The third time’s the charm. Yesterday, Jordan Zimmermann was named National League’s July pitcher of the month, joining Stephen Strasburg (who won in April) and Gio Gonzalez (who won in May).

The Nationals are the first team to have three different pitchers recognized since the 1979 Astros.

During the month of July Zimmermann’s gone 4-0 in six starts with a .97 ERA and led the Nationals pitching with the lowest ERA at 2.28 with the most innings pitched (134 1/3).

Teammate Ryan Zimmerman put together an impressive campaign for NL’s player of the month, but was beat by Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen.

In case you missed it…

• It’s Werthmas! Jayson Werth made his triumphant return from his broken wrist yesterday. And against his old ballclub, no less. The outfielder hit a single and drove in a run in his return.
• With Werth’s return, Henry Rodriguez is headed to the DL (again) with a lower back issue.
• Ross Detwiler helped the Nationals salvage a game last night by shutting down the Phillies.

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”

On a hot, humid summer night (there’s no other type of summer night in DC), most fans were lulled to sleep, a languid relaxation or sheer boredom. There really wasn’t that much to cheer and celebrate, for Nats fans. ‘Turn Back the Clock’ night had been a fun promotion, but apart from that, the game had mostly been written off as a missed chance to sweep.

Of course, with this team, nothing is over until the last out is recorded and everyone has packed up and gone home. Last night in the ninth inning, as the Nationals mounted their comeback, in the middle of it all were Tyler Moore, Steve Lombardozzi and Bryce Harper–all direct rewards from the Nationals farm system. Also involved were Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche. The first three embody draft picks across the board. Moore was drafted in the 16th round of 2008, Lombardozzi was drafted in the 19th round of 2008 and Harper was drafted first overall in 2010. The later three encompass a mix of veteran experience and utility playing time.

Now, as the Nationals sit atop of the National League East and almost atop baseball in general (the only teams with better records are the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers), it’s even more increasingly obvious that the winning isn’t a fluke. Apart some sheer luck from the baseball gods (such as other teams in the NL East losing when the Nationals lost), this team is finally coming into what they were envisioned to be.

» Continue reading “The Kids Are Alright”

Most off days mean there won’t be much news.  But today’s off day isn’t like other off days.  Today, hundreds of prospects will desperately refresh their browsers and watch on television as they wait for their name to be called, making their life long dream come true.

That’s right, today is the MLB draft.

This organization built a team the old fashioned way.  They got draft picks, a lot of them, and developed the players within their own system.  They brought up their own players to improve the team long term, from the core, instead of getting veterans to put a band aid over the wound.

Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Drew Storen, Danny Espinosa, Ian Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper…they were all drafted and developed by the franchise.  All are now playing key roles on the team on a regular basis.

» Continue reading “Draft Days Have Been Kind To Nats”

There was a time when you had to be in DC to watch the Nationals play, whether you had a ticket or not.  It was considered a small baseball market, and one that the national media didn’t feel was worth mentioning.  Today, I will be able to watch the Nats/Phillies finale on the West Coast.

The Nats have been on ESPN multiple times this season.  Their national audiences have seen them take on the Phillies and the Orioles, who are a surprising number 1 team in their own right.

Remember when we said that once the Nats started winning, the people would come? Well, it’s happening.  The problem was never that the Nation’s Capital wasn’t a baseball town, it’s that it is a winning town.  It is a city that continues to profusely support a team that hasn’t won in 20 years.  Once it gets a winner, it hangs on tight.

With young stars in Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, Bryce Harper, Danny Espinosa…ok you get the point.  This city has embraced the team while they continue to march through first place in the NL East.  Who woulda thunk it…winning changes everything!

» Continue reading “Nats Gaining National Attention”

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”

We’ve known for a while that this day was coming soon, but it has finally arrived: Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez is retiring.

The sure-fire Hall of Fame catcher spent the last two years of his playing days with the Nationals, after they signed him to a 2-year contract in December 2009.  The idea behind signing Pudge was to get someone to fill in until the young catchers in the organization (Jesus Flores and Wilson Ramos) and help develop them in the process.

The Nats got everything they could’ve hoped for and more from the veteran.

Pudge came into a young Nats team for the 2010 season, a team that had spent the last two years dwelling in the basement of the league enough to get back-to-back 1st overall picks in the draft.  He came in just in time to usher in young arm Stephen Strasburg.

Rodriguez pushed Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann to use their pitches and expand their skill set.  His calming presence undoubtedly helped them transition to MLB play.

There was rarely, if ever, a better attitude in the dugout than Pudge.  The camera constantly caught him smiling, cheering on his teammates, and offering advice.  He truly used his experience to help the team (and it’s young players) grow.

» Continue reading “Looking Back At Pudge’s Time With The Nats”

Just like that, the Nats are in first place and are the first to 10 wins this season.  Who woulda thunk it? …well, we would, DUH! Here’s the rest.

-First, form us, a look at the BAMF starting rotation, and a look at how Gio Gonzalez has been adjusting to the city and the team since his arrival.

-Jordan Zimmermann was strong again in a 3-1 win over the Astros. [CSN Washington]

-Brad Lidge has been dealing with vertigo lately. Can’t imagine what trying to find the strike zone is like with that. [Nats Journal]

-An update on who’s where on the farm. [Nats Prospects]

-Zimmermann has been getting the sour end of the run support lollipop dating back to last season. Just terrible luck for a guy who’s been throwing so well. [Federal Baseball]

-Chien-Ming Wang is making his way back, most recently with a simulated game. [CSN Washington]

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”

Well, the Nats dropped another one.  This one was a crazy affair, complete with a rookie ump who, well, looked like a rookie.  The Nats will look to tie the series with the Mets tomorrow night.  Until then, here’s what’s up.

-From us, a look at the Syracuse farm, including Tyler Moore breaking out and Bryce Harper and Corey Brown finding chemistry in the outfield.

-Morse and Ankiel are working their way back into the lineups, and Morse could even be ready for the home opener. [Wash Times]

-Jackson’s debut last night didn’t quite go as he would’ve hoped. [CSN Washington]

-Drew Storen’s injury might be more than originally thought.  The ace closer is heading to Dr. Andrews. [Comak]

-Starting a Jordan Zimmermann appreciation society? Not a bad idea for how under appreciated the team seems to be when he pitches. [Federal Baseball]

-And then Adam LaRoche was all BAM! I’m Adam Freaking LaRoche! [Nats Blog]