2009 Washington Nationals season

Summary

The Washington Nationals' 2009 season was the fifth season for the American baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia, and the 41st since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It involved the Nationals attempting to win the National League East after a disappointing 59–102 season the year before.

2009 Washington Nationals
LeagueNational League
DivisionEast
BallparkNationals Park
CityWashington, D.C.
Record59–103 (.364)
Divisional place5th
OwnersLerner Enterprises
General managersJim Bowden, Mike Rizzo
ManagersManny Acta, Jim Riggleman
TelevisionMASN
WDCW (CW 50)
Bob Carpenter, Ray Knight, Rob Dibble
RadioWWWT
Charlie Slowes, Dave Jageler
← 2008 Seasons 2010 →

On July 12, manager Manny Acta was fired and replaced with bench coach Jim Riggleman, though only as an interim manager. Under Acta, the Nationals compiled an MLB worst 26–61 record in 2009 through the All-Star break and a 158–252 record in Acta's three seasons with the Nationals. Riggleman would be named full-time manager in November 2009.

The Nationals finished the year with a 59–103 record, worse than the year before by one loss. For the second straight season, they finished with the worst record in Major League Baseball.

Nationals' third baseman Ryan Zimmerman won a Gold Glove Award as the best defensive third baseman in the National League and a Silver Slugger Award as the best offensive third baseman in the league. It would be the final season the Nationals lost a hundred games for 13 years.

Offseason edit

On November 3, 2008, the Nationals traded minor-leaguer Ryan Buchter to the Chicago Cubs for minor-leaguer Matt Avery.[1] On November 10, 2008, they traded Emilio Bonifacio and minor-leaguers Jake Smolinski and P. J. Dean to the Florida Marlins for Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham.[2]

Changed uniforms edit

For the 2009 season, the Nationals altered their uniforms. The interlocking "DC" was removed from the star-spangled circle and moved to the left sleeve of both the home and away uniforms. It also has removed from the alternate red jersey and replaced with the "curly W" from the team's cap. A new navy alternate jersey with the interlocked "DC" on the left chest in a "stars and stripes" flag pattern, which has also been emulated on the alternate navy cap, which was worn several times in 2009. Finally, in a tribute to the former baseball teams in the District of Columbia, a script writing of the city name replaced the block lettering, emulating the Senators' script of the 1950s and 1960s – though as those teams used "Senators" on both their home and away uniforms, this marks the first time the "curly W" has actually appeared as part of the word "Washington" on an MLB jersey.

The uniforms gained notoriety when on April 17 in a game against the Florida Marlins, the jerseys of Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn read "Natinals" on the front of the jersey instead of "Nationals" for the first three innings of the game.[3] The Nationals did not catch the error as they only checked the back of the shirts, not the front, but were able to assign to Dunn and Zimmerman the correct jerseys later in the game.[4] The company who manufactured the jerseys, Majestic Athletic, apologized for the error.

Advertising and marketing edit

The Nationals′ marketing and advertising theme for the 2009 season was "Natstown," capturing the idea that all Nationals fans at the ballpark, in the community, and in their everyday lives were participating in a single community centered around the team. The marketing campaign urged fans to "Get Your Red On," a reference to wearing the team's colors to show one's team spirit.[5]

Mascot edit

In March 2009, the Nationals introduced a new version of Screech, their bald eagle mascot who wears the home cap and jersey of the team. The original Screech who "hatched" at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 2005 during the third home game in Nationals history and had appeared at the team's home games during its first four seasons in Washington, was chubby, but the new Screech was slim. The Nationals explained that they had redesigned Screech because he had "grown up" and become a "teenager."[6]

Spring training edit

The Nationals held their 2009 spring training in Viera, Florida, with home games played at Space Coast Stadium.

Regular season edit

Season standings edit

NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
Philadelphia Phillies 93 69 0.574 45–36 48–33
Florida Marlins 87 75 0.537 6 43–38 44–37
Atlanta Braves 86 76 0.531 7 40–41 46–35
New York Mets 70 92 0.432 23 41–40 29–52
Washington Nationals 59 103 0.364 34 33–48 26–55 Record vs. opponents edit

Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2009
Team AZ ATL CHC CIN COL FLA HOU LAD MIL NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL WSH AL
Arizona 3–4 4-2 1–5 7-11 5–3 5–4 7-11 2–5 5–2 1–5 6–1 11-7 5-13 2–4 1–5 5–10
Atlanta 4–3 4–2 3–6 4–4 8-10 3-3 4–3 3–3 13–5 10-8 3–4 3–3 3–4 4–2 10-8 7–8
Chicago 2-4 2–4 10-5 2–4 4–3 11–6 3–5 10-7 3-3 1–5 10-4 4–5 4-2 6-10 5–2 6–9
Cincinnati 5-1 6-3 5-10 0-7 3-3 12-4 1-5 8-7 2-4 2-5 13-5 1-6 3-3 8-8 3-4 6-9
Colorado 11-7 4-4 4-2 7-0 2-4 2-5 4-14 6-0 3-4 2-4 6-3 10-8 8-10 6-1 6-0 11-4
Florida 3-5 10-8 3-4 3-3 4-2 4–3 3-3 3-4 11-7 9-9 2-4 4-2 3-4 3-3 12-6 10-8
Houston 4–5 3-3 6-11 4-12 5-2 3-4 4–3 5-10 1-5 6-2 10-5 6-1 2-4 6-9 3-3 6-9
Los Angeles 11-7 3-4 5-3 5-1 14-4 3-3 3-4 3–3 5-1 4-3 4-3 10-8 11-7 2-5 3-2 9-9
Milwaukee 5-2 3-3 7-10 7-8 0-6 4-3 10-5 3-3 3-3 4-3 9-5 2-4 4-5 9-9 5-3 5-10
New York 2-5 5-13 3-3 4-2 4-3 7-11 5-1 1-5 3-3 6-12 4-3 2-5 5-3 4-5 10-8 5–10
Philadelphia 5-1 8-10 5-1 5-2 4-2 9-9 2-6 3-4 3-4 12-6 4-2 5-2 3-4 4-1 15-3 6-12
Pittsburgh 1-6 4-3 4-10 5-13 3-6 4-2 5-10 3-4 5-9 3-4 2-4 3-4 2-4 5-10 5-3 8–7
San Diego 7-11 3-3 5-4 6-1 8-10 2-4 1-6 8-10 4-2 5-2 2-5 4-3 10-8 1-6 4-2 5–10
San Francisco 13-5 4–3 2–4 3–3 10-8 4–3 4–2 7-11 5-4 3–5 4–3 4–2 8-10 4–3 4–2 9–6
St. Louis 4-2 2-4 10-6 8-8 1-6 3-3 9-6 5-2 9-9 5-4 1-4 10-5 6-1 3-4 6–1 9–6
Washington 5-1 8-10 2-5 4-3 0-6 6-12 3-3 2-3 3-5 8-10 3-15 3-5 2-4 2-4 1-6 – 7–11 Nationals vs. American League Team AL East BAL BOS NYY TBR TOR Washington 2-4 1-2 2-1 0-3 1–2 Opening Day lineup edit
Opening Day Starters
Name Position
Lastings Milledge Center fielder
Cristian Guzmán Shortstop
Ryan Zimmerman Third baseman
Adam Dunn Left fielder
Nick Johnson First baseman
Austin Kearns Right fielder
Ronnie Belliard Second baseman
Jesús Flores Catcher
John Lannan Starting pitcher

Notable transactions edit

Draft edit

The 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft took place from June 9 to June 11. With their first pick – the first pick overall – the Nationals selected pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Other notable players the Nationals selected were pitcher Drew Storen (10th overall, a first-round supplemental pick they received for failing to sign Aaron Crow in 2008), second baseman Jeff Kobernus (second round, 50th overall), shortstop Michael A. Taylor (sixth round, 172nd overall), pitcher Taylor Jordan (ninth round, 262nd overall), pitcher Nate Karns (12th round, 352nd overall), and pitcher Marcus Stroman (18th round, 532nd overall).[14] Stroman opted not to sign with the team.

Roster edit

2009 Washington Nationals
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Manager

Coaches

Attendance edit

Finishing with the worst record in Major League Baseball for the second consecutive year, the Nationals drew only 1,817,226 fans at Nationals Park in 2009, placing them 13th in attendance among the 16 National League teams for the second year in a row. It was the lowest attendance total in their short history in Washington.[15] Their highest attendance at a home game was on April 5, when they drew 41,290 for a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Opening Day, while their lowest was 10,999 for a game against the Houston Astros on September 20. Their average home attendance was 22,716 per game, their lowest since arriving in Washington in 2005, but slightly higher than their average the following season.[16]

Game log edit

Legend
  Nationals win
  Nationals loss
  Postponement
Bold Nationals team member
2009 Game Log
April (5–16)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 6 @ Marlins 12 – 6 Nolasco (1-0) Lannan (0-1) 34,323 0-1
2 April 7 @ Marlins 8 – 3 Johnson (1-0) Olsen (0-1) 11,124 0-2
3 April 8 @ Marlins 6 – 4 Volstad (1-0) Cabrera (0-1) Lindstrom (1) 13,308 0-3
4 April 10 @ Braves 6 – 5 (10) Campillo (1-0) Beimel (0-1) 48,327 0-4
5 April 11 @ Braves 5 – 3 Kawakami (1-0) Lannan (0-2) González (1) 34,325 0-5
6 April 12 @ Braves 8 – 5 Jurrjens (2-0) Olsen (0-2) Soriano (1) 19,873 0-6
7 April 13 Phillies 9 – 8 Moyer (1-1) Rivera (0-1) Lidge (3) 40,386 0-7
April 15 Phillies Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for May 16 as part of a doubleheader
8 April 16 Phillies 8 – 2 Martis (1-0) Blanton (0-1) 20,494 1-7
9 April 17 Marlins 3 – 2 (10) Oviedo (1-0) Rivera (0-2) Lindstrom (2) 19,026 1-8
10 April 18 Marlins 9 – 6 (11) Calero (1-0) Tavárez (0-1) 19,860 1-9
11 April 19 Marlins 7 – 4 Oviedo (2-0) Rivera (0-3) Lindstrom (3) 16,974 1-10
12 April 20 Braves 3 – 2 Zimmermann (1-0) Lowe (1-1) Hanrahan (1) 12,464 2-10
13 April 21 Braves 4 – 3 Martis (2-0) Kawakami (1-2) Hanrahan (2) 15,431 3-10
14 April 22 Braves 1 – 0 González (1-0) Mock (0-1) Soriano (2) 15,567 3-11
15 April 24 @ Mets 4 – 3 Santana (3-1) Olsen (0-3) Rodríguez (4) 40,522 3-12
16 April 25 @ Mets 8 – 2 Pelfrey (2-0) Cabrera (0-2) 39,960 3-13
17 April 26 @ Mets 8 – 1 Zimmermann (2-0) Pérez (1-2) 40,023 4-13
18 April 27 @ Phillies 13 – 11 Happ (1-0) Hanrahan (0-1) Madson (1) 41,620 4-14
19 April 28 @ Phillies 7 – 1 Durbin (1-0) Lannan (0-3) 43,930 4-15
20 April 29 @ Phillies 4 – 1 Olsen (1-3) Myers (1-2) Tavárez (1) 36,351 5-15
21 April 30 Cardinals 9 – 4 Pérez (1-1) Tavárez (0-2) 18,007 5-16
May (9–20)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
22 May 1 Cardinals 6 – 2 Wellemeyer (2-2) Zimmermann (2-1) 20,712 5-17
23 May 2 Cardinals 6 – 1 Martis (3-0) Piñeiro (4-1) 19,950 6-17
May 3 Cardinals Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for July 23
24 May 4 Astros 9 – 4 Lannan (1-3) Wright (1-1) 14,115 7-17
25 May 5* Astros 11 – 10 (11) Hanrahan (1-1) Hawkins (0-1) 19,328 8-17
26 May 6 @ Dodgers 10 – 3 Kershaw (1-2) Cabrera (0-3) 31,348 8-18
27 May 7 @ Dodgers 11 – 9 Villone (1-0) Wade (0-2) 37,074 9-18
28 May 8 @ Diamondbacks 5 – 4 Martis (4-0) Petit (0-3) Wells (1) 28,660 10-18
29 May 9 @ Diamondbacks 2 – 1 Lannan (2-3) Davis (2-5) Hanrahan (3) 27,247 11-18
30 May 10 @ Diamondbacks 10 – 8 Vásquez (1-1) Kensing (0-2) Qualls (8) 25,079 11-19
31 May 11 @ Giants 11 – 7 Johnson (3-3) Cabrera (0-4) Wilson (8) 23,934 11-20
32 May 12 @ Giants 9 – 7 Medders (2-1) Beimel (0-2) 25,701 11-21
33 May 13 @ Giants 6 – 3 Martis (5-0) Zito (1-3) Wells (2) 30,120 12-21
34 May 15 Phillies 10 – 6 (12) Happ (2-0) Wells (0-1) 23,430 12-22
35 May 16 (1) Phillies 8 – 5 Myers (3-2) Olsen (1-4) Lidge (6) 19,910 12-23
36 May 16 (2) Phillies 7 – 5 (6) Carpenter (1-0) Cabrera (0-5) Condrey (1) 23,896 12-24
37 May 17 Phillies 8 – 6 Escalona (1-0) Tavárez (0-3) Lidge (7) 29,577 12-25
38 May 18 Pirates 12 – 7 Ohlendorf (5-3) Mock (0-2) 14,549 12-26
39 May 19 Pirates 8 – 5 (10) Gorzelanny (1-0) Beimel (0-3) 18,579 12-27
40 May 20 Pirates 2 – 1 Grabow (2-0) Hanrahan (1-2) Capps (8) 17,854 12-28
41 May 21 Pirates 5 – 4 Tavárez (1-3) Gorzelanny (1-1) Hanrahan (4) 17,816 13-28
42 May 22 Orioles 4 – 2 (12) Báez (3-1) Wells (0-2) Sherrill (8) 22,556 13-29
43 May 23 Orioles 2 – 1 Bass (3-1) Tavárez (1-4) Sherrill (9) 31,833 13-30
44 May 24 Orioles 8 – 5 Villone (2-0) Ray (0-1) Hanrahan (5) 30,880 14-30
45 May 25 @ Mets 5 – 2 Maine (4-3) Lannan (2-4) Rodríguez (13) 41,103 14-31
46 May 26 @ Mets 6 – 1 Hernández (4-1) Stammen (0-1) 39,376 14-32
47 May 27 @ Mets 7 – 4 Santana (7-2) Zimmermann (2-2) 40,171 14-33
48 May 29 @ Phillies 5 – 4 Happ (3-0) Detwiler (0-1) Lidge (10) 45,202 14-34
49 May 30 @ Phillies 9 – 6 Hamels (3-2) Martis (5-1) Lidge (11) 45,121 14-35
50 May 31 @ Phillies 4 – 2 Moyer (4-5) Lannan (2-5) Lidge (12) 45,239 14-36
*Game suspended by rain at 10–10 in the bottom of the 11th inning, completed on July 9 at Minute Maid Park.
June (9–17)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
51 June 2 Giants 10 – 6 Villone (3-0) Howry (0-3) 17,331 15-36
June 3 Giants Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for June 4 as part of a doubleheader
52 June 4 (1) Giants 5 – 1 Johnson (5-4) Zimmermann (2-3) Wilson (13) 16,787
[note 1]
15-37
53 June 4 (2) Giants 4 – 1 (6) Cain (7-1) Detwiler (0-2) 15-38
54 June 5 Mets 3 – 1 (10) Green (1-2) Hanrahan (1-3) Rodríguez (15) 20,353 15-39
55 June 6 Mets 7 – 1 Lannan (3-5) Maine (5-4) 31,456 16-39
56 June 7 Mets 7 – 0 Hernández (5-1) Stammen (0-2) 31,841 16-40
57 June 9 Reds 3 – 2 Cueto (6-3) Detwiler (0-3) Cordero (15) 16,274 16-41
58 June 10 Reds 4 – 2 (12) Masset (4-0) Villone (3-1) Weathers (1) 19,766 16-42
59 June 11 Reds 3 – 2 Tavárez (2-4) Herrera (0-2) Beimel (1) 19,703 17-42
60 June 12 @ Rays 4 – 3 Howell (2-2) Villone (3-2) 18,273 17-43
61 June 13 @ Rays 8 – 3 Sonnanstine (5-6) Bergmann (0-1) 30,586 17-44
62 June 14 @ Rays 5 – 4 Wheeler (2-1) Villone (3-3) Howell (3) 25,841 17-45
63 June 16 @ Yankees 5 – 3 Sabathia (6-4) Villone (3-4) Rivera (15) 44,873 17-46
64 June 17 @ Yankees 3 – 2 Lannan (4-5) Wang (0-5) MacDougal (1) 46,052 18-46
65 June 18 @ Yankees 3 – 0 Stammen (1-2) Chamberlain (3-2) MacDougal (2) 45,143 19-46
66 June 19 Blue Jays 2 – 1 (11) Colomé (1-0) Frasor (5-1) 20,860 20-46
67 June 20 Blue Jays 5 – 3 (12) Tavárez (3-4) Richmond (5-4) 22,142 21-46
68 June 21 Blue Jays 9 – 4 Romero (4-3) Martis (5-2) 26,610 21-47
69 June 23 Red Sox 11 – 3 Delcarmen (2-1) Tavárez (3-5) 41,517 21-48
70 June 24 Red Sox 6 – 4 Lester (6-6) Stammen (1-3) Papelbon (17) 41,530 21-49
71 June 25 Red Sox 9 – 3 Zimmermann (3-3) Smoltz (0-1) 41,985 22-49
72 June 26 @ Orioles 11 – 1 Bergesen (5-2) Detwiler (0-4) 45,024 22-50
73 June 27 @ Orioles 6 – 3 Guthrie (6-7) Martis (5-3) Sherrill (16) 39,633 22-51
74 June 28 @ Orioles 5 – 3 Lannan (5-5) Hernández (1-2) MacDougal (3) 25,068 23-51
75 June 29 @ Marlins 4 – 2 Nolasco (5-6) Villone (3-5) Oviedo (3) 10,623 23-52
76 June 30 @ Marlins 7 – 5 (7) Pinto (3-1) Beimel (0-4) 11,821 23-53
July (9–18)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
77 July 1 @ Marlins 5 – 3 Meyer (2-0) Tavárez (3-6) Oviedo (4) 27,032 23-54
78 July 3 Braves 9 – 8 Logan (1-0) Colomé (1-1) Soriano (8) 33,982 23-55
79 July 4 Braves 5 – 3 Lannan (6-5) González (3-1) MacDougal (4) 23,708 24-55
80 July 5 Braves 5 – 3 Olsen (2-4) Lowe (7-7) MacDougal (5) 22,677 25-55
81 July 6 @ Rockies 1 – 0 Marquis (11-5) Stammen (1-4) Street (20) 25,205 25-56
82 July 7 @ Rockies 5 – 4 Embree (2-2) Tavárez (3-7) Street (21) 25,314 25-57
83 July 8 @ Rockies 10 – 4 de la Rosa (6-7) Detwiler (0-5) 23,098 25-58
84 July 9 @ Astros 9 – 4 Arias (2-0) Lannan (6-6) 25,490 25-59
85 July 10 @ Astros 6 – 5 Fulchino (3-3) Beimel (0-5) 33,085 25-60
86 July 11 @ Astros 13 – 2 Stammen (2-4) Hampton (5-6) 30,052 26-60
87 July 12 @ Astros 5 – 0 Moehler (6-5) Zimmermann (3-4) Valverde (8) 28,680 26-61
All–Star Break (July 13–15)
88 July 16 Cubs 6 – 2 Harden (6-6) Lannan (6-7) 26,980 26-62
89 July 17 Cubs 3 – 1 Zambrano (6-4) Stammen (2-5) Gregg (17) 27,581 26-63
90 July 18 Cubs 6 – 5 Wells (5-4) Zimmermann (3-5) Gregg (18) 36,014 26-64
91 July 19 Cubs 11 – 3 Hart (1-1) Mock (0-3) 34,574 26-65
92 July 20 Mets 6 – 2 Hernández (6-5) Martin (0-1) 19,169 26-66
93 July 21 Mets 4 – 0 Lannan (7-7) Pérez (2-3) 23,390 27-66
94 July 22 Mets 3 – 1 Stammen (3-5) Pelfrey (7-6) MacDougal (6) 23,583 28-66
95 July 23 Cardinals 4 – 1 (7) Wainwright (11-6) Balester (0-1) 25,359 28-67
96 July 24 Padres 6 – 2 Latos (1-1) Mock (0-4) 23,506 28-68
97 July 25 Padres 13 – 1 Clippard (1-0) Stauffer (0-2) 21,834 29-68
98 July 26 Padres 3 – 2 (10) Beimel (1-5) Burke (2-3) 20,747 30-68
99 July 27 @ Brewers 14 – 6 Bergmann (1-1) Suppan (5-8) 37,311 31-68
100 July 28 @ Brewers 8 – 3 Balester (1-1) Villanueva (2-8) 36,502 32-68
101 July 29 @ Brewers 7 – 5 Parra (5-8) Clippard (1-1) Hoffman (23) 32,992 32-69
102 July 30 @ Brewers 7 – 3 Gallardo (10-7) Martin (0-2) 39,890 32-70
103 July 31 @ Pirates 5 – 4 Ohlendorf (9-8) Lannan (7-8) Capps (21) 23,363 32-71
August (14–15)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
104 August 1 @ Pirates 11 – 6 Vásquez (2-5) Stammen (3-6) 26,855 32-72
105 August 2 @ Pirates 5 – 3 Burnett (2-2) Maholm (6-6) MacDougal (7) 21,894 33-72
106 August 3 @ Pirates 8 – 4 Clippard (2-1) Morton (2-4) MacDougal (8) 11,630 34-72
107 August 4 Marlins 6 – 4 Villone (4-5) Calero (2-1) MacDougal (9) 19,828 35-72
108 August 5 Marlins 5 – 4 Lannan (8-8) van den Hurk (1-1) MacDougal (10) 18,312 36-72
109 August 6 Marlins 12 – 8 Sosa (1-0) Ayala (1-4) 23,691 37-72
110 August 7 Diamondbacks 7 – 6 Bergmann (2-1) Gutiérrez (3-3) MacDougal (11) 22,674 38-72
111 August 8 Diamondbacks 5 – 2 Mock (1-4) Haren (11-7) Sosa (1) 24,551 39-72
112 August 9 Diamondbacks 9 – 2 Martin (1-2) Petit (2-6) Sosa (2) 19,938 40-72
113 August 11 @ Braves 8 – 1 Hanson (7-2) Lannan (8-9) 19,273 40-73
114 August 12 @ Braves 6 – 2 Lowe (12-7) Sosa (1-1) 17,886 40-74
115 August 13 @ Reds 7 – 0 Arroyo (11-11) Balester (1-2) 16,889 40-75
116 August 14 @ Reds 2 – 0 Mock (2-4) Harang (6-14) MacDougal (12) 19,606 41-75
117 August 15 @ Reds 10 – 6 Martin (2-2) Cueto (8-10) 30,494 42-75
118 August 16 @ Reds 5 – 4 Sosa (2-1) Rhodes (0-1) MacDougal (13) 18,030 43-75
119 August 18 Rockies 4 – 3 Jiménez (11-9) Burnett (2-3) Street (30) 18,192 43-76
120 August 19 Rockies 5 – 4 Marquis (14-8) Balester (1-3) Street (31) 16,187 43-77
121 August 20 Rockies 4 – 1 Hammel (8-7) Mock (2-5) Street (32) 18,036 43-78
122 August 21 Brewers 7 – 3 Looper (11-6) Martin (2-3) 26,307 43-79
123 August 22 Brewers 11 – 9 Narveson (1-0) Bergmann (2-2) Hoffman (27) 19,374 43-80
124 August 23 Brewers 8 – 3 Stammen (4-6) Parra (8-10) 21,460 44-80
125 August 24 Brewers 7 – 1 Gallardo (12-10) Balester (1-4) 17,805 44-81
126 August 25 @ Cubs 15 – 6 Mock (3-5) Zambrano (7-5) 37,297 45-81
127 August 26 @ Cubs 9 – 4 Guzmán (3-3) Bergmann (2-3) 36,562 45-82
128 August 27 @ Cubs 5 – 4 Martin (3-3) Wells (9-7) MacDougal (14) 35,174 46-82
129 August 28 @ Cardinals 3 – 2 Motte (4-4) Bergmann (2-4) 40,033 46-83
130 August 29 @ Cardinals 9 – 4 Boggs (2-2) Stammen (4-7) 44,028 46-84
131 August 30 @ Cardinals 2 – 1 Wainwright (16-7) Mock (3-6) Franklin (35) 41,083 46-85
132 August 31 @ Padres 3 – 1 Stauffer (3-6) Hernández (7-9) Bell (32) 19,867 46-86
September (9–17)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
133 September 1 @ Padres 4 – 1 Richard (8-4) Martin (3-4) Bell (33) 15,131 46-87
134 September 2 @ Padres 7 – 0 Correia (10-10) Lannan (8-10) 14,468 46-88
135 September 4 Marlins 9 – 6 Badenhop (6-4) Mock (3-7) Oviedo (18) 16,364 46-89
136 September 5 Marlins 9 – 5 Johnson (14-4) Hernández (7-10) 18,111 46-90
137 September 6 Marlins 5 – 4 MacDougal (1-0) Oviedo (4-5) 22,325 47-90
138 September 8 Phillies 5 – 3 Martínez (4-0) Lannan (8-11) Madson (5) 17,153 47-91
139 September 9 Phillies 6 – 5 Lee (13-11) Clippard (2-2) Madson (6) 16,818 47-92
140 September 10 Phillies 8 – 7 Hernández (8-10) Blanton (9-7) Villone (1) 18,706 48-92
141 September 11 @ Marlins 5 – 3 Martin (4-4) Sanches (4-2) MacDougal (15) 15,247 49-92
142 September 12 @ Marlins 11 – 3 Wood (1-0) Estrada (0-1) 38,214 49-93
143 September 13 @ Marlins 7 – 2 Lannan (9-11) Volstad (9-12) 15,065 50-93
144 September 15 @ Phillies 5 – 0 Lee (14-11) Mock (3-8) 44,521 50-94
145 September 16 @ Phillies 6 – 1 Blanton (10-7) Hernández (8-11) 44,223 50-95
146 September 17 @ Phillies 4 – 2 Hamels (10-9) Detwiler (0-6) Lidge (30) 45,210 50-96
147 September 18 @ Mets 6 – 5 Martin (5-4) Pelfrey (10-11) MacDougal (16) 38,063 51-96
148 September 19 @ Mets 3 – 2 Redding (3-6) Lannan (9-12) Rodríguez (32) 37,906 51-97
149 September 20 @ Mets 6 – 2 Maine (6-5) Mock (3-9) Rodríguez (33) 38,347 51-98
150 September 22 Dodgers 14 – 2 Kuroda (8-6) Hernández (8-12) 18,518 51-99
151 September 23 Dodgers 5 – 4 Rivera (1-3) McDonald (5-5) 18,635 52-99
152 September 24 Dodgers 7 – 6 Troncoso (5-4) Villone (4-6) Broxton (36) 22,432 52-100
153 September 25 Braves 4 – 1 Vázquez (15-9) Lannan (9-13) 28,276 52-101
154 September 26 Braves 11 – 5 Hanson (11-4) Mock (3-10) 29,058 52-102
155 September 27 Braves 6 – 3 (10) González (5-4) MacDougal (1-1) Soriano (27) 27,840 52-103
156 September 28 Mets 2 – 1 Detwiler (1-6) Figueroa (2-8) MacDougal (17) 18,600 53-103
157 September 29 Mets 4 – 3 Clippard (3-2) Green (1-4) MacDougal (18) 19,614 54-103
158 September 30 Mets 7 – 4 Villone (5-6) Rodríguez (3-6) 23,944 55-103
October (4–0)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
159 October 1 @ Braves 2 – 1 Clippard (4-2) Soriano (1-6) MacDougal (19) 38,237 56-103
160 October 2 @ Braves 6 – 3 Hernández (9-12) Lowe (15-10) MacDougal (20) 33,124 57-103
161 October 3 @ Braves 6 – 4 (11) Segovia (1-0) Acosta (1-1) Kensing (1) 28,278 58-103
162 October 4 @ Braves 2 – 1 (15) Kensing (1-2) Logan (1-1) 36,307 59-103

Player stats edit

Batting edit

Table is sortable.

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases

Pos Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI AVG SB
P Collin Balester 7 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 .125 0
C Josh Bard 90 274 20 63 18 0 6 31 .230 0
P Joe Beimel 39 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2B Ronnie Belliard 86 187 26 46 7 1 5 22 .246 2
P Jason Bergmann 55 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0
OF Roger Bernadina 3 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .250 0
C Jamie Burke 6 10 0 1 0 0 0 1 .100 0
P Sean Burnett 33 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0
P Daniel Cabrera 9 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0
MI Alex Cintrón 21 26 1 2 0 0 0 0 .077 0
P Tyler Clippard 41 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0
P Jesús Colomé 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SS Ian Desmond 21 82 9 23 7 2 4 12 .280 1
P Ross Detwiler 13 19 1 1 0 0 0 1 .053 0
RF Elijah Dukes 107 364 38 91 20 4 8 58 .250 3
UT Adam Dunn 159 546 81 146 29 0 38 105 .267 0
P Marco Estrada 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
C Jesús Flores 29 93 13 28 3 2 4 15 .301 0
P Víctor Gárate 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MI Alberto González 105 291 31 77 16 3 1 33 .265 1
SS Cristian Guzmán 135 531 74 151 24 7 6 52 .284 4
P Joel Hanrahan 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CF Willie Harris 137 323 47 76 18 6 7 27 .235 11
2B Anderson Hernández 77 231 25 58 9 2 1 23 .251 5
P Liván Hernández 8 14 1 3 2 0 0 0 .214 0
P Mike Hinckley 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0
1B Nick Johnson 98 353 47 104 16 2 6 44 .295 2
RF Austin Kearns 80 174 20 34 6 2 3 17 .195 1
P Logan Kensing 26 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0
P John Lannan 31 58 1 9 1 0 0 0 .155 0
P Wil Ledezma 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
P Mike MacDougal 47 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
P J.D. Martin 16 25 3 4 0 0 0 0 .160 0
P Shairon Martis 13 24 4 5 1 0 0 2 .208 0
CF Justin Maxwell 40 89 13 22 4 1 4 9 .247 6
CF Lastings Milledge 7 24 1 4 0 0 0 1 .167 1
P Garrett Mock 28 23 1 2 0 0 0 0 .087 0
CF Nyjer Morgan 49 191 35 67 9 2 1 12 .351 24
UT Michael Morse 32 52 4 13 3 0 3 10 .250 0
C Wil Nieves 72 224 20 58 6 0 1 26 .259 1
P Scott Olsen 11 15 1 2 0 0 0 1 .133 0
2B Pete Orr 27 75 5 19 2 1 1 10 .253 2
OF Jorge Padilla 29 25 3 3 0 0 0 0 .120 0
OF Corey Patterson 5 15 0 2 0 0 0 0 .133 2
P Saúl Rivera 30 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 .333 0
P Zach Segovia 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
P Steven Shell 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
P Jorge Sosa 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
P Craig Stammen 18 31 1 6 3 0 0 4 .194 0
P Julián Tavárez 38 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0
P Ron Villone 58 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
P Kip Wells 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LF Josh Willingham 133 427 70 111 29 0 24 61 .260 4
P Jordan Zimmermann 15 27 1 4 0 0 0 2 .148 0
3B Ryan Zimmerman 157 610 110 178 37 3 33 106 .292 2
Team Totals 162 5493 710 1416 271 38 156 685 .258 73

Pitching edit

Table is sortable.

Note: Pos = Position; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Pos Player W L ERA G GS SV IP R ER BB K
Collin Balester 1 4 6.82 7 7 0 30.1 24 23 14 20
RP Joe Beimel 1 5 3.40 45 0 1 39.2 17 15 15 24
RP Jason Bergmann 2 4 4.50 56 0 0 48.0 28 24 25 40
Sean Burnett 1 1 3.20 33 0 0 25.1 9 9 13 20
Daniel Cabrera 0 5 5.85 9 8 0 40.0 39 26 35 16
Tyler Clippard 4 2 2.69 41 0 0 60.1 20 18 32 67
Jesús Colomé 1 1 8.40 16 0 0 15.0 14 14 6 12
Ross Detwiler 1 6 5.00 15 14 0 75.2 43 42 33 43
Marco Estrada 0 1 6.14 4 1 0 7.1 6 5 4 9
Víctor Gárate 0 0 22.50 4 0 0 2.0 5 5 3 0
Joel Hanrahan 1 3 7.71 34 0 5 32.2 28 28 14 35
Liván Hernández 2 4 5.36 8 8 0 48.2 29 29 16 27
Mike Hinckley 0 0 4.66 14 0 0 9.2 5 5 11 3
Logan Kensing 1 1 8.68 26 0 1 28.0 27 27 12 12
SP John Lannan 9 13 3.88 33 33 0 206.0 100 89 68 89
Wilfredo Ledezma 0 0 9.53 5 0 0 5.2 7 6 4 8
SP J.D. Martin 5 4 4.44 15 15 0 77.0 40 38 24 37
SP Shairon Martis 5 3 5.25 15 15 0 85.2 52 50 39 34
CL Mike MacDougal 1 1 3.60 52 0 20 50.0 25 20 31 31
SP Garrett Mock 3 10 5.62 28 15 0 91.1 65 57 44 72
Scott Olsen 2 4 6.03 11 11 0 62.2 45 42 25 42
Saúl Rivera 1 3 6.10 30 0 0 38.1 28 26 14 21
Zach Segovia 1 0 7.84 8 0 0 10.1 10 9 6 4
Steven Shell 0 0 5.40 4 0 0 5.0 3 3 2 5
Jorge Sosa 2 1 6.45 18 0 2 22.1 16 16 12 17
SP Craig Stammen 4 7 5.11 19 19 0 105.2 67 60 24 48
RP Julián Tavárez 3 7 4.89 42 0 1 35.0 27 19 27 32
RP Ron Villone 5 6 4.25 63 0 1 48.2 25 23 29 33
Kip Wells 0 2 6.49 23 0 2 26.1 19 19 18 18
SP Jordan Zimmermann 3 5 4.63 16 16 0 91.1 51 47 29 92
Team Totals 59 103 5.00 162 162 33 1424.1 874 791 629 911

Team leaders edit

Qualifying players only.

Batting edit

Stat Player Total
Avg. Ryan Zimmerman .292
HR Adam Dunn 38
RBI Ryan Zimmerman 106
R Ryan Zimmerman 110
H Ryan Zimmerman 178
SB Nyjer Morgan 24

Pitching edit

Stat Player Total
W John Lannan 9
L John Lannan 13
ERA John Lannan 3.88
SO Jordan Zimmermann 92
SV Mike MacDougal 20
IP John Lannan 206.1

Awards and honors edit

All-Stars edit

Annual awards edit

Minor League System edit

The future for the Nationals seemed to show promise in 2009 with their Gulf Coast League affiliate qualifying for the playoffs. The significance of this to the 2009 Major League team was that it demonstrated that the team was attempting to improve on its performance and had the prospects to do so.

Class Team League Manager Record Finish
AAA Syracuse Chiefs International League Tim Foli 76–68 .528 2nd North Division
AA Harrisburg Senators Eastern League John Stearns 70–72 .493 5th Southern Division
High A Potomac Nationals Carolina League Trent Jewett 79–58 .577 2nd Northern Division
Low A Hagerstown Suns South Atlantic League Matthew LeCroy 56–78 .418 8th Northern Division
Short Season A Vermont Lake Monsters New York–Penn League Jeff Garber 34–41 .453 3rd Stedler Division
Rookie Gulf Coast League Nationals Gulf Coast League Bob Henley 36–19 .655 2nd East Division, Won Wild Card, Lost GCL Finals 2–0 to Gulf Coast League Marlins
Rookie DSL Nationals Dominican Summer League Juan Benhardt 29–42 .408 10th Boca Chica Division

Notes edit

  1. ^ The two games on June 4 were played as a single-admission doubleheader with attendance counted only for the two games combined.

References edit

  1. ^ "Find Franchise Trade History between Washington Nationals & Chicago Cubs - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Find Franchise Trade History between Washington Nationals & Miami Marlins - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ "Company apologizes for 'Natinals' jersey error". ESPN.com. April 22, 2009.
  4. ^ "Meet your new MLB team: The Washington Natinals". Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2009.
  5. ^ "Anonymous, "Washington Nationals invite Nationals fans to visit NatsTown and get your red on," Washington Nationals press release, February 5, 2009, 11:47 AM EST".
  6. ^ Steinberg, Dan, "About Screech's Unveiling", washingtonpost.com, March 2, 2009
  7. ^ "Find Franchise Trade History between Washington Nationals & San Diego Padres - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ^ a b "Find Franchise Trade History between Washington Nationals & Seattle Mariners - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. ^ "Find Franchise Trade History between Washington Nationals & Pittsburgh Pirates - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "Find Franchise Trade History between Washington Nationals & Colorado Rockies - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. ^ "Find Franchise Trade History between Washington Nationals & Chicago White Sox - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "Find Franchise Trade History between Washington Nationals & New York Mets - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ "Find Franchise Trade History between Washington Nationals & Los Angeles Dodgers - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. ^ "2009 Washington Nationals Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. ^ "2009 Washington Nationals Schedule - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ^ "Washington Nationals Attendance Records (1969 - 2018) by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com.

External links edit

  • 2009 Washington Nationals Season Official Site
  • 2009 Washington Nationals season at Baseball Reference