Mark Zuckerman

MASN announces spring training broadcast schedule

February 10, 2017, 6:40am

If you're not able to make it down to West Palm Beach to see the Nationals in person this spring, rest assured you will have plenty of opportunities to watch them on television. MASN will be televising seven exhibition games this spring, the network announced this morning, including the first Grapefruit League game to be held at the new The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. That game against the Astros, the ballpark's co-tenants, will be televised at 1 p.m. on Feb. 28, with replays later that...

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Baker could need full spring to settle on best batting order

February 09, 2017, 12:17pm

Nationals

Baker could need full spring to settle on best batting order

The final countdown to spring training has arrived, and so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We continue today with Dusty Baker's batting order decisions ... We know which eight players will be in the Nationals' opening day lineup against the Marlins come April 3 (barring injuries or other unexpected developments, of course). We don't, however, know in what order Dusty Baker will bat them. And the manager himself may...

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Nats to host Red Sox in newly created exhibition at Naval Academy

February 09, 2017, 7:33am

Nationals

Nats to host Red Sox in newly created exhibition at Naval Academy

The Nationals' exhibition slate will once again conclude with a game against an American League opponent on South Capitol Street - and then a newly created final game in a unique venue: the United States Naval Academy's field. The club announced today it will host the Red Sox on March 31 at Nationals Park, then face Boston again the next day at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis. It's the first game in a three-year deal the Nationals have struck to play exhibition game at the Naval Academy,...

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How will Turner perform at shortstop?

February 08, 2017, 12:15pm

Nationals

The final countdown to spring training has arrived, and so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We begin today with Trea Turner taking over as the everyday shortstop ... Say what you want about Danny Espinosa's oft-maddening approach at the plate and how you won't miss watching that four times a night. But here's something you most certainly will miss watching: Espinosa in the field. There was a certain comforting feeling...

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Projection models split on Nationals and Mets in NL East

February 07, 2017, 7:25pm

Nationals

As equipment trucks (not to mention a handful of early-arriving players) across America make their way to Arizona and Florida, anticipation for the 2017 baseball season perks up. As do season projections by various stat-based sites. FanGraphs.com and Baseball Prospectus have both published their 2017 projections. They do not, however, agree on the identity of the top dog in the National League East division. FanGraphs likes the Nationals, projecting 90 wins and a plus-86 run differential for...

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Nationals acquire lefty reliever Romero from Rays

February 07, 2017, 1:03pm

Nationals

The Nationals have added another hard-throwing (if erratic) left-hander to their bullpen, acquiring Enny Romero from the Rays in exchange for minor league right-hander Jeffrey Rosa. Romero was on Tampa Bay's 40-man roster and thus immediately joins the competition for a spot in the Nationals' opening day bullpen. The 26-year-old will need to show improved command from last season, though, to head north with his new club. Romero sports one of the game's best fastballs by a left-hander (it...

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Nats outfield has big names, but how much will they produce?

February 06, 2017, 6:47pm

Nationals

Nats outfield has big names, but how much will they produce?

As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series concludes today with the outfield ... There are no questions about the identities of the Nationals' three starting outfielders. Those jobs are locked up, two by longtime club stars and one by a high-profile newcomer. It remains to be seen, however, how those three perform, and whether this defensive alignment proves to be the best one. Everything starts, as...

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Infield includes MVP candidates and a vet trying to bounce back

February 05, 2017, 8:34pm

Nationals

Infield includes MVP candidates and a vet trying to bounce back

As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the infield ... The Nationals' planned 2017 infield includes the league's reigning MVP runner-up, the league's reigning Rookie of the Year runner-up, one of the league's better all-around third basemen and a once-elite player who still hopes he can recapture his previous form and help lead his team deep into October for the first...

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Nationals catchers face tall task in replacing Ramos

February 04, 2017, 7:41pm

Nationals

As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the catching corps ... How do you replace an All-Star catcher who hit .307 with 22 homers, 80 RBIs, an .850 OPS and threw out 37 percent of opposing base stealers? The answer is: You don't. The Nationals will feel the loss of Wilson Ramos this season, and there's not much they can do about that. After five years battling injuries and...

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Bullpen has some holes but plenty of talent

February 03, 2017, 5:46pm

Nationals

Bullpen has some holes but plenty of talent

As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the bullpen ... This may come as a surprise, given how much angst there seems to be over the subject, but the Nationals had one of baseball's best bullpens last season. The unit ranked in the top five in the majors in ERA (3.37), WHIP (1.187), opponents' on-base percentage (.300) and opponents' OPS (.673). So how come there's still so...

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Nationals add veteran Guthrie on minor league deal

February 03, 2017, 12:12pm

Nationals

In need of some experienced rotation depth, the Nationals have signed veteran Jeremy Guthrie to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp this spring. Guthrie hasn't pitched in the majors since 2015 with the Royals, but the Nats are willing to take a low-risk chance on the 37-year-old, a highly popular member of rotations in Baltimore and Kansas City over the last decade. Owner of a 91-108 record and 4.37 ERA in 305 career major league appearances (272 starts), Guthrie...

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Nats rotation is stacked again, but does have question marks

February 02, 2017, 7:47pm

Nationals

Nats rotation is stacked again, but does have question marks

As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series begins today with the starting rotation ... In each of the last five seasons, the Nationals have boasted one of baseball's best rotations. But it's notable that in the three seasons in which that rotation ranked among the top two in the sport, the Nationals proceeded to win a division title. In the two seasons in which the rotation dropped to seventh-best...

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Thursday morning Nats Q&A

February 01, 2017, 6:34pm

Nationals

We are now a mere 12 days away from pitchers and catchers officially reporting to the Nationals' new spring training complex in West Palm Beach, but it's hard to imagine the offseason is nearly over for this team. The Nats haven't made many moves since the end of the National League Division Series on Oct. 13. The only players they've added to their 40-man roster from outside the organization are Adam Eaton, Derek Norris, Austin Adams and Jimmy Cordero. They re-signed free agents Stephen...

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A brief history of the Nats' ever-changing closer identity

January 31, 2017, 8:22pm

Nationals

A brief history of the Nats' ever-changing closer identity

We don't know yet who will serve as the Nationals closer come opening day, but we do know it will be someone new. Mark Melancon is no longer in D.C., having signed a four-year deal with the Giants earlier this winter. Drew Storen also is long gone, having spent 2016 in Toronto and Seattle, and now signed with the Reds for 2017. Jonathan Papelbon? He remains in parts unknown, but we do know he's not in Washington anymore. If you've been following the Nationals closely over the years, though,...

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Nats add veteran relievers Nathan, Albers on minor league deals

January 31, 2017, 10:11am

Nationals

Nats add veteran relievers Nathan, Albers on minor league deals

The Nationals, in their ongoing search for a new closer, have signed the man who ranks eighth all-time with 377 saves. Whether Joe Nathan, at 42, still has enough left in his twice-reconstructed elbow to save another major league game remains to be seen, but the club is willing to take a low-risk chance on him. In signing both Nathan and veteran right-hander Matt Albers to minor league contracts with invitations to big league camp, the Nationals have added a pair of experienced bullpen...

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Closer or not, Nationals do need more bullpen help

January 30, 2017, 6:51pm

Nationals

The Nationals loaded up a semi-truck full of baseball gear Monday morning and sent it down Interstate 95 toward West Palm Beach, where their still-under-construction new spring training complex awaits. It's an annual rite of winter, the so-called "Truck Day" when teams across baseball do likewise and try to stir up warm feelings of pitchers and catchers and palm trees and bunting drills. That truck, however, does not contain everything the Nationals need for spring training. There are some...

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Thoughts on a newsy week for the Nationals

January 29, 2017, 5:46pm

Nationals

After more than six weeks of radio silence out of South Capitol Street, you had to figure the Nationals were due to make some news at long last. Sure enough, it merely required your humble beat writer going on vacation last week for it to happen. You know the facts at this point - thanks to Pete Kerzel and Byron Kerr for covering things in my stead - but I didn't want to return to work and just gloss over the transactions altogether. So here are some thoughts on the three notable news items...

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Could Nats stand pat and field competitive 25-man roster?

January 19, 2017, 7:27pm

Nationals

Could Nats stand pat and field competitive 25-man roster?

It has now been 41 days since the Nationals last added or subtracted a player from their 40-man roster. (It was the Danny Espinosa trade to the Angels, for those wondering.) That's an awfully prolonged period of radio silence for any major league club, but the Nats aren't alone in this regard. It's been an unusually slow-developing offseason across baseball, with a bunch of prominent free agents still unemployed even though we're closing in on three weeks til pitchers and catchers report...

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Thursday morning Nats/Hall of Fame Q&A

January 18, 2017, 7:45pm

Nationals

There's still not a whole lot to discuss about the Nationals, who continue to stay quiet during perhaps the quietest offseason in team history (so far). But there has been plenty to discuss about baseball in the last day, with last night's Hall of Fame election announcement drawing everyone's attention. If you missed it, here's my (admittedly really long) blog post explaining my Hall of Fame ballot decisions. I figure we could use this latest version of the Q&A to tackle any questions...

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Nationals salute Rodriguez, their first Hall of Fame player

January 18, 2017, 3:09pm

Nationals

The first image of Ivan Rodriguez for everyone will not include him wearing a Nationals uniform. Rodriguez will forever be known as a Ranger, and surely his plaque in Cooperstown will feature that logo on his cap. Pudge also will be remembered fondly by many for helping the Marlins win the 2003 World Series and for helping the Tigers reach the 2006 World Series. He wound up getting traded from Detroit to New York in 2008, then signed with Houston in 2009, so that's two more franchises on his...