In transition to television, Porter had great appreciation for Nats' title run

In transition to television, Porter had great appreciation for Nats' title run
MASN broadcaster Bo Porter really enjoyed his first season as a co-host on the "Nats Xtra" pregame and postgame shows. And he could not have asked for a better ending, as the Nationals went all the way to win the 2019 World Series. Porter knew it was a big step to go from being a player to a coach to a manager and now to broadcaster in a matter of a couple of seasons. But he said feeling comfortable and respected by the people he worked with made all the difference. "It was great," Porter...

Porter excited for season proposal, offers schedule tweak

Porter excited for season proposal, offers schedule tweak
The proposal for finding a way to start the baseball season around the July All-Star break carried with it the potential of 80 or so games, or half a season. One solution that has been brought forth is three 10-team divisions across both leagues, based on geography. From the Nationals' point of view, that would mean playing all teams in the National League East and the American League East, plus Pittsburgh. MASN broadcaster Bo Porter, a former big league manager, coach and player, likes the...

Kolko, Porter named hosts of "Nats Xtra" pregame, postgame shows

Kolko, Porter named hosts of "Nats Xtra" pregame, postgame shows
MASN's "Nats Xtra" pregame and postgame shows will have new hosts in 2019. New, but not unfamiliar. Dan Kolko will move from his role as the on-field reporter on Nationals television broadcasts to succeed the retired Johnny Holliday as host of "Nats Xtra," while former Nationals third base coach and Astros manager Bo Porter has been named as the program's analyst, filling the role most recently held by Ray Knight, whose contract was not renewed. Kolko's role as the team's on-field...

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...

Updates on LaRoche, Ohlendorf, Detwiler and Porter

Updates on LaRoche, Ohlendorf, Detwiler and Porter
A handful of Nationals players and staff used their off day yesterday to hit the links, playing in a tournament hosted by the Lerner family. Manager Davey Johnson was one of those who participated, and he struck it pretty well, posting four bogeys and a birdie on the front nine. "Just sweet-stroking it," Johnson said. Johnson had to take the last few holes off because his back was starting to act up, but even at 70 years old, he was able to out-drive Jordan Zimmermann for much of the...

Bo Porter is back

Bo Porter is back
VIERA, Fla. - Bo Porter spent much of the late morning walking around the field inside Space Coast Stadium, giving friendly handshakes and dishing out big hugs. The Astros' new manager, who spent the last two years with the Nationals as the team's third base coach, is back in Viera today to play his former team. As the Nats took batting practice, Porter weaved his way behind the batting cage, having lengthy chats with Nationals owner Mark Lerner, manager Davey Johnson and many of his former...

Porter talks about his new gig and his time in D.C.

Porter talks about his new gig and his time in D.C.
PHILADELPHIA - Bo Porter was already a Houston resident. Now, after the Nationals' season ends, he'll skipper the city's baseball team, as well. Porter was announced this morning as the next manager of the Houston Astros, which will be the 40-year-old's first big league managerial gig. After a college football career at Iowa, a stint in the major leagues as a player, two years of service as a minor league coach and manager and five years as a base coach or bench coach for three different...

How Bo Porter's new gig will impact the Nationals (updated with Rizzo statement)

How Bo Porter's new gig will impact the Nationals (updated with Rizzo statement)
PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals' players and the bulk of their coaching staff will spend the morning and early afternoon resting up from last night's exciting 8-4 win over the Phillies and gearing up for tonight's series finale. One guy will have a slightly busier day on his hands. Nats third base coach Bo Porter will be named the new Astros manager in a press conference late this morning. Porter will be likely (or should I say, likely already has been) flown out to Houston to meet with the...

A chance to put the final nail in the divisional race

A chance to put the final nail in the divisional race
Yesterday sure made for an interesting off-day. We had Nationals third base coach Bo Porter, who lives in the Houston area, interviewing for the Astros' managerial job. Porter is highly thought of within the Nationals organization and is considered a candidate to eventually replace Davey Johnson once Johnson decides to step out of the managerial role. Porter missed out on two past managerial openings after interviewing for the position; he was up for the Pirates job in 2010 and the Marlins...

Harper, Gonzalez, Porter discuss the benches-clearing incidents

Harper, Gonzalez, Porter discuss the benches-clearing incidents
Bryce Harper had a feeling he was going to get thrown at leading off the sixth inning, given what had happened an inning prior, when third base coach Bo Porter got into a heated argument with Cubs bench coach Jamie Quirk. Sure enough, the first pitch Cubs righty Lendy Castillo threw in the sixth was aimed at Harper's kneecaps, causing the rookie outfielder to take a couple steps towards the mound and toss a few choice words in Castillo's direction. "I wasn't going to do anything stupid,"...

Talking pitchers and baserunning

Talking pitchers and baserunning
These days, you rarely ever see a pitcher involved in a play at the plate when he's the guy barreling towards home trying to score. Teams seem to go out of their way to protect their hurlers, and that generally includes avoiding situations in which the pitcher might be forced to lay a shoulder into a catcher or somehow end up contorting his body in an attempt to touch home plate safely. That's why it was a little strange to see Nationals third base coach Bo Porter wave Edwin Jackson home...

Bernadina's poke, Harper's jets provide game-winning run

Bernadina's poke, Harper's jets provide game-winning run
BOSTON - Bryce Harper came to the plate with one out in the ninth, after having sat around for much of the afternoon. Not an ideal situation for a guy who has been an everyday player his entire life. What had the 19-year-old - who was getting the day off because of a tight back - been doing for the previous eight innings? "Just blowing bubbles with my bubble gum," Harper said. "I was just sitting there trying to stay in the game as much as I could, just in case I had to pinch hit against...

Johnson talks after Nats' 4-1 loss

Johnson talks after Nats' 4-1 loss
PHILADELPHIA - After a bit of a shaky start, Edwin Jackson settled down and ended up allowing just three runs over seven innings in tonight's loss to the Phillies. Jackson just got out-pitched by Cole Hamels, who held Nationals hitters in check for a second straight start. "I thought Edwin pitched a damn good ballgame, we just couldn't get nothing going against Hamels," manager Davey Johnson said. "You've got to give him credit. Pitched a good ballgame, and by the time we got something...

Bryce Harper that kind of a player to pull off a steal of home

Bryce Harper that kind of a player to pull off a steal of home
It was a statement play by Phillies All-Star starter Cole Hamels. With two outs in the first, he hit Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper in the lower back with a pitch. With two outs in the opening frame after walking the 19-year old the entire series, the Phillies were looking to put what they thought was a brash young player in his place. Hamels told the Philadelphia media he hit Harper on purpose. Harper and manager Davey Johnson did not publicly say that they thought it was...

The Lombardozzi-in-left experiment

The Lombardozzi-in-left experiment
JUPITER, Fla. - With Michael Morse looking increasingly unlikely to be ready for opening day, manager Davey Johnson has started thinking about Plan B. Or, should I say, Plan C. Or D. That plan, whichever letter is attached to it, is using infielder Steve Lombardozzi in left field on occasion. The experiment was put into action yesterday in the Nats' 3-2 loss to the Braves, when Lombardozzi trotted out to left in the middle innings. He'd taken part in his first outfield training session...

Johnson talks Werth, DeRosa, Desmond's defense

Johnson talks Werth, DeRosa, Desmond's defense
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Two balls left Champion Stadium off Washington Nationals' bats this afternoon. The first came in the second inning when Jayson Werth smacked the first pitch he saw over the right field wall, perhaps benefiting slightly from a heavy wind going out to right. Regardless of whether the long ball was wind-aided, it was a shot, no doubt about that. Manager Davey Johnson will certainly take the power from Werth, but Johnson couldn't help but laugh when talking about the...

New bench coach Knorr has to think for himself

New bench coach Knorr has to think for himself
VIERA, Fla. - Randy Knorr may be new to his role as the Nationals' bench coach, but he's not unfamiliar with the team or the inner workings of a major league club. Knorr played 11 years in the bigs as a catcher and spent two tours of duty as a bullpen coach with the Nationals. He skippered in the team's farm system for six seasons, including last year at Triple-A Syracuse. The most important thing about being a bench coach, Knorr said, is the ability to know how the manager you're working...

Power hitter Tyler Moore becoming versatile asset Nationals envisioned

Power hitter Tyler Moore becoming versatile asset Nationals envisioned
Double-A Harrisburg first baseman Tyler Moore is coming off another 31 home run season, something you don't see very often. Moore has been the most consistent long ball hitter in the Nationals' system the last two seasons, totaling an incredible 62 round trippers and 201 RBIs. National Web sites have taken notice. Moore has been named back to back MiLB.com Nationals Organization Player of the Year. At the end of last season, the Nationals started to experiment with Moore in the outfield....

Bo Porter will remain third base coach for the Nationals

Bo Porter will remain third base coach for the Nationals
Bo Porter will remain the third base coach of the Nationals, according to general manager Mike Rizzo. Porter spoke with Rizzo about the vacancy on the coaching staff at the bench coach position, following manager Davey Johnson's announcement that Pat Corrales would not return at that post next season. The Nationals believe Porter is very valuable to the organization as a coach, especially as the third base coach. They mutually decided that Porter best serves the Nationals at third base and...

Be aggressive: Johnson has no problems sending the runner

Be aggressive: Johnson has no problems sending the runner
It is a decision made by the third base coach that comes up sometimes two or three times in a game: when to send the runner. In the first inning with two outs in a scoreless game Saturday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Zimmerman at first, Michael Morse doubled to right field. Zimmerman raced around second and as Hunter Pence gathered the ball, Nationals third base coach Bo Porter held up Zimmerman at third. The next batter, Laynce Nix struck out looking to end the threat. After...