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Henry Rodriguez, despite struggles, will get time to save his role

Jason Reid — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:26:44 EST

You don’t have to be a sabermetrics whiz to know the numbers are piling up against Washington Nationals closer Henry Rodriguez, who has been as ineffective recently as a JP Morgan Chase trader.

Consecutive oh-no performances — Rodriguez walked two batters and gave up a walk-off grand slam in Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati and was yanked with one out after walking the bases loaded in Monday’s victory over San Diego — prompted Manager Davey Johnson to issue a “he’s-still-my-guy” vote of confidence for the reliever who has a 100-mph fastball and apparently no clue where it’s headed.

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Nationals vs. Padres: Bryce Harper’s first home run helps Washington overcome Sandy Leon’s injury

Adam Kilgore — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:37:00 EST

Bryce Harper stood in the Washington Nationals’ dugout as Nationals Park roared for him, with the unfamiliar and splendid feeling of being unsure of what he should do. Teammate Jayson Werth, 14 years his senior, slapped him on the back and let him know it was okay. Werth told Harper, “Get up there, kid.”

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Orioles’ Chen beats Yankees

Dan Connolly — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:19:00 EST

BALTIMORE —Rookie left-hander Wei-Yin Chen had passed all the early tests, facing good major league teams, pitching well, showing poise and not once getting saddled with a loss in his first six big league starts for the Baltimore Orioles.

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Strength coach McNamee says he helped Clemens use drugs

Del Quentin Wilber, Ann E. Marimow — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:58:45 EST

A former Major League Baseball strength coach testified Tuesday that he only reluctantly told federal authorities about Roger Clemens’s alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs and did not initially intend to hand over evidence that prosecutors say tests have linked to the baseball legend.

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Tue, 15 May 2012 17:58:45 EST

Nationals vs. Reds: Joey Votto homers three times as Washington falls, 9-6

Adam Kilgore — Sun, 13 May 2012 20:09:42 EST

CINCINNATI — Everything was a mess Sunday night for Henry Rodriguez. His nerves, the slop at his feet, the loaded bases behind him — all of it, in every way, an utter, complete mess, made worse by the man knocking the weighted donut off his bat in the on-deck circle. Walking to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning, already with two home runs and now carrying a chance to end the Washington Nationals’ long, wet and miserable day in the most gut-wrenching fashion, was Joey Votto.

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Nationals vs. Reds: Wilson Ramos is latest injury victim as Washington wins

Adam Kilgore — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:14:39 EST

CINCINNATI — As they surged further into first place Saturday night, the Washington Nationals might have pushed closer to their breaking point. They have withstood injuries to, among others, their cleanup hitter, their closer and their $126 million right fielder. As Wilson Ramos lay prone behind home plate at Great American Ball Park, they also had to contemplate surviving also without their bedrock catcher.

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Nationals vs. Reds: Bryce Harper gets 10 stitches after hitting himself with his bat in Washington’s win

Adam Kilgore — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:06:00 EST

CINCINNATI —Bryce Harper sheepishly emerged from the trainers’ room in the Washington Nationals’ clubhouse late Friday night, a golf ball-size welt and 10 stitches over his left eye, clumps of blood in his hair and a new nickname from his teammates. After Harper had suffered a bizarre, frustration-fueled, self-inflicted injury, they fondly called him “Bam Bam.”

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Bryce Harper might not be ready for Major League Baseball, but don’t bet on it

Thomas Boswell — Tue, 1 May 2012 22:27:59 EST

When Willie Mays hit the big leagues at 20, he couldn’t get the little kid out of himself, didn’t want to anyway and used to play stickball on the New York streets. On Monday, on his first full day in Washington as a big leaguer, Bryce Harper, 19, visited the Lincoln Memorial, then stopped on the Mall near the Washington Monument. That’s where they have the public softball fields. Day off, new town, what are you going to do?

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Nationals vs. Pirates: Stephen Strasburg strikes out 13 to snap Washington out of slump

Adam Kilgore — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:47:52 EST

PITTSBURGH — Thursday afternoon, before batting practice, Davey Johnson gathered the Washington Nationals in their clubhouse at PNC Park. The manager told his players he remained behind them, that he trusted them to pull out of their offensive tailspin and a three-game losing streak. Johnson wanted to ease their minds, and he had chosen a surefire moment for building confidence. In a few hours, he would send Stephen Strasburg to the mound.

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