Nationals' clubhouse manager Mike Wallace walked around the clubhouse Saturday afternoon like a personal shopper. Try this winter hat, he said. And first baseman Adam LaRoche tossed it on his head. How about this mock turtleneck? Each player determined what would be the right size or right style for them. Published October 7 2012
It was almost exactly six months ago that the Washington Nationals settled into Wrigley Field for Opening Day and took two of three from the Chicago Cubs. It was the beginning of the most successful season in team history, the most successful season in baseball this year. But in order for it to continue along that path, they have to throw all of those accolades away. The Nationals are 0-0, the St. Louis Cardinals are 0-0. Their National League Division Series starts this afternoon, and only what happens from here forward matters. Published October 7 2012
ST. LOUIS -- Christian Garcia's unlikely story will continue in the postseason. Published October 6 2012
Stephen Strasburg went through the Washington Nationals' workout Saturday afternoon much the way he has everyday since Sept. 8. He was a part of it, but on the periphery. He is not on the Nationals' NLDS roster. He will not pitch for them in the playoffs. It's a feeling fellow Tommy John survivor Adam Wainwright knows all too well. Wainwright, who will start for the Cardinals in Game 1 of the NLDS on Sunday afternoon against Gio Gonzalez, was in exactly the same position during the Cardinals' 2011 World Series run. Published October 6 2012
ST. LOUIS -- Here are a few of Nationals manager Davey Johnson's comments from his press conference before the team worked out at Busch Stadium in advance of the National League Division Series, detailing Michael Morse's health, the Cardinals' right-handed lineup and Tyler Clippard's recent rest. Published October 6 2012
In truth, the Nationals had very few difficult decisions to make when it came to parsing the roster back from 33 to 25 for their first playoff series. According to a team source, the Nationals decided to go with four starting pitchers, eight relievers and 13 position players (eight regulars, five bench players). Published October 6 2012
ST. LOUIS -- The back problem that left Davey Johnson's left leg numb and forced him from Wednesday's regular-season finale is improving. Published October 6 2012
Davey Johnson and Mike Matheny shed some more light on their starting rotations heading into the Division Series Published October 6 2012
So now they know. A season's worth of dominance, often as the best team in the major leagues, the Washington Nationals controlled their future for almost the entire year. Until they sealed the No. 1 overall seed in the National League and the best record in baseball. Then, all they could do was wait. That wait ended Friday night just after 8:30 p.m. when the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Atlanta Braves, 6-3, and the Nationals set their flight plan for Saturday afternoon back to St. Louis. Published October 5 2012
ATLANTA -- Good afternoon from Turner Field, where all that's marring the blue sky are a couple wisps of clouds and a pair of planes towing banners advertising strip clubs. The Nationals' postseason destination hinges on what happens today between the Braves and Cardinals in the National League's wild card game. Published October 5 2012
The Washington Nationals still await their National League Division Series opponent, but what they learned Friday morning was when they'd be opening their first playoff series. Published October 5 2012
There's so much baseball copy in today's paper that I didn't want any of it to get lost in the shuffle as we prepare to wait and see who the Nationals will play in the National League Division Series, beginning Sunday. So here's a quick-link guide to all of it, starting with a link to the PDF version of our fantastic playoff preview section -- but don't forget to buy a copy, the entire paper's only 50 cents. Published October 5 2012
As he was rounding first base Wednesday afternoon, his fifth home run in the last 13 games sailing over the right field wall, Morse felt his left hamstring tighten slightly. He finished his home run trot -- and the subsequent curtain call -- but Corey Brown then replaced him in left field. Nationals manager Davey Johnson said he believed the issue to be minor, though, and Morse agreed, tweeting out that it was "nothing serious." Published October 3 2012
Nationals manager Davey Johnson was in the dugout for all of his team's first 97 victories. But in the midst of them achieving their 98th -- the most in major league baseball this season -- Johnson's left leg went numb and he was forced from the bench in the seventh inning to have tests run. Published October 3 2012
Who the Nationals face in the National League Division Series this weekend remains to be seen, as does the 25-man roster manager Davey Johnson will use. Published October 3 2012
The National League East pennant already belongs to the Washington Nationals, but there's one more thing at stake in today's regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Phillies. Published October 3 2012
The Washington Nationals spilled cases of beer, champagne, Pedialyte, orange juice, cranberry juice, shaving cream, baby power and just about anything else they could dig up inside their clubhouse Monday night in their division-clinching celebration. And less than 24 hours later, order had been restored and the remnants were barely noticeable. Published October 2 2012
Davey Johnson announced officially on Tuesday that Gio Gonzalez would be his Game 1 starter, regardless of opponent, and Jordan Zimmermann will start Game 2. What order Ross Detwiler and Edwin Jackson will go after that will be determined based on who the Nationals play. Published October 2 2012
If there was any concern about Bryce Harper hitting a lull in September as part of the long major league season, he did plenty to snuff it out. Published October 2 2012
The National League East was wrapped up Monday night, and Tuesday brought a day off for most of the Washington Nationals' regulars. There's still the little matter of trying to clinch the top seed in the NL, but Davey Johnson didn't seem terribly concerned about that. Published October 2 2012
By Rand Paul
Obama acts as though we no longer have a Constitution
