Jason Bergmann News

Who do you think will be the Nationals' Opening Day shortstop? -- Patrick S., Chantilly, Va.

The Nationals still could re-sign Olsen and MacDougal to lesser contracts and invite them to spring training, and general manager Mike Rizzo said that remains a possibility.

H/T to MLB Trade Rumors for this minor AP item : The Nats signed former Rockies reliever Ryan Speier to a split minor league deal worth up to $425K. Speier is another reliever Rizzo should be familiar with from his time in the NL West.

As the winter meetings begin Monday, the Nationals have identified several areas where they'll be looking to improve their roster.

The Washington Nationals' brain trust convenes Monday in Indianapolis for baseball's winter meetings with the same patient confidence they've had the entire offseason, something that seems out of place on baseball's worst team but could be wholly justified given the progress they've already made reshaping a ramshackle leadership structure.

Jim Riggleman officially became the Washington Nationals ' full-time manager Thursday when the 57-year-old Rockville native was reintroduced during a news conference at Nationals Park.

Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman made history on Wednesday, becoming the first Nationals player to win a National League Gold Glove Award.

Nationals right-hander Jason Bergmann was in shock when he was informed Wednesday that right-hander Brian Powell passed away the day before from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Mike Morse hit the go-ahead home run in the sixth and Ross Detwiler picked up his first major league win, as Washington edged the Mets, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game series.

The Washington Nationals insist to a man they aren't obsessed with the number 100.

Summary: Thanks in part to six shutout innings by Joe Blanton, the Phillies very nearly issued their third consecutive shutout, but would have to settle for 26 2-3 straight innings without letting up a run, the club's longest streak since 1995, according to reports.

Jim Riggleman doesn't believe his Washington Nationals are the worst team in Baseball.

Nationals reliever Jason Bergmann reacts after giving up a grand slam to Jayson Werth in the seventh inning.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo revamped the bullpen twice this season because the relievers had problems getting hitters out.

John Smoltz showed his St. Louis Cardinals debut was no fluke Friday night, striking out six and allowing a run in six innings in his first home start.

ST. LOUIS -- Reprinted from yesterday's late editions

The 83rd loss of the Washington Nationals' season didn't look like a loss until the game's final pitch -- a Jason Bergmann slider in a tie game -- was roaring somewhere toward the Missouri-Illinois state line.

Albert Pujols, the game's most dangerous hitter, watched it hiss into the night, nearly clunking the second deck in left field. Busch Stadium whipped into a frenzy. Pujols chucked his bat aside, almost in defiance, and began his 360-foot trot. Washington's players walked off, 3-2 losers against the Cardinals on Friday night. St. Louis's players crowded at home plate, as catcher Yadier Molina held everybody back, opening just enough space for the walk-off home run hitter to walk into a mob.

If the Nationals remove the interim tag and bring back Jim Riggleman as manager, he likely will do one thing differently - stop pitching to Albert Pujols.

He knows how frustrating loss after loss by the bullpen can be. The Nationals have 36 bullpen losses, most in the majors by a wide margin.

John Smoltz showed his St. Louis Cardinals debut was no fluke Friday night, striking out six and allowing a run in six innings in his first home start.

CHICAGO, Aug. 26 -- His old No. 61 jersey, stitched anew, hung in the clubhouse, and a few of his old teammates kept their eyes on the door, waiting for Livan Hernandez to glide back into his old world. He walked in around 4:15 p.m., a veteran's entrance -- unannounced, but noticed. People watched him. His eyes didn't wander. He wore a brown dress shirt, and headphones hugged his neck. During a procession of hellos, Hernandez placed his large right hand atop Elijah Dukes's head, a big brother greeting, and Dukes remarked, 'You smell good. You smell like you just came out of Macy's.'