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Nationals Journal

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/

Daily news and commentary on the Washington Nationals

Sport Covered: MLB/Baseball

Focus: Washington Nationals

Posts per week: 8

Recent Articles

Strasburg's injury won't require surgery

 

Published 11 hours ago at Nationals Journal

The Washington Nationals were never so happy to hear the words "patellar subluxation" as they were Friday night, when they received word of that diagnosis--essentially a dislocated kneecap--in the left knee of prized phenom Stephen Strasburg, who ...

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Lett, Radison join Nationals' coaching staff

 

Published 16 hours ago at Nationals Journal

The Nationals have announced that Jim Lett and Dan Radison have been added to their 2010 coaching staff as bullpen and first-base coach, respectively. The team also made official the hiring of former Seattle Mariners manager John McLaren as bench ...

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So, how bad is the Strasburg injury?

 

Published 20 hours ago at Nationals Journal

When I started on the Baltimore Orioles beat at The Post in 1999, the Baltimore Sun beat writer -- my competition -- was a veteran scribe named Joe Strauss, who remains one of the best beat guys in the business. He taught me many valuable lessons, ...

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Strasburg hurts knee, out of Saturday's AFL title game [UPDATED]

 

Published 34 hours ago at Nationals Journal

Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals' prized pitching phenom, twisted his left knee while shagging flies during batting practice before the Phoenix Desert Dogs' regular season finale in the Arizona Fall League on Thursday, and has been scratched from ...

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Nats add three to 40-man roster, but not Wilkie

 

Published 36 hours ago at Nationals Journal

The Nationals added three minor league pitchers -- right-hander Juan Jaime and left-handers Atahualpa Severino and Aaron Thompson -- to their 40-man roster on Thursday afternoon, in essence protecting them from the Dec. 10 Rule 5 draft. However, ...

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The status of the Nats beat, going forward

 

Published 38 hours ago at Nationals Journal

Typical, that I'd get scooped on the news of my own departure. According to a tweet from the Sports Bog's Dan Steinberg -- and OK, let's make it official, according to me as well -- the WaPo will soon be looking for a new Nats beat writer, and I will ...

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The Nationals and sabermetrics

 

Published 45 hours ago at Nationals Journal

Lots of great reading material to spotlight this morning, beginning with Tracee's excellent feature on pitching prospect Josh Wilkie, who was little-known outside our circle of hard-core Nats (and GW) followers, but who is certain to have lots of ...

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Mandel, Baby Nats want that title

 

Published 2 days ago at Nationals Journal

The Arizona Fall League is not quite six weeks spent in the desert playing before a smattering of diehard fans and a slightly larger smattering of scouts. So do the players really care about the AFL championship? Nats reliever Jeff Mandel says yes. ...

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Nats nuggets: bench coach, Guzman, Flores, et al.

 

Published 3 days ago at Nationals Journal

Just got done speaking to Nationals GM Mike Rizzo and meeting the majority of his new front-office hires -- the amassing of which Rizzo called "the most important part of our offseason." Suffice it to say there is a lot of optimism around the ...

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Desert Dogs win East; see Strasburg and Co. Saturday

 

Published 3 days ago at Nationals Journal

As a lot of you noted in the comments, the Devil, er, Desert Dogs have won the East Division and will play the dread Peoria Javelinas on Saturday for the AFL championship. The game is at 2:15 ET on the MLB Network and Stephen Strasburg is lined up to ...

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Reshaping of Nationals' front office continues

 

Published 4 days ago at Nationals Journal

The wholesale revamping of the Nationals' front office continued Monday when the team announced it had hired Jay Sartori as director of baseball operations. Sartori previously served as the contract administration manager in MLB's labor relations ...

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Zimmerman hauling in more than hardware

 

Published 7 days ago at Nationals Journal

Let's start this morning with some reading material, because there is plenty. Here is the news story I wrote for the dead-tree edition off the Riggleman presser, and here is Boswell's typically excellent column. We also have this poll running on our ...

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Featured Advertiser

 

Published 7 days ago at Nationals Journal

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Rizzo and Riggleman

 

Published 8 days ago at Nationals Journal

There were only two people on the stage in the interview room at Nationals Park on Thursday afternoon -- Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo and Manager Jim Riggleman. President Stan Kasten was in the room, as was principal owner Mark ...

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Riggleman news conference

 

Published 8 days ago at Nationals Journal

Click here for a live feed of the news conference at Nationals Park.

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As we await the Riggleman presser...

 

Published 8 days ago at Nationals Journal

Well, folks, that right there is what we call a five-blog-post day. To recap the day's news: Jim Riggleman = manager of team Ryan Zimmerman = golden of glove Stephen Strasburg = healthy of neck Here is the dead-tree-edition story, and a reminder that ...

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Riggleman named Nats' permanent manager

 

Published 9 days ago at Nationals Journal

The Washington Nationals selected interim manager Jim Riggleman as their permanent manager on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the deliberations, ending a short but wide-ranging search. Riggleman, who turned 57 this week, was informed of ...

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Strasburg to return to mound on Saturday

 

Published 9 days ago at Nationals Journal

Right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals' No. 1 overall draft pick this June and the organization's top-rated prospect, is scheduled to make his next start in the Arizona Fall League on Saturday, the team said Wednesday. Strasburg, 21, ...

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Zimmerman Wins Gold Glove [Updated]

 

Published 9 days ago at Nationals Journal

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman won the first Gold Glove award of his career and the first in the Nationals' history on Wednesday. Zimmerman led all NL third basemen with 459 total chances and 325 assists and was a fixture of the "Web Gems" ...

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Rizzo: Manager announcement to come this week

 

Published 9 days ago at Nationals Journal

Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo said in a text message Wednesday that the team plans to announce its new manager "sometime late this week." Although Rizzo would not be more specific, MLB.com reported Tuesday evening that the announcement is ...

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Will Zimmerman bring home the Gold?

 

Published 9 days ago at Nationals Journal

Those of us fortunate enough to see Ryan Zimmerman play third base on a regular basis know how brilliant a defensive player he is. Not a game goes by, it seems, where he doesn't make some incredible, jaw-dropping play. Nobody charges a bunt like him, ...

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The manager search nears resolution

 

Published 10 days ago at Nationals Journal

Here's my story on the Nats' manager search from the dead-tree edition, in which I write that Bobby Valentine has emerged as "an intriguing possibility" and that Jim Riggleman represents a more "conservative" choice who has the backing of "many in the ...

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Talking with Nats Veep Roy Clark

 

Published 11 days ago at Nationals Journal

I had a great talk Friday afternoon with Roy Clark, the Nats' new vice president of player personnel. He went to Arizona last Monday to see the Baby Nats; all four pitchers plus Espinosa and Marrero had good outings that day. Here are his thoughts ...

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Wilkie Deserves the Nod

 

Published 13 days ago at Nationals Journal

Good for Josh Wilkie, making the Rising Stars roster. He had the fifth best ERA in the AFL through Thursday's games. He's been nearly as good as Drew Storen in the less glamorous middle relief role. I had two long talks with Wilkie in Phoenix and was ...

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Strasburg scratched with neck muscle strain

 

Published 14 days ago at Nationals Journal

Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals number-one overall draft pick this June, was scratched from Saturday's scheduled start in the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game due to a strained muscle in his neck, the team said Friday. According to a Nationals ...

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Storen Takes Toga Yoga Class

 

Published 14 days ago at Nationals Journal

Drew Storen is just a crack-up. I'd like him even if he had no shot of ever being a big league reliever -- and he does, and he will be, and soon. I called him for the column that's running in Saturday's dead tree edition (I'll try to remember to ...

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A Scout's Take on the Desert Dog Nats

 

Published 14 days ago at Nationals Journal

You might recall that during my frustrating trip in mid-October, it was difficult to get scouts to discuss players because they hadn't had enough opportunities to see them. I called a scout this week to see if I could get some feedback. This scout, by ...

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Nationals claim Slaten off waivers

 

Published 15 days ago at Nationals Journal

The Nationals today claimed left-handed reliever Doug Slaten off waivers from the Diamondbacks. From the news release: Slaten, who stands 6-foot-5, is 3-5 with 13 holds and a 3.68 ERA in 126 career big league appearances with Arizona spanning four ...

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Featured Advertiser

 

Published 15 days ago at Nationals Journal

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Knorr to manage Harrisburg Senators

 

Published 16 days ago at Nationals Journal

Randy Knorr will be the next manager of Double-A Harrisburg Senators, replacing John Stearns. From the Nationals' Web site: Knorr spent last season as the [Nationals'] bullpen coach, but [general manager Mike] Rizzo and [interim manager Jim] Riggleman ...

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Nationals hire special adviser to GM

 

Published 17 days ago at Nationals Journal

The Washington Nationals today named Ron Schueler special adviser to the general manager and promoted Bill Singer to director of professional scouting. From the news release: A 42-year baseball veteran, Schueler joins the Nationals after serving the ...

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Another impressive start for Strasburg

 

Published 18 days ago at Nationals Journal

Nationals No. 1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg struck out six and gave up four hits in five innings as the Phoenix Desert Dogs defeated the Surprise Rafters, 10-2, in Arizona Fall League play today. He threw 68 pitches (43 strikes) and is 3-1 this fall. ...

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Strasburg impressive in third AFL start

 

Published 23 days ago at Nationals Journal

Yesterday, Nationals prospect Stephen Strasburg held Surprise to one hit for 4 1/3 innings to pick up his second win in the Arizona Fall League, as the Phoenix Desert Dogs beat the Rafters, 7-6, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. In his previous start, ...

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Nationals make more front office moves

 

Published 24 days ago at Nationals Journal

The Washington Nationals have named Kasey McKeon director of player procurement and Jay Robertson as special assistant to the gen- eral manager. McKeon has spent the previous seven seasons with the Colorado Rockies as assistant to the general manager ...

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Acta hired by Cleveland

 

Published 26 days ago at Nationals Journal

The Cleveland Indians have hired Manny Acta as their manager, according to the Associated Press. The former Nationals manager signed a three-year contract with a club option for 2013, team spokesman Bart Swain said Sunday. Additional terms were not ...

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Strasburg hit hard in second AFL start

 

Published 29 days ago at Nationals Journal

Stephen Strasburg, making his second professional experience, dealt for the first time in years with the experience of getting rocked. In Thursday's Arizona Fall League game between Strasburg's Phoenix Desert Dogs and Phoenix Javelinas, Strasburg went ...

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Valentine, Melvin among candidates for Nats job

 

Published 30 days ago at Nationals Journal

As their managerial search gains traction, the Washington Nationals have compiled a list of candidates that includes Los Angeles Dodgers bench coach Don Mattingly and former big league managers Bobby Valentine and Bob Melvin. Mattingly told reporters ...

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Report: Nats ask for permission to interview Mattingly

 

Published 30 days ago at Nationals Journal

The Nationals have asked the Los Angeles Dodgers for permission to interview hitting coach Don Mattingly for their vacant managing job, Mattingly told AOL Fanhouse on Tuesday. According to the report, Mattingly said the Nationals "are on a different ...

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Play-By-Play of Strasburg's AFL Debut

 

Published 10/17/2009 at Nationals Journal

If you do a Google News search for "Stephen Strasburg," the top headlines vary only in their verbs. "Strasburg wins his professional debut." "Strasburg dazzles in professional debut." "Strasburg shines in pro debut in Arizona Fall League." "Strasburg ...

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Espinosa Working on Cutting Strikeouts

 

Published 10/16/2009 at Nationals Journal

Shortstop Danny Espinosa knows exactly what he needs to work on during the six-week Arizona Fall League: cutting down on strikeouts. "At end of the season I went back to my old hitting style and things worked out well," Espinosa said. "My strikeouts ...

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Storen Picking Up Speed

 

Published 10/16/2009 at Nationals Journal

Drew Storen was happy to get his first save of the Arizona Fall League under his belt Wednesday night in Mesa, although the inning started with a double that just dropped into shallow left field. Storen got the next three batters on a strike and two ...

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Strasburg Q and A

 

Published 10/16/2009 at Nationals Journal

Here is the promised Q and A with Strasburg. He sat in the dugout and took questions wearing a Nats jersey, jeans and UnderArmour shoes (I think; I'm no shoe expert). There were maybe 10 journalists asking questions. There are at least two questions ...

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Front Office Moves ... And The Decision That Follows

 

Published 10/15/2009 at Nationals Journal

In the first 1-1/2 weeks that followed the conclusion of the Washington Nationals' season, General Manager Mike Rizzo had one priority: Restocking the front office. "Well you know," Rizzo said, "you're only as good as the lieutenants around you." As ...

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And on Day 2 ... [Updated]

 

Published 10/15/2009 at Nationals Journal

The final here was Desert Dogs 4, Solar Sox 2. Chris Marrero had a double and a single, drove in a run, was left on base twice, and played flawlessly at first. Drew Storen pitched the ninth. He gave up a double to leadoff hitter Ryan Mount, although ...

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Nats Hire New Point Man For Dominican

 

Published 10/15/2009 at Nationals Journal

The Washington Nationals hired Johnny DiPuglia as their new Latin American operations director on Wednesday, charging him with the substantial task of rebuilding the team's international scouting system. DiPuglia's hiring, first reported by SI.com, ...

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Featured Advertiser

 

Published 10/15/2009 at Nationals Journal

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Nats Bolster Front Office

 

Published 10/14/2009 at Nationals Journal

The Washington Nationals have made significant progress in restocking their depleted front office, hiring Roy Clark as their new assistant general manager and promoting Kris Kline as their new scouting director, according to a source. The team could ...

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Thoughts from Day 1 in AZ

 

Published 10/14/2009 at Nationals Journal

Random thoughts after one day at the Arizona Fall League: * I found out there is no clubhouse access. That hurt. Never occurred to me access would be different than it is at the ML level. I figured it would easier to get guys aside down here than ...

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Marrero Not Thinking Ahead

 

Published 10/13/2009 at Nationals Journal

If plans -- or The Plan -- goes according to form, some of the seven Nationals playing in the Arizona Fall League could be part of the big league club's nucleus by 2011. Chris Marrero, whose name has long been appended with "first baseman of the ...

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Hello and Welcome to Opening Day!

 

Published 10/13/2009 at Nationals Journal

Well, it's always Opening Day somewhere, isn't it? No, wait, that's Happy Hour. I'm in the press box at Phoenix Muni Stadium, Stunningly, it's sunny and warm. I think the forecast is for 85 today. (They're saying Saturday will be 98; sorry John!) The ...

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