Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson told reporters before Friday night's game with the Philadelphia Phillies that the team had received some bad news about second baseman Danny Espinosa's wrist. Espinosa originally injured the wrist when he was hit by a pitch from Atlanta Braves' lefty Paul Maholm in a mid-April game in the nation's capital. When pain in the wrist continued to bother the switch-hitting infielder, the 26-year-old Espinosa saw a specialist in the Baltimore area who diagnosed a small fracture in the wrist and located a bone chip that was causing irritation. "About 25% of our lineup has really been struggling, along with some other guys at times, so seeing Lombo come in there and get three hits and drive in some runs, that was huge." - Davey Johnson on Nats' offensive woes "I looked at the films," Johnson told reporters, "and [Espinosa] has a little chip floating around in his wrist. The report I got from the trainers is if he can stand the pain it shouldn't get any worse." The plan is to let Espinosa rest and see if the discomfort goes away. The '08 3rd Round pick is already dealing with a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder. Since he figured to be out for at least a few days, Johnson explained, the Nationals had to make a move. "We're going to make a roster change," Johnson announced after the Nats' 5-2 win over the Phillies. "[Assistant GM Bryan Minniti] isn't here, but I think we're doing something with [Yunesky] Maya and [we're] calling up [Jeff] Kobernus. We're already one player short with just four men on the bench. I like to have at least five and with Espinosa down for a number of days, we can't go with three." Kobernus, 24, has moved up a level in the Nats' system in each of the five seasons since the Nationals selected him with the first pick of the second round of the 2009 Draft. Last season at Double-A Harrisburg, the San Leandro, California-born, Cal State Berkeley-educated right-handed hitting and throwing infielder/outfielder had a .282/.325/.333 line over 82 games and 366 plate appearances in which he hit ten doubles, two triples and a home run while dealing with a thumb injury. The Detroit Tigers were impressed enough with Kobernus that they selected him in this past winter's Rule 5 Draft, but returned him to the Nationals when he didn't make their Opening Day roster. In 43 games and 193 PAs with the Nationals' top affiliate this season before he was called up last night, Kobernus had a .333/.378/.420 with eight doubles, two triples and one home run. Can he help out the Nats' offense? They could use the help. The Nationals' offense produced 10 hits and five runs last night in the nation's capital, but that was a rare offensive display for a team that's been at the bottom in team average, on base percentage and slugging in the National League early this season. Steve Lombardozzi, filling in at second for Espinosa, was 3 for 4 with a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth last night. Tyler Moore got a start in left and went 1 for 3 in the win. Davey Johnson talked about his team's offensive issues with reporters after last night's game. "We haven't been getting -- early on, we got, we scored on passed ball, ground balls, or short fly balls," Johnson said. "We haven't been getting base hits. We got the first base hit I think in San Francisco with a runner on second and two outs, we drove a guy in, [Ian] Desmond did, but to see us do that... the big hit of course, Lombo, but we haven't seen much of that all year." "Our offense has really been down," Johnson continued, "About 25% of our lineup has really been struggling, along with some other guys at times, so seeing Lombo come in there and get three hits and drive in some runs, that was huge." "We just haven't been the kind of offensive club I know we're capable of being," Johnson said, "And today was a big day with Espinosa out for Lombo to do what he did and us to score five runs, we've been kind of stuck on none

Out in north Arlington on Friday night cars slowed as drivers gawked at a scene that might have been four seasons old: a gaggle of young jersey clad Phillies fans headed for the Metro, and thence on to “Citizens Bank Park South,” as Nationals Stadium was once, back in 2010, rudely named. Of course, a [...]

Washington Nationals' general manager Mike Rizzo and his front office have a pretty solid record in terms of signings and acquisitions since taking over in the nation's capital in 2009. 31-year-old right-hander Yunesky Maya, at least thus far in his major league career, has been one notable misstep. Signed to a 4-year/$8M dollar deal as an international free agent in 2010, the Cuban-born starter was introduced to the nation's capital as, in Rizzo's words, the Nats' "first major international signing." "In accordance [with] what we preached two years ago when I took over as the general manager," Rizzo said during an introductory press conference in August 2010, "our international efforts, run by Johnny DiPuglia, our Director of International Operations, along with his staff and a deep scouting effort has brought us our first major international signing that we think is going to impact our major league ballclub immediately...We'd like to welcome to Washington, D.C., Yunesky Maya, right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals." "[Maya] was seen I think by five separate scouts on separate occasions," Mike Rizzo said, "during international competition over the years, most recently during the World Baseball Classic..." -DC GM Mike Rizzo on scouting Yunesky Maya The Nationals conducted what Rizzo explained was a "very thorough evaluatory process" before signing the then-29-year-old right-hander after he'd defected from Cuba following a strong season in the Cuban National Series in which, as the Nats' press release on the signing noted, Maya had, "... earned Cuba's equivalent of the Cy Young during his final season in his homeland, going 13-4 with seven complete games and a 2.22 ERA." "He was seen I think by five separate scouts on separate occasions," the Nationals' then-second-year-GM explained, "during international competition over the years, most recently during the World Baseball Classic and we had multiple reports on him and we scouted him very in-depth in the Dominican Republic once we got over there." A little over a month later, after just a few minor league outings, Maya made his major league debut on September 7, 2010, giving up five hits and four runs, all earned, in a 4-1 loss to the New York Mets. Maya finished out the campaign in the majors, but posted a 5.88 ERA with opposing hitters posting a .294/.371/.461 line against the right-hander in the first 26 innings of his major league career. "He was very driven and impatient to get to the big leagues and [we] probably put him in a position that was difficult for him to succeed, so I'll take that one on my back." - Mike Rizzo on rushing Yunesky Maya to the majors in 2010 "It probably wasn't the best way to handle Yunesky Maya last year," Rizzo would later tell reporters, "but he was very driven and impatient to get to the big leagues and [we] probably put him in a position that was difficult for him to succeed, so I'll take that one on my back." Heading into Spring Training in 2011, the GM said that the Nationals, "... assess him going into Spring Training as we saw him at the time that we signed him. We think that he's a very capable starting pitcher in the major leagues. He was the no.1 starter on a really good Cuban national club, [and] has proven that he can compete at the highest level." Maya spent most of the 2011 season at Triple-A Syracuse in the Nats' system where he had a 5.00 ERA, a 3.86 FIP, 28 walks (1.94 BB/9) and 98 Ks (6.80 K/9) in 22 starts and 192.2 IP. In 10 games and five starts with the Nationals in 2011, Maya had a 5.23 ERA and a 4.40 FIP. The right-hander spent the entire 2012 campaign with the Nats' top affiliate, going (11-10) with a 3.88 ERA, 4.52 FIP, 40 walks (2.16 BB/9) and 89 Ks (4.80 K/9) in 167.0 IP. Maya started the year in Syracuse again this season, but was called up last weekend to help out in an injury-riddled bullpen, but after just one relief appearance, in which he surrendered a walk-off home run by

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDERDan Haren faces Jonathan Pettibone tonight at Nationals Park.After a solid, 5-2 victory last night to open their homestand, the Nationals are sticking with their same lineup for the middle game of this weekend series against the Phillies. Might as well stick with what worked, including Kurt Suzuki in the 6-spot, with Tyler Moore and Steve Lombardozzi behind him.That lineup tonight will go up against right-hander Jonathan Pettibone, seeking to become the Phillies' first rookie to go 4-0 to begin his career since Kyle Kendrick (last night's starter) in 2007. Dan Haren gets the nod for the Nationals, hoping his ragged outing in San Diego was a mere blip on an otherwise upward trend for the veteran.Jeff Kobernus, meanwhile, officially had his contract purchased from Class AAA Syracuse and is available off the bench. Yunesky Maya has officially been designated for assignment, possibly ending his four-year tenure in the Nationals organization.Remember: Tonight's game is on Fox. It'll be Tom McCarthy and Bill Ripken with the call. So that's a Phillies play-by-ply guy and a former Oriole. Enjoy...PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES at WASHINGTON NATIONALSWhere: Nationals ParkGametime: 7:15 p.m. EDTTV: Fox regional (coverage map)Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), XM 89Weather: Clear, 65 degrees, Wind 18 mph LF to RFNATIONALS (25-23)CF Denard SpanRF Bryce Harper3B Ryan Zimmerman1B Adam LaRocheRead more »

As expected, the Nationals officially designated Yunesky Maya, the Cuban defector and right-hander who turned out to be an ill-fated $6-million signing in 2010, for assignment in order to make room for call-up infielder-outfielder Jeff Kobernus. He will wear No. … Continue reading →

And so, since Davey Johnson told reporters Friday afternoon that he wouldn't shave until the Nats start hitting, we figured we might as well start a "Davey Johnson Shave Watch" as a public service until Davey finally shaves. "I figured [the face] couldn't get any uglier, so what the heck. Hopefully, I can shave soon." (Davey Johnson, via Nationals.com, 5/24/2013) Screencap above (via this CSNWashington.com video) of a scruffy Davey after Friday night's 5-2 Nats win over the Phillies. Were those 5 runs and 10 hits last night enough to make Davey pick up a razor? Guess we'll find out soon... Befriend Nats Enquirer on Facebook. Follow on Twitter. Related articles #Nattingly? Six months later, Davey Johnson finally decides to intentionally walk Pete Kozma Video: Davey Johnson on Bryce Harper's crash into Dodger Stadium wall Davey: "It's time to get a little mad." #Notitude?

Jordan Zimmermann showed no signs of it on the mound, but the hard-throwing no-nonsense Wisconsonite had a stiff neck during last night's start against the Philadelphia Phillies. "Zim woke up kind of with a stiff neck today," Nats' skipper Davey Johnson revealed after the game, "and kind of hid it from me. But I knew he had it. You know, nothing's really hidden from the manager. So I kind of cut him shorter than I normally would. But he still threw a heck of a ballgame." "[Zimmermann] did say, 'Don't say nothing to nobody,'" Davey Johnson joked, "That's not my style. I'm not going to get caught saying nothing..." - Davey Johnson on Jordan Zimmermann's stiff neck last night In spite of the discomfort, the just-turned 27-year-old right-hander held the Nationals' divisional rivals to six hits and two earned runs in seven innings of work in which he struck out just one, threw 92 pitches, 66 for strikes and induced 15, count'em, 15 ground ball outs from Phillies' batters. With the Nationals ahead 5-2 after seven, and aware of the issue with his neck, Davey Johnson ended Zimmermann's 10th start of the season early. But to be clear, the pitcher did not ask him to. "He's not one to say anything," Johnson told reporters, "but cold night, I didn't want to go any further with him, so, he should be all right." Your browser does not support iframes. Upon being lifted, the stoic Auburndale, Wisconsin-born right-hander asked his manager to keep any talk of an issue between the two of them. "[Zimmermann] did say, 'Don't say nothing to nobody,'" Johnson joked afterwards, "That's not my style. I'm not going to get caught saying nothing, but he did a heck of a job going out there and pitching with a stiff neck, that's all I can say." The major league leader in wins (8-2) ended the night with a 1.71 ERA, a 2.78 FIP, nine walks (1.10 BB/9) and 46 Ks (5.62 K/9) in 73.2 IP so far this season, over which he's held opposing hitters to a .206/.236/.281 line. "He uses both sides of the plate. He's got good movement, late movement, exploding fastball and he mixes in his breaking ball and throws it in a good spot." - Davey Johnson on Jordan Zimmermann So what's he doing right on the mound? "He's going right after good hitters and he's making pitches," Davey Johnson told a reporter who asked. "He uses both sides of the plate. He's got good movement, late movement, exploding fastball and he mixes in his breaking ball and throws it in a good spot." He's also getting ahead of opposing hitters and dispatching them with efficiency. After getting to 0-2 counts against him this year, opposing hitters have a .179/.193/.232 line against Zimmermann with 15 Ks from the 56 batters who've found themselves in that unenviable position. Fall behind 1-2, .155/.167/.224. The 28 batters who've been in a 2-2 count with Zimmermann have a .071/.071/.071 line against him so far in 2013. "You can always tell, good-hitting ballclubs don't want to get to two strikes on him," Davey Johnson said, "so they're swinging the bat and he'll have some quick innings." FBb On MASN: Zimmermann At Home In D.C. Photo © Patrick McDermott/Getty Images The Nats' starter threw a 10-pitch first, a seven-pitch third, an eight-pitch, eight-strike sixth and two 14-pitch innings against the Phillies last night and ended his outing with a 19-pitch seventh after which he was at a fairly-efficient 92 pitches overall. "I really haven't had to stress him out too much all year long," the Nats' 70-year-old skipper said, "I think the maximum pitches he's probably thrown are 110 [ed. note - "Actually 107."] and he's thrown complete games under 100 pitches. So, he was still in the seventh inning throwing 94 [mph], so I know he was uncomfortable but he was still throwing the heck out of the ball." The win gave the Nationals' 07 second round pick 15-straight starts in the nation's capital in which he hasn't suffered a loss. He may be Wisconsin-born and raised, but he

With a soft groundball to third base that he beat out in the fifth inning of Friday’s 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, Tyler Moore snapped a 23 at-bat hitless streak. He also reached on an error and drew a … Continue reading →

Photo by USA TodayAsk Steve Lombardozzi to do just about anything for his baseball team and he’ll do it. Since his debut with the Nats in 2011 he’s played second base, third base, shortstop, and left field. Last year when catchers were going down left and right, Davey Johnson said he would call on the Columbia, Md. native as the emergency backstop if the situation ever presented itself.So when it was discovered Danny Espinosa would be out at least a few days with a floating chip in his right wrist, naturally Lombardozzi was there to step in. The super utility man known as ‘Lombo’ made the most of the opportunity, going 3-for-4 with two RBI in the Nats’ 5-2 win over the Phillies on Friday night.“You never want anybody to get injured,” Lombardozzi said. “But when my name’s called, I’m gonna be ready.”The 24-year-old Lombardozzi doesn’t say much. In a rare postgame session with reporters, he spoke softly and kept his answers short, always polite and often deflecting praise to his teammates. But after his three-hit performance at the plate, a big part of the Nationals’ win, Lombardozzi’s teammates weren’t quite as restrained.Read more »

The Juice returns for season No. 6! It’s almost eligible for free-agency! Stop by daily for news from the action, along with great photos, stats, video highlights and more. Anibal Sanchez’s bid for his second career no-hitter fell just two outs short on Friday night. After retiring Jamey Carroll on a somewhat questionable strike three call to begin the ninth inning, Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer laced a 1-1 pitch right back up the middle for a clean single, which keeps Sanchez from joining Justin Verlander, Mark Buehrle and Roy Halladay as the only active pitchers with multiple no-hitters. At least temporarily. The way he’s throwing this season, another bid is probably around the corner. ”It’s not that I go to the mound and want to do something special, it’s just that I want to go nine innings, go deeper, get a good command, get a good game,” Sanchez said. ”When I come to the eighth inning, I think about it. But when I come to the ninth inning, it’s really tough with those guys.” Much like his Friday night start back on April 26 when he struck out 17 Atlanta Braves, Sanchez had everything working against Minnesota. That was especially true during a stretch from the second inning to the seventh inning where he retired 18 straight batters. He ended up going the distance for his fourth career one-hitter , striking out 12. The outing required 130 pitches, which is sure to make a few fans uneasy, but he’s been no worse for the wear after throwing 122 in the April start. As for how Mauer felt about his latest history-breaking hit, which by the way is his third career ninth inning knock to break up a no-no attempt. ”He’s nasty, and he had everything working tonight,” Mauer said. ”Obviously, you know exactly what is happening, and you don’t want to get no-hit. I’m just up there trying to put the bat on the ball. He threw me a really good cutter and I was just able to square it up.” View full post on Yahoo! Sports – MLB – Washington Nationals News