Byron Kerr

Arrived Blair County Ballpark heading down to Sens clubhouse

April 11, 2010, 8:08am

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

April 09, 2010, 9:07am

Nationals

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

April 08, 2010, 4:01pm

Nationals

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"

April 08, 2010, 3:24pm

Nationals

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?

April 08, 2010, 6:01am

Nationals

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

April 07, 2010, 8:21pm

Nationals

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

April 07, 2010, 2:01pm

Nationals

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

April 06, 2010, 9:34am

Nationals

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

April 06, 2010, 9:33am

Nationals

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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Desmond not discouraged after rough first game

April 06, 2010, 9:32am

Nationals

Desmond not discouraged after rough first game

Ian Desmond wanted more from his first game as the starting shortstop with the Nationals. His teammates felt the same way as the Phillies arrived and rolled past the Nats 11-1 on opening day. The beginning was pretty much all the Nats could have wanted from their first game of 2010 at Nats Park: A sold out crowd, a visit from the Commander in Chief and an early lead. That positive feeling was dampened when the Phillies took control. As Manager Jim Riggleman said after being asked about...

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Bryce Harper NJCAA Player of the Week

April 01, 2010, 12:55pm

Nationals

Dan Cabrera from College of Southern Nevada passes along that Bryce is the Player of the Week in the NJCAA: Harper had his best weekend of the season to date last week in Price, Utah, going 7-for-14 with seven runs, four homers, eight RBIs and four walks. He hit three of his four home runs on Saturday, including two in the 5th inning of Game 1 -- the first Coyote ever to hit two home runs in the same inning. CSN Coach Tim Chambers told me the Coyotes hit 15 homers all of last season and they...

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What's new at Nats Park?

April 01, 2010, 12:55pm

Nationals

With Opening Day just around the corner, its time to get you ready for your visit to Nationals Park for the first time in 2010. Not only is the team expected to be much improved this season, but the Nationals have made sure the fan experience will be the best in the league. I had a chance to tour Nats Park recently to take in the improvements and changes, not only to the ballpark itself, but also to the food and services provided to the baseball fan. The Nationals highlighted the tour with...

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Will Guzman play shortstop or second base?

March 31, 2010, 1:15pm

With spring training a little over a month away, a lot of offseason talk on the defensive side has centered around the shortstop and second base positions. A lot of rumors had the Nats interested in Orlando Hudson last year and that talk continues now as the team prepares for the 2010 campaign. Shortstop Ian Desmond did a great job on an interim basis and he has told me how he will go all out, leave everything on the table to secure the position this season. So where will Cristian Guzman...

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Next stop HOF for Big Unit

March 31, 2010, 1:13pm

Nationals

Five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson announced his retirement today. The 46-year old pitcher won his 300th game with the Giants last season and finished with 303 for his career. He is second all-time to Nolan Ryan in career strikeouts. Johnson pitched for the Expos, Mariners, Astros, Diamondbacks, Yankees and Giants in 22 seasons. Looking back on his time with the Expos, it was abbreviated compared to the 22 overall seasons, but he went 3-4 in 11 starts with a 4.69 ERA and 51...

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It's official: Let's Go Capps!

March 31, 2010, 1:13pm

Nationals

The Nationals made it official today with the announcement that closer Matt Capps has signed with the team. The 26-year-old brings impressive experience to Nats Park. With the Pirates, Capps had 67 saves, 29 holds, 3.61 ERA and a 19-19 record in five seasons. Pitching Coach Steve McCatty says Capps "wants the ball. He is a tremendous competitor. We all like him. He seems to love to have the opportunity every game." Manager Jim Riggleman told me Capps will be a "huge help for our...

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After illness Marrero feeling confident about 2010

March 31, 2010, 1:12pm

Nationals

After illness Marrero feeling confident about 2010

I had a nice talk with Nationals minor league first baseman Chris Marrero today as he gets ready for this season. Marrero was a busy man this past season with stops in Potomac, Harrisburg and Phoenix, spanning over 150 games. Chris feels better this week after getting over a bout of food poisioning (possibly from some undercooked chicken) that landed him in the hospital for a night. I talked to him about his season with Potomac and Harrisburg and Arizona winter ball: "My number one goal...

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Nats Winter Caravan Schedule breakdown

March 31, 2010, 1:11pm

Nationals

The Nationals announced the winter caravan schedule which comes up this year January 27th through the 31st, 2010. Several big name Nats will make appearances including Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Dunn, Pudge Rodriguez and John Lannan. Several of the events are open to the public in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. including stops at Ben's Chili Bowl, P-Nats complex in Woodbridge, a Capitals hockey game and Hard Times Cafe. There is also the ticketed events with the popular second annual Hot Stove...

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Could Dukes have a breakout season for Nats?

March 31, 2010, 1:10pm

Nationals

Could Dukes have a breakout season for Nats?

Manager Jim Riggleman is excited about the prospects in the Nats outfield this upcoming season, especially the chances of Elijah Dukes having a season to remember. I asked Jim about Dukes recently and he told me, "I think Elijah can have a big year. He did well for himself in right field (last season). He had a lot of assists and is getting to be a finished product at his position." Do you think Elijah can have a big year at the plate? "Offensively, we are just scratching the...

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Clippard has a clear view of success in 2010

March 31, 2010, 1:09pm

Nationals

Clippard has a clear view of success in 2010

I caught up with Nats reliever Tyler Clippard as he continues to work out in Tampa, Florida in preparation for the 2010 spring training. Clippard finished the season strong with a 4-2 record in 60 plus innings and a 2.69 ERA. He had 7 straight appearances to end the season not allowing any earned runs and only once during that stretch did he allow multiple hits in an outing. Clippard told me he was proud of the way he ended the season: "I was. That was a big thing for me to end on...

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Nationals in 2011 and Winter Caravan Update

March 31, 2010, 1:08pm

Nationals

In my mind (that's scary), I sometimes draw parallels between recruiting in college basketball to free agent shopping in Major League baseball. A good example of this is a collegiate team that has a great recruiting class one season of say five outstanding freshmen. The team improves and plays better that season after two miserable seasons. Then in 2011, the team only has a pair of scholarships available. But they go out and get two pieces that are more precise to what they need, and they...