Nationals Host Little League Coaches Clinic

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Power Boater

Saturday morning about 300 little league coaches from local leagues were invited to Nationals Park to attend the Nats first ever “Coaches Clinic”. This was one heck of a fun morning, a million thanks to the Nats staff and coaches for inviting us.

The Nats divided us up into four groups to get some professional insight into how to coach catching, pitching, hitting, and general motivation. That was followed by lunch and a presentation by Inova Sports Medicine on how to lower the chances of injuries to young pitchers.

Continue reading →

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Tanner Roark pitches another gem as he fields his way to a 2.81 ERA: Postgame

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Tanner Roark befuddled the Braves hitters most of the day in a 9-1 win. The Nationals are at 22 games over .500 (69-47), and another day comes off of the calendar. Roark now has 10 starts going 7 innings with one run or less which leads the Majors. Tanner Roark also fielded his position nicely today cutting down a runner at home and starting a key doubleplay.

The Nationals offense scored 9 runs today led by Trea Turner opening up the game with a double and scoring two runs. Anthony Rendon had the big blast with a 3-run home run, and Bryce Harper had 3 good at-bats against the right-handed pitchers including an opposite field RBI double. In fact the Nationals put together all of this offense while resting Daniel Murphy and Jayson Werth. All starting position players had hits today except Danny Espinosa as the Nats combined for 9 hits and 3 walks on the day. Continue reading →

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Game #116 Roark and a split squad: Game Thread

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

No Bryce Harper (is in) today while Daniel Murphy and Jayson Werth rest. We are being told from a source that Harper is feeling much better and available off the bench  is now as of noon in the starting line-up.

In reality, Bryce hasn’t played competitive baseball since the middle of last Saturday’s game on August 6th. Can he really be effective and is it safe to try to play Bryce without a rehab or sim game? We will find the answer today.

If Bryce plays today (he is) and then was put on the DL, the Nats would lose the advantage of being able to go back retroactive in back-dating a DL move for Bryce to August 7th.

BREAKING: The Nats announced at noon that Bryce will now be starting.

Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves
Stadium: Nats Park, Washington, DC
1st Pitch:  1:35 pm EDT
TV: MASN, WUSA9, Fox Sports South, MLB.tv

Line-ups  (subject to change without notice):

  1. Trea Turner 2B
  2. Ben Revere CF
  3. Bryce Harper RF
  4. Wilson Ramos C
  5. Anthony Rendon 3B
  6. Clint Robinson 1B
  7. Chris Heisey LF
  8. Danny Espinosa SS
  9. Tanner Roark RHP

#Nats

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Lunch with Dusty Baker with some questions answered!

Posted on August 13, 2016 by ArVaFan aka Laura Peebles

August 13, 2016

“As you go through life, collect experiences, not souvenirs. They don’t wear out, and you don’t have to dust them.”—Me

Thanks to the Stand Up To Cancer charity auction last winter, today we had lunch with Dusty and the coaches in the clubhouse.  That was one of those memorable experiences.  We actually got to walk through the clubhouse (Hi, Sammy!) after Kyle Brostowitz (media contact) went ahead to be sure there were no naked men. Given all the signs around, I suspect that this was one of the very few times that women have actually walked through there.  We got to see the video room where the replays are reviewed and players can come review their at-bats, the well-stocked kitchen (five different kinds of milk), and the conference room where we ate (only photo on the wall:  flying Werth).  The conference room included a beer fridge, although no one got anything out of it except cold water.  After lunch, Dusty invited us to his office where he explained the photos on his walls, and gave us a signed bat (ok, souvenir!). On the way out, we said Hi to Bat Hoarder, who was on his way in.

dusty

I didn’t get to ask all the questions proposed by the TalkNats crew, but I did ask some.  I’d ask a question, and the answers would meander off into related anecdotes, so it would be a few minutes before I’d get back to the next subject. I didn’t raise any questions about Pap, nor Bryce.  They said that Drew is just so frustrated that he can’t play, but it just takes time. Continue reading →

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Reynaldo Lopez pitches a gem with offense from the 1-2-3

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Reynaldo Lopez pitched 7 innings of one-run baseball as the Nats hold on to win 7-6. It was Lopez’s first career win.

The Nationals’ offense was led by the 1-2-3 batters in the order. Trea Turner was a double short of the cycle while Ben Revere hit 2 triples, and Daniel Murphy was the big RBI man with a home run to go with a Sac Fly and an RBI groundout. Danny Espinosa added the Nats final run on the night with an RBI single, and that run turned out to be the game-winning RBI.

Jayson Werth extended his on-base streak to 42 games with a single.

Mark Melancon had to save the game as Yusmeiro Petit faltered with a 7-2 lead. Petit was charged with 3 runs, and Melancon was charged with a run. The lead was almost given up and the defensive play of the game was a relay throw to nab Aybar at 3rd base trying to stretch a double into a triple with no outs in the 9th inning. Ben Revere threw to Danny Espinosa who threw a dart to Anthony Rendon who possibly tagged Aybar out like it was called on the field, and the call was upheld under a challenge by the Braves.

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Game #115 Reynaldo Lopez starts, Papelbon released: Game Thread

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

As Jerry Crasnick reported earlier through a sourced report that Jonathan Papelbon would be released. Subsequent rumors were reported as to who initiated the release with multiple reports that Papelbon requested the release.

The Nationals have recalled Reynaldo Lopez today as he will get his third start for the Nationals. Lopez will face the Braves rightie Rob Whalen who has also made just two starts in the Majors this season. Whalen has a 5.73 ERA and like Lopez has struggled for consistency in his two starts. Continue reading →

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Nats News & Notes| Papelbon, Lopez, Trea, Murphy, Werth, Rendon, Bryce, Stras, Zim, and more

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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You can’t win them all: Postgame

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Nationals sputtered with their  pitching tonight as Strasburg and Belisle were bit by the home run ball. Stephen Strasburg gave up 6 runs which included one inherited runner who scored on a home run ball given up by Matt Belisle. Oliver Perez struggled in his 2/3rds of an inning of relief, and gave up 1 run. Blake Treinen and Sammy Solis threw scoreless relief.

Jayson Werth continued his on-base streak with his 41st game in a row with an RBI double in the 7th inning. Anthony Rendon had a 2-run home run, and Trea Turner had 3 hits on the night along with 2 more stolen bases. Brian Goodwin added an RBI infield single. Daniel Murphy had 2 hits, and Wilmer Difo had a single. Wilson Ramos had an off-night going 0-4 with 2 strikeouts.

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Game #114 Strasburg looks for sweet 16: Game Thread

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Today begins the ‘dog days of summer’ literally and figuratively in many ways as the Nationals start a 20 day period of 20 straight games with no scheduled days off on the schedule while traditionally being some of the hottest days on the summer calendar.

The Nationals will continue to not play Bryce Harper who still is experiencing the stiff neck. Tonight, it is Danny Espinosa’s turn for a rest day. Dusty has his speed team in for this game of Trea Turner, Wilmer Difo, Ben Revere, and Jayson Werth. Brian Goodwin had 14 steals this year for Triple-A Syracuse and can swipe a base.

Stephen Strasburg is looking to bounceback from his last start and could be encouraged not to leg out any triples today.

Atlanta starts righty Mike Foltynewicz and he is part of the Braves inconsistent group of starters and this might surprise you that his 4.37 ERA ranks second of the Braves starters only behind Julio Teheran.

In other news, it looks like Mat Latos will be assigned to Triple-A Syracuse for his next start.

Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves
Stadium: Nats Park, Washington, DC
1st Pitch:  7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN, WUSA9, Fox Sports South, MLB.tv

Line-ups (subject to change without notice):

  1. Trea Turner 2B
  2. Jayson Werth LF
  3. Daniel Murphy 1B
  4. Wilson Ramos C
  5. Anthony Rendon 3B
  6. Brian Goodwin RF
  7. Wilmer Difo SS
  8. Ben Revere CF
  9. Stephen Strasburg RHP

From Draz is this video of Victor Robles 1st hit as he returns to Potomac:

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Wilson Ramos is going to make some cake!

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Andrew Lang

Pay the man! Wilson Ramos is going to get paid no doubt, and we hope it will continue to be on the Nationals’ payroll for many years to come. Wilson Ramos is set to become a Free Agent after this season unless the Nationals extend his contract.

It seems both sides would like this relationship to continue as the All-Star catcher is putting up monster numbers this season, and is winning games for this team like Ramos did on Sunday with the only run scored in the 1-0 win to beat Madison Bumgarner and the Giants on his home run over the rightfield wall.

“Since we traded for [Ramos in the Matt Capps trade], we’ve always seen the upside,” said Mike Rizzo before the All-Star break. “We knew he was as good an offensive catcher as there is in the game. I don’t think it’s ever too late or too early to think about [an extension]. We’ve got a plan in place for all the guys we have. He’s a guy we see as a long-term asset for us. Those are conversations we keep internal.”

If there have been any conversations with Ramos’ agent at Octagon, it is news to Ramos as he has not heard of any as he recently told the media. Continue reading →

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