As offseason begins, clubs facing difficult choices with longtime franchise cornerstones

As offseason begins, clubs facing difficult choices with longtime franchise cornerstones
The Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman held a World Series trophy one day and became a free agent the next. The Nationals declined his $18 million option and gave him a $2 million buyout. The 35-year-old first baseman, who has been with the team since their first season in D.C. in 2005, wants to finish his career with the Nationals. He doesn't want to move to a new team and uproot his family. At least with 81 home games, he gets more family time. Chances are good that the Nationals ownership will make...

It's not difficult to pinpoint issues that swept Cardinals out of NLCS

It's not difficult to pinpoint issues that swept Cardinals out of NLCS
The Cardinals finished their regular season on a 47-27 run, won the National League Central and returned to the postseason for the first time since 2015. They beat Atlanta in the NL Division Series and scored 10 runs in the first inning of a Game 5 13-1 smashing of the Braves. But when they got to the NL Championship Series against the Nationals, the Cardinals fell apart. The Nationals beat them 7-4 in Game 4, giving Washington a sweep and the city its first pennant since 1933, when the...

Taylor's torrid spring continues (Nationals beat Cards 8-2)

Taylor's torrid spring continues (Nationals beat Cards 8-2)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 8, Cardinals 2 Recap: Picking up right where rotation mate Stephen Strasburg left off Wednesday night against the Yankees, Max Scherzer dominated the Cardinals this afternoon, striking out nine over five innings. Scherzer allowed a pair of first-inning runs, but both were unearned after Trea Turner was charged with a fielding error. Combine Strasburg and Scherzer's pitching lines over the last 24 hours, and you end up with: 10 IP, 9 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 18 K....

LaRoche's four strikeouts a symbol of Nationals' recent offensive woes

LaRoche's four strikeouts a symbol of Nationals' recent offensive woes
The frustration that the Nationals feel as an offense can be summed up in the roughest of nights at the plate for first baseman Adam LaRoche. Four times he faced one of his best friends, Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, and four times the right-hander struck out LaRoche. The strikeout in the sixth was the toughest to take with the bases loaded and his team trailing by 2-0. Manager Davey Johnson said maybe it is time to get mad. It is obvious that everyone in this clubhouse is extremely...

Gonzalez settles down, Wainwright locks in (Mattheus pulls a magic act)

Gonzalez settles down, Wainwright locks in (Mattheus pulls a magic act)
ST. LOUIS - In Gio Gonzalez's first two innings, he threw 55 pitches, only 27 for strikes. He walked five and allowed two runs. Over his next two innings of work, Gonzalez threw 28 pitches, 19 for strikes. He was able to settle down, get ahead in the count and pound the strike zone. Gonzalez faced the minimum over his third and fourth innings of work, allowing only a David Freese groundball single through the hole, which was quickly erased by a nicely turned 6-4-3 double play. Gonzalez is...

A scouting report on Wainwright, plus a tie-in to Strasburg

A scouting report on Wainwright, plus a tie-in to Strasburg
ST. LOUIS - I'm going to do my very best not to discuss Stephen Strasburg during the Nationals' playoff run. The story, as Strasburg would tell you, is not about him right now. He's been shut down, won't pitch in the postseason and will spend his time during games watching from the bench. But as Strasburg looks out to the mound at Busch Stadium later this afternoon, he'll see a guy who has gone through a lot of the same stuff that he has. Last season, while recovering from Tommy John...

How much does experience matter? Depends who you ask

How much does experience matter? Depends who you ask
ST. LOUIS - This much seems clear after yesterday - those who have playoff experience seem to believe it'll be a benefit during their current postseason run. Those who don't, well, as you might expect, they don't feel it'll hurt them much. The contrast between the Nationals and Cardinals when it comes to postseason experience is pretty dramatic. Of the 25 guys on the Cardinals' roster for the National League Division Series, a whopping 22 have played in a playoff game, and 18 of those...