Mike Rizzo « CBS DC

Bryce Harper (credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Bryce Harper to Resume ‘Baseball Activities’ Could Be Back ‘Within a Week’

Bryce Harper’s absence from the Nats’ lineup has cast a tremendous shadow over the team’s offensive production, but his return may be imminent after piecing together comments from Mike Rizzo and Davey Johnson on the slugger’s injury status.

11 hours ago

Kurt Suzuki #24 of the Washington Nationals dives to put out Delmon Young #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park on June 18, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 4-2. (Credi: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

Rizzo: Nats Need to Simplify Things ‘See Ball, Hit Ball, Catch Ball’

Nats general manager Mike Rizzo answered a litany of questions about how the Nats will climb out of this season-long slump they’ve been in, which he says comes from guys “over-thinking it.” They just need to go out there and “see ball, hit ball and catch ball.”

13 hours ago

Stephen Strasburg pitched into the 8th inning for the first time in his Major League career on Thursday. (credit: Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Strasburg, Harper, Detwiler Could All Make Nats Return in Days

The future seemed so bleak just last week when the Nats placed yet another player on the Disabled List in Stephen Strasburg, but one week from Wednesday and a handful of games later, that could all be in the past with Washington’s rotation returning to full-strength.

2013/06/05

Rafael Soriano #29 of the Washington Nationals reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Alex Rios #51 of the Chicago White Sox in the top of the ninth inning during a game at Nationals Park on April 9, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Credit: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Rizzo: Soriano Needs to Speak With Harper ‘Face to Face’

Mike Rizzo hadn’t heard that closer Rafael Soriano had called out Bryce Harper for his positioning on a game-tying triple by the Giants last night. But if he had a problem with Harper, he says making his case to the newspapers isn’t how he would have handled it.

2013/05/22

Center fielder Denard Span #2 tends to right fielder Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals after Harper was shaken up running into the wall chasiing a triple hit by A.J. Ellis of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Credit: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Mixed Messages from Nats on Harper’s Injury

Nats general manger Mike Rizzo insists Bryce Harper did not suffer a concussion in his collision with the right field scoreboard at Dodgers Stadium, saying he’s still day-to-day. However, he didn’t seem aware that Harper had been feeling “a little carsick” yesterday, leaving Harper’s return date in question.

2013/05/15

Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals reacts after striking out with home plate umpire Bob Davidson during the game on May 5, 2013 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Bryce ‘Has to Be a Little Smarter’ With Umpires, Rizzo Says

Although cooler heads can gather third base umpire John Hirschbeck was looking for a fight when he threw Bryce Harper out in the 1st inning of the Pittsburgh game Sunday, Mike Rizzo says the 20-year-old slugger needs to be a little smarter and not throw his hands up in defiance of an umpire’s decision.

2013/05/08

Danny Epinosa’s in ‘A Little Bit Of A Funk’ Right Now

Nats GM Mike Rizzo supported Davey Johnson’s decision to bench Danny Espinosa during his weekly radio show Wednesday, saying the second baseman is “in a little bit of a funk right now” and could use a couple days off.

2013/05/01

Strasburg Injury Concern ‘Really Was Not That Big of a Deal’

Stephen Strasburg looked dreadful at times during his six-inning, six-hit performance against the Braves Monday night, and “tightness in his forearm” was all fans needed to hear to be sent into a full-scale panic, but as Mike Rizzo told Charlie Slowes on Tuesday, “it really was not that big of a deal.”

2013/04/30

A frustrated Jayson Werth. (credit: Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Nats Haven’t Panicked, Neither Should You

Having lost eight of the last eleven games, the Nats are falling apart before our very eyes this April, which means that it’s just baseball and it’s still only April.

2013/04/24

Denard Span Playing Center Field Relaxes Harper as Hitter

It’s easy to put too much stock in poor performances early in the season, as it is to overvalue unexpected hot streaks. These overreactions enforce the importance of Rizzo’s weekly radio show with 106.7 The Fan’s Holden and Danny in keeping fans levelheaded to set the tone for a long season.

2013/04/10