Amanda Comak covers the Washington Nationals for The Washington Times.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 22, 2013 Comments
In the eighth inning on Wednesday, Bryce Harper took a good route, didn't appear nervous as he neared the wall, and made an important catch. From the reaction of some of his teammates, Denard Span and Ian Desmond in particular, perhaps it was a breakthrough.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 22, 2013 Comments
Before either of them had changed out of their street clothes Wednesday morning, Washington Nationals closer Rafael Soriano tapped outfielder Bryce Harper on the shoulder and asked him if they could talk. The two disappeared into a players-only area for several minutes and, when they emerged, both wanted to move past any controversy stirred by Soriano's comments late on Tuesday night.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 22, 2013 Comments
After the Nationals' loss Tuesday, Bryce Harper took the blame. The thought of hitting the wall, eight days after his gruesome collision with one at Dodger Stadium, entered his mind. He felt he could've caught the ball, but he didn't. He admitted it was an issue he'll have to overcome. A few locker stalls down, though, apparently Rafael Soriano, who threw the slider that Blanco hit, was not pleased.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 22, 2013 Comments
The moment the Washington Nationals 23rd loss of the season went from a tight, pulse-pounding victory to a gut-wrenching 4-2 loss came quickly. Pablo Sandoval's monstrous 10th-inning home run off Yunesky Maya brought with it the pain of an infuriatingly inconsistent season and a surprising .500 record after 46 games for the pre-season World Series favorites.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 21, 2013 Comments
Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson accepted an invitation from San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy to be a coach on his staff at the 2013 All-Star Game.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 21, 2013 Comments
Fernando Abad was eating in a restaurant in Toledo, Ohio on Monday night when he got a call from Triple-A manager Tony Beasley. The first thing Beasley wanted to know was if Abad was with Maya. The left-hander told him he was not, so Beasley passed along a message.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 21, 2013 Comments
Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson was out on the field at AT&T Park early on Tuesday afternoon, watching several of his hitters take early batting practice and as left-hander Ross Detwiler did his first throwing since straining his right oblique.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 21, 2013 Comments
As the Washington Nationals tried to reset, refocus and finish their 10-game west coast trip strong, their position players gathered Monday afternoon for their usual pre-series hitters' meeting. Shortstop Ian Desmond and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman reminded teammates to remember their own unique strengths. Perhaps the effect will be felt in the days and weeks to come. But Monday the Nationals were shut out for the sixth time this season as they fell 8-0 to the San Francisco Giants.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 21, 2013 Comments
Right-hander Ryan Mattheus broke a bone near the fourth knuckle in his pitching hand on Sunday afternoon when he returned to the clubhouse following a five-run inning and slammed his hand, holding his glove, into his locker. The Nationals called up left-hander Fernando Abad and right-hander Yunesky Maya as reinforcements and optioned Eury Perez to Triple-A Syracuse.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 20, 2013 Comments
Bryce Harper returned to the Washington Nationals' lineup on Monday night after missing the previous two games with bruising and swelling in his left knee.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 20, 2013 Comments
Ross Detwiler stood by the railing of the Nationals' dugout at AT&T Park on Monday and smiled as he chatted with coaches and teammates. Normally, it would've been his day to pitch, but a slight right oblique strain forced him to miss this start. The good news, though, was that the left-hander had perhaps his most encouraging day since he was pulled from Wednesday's game after three innings.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 20, 2013 Comments
After getting what Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson called "kind of an alarming report" on Jayson Werth following another MRI on his strained right hamstring, it appears the right fielder's return will be delayed even further than the start of the team's upcoming homestand.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 20, 2013 Comments
Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was back in the lineup on Monday after missing the weekend with pain and swelling in his left knee.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 19, 2013 Comments
When the Washington Nationals packed up and left D.C. a week ago, they knew their 10-game road swing through California would be a difficult test for their young season. The toughest spot appeared to be at the end, in San Francisco, where the reigning World Series champions would be waiting. As the Nationals departed San Diego late Sunday evening, they were 3-4 through the first week of their trip. As they've muddled their way through injuries and inconsistency, they will take a 23-21 record into the series. And the Giants? They're 24-20 -- and limping home from a 1-5 road trip through Toronto and Colorado.
By Amanda Comak — Published May 19, 2013 Comments
The Washington Nationals will send right-hander Dan Haren to the mound on Sunday as he looks to continue a string of strong starts and the Nationals look to take the four-game series from the San Diego Padres.
By Andrew P. Napolitano
The president's men trash the Constitution to pursue antagonists
