Brian Schneider remembers Nats days

Brian Schneider remembers Nats days
Phillies catcher Brian Schneider taking on his former team in the Nats this week. He has played for the Nats, Mets and now Phillies in the last three seasons and is settling in as the backup catcher to Carlos Ruiz. When Brian was in D.C., he mentored a lot of young players for the Nats and was a leader on the field as well as in the clubhouse. I remember several times he would be walking off the field during batting practice with his arm around the shoulders of a Nats teammate telling him...
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Mets, N.L. East not sleeping on Nats any more

Mets, N.L. East not sleeping on Nats any more
I watched the play over and over. It was a play that won't count in the box score or the stat sheet but one that tells me things will be different this year for the Nationals. Josh Willingham versus Johan Santana with the bases juiced on Sunday in New York. Willingham launches a moon shot to center field that hits above the red line for a home run. During the live action, the umpires did not signal a home run so everyone kept on running. Adam Dunn came down the line with Willy Taveras...
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Strasburg "threw the ball very well" in MiLB debut (with video)

Strasburg "threw the ball very well" in MiLB debut (with video)
Stephen Strasburg and the Nats could not have asked for a better test in his pro debut Sunday in Altoona, a 6-4 win at Blair County Ballpark before 7,887. Strasburg battled back in this game on the mound and at the plate. Down 4-0, Stephen didn't panic and kept his composure, pounded the strike zone thanks to Randy Tomlin's coaching and helped his own cause with a dramatic hit. Strasburg pitched 5 innings, allowed 4 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks and 8 strikeouts. He retired eight...
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Strasburg line in Harrisburg debut

Strasburg line in Harrisburg debut
Stephen Strasburg 5 innings pitched 4 hits 4 runs 1 earned run 2 bb 8 K 82 pitches/55 strikes rbi double and run scored for Strasburg in 5th, 1-2 rbi run and double. left with Altoona up 4-3 after 5, but Harrisburg took lead in 6th, Strasburg leaves with lead. Erik Arnesen pitching btm 6th.
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Strasburg Bottom of 5th

Strasburg Bottom of 5th
Harrisburg scores 3 runs T5 on Solano RBI single scoring Jesus Valdez who led off with single rbi double for STRASBURG helping own cause Altoona Btm 5th hernandez sturck out looking presley 5-3 durham 5-3 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 0 K 82 pitches, 52 strikes that might be it with 85-90 pitch count strasburg line 5 inn 4 hits 4 runs 1 ER 8 K 2 BB Harrisburg 000 03 -- 3 5 2 Altoona 100 30 -- 4 4 0 after 5 Altoona 4-3
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Strasburg Bottom of 4th

Strasburg Bottom of 4th
Harrisburg only 1 hit vs. Rudy Owens who is making his Double AA debut for Altoona no runs in 4th 1-2-3 BTM of 4th Durham F-9 Watts 99mph fastball WALK both walks to Watts Harrison grounder to SS, SS hand to 2B drops the ball everyone safe error 2nd base Ford struck out looking K de los Santos rbi single CF run scores error CF on throw to plate another run scored 3-0 Owens base hit CF for the pitcher rbi 4-0 Negrych K looking 3 runs, 2 hits, 2 K, 1 BB, 2 errors total pitches:...
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Strasburg Bottom of 3rd

Strasburg Bottom of 3rd
Harrisburg 1-2-3 top 3rd including Strasburg at bat 3-1 groundout Altoona Btm 3rd Negrych 3-2 F-7 Hernandez K Presley 100mph K total pitches 47 pitches, 31 K, BB 16 excellent control 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 K, 0 bb 5 total K retired 7 straight after 3 innings Altoona 1, Harrisburg 0.
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Strasburg Bottom of 2nd

Strasburg Bottom of 2nd
Harrisburg top 2nd base hit by adam fox but did not score. 24 pitches for Strasburg in 1st so he has 61 to 66 pitches left in pitch count Altoona Bottom 2nd Shelby Ford 1B leftie 99mph fastball swing miss 4-3 groundout Jose de los Santos SS leftie 99mph fastball swing miss 0-1 foul pop behind 3rd 0-2 struck out swinging 85 mph breaking pitch K Rudy Owens P 99mph 100mph fastball swing miss K 32 pitches 0 runs 0 hits 2 K After 2nd, Altoona 1, Harrisburg 0.
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Strasburg Bottom of 1st

Strasburg Bottom of 1st
Harrisburg did not score Top 1st 1-2-3 Altoona Bottom 1st Jim Negrych 2B leftie up high fastball 1-0 ball thrown out for sens to keep 1-1 foul tip 1-2 foul tip all fastballs breaking ball 2-2 POP SS 1 out 5 pitches Gorkys Hernandez CF rightie 0-1 pop foul 5-3 groundout 2 pitches Alex Presley LF leftie up high fastball outside 1-0 fastball outside 2-0 DOUBLE right field off wall 3 pitches Miles Durham RF rightie base hit center field rbi single Altoona 1-0 Kris...
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Harrisburg at Altoona starting lineups

Harrisburg at Altoona starting lineups
Starting lineups for Stephen Strasburg's debut in Altoona, PA: Harrisburg Michael Martinez 2B Pedro Lopez SS Leonard Davis CF Chris Marrero QB Jesus Valdez RF Adam Fox 3B Bill Rhinehart LF Jhonatan Solano C Stephen Strasburg P Altoona Jim Negrych 2B Gorkys Hernandez CF Alex Presley LF Miles Durham RF Kris Watts C Josh Harrison 3B Shelby Ford 1B Jose de los Santos SS Rudy Owens P About 70 media on hand for Strasburg's debut. As he walked out to the left field bullpen area the line of...
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Randy Knorr's plan for Strasburg today

Randy Knorr's plan for Strasburg today
I just spoke with Harrisburg manager Randy Knorr. Strasburg is on an 85-90 pitch count and Jhonatan Solano will catch Stephen today, as he did a lot during spring training. Randy, what are you looking for from Stephen today? "I just want him to go out there and just get the first one over with, relax, and just be himself. I am going to look to see if he goes after it. I hope he is not hesitant. I just want him to go out there and pitch like Stephen can." And Solano will catch for...
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Arrived Blair County Ballpark heading down to Sens clubhouse

Arrived Blair County Ballpark heading down to Sens clubhouse
Beautiful day here in Altoona, arrived about 15 minutes. There is a horseshoe curve outside Altoona for the railroad, that is why the team is called "Curve", but curveball works as well. The team was almost called Altoona "Fish". Stephen Strasburg faces leftie Rudy Owens. The Sens looking for first win at 0-3. I will blog throughout the game so stay tuned to masnsports.com. Heading down to the clubhouse, I will tell you what I can find out when I get down there. Looking to talk...
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Game 4 preview: Garrett Mock vs. Mets

Game 4 preview: Garrett Mock vs. Mets
Nationals Garrett Mock is preparing for tonight's matchup against the N.Y. Mets from Citi Field. Before he left for the road trip, I had a chance to talk with Garrett on his spring training, feelings about making the team and what he will try to do to take down the Mets tonight. To listen to the audio interview, in its entirety, click here. So, are you all set for your season debut tonight? "I feel like as far as making the steps to get ready 'yes'. As far maintaining the consistent...
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Bullpen takes down Phils as easy as 7-8-9

Bullpen takes down Phils as easy as 7-8-9
The Nationals played a complete baseball game Thursday on getaway day, dropping the Phillies 6-5 for their first win of the season. Ryan Zimmerman with two doubles, including a blooper down the right field line for the go ahead run in the 7th, Willie Harris smacked a 2-run shot and Nyjer Morgan ignited a 3-run rally to begin the game with a big triple for the offense to put up 6 runs. And there it was: the opportunity the Nats had been looking for since the first game of the series. A 6-5...
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Chambers: "I don't compare Bryce to anybody"

Chambers: "I don't compare Bryce to anybody"
From time to time, Tim Chambers, baseball coach and athletic director at College of Southern Nevada checks in to give us an update on 17-year old catcher/outfielder sensation Bryce Harper. Harper is eligible for the June amateur draft in which the Nationals again hold the number one overall selection. The Coyotes are doing very well this season at 30-6 and lead the Scenic West conference. The Coyotes welcome in Southern Idaho for a pair of doubleheaders Friday and Saturday. Bryce...
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How close is Storen to the Majors?

How close is Storen to the Majors?
How close is Drew Storen to the Majors? It seems to be the other most common question when people talk about Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen. Both had very good Arizona Fall League performances and both are Top 10 Nationals picks from 2009. P-Nats pitching coach Paul Menhart had the most recent look at Storen in Arizona and told me, "Drew has already had his inaugural minor league freshman year (which makes it a little different experience than what Stephen went through). "He showed...
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Walker on how to solve "ultra hot" Ryan Howard

Walker on how to solve "ultra hot" Ryan Howard
Nationals pitcher Tyler Walker has bounced back from a slow start to spring training. He put his latest resurgence on display Wednesday night during the Phillies 8-4 win. Walker retired six consecutive Phillies hitters in the 5th and 6th innings. During that run he prevented the Phils from tacking on to a 6-3 advantage. The line was impressive: 2 innings, no hits, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts of Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins. Shortstop Ian Desmond started his...
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Stammen says Red Sox game will help him against Phillies

Stammen says Red Sox game will help him against Phillies
Thursday getaway day matchup features Nationals righthander Craig Stammen taking on Phillies righthander Kyle Kendrick. Stammen made 19 starts last year and went 4-7 with a 5.11 ERA and did not pitch after August 29th. He had off-season surgery to clean out bone spurs in his elbow. He said the pain had bothered him to the point where he couldn't straighten his arm out completely and every off day was an attempt to get back to feeling good instead of refining his pitches or working on...
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Selig: "D.C. deserves All-Star game" at Nats Park

Selig: "D.C. deserves All-Star game" at Nats Park
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig stopped by the press box during Monday's opener versus the Phillies and talked about a myriad of subjects and a few on the Nats and D.C. baseball. Here is a couple of his answers on the subject: Is Washington, D.C. coming into its own as a major league baseball town?: "I have no doubts and I mean this sincerely. It's a really beautiful day in this really beautiful ballpark. I have talked to Stan (Kasten), Mike Rizzo and to the Lerners a lot...
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Game 2 preview: Jason Marquis

Game 2 preview: Jason Marquis
Starting pitcher Jason Marquis makes his Nats Park and season debut in a Nationals uniform Wednesday night against lefthander Cole Hamels and the Phillies. Last year, Jason was 15-13 with a 4.04 ERA for the Colorado Rockies. He had an especially brilliant start to the season that garnered him an All-Star selection. Jason was 10-5 through June 30th last season with two complete games to help Colorado climb back in the race with the Dodgers. Marquis has had six straight seasons with at least...
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