May 22, 2013

Washington Capitals Morning Skate Update & Audio: Accolades for Ovi and “Black Aces”

May 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

As the Washington Capitals prepare for Game 5 against the New York Rangers at Verizon Center tonight at 7:30 pm, the NHL announced the finalists for the Hart and Lindsey awards, and Caps captain Alex Ovechkin was listed as a candidate for both awards. For the Hart Trophy, the league MVP, Ovechkin was joined as a candidate by the Penguins Sidney Crosby and the Islanders John Tavares. The Ted Lindsey Award, voted on by fellow members of the NHLPA, will be decided between Ovechkin, Crosby and Lightning winger Martin St. Louis.

The team also called up several players from the now-eliminated Hershey Bears for the remainder of the playoffs. Known as “Black Aces”, these players will practice with the Caps but in all likelihood will not see any game action. The recalled players were: goaltender Philipp Grubauer and defensemen Dmitry Orlov, Tomas Kundratek, Cameron Schilling and Nate Schmidt.

See below for audio from head coach Adam Oates, Ovechkin, and others.

05-10-13 Adam Oates Practice RAW

05-10-13 Alex Ovechkin Practice RAW

05-10-13 Jay Beagle Practice RAW 05-10-13

Nicklas Backstrom Practice RAW

05-10-13 Tom Wilson Practice RAW

Filed Under: Caps/NHL Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Potomac Nationals Players Earn Carolina League Weekly Awards

April 24, 2013 by

Potomac Nationals LogoP-NATS SS JASON MARTINSON WINS SECOND CONSECUTIVE CAROLINA LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD & RHP TAYLOR HILL EARNS CL PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS Potomac’s Jason Martinson and Taylor Hill Sweep Carolina League Weekly Awards

Woodbridge, VA—After a tremendous start to the 2013 campaign, Potomac Nationals shortstop Jason Martinson (5th Rd.,2010), a product of Texas State University, from Dallas, TX, has earned his second consecutive Carolina League’s Player of the Week Award for his production from April 15th through April 21st, the league announced today.

Martinson, the #14 prospect in the Washington Nationals Minor League system per Baseball America, entered the 4/15 week with a .303 (10-for-33) batting average, a .429 on base percentage, a .788 slugging percentage through nine games, with four home runs and 11 runs batted in.

Martinson continued his prowess at the plate into the next week by turning in a 10-for-28 performance with the bat, good for a .357 batting average in the week, while achieving an on-base percentage mark of .419, and a slugging percentage clip of .500.

The 24-year-old also cranked one double and one four-bagger, while collecting four RBIs, four runs scored, and three walks during his latest weekly tear.

The 6’1″, 190 pound Nationals prospect enters tonight’s contest with the Carolina Mudcats (Cleveland Indians) in Zebulon, NC tied for the Carolina League lead with 15 RBIs, a .635 slugging percentage, and 40 total bases. The offensive assassin is also tied for the circuit lead in home runs (5) and is 10th in the CL in batting (.317).

Sealing the sweep for Potomac in the league’s weekly awards, RHP Taylor Hill, after an absolute gem spun against the Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles) in Game One of the doubleheader last Saturday on April 20th, was announced today as the winner of the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week Award.

Hill, the 24-year-old whom Baseball America says has the “Best Control” in the Washington Nationals farm system, was selected in the 6th round in 2011 out of Vanderbilt University.

Hill, a native of Old Hickory, TN, is (3-0) on the season after a terrific pair of starts on April 15th at Salem and on April 20th vs. Frederick as he went (2-0) over the course of the week with victories over the Red Sox and Keys. He combined to pitch to a 0.69 earned run average over 13.0 innings in the two outings in which he surrendered just five total base hits, one earned run, zero home run balls, no hit batters, and one walk, while striking out eleven batters.

The only pitcher on the P-Nats staff with three victories, Hill dominated the Keys in his third start of the season tossing a one-hitter over seven shutout innings, and earning the complete game win.

The Nationals have now garnered three of the four Carolina League weekly awards in 2013.

Filed Under: Beyond the Game Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

John Wall Named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week

March 18, 2013 by

For the first time in his career, John Wall earned the title of Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, March 11, through Sunday, March 17.

In that timeframe, Wall recorded three double-doubles, averaged 24 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and 2.5 steals per game while shooting .617 from the field. He also shot .800 (4-of-5) from three-point range and .857 from the free-throw line.

He started off the week by scoring 27 points and tallied a season-high 14 assists in the Wizards’ 95-90 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In Wednesday’s 106-93 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, he added 23 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and four steals and in Friday’s 96-87 win over the New Orleans Hornets, Wall recorded a season-high 29 points on 12-of-15 from the floor. He capped off the week with 17 points, 11 assists and five rebounds in Washington’s 127-105 win over the Phoenix Suns Saturday night.

Wall is the first Wizard to be named Eastern Conference Player of the Week since Antawn Jamison won it for games played March 10-16 of 2008. To put that into perspective – Wall was just 17 years-old at the time.

The Wizards are now 18-14 (.563) since Wall returned to the lineup on Jan. 12 after missing the first 33 games of the season with a stress injury to his left knee.

Filed Under: Wiz/NBA Tagged With: , , , ,

Robert Griffin III named PFW/PFWA Rookie of the Year

January 14, 2013 by
griffin bears

Robert Griffin III in action for the Redskins in 2012. (photo by Brian Murphy)

Press release:

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – Pro Football Weekly, along with the Pro Football Writers of America, announced that Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has been named their overall Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Griffin III, 22, finished the season having completed 258-of-393 passes (65.6 percent) for 3,200 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, only five interceptions and a passer rating of 102.4, all team rookie records. In addition, he rushed 120 times for 815 yards with seven rushing touchdowns in 2012, all three of which are team records for a quarterback. His 102.4 passer rating, 1.3 interception rate and 815 rushing yards are all NFL records for rookie quarterbacks. Griffin III also led the NFL in yards per pass attempt (8.14), yards per rush attempt (6.8) and least interceptions thrown among players with 300-plus pass attempts (5).

Griffin III began and finished his rookie campaign making history. With a season-opening win against the New Orleans Saints, he became the first player born in the 1990s to start at quarterback in NFL history. In the victory he completed 19-of-26 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns and finished with a passer rating of 139.9, becoming the first player in NFL history to compile 300-plus passing yards, two or more passing touchdowns and no interceptions in an NFL debut. Griffin III finished the regular season helping the Redskins defeat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 to win their first NFC Championship since 1999. He surpassed 800 yards rushing for the season in the game, becoming the first rookie quarterback with 800-plus yards on the ground and 3,000-plus passing yards in a season. Griffin III also earned his first career Pro Bowl selection, becoming the first Redskins offensive rookie to earn a selection since Larry Brown in 1969.

Griffin III is the first member of the Redskins to be named Pro Football Weekly/PFWA Offensive Rookie of the Year since Mike Thomas received the honor in 1975. Pro Football Weekly’s annual awards are all selected by PFW editors and contributors along with members of the Professional Football Writers of America.

Filed Under: Skins/NFL Tagged With: , , ,

CAPS: Philipp Grubauer Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week

November 26, 2012 by

Philipp Grubauer at Capitals Training Camp 2011 (Photo by Cheryl Nichols)

Philipp Grubauer Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week
Second Year Pro Went 2-0-0-0 with a 1.47 GAA and .934 Save Percentage

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, today announced that goaltender Philipp Grubauer has been named the Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week (11/12 – 11/18/12). Grubauer, a second year pro from Rosenheim, Germany, went 2-0-0-0 with a 1.47 goals against average and a .934 save percentage in two appearances for the Royals last week.

This marks second time that Grubauer has been honored as the league’s Goaltender of the Week. He also won the award as a member of the South Carolina Stingrays for the week ending on November 6, 2011. It is the thirteenth time a Royals goaltender has won the weekly award; and Grubauer is the tenth different Reading goaltender to receive this recognition, joining Barry Brust (three times), Matt Dalton, Scott Fankhouser, Yutaka Fukufuji, Peter Hamerlik, Adam Hauser, John Murray, Michael Ouzas, and Cody Rudkowsky (twice).

Grubauer, who has held the opposition to two goals or less in six of his ten appearances for Reading, registered his second overtime win of the year in Wednesday’s 2-1 OT win against Elmira. That night he made twenty-seven saves on twenty-eight Elmira shots. He followed that up with his seventh straight win for the Royals—and his thirtieth career ECHL win—in Cincinnati on Friday, stopping sixteen of the eighteen shots he faced in Reading’s 4-2 win over the Cyclones.

The Royals return to action on Wednesday (November 21 @ 7:05 pm) when the South Carolina Stingrays visit the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania for the first time this season. The first 1500 fans who are twenty-one years of age and older will receive a plastic pint glass courtesy of All-Star Distributing. There will also be a post-game spiral ham shoot. The Game Night Broadcast on Wednesday kicks off at 6:35 pm on ESPN Radio (1240 am and 98.5 fm). Royals Multi-Game Flex-Plans are available for the Royals 2012-13 season presented by Steve Moyer Subaru by calling the Royals’ office (610-898-7825) or by visiting www.royalshockey.com.

Filed Under: Beyond the Game Tagged With: , , , , ,

Davey Johnson Named NL Manager of the Year

November 13, 2012 by

CONGRATULATIONS TO NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR, DAVEY JOHNSON!

Davey Johnson is the 2012 NL Manager of the Year. (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Congratulations to Nationals Manager Davey Johnson, who was named National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. In 2012, Johnson’s first full season as Nationals skipper, he led Washington to an MLB-leading 98 wins, an NL East title and D.C.’s first postseason berth in 79 years. The Nationals either led the NL East or shared its top spot for all but 10 days this season, and owned the best run differential (+137) in Major League Baseball.

Along the way, the 69 year-old Johnson managed one of baseball’s top rotations (NL-best 3.40 rotation ERA). Meanwhile, his lineups produced 194 home runs (second in NL) to establish both franchise (1969-2012) and D.C. baseball (1901-’71, 2005-’12) single-season marks. Johnson registered his seventh 90-win campaign and joined Billy Martin as the game’s lone skippers to take four different teams to the postseason.

Also from the Press Release:
“Davey Johnson’s legacy was secure well before he became our manager in 2011, but his performance this season has to rate among his best work” said Mike Rizzo, Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager. “He showed this club how to win despite being engaged in a pennant race for the first time. And he accomplished this with so many young players. It is no coincidence that under Davey’s watch, we witnessed breakout seasons from Ian Desmond, Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann and Ross Detwiler. I would like to offer my deepest congratulations and thanks to Davey and his family on behalf of the Lerner Family and our entire organization.”

Since assuming the Nationals’ managerial helm on June 27, 2011, Johnson’s Nationals are 138-107 (.563). In that same time span, only the Braves (139) have won more games among NL entries.

The BBWAA Manager of the Year award is the second of Johnson’s career. He won the AL version of the award in 1997 for his work with the Orioles, who posted the Junior Circuit’s top record (98-64, .605) that summer.

The 15-year duration between Johnson’s citations is the largest in the history of the BBWAA’s Manager of the Year Award, which was founded in 1983. Before tonight, Jim Leyland held the previous mark, as he went 14 seasons between earning his second (‘92 with Pittsburgh) and third (‘06 with Detroit) career managerial citations.

Johnson has authored six division titles (‘12 Nationals, ‘97 Orioles, ‘95 Reds, ‘94 Reds, ‘88 Mets, ‘86 Mets), one pennant (‘86 Mets) and one World Championship (‘86 Mets) during his stellar managerial career.

Also in 2012, Johnson registered his seventh 90-win campaign and joined Billy Martin (Twins, Tigers, Yankees, Athletics) as the game’s lone skippers to take four different teams to the postseason.

Among those to manage 1000 or more games, Johnson’s career winning percentage (1286-995, .564) ranks second among living managers behind his former skipper, Earl Weaver (.583).

Just three days ago (Sat, Nov. 10), the Nationals announced that Johnson will return in 2013 for his final managerial campaign before shifting to a consultant position with the Nationals in 2014.

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , ,

Bryce Harper wins NL Rookie of the Year

November 12, 2012 by

CONGRATULATIONS TO ROY, BRYCE HARPER!

Congratulations to Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper who was named National League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Harper hit .270 with 26 doubles, nine triples, 22 home runs, 98 runs, 59 RBI, 56 walks and 18 stolen bases and paced NL rookies in runs, OPS (.817), game-winning RBI (12) and extra-base hits (57). Harper became the youngest position player ever named to the All-Star Game.

Harper won the NL Rookie of the Month award in both May and September and helped the Washington Nationals claim the franchise’s first full-season division title and reach the postseason.

Harper is the first D.C.-based winner since Bob Allison in 1959, and the first in franchise history since Andre Dawson in 1977.

Bryce Harper named 2012 NL Rookie of the Year (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , , ,

MLB Silver Sluggers Announced

November 8, 2012 by

THREE 2012 Silver Slugger Awards for the Washington Nationals!

Adam LaRoche, Ian Desmond and Stephen Strasburg were awarded 2012 Louisville Silver Slugger Awards today.

Washington Nationals Third Baseman Ryan Zimmerman has earned the NL 3B Silver Slugger Award twice (2009 and 2010).

Ryan Zimmerman’s 2009 Silver Slugger Award (Photo by Cheryl Nichols)

LIST OF 2012 LOUISVILLE SILVER SLUGGER AWARDS:

AMERICAN LEAGUE
C: A.J. Pierzynski CHW
1B: Prince Fielder, MIL
2B: Robinson Cano, NYY
3B: Miguel Cabrera, DET
SS: Derek Jeter, NYY
OF: Mike Trout, LAA
OF: Josh Hamilton, TEX
OF: Josh Willingham, MIN
DH: Billy Buter, KC

NATIONAL LEAGUE
C: Buster Posey, SF
1B: Adam LaRoche, WAS
2B: Aaron Hill, ARI
3B: Chase Headley, SD
SS: Ian Desmond, WAS
OF: Andrew McCutchen PIT
OF: Jay Bruce, CIN
OF: Ryan Braun, MIL
P: Stephen Strasburg, WAS

Filed Under: Beyond the Game Tagged With: , , , , , ,

LaRoche, Desmond and Strasburg Win Silver Slugger Awards

November 8, 2012 by

CONGRATULATIONS ALR, DESI AND SS!

Washington Nationals First Baseman Adam LaRoche, Shortstop Ian Desmond and Pitcher Stephen Strasburg were each named as recipients of the 2012 Louisville Silver Slugger Award.

LaRoche adds the offensive award to his 2012 Gold Glove.  Silver Sluggers are a career first for the trio.

Full list of 2012 Silver Slugger Winners. Washington Nationals received most 2012 Silver Sluggers for any MLB team.

Adam LaRoche homers on a fly ball to right field and Ryan Zimmerman scores in the 6th – Chicago Cubs v Washington Nationals, 9/6/2012. (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Ian Desmond earns first career Silver Slugger. (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Washington Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg takes a curtain call after hitting his 1st MLB home run in 4th inning, May 20, 2012. (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

FORMER NATS: Josh Willingham Wins First Silver Slugger Award

November 8, 2012 by

CONGRATULATIONS HAMMER!

Former Washington Nationals Outfielder Josh Willingham gets his very first Silver Slugger Award with the Minnesota Twins!

Filed Under: Beyond the Game Tagged With: , , , , ,
«Older Posts