Rob Carr/Getty Images North America)

On Monday, to much pomp and circumstance of Opening Day, the Nationals opened their ninth season in D.C., but their first season as the reigning National League Eastern Division Champions. Awards were handed out like candy and the new division title banner was unveiled and the fun was just beginning.

Before a sell-out crowd of 45,274, the crowd got to see what they came for and it couldn’t have been written any better. There was the typical run-saving, defensive diving play by Ryan Zimmerman, his shoulder finally repaired and healed. There was the seven inning shutout start by a dominant Stephen Strasburg, unhindered by an innings limit this season. Not to be missed, there was also a strong first save by recent off season acquisition, Rafael Soriano.

But perhaps the biggest news of the day was Bryce Harper’s two home runs. Harper hit home runs in in each of his first two at-bats of the season. Harper, who hit .478 in Spring Training, launched both of his bombs to right field. In the first home run, Harper crushed a curveball from Ricky Nolasco and sent it 385-feet to right field where a Jayson Werth look alike caught the ball. The second time, he sent a 3-2 slider the same direction and brought chants of “M-V-P!” and a curtain call for Harper.

The Nationals managed six hits off of Nolasco, yet it was Harper’s solo home runs that made the difference leading the Nationals to a 2-0 win. The 2012 NL Rookie of the Year recipient is currently slugging 2.000 with a .500 average.

» Continue reading “Nationals Dominate in Season Opener”

(Ray K. Saunders/Washington Post)

After a long and somewhat chaotic off season, the baseball season and coverage from Win For Teddy is back and ready to go.

Yesterday the Nationals held their exhibition game against the New York Yankees. The Nats dropped their last Spring Training game 4-2. On Monday the Nationals face the Miami Marlins at home at 1:05 and the games will start to count. The start of the season also marks Davey Johnson’s last year as manager and the beginning of his “World Series or bust” campaign.

Before the season begins, let’s take a look at the off season’s additions, departures, and other notes in preparation.

In: Denard Span (trade), Dan Haren (free agent), Adam LaRoche (with Drake in tow) (re-signed), Rafael Soriano (free agent), Zach Duke (re-signed), Micah Owings.

Out: Alex Myer (trade), John Lannan, Tom Gorzelanny, and Jesus Flores (all non-tendered), Edwin Jackson (free agent), Sean Burnett (free agent), Michael Gonzalez (free agent), Mark DeRosa (free agent), Michael Morse (trade).

Avoided arbitration: Roger Bernadina, Tyler Clippard, Ian Desmond, Ross Detwiler, Craig Stammen, Drew Storen, Jordan Zimmerman

Retired: Nick Johnson and Brian Schneider who were both a part of the 2005 lineup that helped usher the return and a new era of DC baseball.

Controversy: Gio Gonzalez was linked to a Miami clinic that supplied PEDs. Gonzalez denied the claims made by the Miami New Times and was drug tested two days later. An ESPN report later reported that Gonzalez was the only player who did not receive any banned PEDs. The investigation into Gonzalez has not been closed by Major League Baseball yet.

Back stronger and better than ever: Stephen Strasburg (no innings limit this year!), Bryce Harper (bulked up on muscle mass in the offseason), Wilson Ramos (rehabbing from his knee injuries) and Ryan Zimmerman (finally had shoulder surgery to take care of that nagging throwing problems).

Other randoms: Plenty of players got married in the off season. Ross Detwiler and Craig Stammen also joined the USO Holiday Tour for a once in a lifetime experience. Bryce Harper also had an appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live.’

» Continue reading “The boys are back in town”

Today, Nationals’ General Manager Mike Rizzo was named the Executive of the Year by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Rizzo will be presented with the award on January 24 in Boston. The Boston chapter is one of the few to still present individual awards.

Rizzo led the Nationals in improving scouting and player development. He signed top draft picks Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. Rizzo also traded for pitcher Gio Gonzalez last off season and acquired catcher Kurt Suzuki during the 2012 season. This season was the Nationals first winning season, with an 18-win improvement from last season.

Earlier this off season Rizzo finished second as Executive of the Year by Sporting News.

Other news:

• The deadline for the Nationals to set their 40-man roster is at midnight tonight. This is in anticipation of the Rule 5 Draft which take place on December 6. This could lead to releasing some more current expendable players such as Jesus Flores.
• The Nationals released their Spring Training schedule last Friday. Spring Training will start earlier this year (in late February) because of the World Baseball Classic. No report date for the players has been announced yet. Individual game tickets for Spring Training games go on sale on January 19.

In 1997, Davey Johnson was named the AL Manager of the Year with the Baltimore Orioles. The same day he resigned over disagreements with owner Peter Angelos.

The night after Bryce Harper was named the National League Rookie of the Year and fifteen years later, it’s a different.

This time Davey Johnson was named the National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America and wasn’t fired. Johnson also became one of the few managers to win the award in both leagues.  He received 23 out of 32 first-place votes, scoring 131 total votes and beating Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy.

Johnson came out of managerial retirement to manage the Nationals in 2011 after Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned. In 2012 he led the Nationals to their first winning season as well as their first trip to the playoffs. Johnson more than aptly managed the young rookies such as Bryce Harper and Tyler Moore, while juggling injuries on the roster (including but not limited to injuries to the starting third baseman, right fielder, and shortstop). He instilled confidence in those slumping, gave opportunities to succeed and led with expectations of being better. Johnson even told the Nationals they could fire him if the team didn’t make the playoffs.

Davey Johnson’s leadership was not lost on his team. Of his manager, outfielder Jayson Werth said, “When Davey took over the middle of the season and kid of did things his own way, and went about business the way Davey goes about business, you could start to sense and see the ship was turning around.”

Next season will be Johnson’s last managing before he transitions to being a consultant.

Via MASN Nationals facebook

The awards keep coming for the Nationals. Tonight Bryce Harper was named the National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year. He received 112 votes and 16 first place votes.

Harper beat out Wade Miley of the Arizona Diamondbacks (105 votes, 12 first place), and Todd Frazier of the Cincinnati Reds. Harper is the youngest position player to be named National League Rookie of the Year.

This season Harper hit 22 home runs with 59 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Harper was the first overall draft pick in the 2010 draft.

More to come later.

UPDATE (11/10/12, noon): Johnson’s return is now official: the Nationals baseball media relations department (@NationalsPR) has tweeted that Davey Johnson will return to the role of field manager for 2013. It will be his last season as manager. In 2014 Johnson will shift to being a consultant to GM Mike Rizzo.

As reported by the Washington Post yesterday, the Nationals and manager Davey Johnson are getting close to closing a contract for the 2013 season. Johnson initially planned on retiring, but cited “unfinished business” from 2012 as his reason for returning.

Nothing has been formally announced yet, however both sides agreed that the 2013 season will be Johnson’s last season managing. In 2014 Johnson will become a special adviser to General Manager Mike Rizzo. Afterwards, Mike Rizzo has said he would like Johnson successor to come from within the Nationals organization.

Johnson became manager in June 2011 after Jim Riggleman resigned. He’ll turn 70 in January, becoming the oldest manager in baseball.

Davey Johnson led the Nationals to their first ever National League East title as well as managing the team’s veterans to rookies in a way that built the successful season. He’s currently a finalist for the NL Manager of the Year by the BWAA.

In other news, first baseman Adam LaRoche declined the Nationals offer of one-year and $13.3 million on Friday per the MLB Players Association and the Washington Post.

LaRoche won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger with the Nationals this season. The team is still able to sign him, however if he doesn’t and signs with another team, the Nationals will receive a compensatory draft pick.

Today also marks one year since Wilson Ramos was held after being kidnapped in Venezuela. The catcher was taken from his family home on November 9, 2011 and became the first Major League Baseball player to be kidnapped. Ramos was held for 51 hours and rescued in a gun fight in the mountains of Venezuela.

Ramos is now rehabbing from his two knee surgeries from his injury on May 12 in which he torn his meniscus and damaged enough to need another surgery to repair another torn ligament. He stayed in Washington over the off season to be able to visit his physical therapist and work out.

Since his kidnapping Ramos has not been back to Venezuela, but he plans to return to spend time with his family once he’s finished with rehab. He says he still loves his country as well. Understandably, Ramos said it’s hard to forget about his ordeal. The promising catcher of the future says even though it will always be a part of his life, he doesn’t want the event to define him.

After a deflating, frustrating loss in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Cardinals, the Nationals packed their bags for the off season while the Cardinals went on to the NLCS. After such a memorable season, the way the season ended for the Nationals seemed incomprehensible to many and brought many questions in attempts to answer what happened after coming so close.

Now, the baseball season is officially over and there’s other matters to take care of: a rotation spot to fill, manager to re-sign, as well as determining the lineup for next season. Also now, baseball’s form of the ‘best of’ awards is finally here.

Today Adam LaRoche, Ian Desmond, and Stephen Strasburg each won Silver Slugger awards in the National League for first base, shortstop, and pitcher respectively. LaRoche hit 33 home runs with 100 RBI and had a .510 slugging percentage while Desmond hit 25 home runs with 73 RBIs and a .511 slugging percentage. For a pitcher, Strasburg had impressive numbers at the plate: he hit .277 with 7 RBIs. He composed one of the best seasons at the plate for a pitcher in the past 30 years according to the Washington Post.

Adam LaRoche also won his first career Gold Glove for first base in the National League. LaRoche had a .995 fielding average and didn’t make an error all season. He is the only National to win the award since Ryan Zimmerman won in 2009. Ian Desmond, was also a finalist for the award for his position at shortstop, but was beat out by the Phillies Jimmy Rollins.

Other Nationals are also finalists for awards. Leading the team’s nominations from the Baseball Writers Association of America is Davey Johnson as a candidate for National League Manager of the Year. Also nominated is Gio Gonzalez for the NL Cy Young Award who led the majors with 21 wins and Bryce Harper for the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

Johnson already won Sporting New’s NL Manager of the Year several weeks a go.

Each of the Nationals’ award finalists and winners played a intricate role in the Nationals’ historic season. In games that Gio Gonzalez started, the Nationals were 24-8. For Harper, he finished second in home runs among rookies with 22 and fourth in RBIs. Both players have stiff competition in candidates such as R.A. Dickey for the Cy Young and Todd Frazier for Rookie of the Year. Not to be forgotten is Davey Johnson who more than aptly managed a young team that was burdened by injuries at times and led the Nationals to their first division title and first-ever trip to the playoffs. Johnson’s competition is Bruce Bochy (San Francisco Giants) and Dusty Baker (Cincinnati Reds).

Other off season links:

• Davey Johnson seems to be close to returning to the Nationals as manager for 2013. Of the official agreement on the contract, General manager Mike Rizzo says, “I’m thinking anytime now.”
• The Nationals made a qualifying offer to Adam LaRoche but not Edwin Jackson. LaRoche has a week to accept or reject the offer.
• In less baseball related news, Davey Johnson won a fishing tournament. Also, some other Nationals are on a boat.
• Check out who’s making what with the Nationals’ 2013 payroll.

FINAL: Zimmerman pops up. After being so close to winning, the Nationals fold in the ninth. The Cardinals are headed to the NLCS.

12:27 P.M.: Two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Zimmerman is the Nats last hope.

12:20 P.M.: Motte strikes out against Storen one batter too late. Onto the bottom of the ninth. Let’s hope the Nationals still have some walk-off magic left.

12:17 P.M.: Pete Kozma hits a 2-run single. The Cards are now up 9-7.

12:15 P.M.: Sharp grounder off the glove of Desmond. Two runs score, the game is tied now. Looks like the Nationals are going to have to walk-off to win this one.

12:14 P.M.: Storen walks Freese, loading the bases. Two outs still with Descalso at-bat.

12:09 P.M.: Storen walks Molina with two outs. David Freese coming to the plate. Nats just need one out to advance.

12:06 P.M.: Craig strikes out. One more out for the Nationals to get the win!

12:05 P.M.: One out, with Beltran on third after a double and moving up on a ground out. Two big outs to go.

12:01 P.M.: Hold on for this: it’s the top of the ninth. Drew Storen is in to close it out. Fair to say it’s the toughest three outs he’ll need so far in his career.

11:56 P.M.: Suzuki’s base hit singles home Adam La Roche. The Nationals are up 7-5 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Chad Tracy is pinch hitting for Clippard. How big of a pickup has Suzuki been?! That’s his third hit of the night.

11:42 P.M.: After the lead off home run Clippard retires the Cardinals without further damage. The Nationals have three outs to go, now leading 6-5. Some insurance runs for the Nats wouldn’t hurt…

11:34 P.M.: Daniel Descalso hits a solo lead off home run off of Tyler Clippard in the top of the eighth. Nationals lead is down to one run. Strong performances from Clippard and Storen especially important now.

11:30 P.M.: Werth, Harper, and Zimmerman are retired in order. Onto the eighth inning. Tyler Clippard is coming in. 6 outs away from winning. Clippard and Storen need to come through with some classic Clipp ‘n Save shutdown pitching tonight.

11:17 P.M.: Edwin Jackson made it a little too interesting there. Strikes out Freese for the third out on a slider but gives up one run. Onto the seventh inning stretch with the Nats still up 6-4. They need some insurance runs to keep things from getting too interesting and to keep their fans alive.

11:10 P.M.:  Holliday grounds out and Jon Jay scores. Nationals lead 6-4 now. One out in the top of the seventh. Jackson doesn’t seem to have the best of command.

11:08 P.M.: Edwin Jackson walks Jon Jay & gives up a rocket double to Carlos Beltran. Cardinals have runners on second and third with no outs. Jackson needs some clutch pitches here.

11:04 P.M.: The Nationals failed to score in the bottom of the sixth. Edwin Jackson is now in to pitch in the top of the seventh now. Hopefully his performance is significantly better than it was Wednesdays. He has a  5.70 ERA as a reliever.

10:49 P.M.: Sean Burnett finishes the sixth and the Nationals escape the inning after giving the Cardinals an extra out. Off to the bottom of the sixth still leading 6-3. Nine more outs necessary to win.

10:45 P.M.: A bobble by Espinosa costs the Nationals a double play. (No error attributed since you can’t assume the double play.) Stammen is now out of the game for left-hander Sean Burnett. Top of the sixth inning with two outs.

10:40 P.M.: It’s now the top of the sixth; Gio Gonzalez is out of the game after a shaky fifth inning for Craig Stammen. The Nationals lead the Cardinals 6-3.

9:55 P.M.: Right now it’s the top of the fourth and the Nationals are up 6-1 on the Cardinals. They’ve already knocked out starter Adam Wainwright. Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper, and Michael Morse have all gone yard among other extra base hits for the lineup.

Check out the Washington Post’s live blog of the game as well. This one will also be updated throughout the game.

Players stream out of the dugout after Werth’s walk-off.

Now tomorrow is today and the Nationals are still alive to play the deciding Game 5 in the National League Division Series at 8:37 P.M. versus the St. Louis Cardinals in DC.

In true storybook fashion with their backs up against the wall, the Nationals won 2-1 in walk-off fashion thanks to Jayson Werth’s solo home run yesterday. Werth won the 13-pitch at-bat against the Cards 17-game winner Lance Lynn after Lynn threw a 96 mph fastball over the heart of the plate.

The crowd that was initially tentative all night after Wednesday’s 8-0 shutout loss gradually became more and more excited as the game progressed. Left-hander Ross Detwiler pitched six innings allowing one unearned run and was followed by scoreless relief performances by Jordan Zimmermann, Tyler Clippard, and Drew Storen. By time Werth blasted the home run into the visiting bullpen, the ballpark–all 44,392–exploded.

“It sounded like RFK when the Redskins were good. You can’t hear the person next to you and they’re screaming,” Nationals principle owner Mark Lerner said.

The Nationals poured out of the dugout, knowing that they lived to play once more. Tonight amidst the nerves and anxiousness for players and fans alike, 21-game winner Gio Gonzalez will face off against the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright. Seeing Wainwright for the second time in the series may benefit the Nationals struggling offence who have been outscored by 14 runs in this series.

Tonight culminates years of developing a farm system, painful losing seasons, and a season of games fought (and many of which were won) despite a dugout filled with injuries at times. The Nationals have a chance to win the series and advance to the league championship series where they would play the San Francisco Giants. But tonight, no matter what happens, the Nationals will experience October baseball knowing they pieced together a season to be proud of.

Best quote from last night:

“I think I screamed so loud I almost threw up. It was unbelievable.” –Kurt Suzuki

Other (playoff) goodness:

• Mark DeRosa helped fuel motivation last night by reading Theodore Roosevelt’s “The man in the Arena” speech. The speech, a microphone, and couple F-bombs made for a good motivator.
• Jayson Werth’s walk-off home run may be one of the biggest hits of the year, so it only makes sense that Charlie Slowes call of the home run is just as epic.
• There’s a Jayson Werth cupcake from Fluffy Thoughts Cakes in Virginia, and it’s not pretty cool. It’s pretty awesome.
• The FOX5 anchors paid tribute to the walk-off hero last night in the only proper way, really: their own Werth beards.
• A-ha’s “Take on Me” isn’t just Michael Morse’s at-bat song anymore, but an opportunity for fans to “finish the chorus in banshee falsetto.”
• Speaking of “Take on Me,”  if you’ve never sang along at Nationals Park, you definitely need to hear it for yourself. Even if you have sang it along, just listen to it again.
• And now Morse has even struck up a friendship with the 80′s band.
• On a different note, the Nationals always make a point to honor the armed forces during games and they gave one military family a very special surprise.

Hard to see, but fans wrap around the corner at the ticket window, while news crews are setting up — 12 hours before the game.

Yesterday I mentioned that the Nats had no chance in yesterday’s game and would be crushed.

I was wrong.  And that’s quite alright.

If you didn’t happen to be at the park or in the neighborhood for last night’s thrilling game, you missed out.  After the game ended, crowd control couldn’t get the reveling fans ushered to the metro.  Instead, fans grouped outside the stadium chanting “Let’s go Nats!” for over an hour.  Fans packed into the Bullpen (the outdoor bar/entertainment area directly across from the stadium) — and I mean packed.  It was like a single-tracking red line train in rush hour.  And the they couldn’t have been happier.

The crowd reaction in the last half of the game was incredible.  The cheers of the crowd just for a strike sounded like early season cheers of home runs.  The crowd got to its feet for Jordan Zimmerman’s first strike out, and stayed on their feet through the next two, and then for Clippard’s three Ks, and then Storen’s two punch outs, all followed up by Desmond’s great catch in shallow left to take the game to the bottom of the 9th.

And when Werth hit the home run to win the game, I thought the crowd noise would blow out my window.  My cat went into hiding.  Car alarms went off.  It was amazing and electrifying.

This morning, walking to work, I passed the 1st Street ticket window and there were already dozens of fans lined up hours before the ticket window opened.  As of last night, there were $400 seats behind home plate and a handful of $30 standing room only tickets.

Tonight we watch Gio try to propel the Nats into the NLCS.  Last time out he didn’t allow any runs, but he only went 3 and walked 7.  Hopefully the Natitude rubs off on Gio and he can shut the Cardinals down the way Detwiler and the bullpen did last night.