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”

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.

In the typical rookie hazing, the Nationals went above and beyond again this year. Last year it was the Smurfs. This year, being an Olympic year, the rookies dressed as gymnasts for their train ride to New York. They were clad in leotards and all.

“The 2012 Olympians that didnt make the cut this year.” Via ‏@GioGonzalez47
Left to right: Tyler Moore, Corey Brown, Eury Perez, Sandy Leon, Christian Garcia, Steve Lombardozzi, and the flag bearer Bryce Harper

“Wore our colors proudly.” Via @GioGonzalez47

“My boy is all grown up so proud.” Via @GioGonzalez47

Props to the veterans for another ingenious idea that’s just embarrassing enough, and to the rookies for being good sports. And our sympathies to Steve Lombardozzi who had to dress up  again this year after being a Smurf last year. (At least not many people can say they’ve been a Smurf and Olympic gymnast, right?)

Now they need to bring home the gold. Or at least a handful of wins from the New York Mets. The series starts Monday in New York at 7:10 PM.

Other good stuff (in case you missed it):

• Newsflash: the Nationals are human. Plus, it always seems that the Marlins always seem to have their number. The Nats were shut out 8-0 yesterday and dropped the series. Silver lining: the homestand still went well and they had a winning record.
• The highly debated shutdown is here. Strasburg is done for the season. Spoiler alert: he wasn’t too happy about it.
• Mark DeRosa, in his veteran mentor role had a talk with Strasburg.
• Sean Burnett’s beginning to feel a little bit better.

The Nationals top draft pick from this year’s MLB player draft, 18-year old Lucas Giolito, will undergo Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery on August 31. After throwing two innings in the Florida Gulf Coast League, Giolito began to feel pain in his elbow again. Previously, Giolito spent his senior year in high school rehabbing from a strained elbow ligament.

After feeling pain in his elbow, Giolito received a second opinion from  physician Lewis Yocum who confirmed that the pitcher would need surgery. When the Nationals drafted Giolito they knew he would possibly need Tommy John. However, with rehab and a rebuilt elbow, it’s still possible that Giolito becomes a top pitcher who can throw up to 100 miles per hour for the Nationals by time he turns 20.

Giolito, the 16th overall pick, signed a $2.925 signing bonus with the Nationals at the deadline.

Other important links (in case you missed it):

• Chipper Jones has a man-crush on Ryan Zimmerman. Jones also said before that he has a man-crush on Bryce Harper.
• Stephen Strasburg might miss a couple starts after his shutdown.
• Speaking of Stephen Strasburg, Dr. James Andrews (the orthopaedic surgeon) backs the Nationals decision to shut down Strasburg.
• The Nationals had a much needed day off yesterday. They begin a three-game series in Philadelphia today.
• A little more insight into what it’s like on the basepaths for the players. (Hint: they’re not sworn enemies usually.)

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”

Remember when Ozzie Guillen had his little spat with the Nationals over Bryce Harper’s pine tar? In typical Ozzie fashion, it involved its share of theatrics with some yelling, screaming and expletives thrown in.  The Nationals got to have a good laugh with the whole situation, with some of them signing Bryce Harper’s bat, smearing it in pine tar and sending it to the Marlins manager.

Now, Ozzie Guillen’s son Oney Guillen posted a photo of the said bat on twitter, calling it the ‘infamous bat.’ (Just as we had requested. Thanks, Oney!)

Contrary to what Ozzie said Adam La Roche wrote on the bat (“To my hero, Ozzie. Love you.”), it only says “To Ozzie, Your my hero.” That’s quite a different message La Roche left for Guillen than he first said, not to mention the wrong use of your, but at least we know the smear pine tar bat wasn’t some elaborate prank story.

And yes, that would be Bryce Harper’s signature signed next to the ‘Luke 1:37.’

The infamous (or famous) bat depending how you look at it. Photo via @Oneyguillen.

Other good stuff (in case you missed it):

• Wanna know what Gio Gonzalez’s ideal date would be like? Or read some other interview gems? Hint: the date involves roller coasters.
• Some of the Nationals bullpen boys (Stammen, Burnett, Clippard & Mattheus) visited the MLB Fan Cave and read ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’ I wonder how many takes it took to shoot this…
• Stephen Strasburg throws fire. (Okay, not really, but he might as well have. His pitching performance helped the Nationals to a 5-2 win over the Mets as well as a sweep.)
• The MLB trade deadline is rapidly approaching. What will the Nats do? Be buyers, sellers, or not do anything at all?
• Next up: a four game series with the Milwaukee Brewers, a (much needed) off day, then a six-game homestand with Philadelphia and Miami.

John Lannan was supposed to be the fifth starter in the rotation for the Nationals this season. Davey Johnson changed his mind last minute, giving the spot to Ross Detwiler.  That left Lannan to twiddle his thumbs in AAA…until now.

According to Mark Zuckerman, Lannan will return to the Nats for a start on Saturday.  However, with Stephen Strasburg on an innings limit and Chien-Ming Wang’s health what it is, we could see Lannan on a regular basis down the road.

Just when the Nats won’t want him.

Rumors say the Nats are shopping for another starter, something they seem to have an abundance of already.  But when Strasburg is inevitably shut down, they will need another arm, and the options they have aren’t great.

Barring a trade and a remarkable health turnaround for Wang, the Nats could turn to two main sources: Lannan or Tom Gorzelanny. Yeah, that’s the situation we’re dealing with.

» Continue reading “Lannan’s Return…Not Too Exciting”

Want to cheer? Want to bitch? Share it here in our first live game thread!

Start time: 1:10 EST

Starters

Nationals: Strasburg

Marlins: Nolasco

Enjoy and keep it classy, everyone!

It’s fair to say that one of Bryce Harper’s biggest dreams has come true aleady. At 19, he’s made it to the Major Leagues and has taken the baseball world by storm (whether they like it or not). Harper’s injected a new type of energy into games and highlight reels, and nothing’s slowing him down yet. Tonight the rookie outfielder will add another accomplishment to his already long resume–being in the All-Star Game as the youngest position player.

But while Harper undoubtedly still has some baseball dreams that are yet to be fulfilled, one of his off-the-field goals of being a firefighter could come true sooner than he thinks.

The Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department in Arlington, Virginia issued an open invitation to Harper to come and “check out the fire service in the offseason.”

» Continue reading “Bryce Harper’s Open Invitation…to be Firefighter”

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”