Livo’s Back!

(by Mike Henderson) The clock struck midnight in the sixth inning as Collin Balester's chariot turned into a pumpkin.

Brewers Hammer Nats in the Sixth - The PostBalester unravels in defeat - The Wash. TimesThings were going fairly well for the Nationals against the Brewers yesterday evening. The 4:35 game was played in ideal conditions and starter Collin Balester had reeled off five scoreless innings. The Nats picked up a run in the second to hold onto a slim 1-0 lead. Then the sixth inning happened...

The first pitch. (By Toni L. Sandys - TWP) Last night's Livan Hernandez re-signing immediately made me scroll through some stories from April of 2005. Not that long ago, really--the stories are still on the Web, which really ruins the image of a dusty trip to the archives--but golly, does the tone conjure up a different era. Everything was soft and gushy and optimistic, bathed...

The reason Collin Balester still factors prominently in the Washington Nationals' plans for the future is because he has the kind of as-of-yet unrefined pitching talent scouts pounce on and managers dream about. The mid-90s fastball, the big-breaking curveball and Balester's 6-foot-5 frame are such well-worn staples of the pitching pedigree, it seems impossible for talent evaluators...

CHICAGO | Not wanting any of their young starting pitchers to pile up too many innings at this early stage of their development, the Washington Nationals turned to an old friend to help get them through the rest of the season. The Nationals signed Livan Hernandez late Tuesday night and wasted no time inserting the veteran right-hander into their rotation. He'll start Wednesday...

The Nationals just signed Livan Hernandez and now that he's back in Washington, he wants to stay. Hernandez tells Chico Harlan of the Washington Post that he would consider returning to the Nats when he becomes a free agent after the season."That's what I want. I'd love to be here next year," Hernandez said. "It's something I've been waiting for...

Livan Hernandez will return to the Nationals after a two and a half year absence. The club signed Hernandez to a Major League deal, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson.

Photo by Cheryl Nichols As promised, the Nationals held the second Blogger Day of the season on Sunday during the Brewers series. Luckily for us, it was the only game they won during the home stand. We had media blogger availability with interim manager Jim Riggleman, players Collin Balester, Garrett Mock and Josh Willingham, the in-game [...]

  "It's nice. I want to come back and pitch in the city. I love the city and playing there. Always the Nationals are my first option and it's something I want to do a long time."-- Livan Hernandez, on his return to D.C., Aug. 26, 2009. THE RESULT: Livan Hernandez returned to the Washington Nationals rotation, and did to the Chicago Cubs what he had done so...

According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, the Nationals plan to pursue a veteran starter this offseason and hope to sign the hurler to a long-term contract.The Nats signed 34-year-old right-hander Livan Hernandez on Tuesday night, but may have their sights set higher.  Erik Bedard, John Lackey and Rich Harden are among the big-ticket arms that will be available this winter.  Of course...