Dan Kolko

Bring on the Braves

Bring on the Braves
Do the Mets really have to leave town? Is there any way they can hang around a bit longer? Can someone divert their train back to D.C. and have them play a few more games at Nats Park? If Davey Johnson promises not to have Johan Santana cover the gold patch on his glove, is the lefty willing to throw a few more times against the Nats? With just three games between these two teams still to be played, the season series between the Nationals and Mets has been dominated by the best team in...
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Dan Kolko

Harper could be snapping out of his skid

Harper could be snapping out of his skid
Prior to Friday's game against the Mets, Bryce Harper had been hitting just .171 since the All-Star break with an OPS of .501. He was getting pitched tough, with opposing hurlers giving him lots of soft stuff away and very few pitches in that he could turn on. But Harper also seemed to be swinging with less authority at the plate, often making off-balance contact and failing to stay on the pitches away. In this weekend's series against the Mets, that started to change. Harper went 4-for-8...
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Dan Kolko

Johnson talks after another Nats series win

Johnson talks after another Nats series win
Today wasn't what you might consider a typical Gio Gonzalez outing. In four of his last five starts, Gonzalez had worked into at least the seventh inning, and he'd only failed to go six innings once since the All-Star break. Today, he went just 5 2/3 frames, allowing nine baserunners. Still, he managed to work out of trouble and give up just a single run, earning his 16th win in the process. He also added a bloop single to right, to the delight of his teammates. "He was having the ball...
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Dan Kolko

With a shot to extend division lead, Nats jump on Hefner (Nats win 5-2)

With a shot to extend division lead, Nats jump on Hefner (Nats win 5-2)
The Braves lost to the Dodgers earlier today in a game which was not disrupted by rain. Those lucky bums. That loss means if the Nationals are able to take the rubber game against the Mets today, they'll enter their big three-game series with Atlanta with a five-game division lead. So far, so good. The Nats have a 4-0 lead over the Mets and starter Jeremy Hefner through just three innings this afternoon. They've put the leadoff man on in each inning (twice, that leadoff man has been...
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Dan Kolko

Back on bench, Lombardozzi trying to stay sharp (we're finally under way)

Back on bench, Lombardozzi trying to stay sharp (we're finally under way)
There's a monster storm heading towards Nationals Park, one which looks like it might play a factor both in what time the game begins and how long we're stuck here this afternoon. The Nationals and Mets have mutual off-days on Aug. 27 and Sept. 13, but with this being the Mets' last visit to D.C. this season, they'll do all they can to get this game in today, even if it means having everyone hang around for a while. Steve Lombardozzi will be hanging around for the first few innings...
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Dan Kolko

No day off for Desmond, Werth

No day off for Desmond, Werth
Davey Johnson had said he planned on giving both Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth the day off for today's rubber game against the Mets. That's not happening. Both Desmond and Werth are in today's Nationals lineup. I'd be interested to hear the reasoning for Johnson's change of heart. I have a hard time believing that last night's shutout loss to the Mets factored in at all, but it's possible Desmond and Werth both convinced their skipper that they're OK to play again this afternoon. The...
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Dan Kolko

Jackson brilliant, but it's not enough

Jackson brilliant, but it's not enough
When your pitcher goes out and dominates the opposition the way Edwin Jackson dominated the Mets tonight, you'd like to see that guy get rewarded with a win. That didn't happen, which will eat at the Nationals' hitters a little bit. "That's about as good as we've seen him," Adam LaRoche said of Jackson. "Sucks to waste it like that." Entering tonight's game, the Nationals had scored the most runs of any team in the majors since the All-Star break, so they won't hang their heads...
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Dan Kolko

Johnson discusses a tough 2-0 loss

Johnson discusses a tough 2-0 loss
Earlier this season, Edwin Jackson pitched a complete game, allowing just one run. He then struck out eight and allowed just one run in eight innings against the Orioles in late June and threw seven shutout innings against the Brewers last month. But in Davey Johnson's mind, tonight was as good as Jackson has been all season. "That was probably the most dominant I've seen him pitch," Johnson said. "He had outstanding stuff. Breaking stuff, his fastball was dropping off the table and had...
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Dan Kolko

Whole lot of zeros on the board (Nats lose 2-0)

Whole lot of zeros on the board (Nats lose 2-0)
Remember that entry a couple hours ago where I wrote about how effective the Nationals' offense has been since the All-Star break? Call me Mr. Jinx. The Nationals have been shut out through five innings tonight, as Mets left-hander Jonathon Niese has cut through the Washington order with relative ease. The Nats threatened in the first when Danny Espinosa and Ryan Zimmerman delivered back-to-back one-out singles, but they were both stranded in scoring position when Adam LaRoche grounded out...
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Dan Kolko

New team-wide offensive approach netting positive results

New team-wide offensive approach netting positive results
Bryce Harper is getting a day off today, but he's not the only Nationals starter who will be out of the lineup during this series with the Mets. Davey Johnson has already decided that he's planning on resting Ian Desmond tomorrow. He'll go with his "pre-Desmond infield" of Danny Espinosa at short and Steve Lombardozzi at second, but he's yet to inform Desmond about this decision. "Don't tell him I said that," Johnson said with a smile. "I've already got one guy wanting to choke me...
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Dan Kolko

Harper gets a day off, Moore in left

Harper gets a day off, Moore in left
As Davey Johnson mentioned last night, Bryce Harper will get today off, with Tyler Moore sliding in to play left field and hit seventh. Harper smacked his 11th home run of the season last night, but Johnson is giving his rookie outfielder a day to rest while also giving his other rookie outfielder - Moore - a chance to stay fresh with some at-bats against a lefty. Jesus Flores will be behind the plate catching Nationals starter Edwin Jackson, who is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against...
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Dan Kolko

The sounds of a playoff push, the signs of a potent lineup

The sounds of a playoff push, the signs of a potent lineup
Get this: When Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse have both been in the starting lineup this season, the Nationals are 44-21 (.677). That's a 110-win pace. Not too shabby. Given the way things have been going lately, the Nats could seemingly win 110 games and still end up taking the National League East by a slim margin. While Washington has won 11 of its last 13, the Braves keep on matching them, and with their 11-inning walkoff win last night, they've now won 11 of their last 15. The...
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Dan Kolko

Postgame thoughts from Werth, Desmond

Postgame thoughts from Werth, Desmond
As pumped up as Michael Morse was after his grand slam in the fourth inning tonight - and he was plenty pumped up - his teammates were just as animated. Guys gave him high fives, low fives, pats on the helmet. They pushed him out of the dugout for a curtain call, tossed bubble game at him and messed with his hair. You can tell this group is thrilled to see the guy that clubbed 31 homers last season back producing the way he did in 2011. "Morse is unbelievable," Ian Desmond said. "Last...
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Dan Kolko

Johnson talks after Nats 6-4 win

Johnson talks after Nats 6-4 win
Michael Morse wasn't in the clubhouse postgame to talk about his monster grand slam which gave the Nationals a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning, but his manager talked about it for him. In Davey Johnson's mind, that grand slam was just another big moment in what's been a really hot stretch for Morse over the last couple weeks. "Michael Morse, he had a rough road to hoe, being out for a long time (with a strained lat) and then coming back, and just off this last homestand, I think it started...
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Dan Kolko

Morse's grand slam sends Nats Park into a frenzy (Nats win again)

Morse's grand slam sends Nats Park into a frenzy (Nats win again)
Johan Santana retired the first nine Nationals he faced tonight. He then gave up hits to the next four Nats hitters. The fourth left the ballpark, giving the Nationals their first grand slam of the season. Michael Morse crushed a 1-1 fastball over the scoreboard in right-center, turning a 2-0 Nats deficit into a 4-2 Nats lead and sending what looks like a nearly sold out crowd into a frenzy. It was Morse's third career grand slam, and he enjoyed every second of the experience. He gave...
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Dan Kolko

Now healthy, Nats lineup looks dangerous

Now healthy, Nats lineup looks dangerous
With all the injured guys the Nationals have had return to the lineup lately, Davey Johnson is getting a little greedy. "Where the heck is Willy Ramos? Let's get him up here, too," Johnson joked today. "Everybody seems to healing well. Might as well get him." Johnson won't get his top catcher back until spring training at the earliest, but he does have the seven position players in his lineup tonight all in there for the first time together this season. After a host of injuries...
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Dan Kolko

Desmond discusses his return, Johnson hopes Izturis clears waivers

Desmond discusses his return, Johnson hopes Izturis clears waivers
For the first time in nearly a month, Ian Desmond finds his name back in the Nationals' lineup for tonight's game against the Mets. The Nats obviously would have preferred Desmond never landed on the DL with a torn left oblique, but given the 19-6 record they put up without him, Desmond joked that he wasn't missed too much. "They got better (without me)," the shortstop said. Regardless of how the Nats performed without Desmond in the lineup, they'll welcome their All-Star shortstop...
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Dan Kolko

Werth leading off, Desmond sixth, Detwiler takes the hill

Werth leading off, Desmond sixth, Detwiler takes the hill
For the first time this season, the Nationals will have Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse, Adam LaRoche, Jayson Werth, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and Bryce Harper in the same lineup. This is more along the lines of what we were expecting back in spring. Werth will hit leadoff for Davey Johnson today, while Desmond is back in the sixth spot in the order. Ross Detwiler will get the ball today, as Johnson has elected to flip the lefty and Edwin Jackson in the rotation. Detwiler will pitch on...
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Dan Kolko

Desmond activated, Izturis DFA

Desmond activated, Izturis DFA
The Nationals have activated shortstop Ian Desmond from the disabled list today, a move which shouldn't surprise anyone. To make room for Desmond on the 25-man roster, the Nats have designated infielder Cesar Izturis for assignment, a move which, well, surprises me. Izturis only was with the Nationals for nine games after they claimed him off waivers from the Brewers. In that time, he was pretty productive, going 2-for-4 with a double and four runs scored in five games. With Desmond back...
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Dan Kolko

An overlooked angle of the Strasburg shutdown discussion

An overlooked angle of the Strasburg shutdown discussion
Will Ian Desmond make his grand return to the Nationals tonight as the team opens a series against the Mets? We'll have to see. As you know, Desmond took part in a simulated game yesterday, and if he feels good today, the All-Star shortstop could find his name back in the lineup tonight after missing 25 games with a left oblique injury. Chien-Ming Wang resumed his rehab from a right hip strain yesterday, starting for Double-A Harrisburg in the Senators' game against Akron. Wang got stuck...
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