There's already been an awful lot written about Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard, the Nationals rep at this year's All-Star game and a deserving one, but while I'm here, may as well get my two cents in. If you're looking for words on Clippard, I wrote about 1,500 of them in this feature. If you're at all interested in the journey that has brought Clippard to this place in his life and this success in his career -- a road that included being kicked off his high school team, being traded, switched from a starter to a reliever and a rise to one of the preeminent set-up men in baseball, I'd suggest you check it out. Published July 11 2011
Brad Peacock, a 41st-round pick from the 2006 draft, worked through his first four years in the Nationals organization with middling success. Peacock never had an ERA above 4.97 but never one below 3.89. He'd moved up through the ranks gradually and finished the 2010 season with a 6-11 record and 4.50 ERA between Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg. But Peacock -- and his coaches -- noticed that while the power right-hander would have little trouble disposing of a lineup the first and second times through, the third time would lead to very different results. He was showing the ball, they realized, and hitters were catching on eventually. A small change this spring to help him improve his deception has paid huge dividends for Peacock, ranked the No. 42 prospect in baseball in Baseball America's mid-season report. Published July 10 2011
Much of today's attention will be on Phoenix, where Nationals prospects Bryce Harper and Brad Peacock play in the All-Star Futures Game. But this afternoon at Nationals Park, Washington can finish the season's first half at .500 with a victory against the Colorado Rockies. Published July 10 2011
There are still a few moving parts but the Nationals post-All-Star break rotation is beginning to take shape. Published July 9 2011
One day after stopping Ty Wigginton's liner with his face, Nationals left-hander was in good spirits in the clubhouse looking not too much worse for the wear. His nose was a little visibly swollen but there wasn't much bruising, his septum was fine and a CT scan taken last night came back clean. Published July 9 2011
After missing the last two games, Laynce Nix was back in left field and hitting cleanup for the Nationals Saturday. With Nix back in the lineup, Jayson Werth was dropped back into the sixth spot in the lineup and catcher Jesus Flores gets his first major league start behind the plate since May 9, 2009. Published July 9 2011
Jim Riggleman was supposed to be packing his bags this weekend and heading to Phoenix, Ariz., to serve as a coach on Bruce Bochy's staff at the All-Star game. That opportunity ceased when Riggleman resigned his post as manager of the Nationals on June 23. But Bochy, who is very good friends with Riggleman, and Giants general manager Brian Sabean have reached out to Riggleman with another opportunity, this one to possibly join the Giants' organization. The partnership is in the exploratory stages right now but Riggleman will fly to California after the All-Star break to meet with the Giants' brass and discuss their options. Published July 9 2011
There was a scary scene on the field at Nationals Park in the fourth inning Friday night when Nationals left-hander John Lannan was hit in the face with a comebacker off the bat of Ty Wigginton. Published July 8 2011
For Cole Kimball, the news he got from an arthrogram done on his injured right shoulder revealed exactly what he'd feared worst: a tear in the rotator cuff. Kimball will undergo season-ending rotator cuff surgery sometime during the All-Star break thus bringing his brief first year in the major leagues to a disheartening end. The 25-year-old will be operated on by Dr. David Altchek in New York city. Published July 8 2011
The Nationals placed catcher Ivan Rodriguez on the disabled list with a right oblique strain this afternoon and recalled catcher Jesus Flores from Triple-A to take his spot on the active roster. Published July 8 2011
Laynce Nix is out of the Nationals lineup for the second straight day, presumably so that manager Davey Johnson can give him another whole day to rest the various aches and pains the left fielder's been working through. Published July 8 2011
The strained right oblique muscle that forced Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the lineup Thursday afternoon may soon land him on the disabled list. Published July 8 2011
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Washington Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang needed only 43 pitches to take a significant step in his rehabilitation Thursday night. Published July 7 2011
Ivan Rodriguez has been scratched from the Nationals lineup tonight with a right oblique issue and Wilson Ramos will start in his place; Michael Morse finishes fourth in the Final Vote and other pregame notes. Published July 7 2011
Laynce Nix is out of the Nationals lineup today which means that the Jayson Werth hits sixth idea has lasted all of one day, so far. Most likely it's just a routine day off for Nix but we'll find out for sure when we head down to the clubhouse shortly. Published July 7 2011
The Nationals have played 88 games this season and Drew Storen has pitched in 43 of them. He's on pace to appear in 79 games this season, just his second in the majors and first as a closer, and that's not a situation that his manager wants him to be in. It was with that in mind that Davey Johnson thought he'd send Henry Rodriguez out for a second inning -- one that would also be the ninth in a save situation -- on Wednesday night. Published July 7 2011
As he nears the one-month mark of his stay on the disabled list, Nationals right-hander Cole Kimball will travel to New York Friday for a second opinion on his injured shoulder. Published July 6 2011
The Nationals considered skipping Jordan Zimmermann's final start of the first half of the season but after manager Davey Johnson and pitching coach Steve McCatty discussed it, Zimmermann will pitch Sunday. After the break, though, the Nationals will begin using Zimmermann more as a fifth starter. Published July 6 2011
Tom Gorzelanny will face the team that traded him to Washington this offseason with the Nationals first all-regular lineup since last Friday as Nationals manager Davey Johnson has worked to put together lineups while dealing with several players with nagging injuries. Michael Morse, who missed the last three games after taking a fastball off his left forearm Saturday night, was back in the lineup hitting fifth and playing first base. Jayson Werth was dropped to sixth. Published July 6 2011
Tuesday night, Ross Detwiler made his first start in the major leagues since September 29, 2010. He pitched five innings of scoreless baseball, surrendered a leadoff double to Reed Johnson and a one-out, two-run home run to Aramis Ramirez. He also won, something he found has been happening a lot with his major league team when he joined them for the first time this season. Published July 6 2011
By Elaine Donnelly
Extending sexual misconduct to combat units
