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.

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.

Last night come rain, thunder, or lightning, Stephen Strasburg made one of his last starts of the 2012 season. The right-hander’s pitch meter now sits at 145 1/3 innings with his impending shutdown looming. Strasburg—notwithstanding the Nationals winning record—has propelled the Nationals to become of the hottest topics across the nation on. General Manager Mike Rizzo is standing by his plan to eventually shut the pitcher down. There is no clear innings limit, although it’s speculated to be around 160-180 innings.

Now everyone has suddenly become and expert and has an opinion about shutting down Stephen Strasburg, whether that is a yes or no. There are a lot of questions and (unknown) variables that factor into the impending Strasburg shutdown.

• Why should the Nationals shut down Strasburg, arguably one of their top pitchers if they’re in the hunt for the postseason?
• Will Strasburg resent the Nationals for shutting him down?
• What if the Nationals don’t shut Strasburg down? How will that affect his arm and career in the future?
• Will the Nationals still be able to compete without Strasburg?

There’s also a lot of other theories surrounding how the Nationals could (or some people think should handle Strasburg’s situation);

• Skip starts
• Go to a six man rotation
• Reduce his innings

» Continue reading “The Strasburg shutdown: it’s not the end of the world”

One thing is always consistent when the trade deadline comes around: we all expect craziness. We look forward to the scramble, the drama, and the excitement. It rarely lives up to the hype, and yesterday the Nats were part of that lack of motion.

And they’re possibly a better team for it.

The Nats are 2.5 games ahead of the Braves for first in the NL East. Their 61-41 record is second in the league (and majors) behind Cincinnati, who has just one more win at 62-41. They are ahead of the 60-43 Yankees.

Since Michael Morse has returned to the lineup and Steve Lombardozzi found his stride, the once putrid offense has become consistent (save for last night). The pitching has continues to be superb, and it more than good enough to make a deep playoff run.

There were two areas the Nats could have improved on before 4 p.m. yesterday: a strong bat for offensive insurance and veteran playoff experience to potentially guide the team in the fall. Both of these things, however, would have cost the Nats more than they were worth.

Unlike years past, the Nats could’ve lost at the deadline. They had pieces that if traded, could’ve put their season in jeopardy. They also weren’t desperate. Being in first place means you can afford to be cautious. In fact, it means you can’t afford not to.

Everyone always wants their team to make a dramatics move, to shake everything up and bring in a big player. But Mike Rizzo probably made the best move possible…by not making one.

With the added wild card team, more teams are in the playoff race. That means fewer sellers at the deadline, as everyone is nervous to make a move that would cost their team the post season. There were fewer players on the table this season, and the price for those players available was higher because of it.

This team is good. They’ve proven that through 4 months of play. Rizzo is right to let this group play it out, and work for the playoffs to complete the turnaround together.

What’s the fun in playing with a full roster? That’s what the baseball gods must be saying to the Nationals, who lost ANOTHER key player in Wilson Ramos to an ACL injury.

At this point, the Nats should just buy their own rehabilitation center in bus form at the rate everyone is getting injured.  It could be so many things (luck, training) but I prefer to think of it as sabotage at the hands of the Phillies and their sidekick Orioles (let’s kick up these rivalries!).

The Nats are now missing Jayson Werth, Michael Morse, and Ramos, all keys at the plate.  Pitchers Drew Storen, Brad Lidge, and Chien-Ming Wang are also injured.  Have you all heard of this fun thing called stretching? Geez!

The kind of good news is that the Nats are still doing well.  Despite the injuries and the losses, the team continues to exceed expectations in the early months of the season.  The pitching has remained strong, playing a huge role in not missing a medical beat.

» Continue reading “Another Nat Bites The Dust”

It was looking all well and dandy until the Nats decided to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a 5-4 loss to the Pirates.  Rodriguez blew the save in the bottom of the ninth with a lineup riddled with injuries and holes.  Here’s what else is going on before game 2 tonight.

-From us, a look at this year’s Battle of the Beltway, and how it could be the best one yet.

-Nats traded sluggers on the DL: Zimmerman came off, Werth went on. [Wash Times]

-And an argument that without Werth, the Nats will still be ok offensively.  It’ll take a lot of ‘if’s. [CSN Washington]

-Mike Rizzo was fined for his comments about Hamels. SHOCKER. [Nats Enquirer]

-Nats also signed Mike Gonzalez to add some bullpen depth.  He’ll report to Viera. [Nats Journal]

This entire Nats/Philies series was exceptional this weekend.  The intensity was there, the passion was there, and ESPN was even there.  The best sequence, however, came last night in front of a national audience when Cole Hamels intentionally hit Bryce Harper.

Hamels hit Harper with a pitch in the lower back, and two batters later, Harper stole home to get the Nationals on the board.

Hamels later admitted that he hit Harper on purpose to welcome him to the big leagues as “tradition” (when’s the last time a rookie was hit with a pitch 8 games into his career as part of this “tradition” anyway? Whatever).  Makes you wonder why he couldn’t just teach him a lesson by, I don’t know, striking him out, but that’s really neither here nor there.

While Harper ended up being the one welcoming Hamels to the game by making him pay with stealing home, GM Mike Rizzo had some choice words for Hamels. Several choice words, actually.  From the Washington Post:

» Continue reading “Rizzo Defends Harper, Calls Hamels ‘Gutless’ After Hitting Rookie With Pitch”

First, let’s give a warm round of applause to our city’s hockey team, the Capitals, knocking off the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins in OT of Game 7 in the 1st round of the playoffs last night. That was sick.  Speaking of sick, Jordan Zimmermann got himself a win, and the Nats won 7-2 over the Padres to up their record to an NL-leading 14-4. And RG3 will be drafted by the Redskins tonight (HOLLA DC sports!) Here’s what’s up.

-From us, Henry Rodriguez appears to be smoothing out his arm for the Nats, just in time to help close with Storen out.

-Ryan Zimmerman’s MRI showed no significant damage, though it’s still uncertain whether or not he will go on the DL. [Wash Times]

-And Stephen Strasburg even does it with a catcher’s mitt. Because why the hell not. [Nats Enquirer]

-A look at what’s been happening with the other end of the Gio Gonzalez trade so far. [CSN Washington]

-More looks at Adam LaRoche’s great start to the season. [Federal Baseball]

-More information about the newest Nats, especially since they’ve been contributing to the early success. [Nationals Review]

-Mike Rizzo went on the radio and talked about Tyler Moore, Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, and more. [Nats Blog]

The Nats continue their West coast trip against the Padres today, this time at a more reasonable hour for those not currently in college and up anyway doing finals. Here’s what you need to know for today.

-Chien-Ming Wang continues his return to the lineup with another rehab start on Saturday. [Nats Journal]

-It’s what many had feared when Ryan Zimmerman didn’t seem to be getting better…the franchise third baseman will get an MRI on his shoulder. [Wash Times]

-GM Mike Rizzo released a letter to Pudge Rodriguez to the press.  Good for a great guy who made a difference in his brief time in the District. [Federal Baseball]

-So, Wang had an affair, called a press conference to apologize for it that was generally ignored in the States…but here it is on Taiwanese television. This is why I love the internet. [Nats Enquirer]

-A transaction update on the farm. [Nats Prospects]

-And a THIRD Wang story…pretty soon, the Nats are going to have to choose between Wang and Ross Detwiler for who gets the last rotation spot.  Detwiler has been great. [Nats Blog]

-D.C. will always be a football town first. Right now, it’s a football town, then a hockey town, then a baseball town. But I like where Davey Johnson’s head is at anyway! [Federal Baseball]

The Dodgers have had a bit of a dramatic year.  It finally came to an end last night, with a group buying them for $2 billion.  Part of that group? Magic Johnson and…ex-Nationals president Stan Kasten? You betcha.

Kasten was the president under the Lerner’s ownership from 2006 to 2010, when he eventually stepped down.  He saw the Nats through their leanest years, and really through most of their existence.

He saw them through back-to-back terrible seasons that led the Nats to receiving back-to-back first round draft picks.

Kasten’s most lasting legacy with the Nationals comes from a move he didn’t make until just before he left: hiring Mike Rizzo as general manager.  Since he took over in 2009, the Nats have steadily improved with the help of Rizzo’s calculated moves.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig was a big part in Kasten becoming part of the Nats in 2006.  He wanted to sell to the Lerners, but the league wanted someone they knew and trusted as a “baseball man” to fully hand it over.  Enter: Stan Kasten.

It may have taken longer than the typical D.C. sports fan’s patience (but then you get the Redskins), but the success we are seeing now is due, in large part, to the foundation Kasten gave the franchise when it first came from Montreal.

» Continue reading “Stan Kasten Buys Dodgers…A Look At His Nats History”