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.

Via the MLB facebook.

What’s the only thing more interesting than one benches clearing incident? Well, two benches clearing incidents, with a brawl thrown in for good measure. For the Nationals who’ve lost large leads that looked out blowouts before, they didn’t take any chances, beating the Cubs 9-2 and overall outscoring them 31-9 over four games. For the Cubs, it became a little bit too much to take and frustration spilled out onto the field leading to ejections for both teams.

In yesterday’s sweep of the Chicago Cubs, the Nationals once again blew out their opposition, maintained a 7 1/2 game lead in the NL East, and dropped their magic number to win the National League East down to 18.

The first benches clearing incident happened in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jayson Werth was batting with the bases loaded and the Nats up 7-2. Cubs catcher Clevenger went to the dugout to change his glove when Nats third base coach Bo Porter approached the Cubs dugout yelling. Yet first before Porter approached the dugout, replays showed Cubs bench coach Jamie Quirk pointing and yelling at Porter.

Eventually players ran out onto the field from the dugouts and bullpens and the fracas was subdued by the umpires without any further incident. Quirk was ejected from the game for his actions, while Porter remained in. Later after the game umpire Jerry Layne stated that Quirk instigated the shouting match by yelling at Porter.

The fun didn’t end there. The next inning  when Bryce  Harper was batting, Cubs pitcher Lendy Castillo threw an inside pitch. Harper wasn’t hit by the pitch, but with bad blood already brewing, tempers flared.  As Harper started walking towards the mound he had to be restrained by catcher Clevenger and umpire Jerry Layne.

» Continue reading “Benches clear; Nats still sweep”

If you sawMoneyball(and if you’re a baseball fan, you really should have), you may remember a part in the movie when Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) is talking to first baseman Scott Hatteberg (Chris Pratt) and coaching him on how to play first. Beane encourages Hatteberg to be welcoming at first and chat the guy up.

It turns out, that wasn’t just a part of Hollywood script writing, it really does happen. Often during games, you’ll see the fielders talking with the base runners and sometimes even laughing. No, players aren’t always sworn enemies.

A piece by Nationals Journal today gives us a look into what happens on the basepaths. Here’s some of what Adam LaRoche and Ian Desmond had to say.

“It depends: If we’re close friends, usually it’s about hunting, families or something. [...] The majority of the time, what’s going on with their team. The pulse of the team, the pitcher they’re facing, what he just saw, umpires.” –Adam LaRoche

“I kind of feel them out a little bit. Know where their heads at. If they’re really focused, I know that’s a guy we’ve got to watch out for.” –Ian Desmond

Other good stuff (in case you missed it):

• The Nationals traded for Kurt Suzuki last week and he’s learning on the go now.
• Cesar Izturis is (hopefully) going to be able to provide some infield depth with Ian Desmond injured.
• Edwin Jackson summed up last night’s game pretty well: “An ugly win is a better than a good loss.”
• From Oakland with…nail polish? What’s with Kurt Suzuki’s bright yellow nails?

Coming into the 2012 season, there was something the Nationals were used to having to deal with: expectations.

With big off season moves, the impending debut of Bryce Harper, and the momentum the Nats took into the off season at the end of 2011, everyone was expecting an improvement.  To say anyone expected the Nats being in first place at the All-Star Break (and having been in that position most of the year) would be crazy.

Yet that’s where we stand.  The Nats are not only first in the NL East, but they have the best record in the National League at the halfway point of the season.  Here’s a look at what the top stories of 2012 have been.

Pitching

» Continue reading “Nats At The Half”

Despite the hype and high expectations from them every night, the Nationals pitchers are not infallible.  It is a very solid five-man rotation that gives the Nats a chance to win each and every game, but there is more to a baseball team than their pitching.

Last night, Edwin Jackson pitched a fine game.  He allowed 5 hits, just one earned run, walked three and struck out three.  Allowing 2 runs would normally be enough for a team to win, but instead Jackson gets hung with the blame after an errant throw.  The Nats went on to lose 3-1.

The reality of the Nationals’ season so far is that the pitching has to be perfect in order for the team to get it done.  It may be the reality, but it is far from fair, as is the criticism many of the pitchers get after less-than-flawless outings.

The pitching is rarely (if ever) the reason the Nats lose a game.  An MLB team should be able to score 3-4 runs more often than not.  They should be able to build off of the chance the man on the mound has given them.  Time and time again, the Nats fail to do that.

» Continue reading “NEWSFLASH: Nats Pitchers Aren’t Perfect”

What, the Nationals had one run all game and thought they’d be able to come out on top over the Padres? I’M SHOCKED!

Edwin Jackson did a good job, the offense didn’t, and it seems to be a growing theme this season.  Tyler Clippard let that precious one run lead slip away in heartbreaking fashion in the bottom of the 8th, also letting slip the Nats four game winning streak.

Now the NAts head down the state to L.A. to face off against the Dodgers.  Their right behind the 14-5 Nationals’ heels at 13-6, another team that no one expected to be first in their division.

The Dodgers post an impressive starting rotation of their own, led by reigning Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw.  We were going to get to see a Strasburg vs Kershaw game this series, but it got thrown off with the rain postponement with the Marlins.

Ryan Zimmerman is also going to see a specialist while the team is in L.A.  Hopefully he can find some answers for his shoulder soreness and move forward.  The Nats don’t want to lose him for an extended period of time like last season.

» Continue reading “What, 1 Run For Nats Won’t Win A Baseball Game?”

In reality, most of the baseball world probably forgets that D.C. has a baseball team unless Stephen Strasburg is starting or Bryce Harper blows someone a kiss.  Seven years has apparently not been enough to get the Nats recognition, and not without reason: they spent a lot of that time in the basement.

But his year is different.  The Nats are first in the NL East, leading both the Phillies and the Braves, two teams many expected to be formidable.  Not only are the Nats leading their division, but they also hold the second best record in Major League Baseball at 12-4.

Many have cast this early success aside.  Some are categorizing it as a small sample size, inflated numbers that will regress back to the mean in a month.  They look at the opponents the Nats have faced so far and have yet to see a challenging opposition.

The Nats have taken all 5 of their series so far in 2012.  Sure, they may have been against the Cubs, Reds, Mets, Marlins, and Astros, (only the Mets are above .500) but there are characteristics in the play of the Nats that implies that this isn’t just a fluke.

First of all, there is the pitching.  The Nats and the Cardinals are the only two teams with 3 pitchers in the top 10 in the MLB in OPS.  Jordan Zimmerman comes in at 5th, Strasburg at 7th, and Gio Gonzalez at 8th.  Ross Detwiler comes in at 20th, and Edwin Jackson comes in at 33rd.

» Continue reading “Nats In 1st, Not Just A Fluke”

Last night had a little bit of everything: good Edwin Jackson, bad Edwin Jackson…even Tom Gorzelanny.  After digging themselves into a 5 run hole in the first, the Nats recovered…only to give up 5 more in the 6th.  That was enough for the Astros to pull out the victory over the now 10-4 Nats.  Here’s what else happened:

-From us, Pudge Rodriguez is officially retiring.  Here’s a look at his time with the Nats.

• Also, why the Nats should bring back Katy Perry.

-Why didn’t Davey Johnson take Gorzelanny out of the game? Apparently, to “take it on the chin.” [Nats Journal]

-Here’s how another site remembers Pudge. [District on Deck]

-Bryce Harper got heckled by Phillies fans at a AAA game recently. I honestly would expect nothing less. [Nats Enquirer]

-It’s pretty rare for the Nats to be this high in the standings in April. How will they handle it? [Wash Times]

-Some minor-league highlights from this past week. [Federal Baseball]

Nationals fans should have known a rotation with Stephen Strasburg as the #1 starter would be a strong one. So far, Strasburg hasn’t disappointed. In three starts, he has a 1.42 ERA. On Monday night, against the Houston Astros, Strasburg struck out 5, walked 1, and gave up 6 hits. He’s not the only one bringing the heat.

Since the season’s started, the Nationals have found themselves in a unique position unlike years past–their rotation’s ability to not only provide solid pitching, but to bring hard heat. In addition, the YTD strikeout total of the starting rotation stands at 62.

The average fastball among the team’s five starters (Strasburg, Gonzalez, Zimmermann, Jackson & Detwiler) has averaged 93.4 MPH according to FanGraphs.com in an article in the Post. That’s the fastest FanGraphs.com has calculated from any rotation since its launch in 2002.

Each member of the starting rotation is able to pitch in the 90s. Strasburg’s fastball averages 95.1, Gio Gonzalez 93.3, Jordan Zimmerman 93.5, Edwin Jackson 93.8 and Ross Detwiler 91.4. Their rotation, filled with flamethrowers, is the first rotation in 11 seasons  in which the starting 5 are able to surpass 93 MPH with its collective fastball. And their average ERA? 1.86.

» Continue reading “K Street Heat”

Hey, we saw the good Edwin Jackson yesterday! The Nats were able to pull out an overall solid 4-1 win over the Reds.  Ross Detwiler will be on the mound today to try to get the Nats a sweep.  Here’s what’s going on in Nats Town.

-More on Jackson’s outing, and the Nats 5th straight win.  They’re feelin’ hot hot hot. [Nats Blog]

-And of course, his ensuing gartorade bath. [Nats Enquirer]

-The infield has been playing pretty fantastic defense in these early stages of the season. [Wash Times]

-With Rick Ankiel returning, there’s going to be some movement in the outfield.  I feel like that’s a phrase that’s going to be repeated a lot this season. [Nats Journal]

-Craig Stammen has been quite pleased with his team’s play against his hometown team. [CSN Washington]