http://masnsports.com/ The Official Website of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network en Copyright 2010 Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:01:00 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Those who have watched John Lannan pitch for the last two years have no doubts about his bona fides as a Major League starter: his high number of quality starts, his ability to stop a losing streak, his resolve when put in a tenuous situation. He has acted and pitched like their version of an ace, and the Nationals have believed in him as such; he made his second Opening Day start in as many years on Monday. But those... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/is-lannans-day-an-aberration-o.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/is-lannans-day-an-aberration-o.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:55:42 -0500 We'll have more substantive baseball content later in the day, but first, it's time to name the winners of our two spring contests: the guess-the-rotation game and MASN's group in ESPN's Tournament Challenge. The guess-the-rotation contest got a little tricky once Ross Detwiler got injured - so basically, the first day of the spring. But things got even more complicated when the Nationals signed Livan Hernandez. As such, nobody got more than four or five starters correct. (For the record:... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/time-to-crown-a-couple-winners.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/time-to-crown-a-couple-winners.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:10:27 -0500 Baseball teams are endowed to begin seasons with certain inalienable rights: to hang bunting from the railings, to introduce everyone from clubhouse attendance to cleanup hitters, the latter with a volley of fireworks worthy of a national holiday, to invite dignitaries to throw out the first pitch, and in the case of the Nationals, to get the leader of the free world to drive halfway across town, lob a pitch high and outside and chuckle about it later. Nowhere in... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/halladay-homers-help-phillies.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/halladay-homers-help-phillies.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:19:37 -0500 Welcome to MASN's live thread for Opening Day -- the Nationals against the Phillies this afternoon at Nationals Park. I'll have updates and analysis here throughout the day, and whether you're just watching the game on TV, following it online or attending in person, you can participate by commenting in this thread. Or, if you're on Twitter, you can tag tweets with #masnnats, and they'll be included in the chat. Nats vs. Phillies 4/5 in-game thread... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/mondays-nats-vs-phillies-in-ga.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/mondays-nats-vs-phillies-in-ga.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:45:12 -0500 The bunting is on the rails, the sun is shining, the balloons are out, and judging by the 40-minute wait for security I had getting into Nationals Park this morning, I think we're expecting a special guest. Yep, it's Opening Day in D.C. There are plenty of platitudes written about this day each year -- how it signals the start of something new, how it equates with optimism, etc. -- so I won't do it, other than to say this:... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/happy-opening-day.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/happy-opening-day.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Mon, 05 Apr 2010 09:44:50 -0500 There's a strange tradition among sportswriters at the beginning of each season; they make a handful of predictions about how the season they're about to cover will turn out, most of which turn out to be wrong, and they're never asked to revisit them again. I'm going to continue part of that tradition; I'm about to make a handful of predictions, most of which will turn out to be wrong. But at the end of the season, we'll revisit them... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/my-season-predictions.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/my-season-predictions.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:03:59 -0500 Hey all, Just headed out the door for an Easter get-together at a friend's house, but I wanted to put up a quick post to let you know some of the things we're planning for regular-season coverage around here, and get your take on them: --First, the gameday coverage: We'll bring back the live threads we were doing all through spring training, and they'll be aided by some new bells and whistles through the redesign of our website. We'll have... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/the-regular-season-coverage-pl.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/the-regular-season-coverage-pl.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:36:34 -0500 When the Nationals cut Elijah Dukes in spring training, they opened themselves up to the possibility that they would start the season without an everyday player in right field. With a day to go before Opening Day, it appears that's how they'll start the year. And though they've made some inquiries about a handful of high-profile options in right, they're prepared to get by with their in-house options for now. A club source said the Nationals have discussed a trade... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/as-nats-enter-the-season-statu.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/as-nats-enter-the-season-statu.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:25:51 -0500 With the Nationals' 6-1 loss to the Red Sox at Nationals Park on Saturday, spring training is officially over -- and not a moment too soon, in my opinion. No more guesses on the 25-man roster (which was finalized this afternoon). No more reading in to results that mean nothing in the final accounting of the season. And no more games where matchups and strategy are non-factors. We're playing for real as of Monday afternoon, when the Nationals take on... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/nats-vs-red-sox-post-game-thou-1.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/nats-vs-red-sox-post-game-thou-1.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Sat, 03 Apr 2010 19:38:12 -0500 Welcome to MASN's live thread for today's Nationals game against the Red Sox. We'll have updates and analysis throughout the day, and if you want to participate, here's how: Leave your comments here, or tag your tweets with #masnnats. Nats vs. Red Sox 4/3 in-game thread... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/saturdays-nats-vs-red-sox-in-g.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/saturdays-nats-vs-red-sox-in-g.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:55:52 -0500 With a final flurry of cuts this afternoon, the Nationals have effectively, if not officially, set their 25-man roster for Opening Day. They picked Garrett Mock to be the final starting pitcher over Scott Olsen, optioning the left-hander to Triple-A Syracuse despite his strong outing on Friday. Mock, the 26-year-old right-hander who started the spring well but struggled at the end of it, nonetheless won the spot over Olsen. He'll actually be the team's fourth starter, pitching on Friday in... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/nats-25-man-roster-is-set.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/nats-25-man-roster-is-set.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:30:56 -0500 This will be an abbreviated version of the post-game wrap-up today, since I'm typing this not from Fort Myers -- where the Nationals lost 7-2 to the Red Sox today -- but from my couch in Fairfax. I flew home from Florida this morning, just to get in before tomorrow's exhibition against Boston at Nationals Park. Since I wasn't there, and am mostly gleaning insights from a box score, I'll keep this somewhat informal: --Scott Olsen made his final case... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/nats-vs-red-sox-post-game-thou.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/nats-vs-red-sox-post-game-thou.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:43:19 -0500 When the Nationals started the spring 0-11, the talk in the clubhouse was about how little the record mattered. All the team was looking for, its players and manager said, was a progression toward the end of spring, a sign that the team was headed in the right direction. After the 0-11 start, as familiar names start to dot the lineup card and pitchers work deeper into games, the Nationals are 10-7. They won for the 10th time on Thursday,... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/nats-vs-mets-post-game-thought-2.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/nats-vs-mets-post-game-thought-2.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:10:27 -0500 Welcome to MASN's live thread for today's Nationals game against the Mets. We'll have updates and analysis throughout the day, and if you want to participate, here's how: Leave your comments here, or tag your tweets with #masnnats. Nats vs. Mets 4/1 in-game thread... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/thursdays-nats-vs-mets-in-game.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/thursdays-nats-vs-mets-in-game.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:11:15 -0500 Searching all spring for a fifth starter and in need of another left-hander with Ross Detwiler on the disabled list and Scott Olsen's status uncertain, the Nationals went another route on Thursday: They filled out their rotation at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Multiple club and industry sources said the team has signed President Obama to a one-year deal for the major-league minimum, and will add him to the 40-man roster sometime this weekend. The left-hander, who will throw out the ceremonial... http://masnsports.com/2010/04/nats-name-obama-fifth-starter.html http://masnsports.com/2010/04/nats-name-obama-fifth-starter.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:35:00 -0500 I've talked to many of you through the comments section of our website or during or in-game chats. I've signed up to play fantasy baseball with some of you, and almost all of you that signed up for our NCAA bracket are whipping me there. But I haven't met most of you. I'd like to change that. I'm trying to get a little meetup planned for Saturday's exhibition against the Red Sox -- I'm thinking before the game, maybe around... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/planning-a-saturday-meetup.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/planning-a-saturday-meetup.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:27:59 -0500 The final days of spring training, in just about any major-league clubhouse, leave the same questions to be handled: Who will get the final bench spot? Who will the fifth starter be? How about the long reliever? While the final edges of the map are being filled in, those at the center of it are biding their time until Opening Day. John Lannan was doing that on Wednesday, and he did it quite well. The Nationals' Opening Day starter allowed... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-cardinals-post-game-th-4.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-cardinals-post-game-th-4.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:38:22 -0500 Welcome to MASN's live thread for today's Nationals game against the Cardinals. We'll have updates and analysis throughout the day, and if you want to participate, here's how: Leave your comments here, or tag your tweets with #masnnats. Nats vs. Cardinals 3/31 in-game thread... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/wednesdays-nats-vs-cardinals-i.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/wednesdays-nats-vs-cardinals-i.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:36:47 -0500 The Nationals optioned right-hander J.D. Martin to Triple-A Syracuse this morning, confirming what had been suspected for the last week: The race for the fifth spot in the Nationals' rotation is really between two pitchers - Scott Olsen and Garrett Mock. Martin started the spring well, but kept getting put in minor league games because the Nationals didn't have enough space for all their starter candidates to pitch. "We had to sometimes pick some games on the back field. Probably... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/martin-optioned-5th-spot-down.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/martin-optioned-5th-spot-down.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:13:21 -0500 Garrett Mock made his final case for a spot on the Nationals' roster on Tuesday afternoon, and afterward, nobody had a particularly strong reaction to it. Mock said he was "kind of mixed up about today," and manager Jim Riggleman said flatly, "The outing speaks for itself. I can't say much about it. You saw it." The problem with all that is the fact the Nationals open the season in six days. When they are still trying to decide between... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-marlins-post-game-thou-2.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-marlins-post-game-thou-2.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:22:24 -0500 Welcome to MASN's live thread for today's Nationals game against the Marlins. We'll have updates and analysis throughout the day, and if you want to participate, here's how: Leave your comments here, or tag your tweets with #masnnats. Nats vs. Marlins 3/30 in-game thread... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/tuesdays-nats-vs-marlins-in-ga.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/tuesdays-nats-vs-marlins-in-ga.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:52:59 -0500 I have a theory that you can measure the proximity of a certain date in March to the end of spring training by the length of the manager's pregame press conferences, sort of like you can measure how close lightning is by how long it takes for thunder to sound. The reason is simple: As we go later and later into the spring, there's less and less to ask about. And we're getting to that point now. The big discussion... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/pregame-notes-from-jupiter.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/pregame-notes-from-jupiter.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:56:43 -0500 To get to the major leagues, a prospect's swing has to pass through spring camps and fall leagues, level adjustments and coaches' suggestions. There are fourth opinions and second guesses, rounds of, "Why don't you try this?" and bouts with, "Why isn't this working?" Through his time in high school and at Long Beach State, Danny Espinosa had never used a leg kick in his swing. The Nationals took the shortstop in the third round of the 2008 MLB draft,... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/after-swing-adjustments-leg-ki.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/after-swing-adjustments-leg-ki.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:34:16 -0500 Funny how this job works sometimes. I was out to lunch with a few media types today (the AP's Howard Fendrich, WTOP's Craig Heist, the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore and Nats Insider's Mark Zuckerman), and in walks Nationals GM Mike Rizzo (Right fielder Willie Harris was also in the house - and that was after he informed us that Carrabba's, our first destination, was closed for lunch.) Anyway, We're respectful reporters, so we left Rizzo alone for the majority of... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/afternoon-updates-on-a-pitcher.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/afternoon-updates-on-a-pitcher.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:46:31 -0500 The Nationals announced this morning that President Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day, when they face the Phillies at 1:05 p.m. It will be the third time in the team's history the president has thrown the first pitch, following President Bush in 2005 and 2008. MLB commissioner Bud Selig will also be in attendance for the game. "Opening Day of the baseball season is a special event for our country and its importance has been... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/obama-to-throw-first-pitch-on.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/obama-to-throw-first-pitch-on.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:35:41 -0500 Here's what we know about the Nationals' rotation after manager Jim Riggleman's press conferences today (FYI: Today's game was called because of rain, and the Nats weren't able to work out a split-squad game with the Mets tomorrow. So their home spring schedule is done): --The team's starters for the first four games of the year will be John Lannan, Jason Marquis, Craig Stammen and Livan Hernandez. --Stephen Strasburg isn't likely to pitch Saturday's exhibition against the Red Sox. Riggleman... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/pitching-picture-getting-clear.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/pitching-picture-getting-clear.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:48:26 -0500 The Nats won 9-3 at Space Coast Stadium today against the Braves, improving their spring record to 8-17 with a solid victory over an Atlanta team that held a couple key regulars out because of injury or weather concerns. It might have been a different story especially if Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson would have been on the mound instead of a handful of relievers, but the Nationals' offense put together an impressive performance. The real key, though, was how Scott... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-braves-post-game-thoug-2.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-braves-post-game-thoug-2.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Sun, 28 Mar 2010 16:24:13 -0500 Welcome to MASN's live thread for today's Nationals game against the Braves. We'll have updates and analysis throughout the day, and if you want to participate, here's how: Leave your comments here, or tag your tweets with #masnnats. Nats vs. Braves 3/28 in-game thread... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/sundays-nats-vs-braves-in-game.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/sundays-nats-vs-braves-in-game.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Sun, 28 Mar 2010 12:35:27 -0500 The Nationals have decided Ian Desmond, who followed an impressive September with a solid spring, will be their Opening Day shortstop. Cristian Guzman, who signed with the team before its first season in Washington, will be a utility infielder. The move culminates a months-long process of passing the torch from the 32-year-old Guzman to the 24-year-old Desmond. The Nationals had planned to give Desmond the shortstop job this season and move Guzman to second base until they signed Adam Kennedy,... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/desmond-is-nats-shortstop.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/desmond-is-nats-shortstop.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Sun, 28 Mar 2010 10:07:33 -0500 The picture painted by Tyler Walker's stats from the last three seasons suggests he is a pitcher who does not make mistakes. He is the handiest of middle relievers, the low-maintenance craftsman who doesn't walk hitters, gets beat with his best pitches if he, in fact, gets beat, and lets his manager know he's a safe pick no matter the situation. His WHIP with the Giants in 2007 was a paltry 1.116; it was 1.132 with the Phillies in 2009.... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/back-issues-behind-him-walker.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/back-issues-behind-him-walker.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Sat, 27 Mar 2010 22:11:25 -0500 The Nationals finished their last split-squad games of the spring this way -- with players in the visitors' clubhouse of Disney's Champion Stadium, showered and ready to board a bus after a 4-0 loss to the Braves, watching on television as Alberto Gonzalez blasted a decisive two-run homer off Kiko Calero 90 minutes south of them in Port St. Lucie. As the ball cleared the left-field wall to put the Nationals up 7-5 on the Mets, a few shouts went... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-bravesmets-post-game-t.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-bravesmets-post-game-t.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:06:31 -0500 Welcome to MASN's live thread for today's Nationals split-squad games against the Braves and Mets. I'm in Orlando for the game against the Braves -- since the Mets game is on MLB Network, I figured I'd cover things in the game you can't see. We'll have updates and analysis throughout the day, and if you want to participate, here's how: Leave your comments here, or tag your tweets with #masnnats. Nats vs. Braves 3/27 in-game thread... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/saturdays-nats-vs-bravesmets-i.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/saturdays-nats-vs-bravesmets-i.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:58:22 -0500 When the Nationals took Chris Marrero with the 14th pick in the 2006 draft, there was little reason to question their assertions the high schooler was a big part of their future. His prodigious swing gave him the ability to sting the ball to all fields, even as an 18-year-old, and after a couple of moves from third base to the outfield and then to first base, Washington had found a position they could hand to him as soon as... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/catching-up-with-chris-marrero.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/catching-up-with-chris-marrero.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:59:26 -0500 If you're in the practice -- or the business -- of gleaning progress from spring training results, the Nationals' 7-4 win over the Cardinals on Friday afternoon would have to register as a sign of it. After John Lannan gave up three runs in the first inning to St. Louis, he settled down and allowed just one more in the rest of his 5 2/3 innings, while the Nationals scored five runs (four earned) in six innings off Adam Wainwright,... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-cardinals-post-game-th-3.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-cardinals-post-game-th-3.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:19:58 -0500 Welcome to MASN's live thread for today's Nationals game against the Cardinals. We'll have updates and analysis throughout the day, and if you want to participate, here's how: Leave your comments here, or tag your tweets with #masnnats -- we're going to try that today and see how it works. Nats vs. Cardinals 3/26 in-game thread... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/fridays-nats-vs-cardinals-in-g-1.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/fridays-nats-vs-cardinals-in-g-1.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:37:59 -0500 The Nationals' decision to release Elijah Dukes on March 17 was, for all its overtones and interpretations, a baseball move in the team's mind. They saw a talented outfielder who had yet to live up to his much-chronicled natural abilities, still had trouble hitting a breaking ball and created some dissension in the clubhouse, and determined the cost outweighed the benefit. What's yet to be determined is whether the Nationals have, as they believe they do, the options in the... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/an-analysis-of-the-nats-right.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/an-analysis-of-the-nats-right.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:01:28 -0500 In the Nationals' 8-2 loss to the Tigers on Thursday night, there were few indications they were ready to emerge from what's becoming a prolonged offensive slump this spring, just as there were few instances of clean work from the team's bullpen. But there was just a sliver or two of positivity, a few developments on which to build. Chief among those would be Nyjer Morgan, who hadn't played in 10 days with leg injuries and entered the game hitting... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-tigers-post-game-thoug-2.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-tigers-post-game-thoug-2.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:11:04 -0500 Welcome to MASN's live thread for tonight's Nationals game against the Tigers. We'll have updates and analysis throughout the night, and if you want to participate, here's how: Leave your comments here, or reply to me on Twitter (@masnBen). Nats vs. Tigers 3/25 in-game thread... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/thursdays-nats-vs-tigers-in-ga.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/thursdays-nats-vs-tigers-in-ga.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:30:03 -0500 The big news from this afternoon came from Jim Riggleman saying "it's a good bet" Craig Stammen will be in the team's rotation to start the year. But lest we make too big a deal out of a strong hint the manager dropped this afternoon, here are a few other similar items. Call it equal time: Riggleman said if the season started today, he'd use a defensive replacement for Adam Dunn at first base. Riggleman mentioned Mike Morse, Eric Bruntlett... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/afternoon-roundup.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/afternoon-roundup.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:22:44 -0500 Craig Stammen started the spring as a candidate to be bumped to the Nationals' bullpen. It appears he'll end it as a member of the Nationals' rotation. Manager Jim Riggleman said this afternoon "it's a good bet" Stammen will be in the rotation when the Nationals start the season. Stammen, who has a 2.89 ERA this spring, will pitch on Saturday against the Mets in Port St. Lucie, but it seems he's already sewed up a spot with how he's... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/riggleman-stammen-is-a-good-be.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/riggleman-stammen-is-a-good-be.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:55:00 -0500 Back in Viera today, with a grab bag of stuff for you this afternoon: First, the Nats' lineup for tonight's 7:05 game against the Tigers: Morgan - 8 Desmond - 6 Zimmerman - 5 Dunn - 3 Willingham - 7 Rodriguez - 2 Morse - 9 Gonzalez - 4 Bruntlett - DH Martin - 1 Here's a thought - and I'm mostly spitballing here: If you need to see Cristian Guzman play back-to-back games and he's still not starting at... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/thursday-afternoon-tidbits.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/thursday-afternoon-tidbits.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:05:29 -0500 The Nationals lost 3-1 to the New York Yankees on Wednesday night. But when you consider the lineup the Nationals brought to Tampa (Josh Whitesell hit cleanup), the fact the Yankees essentially fielded their Opening Day lineup and the start Livan Hernandez had (five innings, three hits and one run), it almost felt like a win. There were certainly enough positive developments for the Nationals to make it feel that way. Most of them centered around Hernandez, the 35-year-old right-hander... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-yankees-post-game-thou.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-yankees-post-game-thou.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:01:32 -0500 Welcome to MASN's live thread for tonight's Nationals game against the Yankees. We'll have updates and analysis throughout the night, and if you want to participate, here's how: Leave your comments here, or reply to me on Twitter (@masnBen). Nats vs. Yankees 3/24 in-game thread... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/wednesdays-nats-vs-yankees-in-.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/wednesdays-nats-vs-yankees-in-.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:50:47 -0500 The Nationals have signed Mike MacDougal, their 2009 closer who was recently cut by the Florida Marlins, to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. MacDougal, who saved 20 games in 21 opportunities last year, will be in camp on Thursday. MacDougal was arbitration-eligible after last season and due for a sizable raise, so the Nationals non-tendered him in December. He was also coming off hip surgery, so the Nationals signed Matt Capps to replace him, rather than... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-sign-macdougal-to-minor-l.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-sign-macdougal-to-minor-l.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:01:50 -0500 Good morning from Lakeland, where I'm holed up before heading to Tampa for tonight's Nationals game against the Yankees. That contest, again, starts at 7:05 and will be televised on MASN and MASN HD. Now, on with a few morning updates: First, we're looking for your questions for Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo's next blog entry. If you leave them in the comments sections of this post, I'll compile them and send them to Rizzo, who will respond to them... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/looking-for-rizzo-questions-an.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/looking-for-rizzo-questions-an.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:34:28 -0500 For four innings on Tuesday night, Scott Olsen's third and most pivotal start of the spring could be split and spun from myriad angles. The left-hander gave up eight hits and three runs in that time, sure, but his fastball was sitting between 89 and 91 mph on the radar gun, depending on whose gun you were reading, and his stuff had more life than it had all spring. Then the fifth inning rolled around, and the room for perspective... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-tigers-post-game-thoug-1.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-vs-tigers-post-game-thoug-1.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:07:23 -0500 Welcome to MASN's live thread for tonight's Nationals game against the Tigers. We'll have updates and analysis throughout the night, and if you want to participate, here's how: Leave your comments here, or reply to me on Twitter (@masnBen) Nats vs. Tigers 3/23 in-game thread... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/tuesdays-nats-vs-tigers-in-gam.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/tuesdays-nats-vs-tigers-in-gam.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:00:12 -0500 Greetings from Lakeland, where we're about 20 minutes from the first pitch between the Nationals and Tigers. I'll have the live thread up and running in a few minutes. But first, a few pregame news items: --Nyjer Morgan, who has been out all week with tightness in his right hip flexor, will return Thursday night against the Tigers as planned, manager Jim Riggleman. --Asked about the workload at catcher, Riggleman said he'd like to keep Pudge Rodriguez around 110 games,... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/pregame-notes-from-lakeland.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/pregame-notes-from-lakeland.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:46:55 -0500 We've got 10 days to go in spring training, 11 players that still need to be cut and a few questions that still need to be answered. I'm on my way out the door to drop my wife off at the airport and head toward Lakeland, but here's a smattering of things to watch this week, stream-of-consciousness style: This is a big night for Scott Olsen, who starts at 6:05 p.m. against the Tigers. He was effective in his last... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/things-to-watch-the-rest-of-th.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/things-to-watch-the-rest-of-th.html Ben Goessling Nationals News nationals spring training Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:46:41 -0500 The Nationals cut three players from their major league camp this morning, optioning starter Shairon Martis to Triple-A Syracuse and re-assigning infielders Pete Orr and Chris Duncan to minor league camp. They're now down to 36 players in camp, but in reality, they're just a few players from having their roster set. The starting rotation, to pinpoint one example, has just two spots up for grabs, and three (possibly four) pitchers fighting for them. Manager Jim Riggleman said this morning... http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-cut-three-from-camp-rotat.html http://masnsports.com/2010/03/nats-cut-three-from-camp-rotat.html Ben Goessling Nationals News Nationals Spring Training Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:26:05 -0500