The Nats' surprising history of Christmas Eve transactions

The Nats' surprising history of Christmas Eve transactions
Christmas Eve and baseball. They go together like, well, Christmas and hot dogs. This just isn't historically the time of year to be thinking much about the national pastime. Especially when the national pastime is nearly one month into a work stoppage. And yet for the Nationals, Christmas Eve has been the source of a surprising amount of news. Big news. Go back through the annals and you'll find six significant transactions made by the Nats in the final 72 hours leading up to Christmas,...

For Nats' possible offseason road map, look back to 2009-10

For Nats' possible offseason road map, look back to 2009-10
The last time the Nationals found themselves in this position - 95-plus losses, a franchise rebuild - Mike Rizzo had just completed his first season as a major league general manager. His 2009 club was a mess, a 103-loss train wreck made up of parts left over from Jim Bowden's tumultuous tenure, with an in-season managerial change (Manny Acta to Jim Riggleman) but a No. 1 overall pick ready to be spent on a once-in-a-generation right-hander from San Diego. In discussing his decision to embark...

A rare off night for Clippard

A rare off night for Clippard
It is almost amazing to think the Nats would need seven pitchers on Friday night when they led 6-0 after four innings and even 6-3 after seven full. That was the case in a stunning 7-6 loss to the Orioles that has to rank as one of the most disappointing of the season. Four huge fielding errors, two by Cristian Guzman and two in the same inning by Ian Desmond did not make it easy for the Nats pitchers to get out of innings. Slowly, the Orioles chipped away with three runs in the...

Clippard, Capps and Nieves clutch in comeback vs. Rox

Clippard, Capps and Nieves clutch in comeback vs. Rox
Tyler Clippard did it again for the Nats, now 3-0 with the win Wednesday night as the Nationals outscored the Rockies 6-1 after trailing 3-0 middle 3rd. Clippard threw two innings, allowing no runs, 1 hit, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Tyler had 4 wins all of last year and notched that final victory on October 1st. It is just April 21st and already Tyler has 3 of the Nats 8 wins. His biggest out was getting Carlos Gonzalez on a strikeout with a man on in the top of the 8th. Gonzalez was...

Bullpen takes down Phils as easy as 7-8-9

Bullpen takes down Phils as easy as 7-8-9
The Nationals played a complete baseball game Thursday on getaway day, dropping the Phillies 6-5 for their first win of the season. Ryan Zimmerman with two doubles, including a blooper down the right field line for the go ahead run in the 7th, Willie Harris smacked a 2-run shot and Nyjer Morgan ignited a 3-run rally to begin the game with a big triple for the offense to put up 6 runs. And there it was: the opportunity the Nats had been looking for since the first game of the series. A 6-5...

It's official: Let's Go Capps!

It's official: Let's Go Capps!
The Nationals made it official today with the announcement that closer Matt Capps has signed with the team. The 26-year-old brings impressive experience to Nats Park. With the Pirates, Capps had 67 saves, 29 holds, 3.61 ERA and a 19-19 record in five seasons. Pitching Coach Steve McCatty says Capps "wants the ball. He is a tremendous competitor. We all like him. He seems to love to have the opportunity every game." Manager Jim Riggleman told me Capps will be a "huge help for our...

Stammen wants to start for the Nats

Stammen wants to start for the Nats
I checked in with Nationals pitcher Craig Stammen in Dayton, Ohio as he watched his Dayton Flyers play the George Washington Colonials in college basketball Wednesday night (Flyers won 66-51). Stammen took me on a tour of his alma mater, showing me the campus, the student housing known affectionately as "the Ghetto" and the Flyers' baseball stadium. He also joined me at halftime to talk Nats baseball as he prepares for Viera. Thank you to Federal News Radio and the Nationals flagship for...