Dan Kolko

More on Moore's rocky season and outlook for 2014

More on Moore's rocky season and outlook for 2014
Over the final couple of months of the season, we heard manager Davey Johnson say over and over (and over and over) again that one of the main reasons for the Nationals' struggles for much of the year was that the guys on the bench didn't perform to their ability level. Chad Tracy hit .202 with a .568 OPS and Roger Bernadina hit .178 with a .517 OPS this season, a pretty steep decline from their numbers in 2012. But they weren't alone. Tyler Moore also saw his production level take a pretty...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko davey johnson mike rizzo nationals tyler moore featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Looking back on the two winter trades

Looking back on the two winter trades
Yesterday an entertaining enough day of baseball for everyone? In four postseason games, we saw a ninth-inning, benches-clearing incident in Detroit; a near no-hitter by 22-year-old Michael Wacha (who came within an out of a no-hitter against the Nationals in his last start prior to yesterday); a walk-off homer that staved off elimination for the Rays; and a series-clinching homer in the bottom of the eighth that sent the Dodgers to the National League Championship Series and sent the Braves...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
a.j. cole alex meyer blake treinen dan kolko denard span ian krol michael morse nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Werth selected as Nats' nominee for Hank Aaron Award

Werth selected as Nats' nominee for Hank Aaron Award
Major League Baseball announced today that Jayson Werth has been selected as the Nationals' nominee for the 2013 Hank Aaron Award, which recognizes the most outstanding offensive performer in each league. Fans can place their vote for the award here through Oct. 10 by visiting MLB.com. The winners of the 2013 Hank Aaron Award will be announced during the World Series. Werth hit .318 with 25 home runs, a team-leading 82 RBI, 24 doubles, 60 walks and 84 runs scored in 129 games this season....
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko jayson werth nationals frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals2
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Span: "I can go home and have my head up. I held my own"

Span: "I can go home and have my head up. I held my own"
If you look at Denard Span's overall numbers for the 2013 season, you probably wouldn't have any indication of just how long the Nationals center fielder struggled offensively this year. Span's career slash line is .283/.351/.387. This season, he hit .279/.327/.380. Not his best work, but not a line that jumps out at you as all that subpar. Yet, for more than four months, Span was stuck in neutral from an offensive perspective. He didn't feel comfortable with his swing. He wasn't getting...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko denard span nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Another way to look at the search for a starter

Another way to look at the search for a starter
I mentioned yesterday that the emergence of young pitching talent in the Nationals organization could cause general manager Mike Rizzo to view the plans for the back of the rotation differently. Instead of going out and spending a large chunk of money for an experienced free agent starter, like the Nats have the last two offseasons when they acquired Edwin Jackson and Dan Haren, Rizzo could go a different route. He could decide that with Tanner Roark, Taylor Jordan, Nathan Karns, A.J. Cole,...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko mike rizzo nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Thinking differently about the back of the rotation

Thinking differently about the back of the rotation
Each of the last two offseasons, the Nationals have added a veteran right-handed starter to complement the back end of their rotation. Edwin Jackson and Dan Haren were supposed to provide experienced, talented options behind a rotation of fairly young starters. They got $11 and $13 million, respectively, and were counted on to make big things happen to help the Nats get over the edge. It's safe to say that didn't happen. Jackson went 10-11 with a 4.03 ERA in 189 innings in 2012 and...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko nationals tanner roark taylor jordan featured_sidebar mike rizzo frontstory_nationals2
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Report: Nats ask permission to interview Girardi

Report: Nats ask permission to interview Girardi
The Nationals' search for a manager is officially under way, and not surprisingly, Joe Girardi's name has found its way into the discussion. According to David Kaplan of CSNChicago, the Nationals have requested permission to interview Girardi, who just finished up his sixth season as manager of the Yankees. Girardi is an interesting name to watch this offseason. His contract with the Yankees expires at the end of the month, and he's one of the more proven and respected managers that could...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko joe girardi nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Who's your Most Valuable National?

Who's your Most Valuable National?
While watching a host of games last night - and man, was there a lot of entertaining sports action on TV with two MLB playoff games, an overtime Capitals game and "Thursday Night Football" - I got into a discussion with my buddy about who should take home National League MVP honors. I feel Andrew McCutchen is deserving of the award after leading the Pirates to the playoffs for the first time in 21 years, sitting among the league leaders in the three major offensive categories, stealing 27...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko ian desmond jayson werth jordan zimmermann most valuable national nationals tyler clippard featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

LaRoche on weight loss, struggles and confidence he can regain top form

LaRoche on weight loss, struggles and confidence he can regain top form
Over the course of the 2013 season, Adam LaRoche lost around 15 pounds and was left playing at a weight he hadn't been measured at since high school. The medicine that LaRoche took to combat his attention deficit disorder (ADD) sapped his appetite and left him down in the low-190 lb. range, as compared to the 205-210 lbs. at which he typically plays. A couple of months into the season, Nationals teammates started noticing the difference in LaRoche's frame, and it's around that time that...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
adam laroche dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Rendon won't be handed starting second base job this spring

Rendon won't be handed starting second base job this spring
On June 5 of this season, Anthony Rendon started his first big league game at second base. Rendon had been promoted from Triple-A Syracuse the day prior, marking his second stint with the Nationals, and Danny Espinosa, who had been the Nats' starting second baseman the vast majority of the season up to that point, had been placed on the disabled list. That day, June 5, served as a turning point as far as the Nationals' second base job went for the remainder of the season. Rendon effectively...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
anthony rendon dan kolko danny espinosa mike rizzo nationals steve lombardozzi featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Zimmerman not moving off the hot corner anytime soon

Zimmerman not moving off the hot corner anytime soon
Last night's Rays win over the Rangers in the American League play-in game means that former Nationals great David DeJesus will taste the postseason for the first time in his 11-year big league career. What do you think DeJesus will remember most about this season - finally reaching the playoffs, or those three at-bats he got in a Nationals uniform back in August? They're probably about even, is my guess. If someone was stranded in a cave without TV or the Internet for the last six months,...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko mike rizzo nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

What's your final take on the Nats' 2013 campaign?

What's your final take on the Nats' 2013 campaign?
PHOENIX - I'm about to say goodbye to Phoenix and wrap up the 2013 season from a personal perspective, as my flight back east is set to take off in just a little bit. Quickly, I'd like to say thank you to each and every one of you for following along this season, both here on the blog and on Twitter. While it's a long season and the job can be pretty grueling at times, you guys have again helped make things fun. I really enjoy the back-and-forth with everyone, and truly thank you for your...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko nationals frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Nats players pulling for Knorr, McCatty as offseason begins

Nats players pulling for Knorr, McCatty as offseason begins
PHOENIX - The Nationals' 2013 season is over. "World Series or bust" came up bust. One thing that's strange about professional sports is how quickly the focus inevitably turns once a season ends. A week ago, the Nats embarked on a road trip still hoping to pull off a miraculous run into the postseason. Two days ago, they ran out their regular lineup and played a game for their manager, who was trying to reach a statistical milestone. But after yesterday's game, as the Nats packed their...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko ian desmond nationals randy knorr steve mccatty tyler clippard frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Final thoughts from players, coaches on Johnson's last game

Final thoughts from players, coaches on Johnson's last game
PHOENIX - Pitching coach Steve McCatty, like most of the Nationals' coaches, has an interesting relationship with Davey Johnson. Johnson will tend to yell a decent amount. He demands plenty from his coaches. He'll complain about mistakes and ask why various moves weren't made. Then, he'll share a laugh with whoever he was yelling at just seconds or minutes earlier, cracking that big smile that we've seen so many times over the last two and a half years. Was today, Johnson's last day as...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
adam laroche dan kolko ian desmond nationals steve mccatty frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Quotes from the clubhouse after Nats' 3-2 loss in season finale

Quotes from the clubhouse after Nats' 3-2 loss in season finale
PHOENIX - If you were expecting the waterworks to kick in for Davey Johnson after his last game as Nationals manager, you can keep on waiting. Johnson was all smiles after today's 3-2 Nationals loss in the regular season finale, this despite the fact that his managerial career ends on a losing note. He finishes his career with a 1,372-1,071 record, 301 games above the .500 mark. "It was a heck of a ride," Johnson said. "Great group of guys. Time to go home. Put me out of pasture." Did...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
adam laroche dan kolko davey johnson nationals tanner roark featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Roark keeps doing Roark things (Nats lose 3-2 in season finale)

Roark keeps doing Roark things (Nats lose 3-2 in season finale)
PHOENIX - At this point, it probably shouldn't surprise anyone to see Tanner Roark get through six innings having allowed just one run on two hits and having thrown only 69 pitches. The rookie right-hander just keeps churning out quality outings, going after hitters, keeping the ball down and avoiding mistake pitches. He allowed an unearned run in the first inning after committing a two-base throwing error that led to Paul Goldschmidt's sac fly, but since then, he's shut the Diamondbacks...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko nationals tanner roark frontfeatured_nationals
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Davey Johnson: "It's been a journey. A fun journey"

Davey Johnson: "It's been a journey. A fun journey"
PHOENIX - During reporters' pregame session with Davey Johnson this morning, a couple questions were fired at the 70-year-old skipper about what it feels like knowing today is his last game as a major league manager. Has it hit him yet? How long will it take to get used to life away from the game? "It's not like I'm dying tomorrow! Good lord," Johnson said, drawing laughter from reporters. "There'll be something I can do. "I'm ready to play this game today. Fly (back to D.C.). Pack...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko davey johnson nationals featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Werth scratched from lineup in Nats finale (with Diamondbacks lineup)

Werth scratched from lineup in Nats finale (with Diamondbacks lineup)
PHOENIX - Jayson Werth has been scratched from the lineup in the Nationals season finale. Scott Hairston will play right field and bat third. That leaves the Nats' lineup today looking like something we might see during spring training. For the Nats LF Jeff Kobernus 3B Anthony Rendon RF Scott Hairston 1B Tyler Moore SS Zach Walters 2B Steve Lombardozzi C Jhonatan Solano CF Eury Perez RHP Tanner Roark For the Diamondbacks SS Willie Bloomquist LF Adam Eaton 1B Paul Goldschmidt 3B Martin...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko frontfeatured_nationals jayson werth nationals scott hairston
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Randy Knorr: "Everybody would want this job"

Randy Knorr: "Everybody would want this job"
PHOENIX - By no means is it a secret. General manager Mike Rizzo knows it. Nationals players know it. At this point, fans surely know it. Randy Knorr is interested in the Washington Nationals' managerial job that will open up once Davey Johnson steps aside at the conclusion of today's game. The cat was never really in the bag. But it's certainly out now. "Yeah, I think a lot of people are interested in it," Knorr said a couple days ago. "It's a great team. You just look at the players...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko nationals randy knorr frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Haren on his final start, Tracy on his big night

Haren on his final start, Tracy on his big night
PHOENIX - The first half of Dan Haren's season was awful. He had a 6.15 ERA and led the majors in home runs allowed through 15 starts. But man, did Haren turn things around in a pretty big way. After throwing seven scoreless innings in tonight's 2-0 Nationals win, Haren's ERA over his final 15 starts of the season is a strong 3.29, he has a 1.05 WHIP and he allowed just nine homers through 87 2/3 innings. In his mind, the strong finish in no way overcomes the first three months, but he...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
chad tracy dan haren dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest



LATEST ORIOLES NEWS

LATEST NATIONALS NEWS

       
48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57