Nationals Journal: April 4, 2010 - April 10, 2010
Ryan Zimmerman leaves game, may sit out a couple days
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman may miss "a couple days" after leaving Saturday's 4-3 victory in the sixth inning with a tight left hamstring, Manager Jim Riggleman said. Zimmerman, though, plans to test his hamstring Sunday morning to determine if he'll...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 10, 2010; 7:29 PM ET |
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Game 5 discussion thread: Nationals at Mets
Talk about today's game right in the comments section below. Can John Lannan rebound from his brutal first start? Will the top of the Nationals lineup start producing against Oliver Perez? Facing the No. 5 starter of the a team...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 10, 2010; 1:05 PM ET |
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Which National will make room for Livan Hernandez?
Sometime this afternoon, Livan Hernandez will fly from Florida to New York, his arrival and subsequent start tomorrow signaling the end, for now, of some National's major league tenure. Almost certainly, that National will be one of their eight relievers....
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Adam Kilgore
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April 10, 2010; 12:32 PM ET |
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Today's lineups
Willy Taveras wins right field roulette today, and Jose Reyes makes his 2010 debut for the Mets. The full orders: Nationals 1. Nyjer Morgan, CF 2. Cristian Guzman, 2B 3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B 4. Adam Dunn, 1B 5. Josh Willingham,...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 10, 2010; 10:13 AM ET |
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Garrett Mock still needs to master 'Baseball 101,' plus morning links
Ivan Rodriguez, with 20 major league seasons under his belt, had the right perspective last night. "There's still a lot of games left, the whole season left,"; he said. "t's only four games." But when your starters are 0 for...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 10, 2010; 8:00 AM ET |
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Game 4 discussion thread -- Nationals at Mets
The Fight For Fourth begins tonight, and we'll also be testing out a new NJ experiment. I want to just have this post sitting here during the game for readers to have at it in the comments section. Because of...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 9, 2010; 7:05 PM ET |
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For the Nationals, 'it's nice to have' Adam Dunn at first
Not to jinx anything, but Adam Dunn did nothing to warrant notice at first base during the season's first series. That, for a player best known for his -25.0 UZR at first base last season, is a good thing. As...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 9, 2010; 7:04 PM ET |
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Deciding between a trio of infielders, Jim Riggleman isn't stuck in the middle
The revolving middle infield combination is probably the most intriguing developing subplot of the Nationals' young season. The success of rotating Ian Desmond, Adam Kennedy and Cristian Guzman may well hinge of how Manager Jim Riggleman handles the situation. So...
By
Adam Kilgore
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April 9, 2010; 6:05 PM ET |
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Categories:
Cristian Guzman
,
Ian Desmond
,
middle infield
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Friday's lineups
Nationals Nyjer Morgan - CF Willie Harris - RF Ryan Zimmerman - 3B Adam Dunn - 1B Josh Wllingham - LF Adam Kennedy - 2B Ivan Rodriguez - C Ian Desmond - SS Garrett Mock - RHP Mets Angel Pagan...
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Alexa Steele
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April 9, 2010; 3:59 PM ET |
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Next up, Garrett Mock
Garrett Mock spoke often this spring about attacking hitters, how nibbling at the corners of the plate leads to inefficiency and how inefficiency is the thing holding him back. Tonight against the Mets would be the ideal time for Mock...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 9, 2010; 2:22 PM ET |
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What Matt Chico's assignment says about the Nationals farm system
In 2007, Matt Chico started 31 games for the Nationals. The next year, he began the season as their No. 2 starter. He lasted only eight starts before it became clear he needed Tommy John surgery, but he had become...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 9, 2010; 12:37 PM ET |
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The Nationals' first win is a rare one
The Nationals got their first win yesterday, and perhaps even more happily, they said goodbye for now to the Phillies. Since 2007, the Phillies have beaten the Nationals 41 times in 57 games, a .719 winning percentage; only the Padres...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 9, 2010; 9:13 AM ET |
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Mike Morse available only in emergency, Jesse English cleared for use
Both utility player Mike Morse and reliever Jesse English suffered calf injuries on Wednesday, and neither seemed overly concerned before Thursday's game. Morse walked into the clubhouse on Thursday afternoon and said he is sore but that he's not worried...
By
Zach Berman
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April 8, 2010; 5:14 PM ET |
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Cristian Guzman continues position shuffle, starts at shortstop
Cristian Guzman is back in a familiar position -- playing shortstop, batting second -- at least for a day. The player who has been the Washington Nationals' shortstop for much of the franchise's existence lost his starting job to Ian...
By
Zach Berman
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April 8, 2010; 4:42 PM ET |
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Washington Nationals' Thursday lineup
The Washington Nationals will look to avoid a sweep at Nationals Park on the getaway day of the season-opening three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Cristian Guzman makes his return to shortstop, while Wil Neives gives Ivan Rodriguez a day...
By
Zach Berman
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April 8, 2010; 12:21 PM ET |
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Fast times at shortstop for Ian Desmond
His first two days as a big league starting shortstop came fast at Ian Desmond. He booted the first ball that was hit to him. He hit the first home run of the Nationals season. Desmond, after two games, leads...
By
Adam Kilgore
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April 8, 2010; 8:49 AM ET |
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Jason Marquis has rough first start with Nationals in 8-4 loss to Phillies
Republished from print editions of The Post: Jason Marquis fits the same profile of all the other players the Washington Nationals spent their winter stockpiling. They wanted established veterans, reliable warhorses who could, in General Manager Mike Rizzo's term, "change...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 8, 2010; 1:26 AM ET |
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Mike Morse day-to-day with calf injury, Cristian Guzman plays right
Mike Morse said he is "day-to-day" after leaving Wednesday night's game with a sore left calf, which he hurt while catching a fly out in the seventh inning. "It was just a cramp that wouldn't go away," Morse said after...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 8, 2010; 12:14 AM ET |
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Mike Morse is playing right, for what it's Werth
During batting practice this evening, as both teams mingled behind the batting cage, one No. 28 approached the other No. 28. Mike Morse, long hair curling from under his cap, wanted to speak with Jayson Werth, long hair curling from...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 7, 2010; 7:07 PM ET |
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Jason Marquis against the Phillies
The Nationals signed Jason Marquis to give the starting rotation a measure of stability, and they could use some stabilizing. No matter what happens tonight at Nationals Park, win by 10 or lose by 10, it's not like it'll make...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 7, 2010; 3:08 PM ET |
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In February, Nationals cut off group sales to Philly fans
Keith Czaban, self-described chief entertainment officer of the travel company PhillyTailgate.com, bought 1,500 tickets for this year's opening day from the Nationals this year, and he packed 28 buses full of Philly fans down to Nationals Park on Monday. He...
By
Adam Kilgore
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April 7, 2010; 12:07 PM ET |
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Wednesday's Nationals lineup
Back to baseball, at least for the moment. The Nationals released today's lineup on their official Twitter feed. With left-handed Cole Hamels on the mound for the Phillies, Manager Jim Riggleman made some changes from Opening Day. Ian Desmond moves...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 7, 2010; 10:36 AM ET |
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Some final thoughts on the Phillies fans from Nationals opening day
The only obvious thing about all those Phillies fans from opening day is the anger. A lot of Nationals fans who attended believe the presence of so many visiting fans spoiled their opening day, and a good number of them...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 7, 2010; 8:53 AM ET |
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Bog: Kasten on the Philly fan takeover
From Dan Steinberg's D.C. Sports Bog: Stan Kasten has offered a few comments on Monday's Philadelphia takeover; you can read some on Mark Zuckerman's Nats Insider, for example. The Post's Adam Kilgore also e-mailed with Kasten on the issue; here...
By
Alexa Steele
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April 6, 2010; 3:06 PM ET |
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Tags: philadelphia phillies, stan kasten, washington nationals
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The Phillies beat John Lannan, again
John Lannan is the Nationals' most reliable pitcher, the one who pitched the most innings -- by more than 100 -- and won the most games of Nationals hurlers last season. He was an easy choice for opening day. Lannan,...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 6, 2010; 9:20 AM ET |
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Tags: John Lannan, Opening Day, philadelphia phillies, washington nationals
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Jesse English became the bright spot on Nationals opening day
With about one week left in spring training, Jesse English sat in front of his locker and admitted he didn't think he would still be in major league camp with Washington Nationals. But there he was, holding on to hope...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 5, 2010; 8:01 PM ET |
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President Barack Obama throws out first pitch on Washington Nationals opening day
Clad in a red Washington Nationals jacket and a black Chicago White Sox cap that he pulled from his pocket, President Obama threw out the 2010 baseball season's first pitch, high and outside over the left-handed hitter's batters box....
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Adam Kilgore
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April 5, 2010; 1:29 PM ET |
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Obama will wear Nationals jacket for first pitch
President Obama will walk to the mound at 12:55 p.m. today wearing a red Washington Nationals jacket to throw out the first pitch of the 2010 baseball season. The jacket, which has Obama's name on one shoulder and the Presidential...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 5, 2010; 11:38 AM ET |
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Mike Rizzo: 'We want to start winning'
Today will be Mike Rizzo's first opening day as non-interim general manager, and he hasn't thought much about that. The team he's been assembling for a year will debut today, and at the end of last week I had...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 5, 2010; 11:05 AM ET |
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In-game chat: Nats vs. Phillies
Join Post baseball writer Dave Sheinin here on Nationals Journal as Washington plays Philadelphia at National Park on opening day. Nats vs. Phillies...
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Alexa Steele
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April 5, 2010; 9:35 AM ET |
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Welcome to Nationals Park
About 3 1/2 hours from now, President Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and 30 minutes later another scrawny lefty educated in the state of New York, John Lannan, will throw the actual first pitch. Bunting is...
By
Adam Kilgore
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April 5, 2010; 9:13 AM ET |
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Opening morning
"For fans, opening day is finally, blessedly upon us, full of warmth, sun and a presidential first pitch at Nationals Park," Boz leads off with today. "An offseason that turned Washington into Nome is long gone at last." Yesterday,...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 5, 2010; 7:15 AM ET |
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John Lannan receives another shot at starting opening day
John Lannan took the mound in Miami last April to open the 2009 season for the Washington Nationals and did not last long. He pitched only three innings, allowing six hits and six runs during a 12-6 loss to the...
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Zach Berman
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April 4, 2010; 5:20 PM ET |
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Categories:
John Lannan
| Tags: John Lannan, Opening Day
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Nationals get their roster, lineup in order for opening day
As the Nationals worked out at Nationals Park today, the team finalized their roster for Opening Day and Jim Riggleman decided on his maiden 2010 lineup. First, here's what the Nationals will throw at Roy Halladay: Nationals 1. Nyjer...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 4, 2010; 4:41 PM ET |
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For now, Adam Dunn still open to contract extension talks
First baseman Adam Dunn entered spring training hopeful he and the Nationals could reach an agreement on a contract extension by opening day. With their first game about 20 hours away, that will not be happening. While Dunn made clear...
By
Adam Kilgore
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April 4, 2010; 4:07 PM ET |
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With one day left, predict the Nationals season
In about, oh, 26 1/2 hours, President Obama is going walk to the middle of the Nationals Park diamond and throw out the first pitch. A few minutes later, the Nationals will start their season against Roy Halladay and the...
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Adam Kilgore
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April 4, 2010; 9:45 AM ET |
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