Will any new Hall of Famers be elected tonight?

Will any new Hall of Famers be elected tonight?
Hall of Fame election day should be an enjoyable event. We should spend our time celebrating the careers of the greatest players baseball has to offer and engaging in spirited but friendly debates about those players who didn't get enough votes to make it to Cooperstown. Unfortunately, this probably isn't going to be one of those election days. For a number of reasons, this could wind up being the most depressing one of these we've had in a while. The year-long pandemic, of course, has made...

Giants and Cardinals demonstrating good situational hitting

Giants and Cardinals demonstrating good situational hitting
Situational hitting is key in any game, but doubly so in playoff matchups when opportunities are few and far between because of the quality of pitching. The Nationals struggled with situational hitting in the San Francisco series. In Game 4 at AT&T Park, with Bryce Harper at second base and no outs down 2-1, Wilson Ramos grounded out to the shortstop. It handcuffed Harper, who wasn't able to get to third base with less than two outs. It was a critical play in a game the Nationals had to...

LaRoche's advice to mates facing Hudson: Get to him early

LaRoche's advice to mates facing Hudson: Get to him early
There are few guarantees in life. Among them are death, taxes, poor life choices by Miley Cyrus and the fact that Giants right-hander Tim Hudson usually has his way with the Nationals. The 39-year-old Hudson has practically enjoyed a stellar season's worth of stats against the guys with curly Ws on their cap over his 16 big league seasons. He's 18-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 31 career starts versus the Nats. At Nationals Park, he's gone 6-1 with a 2.85 ERA in 10 games. He even dominated the Nats in...

NLDS notebook: Williams on Zimmerman, Porter gets new gig, Morse sits, Hudson retreats

NLDS notebook: Williams on Zimmerman, Porter gets new gig, Morse sits, Hudson retreats
Reading between the lines of Nationals manager Matt Williams' comments in his media session this morning, Ryan Zimmerman could be pointing toward a start in Game 3 of the National League Division Series when the Giants start left-hander Madison Bumgarner. Zimmerman said yesterday that he is comfortable coming off the bench, and that will be his role today in Game 1. Williams opted to start Anthony Rendon at third base and Bryce Harper in left field, so Zimmerman will be a bat in reserve. But...

Nationals strike first against Giants (Nats lose 10-3, win streak ends at 10)

Nationals strike first against Giants (Nats lose 10-3, win streak ends at 10)
The Nationals have had a tough go of it against Tim Hudson over the years. In June, he dropped the Nationals 7-1, limiting them to no earned runs over seven innings. The Nationals looked to get off to a quick start against the veteran in the bottom of the first. With one out, Anthony Rendon walked. With two outs, Adam LaRoche singled. With Ian Desmond at the plate, catcher Buster Posey looked to catch LaRoche stealing at second on the back end of a double steal. Second baseman Joe Panik could...

Starting to look at a couple more starters

Starting to look at a couple more starters
As I mentioned yesterday, the Nationals did not issue a qualifying offer to either of their two free agents this offseason - Dan Haren or Chad Tracy. Again, no surprise there. Nine major league teams did issue qualifying offers to a total of 13 free agents yesterday, however, meaning we will see a bunch of guys hit the free agent market with their value being affected by the draft pick compensation that is now attached to them. The Red Sox and Yankees both issued three qualifying offers, and...

LaRoche sees "challenge," not difficulty in facing Lee

LaRoche sees "challenge," not difficulty in facing Lee
The starting pitching the Nationals face this week against the Phillies has been a focal point of the series. Jayson Werth said it after game one: "It was good to get a win off Joe Blanton, because it will not get any easier facing Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee." After all, the Nationals avoided Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt in this series. It is a difficulty the Nationals will face almost every week in the National League East. The Braves have Derek Lowe, Tommy Hanson and Tim Hudson, not to...

Without inning, pitch restrictions, Zimmermann ready for 2011 debut

Without inning, pitch restrictions, Zimmermann ready for 2011 debut
Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann makes his 2011 debut Sunday at Nationals Park as Washington wraps up its three-game set with the Atlanta Braves. Zimmermann was 1-2 with a 4.94 ERA last season. He will be opposed by Braves right-hander Tim Hudson (17-9, 2.83 ERA). Zimmermann's first career start was a win against the Braves on April 20, 2009. After successfully rehabbing from ligament replacement surgery, Zimmermann made seven starts for the Nationals in 2010. Sunday marks...

Comeback winners give hope to Strasburg, Zimmermann

Comeback winners give hope to Strasburg, Zimmermann
Major league baseball announced Tuesday that pitchers Tim Hudson and Francisco Liriano have each won the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Hudson won the National league honor and will start Game 3 of the NLDS between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants. Liriano helped guide the Minnesota Twins to the American League Central title with a 14-10 record and a 3.62 ERA. He will start game 1 of the ALDS versus the New York Yankees Wednesday night. Both players returned from...

Game 3 preview vs. Braves: Nieves on Olsen's hot start

Game 3 preview vs. Braves: Nieves on Olsen's hot start
Nats left-hander Scott Olsen gets the start tonight against the Braves' veteran Tim Hudson as the Nats look for their fifth series win of the season. Olsen, coming off a lights out performance in the win over Florida last Friday night, is 7-1. He tossed six innings and allowed five hits and no earned runs, while striking out four and walking three. He has a current 13-inning scorelesss streak. Catcher Wil Nieves likes what he has seen so far from Olsen: "He has been attacking the strike...