NATIONALS WATCH

Amanda Comak covers the Washington Nationals for The Washington Times.

• Rizzo: No more coaching changes planned

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 2, 2011 Comments

  The Nationals firing of Dan Radison on Friday afternoon will be the final coaching shakeup for the Nationals, GM Mike Rizzo said Saturday.

• Nationals sending six to minor league All-Star games

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 2, 2011 Comments

  With the Single-A All-Star games out of the way, the only team left that has yet to be announced is the big league one. The Double-A and Triple-A selections came out this week and the Nationals will be sending five players to the Eastern League game on July 13 in New Hampshire and one to the International League's contest on July 13 in Salt Lake City.

• Johnson still looking to add pieces

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 2, 2011 Comments

  The buzz word in the Nationals’ clubhouse on Friday was confidence. Manager Davey Johnson had confidence in Matt Stairs to drive in the game-winning run, while the team had confidence in Johnson to help it weather the storm of its skid in Anaheim.

• Werth second, pitcher ninth: today's lineup

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 1, 2011 Comments

  Davey Johnson is returning to Washington for his first game as manager, and the Nationals are returning to a more traditional lineup.

• Radison out as 1B Coach, Replaced by Trent Jewett

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 1, 2011 Comments

  Nationals first base coach Dan Radison was let go Friday to make room for incoming bench coach Pat Corrales. Trent Jewett will serve as Radison’s replacement at first base.

• Hairston to the DL, Ankiel Returns

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 1, 2011 Comments

  Utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. was placed on the 15-day DL on Friday and is expected to miss 2-4 weeks due to a small break in his right wrist. Rick Ankiel was activated from the DL and will take Hairston’s place.

• Nationals open pivotal 11-game homestand

  By Amanda Comak — Published July 1, 2011 Comments

  The Nationals are 40-41 as they open a 10-day, 11-game homestand. They finished the first 81 games of the 2011 season one game under .500 and that was with dropping the last three games of the mathematical first half of the season. Sure they just lost consecutive games for the first time since June 8 and 9. Sure they just got swept by the Angels in the first three games of Davey Johnson's managerial tenure, but the Nationals, as Jayson Werth said are "far ahead of where anybody thought we'd be at this time." The next 11 games, though, are pivotal for this Nationals team and this Nationals season.

• With Jerry Hairston set to go on DL, a look at why the Nationals may have interest in Mike Cameron

  By Amanda Comak — Published June 30, 2011 Comments

  With Jerry Hairston Jr. expected to miss 2-4 weeks with a fractured right wrist, the Nationals outfield depth just got even thinner. Could they be interested in Mike Cameron?

• Throwing motion coming along for Zimmerman as he notes that ultimately, "I think it can make me a better player."

  By Amanda Comak — Published June 30, 2011 Comments

  Ryan Zimmerman committed his fourth error in 14 games since returning from the disabled list Wednesday evening and it was a costly one. In 1-0 loss to the Angels Zimmerman's throwing error, which came on a tough play where he tried to get the lead runner at second base but sent the throw left of second baseman Danny Espinosa's glove, allowed the winning run to get to third base.It also showcased Zimmerman's throwing motion. What it didn't do what deter Zimmerman from continuing to work on his new motion, one he has no plans to abandon.

• X-rays on Hairston's right wrist reveal small break

  By Amanda Comak — Published June 29, 2011 Comments

  Jerry Hairston Jr. walked through the visitors clubhouse at Angels Stadium Wednesday evening with his right wrist wrapped and a mediocre prognosis. The wrist suffered a small break when Hairston was hit with a 91 mph two-seam fastball from Dan Haren in the fifth inning.

• Davey talks about managing the battles with an eye on "winning the war," plus injury updates

  By Amanda Comak — Published June 29, 2011 Comments

  The first few lineups Davey Johnson pens himself will come under a bit more scrutiny and garner a bit more interest than perhaps any of the other 80 he puts together for the rest of the season. There's a reason behind each move and it's always interesting to hear it.

• Werth, Nix, Ramos, Desmond all sit: today's lineups

  By Amanda Comak — Published June 29, 2011 Comments

  When Davey Johnson was asked about his opinions on lineup construction Tuesday afternoon he mentioned that he has reasons for each lineup he puts out and said that while he had reasons for the first two, he may have different reasons for a new one Wednesday. It's definitely a different lineup than the Nationals have used both in Johnson's abbreviated tenure or at all this season with starters Jayson Werth, Laynce Nix, Ian Desmond and Wilson Ramos all out of the starting lineup.

• Nationals sign J.C. Romero to minor league deal

  By Amanda Comak — Published June 29, 2011 Comments

  The Nationals have signed former Phillies left-hander J.C. Romero to a minor league deal and placed him on the roster at Triple-A Syracuse, as CSN's Mark Zuckerman first reported.

• Right Achilles acts up again forcing Nix from the game

  By Amanda Comak — Published June 29, 2011 Comments

  Laynce Nix was a triple shy of the cycle when he came to the plate in the seventh inning Tuesday night. A single to complete Nix's first 4-for-4 night, his first in six years, was the end of his workday. His sore right Achilles tightened up and Nix was pulled when he reached first base.

• Updates on Harper, Ankiel and Wang

  By Amanda Comak — Published June 28, 2011 Comments

  Updates on Bryce Harper's left thumb, Rick Ankiel's left intercostal and Chien-Ming Wang's next rehab start.