 2012, 1:04pm

Nationals

How's this for a post-clinch Nats lineup?

Davey Johnson got hit with a champagne shower three times last night. After he got dried off from the first attack, Adam LaRoche ambushed Johnson and soaked him again. Johnson may not have loved it, but he took it in stride. "He got me good," Johnson said. Then, rookie reliever Christian Garcia, a guy battling for a spot on the postseason roster, was gutsy enough to soak his 69-year-old skipper yet again. "'Son, that's a no-no,' " Johnson recalled himself saying, chuckling as he...

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Remembering 2010: Nationals have chance to turn tables on Phillies

October 01, 2012, 2:08pm

Nationals

The Phillies defeated the Nationals 8-0 on September 27, 2010, before 14,309 at Nationals Park, to clinch the NL East crown. The Nationals managed just two hits that day, as Roy Halladay tossed a complete game for his 21st win. A look back at the starting lineups that day: Phillies Victorino CF Polanco 3B Utley 2B Howard 1B Werth RF Ibanez LF Ruiz C Valdez SS Halladay P Subs: Wilson Nationals Espinosa 2B Morgan CF Desmond SS Dunn 1B Morse RF Bernadina LF Ramos C Gonzalez 3B Lannan...

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A whole lot of nothing against Kyle Kendrick (we're through seven)

October 01, 2012, 4:49pm

Nationals

A whole lot of nothing against Kyle Kendrick (we're through seven)

Through five innings, the Nationals have not managed a single run and have put up just three base hits - all singles - off Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick, who the Nats lit up on Wednesday, has let just four balls out of the infield. Of the 15 outs he's retired, 12 have been via the ground ball, and the Nationals' best threat so far only came after the Phillies starter chucked a pickoff throw down the right field line, allowing Kurt Suzuki to move from first to third. The play brought a large crowd...

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Suzuki gets 10th straight start

October 01, 2012, 11:37am

Nationals

Kurt Suzuki has told manager Davey Johnson in the past that he has no problem starting every single game. Until the Nationals clinch the NL East title, Johnson is taking Suzuki up on his offer. Suzuki's getting the start behind the plate for the 10th straight day, a very lengthy streak for a catcher. In the last nine games, Suzuki is batting .294 with a home run and seven RBIs, so Johnson doesn't want to go away from the hot hand. He'll stick with Suzuki until the Nats are able to lock up...

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Lannan gets the call to clinch division for Nationals on Monday

September 30, 2012, 8:30pm

Nationals

It is with a bit more than just a little irony that the Nationals have three chances to clinch their first NL East title, at home, against the Phillies, and with none other than left-hander John Lannan getting the call. Lannan gets the start because it is his turn in the rotation in a season where he has made only five starts with the Nationals. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg? No, he reached his innings limit. Gio Gonzalez? He gets the chance Tuesday. Edwin Jackson, Jordan Zimmermann and...

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This, that and tonight's lineups

September 27, 2012, 11:38am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - In New York, R.A. Dickey is in line for his 20th win of the season, which would tie him with Gio Gonzalez for the most in the majors. Dickey notched 13 strikeouts through 7 2/3 innings of work, allowing three runs. The NL Cy Young race between Gonzalez, Dickey and Braves closer Craig Kimbrel looks like it'll come down to the wire. Gonzalez will have a chance to bolster his chances tonight when he faces the Phillies in the series finale between these two teams. The Reds beat...

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The Phillies keep chipping away (Nats win a thriller 8-4)

September 26, 2012, 5:33pm

Nationals

The Phillies keep chipping away (Nats win a thriller 8-4)

PHILADELPHIA - What was a 5-0 lead after the top of the second inning has become a tight ballgame as we go to the eighth. Nothing's been easy for the Nationals this season, has it? The Nats' lead is down to two, as the Phillies have chipped into the Washington advantage with single runs in the third, fourth and seventh innings. Jimmy Rollins' solo homer off Ryan Mattheus made it 5-3, but it's the Nationals' inability to do anything off the Philadelphia bullpen which has let the home...

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Espinosa out of Nats' lineup

September 26, 2012, 11:42am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - A day after Nationals manager Davey Johnson said that all hands would be on deck until the Nationals clinched the division, Danny Espinosa is out of the lineup. Espinosa got a cortisone shot in his aching shoulder last Monday and has played in all eight games (with seven starts) since then, batting .348 with two RBIs and three doubles. His production has returned, and Espinosa told me yesterday that his shoulder was feeling fine. That all makes it a bit surprising that he's...