Lookin' at some lefties

Lookin' at some lefties
General manager Mike Rizzo has admitted that he erred when he decided to put just one left-hander in the Nationals bullpen going into the start of the 2013 season. Rizzo and the Nationals looked around for left-handed relievers last winter, but instead of adding a new face or retaining Sean Burnett, Michael Gonzalez or Tom Gorzelanny, they opted to break camp with starter-turned-reliever Zach Duke as their lone southpaw in the 'pen. That didn't exactly work out as planned. Duke pitched to...

On Zimmerman's power surge and Johnson's use of his southpaws

On Zimmerman's power surge and Johnson's use of his southpaws
Here's how locked-in Ryan Zimmerman is lately, from a power perspective: Over Zimmerman's first 463 at-bats of the season, he hit 15 home runs, an average of 30.8 at-bats per homer. Over Zimmerman's last 39 at-bats, Zimmerman has hit seven home runs, an average of 5.6 at-bats per longball. If Zimmerman could keep this pace up over the course of a full season (550 at-bats), he'd have 98 homers. Sounds pretty doable, right? Strangely enough, in this nine-game span where Zimmerman's power...

Johnson admits Nats need left-handed specialist going forward

Johnson admits Nats need left-handed specialist going forward
The Nationals were hoping that left-hander Zach Duke and right-handed relievers that could get left-handed hitters out would be the answer to the southpaw specialist role in the 2013 bullpen. Things did not turn out the way the team had hoped, at least with 32 games remaining. It is an issue that manager Davey Johnson believes will need to be addressed. He said it is a top concern going forward. "Not having the left-handed presence that we had last year," Johnson said when asked what...

Zimmermann, lefties starting to struggle

Zimmermann, lefties starting to struggle
I mentioned last night that Jordan Zimmermann has hit a pretty rough patch since the All-Star break, posting a 6.75 ERA and a 1.929 WHIP in four starts after his first Midsummer Classic. This comes after Zimmermann was one of the most consistent starters in baseball in the first half of the season. He allowed more than three runs in an outing just three times prior to the All-Star break and made it through at least five innings in all 19 first-half starts. He also walked just 1.22 batters per...

Patrick Reddington: Top five second-half storylines for Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Top five second-half storylines for Nationals
The second half begins tonight when the Nationals host the Los Angeles Dodgers. Here are the top five storylines to keep track of during the remainder of the 2013 season: 5. Krol and Abad: The Nationals started the season with a right-handrf-heavy bullpen they thought could handle left-handed hitters. The Nats continued to add left-handed pitchers to the mix in the organization throughout the offseason, however. Former Astros lefty Fernando Abad, 27, signed with Washington in November. Ian...

Hearing from Tracy and Abad after Nats' loss

Hearing from Tracy and Abad after Nats' loss
PHILADELPHIA - Regardless of whether you're watching a baseball game from your couch, the press box or the dugout, when a team hits a game-tying home run with two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning, you expect that team to go on to win. Maybe it's the number of highlight reels we've seen, where the clip of the game-tying homer is quickly followed by the same team notching the game-winner later on. Maybe it's the Hollywood effect thanks to countless based-on-a-true-story movies. When...

Johnson discusses Nats' 5-4 walk-off loss

Johnson discusses Nats' 5-4 walk-off loss
Tonight, for just the second time this season, the Nationals entered the ninth inning trailing and were able to tie the score or take the lead. Chad Tracy's solo homer off Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth turned what looked like another frustrating loss into a big momentum booster. Then, it became a frustrating loss yet again. Domonic Brown's two-out, two-strike RBI single off Nats left-hander Fernando Abad scored Ben Revere from...

New group of call-ups generating a spark

New group of call-ups generating a spark
Last season, when the Nationals had players go down due to injuries, their call-ups and reserves stepped up in a big way and played a major factor in the team's overall success. Bryce Harper and Tyler Moore got called up from Triple-A Syracuse and Steve Lombardozzi and Roger Bernadina came off the bench to help the Nats overcome injuries to Michael Morse and Jayson Werth. After the season-ending knee injury to Wilson Ramos, Kurt Suzuki came in, managed the pitching staff beautifully and...

Looking at the impact of the two new lefties

Looking at the impact of the two new lefties
Asked recently whether he's more comfortable with the current makeup of the Nationals bullpen than he was earlier in the season, manager Davey Johnson responded with a fairly resounding, "Yeah." A large part of that is due to the presence of two guys who many Nats fans had never heard of coming into this season - Fernando Abad and Ian Krol. The two left-handers haven't been on the Nats' major league roster for too long, but they've already made a fairly significant impact. Abad (a...

A golden opportunity blown, extras coming (Nats lose 2-1)

A golden opportunity blown, extras coming (Nats lose 2-1)
ATLANTA - It's not often you can get to put up a crooked number on Craig Kimbrel. The flame-throwing Braves closer has a career 1.54 ERA and makes some of the best hitters in baseball look like children in the batter's box. The Nats had a chance to take the lead off Kimbrel in the top of the ninth tonight, however, but they failed to cash in, and it's still 1-1 as we go to the 10th inning. Ryan Zimmerman led off the top of the ninth with a broken-bat bloop single to center off Kimbrel,...

Harrisburg places Bill Bray on disabled list with "shoulder issues"

Harrisburg places Bill Bray on disabled list with "shoulder issues"
The Nationals have been looking to fortify their left-handed depth in the bullpen, and the hope in spring training was that veteran Bill Bray would fill that role. Bray did not make the 25-man roster out of spring training, as he was left behind at extended spring training to work on a mechanical issue. In early May, Bray was called up to Double-A Harrisburg. He appeared in four games and did not allow a run over 4 1/3 innings. He gave up just two hits, struck out six and walked one. His last...

What to expect from the two new relievers (roster moves official)

What to expect from the two new relievers (roster moves official)
The Nationals will have two new faces in their bullpen tonight when they take on the Giants in game two of this three-game set in San Francisco. Well, one of the faces will be new. To those who have followed the Nats for a few years now, the other should be familiar. Right-hander Yunesky Maya and left-hander Fernando Abad will be activated by the Nats prior to tonight's game out west. Maya, who signed a four-year, $6 million deal with the Nats in 2010, has appeared in 15 games (10 starts)...

No decision yet on final bullpen spot (Abad, Maldonado cut)

No decision yet on final bullpen spot (Abad, Maldonado cut)
VIERA, Fla. - Following this afternoon's 11-2 split-squad win over the Braves, the Nationals made two cuts, sending left-hander Fernando Abad and catcher Carlos Maldonado over to minor league camp. Abad, who came into camp competing for a spot in the bullpen, impressed this spring. He went 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in eight appearances spanning seven innings. Maldonado was 3-for-13 (.231) with a double in 15 games played. The cuts leave the Nats with 28 players remaining in big league...

Cherry blossoms likely at Nationals Park and Harper could have a big year

Cherry blossoms likely at Nationals Park and Harper could have a big year
The Nationals begin the 2013 campaign with a home series against the Miami Marlins. It could also be a spectacular week to view the cherry blossoms in D.C. The National Park Service has announced that the peak viewing time this year has now been pushed back to April 3-6. The Nationals open April 1 at 1:05 p.m. against the Marlins, and are also home April 3-4 against Miami. The left-field pavilion at Nationals Park is lined with cherry blossom trees. This season, the timing might be perfect...

Ramos update and other pregame notes (with lineups)

Ramos update and other pregame notes (with lineups)
JUPITER, Fla. - After getting examined by medical director Dr. Wiemi Douoguih this morning, catcher Wilson Ramos has been cleared to take part in some sliding drills back at the Nationals' complex at Space Coast Stadium, according to manager Davey Johnson. This will mark the first time sliding for Ramos since undergoing surgery to repair a torn right ACL and meniscus last summer. Ramos typically tucks his right leg when he slides, which has him a little worried about how the knee will...

Johnson talks Strasburg limits, Rodriguez, Abad

Johnson talks Strasburg limits, Rodriguez, Abad
VIERA, Fla. - Yes, the headline says "Strasburg limits." Get your jokes out of the way now. Nationals manager Davey Johnson said that Stephen Strasburg will be on a 60-pitch limit tonight for his second start of spring. Pitching coach Steve McCatty likes to hold all starters to around 45 pitches their first time out, and it ups to 60 pitches for the second start. Johnson won't push Strasburg tonight, however. "If he gives me three innings and gets up around 50 pitches, that's good for...

A name to watch in the race for the final bullpen spot

A name to watch in the race for the final bullpen spot
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals will host the Mets at Space Coast Stadium tonight, with first pitch coming at 6:05 p.m. Because the game is at night and at home, the Nationals won't have a workout today until 2 p.m. The players not participating in road night games work out at Space Coast Stadium in the morning, but for home night games, the workouts are pushed back to the afternoon, giving everyone the morning off. That includes yours truly. Looks like a late-morning nap is in my...

Few options from left side spotlight importance of Gonzalez (updated)

Few options from left side spotlight importance of Gonzalez (updated)
The Nationals do not want to have to go into their 2013 defense of the National League East crown without left-hander Gio Gonzalez. This week, however, Gonzalez's name was linked to a South Florida company that allegedly distributed performance-enhancing drugs to pro athletes. If, in a worst-case scenario, Gonzalez is suspended for any period of time, what kind of options do the Nationals have as a choice for a possible sixth starter? Free agents Javier Vazquez, Jonathan Sanchez, Joe...