Dan Kolko

Espinosa happy with his offensive approach

March 08, 2014, 6:08am

VIERA, Fla. - After getting a day off yesterday, Danny Espinosa is back in the Nationals lineup today, playing second base and batting sixth. It'll be his sixth appearance in the Nats' first nine games played this spring. If you look at the stats line to this point, you might assume that Espinosa has gotten off to a slow start offensively. He's gone just 1-for-12 with one RBI and one strikeout and twice has been hit by pitches. Espinosa doesn't feel that he's struggling at the plate,...

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Fister briefly discusses elbow issue, plus split-squad lineups

March 08, 2014, 4:34am

Nationals

Fister briefly discusses elbow issue, plus split-squad lineups

VIERA, Fla. - Doug Fister didn't want to discuss his elbow issue in much detail this morning, but the Nationals right-hander did briefly answer a couple of questions about his health a day after he was scratched from his scheduled start against the Astros due to inflammation in his right elbow. According to manager Matt Williams, Fister felt discomfort in his elbow after his first spring training start, which came last Sunday against the Marlins. Williams said that an MRI showed inflammation...

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Harper feels improved health will lead to improved numbers against lefties

March 07, 2014, 2:06pm

Nationals

Harper feels improved health will lead to improved numbers against lefties

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals' first split-squad games of spring are today, meaning they'll send a couple buses of players to Jupiter to face the Cardinals and leave most of their regulars back home to take on the Braves at Space Coast Stadium. Anthony Rendon is the only 2013 regular making the trip to Jupiter, along with Nate McLouth, Scott Hairston, Tyler Moore and Jamey Carroll. Bench coach Randy Knorr will manage the Nats in Jupiter, in a game started by Chris Young. As I mentioned...

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Williams meets the media after 8-5 win over Astros

March 07, 2014, 12:41pm

Nationals

Williams meets the media after 8-5 win over Astros

VIERA, Fla. - Matt Williams met with reporters following today's 8-5 win over Houston and addressed a smattering of topics. I'm here to provide you with those responses. Williams said that he plans to make his first round of roster cuts on Sunday morning, following tomorrow's split-squad games, assuming there are no issues that cause the Nationals to adjust that schedule. If a few guys end up coming down with some kind of ailment tomorrow, limiting the number of healthy bodies in camp, the...

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Ramos on his long homer, Roark and Soriano on their outings

March 07, 2014, 11:51am

Nationals

Ramos on his long homer, Roark and Soriano on their outings

VIERA, Fla. - Wilson Ramos' first home run of spring was absolutely crushed. And I'm not exaggerating when I say that it might have rolled onto Stadium Parkway, which is well beyond the left field fence here at Space Coast Stadium. The Nationals beat the Astros 8-5 this afternoon, and Ramos' homer - which traveled over the left field wall, over the World of Beer deck and over the hill just in front of a row of trees - was the talk of the team during and after the game. "I couldn't even...

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Harper, Ramos crush their first homers of spring (Nats win 8-5)

March 07, 2014, 8:41am

Nationals

Harper, Ramos crush their first homers of spring (Nats win 8-5)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 8, Astros 5 Recap: The Nats put up a six-spot in the first inning thanks mostly to a two-run shot by Bryce Harper and a three-run bomb off the bat of Wilson Ramos that launched into orbit. Zach Walters' two-run single added some cushion in the late innings after Houston had trimmed the Nats' lead to one. Need to know: Tanner Roark looked solid in 2 2/3 innings, Rafael Soriano allowed two runs in his spring debut and Jerry Blevins kept a spotless...

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Williams wants to get a closer look at Jordan (plus lineups and other notes)

March 07, 2014, 7:44am

Nationals

Williams wants to get a closer look at Jordan (plus lineups and other notes)

VIERA, Fla. - Former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie is here at Space Coast Stadium today, wearing a personalized No. 22 Nationals jersey. Flutie, who went to Boston College, also has shorts with a Red Sox logo on them, repping two organizations at once. I guess we can let that slide. Flutie took batting practice in the Nats' third hitting group today and spent some time talking to players and team staffers. The former Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Bowler actually has a pretty good swing and...

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Michael Gonzalez: "I want a ring, and I feel this is the best opportunity to get it"

March 07, 2014, 5:51am

Nationals

Michael Gonzalez: "I want a ring, and I feel this is the best opportunity to get it"

VIERA, Fla. - Michael Gonzalez was one of the most popular players on the Nationals roster during his four months with the team in 2012. A gregarious presence and a veteran who is happy to show younger players the ropes, Gonzalez immediately meshed with his Nats teammates and had success in Washington, posting a 3.03 ERA in 47 games and serving as a key left-hander in the Nats bullpen. Now Gonzalez is back with the Nats after signing a minor league deal on Tuesday. He arrived in the...

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Fister scratched with right elbow inflammation (with Ohlendorf update)

March 07, 2014, 5:24am

Nationals

Fister scratched with right elbow inflammation (with Ohlendorf update)

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals right-hander Doug Fister, who was scheduled to start today's game against the Astros, has been scratched due to right elbow inflammation. Manager Matt Williams said that Fister will be evaluated in the coming days and have his throwing schedule pushed back, but that the team doesn't believe the injury is anything serious. With Fister sidelined, right-hander Tanner Roark will make today's start for the Nationals. "We had an MRI taken yesterday and it shows a...

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Nate McLouth: Internet television star

March 07, 2014, 2:30am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - OK, so "star" might be overstating it a bit. But there probably aren't many current major league ballplayers who have appeared in a major television series. Nate McLouth has. It all came together last July, when McLouth was offered a chance to appear in "House of Cards," a popular show starring Kevin Spacey that airs on Netflix. An episode of the show was going to be shot at Camden Yards, and McLouth, a big fan of the show and a member of the Orioles at the time, jumped at...

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Ohlendorf dealing with back spasms, plus more after Nats' 3-2 loss

March 06, 2014, 4:56pm

Nationals

Ohlendorf dealing with back spasms, plus more after Nats' 3-2 loss

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Manager Matt Williams said after tonight's 3-2 Nationals loss that right-hander Ross Ohlendorf left the game with lower back spasms, which cropped up during the right-hander's first batter faced this spring. Making his Grapefruit League debut, Ohlendorf faced just four hitters and didn't retire any of them before being pulled from the game. He walked off with trainer Lee Kuntz, and after being examined, it was determined that back spasms were the cause of...

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Ohlendorf leaves game with trainer (Braves win 3-2)

March 06, 2014, 3:25pm

Nationals

Ohlendorf leaves game with trainer (Braves win 3-2)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Braves 3, Nationals 2 Recap: Jordan Zimmermann was sharp in his second start of spring, throwing three scoreless innings, striking out four. The Nats rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth on Michael A. Taylor's two-out, two-strike RBI single, but Braeden Schlehuber dropped in an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to give the Braves a 3-2 win. Need to know: Ross Ohlendorf left the game after facing just four batters in the sixth (none of whom he...

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Three scoreless turned in by Zimmermann in his second spring outing (updated)

March 06, 2014, 2:21pm

Nationals

Three scoreless turned in by Zimmermann in his second spring outing (updated)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Jordan Zimmermann's first start this spring came against the Braves. He worked two quick, scoreless innings. Zimmermann's second start this spring also comes against Atlanta. He had to work a bit harder to get through this outing, but he delivered three scoreless frames this time, striking out four. After two pretty smooth innings to start his outing, featuring only one Atlanta baserunner, Zimmermann had to work out of a jam in the third. Braves center fielder Matt...

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A host of pregame notes from Champion Stadium

March 06, 2014, 12:23pm

Nationals

A host of pregame notes from Champion Stadium

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The tarp has been pulled off the field here at Champion Stadium and it looks like there will be baseball played tonight between the Nationals and Braves. It's incredibly overcast and gloomy-looking here, and based on the radar that I just looked at, there's a chance we get a little more rain before first pitch. But Jordan Zimmermann should be good to make his second start of spring, both of which will be against Atlanta. Manager Matt Williams said that he's looking...

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Pitching order set through Saturday (with tonight's lineup, weather update)

March 06, 2014, 7:24am

Nationals

Pitching order set through Saturday (with tonight's lineup, weather update)

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals will have their first split-squad games of spring Saturday, and they've posted their pitching order through those games. Doug Fister will start tomorrow at home against the Astros, with Tanner Roark piggybacking him. (For those unaware, that's the term used when another starter immediately follows the pitcher who began the spring game. I don't expect Roark to actually get a piggyback ride from Fister.) Rafael Soriano is also scheduled to pitch tomorrow, which...

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Given Clippard's workload, how long can he keep it going?

March 06, 2014, 3:22am

Nationals

Given Clippard's workload, how long can he keep it going?

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals head back to the Orlando area today to face the Braves for the second time in three days. Only this time, they do so at night. The two National League East rivals are scheduled to square off at 6:05 p.m. tonight, although heavy rain is in the forecast for today. We'll have to see whether that affects Jordan Zimmermann's second scheduled start of spring. Ross Ohlendorf is set to follow Zimmermann to the mound and make his first spring training appearance today...

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Williams discusses Nats' 11-5 win over Mets (with Walters update)

March 05, 2014, 12:03pm

Nationals

Williams discusses Nats' 11-5 win over Mets (with Walters update)

VIERA, Fla. - The guys at the back end of the Nationals' spring training roster were the ones doing the heavy hitting today, as the Nats put up nine total runs in their final two turns to the plate en route to an 11-5 win over the Mets. Ian Desmond homered early on for the Nats, but they got the bulk of their offense from minor leaguers and non-roster invitees, as Brian Goodwin, Sandy Leon and Matt Skole all homered in the seventh or eighth innings and the Nationals pulled away late. "The...

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Gio Gonzalez and Tyler Clippard speak after their spring debuts (Nats win 11-5)

March 05, 2014, 10:41am

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez and Tyler Clippard speak after their spring debuts (Nats win 11-5)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 11, Mets 5 Recap: Four Nationals smacked home runs - Ian Desmond, Brian Goodwin, Sandy Leon and Matt Skole - and the Nats scored nine unanswered runs in the late innings to come back from a 4-2 deficit. Need to know: Gio Gonzalez was solid in his spring debut, throwing two scoreless innings. Tyler Clippard worked a scoreless fifth. Jerry Blevins was sharp in a scoreless seventh. On deck: Thursday, at Braves in Lake Buena Vista, 6:05 p.m. VIERA, Fla....

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G. Gonzalez works two scoreless, plus updates on the rotation and more (updated)

March 05, 2014, 8:49am

Nationals

G. Gonzalez works two scoreless, plus updates on the rotation and more (updated)

VIERA, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez has completed two scoreless innings of work against a Mets split squad in his spring debut, allowing one hit and striking out one. It was an easy two frames for Gonzalez, who surrendered a Kirk Nieuwenhuis single through the hole on the left side with one out in the first, only to then get Andrew Brown to tap out to catcher Jhonatan Solano and Brandon Allen to fly out to center. In the second, Gonzalez got Wilmer Flores to fly out to right, then struck out Eric...

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Williams on Espinosa's start, Walters at second, thoughts on Carroll (update)

March 05, 2014, 7:46am

Nationals

Williams on Espinosa's start, Walters at second, thoughts on Carroll (update)

VIERA, Fla. - I've got all kinds of notes for you this morning on the Nationals' middle infield options. Prepare yourselves accordingly. Danny Espinosa has started spring by going 0-for-10 with an RBI and a hit by pitch, numbers which don't exactly demonstrate that the middle infielder is clicking offensively. It's important to note that this is still a very small sample size, however, and that spring training statistics can be misleading for any number of reasons. The way Matt...