A tough year in the standings led to a quiet awards season for the D-backs. For the first time in years the D-backs, who finished last in the National League West in 2009, do not have a player up for one of the major awards.

The Washington Nationals announced today the hiring of Jim Riggleman's 2010 field staff.

Washington Nationals Here is the land of opportunity and a slew of high-end draft picks with loads of expectations.

When the first round of last summer's amateur draft came to an end, the Washington Nationals had significantly improved themselves by selecting pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen.

This has been a good news/bad news week on the Nats front. Ryan Zimmerman raking in the overdue hardware: good news.

Let's start this morning with some reading material, because there is plenty. Here is the news story I wrote for the dead-tree edition off the Riggleman presser, and here is Boswell's typically excellent column.

Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman today was named the recipient of the 2009 National League Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger for third basemen.

SS Jimmy Rollins won his third consecutive Gold Glove and Phillies teammate Shane Victorino won for the second straight time in the outfield.

Each year, Hillerich & Bradsby, the manufacturer of the Louisville Slugger baseball bat, selects recipients for the Silver Slugger Award.

A day after the American League winners were chosen, today the National League Gold Glove winners were announced.

Call Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman a two-time award winner. On Wednesday, he won his first Gold Glove Award.

This is a July 26, 2009, file photo showing Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman making a play at third base against the San Diego Padres in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Washington.

According to SI.coma TMs Jon Heyman via Twitter, the Washington Nationals are expected to name Jim Riggleman as manager.

That travel team back in Virginia a decade ago must have played great defense on the left side of the infield.

By the end of the summer, the signing of No. 1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg to a record contract and the installation of Mike Rizzo as general manager generated some actual excitement, even with the club headed toward its second straight 100-loss season.

What kind of year did Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman have with the glove this past season? Strong enough to be considered for the National League Gold Glove Award, which will be announced on Wednesday.

The surprise winner as the best fantasy third baseman in 2009 is Arizona Diamondbacks' Mark Reynolds.

Is there a future front-line starter, closer, starting shortstop and first baseman in the group? It's too early to tell.

It would be easy to overlook the work of Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman at the hot corner.

Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner will be the first to tell you the Lerner Group was not happy that the team finished with the worst record in baseball for the second consecutive season.