Stephen Strasburg Lands on the DL with a Bad Back

Stephen Strasburg is a bit young to be having back problems, but that is apparently what has landed the Washington Nationals righty on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday after he was unable to participate in a bullpen session.

During his most recent start last Friday against the Atlanta Braves, Strasburg was pulled after just two innings with pain on his face while stretching his shoulder. He said after the game that his back had been bothering him during warmups for the past few starts, but the pain would subside once the game started.

The 24-year-old, who has a birthday next month, is 3-5 with a 2.54 ERA -- already halfway to as many losses as he suffered during his 15-6 campaign last year, his first full season following elbow surgery. Currently third in the NL East, the Nationals are one game under .500 and could probably use some healthy pitchers.

Strasburg joins fellow starter Ross Detweiler, out of commission since May 15 with a strained oblique, on the DL.

Happy Trails Ivan Rodriguez: Pudge Finally Retires

The Supreme Court sides with Larry Flynt in the defamation suit Hustler Magazine v. Falwell in February. In April, Sonny Bono is elected mayor of Palm Springs, California, and Roy Orbison dies of a heart attack in December.

The year was 1988, the same year the Texas Rangers signed Ivan Rodriguez out of Puerto Rico. Old. School.

After 21 seasons in the big leagues (yep, some of you aren't even that old) Rodriguez is hanging up his catching equipment. The 40-year-old backstop, who owns the all-time record for Gold Gloves at catcher (13), intends to announce his retirement formally at a ceremony on Monday in Arlington, where he spent his first 12 big league seasons.

Bryce Harper to Start 2012 Season in the Minor Leagues

It seems Bryce Harper isn't quite ready for the big leagues just yet... we're just going to have to wait a month or two to see a preposterous amount of eye black smeared all over his adorable face.

The Washington Nationals cut four players on Sunday, sending the outfielder along with them to the minors. Harper will begin the 2012 season with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, where he'll sign a whole lot of autographs before taking center field.

Unusually humble, Harper had this to say about his demotion:

"I'm just going to take it, and go down there and work hard and try to get up here as quick as I can... Of course you want to come in here and make the team every year. Hopefully, that’s the last time I’ll get sent down. But it’s what happened. I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s okay."

The 19-year-old rookie, who is converting from catcher to outfielder, went 5-for-11 to start spring training, but was just three for his last 17 with 11 strikeouts. Looks like he needs a bit more seasoning.

Aside from Harper just not being ready fundamentally, Dave Sheinin of Nationals Journal pointed this out among other things:

"If the Nationals keep him in the minors for about a month, they get an extra year of his services — in fact, his age-25 season — before he reaches free agency. If they keep him down for about three months, they can save millions of dollars in a few years by keeping him from reaching arbitration eligibility early."

Sneaky stuff Mike Rizzo.

[Nationals Journal]

Season Previews: Washington Nationals

With Spring Training well underway, it's time for one of our favorite things in all the world: Season Previews. Five years ago, they began as a semi-serious analysis and ended up as half-assed haiku. We're just gonna go with what we know. Moving right along with our preview of the National League East, check out the 2012 Washington Nationals.

The Nationals aren't
Messing around any more
Did some winter work

Gio Gonzalez
The flame-throwing left-hander
Came by way of trade

Stephen Strasburg is
Ready for a full season
Try not to hurt him

Edwin Jackson and
Jordan Zimmermann along
With John Lannan too

And Chien-Ming Wang...
We know it is pronounced "Wong"
Funnier in print

Mark DeRosa Still Plays Baseball, Signs with Washington Nationals for One Year

In the midst of rebuilding with several attempts to finally become contenders in the National League East, the Washington Nationals have signed Mark DeRosa out of free agency. This isn't quite as big of news as the Gio Gonzalez trade, but we thought at least Mark deserved some credit for persuading a team to pay him to play for them.

The 36-year-old utility player spent last season with the San Francisco Giants batting .279 in 86 at bats. Not a lot of action there at all after having surgery on two separate occasions in last two years for recurring problems with his left wrist. Considering players use their wrists all the time to do all sorts of things... like hit, catch, throw, and high five, this is never good.

Gio Gonzalez Deal Complete, Washington Nationals Looking Better All the Time

The Nationals are not messing around anymore. Finalizing the deal that began as just another rumor back in November, the Oakland Athletics have officially sent Gio Gonzalez to Washington in a six-player trade.

The 26-year-old lefty will join an already promising rotation and pitch between talented young right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg, both of whom recovered from reconstructive elbow surgery and still throw mad heat. Heat like Gonzalez, whose fastball is regularly clocked at 92-95 mph when he's not attempting to perfect his 10-4 curve and changeup.

Gonzalez went 16-12 last season seeing a career high in victories with a 3.12 ERA over 32 starts. He was also selected to his very first All-Star game, so there's that. He'll be a nice addition to a team that has made some major improvements since finishing dead last in the National League East three consecutive seasons from 2008-10. Last year they managed to finish third with an 80-81 record. Maybe they'll win their division some day and make the playoffs!

While the Nationals also received minor league pitcher Robert Gilliam, Oakland landed four players in the deal: catcher Derek Norris, right-handers A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock, and left-hander Tommy Milone.

[Washington Post]

Wilson Ramos Rescued, Psycho Kidnappers in Custody

A little more than 48 hours after Wilson Ramos was kidnapped by four gunmen from his native Venezuela home, he has been rescued.

The Washington Nationals catcher was brought to safety Friday evening, and escorted back to his family wearing a bulletproof vest after he was found by police commandos in a mountainous area roughly 40 miles northwest of his Valencia, Venezuela hometown. According to Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami, three people were arrested, one of them a Colombian "linked to paramilitary groups and to kidnapping groups."

The shaken 24-year-old had this to say about his ordeal and the eventual rescue operation:

Please Don't Hurt Wilson Ramos; Young Nationals Star Kidnapped in Venezuela

Update: A little more than 48 hours after his abduction, Wilson Ramos has been rescued by police commandos.

Update: The car used in Wilson Ramos' kidnapping has reportedly been found in the town of Bejuma, about an hour's drive west of Ramos' home outside the city of Valencia.

Wilson Ramos has been kidnapped in his hometown of Valencia, Venezuela Wednesday evening.

The 24-year-old Washington Nationals catcher traveled home for the offseason and was planning on participating in a few winter ball games with Tigres de Aragua beginning Thursday, until this horrific event took place.

According to multiple news reports out of Venezuela, four armed psychos entered the Ramos family’s house Wednesday night around 6:45pm and took him while he was hanging out with his father and brothers. They put him in a green vehicle and sped away. At this point, Ramos’s family has not had contact with the kidnappers, who likely are seeking money in return.

Many of the kidnappings that take place in the country involve armed men driving their victims around until they are awarded cash before returning them. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Wilson and his family and friends while we pray for his safe return and justice against his captors.

Stephen Strasburg Returns September 6

We know you're pumped, and we're super excited too. Stephen Strasburg is making his 2011 season debut on Tuesday, September 6. Can you wait that long, Nationals fans? And can you afford to go to the game now since ticket prices have absolutely sky rocketed upon the news of his return?

Strasburg will start for AA Harrisburg on Thursday in his final rehab appearance on the comeback trail from Tommy John surgery. If all goes as planned, the 23-year-old right-hander will climb the hill at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers next Tuesday.

Jonny Gomes is Sporting a Nationals Jersey

The Cincinnati Reds traded Jonny Gomes away to the Washington Nationals Tuesday in return for two minor leaguers, leaving the door wide open in Cincinnati's outfield for former first-round pick Yonder Alonso.

The struggling left fielder was batting just .211 with 11 home runs and 31 RBI headed into Wednesday night's game against the Florida Marlins. His reaction to the trade:

Jim Riggleman Resigns as Nationals Manager

Jim Riggleman is a quitter.

The former Washington Nationals manager resigned out of the blue on Thursday, just as his team hit the .500 mark upon winning their 11th game in 12 opportunities.

According to general manager Mike Rizzo, Riggleman called it quits after he asked the team pick up the $600,000 option on his contract for 2012 and the club declined to do so. He had this to say about his management skills:

"I know I’m not Casey Stengel but I do feel like I know what I’m doing."

The Nationals will likely name an interim manager this Friday before they face the Chicago White Sox. Happy trails, Jim!

[Daily Pitch]

Don't Look Now but the Nationals are Playing .500

This may not seem like a cause worth celebrating to many teams, but when you're the Washington Nationals, it's a pretty big deal.

After their 10th win in 11 games in which they beat the (also-.500) Seattle Mariners 2-1 Wednesday, the Nationals have found themselves at a nice even .500 record on the season.

Nationals Enjoy Record-Setting Rout of Orioles

Yay Interleague baseball! After being shut out twice in a row, the Washington Nationals enjoyed some batting practice Friday evening, right through their 17-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

In their team's biggest offensive show since the Expos moved to Washington in 2005, Danny Espinosa -- who entered the game with a terrible .194 batting average -- homered and drove in five runs. Jayson Werth smashed two longballs and four RBI, with Roger Bernadina, Wilson Ramos, and Laynce Nix also going yard during the 19-hit attack.

Cole Hamels: Welcome Back Jayson Werth

Jayson Werth's Beard was no match for Cole Hamels' left arm Tuesday.

In his first return to Philadelphia since leaving to play for the Washington Nationals, Werth went 0-for-3 with a walk in his team's 4-1 loss to the Phillies. Of course, he was met with boos from his former fans at Citizens Bank Park, but he turned their frowns upside-down when he took off his helmet and tipped it to the crowd: they simply could not resist his charm.

Besides, he's still making $126 million over seven years to bat .270. Nothing is going to bring that guy down.

Season Previews: Washington Nationals

With Spring Training already underway, it's time for one of our favorite things in all the world: Season Previews. Four years ago, they began as a semi-serious analysis and ended up as half-assed haiku. We're just gonna go with what we know. Kicking off our preview of the National League East, here are the Washington Nationals.

Jayson Werth's Beard was
An offseason addition
Adam LaRoche too

Goodbye Adam Dunn
And so long Josh Willingham
Hello Sean Burnett

Bryce Harper might want
To smear less eye black on his
Adorable face

We hope Strasburg's arm
Will heal nicely this year
And we'll see him soon

The DP combo
Is Danny Espinosa
And Ian Desmond

Adam LaRoche Gets Two-Year Deal from Nationals

Adam LaRoche and the Washington Nationals have finalized a contract worth roughly $16 million over two years.

After losing hard-hitting first baseman Adam Dunn to the Chicago White Sox via free agency, the Nationals attempted to fill that void by grabbing LaRoche off the free agent market.

LaRoche, 31, batted just .261 with the Arizona Diamondbacks last season, but nailed 25 home runs with a career-high 100 RBI.

Sean Burnett, Arthur Rhodes Get Deals

The Washington Nationals and Sean Burnett have agreed to a two-year, $3.95 million contract, including a mutual option for 2013.

Acquired midseason in 2009 from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the left-handed reliever went 1-7 with three saves and a 2.14 ERA in 73 appearances last season. Burnett, 28, is a career 9-16 with four saves and a 3.80 ERA over four big league seasons.

Jayson Werth's Beard Leaves Phillies for Nationals

Jayson Werth has hit the free agency jackpot.

According to Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian, the former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder agreed to a seven year, $126 million contract with the Washington Nationals this weekend.

Adam Dunn Reportedly Signs with White Sox

All the good "Dunn Deal" puns have been used, so I'm just gonna lay this one out for you.

According to Ken Rosenthal and just about everyone else on Twitter, Adam Dunn has agreed to join the Chicago White Sox on a four-year, $56 million deal.

The free agent first baseman, who spent the last two seasons with the Washington Nationals before declining arbitration, is probably grinning ear-to-ear with the thought of smashing longballs out of U.S. Cellular Field, a notorious hitter's park.

Stephen Strasburg Hindsight is 20/20

$15.1 million dollars and 15.1 million reasons why Mike Rizzo and Jim Riggleman are complete morons.