The Washington Nationals signed left-handed reliever Michael Gonzalez to a minor league deal on Tuesday. Gonzalez will report to Viera, Fla., where he'll be evaluated by Nationals' pitching coordinator Spin Williams before a decision on where he'll report will be made. Published May 8 2012
According to a source, Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball for his comments about Cole Hamels, following Hamels' intentionally throwing at Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper on Sunday night. Published May 8 2012
Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson wrote out his first lineup since April that included Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche this afternoon, but it was also his first of many that will certainly not include Jayson Werth. Published May 8 2012
The Washington Nationals made official their anticipated roster moves Tuesday afternoon, activating third baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 15-day disabled list and placing right fielder Jayson Werth on it. Published May 8 2012
Monday was a busy day for the Nationals with Jayson Werth undergoing surgery to stabilize his broken left wrist, general manager Mike Rizzo vociferously condemning Cole Hamels' actions in intentionally throwing at Bryce Harper and Hamels getting suspended while Jordan Zimmerman escaped unscathed. Published May 8 2012
Major League Baseball suspended Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Cole Hamels five games on Monday for intentionally throwing at Nationals' outfielder Bryce Harper Sunday night. Hamels, who hit Harper with a 93-mph fastball on his first pitch to the 19-year-old, is not expected to appeal his suspension and could be available to make his next start on Sunday, according to reports out of Philadelphia. Published May 7 2012
Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth, who suffered a clean break of his left wrist Sunday night, underwent surgery on Monday. Published May 7 2012
Jayson Werth walked off the field at Nationals Park, for the last time in what will surely be weeks if not months, in the sixth inning Sunday night, clutching his left wrist and clearly in significant pain. When manager Davey Johnson sat down at his postgame press conference, there was no way to sugar coat the news he had to deliver. "He has a broken wrist," Johnson said. "He's going to be down for a while." Published May 7 2012
On Saturday, after the Nationals had clinched their eighth of nine series, the question was posed throughout the Nationals' clubhouse: is this a rivalry now? Published May 7 2012
When it was over, when the Philadelphia Phillies had announced that they weren’t ready to just hand the Washington Nationals the division in May by avoiding a series sweep, the Nationals had much bigger things to worry about. The lasting image from a 9-3 loss, a game that featured a purpose pitch from Cole Hamels to Bryce Harper in the first inning, a subsequent steal of home by Harper and a fastball from Jordan Zimmermann into Hamels’ knee, was unrelated. It was the image of Jayson Werth, head down and clutching his left arm, being escorted off the field by trainers. Werth broke his left wrist sliding for a ball hit by Placido Polanco in the sixth inning and will be out a number of weeks, if not months. The break was a clean one, Nationals manager Davey Johnson said, but it was the same wrist that injured ligaments in nearly ended Werth’s career. Published May 7 2012
Outfielder Jayson Werth dove for a fly ball off the bat of Placido Polanco in the sixth inning Sunday night and landed on his left wrist. Werth immediately crouched on the ground, appearing to be in significant pain. He was swiftly removed from the game, clutching his left wrist. Published May 6 2012
Early Sunday afternoon, there was a man in the Nationals' bullpen wearing a plain red shirt and baseball pants throwing what looked to be a bullpen session. After a few throws, Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, general manager Mike Rizzo and the unidentified pitcher came walking out, followed by pitching coach Steve McCatty. Published May 6 2012
Adam LaRoche went for an MRI on his sore right oblique Sunday morning and was relieved when the results showed no tear. The Washington Nationals' first baseman said the MRI showed only a bruise in the area and accelerated his workouts Sunday as well. Published May 6 2012
Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman took live batting practice in the Nationals' indoor cage Sunday afternoon and then took a full round of BP on the field with his teammates. Without any pain in his right AC joint, Zimmerman expects to hit again on the team's off day on Monday and be activated when the Nationals open a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Published May 6 2012
Washington Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche did some range of motion work and resistance work on Saturday, testing his sore right oblique, and came away encouraged with his progress. Published May 5 2012
Washington Nationals' third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hit off a tee for the second straight day on Saturday and then hit about 30 balls flipped to him by a coach. He came out of the workout feeling extremely encouraged and without any pain in his previously inflamed right AC shoulder joint. Published May 5 2012
One other interesting aspect of Strasburg's night was that it seemed the Phillies were timing his motion to the plate extremely well. So well that they stole two bases off him easily and something the Nationals coaches spoke with him about during the game. Published May 5 2012
The moment the ball hit his bat, Wilson Ramos knew. Published May 5 2012
The "Nationals Park" signage that usually resides atop the Nationals' main center field video board was covered up on Friday. Published May 4 2012
Ryan Zimmerman took 20 swings at about 60-75 percent Friday, hitting off a tee and doing his first batting work since being put on the disabled list last Saturday. Zimmerman was encouraged by the absence of pain during the work but said Saturday, when the Nationals' third baseman hits balls flipped to him by a coach and hits a moving ball, would be more indicative. Published May 4 2012
By Andrew P. Napolitano
The president's men trash the Constitution to pursue antagonists
