Are Bryce Harper and Mike Trout the MLB's Next Best Thing?

Source: Bleacher Report

Bryce Harper, the former 2010 No. 1 pick, has finally gotten his shot at the major leagues.

Mike Trout is also getting his chance to shine after being selected 25th overall by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2009 draft.

Both stars lead a new generation of up and coming young players that will be the future of baseball.

The question is now, who is going to lead the pack?

Bryce Harper was the Nationals' second-straight first overall pick behind Stephen Strasburg. He originally played catcher, but the Nationals moved him to the outfield because they wanted to extend his career and help improve his development quicker.

After two years of Arizona Fall league and minor league ball, Harper was designated to their Triple-A team at the start of 2012. On April 27, Harper was called up to the Nationals due to the injury of Ryan Zimmerman.

Harper hit his first major league home run off Tim Stauffer on May 14. He became the youngest player since Adrian Beltre to hit a home run in the majors.

Here is what Bleacher Report's Twitter page had to say about Harper's first home run:

Only 762 more for the record RT @MLB: BREAKING: Bryce Harper has launched his first @MLB home run. Video most certainly to come.

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 15, 2012

The next wave of young talent is center fielder Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels.

Trout was drafted by the Angels 25th overall in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft. After spending his first few years in the minors, Trout was called up on July 8, 2011 to make his major league debut.

He went 0-3 that night.

It took Trout 16 days after his debut to hit his first major league home run. Trout was sent back to the minors only to be called up again in late August.

Trout started the 2012 season in Double-A, but was called up on April 28 to replace the struggling Booby Abreu.

Ever since that night, Trout has become the regular center field for the Angels.

Bryce Harper may have more pop in his bat than Trout, but power isn't everything. Trout has always had a good, consistent swing that will get him on base and score runs for his team.

Harper has always been known for the long ball.

Back when Harper was playing for the College of Southern Nevada, he hit 31 home runs in 66 games. In the final game of the 2010 NJCAA World Series, Harper went 6-for-6 with four home runs, a triple and a double.

What Trout lacks in power he makes up for with speed.

Trout can get on base and when he does, you had better watch out cause he could swipe bases with his tremendous speed. In 2010 while playing in the minors, Trout stole a combined 56 bases that year between the two leagues he played in.

He also did that in just 131 games. That translates to nearly 70 bases over the course of a 162-game MLB season.

Both Mike Trout and Bryce Harper have very few things in common besides playing the outfield position, but the one thing they do have in common is superstar potential. Both of these players are poised to have long and successful careers as they lead the new generation of rookies.

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Desmond's power

Source: Nationals Baseball

Last night, in his 36th game of the year, Ian Desmond hit his 5th homerun of the season.  Last year, in 154 games, he had 8 homers. The year before that in 154 games, he had 10 homers.  Ian also has 11 doubles, compared to the 27 he had in both of the past two years.  Projecting out for a whole season Ian would hit around 22 homers and have almost 50 doubles. Is this power surge for real?

Let's be frank here. Ian's value is coming from that power.  His average is ok (.276 right now) but that can almost directly be attributed to the increase in power.  A couple homers turn into fly balls and he's hitting .264.  Ian also doesn't walk and that stat is worse than ever.  His walk rate is an abysmal 3.5%.  He's seeing a ridiculously small number of pitchers per at bat (3.27, 2nd lowest in the NL).  So, even though he's hitting over 20 points higher than last year, he's a bad at bat away from matching last year's OBP.

But this is all ok if he keeps slugging like he has been. Don't get me wrong, Ian is not a league leader in slugging, not even close. But this power bump turns Ian into a useful offensive player rather than the lineup hole he has been.  Can he keep this up?

His minor league stats would suggest it's possible. He had isoSLG of .168 his third go round in A+ ball, and .188 his third season in AA. His .172 right now looks reasonable in light of that.

There's nothing currently odd about his major league numbers right now either. BABIP is at .313 - about what he did the past two years. HR/FB rate is at 10.4% - higher than the past 2 years but not abnormal (like the 17.4% he had in his brief rookie stint).  That alone wouldn't explain the power surge, but Desmond is also hitting far less ground balls and a lot more fly ones (and a few more line drives).  True, flyballs tend to be outs a little more often than ground balls, but they also, with line drives, are where the power comes from.  He's swinging a lot more (both his in-the-strike-zone and out-of-the-strike-zone swing percentages are up) but his strike out rate is down a bit. So it doesn't seem to be an issue with strike zone judgement spurring this on.

I don't see anything necessarily funny here. Chances are Desmond is sitting dead red and pouncing on anything that he thinks might be a decent pitch to hit trying to drive it up and out. Most of his XBH have come off of FBs and he seems to do the best versus FBs and sliders. He is seeing less straight fastballs this year but they are mostly being replaced with cut fastballs which Ian is handling just fine. There is a chance of regression here. Given his current swing tendencies, fastballs and sliders further out of the zone, or a mix of a lot more off-speed junk could have Ian flailing away again.

Tentatively, though, I think Ian may have found a niche where he can survive in the majors. It's important to understand a couple things here. Because he gets on base so infrequently, this power bump does not make him a good offensive player, merely one you can accept having in your lineup.  Also, he's not a complete batter so like I said pitchers could figure him out. But given that Ian is not terribly threatening, and is in that position ahead of some hitters they'd rather not face with men on, chances are pitchers are going to pitch him like they pitch everyone else. That means a couple of fast pitches in/near the strike zone in every at bat and for Ian that means a couple chances at the big hit that's making him a useful part of this lineup.

Washington Nationals Call on the 'Goon Squad' When They Need a Hit Man

Source: Bleacher Report

Since the first week of the MLB season, MASN color analyst F.P. Santangelo has been using an interesting nickname for the Washington Nationals bench players and pinch hitters.  He calls them "The Goon Squad."

So far, the Goon Squad's weapon of choice has been the baseball bat. 

Through Tuesday's game, the Nationals pinch hitters have a total of only 44 at-bats, which ranks 12th of the 16 teams in the NL.  Their 12 pinch hits put them in seventh in the Senior Circuit.  The Nationals' two pinch-hit home runs, however, are tied for third and their 10 pinch-hit RBI are best in the National League. 

The biggest of the "goons" is Chad Tracy, who actually created the alias.  This professional hitter barely made the club out of spring training.  Like several members of the "Goon Squad," Tracy benefited from injuries to projected Opening Day starters like Michael Morse and Rick Ankiel. 

Tracy has made the most of his opportunity as a goon. Chad is now 5-for-14 in pinch-hit situations.  This means that his average as a pinch-hitter is .357.  How appropriate. Tracy also has one pinch-hit home run, along with six of the Nationals' 10 pinch-hit RBI. 

Chad set the tone early for the rest of the goons in the season's opening series against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago.  On Opening Day, Tracy led off the ninth inning with a double, and scored the winning run. 

The next day, Tracy won the game with a two-run single, again in the ninth inning.  He had cemented his reputation as the head goon. 

 

Here is a look at the Nationals' other henchmen:

• Steve Lombardozzi: The newest recruit to the Goon Squad, Lombardozzi was probably the last National to make the team out of spring training.  Steve played 13 games last season as a September call-up, and this season he is learning the ropes with the goons.  He is 1-for-7 off the bench.
• Rick Ankiel: Ankiel's season started later than expected, missing the first eight games while healing from an injury.  Ankiel is known for his defensive skills, but he's pretty handy with the bat, too.  He is 1-for-3 as a pinch hitter with an RBI. 
• Roger Bernadina: With a deep outfield, "The Shark" has been forced to come off the bench.  So far, he is devouring his victims, going 2-for-6 with an RBI as a pinch hitter.
• Xavier Nady: Once an everyday player, Nady has been a role player ever since leaving Pittsburgh during the 2008 season.  But even off the bench, Nady is a good hitter.  He has become Tracy's right-hand man, as he is 2-for-6 with a solo home run when a hit has been ordered. 

 

Thanks to the Goon Squad, the Washington Nationals are killing the opposition. 

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Good Henry showed up!

Source: The Nationals Enquirer by ck

(No worries in the 9th: MPH-Rod showed up Wednesday night.)

"We believe in Henry 100 percent. The only one who can hurt Henry is himself."
(Gio Gonzalez, via Washington Post, 5/17/2012)

Nationals 7, Pirates 4: Gio strikes out 10, Bryce Harper collects first triple, Ian Desmond, Adam LaRoche (3-4, 4 RBI) & Xavier Nady go deep, and Henry Rodriguez didn't blow a 3-run lead in the 9th.

Hey, first place again. Life is good.

(Screengrab via MLB.TV/MASN.)

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Nationals Power Their Way To A 7-4 Win Over The Pirates

Source: The Nats Blog

The Washington Nationals powered their way through to a 7-4 win last night over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park. The win helped the squad improve the 23-14 on the season, which means they once again sit atop the National League East.

Despite allowing the most earned runs in an outing since his ugly April 7 debut, Gio Gonzalez looked strong Wednesday night through the majority of his start. In total he gave up just four hits, but those hits were well timed as they resulted in three earned runs against the hurler. Gonzalez finished the night with 10 strikeouts, four hits, and two walks in 10 innings pitched. He now leads the National League with 60 K's on the year.

The solo homer was the savior for Washington offensively last night. Ian Desmond, Adam LaRoche, and Xavier Nady all went yard last night. Bryce Harper was also just several feet away from joining the club during his first at bat, instead earning his first major league triple. Washington needed every run they could get as they allowed Pittsburgh to put four runs on the board, but a hot night at the plate from LaRoche and some good base running from Harper helped the club slug out the victory.

Some Thoughts:

- It's a shame that Gonzalez gave up a home run to Josh Harrison in the top of the seventh inning last night. Had he retired the side it would have marked the seventh straight start in which he had allowed two or fewer runs, which is more than any other Washington starter could claim. The home run was a fluke, and judging by Gio's comments after the game it was clear he knew he just made a silly mistake by leaving the ball hanging in the zone. Harrison had been hitting just .188 entering the game, and had only one career home run in 82 career games. Aside from the one hanger, Gonzalez was as nasty as ever.

- LaRoche was a triple away from the cycle last night, which, knowing his speed, is the closest he will ever get to hitting for the cycle. Nevertheless, it's clear that he is seeing the ball great right now and has no problem driving it to all fields. LaRoche is typically a pull hitter, so teams like the Pirates put a shift on him. How did he respond? One single down the third base line with no infielder anywhere in the same zip code. On double that found the sweet spot in the right field shift. And one home run, which, of course, the shift cant stop. He is now hitting .339/.429/.595 with seven home runs and 29 RBI.

- Tyler Moore got the start last night and went 0-3 before being replaced by Rick Ankiel for defense. I think, like most fans, I'm still confused as to why he is up with the Major League club. It's clear to me that playing once every week or week and a half is not helping his development at all, so why doesn't the team just let him play every day in Triple-A? I'd much rather have a confident and ready Tyler Moore in September than one that only sees live pitching once in a blue moon.

- Bryce Harper misplayed two more balls in the outfield last night. One was on a low liner that freezed him up. He let it play on one hop and then dropped it when trying to throw a runner out at home. The other first was a routine fly ball, which he did catch, but he clearly took a bad route to the ball and almost let it sail over his head. Watching him play outfield will continue to be an adventure, but I honestly thing that in another year or two he has the ability to be one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball.

Henry Rodriguez bounces back after Davey Johnson backs up his words

Source: The Washington Post by Adam Kilgore

Manager Davey Johnson talked with Henry Rodriguez on Wednesday afternoon. Johnson asked him about his family and how he felt, speaking in Spanish; “it keeps me in practice,” Johnson said. Johnson had told reporters Rodriguez remained his closer, but he felt no need to tell Rodriguez.

Read full article >>

Featured Advertiser

Source: The Washington Post

Washington Nationals: Keep the Train Moving

Source: Bleacher Report

In almost any case, when you miss important pieces of your roster like the Nationals have experienced, you would like think they would be at the bottom of the food chain.

Michael Morse, Drew Storen, Jayson Werth, utility man Mark DeRosa, Brad Lidge, Wilson Ramos and Chien Ming-Wang are all on the DL.

Ramos tragically tore his ACL last week. (What a rough six months for that guy. I feel terrible for him.) They are also without a closer, and fill-in Henry Rodriguez is causing me heart palpitations.

Well, the team is surviving anyway. Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez appear destined for the All-Star Game in Kansas City. Adam LaRoche, who was once a notorious “slow starter,” has been singlehandedly carrying the team’s offense, and phenom Bryce Harper is already the talk of the town.

The first place Nationals are doing this with their $100 million man Ryan Zimmerman batting .222 with only one home run.

I know it’s early, and this isn’t a “we’re going to win the NL East!” type of column. This is just a simple observation. Despite everything this young team has endured, the Nationals are enjoyable to watch and more importantly, winning ballgames.

Obviously, this team has been carried by their dominant pitching staff, who are finally getting the credit they deserve. I will predict one thing: We will see a no-hitter at some point this season. I got my money on Jordan Zimmerman.

The biggest question is, can they keep this up? Two years ago they had a record of 25-20. As soon as the fan base was starting to get excited, and the Nationals were being mentioned nationally, they took a nosedive.

Well, the team is two years wiser, and the talent has since then skyrocketed. So to answer my previous question, sure they can keep it up. When you pitch this well, the possibilities are limitless, but they can’t do this throughout the season.

Soon enough Ryan Zimmerman will climb back up to his .280-.300 batting average. Michael Morse is set to return in less than a month, and Bryce Harper appears to be getting better every game. If big bats like those three hitters start doing what they are paid to do, then I’ll start talking playoffs.

I’m waiting for the Phillies to catch fire. The Braves are going neck and neck with us already. The Mets have been overachieving thus far, and the Miami Marlins have been steadily improving after their slow start.

In other words, they’ll have company and competition. Those are the series that will need to be taken care of. They need to beat the Phillies away with Roy Halladay pitching. They have to prevent from trailing against the Braves with their incredible bullpen, and they can’t let Miami get on base.

Of course that’s all easier said than done, but what do the Nationals have that the rest of the divisions don’t? Davey Johnson. That’s right, I would take Davey over any of the other managers. His experience, patience and in-game strategy has kept the train moving.

Let’s wait until the All-Star break (a little over two months from now) and see where the team is at. There, we can realistically start making some accurate projections. As of now, just staying the course is what is important.

They have to play smart baseball, continue their timely hitting and maintain their pitching dominance.

I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the continuing apathy I have noticed towards this franchise. I know I’m being impatient because I’m finally starting to see positive results, but the city of Washington is easily amused and the ballplayers deserve to play in front of a crowd that cares a little bit more.

There are not enough Thomas Boswell’s in the area to educate us on the beauty of baseball. (He’s a writer for the Washington Post, and the best baseball writer in the country. He is also my journalistic hero.) That being said, this is a difficult task for the Nationals' marketing team and owner.

The team was left for dead in Montreal and pretty much avoided in Washington until three years ago. How can we expect 40,000 people to show up to over 80 games?

Well, a few things: It is widely known that baseball is not played in urban areas, which is exactly where the ballpark is built. So that’s one difficulty. Additionally, I believe baseball is not “cool” anymore to young people. If you live in the Maryland, Virginia and DC area, that should make sense to you.

Lacrosse has surpassed the national pastime in this area, as young Washingtonians seem more likely to pick up a lacrosse stick than to learn how to swing a bat.

While I’m not demeaning the sport of lacrosse, it’s sad to see that. Baseball is unlike any sport that we watch in this country. The tradition, unwritten laws, history and superstition of the sport make it beyond interesting to me.

A team sport that is so individually oriented makes it a perfect paradox, yet watching a small ball launch over 300 feet is one of the most exciting plays to witness in any sport.

To quote one of my favorite sports movies, Moneyball, “It’s hard not to be romantic about baseball.” I couldn’t agree with that statement more. I just hope more people realize that soon.

Read more Washington Nationals news on BleacherReport.com

Improved Nats ready to face Interleague foes

Source: MLB.com by Bill Ladson

Interleague Play starts Friday night, with the Nationals facing the Orioles in the Battle of the Beltways at Nationals Park.

Young righties set to duel in series finale in DC

Source: MLB.com by James Walker

Thursday's finale of a two-game series between the Pirates and Nationals will feature a matchup of two of the top young pitching talents in the Major Leagues.

Bryce Harper Should Be Invited to Participate in the 2012 Home Run Derby

Source: Bleacher Report

The 2012 Home Run Derby at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals, may not be until July 9, but that doesn't mean we can't start making some predictions, right?

While Bryce Harper may be just a 19-year-old rookie outfielder with less than three weeks of experience, I think it would be great for the game of baseball and its fans if he participated in this season's Home Run Derby.

He may have just two home runs on the season (through May 16), but there's no denying his ridiculous amount of power.

Proof?

Yeah, I can give you proof. Just click here to be amazed.

See? Harper can clearly hit some massive blasts. Those you just saw may have been hit with an aluminum bat, but the pure power he possesses could still result in some bombs.

Sammy Sosa currently owns the longest Home Run Derby shot in history at 528 feet, and I have a feeling that Harper could challenge that mark if he participates.

Having Harper participate in the contest would likely attract many more fans to the stadium for the weekend's festivities and would likely make TV ratings improve as well.

Bud Selig and Co. would get the perfect opportunity to market the game's next great star during the nationally televised event, and his likely success would only help to improve his popularity.

Then again, I could definitely understand why MLB may not want to include him.

Having a 19-year-old rookie show up 10-year veterans may not lead to Harper's popularity within the game, so we may not see Harper in the event for a few seasons.

I think it would be pretty exciting to see him compete in 2012, though.

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Season officially over for Nationals' Ramos (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

It's official -- the Washington Nationals won't get starting catcher Wilson Ramos back until next season.

Pirates-Nationals Preview (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Jordan Zimmermann has been a big part of the Washington Nationals' success on the mound.

LaRoche gets well-earned praise

Source: CSN Washington

Booed last year and nearly kicked to the curb over the winter, Adam LaRoche is now the glue holding together the Nationals' lineup.

NL Capsules (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

ATLANTA (AP) Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and possibly saved two runs with a diving catch and the Miami Marlins beat the Braves 8-4 on Wednesday night, adding another win to their impressive May record.

Bryce Harper Triples as Gio Gonzalez, Adam LaRoche Help Nats Reclaim 1st Place

Source: Bleacher Report

The Washington Nationals were a half a game back behind the Atlanta Braves entering action Wednesday. At the end of the night, the Nats would find themselves atop the division as they have been most of the season.

The Nats took care of the Pittsburgh Pirates behind Adam Laroche's three hits and four RBI, Bryce Harper's first career triple and Gio Gonzalez's arm.

Washington led 3-2 in the sixth inning when LaRoche connected for a solo blast to give the Nationals a 3-1 lead. Xavier Nady followed LaRoche's home run with a solo shot of his own to make it 4-1.

The Pirates pulled to within one on a Josh Harrison two-run home run in the seventh inning. 

When it looked like things might get away from the Nats, LaRoche stepped up again with a bases clearing double in the bottom of the seventh.

While LaRoche powered the Nationals' offense, Gonzalez silenced the Pirates' bats.

Gonzalez pitched seven strong innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out 10 and walking two. He is proving that he can help lead the Nats to the playoffs this season, as he has improved to 5-1.

Henry Rodriguez, who has been shaky to say the least, was solid in the ninth inning. He struck out a batter and did not allow a baserunner. It was his ninth save of the season.

Harper did not hit a home run, but he did hit a triple in the first inning and scored on a Ryan Zimmerman ground ball. Harper added a walk and another run in the game.

With the Atlanta Braves losing, it allowed the Nationals to take over first place yet again in the NL East. 

The Nationals are not going to go away anytime soon, and this was an important bounce-back win early in the season.

Washington improves to 14-5 in D.C. this season; only the LA Dodgers, 16-4, have a better home record in the NL.

 

Follow @NargOnSports

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Cut4: Nats host Military Appreciation Night

Source: MLB.com

Game 37: 100 and 1000

Source: Federal Baseball by Doghouse

Tonight's game story: ALR gets 1,000th hit in Nats win.

Via FanGraphs

Minor Stumbles: Gio Gonzalez (+11.4%) goes 7IP with 10 Ks and 2 BBs, but the 3 ER makes it a shaky outing--for him, at least.
Mr. One Thousand:

Mike Morse delivers shaving cream pie to Xavier Nady's face

Source: The Nationals Enquirer by ck

This must be Natitude. Xavier Nady hit his 100th career home run on Wednesday night. And after the game, Mike Morse blew up Nady's post-game interview on MASN with a shaving cream pie to Nady's face.

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Gio fans 10, LaRoche rakes in win over Bucs

Source: MLB.com by Bill Ladson

First baseman Adam LaRoche drove in four runs and reached a personal milestone, which helped the Nationals defeat the Pirates, 7-4, at Nationals Park on Wednesday night.

Mike Morse delivers shaving cream pie to the face of Xavier Nady

Source: The Nationals Enquirer by ck

Xavier Nady hit his 100th career home run on Wednesday night. And so, after the game, Mike Morse blew up Nady's post-game interview on MASN with a shaving cream pie to the face.

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Washington Nationals Win, 7-4 Over Pittsburgh Pirates. Adam LaRoche Collects 1,000th Career Hit.

Source: Federal Baseball by Patrick Reddington

• McCutchen vs Harper: Pittsburgh Pirates' center fielder Andrew McCutchen was 6 for 9 with two home runs and three walks in three games last week when the Washington Nationals visited PNC Park. The 25-year-old '05 1st Round pick waited on an 80 mph 0-1 curve in his first at bat tonight, and ripped a two-out single through short, but Nats' left-hander Gio Gonzalez struck Casey McGehee with a 94 mph 1-2 fastball outside to strand the Pirates' runner at

Instant analysis: Nats 7, Pirates 4

Source: CSN Washington

Gio Gonzalez was lights-out for seven innings, striking out 10 to take over the MLB lead as the Nats held off the Pirates.

LaRoche, Gonzalez lead Nationals past Pirates 7-4 (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) Adam LaRoche broke open a tight game with a three-run double for his 1,000th career hit after homering for No. 999, and Gio Gonzalez took over the NL strikeout lead from teammate Stephen Strasburg by fanning 10 in seven innings Wednesday night, leading the Washington Nationals past the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4.

NL East Notes: Wang, Nationals, Phillies, Mets

Source: MLB Trade Rumors by Zach Links

Some intra-divisional action in the National League East tonight as the Braves and Marlins are underway in Miami.  More out of the division..

• Nationals hurler Chien-Ming Wang told reporters, including Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, that he'd be willing to move into the bullpen when he returns to the majors.  However, Kilgore writes that the Nats are unlikely to ask him to do that.  Washington currently has a surplus of starting pitching with Ross Detwiler in the fifth spot and John Lannan in Triple-A.
• Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) writes that the Phillies should make trades to replenish their thin farm system.  Acquisitions such as Cliff Lee and Hunter Pence have cost them youth but moving potential free agents Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino could change that if they decide against signing them.  Bowden also opines that the Red Sox should explore the trade market.
• Mets owner Fred Wilpon may be iffy on David Wright as a superstar, but he would like him as a son-in-law, tweets David Lennon of Newsday.  "If I had another daughter, I’d love if she married a David Wright," said Wilpon.

National League notebook -- Wednesday, May 16, 2012 (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Arizona: RHP Daniel Hudson (shoulder) pitched against Oakland in an extended spring training game, his first game since going on the disabled list after an April 18 start. If Hudson recovers well, he is expected to make a rehab start for Class AAA Reno on Monday with an eye toward rejoining the D-backs the last week of May. ... CF Chris Young (shoulder) finished his three-game rehab assignment at high-A Visalia (Calif.) with a .308 average, three doubles and seven RBI. He has been out since April 17.

Lawrie joins list of baseball's wildest rants (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Helmet tossing and bat banging have become all the rage, it seems. Yet suspended Toronto infielder Brett Lawrie and injured Washington teen phenom Bryce Harper still have a long way to go before hitting our list of baseball's wildest rants and raves.

Storen throwing, Ramos waiting

Source: CSN Washington

Drew Storen talks about throwing for the first time since having elbow surgery, while Wilson Ramos talks about waiting to undergo his season-ending knee surgery.

Storen throws without feeling any pain

Source: MLB.com

Nationals closer Drew Storen, who is on the disabled list after a procedure to remove a bone chip in his right elbow, made 100 throws on flat ground on Wednesday at Nationals Park without feeling any pain.

Wang says he's open to working out of 'pen

Source: MLB.com

Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang is expected have one more rehab start, on Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse, before he is activated from the disabled list.

Ramos vows to return healthy next season

Source: MLB.com

Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos spoke to the media at Nationals Park on Wednesday. It marked the first time he had spoken publicly since he tore his right ACL going after a passed ball against the Reds this past Saturday.

Nats vs. Pirates LIVE game thread

Source: CSN Washington

Join the conversation and follow the game with Nats Insider Mark Zuckerman right now from Nationals Park.

Nat's vs. Padres LIVE game thread

Source: CSN Washington

Join the conversation and follow the game with Nats Insider Mark Zuckerman right now from Nationals Park.

Drew Storen tosses, still aiming for return around the all-star break

Source: The Washington Post by Adam Kilgore

Embattled closer Henry Rodriguez could have the night off again tonight, Manager Davey Johnson said, depending on the situation. Rodriguez has felt some tightness in his right forearm recently, a person familiar with the situation said, but the Nationals do not view it as anything more than typical soreness.

Read full article >>

Nationals-Pirates discussion thread: Game 37

Source: The Washington Post by Adam Kilgore

The Nationals lost 2 for 3 in Pittsburgh last week, and tonight they’ll start a quick two-game set against them at Nationals Park. They’re blue jerseys tonight because it’s Military Appreciation Night at the yard. At home this season, Gio Gonzalez has allowed one earned run in 21 innings with 22 strikeouts and three walks over three starts, all Nationals wins. Talk about the game here.

Read full article >>

Washington Nationals vs Pittsburgh Pirates: GameThread 37 Of 162.

Source: Federal Baseball by Patrick Reddington

ns enter Nationals Park during openinig day between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals on April 12, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)" height="150" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/4055435/142808017_extra_large.jpg" width="450" />

Next Game

Pittsburgh Pirates
@ Washington Nationals

Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 7:05 PM EDT
Nationals Park

Erik Bedard vs

Nationals RHP Wang says he's willing to relieve (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang says he's willing to pitch in relief - as unlikely as it seems the team would ask him to - when he joins the Washington Nationals after what should be one more start in the minors.

Harpers 2nd HR cant save Nats

Source: CSN Washington

A disastrous first inning that included the unfortunate placement of some ointment on Stephen Strasburg resulted in a 6-1 loss to San Diego.

Wilson Ramos to have surgery on torn ACL in two or three weeks, out for the season

Source: The Washington Post by Adam Kilgore

Wilson Ramos confirmed he will miss the rest of the season, and will have surgery to repair his torn right ACL in two or three weeks, he said this afternoon outside the Nationals’ clubhouse. Ramos said he suffered no other damage other than the ACL, and the injury should be behind him by next spring training.

Read full article >>

Wang ready to return to Nats

Source: CSN Washington

Chien-Ming Wang says he's fully recovered from his hamstring injury, but the Nationals want the right-hander to make at least one more rehab start.

Chien-Ming Wang would pitch in relief if the Nationals asked, but they probably won’t

Source: The Washington Post by Adam Kilgore

Chien-Ming Wang threw in the Nationals Park bullpen in front of Nationals coaches today, his first appearance in Washington this year as he has rehabbed from a strained right hamstring. Wang will join the Nationals soon, after he makes one more rehab start with Class AAA Syracuse.

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Pirates recall RHP Meek, option OF Presley (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) The Pittsburgh Pirates have recalled right-hander Evan Meek from Triple-A Indianapolis before Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals and optioned slumping outfielder Alex Presley to the minors.

Tonight’s Nationals-Pirates lineups

Source: The Washington Post by Adam Kilgore

With a left-hander, Erik Bedard, on the mound tonight for Pittsburgh, Davey Johnson moved Bryce Harper to second in the order and inserted Xavier Nady and Tyler Moore into the lineup, on the corners in the outfield. By the way: the Nationals will let Gio Gonzalez hit tonight after his sore right hand relegated him to bunting only in his previous start.

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Washington Nationals' Wednesday Lineup; Injury Updates On Chien-Ming Wang, Drew Storen And More.

Source: Federal Baseball by Patrick Reddington

The last time Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson went with a right-hand heavy lineup to face Pittsburgh Pirates' lefty Erik Bedard, a week ago today in PNC Park, the 33-year-old Bucs' starter left the game after an inning, and a parade of right-handed relievers took over and combined to hold the Nats' bats to two runs on five hits in a 4-2 Pirates' win. Bedard's expected to be back on the mound tonight in Nationals Park for the first game of a quick two-game set in the nation's capital and the Nats' 69-year-old skipper is going

Gio tries to get Nats back on track

Source: CSN Washington

After a frustrating loss to the Padres on Tuesday, Gio Gonzalez will look to pitch the Nationals to a win tonight against the Pirates.

Stephen Strasburg: Nationals Can't Afford to Keep Star Pitcher on Innings Limit

Source: Bleacher Report

Stephen Strasburg is the crown jewel of the Washington Nationals' pitching rotation. He is a difference-maker like very few starters in Major League Baseball when he steps on the mound every fifth day. 

And you can see how he has changed everything else for the Nationals in his eight starts so far this season. His ERA of 2.25, WHIP of 1.02 and 56 strikeouts in 48 innings put him in the top 20 in baseball in all three categories. 

But the Nationals have backed themselves into a corner by saying that Strasburg is not going over the 160-inning limit they put on him before the season started. Manager Davey Johnson reiterated that those plans won't change and Strasburg will not be skipped. 

While you have to respect what the Nationals are trying to do—protecting one of their most valuable assets for the future, while getting what they feel is the most out of him this season—they don't really understand that innings aren't the problem. 

Strasburg was protected like few pitching prospects in history when he was in college at San Diego State, then when he was working his way through the minors in 2010 before making his big league debut.

Yet all their efforts failed, because Strasburg's elbow did not cooperate, and he had to undergo Tommy John surgery.

The point of that is that there is no direct correlation between innings pitched and arm injuries. Pitchers are most susceptible to injury not when they are throwing a lot of innings but when they are throwing when they are fatigued. 

By keeping him on an innings limit, the Nationals are telling their fans and everyone else in the National League East that, even if we are in first place, we are going to put our best pitcher on the bench for the rest of the year once he hits 160 innings. 

Given the strength of their starting rotation, the Nationals have a chance to do something special if they are able to make it into the postseason. But they need Strasburg to make it that far, much less win a series. 

As long as the Nationals monitor the number of stressful innings that Strasburg throws and don't force him to go crazy, he should be able to make it through the season relatively unscathed. 

For more analysis on pitch counts, innings limits and why they are pure evil, be sure to check me out on Twitter. 

Follow @adamwells1985

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Washington Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo On Henry Rodriguez: "He's Going To Be A Shutdown Closer In The Near Future."

Source: Federal Baseball by Patrick Reddington

On Monday, Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson made it clear he didn't want to entertain questions about Sunday's blown save against Cincinnati which saw 25-year-old right-hander Henry Rodriguez give up a single, two walks and a game-winning grand slam by Reds' first baseman Joey Votto. The closer's role is a difficult one, the Nats' 69-year-old skipper explained, even well-established late-inning relievers blow games, and Rodriguez is relatively new to the job, having saved his first major league game late last season and converted