Tag Archives: Adam LaRoche

Johnson wants LaRoche in a Nationals uniform for 2013

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Amidst the three-game sweep suffered at the hands of the Atlanta Braves and the news that second baseman Danny Espinosa will undergo an MRI on his ailing shoulder, a couple of interesting quotes seem to have slipped through the cracks.

On Sunday afternoon, Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson expressed his desire to see Adam LaRoche with the club in 2013. Looks like Johnson and I have something in common.

“I was unhappy to hear that he could test the free-agent market,” Johnson said. “We need him back more than we need me back.” Continue reading →

Pitching matchup – game 140

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Though it took about six hours to complete and required a two-hour and 33-minute rain delay, the Washington Nationals (86-53) rallied to beat the Miami Marlins (62-78), setting up this afternoon’s rubber match. Nationals outfielders Jayson Werth and Corey Brown were the heroes of the day, driving in the tying and game-winning runs, respectively.

“We had a nice little rain delay. I got a little massage, changed clothes, had a chicken salad and then we tied it up,” Werth said. “It was well-written.”

Now, on the heels of two extra-innings games and news that Stephen Strasburg has been shut down effective immediately, the Nationals will try to take the series – and the season series for the first time since 2007 – as they battle veteran right-hander Ricky Nolasco. Right-hander and birthday-boy himself, Edwin Jackson, will take the mound for the Nationals. Continue reading →

The curious case of Adam LaRoche

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Coming into the season, Washington Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche was a question mark. So much so, that there was an abundance of rumors swirling around the then-free agent Detroit Tigers first baseman, Prince Fielder.

LaRoche is coming off of a 2011 campaign that was shortened by a shoulder injury that plagued him as early as spring training. The torn labrum and partially torn rotator cuff required season-ending surgery after just 43 games and a .172/.288/.258 line with three home runs and 15 RBIs.

Today, LaRoche is arguably the Nationals’ most valuable player and a definite candidate for the National League’s Comeback Player of the Year Award.

After a stellar week’s worth of games during which he has gone 10-for-25 with four home runs and nine RBIs, LaRoche’s line sits at .270/.342/.506 with 28 home runs and 90 RBIs – comparable to Fielder’s .314/.411/.521 line, his 24 home runs and his 94 RBIs. LaRoche, however, is doing it for $15 million less.

Now, the question – if it really is a question – is whether or not the Nationals should attempt to exercise LaRoche’s 2013 mutual option. If you are feeling lazy and unwilling to finish reading this article, the answer is yes. Yes, they should. Continue reading →

Talking Nats’ bats

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Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler are the names of the five men that currently make up the Washington Nationals’ pitching rotation – a rotation that has led the team to the best record in all of baseball at 69-43.

With that caliber of pitching, it should come as no surprise that on August 10, with just 50 games remaining on the Nationals’ regular-season schedule, their pitching staff leads most others in many categories. Where they do not lead, they are not far behind.

Here are some of the categories in which the Nationals’ pitching staff ranks first: ERA (3.23), quality starts (73), earned runs allowed (367), runs allowed (395) and opponents’ batting average (.232).  They rank second in saves with 38 and third in strikeouts with 927.

For those who prefer the less-than-traditional stats, the Nationals rank first in FIP (3.53), first in BABIP (.277), second in left on base percentage (76.3 percent) and fourth in WAR (15.4).

Considering the fact that the pitching staff has been building those numbers consistently since opening day, it is not surprising at all to see the team in first place. What is surprising, however, is the fact that a Nationals batting order that has been unhealthy since day one has grown more and more potent as the season progresses. Continue reading →

Nationals notes

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After a four-game series with their divisional opponent Miami Marlins this weekend, a series that saw the Washington Nationals take three games to hold a three-game lead in the National League East over the Atlanta Braves, the Nationals began a 10-game road trip in Houston last night that will see the likes of the Astros, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants. With four games set against the basement-dwelling Astros, who currently hold the worst record in baseball with just 36 wins opposite 74 losses, the Nationals have an opportunity to extend their lead in the NL East before coming home to begin an 11-game run that will pit them against each team in the division. But the future is a discussion for another day. For now, let us revisit last night’s unusual win and chat about a few stories you may have missed. Continue reading →

Welcome back Werth

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There are a number of potential news-worthy stories that spun out of the Washington Nationals’ 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies last night, a win that salvaged a three-game series in which the Nationals dropped the first two games after coming off of a 6-1 road trip.

Their avoidance of a series sweep at the hands of the Phillies is news enough. After losing the first two games, the Nationals saw their lead in the National League East shrink to just 2.5 games over the red-hot Atlanta Braves, who have won eight of their last 10 games and 14 of 20 since the All-Star break.

We could also discuss Nationals’ pitcher Ross Detwiler, who enjoyed his most dominant outing of the season last night in a performance that saw the young lefty throw seven shutout innings on an economical 88 pitches. Detwiler struck out three batters while giving up just three hits and two walks. Impressive is the fact that the pitcher accomplished all of this without relying on his off-speed pitches. In 2012, Detwiler has thrown his fastball approximately 75.7 percent of the time. Last night, it was in the ballpark of about 90 percent.

The big story, however, is outfielder Jayson Werth‘s reinstatement from the 60-day disabled list and his return to the starting lineup. Continue reading →

Nationals notes

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On what seems to be a rare off-day, the Washington Nationals will make their way home after going 6-1 on their most recent road trip – a road trip that saw the team sweep their divisional rival New York Mets and take three of four games from the Milwaukee Brewers to cement their place atop all of Major League Baseball with a record of 61-40.

The team will resume play Tuesday night with familiar foes in the form of the resident National League East basement-dwelling Philadelphia Phillies before taking on the Miami Marlins in a four-game series that includes a doubleheader on Friday. Until then, here is some insight, gossip and some stories you may have missed. Continue reading →