2011 Washington Nationals season

The Washington Nationals' 2011 season was the seventh season for the American baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia and the 43rd since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It involved the Nationals attempting to win the National League East Division after a 69–93 season the year before.

2011 Washington Nationals
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record80–81 (.497)
Divisional place3rd
Other information
Owner(s)Lerner Enterprises
General manager(s)Mike Rizzo
Manager(s)Jim Riggleman, John McLaren, Davey Johnson
Local televisionMASN
WDCW (CW 50)
(Bob Carpenter, FP Santangelo, Ray Knight, Johnny Holliday, Dave Jageler)
Local radioWJFK 106.7 FM
(Charlie Slowes, Dave Jageler)
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On June 23, 2011, manager Jim Riggleman resigned after contract disputes with general manager Mike Rizzo. Riggleman resigned following a 1–0 win over the Seattle Mariners which put the Nationals over .500 at the latest point in a season since 2005 and gave them their 11th win in 12 games. Riggleman compiled a 140–172 record with the Nationals after he replaced Manny Acta after the all-star break in 2009. On June 24, Davey Johnson was named the new manager. Previously, he was a senior advisor to Mike Rizzo. He began managing on June 27. Bench coach John McLaren managed the club for three games following Riggleman's resignation before Johnson was decided upon as interim manager.

The Nationals finished the 2011 season in third place in the NL East with an 80–81 record, playing only 161 games because one game against the Los Angeles Dodgers was canceled due to rain. Their third-place finish was their best finish in the standings and second-best win-loss record since they moved to Washington.

Offseason

The Nationals formed a new minor league affiliation with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York–Penn League during the winter. The player development contract was officially announced December 14, 2010.[1]

On December 16, 2010, the Nationals traded Josh Willingham to the Oakland Athletics for Corey Brown and Henry Rodríguez.[2] On January 19, 2011, they traded minor-leaguers Michael Burgess, Graham Hicks, and A. J. Morris to the Chicago Cubs for Tom Gorzelanny.[3] On February 2, 2011, they traded Justin Maxwell to the New York Yankees for minor-leaguer for Adam Olbrychowski.[4] On March 27, 2011, they traded Nyjer Morgan to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor-leaguer Cutter Dykstra and cash,[5] and the following day they traded Alberto González to the San Diego Padres for Erik Davis.[6]

Advertising and marketing

The Nationals′ marketing slogan for 2011 was "Expect It." According to a letter to season ticket holders signed by Nationals Chief Operating Officer Andrew Feffer explained that the slogan let Nationals fans know that the team's rebuilding strategy "is beginning to show returns," and that "we are determined to continue to do what it takes to elevate the franchise to the next level." The letter added that "in 2010, we had a productive stable of veterans and stars in the lineup," that "we now have a solid and exciting pipeline of pitchers," and that the franchise's "improved Minor League system is now regularly producing a steady stream of Major League talent."[7]

New Radio Flagship

Starting with this season, the Nationals changed their flagship station to WJFK-FM (106.7 The Fan), after broadcasting their first six seasons on WTOP 104.1 FM.

Spring training

The Nationals held their 2011 spring training in Viera, Florida, with home games played at Space Coast Stadium.

Regular season

National League East

NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
Philadelphia Phillies 10260 0.630 52–29 50–31
Atlanta Braves 8973 0.549 13 47–34 42–39
Washington Nationals 8081 0.497 21½ 44–36 36–45
New York Mets 7785 0.475 25 34–47 43–38
Florida Marlins 7290 0.444 30 31–47 41–43

Record vs. opponents

2011 National League Records

Source: [8]
Team ARI ATL CHC CIN COL FLA HOU LAD MIL NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL WSH AL
Arizona2–33–44–213–55–26–110–84–33–33–33–311–79–93–45–310–8
Atlanta3–24–33–36–212–65–12–55–39–96–124–24–56–11–59–910–5
Chicago4–33–47–112–43–38–73–36–104–22–58–83–35–45–103–45–10
Cincinnati2–43–311–73–43–39–64–28–82–51–75–104–25–29–64–26–12
Colorado5–132–64–24–33–35–29–93–65–21–44–39–95–132–44–38–7
Florida2–56–123–33–33–36–13–30–79–96–126–00–74–22–611–78–10
Houston1–61–57–86–92–51–64–53–123–32–47–113–54–35–103–34–11
Los Angeles8–105–23–32–49–93–35–42–42–51–56–213–59–94–34–26–9
Milwaukee3–43–510–68–86–37–012–34–24–23–412–33–23–39–93–36–9
New York3–39–92–45–22–59–93–35–22–47–114–44–32–43–38–109–9
Philadelphia3–312–65–27–14–112–64–25–14–311–74–27–14–33–68–109–6
Pittsburgh3–32–48–810–53–40–611–72–63–124–42–42–43–37–94–48–7
San Diego7–115–43–32–49–97–05–35–132–33–41–74–26–123–33–46–9
San Francisco9–91–64–52–513–52–43–49–93–34–23–43–312–65–23–410–5
St. Louis4–35–110–56–94–26–210–53–49–93–36–39–73–32–52–48–7
Washington3–59–94–32–43–47–113–32–43–310–810–84–44–34–34–28–7

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters
NamePosition
Ian DesmondShortstop
Jayson WerthRight fielder
Ryan ZimmermanThird baseman
Adam LaRocheFirst baseman
Michael MorseLeft fielder
Rick AnkielCenter fielder
Danny EspinosaSecond baseman
Iván RodríguezCatcher
Liván HernándezStarting pitcher

Notable transactions

Draft

The 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft took place from June 6 to June 8. With their first pick the sixth pick overall the Nationals selected third baseman Anthony Rendon. Other notable players the Nationals selected were pitcher Alex Meyer (first round compensation pick, 23rd pick overall), pitcher Taylor Hill (sixth round, 187th overall), and outfielder Billy Burns (32nd round, 967th overall).[13]

Roster

2011 Washington Nationals
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Attendance

The Nationals drew 1,940,478 fans at Nationals Park in 2011, improving over the previous season for the second straight year. It placed them 14th in attendance for the season among the 16 National League teams, also for the second consecutive year.[14] Their highest attendance at a home game was on August 20, when they drew 44,685 for a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, while their lowest was 13,413 for a game against the Phillies on April 12. Their average home attendance was 24,256 per game, fifth-highest of their seven seasons in Washington but an increase from their previous season.[15]

Game log

Legend
 Nationals win
 Nationals loss
 Postponement
BoldNationals team member
2011 Game Log

Player stats

Batting

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

Complete offensive statistics are available here.

Pos Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI AVG SB
CWilson Ramos113389481042211552.2670
1BMichael Morse146522731583603195.3032
2BDanny Espinosa158573721352952166.23617
SSIan Desmond15458465148275849.25325
3BRyan Zimmerman101395521142121249.2891
LFLaynce Nix12432438811511644.2502
CFRick Ankiel1223804691200937.23910
RFJayson Werth150561691302612058.23219
OFRoger Bernadina913094075122727.24317
3BJerry Hairston752132557111424.2682
1BAdam LaRoche43151152640315.1721
IFAlex Cora9115612356106.2242
CIván "Pudge" Rodríguez44124142770219.2180
1BChris Marrero3110962750010.2480
LFJonny Gomes4393111941312.2042
UTBrian Bixler79839171202.2054
CJesús Flores30865186012.2530
UTMatt Stairs56654101002.1540
IFSteve Lombardozzi, Jr.1331361001.1940
PHCorey Brown33000000.0000
PJohn Lannan3357350015.0880
PLiván Hernández31463101007.2170
PJordan Zimmermann2943191003.2090
PJason Marquis2542381003.1900
PTom Gorzelanny3028230001.1070
PRoss Detwiler1519020001.1050
PChien-Ming Wang1119010001.0530
PTommy Milone56110013.1670
PYunesky Maya108000000.0000
PStephen Strasburg56100000.0000
PCollin Balester234000000.0000
PBrad Peacock34000000.0000
PTyler Clippard722000000.0000
PCole Kimball121100000.0000
PSean Burnett6911100001.0000
PHenry Rodríguez592000000.0000
PCraig Stammen72110000.5000
PAtahualpa Severino600000000
PTodd Coffey6900000000
PDoug Slaten3100000000
PDrew Storen7300000000
PRyan Mattheus3500000000
PChad Gaudin1000000000
PBrian Broderick1100000000
Totals1615441624131925722154594.24238

Pitching

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

Complete pitching statistics are available here.

Pos Player W L ERA G GS SV IP R ER BB K
SPJohn Lannan10133.7033330184.2907676106
SPLiván Hernández8134.4729290175.198874699
SPJordan Zimmermann8113.1826260161.1625731124
SPJason Marquis853.9520200120.258533971
SPChien-Ming Wang434.041111062.135281325
CLDrew Storen632.757304375.124232074
RPTyler Clippard301.837202688.1181826104
RPHenry Rodríguez333.56590265.230264570
RPTodd Coffey513.62690059.225242046
RPSean Burnett553.81690456.224242133
Tom Gorzelanny464.0330150105.050473395
Ross Detwiler453.001510066.026222041
Collin Balester144.54230035.221181434
Yunesky Maya115.23105032.219191015
Ryan Mattheus222.81350032.011101512
SPTommy Milone103.8155026.01111415
SPStephen Strasburg111.5055024.054224
Doug Slaten024.41310016.11018913
Cole Kimball101.93120014.0331111
Brian Broderick016.57110012.19934
Brad Peacock200.7532012.01164
Craig Stammen110.8770010.111412
Chad Gaudin116.4810008.1106810
Atahualpa Severino103.866004.22217
Totals80813.58161161491449.16435774771049

Team leaders

Qualifying players only.

Batting

Stat Player Total
Avg.Michael Morse.303
HRMichael Morse31
RBIMichael Morse95
RMichael Morse73
HMichael Morse158
SBIan Desmond25

Pitching

Stat Player Total
WJohn Lannan10
LLiván Hernández
John Lannan
13
13
ERAJohn Lannan3.70
SOJordan Zimmermann124
SVDrew Storen43
IPJohn Lannan184.2

Awards and honors

All-Stars

Clippard threw three pitches in the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and was its winning pitcher.

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Syracuse Chiefs International League Randy Knorr
AA Harrisburg Senators Eastern League Tony Beasley
A Potomac Nationals Carolina League Matthew LeCroy
A Hagerstown Suns South Atlantic League Brian Daubach
A-Short Season Auburn Doubledays New York–Penn League Gary Cathcart
Rookie GCL Nationals Gulf Coast League Bobby Williams

Notes

  1. The two games on April 17 were played as a single-admission doubleheader with attendance counted only for the two games combined.
  2. The two games on July 2 were played as a single-admission doubleheader with attendance counted only for the two games combined.

References

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