by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (6/18/2013) Nationals reliever Drew Storen's role continues to shrink, as The Washington Post reported Tuesday team has mostly limited him to lower leverage situations recently. Manager Davey Johnson admitted he is somewhat hesitant to use Storen as a traditional reliever at times, limiting him to use as a right-handed specialist.
"This week was a tough week, because I had him up a lot," Johnson said. "Colorado was a place where you really need to control the match-ups — the ball flies there. When he's right, he's good against both. This year, he's had a little problem with left. But I like the way he's throwing. There was a situation, I like left against left, and I like my lefts right now."
Left-handed batters are hitting .353 against Storen this season, and he has struggled to a career-worst 4.67 ERA in his first 29 games.
Drew Storen picks up first save
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/18/2013) Nationals reliever Drew Storen entered Friday's game in the 10th inning with a one-run advantage.
The right-hander worked his way around two hits as he secured a 6-5 victory. He struck out one and improved his ERA to 4.41 after notching his first save of the season.
Long layoffs not bothering Drew Storen
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/6/2013) Nationals pitcher Drew Storen worked a scoreless seventh inning Sunday at Pittsburgh to register his fifth hold of the season and post back-to-back pristine outings for the first time this season. His appearance was also his first in six days as the team's bullpen has failed to develop a consistent routine after the first month.
Storen also went six games between appearances earlier this year and has pitched on consecutive days only once. That has led to a 4.76 ERA for the right-hander, who entered the season with a 2.90 mark.
"There's a fine line," Storen told The Washington Post about his usage. "You got to find a happy medium of not throwing too much. But you also don't want to have too much rest. Because when you have too much rest, you start to elevate, you start throwing through the break and stuff. It's a fine line to stay sharp. That's kind of what I said to him. I don't mind getting up and just throwing, even if I don't go in the game. I don't care."
Drew Storen, defense, blow game vs. Braves
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/13/2013) With regular closer Rafael Soriano off due after pitching in three straight games, the Nationals turned to Drew Storen to close out the Braves Friday.
Storen, who has closing experience in the past, was not up to the task, allowing two runs on three hits to send the game to overtime. Storen retired the final batter of the eighth inning to end a bases-loaded jam, but ran into trouble in the ninth. He allowed a leadoff single and then allowed an infield single and a walk to load the bases himself. The defense let him down on a possible game-ending double play to third base, as Chris Johnson's throwing error allowed two runs to score.
Storen was charged with one of those runs in 1 1/3 innings, with a strikeout and a walk as well. He earned a blown save, in a 6-4 loss in 10 innings. His ERA rose to 3.38 on the season, with six strikeouts and one walk in 5 1/3 innings.
Nationals skipper likes alignment of bullpen
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/4/2013) Nationals manager Davey Johnson is still learning the limits of new closer Rafael Soriano, according to The Washington Post. But once he figures it out, it will help him figure out how to use setup men Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard.
Storen is considered the backup closer and Clippard is in the mix as closer to spell both relievers. Soriano recorded a save in each of the Nationals' first two games.
"That’s something I’ll learn and hopefully [Soriano will] let me know if he’s getting overworked," Johnson said. "That’s a really good problem to have. I hope that happens a lot. But I got a lot of choices for guys who want to step in."
Drew Storen shakes off Game 5 nightmare
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/4/2013) Nationals reliever Drew Storen pitched in a meaningful game Wednesday against the Marlins for the first time since recording a blown save in Game 5 of the NLDS in October. Storen, who is now a setup man for new closer Rafael Soriano, logged his first hold of the season.
"It was good to get in there and get your feet wet in some regular season baseball," he said, per CSN Washington. "It just felt comfortable more than anything. When you go out and get in a game like that, a tight game, it’s fun. It’s fun to get those juices flowing again and that’s what locks me in."
Storen made quick work of the Marlins in the eighth inning. He pitched a perfect inning and struck out one, needing just 14 pitches.
"I think it was nice for him so people can stop talking about it," Kurt Suzuki, who was the catcher in Game 5, said. "I've got so much confidence in Drew. He's got great stuff. He's a great reliever. He showed that tonight, and he's shown it in his career. That one game, obviously, was magnified a little bit because of what was at stake, but I think Drew's going to be fine."
Drew Storen still adjusting to new role
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/23/2013) Nationals pitcher Drew Storen surrendered a tiebreaking solo homer en route to his second loss of the spring during a 3-1 loss to the Mets in Grapefruit League action Saturday. Storen, who entered the game in the seventh inning, also walked a batter and struck out two.
The right-handerhas a 5.40 ERA after 10 games this spring as he continues to transition from closer to set-up man this season. "He’s still not where he needs to be," manager Davey Johnson told the Washington Post. "A couple more times, he’ll be fine."
Drew Storen knocked around again
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/17/2013) Nationals reliever Drew Storen was hit hard for the second straight outing Saturday against the Astros in Grapefruit League action.
Storen allowed an RBI single to Carlos Correa and a two-run single to Rene Garcia in the eighth inning and was pegged with the loss. He allowed three runs on four hits in an inning of work in a 4-2 defeat. He also struck out two and walked one as his ERA ballooned to 6.43 this spring.
"When you try to be that precise [on the mound], it's kind of paralysis by analysis," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "I want him to trust his stuff and pitch. He has great stuff. He knows how to pitch. Sometimes he goes out there and tries to overthrow the ball. Those are power pitchers."
Storen has allowed four runs on six hits in his last two innings.
Storen out as closer
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (1/18/2013) On the same day he signed a $2.5 million contract for the 2013 season and avoided arbitration, Drew Storen was bumped from the closer role by new acquisition Rafael Soriano. “Suffice it to say," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said at Soriano's introductory press conference, "Raffy is here to pitch the ninth inning." Storen was informed of his role change before the announcement.
Storen earns first big contract
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (1/17/2013) Nationals relief pitcher Drew Storen signed a $2.5 million contract for the 2012 season, avoiding his first salary arbitration hearing. The contract also includes $1 million in performance bonuses.
