Nationals Journal

Updates on J.C. Romero, Bill Bray, as opt-out dates loom; Christian Garcia’s progress

James Wagner — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:48:07 GMT

Two left-handed relievers the Nationals hoped would provide depth have both landed on the disabled list in the minors with shoulder injuries. J.C. Romero, the veteran left-hander, experienced shoulder stiffness earlier this month that the Nationals consider a minor issue. … Continue reading →

Biggest disappointments of 2013 MLB season so far

Barry Svrluga — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:15:23 GMT

In the offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays – 20 years removed from their last playoff appearance, with just one finish higher than third since – made perhaps the loudest pronouncements in baseball. They all but imported a new team, adding … Continue reading →

What if the Nationals had kept Michael Morse?

Adam Kilgore — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:11:52 GMT

In the winter, the logic of the Nationals signing Adam LaRoche, trading for Denard Span and dealing Michael Morse made perfect sense. They were keeping respected a left-handed bat for the middle of the order, adding an elite center fielder … Continue reading →

Here come the Phillies

James Wagner — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:45:48 GMT

Because of the quirks of this season’s scheduling, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals will finally meet on the field this weekend, near the end of the second month of the season. The Nationals enter Friday’s game 4.5 games … Continue reading →

Brandon Miller provides power in the middle of Hagerstown’s lineup

Lacy Lusk — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:33:42 GMT

In low-Class A Hagerstown right fielder Brandon Miller’s first full season of professional baseball, he’s starting to show the same power that made him a Division I home run champion. Miller, a fourth-round pick last June, has four home runs … Continue reading →

The struggles of the Nationals bullpen

James Wagner — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:16:57 GMT

The struggles of the Nationals’ bullpen reached a calamitous low this week, not all a result of their own doing. Ross Detwiler couldn’t make his start Monday because of a slight oblique strain and left-handed long reliever Zach Duke took his place … Continue reading →

Bryce Harper conquers the wall, at least for one day

Adam Kilgore — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:00:16 GMT

Bryce Harper admitted Tuesday night to a specific kind of vulnerability, and Wednesday afternoon another deep flyball and another looming wall tested it. On Tuesday night, Gregor Blanco smashed a ball over his head that could have been the final … Continue reading →

Rafael Soriano explains comments to Bryce Harper as hitting the wall lingers

Adam Kilgore — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:20:28 GMT

This morning, Rafael Soriano strolled to the back corner of the Nationals clubhouse inside AT&T Park. Dressed in all black, he dropped a bag in his chair and removed silver headphones from ears, hanging them on a hook in his … Continue reading →

Nationals-Giants discussion thread: Game 47

James Wagner — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:24:48 GMT

The Nationals (23-23) are back at .500 after Tuesday’s deflating loss and losers of four straight. They finish their 10-game West Coast trip on Wednesday afternoon against the Giants, already with a 3-6 record on this swing. Gio Gonzalez (3-2, … Continue reading →

Nationals-Giants lineups

James Wagner — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:18:41 GMT

The Nationals will use Bryce Harper at the second spot of the lineup and Ryan Zimmerman in the third spot for the second straight game. They’re facing left-hander Madison Bumgarner. The Giants will be without third baseman Pablo Sandoval, Tuesday’s walkoff … Continue reading →

Rafael Soriano says he’s not upset with Bryce Harper (updated)

James Wagner — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:31:26 GMT

Update: Harper and Soriano clear the air; hitting the wall lingers After postgame comments in which he reportedly criticized Bryce Harper’s positioning in right field, Rafael Soriano insisted he isn’t upset with Harper for a play in the bottom … Continue reading →

Rafael Soriano not pleased with Bryce Harper’s position on game-tying run

James Wagner — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:06:42 GMT

Update, 1:30 p.m.: Soriano clarifies his comments; says he isn’t upset with Harper Following the Nationals’ 4-2 10th-inning loss Tuesday to the San Francisco Giants, Bryce Harper blamed himself for the game-tying run in the ninth. With two outs and … Continue reading →

Stephen Strasburg pitches like an ace, for naught

Adam Kilgore — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:34 GMT

The Nationals handed Stephen Strasburg the ball Wednesday night and asked him for so much. They needed a Band-Aid for their battered bullpen, a halt to their losing streak and a renewal of their swagger. They asked him to make … Continue reading →

Davey Johnson will serve as a coach for Bruce Bochy at the All-Star Game

Adam Kilgore — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:24:17 GMT

Forty years after he last played in one as a player, Davey Johnson is going to the All-Star Game. Monday, San Francisco Giants Manager Bruce Bochy invited Johnson to serve on the National League coaching staff at the Midsummer Classic, … Continue reading →

Nationals-Giants discussion thread: Game 46

Adam Kilgore — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:12:18 GMT

The Nationals will try to snap out of their offensive malaise tonight with a reconfigured lineup. They have received little production from the No. 2 spot in Jayson Werth’s absence. Tonight, Manager Davey Johnson moved his best hitter, Bryce Harper, … Continue reading →

Steve McCatty T-shirts, two new pitchers and a cheerful Nationals clubhouse

Adam Kilgore — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:10:54 GMT

The most welcoming quality of baseball’s grinding schedule may be the daily opportunity for renewal. Last night, after an 8-0 loss, the Nationals emptied a somber locker room. The last man out was Ryan Mattheus, who had learned he broke … Continue reading →

Tonight’s Nationals-Giants lineups

Adam Kilgore — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:15:29 GMT

Stephen Strasburg will take the ball tonight at AT&T Park, and the Nationals will ask him to do what aces do: stop a losing streak and snap them out of a rotten spell. The Nationals have been outscored by 17 … Continue reading →

The Nationals are still trying to get Danny Espinosa right

Adam Kilgore — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:24:45 GMT

The process of putting Danny Espinosa back together again continued Monday at AT&T Park. Manager Davey Johnson sat the struggling second baseman, who is 1 for his last 28 and batting .163/.191/.260 on the season, in favor of Steve Lombardozzi. … Continue reading →

Ryan Mattheus breaks throwing hand punching a locker, adds to bullpen disarray

Adam Kilgore — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:30:18 GMT

The disarray in the Nationals’ bullpen reached a bizarre and self-inflicted new height Monday night. After the Nationals’ 8-0 loss to the Giants, Manager Davey Johnson revealed that set-up man Ryan Mattheus had broken his right hand Sunday when he … Continue reading →

Nationals-Giants discussion thread: Game 45

Adam Kilgore — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:11:59 GMT

If you May 20 in the pool for when the Nationals would need a sixth starting pitcher, collect now. Zach Duke will take the mound tonight against Ryan Vogelsong in a meeting of starters with ERAs of 8.40 and 8.06. … Continue reading →

Bryce Harper returns, Ross Detwiler on track to make next start

Adam Kilgore — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:04:08 GMT

Bryce Harper returned to the Nationals’ lineup tonight after missing the previous two contests with swelling in his left knee. Harper tested the knee in the outfield this afternoon and determined he could play on it, although swelling and bruising … Continue reading →

Jayson Werth could miss an additional two weeks after MRI reveals hamstring strain

Adam Kilgore — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:46:12 GMT

Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth could spend roughly two more weeks on the disabled list after an MRI exam today revealed a more significant strain in his hamstring than originally thought, Manager Davey Johnson said. “I got kind of an … Continue reading →

Nationals-Giants lineups: Bryce Harper returns, Danny Espinosa sits

Adam Kilgore — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:40:09 GMT

Bryce Harper will return to the lineup after he missed the past two days with swelling in his left knee, the most prominent lingering effect of his collision with the Dodger Stadium wall. Danny Espinosa, meantime, will sit in favor … Continue reading →

Is there hope for the Nationals’ offense?

James Wagner — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:15:09 GMT

Several units of the Nationals have endured rough patches through the first six weeks of the season, but none more detrimental than the struggles of the offense. As it has been well documented here, the Nationals offense is head-scratchily ineffective. … Continue reading →

The Nationals’ bullpen is out of whack

Adam Kilgore — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:34 GMT

Last year for the Nationals, injuries revealed talent. This year, despite largely the same cast, their poor health has only exposed weakness. Tyler Moore, Steve Lombardozzi and Roger Bernadina all flourished in fill-in starting roles last season. This year, even … Continue reading →