First look: Walters shows off arm, bat at Potomac

First look: Walters shows off arm, bat at Potomac
I got my first look at the play of newly acquired shortstop

Rachel Levitin: Musical traditions at Nats Park still being crafted

Rachel Levitin: Musical traditions at Nats Park still being crafted
There was a time, long before Nationals Park was constructed, when I could hear AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" and not think of baseball. Those days are gone. That first song off AC/DC's 1990 album "The Razors Edge" still pumps me up in the gym or gets my head banging at a bar on the weekend but now, whenever I hear the song, I think of the Nationals. Lead guitarist Angus Young's guitar riff is etched into the minds of Nationals game-goers as the tune and anthem that Washington's boys of...

Wang notches first win with Nationals; Morse and Gomes homer, 3-1 over Cubs

Wang notches first win with Nationals; Morse and Gomes homer, 3-1 over Cubs
This was the night that Chien-Ming Wang dreamed about during those long hours rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder. Wang (1-2) notched his first major league win since June 28, 2009, and his first as a Washington National, going six innings, allowing just one hit and no runs. The Nationals scored all their runs in the sixth frame and defeated the Chicago Cubs, 3-1 at Wrigley Field. Davey Johnson's postgame comments after the Nationals beat the Cubs 3-1 at Wrigley on Tuesday Wang...

Potomac's Destin Hood showcases newfound power with two homers

Potomac's Destin Hood showcases newfound power with two homers
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Maybe it was Brian Peacock's bat. Maybe it was the slight breeze at Pfitzner Stadium. Maybe it was the early start time. Or maybe Destin Hood has found something in his swing. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris spoke about it last week, that Hood is close to getting that leverage that would make him an every day power hitter. "I think that the work (I have put in) has a lot to do with it," Hood said. "I am just trying to trust myself. I am not trying to...

Dave Nichols: The second coming of Stephen Strasburg

Dave Nichols: The second coming of Stephen Strasburg
Washington Nationals right-handed starter Stephen Strasburg, dubbed "Baseball Jesus" by a teammate last season during spring training, made his much-anticipated return to a baseball field facing batters paid to beat him Sunday, as he took the mound for the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns against the Greensboro Grasshoppers (no joke) in his first minor league rehab appearance, as he continues his recovery from ligament replacement surgery. The appearance comes two weeks less than one calendar...

All you really need is heart

All you really need is heart
Pete Kerzel, our wonderful editor here at MASNsports.com, pointed out that 56 years ago today, Damn Yankees opened on Broadway. On May 5, 1955, fans watched as slugger "Shoeless" Joe Hardy joined the Washington Senators to help the struggling franchise win the pennant. Damn Yankees earned a number of Tony Awards in 1956 and stayed on Broadway for 1019 productions. In 1994, the revival at Marquis Theatre brought the classic back to life. The Nationals played the musical's signature piece...

Wang hasn't allowed a hit versus Cubs through five

Wang hasn't allowed a hit versus Cubs through five
Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang has pitched very well so far against the Chicago Cubs. Wang has not allowed a hit through five innings and has induced 10 ground ball outs. He has walked two and hit one batter, but otherwise has looked much improved from his early struggles in his first two starts. Matt Garza has been equal to the task, striking out eight Nationals' through five innings. Garza has struck out every hitter in the Nationals lineup at least once, except for Ryan...

Potomac's Hood has two homers; Olbrychowski adds splitter

Potomac's Hood has two homers; Olbrychowski adds splitter
WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- A few news and notes as I take in an early afternoon Carolina League Single-A matchup between the Potomac Nationals and the Salem Red Sox. P-Nats right-hander Adam Olbrychowski has added a splitter to his repertoire. The Pepperdine pitcher has won two of his last three starts and is coming off a career-high eight innings in Friday's win. Destin Hood hit home runs No. 10 and 11 in his first two at-bats. The solo shots off of Salem's Stolmy Pimentel were no-doubt-about-it...

Mark Hornbaker: Can Morse stay in "Beast Mode" long enough to win batting title?

Mark Hornbaker: Can Morse stay in "Beast Mode" long enough to win batting title?
The Washington Nationals' first baseman Michael Morse, is putting up some offensive numbers Washington baseball fans haven't seen in nearly a half century. The 29-year-old Morse has a legitimate shot at winning the 2011 National League batting title. Currently Morse is third in the NL with a batting average of .324 and trails only Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers who has an average of .326 and league leading Jose Reyes of the New York Mets who is batting .336 in 98 games. If Morse does...

Potomac's Olbrychowski records best outing of summer, won two of last three

Potomac's Olbrychowski records best outing of summer, won two of last three
Single-A Potomac Nationals right-hander Adam Olbrychowski is on a roll recently in Woodbridge, Va. The Pepperdine hurler has allowed three hits or less in three of his last four starts. His most recent start, Aug. 5, was his best in over a month and his top outing since he returned to a starting role nine games ago. Friday at Myrtle Beach, Olbrychowski went a career-high eight innings, allowing three hits, one run, three walks and had six strikeouts for his fourth win of the season, a 6-1...

News and notes from baseball as pennant races get tight

News and notes from baseball as pennant races get tight
The National League East is all but over. The other five division championships have boiled down to a two-team race with the exception of the American League Central. The Detroit Tigers lead the surprise Cleveland Indians, but how about the Chicago White Sox, the third place team that started a four-game series Monday in Baltimore? The White Sox are defined by inconsistent play this season, but they are coming off a weekend sweep in Minnesota, a team they were 8-28 against in the previous 36...

Freitas and Nieto show off catcher depth in Hagerstown

Freitas and Nieto show off catcher depth in Hagerstown
Recently promoted catcher David Freitas has done quite well as the lead catcher for the Suns, batting .288 with 100 hits in 102 games. He has cranked out 25 doubles, 12 homers and 63 RBI. "David has had an incredible year," Harris said. "He is an extremely mature player both offensively and defensively and we couldn't be happier with his progress." Freitas could get his chance soon with the Potomac Nationals because Devin Ivany was placed on the disabled list and Brian Peacock was...

Callis: All looks good with top picks except for Purke

Callis: All looks good with top picks except for Purke
The deadline to announce if draft picks have been signed is inching ever closer. Jim Callis, executive editor of Baseball America, is pretty confident the Nationals will be able to sign most of their top five selections, including first round selection, third baseman Anthony Rendon out of Rice. "Rendon had a shoulder injury that hampered him this spring but I still thought he was the best player in the draft," Callis said. "I still think he will command a major league contract that could...

Potomac foursome reaches Top 10 in Carolina League hitting

Potomac foursome reaches Top 10 in Carolina League hitting
The Single-A Potomac Nationals have battled all season long to get their offense going. Throughout the ebb and flow of the season, four prospects have been able to maintain their consistency in the pitching-rich Carolina League. Destin Hood (.279), Jeff Kobernus (.275), Justin Bloxom (.272) and Eury Perez (.271) rank eight through 11 at the top of the league in hitting. Nationals director of player development, Doug Harris, has taken notice of their offensive consistency, and believes it is...

Another Bryce making a name for himself in Nats' system

Another Bryce making a name for himself in Nats' system
I checked in this week with Gary Cathcart, manager for the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays, who are off to a nice start at 26-19 and have recently battled out of a losing streak to win four straight games. The roster is filled with elite college players and quality late round draft picks working hard to make a statement in the organization. One of them is named Bryce. As in, Bryce Ortega. The Doubledays third baseman has been tearing the cover off the ball, now hitting .381 with...

Ted Youngling: Espinosa a special player, but a work in progress

Ted Youngling: Espinosa a special player, but a work in progress
If you want to find the front-runners of the National League Rookie of the Year race, look no further than the NL East. Danny Espinosa of the Washington Nationals, along with Freddie Freeman and Craig Kimbrel of the Atlanta Braves, make up the trio of youngsters looking to take home the crown. If I had a vote, I would go Kimbrel, Freeman and then Espinosa. I believe the fact that the Braves are contenders and their rookies are largely the reason for their success is something that should not...

Huntsville skipper: Komatsu "has the hitting genes"

Huntsville skipper: Komatsu "has the hitting genes"
The Double-A Harrisburg Senators received their newest acquisition this week in center field prospect Erik Komatsu. The 5-foot-10, left-handed-hitter came over from the Milwaukee Brewers in the Jerry Hairston Jr. trade Saturday and made his debut last night. Komatsu played for the Double-A Huntsville Stars under manager Mike Guerrero, who was impressed with the former Cal-State Fullerton player. Komatsu hit .294 with 19 doubles, one triple, six homers, 13 stolen bases and 40 RBIs with the...

Nationals' "Beast Mode" in full effect

Nationals' "Beast Mode" in full effect
The Nationals have started to play some good baseball again, and this time, with an edge. Maybe they call it "Beast Mode." You have seen the Nationals' first baseman Michael Morse and his now-famous t-shirt during MASN's Nats Xtra postgame show interviews, haven't you? If not, here it is. It gained popularity thanks to the outstanding play of Morse, who has continued to mash the ball, hitting his 18th homer of the season, as part of a three-dinger barrage against Braves pitching in...

Rachel Levitin: Do you root for the name on the front or the back of the jersey?

Rachel Levitin: Do you root for the name on the front or the back of the jersey?
The wild and crazy weekend of trade rumors and moves has passed. Before (and after) 4 p.m. Sunday, fans took to Twitter to express their concern about whether or not Drew Storen would stay on the Nationals' roster. With all of that hoopla over a singular player, a thought arose: Is it better to devote one's unconditional fandom to an individual player or to a team? There are pros and cons to measure both claims. To keep it simple, though, I've narrowed it down to a rubric of five items:...

Catcher Nieto determined to make impression in second chance at Hagerstown

Catcher Nieto determined to make impression in second chance at Hagerstown
Catcher Adrian Nieto has been moved from advanced Single-A Potomac to Single-A Hagerstown. The organization needs another catcher in Hagerstown, and Nieto will be able to get a lot of playing time there. It is a chance for Nieto to show how far he has come after struggling in Hagerstown last season. Nieto hit just .195 with 44 strikeouts in 2010 for the Suns. This season, he has worked very hard on his plate presence and swing at short-season Single-A Auburn. He came out on fire and was...