The Washington Nationals learned early Monday afternoon that their closer, the man who’d saved 43 games for them in 2011, was going to spend his Tuesday visiting Dr. James Andrews. That news was the backdrop for the ninth inning Monday night as the Nationals took a tie game against the New York Mets into the bottom of the ninth and then watched it slip away as their fundamentals failed them. Published April 10 2012
While the Nationals were getting some not-so-good news on their closer, Drew Storen, Monday afternoon at Citi Field, they did get encouraging news on outfielders Michael Morse and Rick Ankiel. Morse and Ankiel, who spent the weekend rehabbing with Double-A Harrisburg in Bowie, Md., were both set to play for Single-A Hagerstown Monday night. Morse was expected to play nine innings for the first time since he strained his right lat in early March and if all went well he'd play nine more on Tuesday. Published April 9 2012
Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from right elbow joint inflammation on Sunday when he felt tenderness following a simulated game. Storen will visit with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday for a second opinion. Published April 9 2012
While the Washington Nationals get set to open a three-game set with the National League East-leading New York Mets Monday night, outfielders Michael Morse and Rick Ankiel will take their rehab assignments to Single-A Hagerstown. Published April 9 2012
As the Nationals packed up inside the visitors' clubhouse at Wrigley Field Sunday afternoon, they did so in the usual quiet that blankets a loss. But after a weekend in which they were fortunate to find late hits and walk away with two victories, there wasn't all that much to be down about. Published April 9 2012
Five days removed from getting the news that he would not be a part of the Nationals' 2012 Opening Day roster, John Lannan took the mound in Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday for his first minor league start since 2010. Published April 8 2012
The Washington Nationals have left no ambiguity with their catching situation. Wilson Ramos is their starting catcher, Jesus Flores their backup. Published April 8 2012
Updates on Chien-Ming Wang, Michael Morse and Rick Ankiel. Published April 8 2012
Xavier Nady gets his first start of the season Sunday afternoon, hitting sixth and playing left field as Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson tweaks his lineup for the finale with the Chicago Cubs. Published April 8 2012
Washington Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon badly sprained his left ankle Saturday night as he rounded third base in Single-A Potomac's game in Lynchburg. Published April 8 2012
Often times this spring, Washington Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa would talk about his two-strike approach. Espinosa struck out 166 times in 2011 -- the third most in the National League -- and he knew hitting out of the No. 2 hole in the Nationals' lineup this season he'd have to cut that down. He worked on it with hitting coach Rick Eckstein, discussed it with manager Davey Johnson, and put it into practice Saturday afternoon in the eighth inning. Published April 7 2012
After Adam LaRoche left Wrigley Field Thursday night and met up with his family following an 0-for-3 performance with three strikeouts (and a pivotal walk), he had to face his toughest critic. His nine-year-old son Drake walked right up to him and said "Dad, what were you doing?" Published April 7 2012
When Chad Tracy was with the Arizona Diamondbacks and his role began to change -- to transition from that of an everyday player to that of a bench contributor -- he began to see the game differently. Sitting on the bench with veterans like Tony Clark for several innings each night, Tracy and Clark would hash out game situations and debate what they'd do if they were the manager. They'd try to predict, he said, where they might be used and help to prepare themselves for when their name was called. On the Nationals' bench on Saturday, Tracy was still doing that. Published April 7 2012
As Michael Morse travels to New York for treatment, the day in which he and Rick Ankiel are ready for active duty inches closer. The Nationals will have to decide who'll go when they're back. Published April 7 2012
Washington Nationals' left-hander Gio Gonzalez will make his first start of the season -- and National League debut -- this afternoon as the Nationals return to Wrigley Field for a noon (CT) game. Published April 7 2012
Morse was 2-for-3 with a double and a home run while Ankiel was 1-for-3 with a home run of his own in the Senators' 5-2 victory over the Bowie Baysox. Published April 7 2012
Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson spent much of his half-season in the Nationals' dugout lamenting the configuration of his bench. It didn't have enough pop, he felt. It didn't give him the late-game advantages against the other team's pitching staff that he so craved. Published April 6 2012
The Washington Nationals weren't expecting to have Adam LaRoche as their cleanup hitter. LaRoche was supposed to hit fifth behind the mashing potential of Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse with Jayson Werth hitting behind him in the No. 6 spot. But Morse is hurt, rehabbing a right lat strain with Double-A Harrisburg Thursday (he was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts), and LaRoche and Werth were bumped up in the lineup as a result. On Opening Day, it was hard not to see the void Morse's absence left. Published April 5 2012
Injury updates on Morse, Ankiel, Storen and Wang, as well as how Davey Johnson plans to handle the closing situation in Storen's absence. Published April 5 2012
John Lannan reported to Triple-A Syracuse Thursday morning, the first step for him as he adjusts to being a minor leaguer again after spending the majority of the past four seasons as a part of the Washington Nationals major league rotation. Lannan wants to be traded. Published April 5 2012
By Douglas Holtz-Eakin
The young drop coverage to avoid higher premiums
