Dan Kolko

Wrapping up a busy day in Viera

March 21, 2012, 3:01pm

VIERA, Fla. - So far today, we've had news that Stephen Strasburg will be the Nationals' opening day starter, Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche possibly not being ready for the start of the season, Steve Lombardozzi making his first career appearance in the outfield and word that Chien-Ming Wang will likely start the regular season on the DL. Just another quiet afternoon at Space Coast Stadium. The Nationals needed one more strike to close this day out with a win over the Braves, but Ryan...

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Johnson says Chien-Ming Wang could miss a month

March 21, 2012, 1:44pm

Nationals

Johnson says Chien-Ming Wang could miss a month

VIERA, Fla. - Chien-Ming Wang has been making improvements since suffering a left hamstring strain last Thursday, but his manager doesn't think the veteran right-handed pitcher will be able to return to the mound for about a month. Davey Johnson said today that while optimistic reports have Wang able to return in two weeks, he feels that the 31-year-old hurler will need more time than that, increasing his chances of opening the regular season on the DL. "They're being optimistic - two...

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Lannan feels himself trending upward

March 21, 2012, 1:10pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Normally in spring training, John Lannan comes out of the gates hot, then goes through a bit of a downturn before trying to get back on track for the start of the regular season. This year's been the opposite. The Nationals lefty started out slow, but feels that with each start, he's getting closer to being in prime condition for the beginning of April. "I'm progressing in a manner where I start off pretty slow and now I'm getting to a point where before opening day...

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Lannan's day is done, Lombardozzi in left (Nats lose 3-2)

March 21, 2012, 10:44am

Nationals

Lannan's day is done, Lombardozzi in left (Nats lose 3-2)

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth, with Jason Michaels' RBI groundout bringing in Ryan Zimmerman for the only run of the game. Ian Desmond has a walk today (his second in as many days) and an error (marking his fourth defensive miscue of the spring). John Lannan's day is done after four innings of work. The lefty didn't allow a run, largely thanks to a stiff wind blowing in, and gave up three hits and a walk. He struck out three and threw 79 pitches, 50...

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Nats won't rush Morse, LaRoche back for opening day

March 21, 2012, 9:31am

Nationals

Nats won't rush Morse, LaRoche back for opening day

VIERA, Fla. - We're under way here at Space Coast Stadium, as John Lannan takes the mound to face the Braves. If you've got TV access at the office or happen to be hanging at home, you can catch today's game live on MASN. Lannan is now through two innings, having allowed two hits but no runs. We're scoreless entering the bottom of the second. Despite recent injuries to both left fielder Michael Morse and first baseman Adam LaRoche, the Nationals have said all along that they're not...

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Strasburg on opening day assignment: "It's awesome, it's a great feeling"

March 21, 2012, 8:35am

Nationals

Strasburg on opening day assignment: "It's awesome, it's a great feeling"

VIERA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg has never been to Wrigley Field. Heck, he's never been to Chicago. But the 23-year-old hurler learned this morning that he'll be standing on the mound at Wrigley on April 5, serving as the Nats' opening day starter when the Nationals take on the Cubs. "It's a tremendous honor," Strasburg said in the Nats' dugout a few minutes ago. "But there's still a lot of work to be done, and it's just one game. Hopefully the games will be mattering a lot more at...

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Stephen Strasburg will be the Nats' opening day starter

March 21, 2012, 6:33am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg will be the Nats' opening day starter

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals' rotation is loaded with talent, but in manager Davey Johnson's mind, there was only one real choice to start opening day. That guy is Stephen Strasburg. Johnson announced Strasburg as his April 5 opening day starter in Chicago this morning, less than 12 hours after Strasburg delivered his finest outing of spring, throwing five one-run innings and striking out three. "It was easy. Very easy," Johnson said. "It has nothing to do with favoritism. He's my...

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Learning lots about Lombardozzi

March 21, 2012, 4:10am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Prior to the start of spring training, if I had told you that Craig Stammen would be leading the Nationals in strikeouts nearly three weeks into the Grapefruit League season, would you have believed me? If I had told you that Stephen Strasburg would have only one fewer hit than both Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche with 17 spring games in the books, would you have thought I was insane? In this game, you just never know what will happen on any given day. Another thing you never...

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For Strasburg, a major step in the right direction

March 20, 2012, 6:12pm

Nationals

For Strasburg, a major step in the right direction

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Nationals were shut out and only registered five hits in tonight's 2-0 loss to the Mets, but that means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Much more important was the strong outing turned in by Stephen Strasburg, who took a major step forward in his spring development tonight, throwing five innings, allowing just one run on two hits, striking out three and working his pitch count up to 85. It was by far the best start of Strasburg's spring. After allowing...

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Strasburg finds a groove in fourth spring start (Nats fall to Mets 2-0)

March 20, 2012, 4:14pm

Nationals

Strasburg finds a groove in fourth spring start (Nats fall to Mets 2-0)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg had an eventful first few innings here at Digital Domain Park, dodging the shard of a broken bat, smoking a line drive to the opposite field and beating out an infield single. He does it all, folks. On the mound, Strasburg completed five innings tonight, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out three in his finest outing of spring. He threw 85 pitches, 53 for strikes. Unlike in his past starts, where he came out overthrowing, Strasburg...

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Nats expect Storen back soon

March 20, 2012, 3:40pm

Nationals

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - It's been nearly two weeks since Drew Storen last threw in a Grapefruit League game, but the Nationals say their closer is fine. He's just battling a case of strep throat and some soreness which the Nats say is normal. Storen has thrown just two innings this spring, his last coming March 7. "Other than the usual pitching soreness that you have during spring training, he's fine," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "He's a little under the weather the last four or...

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Rizzo: Harper could be Nats' long-term answer in center field

March 20, 2012, 2:53pm

Nationals

Rizzo: Harper could be Nats' long-term answer in center field

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Just prior to first pitch here tonight, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo met with reporters to discuss the decision to option outfielder Bryce Harper to Triple-A Syracuse. Rizzo said that he and the rest of the Nationals brass were impressed with what they saw from Harper in spring, but wanted to give him a chance to refine his skills in the minors before getting a chance to play every day in the bigs. "We felt that he could use the at-bats down at Triple-A,"...

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Lombardozzi to lead off tonight, plus a Morse update

March 20, 2012, 7:26am

Nationals

Lombardozzi to lead off tonight, plus a Morse update

VIERA, Fla. - Remember about three hours ago, when I wrote that Davey Johnson was committed to hitting Ian Desmond leadoff and Danny Espinosa in the two-hole? Yeah, toss all that stuff out the window, at least for today. Johnson's lineup for tonight's game against the Mets has an interesting twist, with Steve Lombardozzi playing third base and leading off, followed in the order by Desmond and Espinosa. This particular configuration makes sense, given Lombardozzi's .369 career on-base...

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Johnson committed to Desmond, Espinosa atop lineup

March 20, 2012, 4:56am

Nationals

Johnson committed to Desmond, Espinosa atop lineup

VIERA, Fla. - If you've seen the lineups Davey Johnson has been writing up this spring, you've probably noticed that the Nationals manager has been experimenting with shortstop Ian Desmond as his leadoff hitter and second baseman Danny Espinosa in the two-hole. Three weeks into Grapefruit League games, it's no longer an experiment. It's officially how the top of the lineup will be constructed come opening day. "I'm not auditioning," Johnson said. "I told them the other day, 'You guys...

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Notes on the rest of the cuts

March 19, 2012, 12:13pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Oh yeah, Bryce Harper wasn't the only guy cut from the Nationals' big league roster yesterday. The other three haven't gotten quite as much attention, for whatever reason. Not exactly sure why. In addition to Harper, the Nationals also optioned first baseman Tyler Moore and catcher Jhonatan Solano to Triple-A Syracuse yesterday, and reassigned infielder Mark Teahen to minor league camp. It's important to note that just because a player has been optioned to a certain...

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Like it or not, Nats handling Harper the right way

March 19, 2012, 5:23am

Nationals

Like it or not, Nats handling Harper the right way

VIERA, Fla. - Today marks the Nationals' only off-day of the Grapefruit League season. Players will get a chance to rest up or hit the beach, manager Davey Johnson will go home and see his wife ... and I'll continue to write about the Nats. Am I a saint for writing even on the off day? No. Well, maybe. But hey, there's a lot to discuss, especially after yesterday's announcement that the Nats optioned outfielder Bryce Harper to Triple-A Syracuse. There will certainly be some who are upset...

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Harper sliding over to center field at Triple-A

March 18, 2012, 4:16pm

Nationals

Harper sliding over to center field at Triple-A

VIERA, Fla. - In Bryce Harper's mind, there was one upside to finding out late this afternoon that he was being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse: He also learned he'd be playing center field in the minors. "I love it," Harper said, a smile creeping across his face. "After (manager Davey Johnson) said that to me, I was excited to get down there and work on my center field." The Nationals have decided to play Harper "predominantly" in center at Triple-A, according to Johnson, which is an...

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Harper on his demotion: "I wasn't expecting it, but it's OK"

March 18, 2012, 2:54pm

Nationals

Harper on his demotion: "I wasn't expecting it, but it's OK"

VIERA, Fla. - For a 19-year-old who at times has battled maturity issues - who among us didn't in our teens? - and had legitimate intentions of winning a spot on the Nationals' opening day roster, Bryce Harper appeared to handle his demotion to Triple-A Syracuse pretty darned well. Talking with reporters shortly after being informed that he was being sent over to minor league camp, Harper was clearly disappointed with the news, but seemed determined to grow in his upcoming time at the minor...

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Bryce Harper optioned to Triple-A Syracuse (updated)

March 18, 2012, 1:09pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper optioned to Triple-A Syracuse (updated)

VIERA, Fla. - Bryce Harper might very well play in the big leagues this season. He just won't do so opening day. The Nationals optioned Harper, their top prospect, to Triple-A Syracuse following today's 11-7 loss to the Tigers, ending Harper's pursuit of a spot on the Nats' 25-man roster for now. Manager Davey Johnson broke the news to Harper following his 1-for-5 performance today. Harper struck out in his first four at-bats, then doubled to center. "He knows how much I love his...

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Jackson, Detwiler talk about their outings (Nats lose 11-7)

March 18, 2012, 12:19pm

Nationals

Jackson, Detwiler talk about their outings (Nats lose 11-7)

VIERA, Fla. - Right-hander Edwin Jackson obviously wasn't thrilled with his four-inning, four-run, seven-hit, three-walk outing today, but he's not going to get too hung up on the numbers. "Results weren't really the greatest, but I felt pretty good," Jackson said in the Nats' clubhouse a bit ago. "The only thing I come away from (this) working on is just the walks. Everything else I can accept. They had hits, a lot of them on the ground. They had a few hits in the air, but I'll take...