Should Span be golden?

Should Span be golden?
It's too bad the World Series hasn't been more entertaining through its first four games. All we've seen so far is a game end on an obstruction call (which had never happened before in the postseason), a game end on a pickoff (which had never happened before in the postseason), Jonny Gomes hit a game-winning homer after learning 90 minutes before first pitch he'd been inserted into the starting lineup, David Ortiz posting a Fall Classic OPS of 2.114 (even with him being robbed of a grand...

Nationals plan to hire Matt Williams as next manager (updated)

Nationals plan to hire Matt Williams as next manager (updated)
The Nationals likely won't make an announcement on who has been hired as their next manager until after the World Series has come to an end, but they've already made their selection. The Nats plan to hire Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams to replace Davey Johnson as their new skipper, a source familiar with the situation confirms. FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal was first to report the expected hire. In addition to hiring Williams, the Nats will try to keep Randy Knorr on as...

Nats interview DeMarlo Hale for managerial job

Nats interview DeMarlo Hale for managerial job
Another candidate for the Nationals' managerial job has emerged, as the team recently interviewed Blue Jays bench coach DeMarlo Hale, a source familiar with the situation confirmed this afternoon. Hale joins Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams and Padres executive Brad Ausmus as external candidates to have interviewed for the Nationals' managerial opening. Nats bench coach Randy Knorr and third base coach Trent Jewett are the two clear candidates from within the organization. Hale...

Could Clippard or Storen be dealt this offseason?

Could Clippard or Storen be dealt this offseason?
Outside of finding a new manager, which clearly tops the Nationals' list of offseason priorities, general manager Mike Rizzo has said that one of his biggest goals this winter will be to bolster the bullpen. As a team this season, Nationals relievers pitched to a 3.56 ERA, 17th-best in the majors, and had a .252 batting average against, which ranked 24th in the bigs. Compare that to 2012, when the Nats bullpen posted a 3.23 ERA (seventh) and .231 batting average against (seventh), and you...

Sorting through Soriano's first season in Washington

Sorting through Soriano's first season in Washington
Like many of you, I watched Koji Uehara continue late last night to mow down hitters at an amazing rate in the late innings. Uehara, who has served as the Red Sox closer for the last five months, was called upon to record a five-out save in a one-run game in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series - by no means an easy task. He faced five batters and retired them all. This is nothing new for the Japanese right-hander, who started his major league career just up the road in...

Suero a part of new wave of Dominican pitchers making impact in Nationals system

Suero a part of new wave of Dominican pitchers making impact in Nationals system
There is a new wave of talent starting to gain momentum in the Nationals organization. That wave of talent is emanating from the Dominican Republic Academy the Nationals established a few years back, led by administrator Fausto Severino. I would not be surprised to see several of these Dominican pitchers work their way up through the minor league ranks of the Nationals system beginning next season. This confidence stems from how good these pitchers were with the rookie-level Gulf Coast...

Jewett another in-house name to watch during managerial search

Jewett another in-house name to watch during managerial search
When discussing the Nationals' in-house managerial candidates over the last handful of weeks, the name that has most often been discussed has been Randy Knorr. That's with good reason. Knorr is very well-respected in the Nats' clubhouse, has a lengthy history as a minor league manager within the organization and has spent time on the Nats' big league coaching staff, most recently as the team's bench coach. When players were asked down the stretch, both on and off the record, who they...

Looking deeper into Storen's shaky season

Looking deeper into Storen's shaky season
Yesterday, I wrote about Ryan Mattheus' turbulent 2013 season and how he dealt with a self-inflicted injury, a demotion to the minors and a mostly subpar string of performances when he was healthy and on the Nationals roster. That led some of you in the comment section to bring up another reliever who struggled at times during the 2013 campaign - Drew Storen. It'd be easy to look at Storen's stats line for 2013 - a 4.52 ERA and 1.362 WHIP in 68 games (61 2/3 innings) - and assume that the...

Werth selected as Nats' nominee for Hank Aaron Award

Werth selected as Nats' nominee for Hank Aaron Award
Major League Baseball announced today that Jayson Werth has been selected as the Nationals' nominee for the 2013 Hank Aaron Award, which recognizes the most outstanding offensive performer in each league. Fans can place their vote for the award here through Oct. 10 by visiting MLB.com. The winners of the 2013 Hank Aaron Award will be announced during the World Series. Werth hit .318 with 25 home runs, a team-leading 82 RBI, 24 doubles, 60 walks and 84 runs scored in 129 games this season....

Zimmerman not moving off the hot corner anytime soon

Zimmerman not moving off the hot corner anytime soon
Last night's Rays win over the Rangers in the American League play-in game means that former Nationals great David DeJesus will taste the postseason for the first time in his 11-year big league career. What do you think DeJesus will remember most about this season - finally reaching the playoffs, or those three at-bats he got in a Nationals uniform back in August? They're probably about even, is my guess. If someone was stranded in a cave without TV or the Internet for the last six months,...

What's your final take on the Nats' 2013 campaign?

What's your final take on the Nats' 2013 campaign?
PHOENIX - I'm about to say goodbye to Phoenix and wrap up the 2013 season from a personal perspective, as my flight back east is set to take off in just a little bit. Quickly, I'd like to say thank you to each and every one of you for following along this season, both here on the blog and on Twitter. While it's a long season and the job can be pretty grueling at times, you guys have again helped make things fun. I really enjoy the back-and-forth with everyone, and truly thank you for your...

Quotes from the clubhouse after Nats' 3-2 loss in season finale

Quotes from the clubhouse after Nats' 3-2 loss in season finale
PHOENIX - If you were expecting the waterworks to kick in for Davey Johnson after his last game as Nationals manager, you can keep on waiting. Johnson was all smiles after today's 3-2 Nationals loss in the regular season finale, this despite the fact that his managerial career ends on a losing note. He finishes his career with a 1,372-1,071 record, 301 games above the .500 mark. "It was a heck of a ride," Johnson said. "Great group of guys. Time to go home. Put me out of pasture." Did...

Roark keeps doing Roark things (Nats lose 3-2 in season finale)

Roark keeps doing Roark things (Nats lose 3-2 in season finale)
PHOENIX - At this point, it probably shouldn't surprise anyone to see Tanner Roark get through six innings having allowed just one run on two hits and having thrown only 69 pitches. The rookie right-hander just keeps churning out quality outings, going after hitters, keeping the ball down and avoiding mistake pitches. He allowed an unearned run in the first inning after committing a two-base throwing error that led to Paul Goldschmidt's sac fly, but since then, he's shut the Diamondbacks...

Davey Johnson: "It's been a journey. A fun journey"

Davey Johnson: "It's been a journey. A fun journey"
PHOENIX - During reporters' pregame session with Davey Johnson this morning, a couple questions were fired at the 70-year-old skipper about what it feels like knowing today is his last game as a major league manager. Has it hit him yet? How long will it take to get used to life away from the game? "It's not like I'm dying tomorrow! Good lord," Johnson said, drawing laughter from reporters. "There'll be something I can do. "I'm ready to play this game today. Fly (back to D.C.). Pack...

Werth scratched from lineup in Nats finale (with Diamondbacks lineup)

Werth scratched from lineup in Nats finale (with Diamondbacks lineup)
PHOENIX - Jayson Werth has been scratched from the lineup in the Nationals season finale. Scott Hairston will play right field and bat third. That leaves the Nats' lineup today looking like something we might see during spring training. For the Nats LF Jeff Kobernus 3B Anthony Rendon RF Scott Hairston 1B Tyler Moore SS Zach Walters 2B Steve Lombardozzi C Jhonatan Solano CF Eury Perez RHP Tanner Roark For the Diamondbacks SS Willie Bloomquist LF Adam Eaton 1B Paul Goldschmidt 3B Martin...

Randy Knorr: "Everybody would want this job"

Randy Knorr: "Everybody would want this job"
PHOENIX - By no means is it a secret. General manager Mike Rizzo knows it. Nationals players know it. At this point, fans surely know it. Randy Knorr is interested in the Washington Nationals' managerial job that will open up once Davey Johnson steps aside at the conclusion of today's game. The cat was never really in the bag. But it's certainly out now. "Yeah, I think a lot of people are interested in it," Knorr said a couple days ago. "It's a great team. You just look at the players...

Strasburg's 2013 season is done (Nats win 8-4)

Strasburg's 2013 season is done (Nats win 8-4)
PHOENIX - This will wrap up Stephen Strasburg's 2013 season. The right-hander went seven strong innings tonight, and leaves with the Nationals holding an 8-2 lead mid-way through the eighth thanks to Wilson Ramos' three-run shot. It was Ramos' 16th homer of the season, and it's turned this game into a blowout. Outside of a blip in the third inning in which he walked two, hit the pitcher and allowed two runs, Strasburg pitched pretty darn well tonight. He allowed just the two runs on six...

Nats discuss lopsided battles with Cardinals and a recent mental dropoff

Nats discuss lopsided battles with Cardinals and a recent mental dropoff
ST. LOUIS - Davey Johnson readily admits the Cardinals kicked the Nationals' butts this season. Denard Span doesn't disagree. In fact, he agrees 100 percent. "I think they just flat-out kicked our butt. You lose six games, they just were better than us," Span said. On paper, the Nationals and Cardinals seemed to match up pretty evenly this season. They both have talented, deep rotations. They both have lineups filled with run-producers. But the Cardinals outplayed the Nats by a wide...

Hearing from Johnson and Matheny after Wacha's near no-no

Hearing from Johnson and Matheny after Wacha's near no-no
ST. LOUIS - Davey Johnson, a Texas A&M guy, couldn't help but be impressed with what Michael Wacha, another A&M guy, did tonight, as the 22-year-old right-hander came just inches away from a no-hitter in the Cardinals' 2-0 win over the Nationals. Wacha was one out away from being the first Cardinals pitcher to throw a no-hitter in St. Louis in 30 years, but Ryan Zimmerman's slow tapper deflected off Wacha's glove, and Pete Kozma's barehanded grab and throw pulled Matt Adams off the first...

Wacha think of the rookie? (Nats nearly no-hit in 2-0 loss)

Wacha think of the rookie? (Nats nearly no-hit in 2-0 loss)
ST. LOUIS - Apologies for that awful pun in the headline. This is how I entertain myself over the course of a 162-game season. Cardinals starter Michael Wacha has absolutely dominated the Nationals through four innings tonight, retiring all 12 batters he's seen, six of whom have gone down on strikes. The 22-year-old right-hander, who was the Cardinals' first-round pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, has touched 98 mph with his fastball, shown impressive feel for his changeup and used...