Mark Zuckerman

Martinez wants Turner to keep running, even in front of Harper

February 25, 2018, 6:50am

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Given his association with analytics, it's easy to assume Davey Martinez isn't a big proponent of the stolen base. The Cubs stole only 62 bases last season, fourth-fewest in the National League. Then again, the Cubs didn't have Trea Turner. Which changes the whole ballgame. Over his last 162 big league games, Turner has swiped 76 bases. Martinez isn't about to tell one of the fastest players in the sport to ease off the gas pedal. Even if he doesn't regularly hit...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Braves in West Palm Beach

February 25, 2018, 4:39am

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Braves in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The sun is shining, Max Scherzer is on the mound for the Nationals, most of the regulars are in the lineup, and MASN's Bob Carpenter, F.P. Santangelo and Dan Kolko are in the house. What more could you ask for? Well, there's one more thing you thought you were getting today but actually aren't. Ryan Zimmerman was initially listed as the leadoff hitter for today's game against the Braves, but when the lineup was posted this morning in the clubhouse he wasn't in there...

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No lineup hints from Martinez just yet

February 24, 2018, 4:48pm

Nationals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It was among the most heavily debated subjects of the 2017 season in Washington: Where should Anthony Rendon bat in the Nationals lineup? And it drew a rise out of everyone who had an opinion, from those who agreed with Dusty Baker's tendency to bat Rendon sixth to those who insisted the multi-talented third baseman should bat second. So you won't be surprised to learn that when asked Saturday to share his thoughts on Rendon's place in his lineup, new manager Davey...

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Simplifying windup and timing, Roark hopes for better results

February 24, 2018, 11:36am

Nationals

Simplifying windup and timing, Roark hopes for better results

JUPITER, Fla. - In his quest to correct what ailed him in 2017 and recapture the form that made him one of baseball's most effective starters prior to that, Tanner Roark has a simple plan: Simplify. Simplify his mechanics. Simplify his timing. Simplify his windup. And simplify his thought process when he's on the mound. "I was just in my head, just thinking too much," Roark said in explaining his struggles last season. "And when you think, you suck." While a line like that might be worthy...

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Workmanlike start from Roark in spring debut (Nats lose 3-2)

February 24, 2018, 9:30am

Nationals

Workmanlike start from Roark in spring debut (Nats lose 3-2)

JUPITER, Fla. - In his spring debut for 2018, Tanner Roark flashed some of what made him one of the majors' most effective starters in 2014 and 2016 but left him a frustrated pitcher in 2017: Well-located two-seam fastballs. Roark used that bread-and-butter pitch this afternoon to strike out the side in the bottom of the second against the Marlins, capping an efficient performance in his first outing of the spring. Roark needed an inning to get his feet wet, allowing a single to J.T. Realmuto...

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Nats take BP at home before road game, Raburn out again

February 24, 2018, 6:50am

Nationals

Nats take BP at home before road game, Raburn out again

JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals had plenty of reasons to want to relocate their spring training headquarters from remote Viera to the more centrally located West Palm Beach, but here's another one: the chance to take batting practice at home before a road game in Jupiter. That's what the Nats did today, keeping everyone back at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for a full morning workout and BP session before the travel squad and coaching staff boarded buses at 11:45 a.m. and make the quick...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter

February 24, 2018, 4:23am

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter

JUPITER, Fla. - A very pleasant good morning to you from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, spring home of the Marlins and Cardinals and playing host today to the Nationals for the first of seven road games this spring. It's only a 15-minute drive from West Palm Beach, and because of that the Nats are trying something new this year: They're staying back to take batting practice and fielding drills at home, then boarding the bus at 11:45 a.m. and heading straight to Jupiter for the game. A lot of...

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For Kendrick, decision to return to D.C. was "easy"

February 23, 2018, 2:05pm

Nationals

For Kendrick, decision to return to D.C. was "easy"

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - There are certain points in a ballplayer's career when priorities change. Early on, he simply wants to establish himself as big league regular. Then it's about cashing in and setting himself and his family up financially for life. And then, once all the rest has been accomplished, comes the final priority for a veteran who has enjoyed personal success but perhaps is lacking one major accomplishment on his resume: A shot at a ring. Howie Kendrick has had a fine career...

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Martinez's dugout debut "just another spring training game"

February 23, 2018, 11:32am

Nationals

Martinez's dugout debut "just another spring training game"

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - His position along the first base line, with 70-some others in Nationals uniforms standing to his right and only home plate to his left, was unfamiliar. Davey Martinez had never stood at the head of the line for a national anthem before, and this was a particularly poignant anthem, with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior Angelique Meneses singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" one week after 17 people were killed at her high school in nearby...

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Milone sets tone with solid spring debut (Nats lose 3-2)

February 23, 2018, 9:33am

Nationals

Milone sets tone with solid spring debut (Nats lose 3-2)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Tommy Milone would need a lot of things - bad things, from the Nationals' perspective - to happen to find his way into the opening day rotation. But a few more outings like he offered up today and the journeyman left-hander, if nothing else, will have made a strong impression on the club's decision-makers, which could pay off down the road. Handed the ball to start today's Grapefruit League opener, Milone set the tone with a solid two-inning performance that was as...

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Eaton not playing yet, Rizzo not looking for starter

February 23, 2018, 8:12am

Nationals

Eaton not playing yet, Rizzo not looking for starter

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If he had his way, Adam Eaton would have been playing in games weeks ago. There weren't any games to play weeks ago, of course, so today's Grapefruit League opener was the first opportunity for the Nationals left fielder to make his return from a torn ACL. That return isn't happening quite yet, though. Eaton (like all of his lineup regulars) is not playing this afternoon against the Astros. Manager Davey Martinez didn't offer any specifics about the plan to work...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach (updated)

February 22, 2018, 3:34pm

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach (updated)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - No, it doesn't count. No, it won't feature many recognizable names. But you know what? It's still a baseball game and it's going to be played today. Yes, the Grapefruit League has arrived, and not a moment too soon for fans who have patiently waited since October for the Nationals to take the field once again. Today's exhibition opener will be played in the Nats' home ballpark but it won't be a Nats home game. The World Series champion Astros get to play host for...

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Final workout features sliding, roof shots and old-school hip-hop

February 22, 2018, 9:59am

Nationals

Final workout features sliding, roof shots and old-school hip-hop

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The final day of workouts of spring training featured the familiar (music on the field, pitchers throwing in the bullpen, hitters taking batting practice) and the unfamiliar (sliding practice, Bob Henley showing off his knowledge of old-school hip-hop). We'll get to that last eye-opener in a moment. With teams dealing with a compressed window for getting all workouts in before Friday's Grapefruit League opener against the Astros - the Nationals had only three...

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Don't expect to see regulars in early spring games (updated)

February 22, 2018, 8:40am

Nationals

Don't expect to see regulars in early spring games (updated)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Though the exhibition season is about to get underway, there are still five weeks to go until opening day. So don't be surprised when you see the Nationals lineup for Friday's Grapefruit League opener against the Astros and don't find many prominent names. "We're trying to see all our young guys early," manager Davey Martinez said. "I wouldn't read into that stuff early. We want to give our guys a chance to see everybody, because there's so many young guys. ......

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Rendon keeps it simple and keeps producing for Nats

February 21, 2018, 5:23pm

Nationals

Rendon keeps it simple and keeps producing for Nats

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Anthony Rendon isn't one to analyze ... well, much of anything. Maybe he'll break down his beloved Houston Rockets' chances of unseating the Golden State Warriors in the NBA's Western Conference, or offer a slight glimpse into his rationale for cutting his once-flowing locks of hair. But he's not about to get into a deep conversation about the state of his swing, his defense at third base or really anything having to do with baseball. "Keep it simple," is...

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Scherzer uses live BP session vs. Harper for instant feedback

February 21, 2018, 10:57am

Nationals

Scherzer uses live BP session vs. Harper for instant feedback

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - With such a short timeframe between reporting day and the open of Grapefruit League play, the Nationals are trying to squeeze a lot into only a few full-squad workouts. Position players have only officially been in camp for two days but already they've done the kind of baserunning drills typically reserved for later in spring and held two days' worth of live batting practice sessions. Whether these guys will be ready for real game action in less than 48 hours - they...

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Contract official, Benoit tries to fit right in with Nats bullpen

February 21, 2018, 9:55am

Nationals

Contract official, Benoit tries to fit right in with Nats bullpen

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - JoaquÃn Benoit has played for good teams and bad teams. He has appeared in 20 postseason games (three of those in the World Series) and he's played out the string in September for clubs that were going nowhere. Now 40, with far fewer days ahead of him than behind him, Benoit's priorities have changed. When looking for a job this winter and spring, he sought only two things: a major league contract and a chance to win. That made the Nationals, who officially...

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Nats hitters excited to jump aboard Long's launch angle train

February 20, 2018, 5:27pm

Nationals

Nats hitters excited to jump aboard Long's launch angle train

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It takes less than three minutes listening to Kevin Long talk about hitting to fully understand this guy is operating on a different level from mere mortals. Want to know what the batting average on all ground balls put into play is? Long knows (.220). Want to know the average distance from the side of the rubber that a right-hander releases his pitch versus the average distance for a lefty? Long knows (2 feet vs. 2 1/2 feet.) Want to know about launch angles and hitting...

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Observations from Tuesday's full-squad workout

February 20, 2018, 12:30pm

Nationals

Observations from Tuesday's full-squad workout

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - So much for those quick, streamlined pitchers and catchers workouts. With position players joining them on the fields today, the Nationals experienced their longest session of the spring, by far. Though technically a voluntary workout - the first official full-squad day is Wednesday - every healthy member of the roster participated this morning (and afternoon). Everyone gathered on the agility field for the daily "Circle of Trust" meeting at 10:45 a.m. Position players...

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Murphy's rehab from knee surgery slow but steady

February 20, 2018, 11:55am

Nationals

Murphy's rehab from knee surgery slow but steady

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - As every other position player on the Nationals roster took the field for the first time as a team this morning, Daniel Murphy could only watch. Though the veteran second baseman, still rehabbing from late-October knee surgery, has begun some baseball activities, they are admittedly limited. "I started doing some knee drills," Murphy said. "Played a little bit of catch. And that would be the extent of it right now. So ground balls on my knees and then play a little...