SPORTS
September 19, 2012 | By Dylan Hernandez
WASHINGTON — The way Matt Kemp played last year in his MVP-caliber season revealed the depths of his talent. The way Kemp has played this month, with his left shoulder presumably hurting and his timing at the plate noticeably off, has displayed the depths of his character. Belting a ninth-inning solo home run, Kemp broke a tie with the Washington Nationals and lifted the Dodgers to a 7-6 victory Wednesday in a game they appeared destined to lose. The Dodgers had already dropped the first game of their doubleheader at Nationals Park, 3-1. They had a six-run lead in the second game and blew it in a ghastly six-run eighth inning against the National League East leaders.
SPORTS
September 13, 2012 | By Bill Shaikin
The doctor who performed elbow surgery on Stephen Strasburg said Thursday he has worked with the Washington Nationals on the rehabilitation strategy that led the team to shut down the pitcher last week. Dr. Lewis Yocum had told the Los Angeles Times that he "wasn't asked" by the Nationals about whether to shut down Strasburg and had not discussed the subject with General Manager Mike Rizzo since last year. On Thursday, Yocum clarified his comments by saying he and the Nationals -- as well as Strasburg and his agent, Scott Boras -- had agreed last year that the team would limit Strasburg's innings this season.
SPORTS
September 13, 2012 | By Bill Shaikin
The doctor who performed elbow surgery on Stephen Strasburg said he did not tell the Washington Nationals to shut down their ace pitcher. “I wasn't asked,” Dr. Lewis Yocum told the Los Angeles Times. Yocum said he had not talked with Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo since last year and had not talked with Strasburg since spring training. The Nationals pulled the plug on Strasburg's season last week, ruling out the 24-year-old star from pitching in what almost certainly will be the first postseason appearance by a Washington baseball team since 1933.
SPORTS
September 9, 2012 | By Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times
Could be a pain in the asterisk Baseball's best race this September: Andrew McCutchen vs. the Invisible Man. Melky Cabrera and his excessive testosterone called it a season with a .346 batting average and 501 plate appearances. That would leave the San Francisco Giants' outfielder one appearance short of the National League batting title, if not for this rule: Give a player an out for every appearance short of the required 502. If his average is still the highest, he wins.
SPORTS
September 8, 2012 | By Bill Dwyre
Those calling for Mike Scioscia's job as Angels manager in this season of underachieving might make note of Friday's night's 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers. With the speedy Peter Bourjos in scoring position at second base and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning, power-hitting Mark Trumbo was next to bat. Trumbo, one of the more productive Angels all season but currently in a slump, would normally be exactly who you want at the plate in that situation. But the combination of his slump and a right-handed pitcher on the mound against the right-handed-hitting Trumbo prompted Scioscia to make one of those moves only a seasoned, confident manager would make.
SPORTS
September 8, 2012 | By Dan Loumena
The debates can continue, but the Washington Nationals have finally and officially shut down ace pitcher Stephen Strasburg for the season. That's what Manager Davey Johnson, citing the mental toll on the former No. 1 overall draft pick, told reporters on Saturday morning after Strasburg, who missed most of last season after an elbow injury and reconstructive surgery, had a poor outing against the Miami Marlins on Friday night. Strasburg, who finishes the season with a 15-6 record and a 3.16 earned-run average, lasted a season-low three innings against the Marlins, giving up five runs on six hits, including two home runs, while walking three and striking out two. Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo maintained all season that Strasburg would pitch between 150 to 180 innings after having surgery in September 2010.