Mark Zuckerman

Wilson Ramos trying to avoid pitfalls of contract year pressure

February 18, 2016, 1:20pm

Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

Wilson Ramos trying to avoid pitfalls of contract year pressure

VIERA, Fla. - Wilson Ramos saw Ian Desmond, Jordan Zimmermann, Denard Span and Doug Fister all struggle at times in 2015, perhaps burdened by the pressure they faced to perform in contract years. Now Ramos finds himself in that exact same situation, hoping he can avoid the subject (and the struggles) while fully aware of what lies ahead. "It's hard to not think about that, but I'm trying not to think," the Nationals catcher said Thursday on the first official day of spring training. "I'm...

Tags:

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

Source: Nats sign reliever Burke Badenhop to minor league deal

February 18, 2016, 12:32pm

Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

Source: Nats sign reliever Burke Badenhop to minor league deal

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have added another veteran to their mix of relievers battling for a spot on the opening day roster, signing right-hander Burke Badenhop to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp this spring, a source familiar with the deal confirmed. Badenhop has been a consistent performer during an eight-year career with five different clubs, posting a 3.74 ERA in 418 appearances with the Marlins, Rays, Brewers, Red Sox and Reds. He has made at least 50...

Tags:

burke badenhop mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

After rough 2015, Tanner Roark expects to return to rotation

February 18, 2016, 9:56am

Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

After rough 2015, Tanner Roark expects to return to rotation

VIERA, Fla. - Tanner Roark, of all people, knows how things can change in the blink of an eye. He learned last year never to assume anything when it comes to baseball. But make no mistake, the Nationals right-hander fully expects his role to be defined this season. And he expects that role to place (and keep) him in the Nats rotation. "I expect to start," Roark said Thursday on the day pitchers and catchers officially reported for spring training. "I'm coming in here to prepare as a...

Tags:

bronson arroyo mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime tanner roark featured_sidebar spring training frontstory_nationals1

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

Live from Viera ... it's reporting day

February 17, 2016, 6:45pm

Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - A very pleasant good morning to you from Florida's Space Coast, where the sun is shining, the temperature will approach 70 degrees this afternoon and the four best words in baseball will at last be uttered after a long winter: Pitchers and catchers report. Yes, it's the first official day of spring training and it all gets underway shortly at Space Coast Stadium. It's at this point when I'm compelled to offer this disclaimer: Reporting date is kind of a misnomer. Pitchers and...

Tags:

dusty baker jonathan papelbon mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime bryce harper featured_sidebar spring training frontstory_nationals1

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

Nats sign veteran reliever Matt Belisle to minor league deal

February 17, 2016, 6:40pm

Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

Nats sign veteran reliever Matt Belisle to minor league deal

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals added another veteran reliever to their spring training mix on the eve of reporting day, signing right-hander Matt Belisle on Wednesday to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp. Belisle, 35, has spent parts of 12 seasons in the majors, going 49-55 with a 4.34 ERA in 558 career appearances, all but 44 of them coming out of the bullpen. A workhorse for the Rockies in recent years, he pitched in 368 games from 2010-14, second only to former...

Tags:

mark zuckerman matt belisle nationals nationals pastime frontstory_nationals1

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

A re-introduction to the Nats ... and me

February 16, 2016, 7:45am

Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

A re-introduction to the Nats ... and me

When last we saw them assembled on a baseball field, the Nationals were managed by Matt Williams. Ian Desmond was their shortstop. Jordan Zimmermann was their most-consistent pitcher over a period of five years. Drew Storen was a key part of their bullpen. When next we see them assembled on a baseball field, none of that will be true. Williams was fired less than 24 hours after the season finale, ultimately replaced by Dusty Baker (after a brief fling with Bud Black went awry). Desmond and...