Dan Kolko

The forgotten man in the bullpen

The forgotten man in the bullpen
By the time pitchers and catchers report to spring training some six to seven weeks from now, we'll already have a pretty good idea how the bulk of the Nationals' bullpen will be put together. Barring injuries to any of these players, it's pretty safe to slot Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard, Craig Stammen, Ryan Mattheus and Zach Duke into the 'pen. Another left-hander (J.P. Howell? Michael Gonzalez? Bill Bray?) is almost certain to join that group, as well. A lot can change between now and...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko henry rodriguez nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

More gift-giving during this holiday season

More gift-giving during this holiday season
Here's wishing a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all the Nationals fans out there. Hope you all get to spend the day with family and friends, and enjoy the company of those close to you. Regardless of what religion you may practice, that's what's truly important this time of year. That, and some sweet gifts. If past years are any indication, today will be a very quiet day in the baseball world. The trade talks will likely come to a halt for the day. The calls to agents will be...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko frontfeatured_nationals nationals
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Targets on their backs

Targets on their backs
Watching the Redskins pick up their sixth straight win yesterday and move within one more victory of a division title (boy, will Sunday night's game against the Cowboys be just a tad intense?), I realized that the Skins' 2012 season to this point somewhat mirrors the Nationals' 2012 campaign. Obviously, given how each team finished in 2011, the Nats entered this most recent season with a bit loftier expectations around them than the burgundy and gold, and while the Redskins might end up in...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko nationals frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals2
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

A possible reason for LaRoche's miniscule market

A possible reason for LaRoche's miniscule market
It was reported earlier this year that Nick Swisher wanted Jayson Werth-type money this offseason. Don't we all. Swisher didn't get $126 million over seven years. He didn't get close to that. But he did end up with a four-year, $56 million deal courtesy of the Indians, according to reports. The top free agents are starting to come off the board pretty quickly now. By my count, of the top 50 free agents
Continue reading
0
Tags:
adam laroche dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Big splashes not necessary for a successful offseason

Big splashes not necessary for a successful offseason
As spring training gets close to beginning each year, we see columns pop up all over the internet declaring the winners and losers of that particular offseason. Often, the teams that make the big splashes - the big-name signings, the major trades - are declared winners for that offseason period. It's those type of moves which excite a fan base, which make headlines and generate a lot of attention towards a club. The Marlins were considered winners last offseason after signing Jose Reyes,...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko nationals frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Appreciating what we'll see on the mound in 2013 and beyond

Appreciating what we'll see on the mound in 2013 and beyond
Given the contracts that Edwin Jackson (four years, $52 million), Anibal Sanchez (five years, $80 million) and Zack Greinke (six years, $147 million) have scored this offseason, can you imagine what any of the Nationals' top three starters would fetch on the open market if they were all free agents this offseason? What type of deal would Gio Gonzalez land after winning 21 games, posting a 2.89 ERA and notching 207 strikeouts in 2012? How much money would a 26-year-old Jordan Zimmermann...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
jordan zimmermann nationals ross detwiler stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Nats' decision on Jackson comes back to bite them

Nats' decision on Jackson comes back to bite them
Five days after the World Series ended, the Nationals had a choice to make: extend Edwin Jackson a qualifying offer, or cut ties with the veteran right-hander completely. If the Nats presented Jackson with the qualifying offer and he accepted it, he would have been on the books for a one-year, $13.3 million deal in 2013. If he declined the qualifying offer and signed elsewhere, the Nats would receive a valuable compensatory draft pick, which would come between the first and second rounds of...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko edwin jackson mike rizzo nationals frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Playing the waiting game (Gorzelanny signs with Brewers)

Playing the waiting game (Gorzelanny signs with Brewers)
The Padres have reportedly dropped out of the Edwin Jackson sweepstakes, this apparently because they aren't willing to give the veteran right-hander a four-year contract. Yes, Jackson appears likely to receive a four-year deal that could end up topping $50 million. This for a guy with a 4.40 career ERA who has been with seven organizations in 10 years. I've got nothing against Jackson, who I liked a lot in my time covering him this season. But, man, this free agent market is...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
adam laroche dan kolko j.p. howell michael gonzalez mike rizzo nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Rendon, Giolito head up Baseball America's list of Nats' top 10 prospects

Rendon, Giolito head up Baseball America's list of Nats' top 10 prospects
There's no doubt that the Nationals' minor league system has been thinned out by recent trades that brought in Gio Gonzalez and Denard Span. But there are still a few prospects within the Nats' system with a pretty high ceiling, even after guys like Brad Peacock, A.J. Cole, Derek Norris, Tommy Milone and Alex Meyer were dealt in order for the Nationals to bring in proven major league players. Baseball America has released its list of the top 10 prospects in the Nationals' organization for...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
anthony rendon brian goodwin christian garcia dan kolko eury perez lucas giolito matt purke matthew skole nathan karns nationals sammy solis zach walters featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Where are the weaknesses?

Where are the weaknesses?
Another day has passed, and still no announcement from the Red Sox on whether they've finally completed their deal with first baseman/catcher Mike Napoli. Napoli and the Red Sox agreed to terms on a three-year, $39 million deal at the Winter Meetings more than two weeks ago, but the deal has still not been made official. There are reports that the Red Sox have found some sort of issues with Napoli's physical, and while the two sides are still working on a way to finalize the contract they...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
adam laroche dan kolko danny espinosa nationals zach duke featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Why the Nationals won't offer LaRoche a three-year deal

Why the Nationals won't offer LaRoche a three-year deal
The Nationals won their division and the Redskins are tied for the lead in theirs in mid-December. It's a wild time to be a D.C. sports fan. Last week, I discussed why Adam LaRoche has yet to make a decision on whether to return to D.C. and re-sign with the Nationals. The main reason is that LaRoche is still looking for a three-year contract, and the Nats are unwilling to offer anything beyond two years. At first glance, the Nationals' insistence on holding firm on their two-year offer...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
adam laroche dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Look for more action on the bases in 2013

Look for more action on the bases in 2013
The Nationals weren't a team that relied heavily on speed in 2012. They didn't have to. When healthy, the Nats' starting lineup featured eight guys who have hit at least 15 home runs in a season. Seven of those players have legitimate 25-homer power. The Nats also had a strong overall team on-base percentage, which nearly slotted them in the top third of the league in that category. They were tied for 14th in the league in stolen bases last season, swiping 105 bags. Not bad, but nothing...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
bryce harper dan kolko danny espinosa denard span jayson werth nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Some surprising pitching news within the division

Some surprising pitching news within the division
Given we currently have a free agent market in which Anibal Sanchez, a pitcher coming off a nine-win, 3.86-ERA season, can land a five-year, $80 million deal, it's shocking that the Mets aren't willing to offer R.A. Dickey the two-year, $26 million extension he's seeking. Instead, the Mets are on the verge of dealing the Cy Young Award-winning knuckleballer to the Blue Jays, according to reports, for top catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud and other pieces. I guess this is the move you make...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan kolko john lannan mets nationals phillies r.a. dickey featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

The market is starting to play out

The market is starting to play out
We all know about the so-called "Madden curse," where some football fans believe that a player landing on the cover of the popular "Madden" video game will lead to that player getting injured or having a sub-par season the following year. Does the curse apply to baseball video games, as well? Nationals fans should hope not. Bryce Harper is one of the candidates to grace the cover of "MLB 13: The Show," and the 20-year-old outfielder apparently has already taken part in a campaign shoot...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
anibal sanchez bryce harper dan kolko edwin jackson nationals xavier nady featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

A new twist in the LaRoche talks (plus an international signing)

A new twist in the LaRoche talks (plus an international signing)
Yesterday, I wrote about the possible ripple effects of Josh Hamilton leaving the Rangers, and specifically how that could impact Adam LaRoche's chances of re-signing with the Nationals. Well, it's happened. Hamilton has left the Rangers. Hamilton has agreed to a whopping five-year, $125 million deal with the Angels, according to reports. This gives the Angels one of the most lethal offensive trios in recent memory, with Hamilton joining Albert Pujols and Mike Trout near the top of the...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
adam laroche dan kolko nationals neivy pilier carlos alvarez frontstory_nationals2
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Some of this, some of that

Some of this, some of that
If you're interested in following Jim Riggleman's post-Nationals career path, I've got an update for you. Riggleman has received a promotion from the Reds and will be managing their Triple-A team in Louisville in 2013. He had spent the 2012 season managing the Reds' Double-A affiliate in Pensacola. The former Nats skipper had been talked about as a candidate for the Astros' bench coach job under Bo Porter and my MASNsports.com colleague Roch Kubatko reported that Riggleman was among...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
craig stammen dan kolko j.p. howell jim riggleman nationals ross detwiler frontstory_nationals1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

What is LaRoche waiting on?

What is LaRoche waiting on?
According to the latest odds put out by the sports book Bovada, the Nationals are tied with the Tigers and Dodgers at 17/2 as the favorites to win the 2013 World Series. I tweeted out that information last night, only to have about five people respond telling me to stop being a jinx. If the Nats lose 100 games next season, you'll know who to blame. I made an appearance on "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" on MASN last night (you can catch the video of my call-in here), and during the...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
adam laroche dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Garcia's long journey to the majors takes another twist

Garcia's long journey to the majors takes another twist
If you knew the name of Christian Garcia a year ago, you either are borderline fanatical about the Nationals' minor league system or you are somehow related to the right-handed pitcher. At this time last year, Garcia had wrapped up his first season in the Nationals' organization, appearing in 10 games at short-season Single-A Auburn and one game at Triple-A Syracuse. Garcia pitched well in 2011, posting a 2.66 ERA. He still was pretty low on the organizational depth chart, but at least...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
christian garcia dan kolko davey johnson nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Comparing Haren with the guy he'll be replacing

Comparing Haren with the guy he'll be replacing
I'm back from my mini-vacation through Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, three states that I hadn't ever visited prior to last week. I ate lots of fantastic food, heard some excellent live music and drank one or two adult beverages. I could say that I'm happy to now be home, but that would be a bit of a lie, and I wouldn't dare lie to you fine folks. While I was gone, the Nationals' signing of Dan Haren became official. Both the veteran right-hander and his new team claim that...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dan haren dan kolko edwin jackson nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Dan Kolko

Putting a bow on Nats' 2012 Winter Meetings (with video)

Putting a bow on Nats' 2012 Winter Meetings (with video)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - They have a giant podium set up here in the Winter Meetings media work room at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Attached are a few tables, and there are five long rows of chairs facing the podium, about 150 chairs in all. This set-up is here in order to give teams a platform to announce major signings, trades or news which often breaks at the Winter Meetings. During the four days at this year's Winter Meetings, the podium was used twice: to announce the...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
adam laroche bryan minniti dan haren dan kolko nationals winter meetings frontstory_nationals3
LinkedIn Pinterest



LATEST ORIOLES NEWS

LATEST NATIONALS NEWS

       
113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122