Tag Archives: Davey Johnson

Werth credits Johnson with Nationals’ turnaround

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There is something to be said of Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson. After all, you do not just luck your way into the playoffs with four different franchises. If you did, there would probably be more than two managers throughout the many years of major league history to have done so. But looking back through the record books, it seems that Billy Martin is the only other to have achieved such a milestone.

No, there is definitely something to be said of Johnson and it seems Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth said it best just minutes after the Nationals clinched the first playoff appearance for a Washington baseball team in nearly eight decades.

“There’s a lot of people around here that you can point fingers at that had a lot to do with the change in direction and everything that goes into that in the ballclub and the organization, but none any bigger than Davey,” Werth said. Continue reading →

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 →

The Morse mystery

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Yesterday, during the Washington Nationals’ 2-1 victory in the first of a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs, outfielder Michael Morse was pulled from the game in the middle of the fourth inning. It was announced that Morse, who has been dealing with several nagging injuries since early August, was removed due to soreness in his right thumb.

It came as a surprise, then, when manager Davey Johnson told the media in a post-game interview that the reason Morse was removed was a precautionary one. Johnson had hoped to spare Morse discomfort in his right hand – a right hand that was hit by a Kyle Kendrick changeup on August 24.

“Where he got hit was acting up,” Johnson said. “I knew their pitcher was going to pound him in, and I didn’t want to aggravate it worse. He didn’t want to come out. I just said, ‘You’re coming out.’ I don’t need you aggravating it.”

It came as an even bigger surprise, then, when Morse spoke to the media and claimed he felt fine.

“No, my hand feels fine,” Morse said. “My hand feels good.”

What a curious little mystery. Continue reading →

Tough start for Strasburg is good news for Washington

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The Washington Nationals’ 8-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in the first of a three-game set last night served to prove only one thing: Stephen Strasburg is, in fact, a human being.

Stephen Strasburg and Jesus Flores

Don’t worry pal. The best of us are human. (Evan Habeeb — US PRESSWIRE)

As has often been said, to err is human. And while Strasburg did not exactly commit any errors in a baseball sense, he did suffer a very rough outing to cement a recent run of inconsistency. Even though a broken ragtag Phillies team marched into Washington to shutout a team that, at the time, had the best record in all of baseball, there is one shining positive in which Nationals fans can take solace. We will get to that shortly. Continue reading →

Washington remains quiet through trade deadline

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The 2012 non-waiver trade deadline passed nearly one hour ago, with the Washington Nationals not making so much as a peep.

As of yet, no deals have been announced, which is not to say that a trade will not crop up sometime in August. As it stands, it appears that principal owner Mark Lerner, general manager Mike Rizzo, manager Davey Johnson and the rest of the brass are content to compete with the 25 players already on the roster.

In a brief statement with the media, Lerner made a very bold remark.

“We’re going all the way with what we’ve got in this room.”

If reports are to be believed, management was unwilling to disturb the exceptional chemistry that seems to surround the team – chemistry that Johnson spoke about earlier this month in Colorado.

“To me, I look at it as when 25 guys understand their role and get mentally prepared for it on a daily basis and go out and perform,” Johnson said. “Then, it becomes a unit…chemistry is what we call it, I guess.”

Washington Nationals Chemistry

Greg Fiume — Getty Images

Whatever you call it, the Nationals have it. And if they aim to make good on Lerner’s comment, they need to keep it.

The Nationals begin a three-game series at home tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies. Stephen Strasburg will take the mound in search of his 12th win and will oppose veteran right-hander Cliff Lee.

Rodriguez’s struggles continue amid surging Nationals

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With a win in last night’s matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Washington Nationals have tied the New York Yankees with their major-league leading 59th win. The victory also extended the team’s winning streak to six straight games and seven of their last 10. It also elevated the franchise to unknown territory – 20 games over .500, a first for the organization.

If for some reason you were not yet sold on the Nationals as a contender in the National League East, perhaps it is about time to come around – outfielder Michael Morse sure believes it is. And if you have yet to notice, he and his teammates seem to have an air of confidence about them these days.

“We know we’re good,” Morse said. “That’s what it’s come down to. Our pitching’s really good, hitters are doing their job, so why not have confidence? Why not have a little swagger?”

Yes, Morse and his teammates are riding high – 23 of his teammates that is. One still remains plagued by issues of uncertainty. Relief pitcher Henry Rodriguez is anything but reassured. Continue reading →

Nationals notes

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The Washington Nationals are back in the nation’s capital tonight after splitting a weekend series with the Miami Marlins. As the team prepares for seven more divisional games at home – three with the New York Mets and four with the Atlanta Braves – let’s take a moment to get caught up with a few stories that may have slipped through the cracks as well as a few that are still developing. Continue reading →

What Desmond’s absence means to the Nationals

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Prior to Sunday’s game with the Miami Marlins, Washington Nationals’ all-star shortstop Ian Desmond played in all but one of the 85 games completed up until that point, which made his absence from the lineup in the team’s 86th game just a bit worrisome. Even more worrisome, however, is that no one is exactly sure just how long Desmond, who is suffering from a strained left oblique, will remain out of the lineup. Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson’s words suggest that it may be longer than everyone is hoping.

“I don’t know how long it might be,” Johnson said. “Normally, if I was just resting him, I’d probably play Lombo at short.” Continue reading →