Nationals Journal - Daily news and commentary on the Washington Nationals - July 4, 2010

Jesus Flores suffers another setback, to halt throwing program for three days

Jesus Flores's long, frustrating recovery from a shoulder injury included another setback this week. General Manager Mike Rizzo announced after Saturday's 10-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants that the Nationals' catcher's throwing program will be shut down for three...

By Zach Berman | July 10, 2010; 11:47 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (25)
Tags: Jesus Flores
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Game 88 discussion thread: Nationals vs. Giants

The Nationals held the Giants scoreless in the top of the first to break a franchise-long streak of nine games in which the team allowed a run in the first inning. After a two-run first inning, the Nationals could not...

By Zach Berman | July 10, 2010; 7:13 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (40)

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Jordan Zimmermann continues to target mid-August return

Jordan Zimmermann said he's always been a quick healer, pointing to his two-month recovery from a broken jaw as an example. When the promising right-handed pitcher received Tommy John surgery last August and was told his recovery would take 12-18...

By Zach Berman | July 10, 2010; 6:44 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Tags: Jordan Zimmermann
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Post all-star break rotation materializing

Manager Jim Riggleman is close to setting his initial starting five when the Nationals return from the all-star break. On Friday, he revealed that Stephen Strasburg will the start the first game with Livan Hernandez starting the second game. On...

By Zach Berman | July 10, 2010; 6:33 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Craig Stammen , Livan Hernandez , Pitching rotation , Stephen Strasburg
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Justin Maxwell enters third stint with Nationals in 2010

Outfielder Justin Maxwell, who has played 21 games with the Nationals over two stints, returned to the team from Class AAA Syracuse on Saturday and earned the start in center field. Manager Jim Riggleman wanted to give starter Nyjer Morgan...

By Zach Berman | July 10, 2010; 6:11 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Justin Maxwell | Tags: Justin Maxwell
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Saturday's Lineups

The rain has subsided, so the tarp covering the field should be off in a few moments. It's Craig Stammen vs. Jonathan Sanchez in the Nationals' efforts to win four out of five games for the first time since May...

By Zach Berman | July 10, 2010; 3:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)

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Today's lineups

In his first day up from Class AAA Syracuse, Justin Maxwell will get an immediate start in center field and batting leading, giving Nyjer Morgan the day off against Giants left-hander Barry Zito Jonathan Sanchez. Michael Morse also gets a...

By Adam Kilgore | July 10, 2010; 2:23 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)

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Adam Dunn is on a tear for the Nationals

There is a remarkable stat that says quite a bit about Adam Dunn and his career. For the past eight seasons, Dunn has hit at least 20 home runs before the all-star break. Dunn was named an all-star none of...

By Adam Kilgore | July 10, 2010; 11:31 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (31)
Categories: Adam Dunn
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Game 87 discussion thread: Nationals vs. Giants

The Nationals' lineup obviously is not the most potent they could run out against Matt Cain and his 2.98 ERA. It came about for a couple reasons. First, Ivan Rodriguez had caught three straight games. Manager Jim Riggleman is sticking...

By Adam Kilgore | July 9, 2010; 6:50 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (49)

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Luis Atilano optioned, will make his next major league start

The Nationals optioned rookie starter Luis Atilano to Class AAA Syracuse, where Atilano will pitch Thursday in order to remain sharp over the all-star break. Atilano will rejoin the Nationals after the all-star break and start in Cincinnati. The Nationals...

By Adam Kilgore | July 9, 2010; 6:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Justin Maxwell scratched in Syracuse

Outfielder Justin Maxwell is a late scratch tonight for Class AAA Syracuse, according to a source in Syracuse. This could mean a few different things. As soon as more details are available, we'll pass them along....

By Adam Kilgore | July 9, 2010; 5:22 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)

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Stephen Strasburg will start first game after all-star break

Stephen Strasburg will start the Nationals' first game after the all-star break at the Florida Marlins and then remain on a typical schedule for the remainder of the season, Manager Jim Riggleman said. The Nationals are beginning their second half...

By Adam Kilgore | July 9, 2010; 4:25 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Pitching rotation , Stephen Strasburg
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In-game chat: Nationals vs. Giants

Join Dave Sheinin and Gene Wang later for a discussion about tonight's game between the Washington Nationals and the San Francisco Giants, pitcher Stephen Strasburg's seventh start for the Nats. Strasburg's seventh start...

By Alexa Steele | July 9, 2010; 4:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Stephen Strasburg
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A quick Nationals draft update

After the Nationals signed three draft choices, including third-round shortstop Rick Hague, yesterday, the main targets of Bryce Harper and pitchers Sammy Solis and A.J. Cole remained. The Nationals believe the negotiations for their three marquee picks - the first...

By Adam Kilgore | July 9, 2010; 4:02 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)

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Today's lineups

The Nationals have given Stephen Strasburg a degree of difficulty in order to pick up his third victory. With Josh Willingham, Ian Desmond and Ivan Rodriguez out of the lineup, the Nationals have an unusual bottom half of their lineup,...

By Adam Kilgore | July 9, 2010; 3:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (31)

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Nationals look to Stephen Strasburg for another lift

Just when the Washington Nationals had an opportunity to amass a three-game winning streak and continue making their way back toward .500, they ran into another hot pitcher, this time San Diego's Mat Latos. In their 7-1 home loss...

By Gene Wang | July 9, 2010; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Stephen Strasburg
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Game 86 discussion thread: Padres at Nationals

The Nationals will try for their first sweep of San Diego since 2003, when the franchise was still in Montreal. It's been nearly a month since Washington has swept a series. The last time it did was June 8-10 against...

By Gene Wang | July 8, 2010; 7:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (23)
Categories: Adam Dunn , Josh Willingham , Ryan Zimmerman
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Nationals agree to terms with three picks

The Washington Nationals announced today they have agreed to terms with three players selected in this year's draft. They are shortstop Rick Hague, right fielder Kevin Keyes and left fielder Randolph Oduber. Hague, taken in the third round, is the...

By Gene Wang | July 8, 2010; 6:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: draft
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Ryan Zimmerman finishes second in final All-Star vote

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman fell just short in his bid to make a second straight All-Star team, finishing runner-up to Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto in the four-day fan voting for the 34th and final spot. Votto led the...

By Gene Wang | July 8, 2010; 6:47 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Ryan Zimmerman
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Nats try to get Adam Kennedy more involved

Among the more pressing assignments for Nationals Manager Jim Riggleman has been trying to get middle infielder Adam Kennedy more consistent chances to contribute. But with the club primarily using Cristian Guzman at second and at times at shortstop in...

By Gene Wang | July 8, 2010; 4:16 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Adam Kennedy , Cristian Guzman , Ian Desmond , middle infield
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Starting lineups

Here are the lineups for today's game between the Padres and Nationals at Nationals Park: Padres Hairston Jr., 2B Headley, 3B Gozalez, 1B S. Hairston, LF Torrealba, C Cunningham, RF Denofria, CF Cabrera, SS Latos, RHP Nationals Morgan, CF Bernadina,...

By Alexa Steele | July 8, 2010; 4:06 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)

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The Nationals offense comes alive

Adam Dunn felt like the Nationals offense owed their pitching staff. "Our offense," he said, "has been pretty much stinking it up." When Dunn hit three home runs last night, his personal burst coincided with a rare spurt of...

By Adam Kilgore | July 8, 2010; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (44)

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Game 85 discussion thread: Nationals vs. Padres

The Nationals are putting the full-court press on trying to get Ryan Zimmerman to the All-Star Game. During the first inning tonight, Redskins London Fletcher and Brian Orakpo appeared on the Nationals Park video board and urged fans to vote...

By Adam Kilgore | July 7, 2010; 7:25 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (38)

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For Rick and David Eckstein, this series is a family affair

David and Rick Eckstein will share the field at Nationals Park tonight, David as the San Diego Padres' second baseman and Rick as the Nationals' hitting coach. Both of them have reached their position because of one encounter a decade...

By Adam Kilgore | July 7, 2010; 7:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Stephen Strasburg's first second-half start is still being decided

The Nationals are still deliberating as to when Stephen Strasburg will make his first start of the second half of the season. Manager Jim Riggleman and General Manager Mike Rizzo discussed Strasburg's schedule yesterday and came up with two scenarios....

By Adam Kilgore | July 7, 2010; 6:19 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Stephen Strasburg
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Tyler Walker will return after all-star break

Reliever Tyler Walker could be activated from the 15-day disabled list today, but, of course, he won't. Walker had hoped to be ready to return to the Washington Nationals by now, but he still has yet to throw off of...

By Adam Kilgore | July 7, 2010; 6:17 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tyler Walker , bullpen
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Today's lineups

Roger Bernadina returns to the field after sitting out a few days to heal up stiffness in his lower back. Adam Kennedy also gets a start at second base. Nationals 1. Nyjer Morgan, CF 2. Roger Bernadina, RF 3. Ryan...

By Adam Kilgore | July 7, 2010; 3:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (15)

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Video: Matt Capps on all-star news

By Alexa Steele | July 7, 2010; 1:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)

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The Drew Storen-Tyler Clippard debate and how Ryan Zimmerman made it moot

Nats pitchers battle through eighth inning

By Adam Kilgore | July 7, 2010; 12:07 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (52)

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Game 84 discussion thread: Nationals vs. Padres

If not for interleague play, the Nationals would have a much better record. The Nats went 5-13 in interleague play, third-worst in the league, and are 31-34 against the National League. They are .500 against the East and the Central...

By Adam Kilgore | July 6, 2010; 7:11 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (25)

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Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Young team up on All-Star Game final vote

In trying to win the final vote to make the All-Star Game, Ryan Zimmerman will use some outside help. The Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals teamed up and encouraged fans who vote for Michael Young in the American League to...

By Adam Kilgore | July 6, 2010; 6:56 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Ryan Zimmerman
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Stephen Strasburg thinks he didn't deserve the All-Star Game

It seems everyone in the baseball world had offered their opinion on whether Stephen Strasburg belongs in the All-Star Game except for Strasburg himself. This afternoon, Strasburg shared his view and sided with those who believe he has not accomplished...

By Adam Kilgore | July 6, 2010; 6:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)

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Ryan Zimmerman still trails Joey Votto

Reds first baseman Joey Votto still leads the National League "Final Vote" ahead of Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and the other three candidates after two days of voting. Last night, Zimmerman "narrowly" trailed Votto and stood in second place....

By Adam Kilgore | July 6, 2010; 3:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)

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Jim Riggleman assists the Wounded Warrior program

A few months ago, a representative from the Wounded Warrior Project reached out to Nationals Manager Jim Riggleman about taping a public service announcement for the organization. Riggleman agreed under one condition: He wanted some of the wounded veterans to...

By Adam Kilgore | July 6, 2010; 2:56 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Jim Riggleman
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Nationals Journal: July 4, 2010 - July 10, 2010