nationals

Namath visits Nats, plus Baker on Treinen, Ramos, Papelbon, Zimmerman

March 06, 2016, 7:05am

JUPITER, Fla. - Dusty Baker was running late for his pregame meeting with the media, though the reason became readily apparent when he ambled down the left field line at Roger Dean Stadium alongside NFL Hall of Famer Joe Namath, another in the seemingly endless string of celebrities the new Nationals manager considers a friend. "I used to go hang in his places in Fort Lauderdale back in the day when I was 19, 20 years old. ... And then him and Dick Allen were from the same area, so they grew...

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Sammy Solis' escape act earns praise from Dusty Baker

March 05, 2016, 12:05pm

Nationals

Sammy Solis' escape act earns praise from Dusty Baker

VIERA, Fla. - Sammy Solis couldn't get his fastball down, and in the blink of an eye, he'd loaded the bases. A 6-4 eighth-inning Nationals lead looked precarious, but you'd never know it by what happened next on Saturday afternoon at Space Coast Stadium. The late innings of Grapefruit League games are renowned for strange occurrences. Big leads disappear quicker than pizza at a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party. Veteran pitchers are treated rudely by hitters with dubious pedigrees. Games that...

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It's Treinen's turn to make an impression (with lineups)

March 05, 2016, 12:39pm

Nationals

It's Treinen's turn to make an impression (with lineups)

VIERA, Fla. - The bus is about ready to pull away from Space Coast Stadium, bound for Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter and today's spring training game against the Cardinals. It's the second time this week the Nationals have journeyed south to Palm Beach County, which will be their home next spring if there are no delays in construction at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, but their first game against St. Louis. Don't get too married to that name. Hearing there are naming rights in play here,...

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Zimmermann all business in first start against his former team

March 05, 2016, 10:01am

Nationals

Zimmermann all business in first start against his former team

VIERA, Fla. - It was strictly by the luck of the draw that ex-Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann's first start of the Grapefruit League campaign with his new squad came against his former team in the familiar surroundings of Space Coast Stadium. Zimmerman's outing included both the kind of pitch efficiency familiar to Nats fans - he needed only 26 pitches to maneuver through two innings and came out for the third, something unusual in spring training debuts - and an opportunity for the...

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Strasburg strikes out five in two-inning spring debut (Nats win 8-4)

March 05, 2016, 10:01am

Nationals

Strasburg strikes out five in two-inning spring debut (Nats win 8-4)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 8, Tigers 4 Recap: Stephen Strasburg struck out five over two innings in his first spring training start, but did give up a two-run homer to Bryan Holaday. Reliever A.J. Cole also was victimized by a blast from Holaday, who is making a bid for early Grapefruit League MVP honors (he's hitting .750 with three homers and eight RBIs so far). Ben Revere hit a two-run homer to right field for the Nationals, showing that he can occasionally flash some pop to go...

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Union chief Clark offers support for Desmond, Zimmerman

March 05, 2016, 8:24am

Nationals

Union chief Clark offers support for Desmond, Zimmerman

VIERA, Fla. - Major League Baseball Players Association chief Tony Clark said it was "disheartening" to watch Ian Desmond's unemployment saga play out this winter and into the start of spring training and suggested the sport's qualifying offer system that contributed to it would be a point of emphasis during his coming bargaining negotiations with the league. In town this morning for the union's annual spring meeting with Nationals players, Clark spoke glowingly about Desmond and was...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Tigers in Viera

March 05, 2016, 5:22am

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Tigers in Viera

VIERA, Fla. - The sight of Jordan Zimmermann taking the mound at Space Coast Stadium isn't particularly jarring. The sight of Jordan Zimmermann taking the mound at Space Coast Stadium wearing an old English D on his cap, however, is going to be quite jarring. In a surprising twist of fate, Zimmermann will be making his Tigers debut this afternoon against the organization he departed after nine seasons (the last six in the major leagues). Former Nationals teammates say they'll be happy to see...

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Saturday morning Q&A from Viera

March 04, 2016, 6:10pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Last week's Saturday Q&A was such a hit, it seems like this might just have to turn into a recurring thing around here. Not sure I can promise this will happen every single Saturday all season long, but let's definitely go for Round 2 this morning. It's been quite an interesting spring so far here in Viera. Dusty Baker is making his imprint on the Nationals. Several young players are making early statements about their value to the franchise, not only in the long-term but...

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Giolito cool as always in first Grapefruit League appearance

March 04, 2016, 12:10pm

Nationals

Giolito cool as always in first Grapefruit League appearance

JUPITER, Fla. - Lucas Giolito had plenty of time to think about this, his first appearance against a major league club in a spring training game. Way more time than usual. A starter throughout his amateur and now brief professional career, the 21-year-old found himself sitting nervously in the right field bullpen at Roger Dean Stadium this afternoon for 4 1/2 long innings before it was his turn to take the mound. Such is life for a young prospect in his first big league camp, with veterans Gio...

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Gonzalez sharp, Arroyo labors in spring debuts (Marlins walk off Nats)

March 04, 2016, 10:37am

Nationals

Gonzalez sharp, Arroyo labors in spring debuts (Marlins walk off Nats)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Marlins 5, Nationals 4 Recap: Gio Gonzalez was effective in his spring debut, tossing two scoreless innings while allowing two singles. Bronson Arroyo, on the other hand, looked quite rusty in his first game appearance since June 2014, after which he needed Tommy John surgery. The 39-year-old right-hander gave up two runs on four hits and two walks during his two innings of relief, with a fastball that registered in the low-to-mid 80s. Contrast that with Lucas...

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Out of the Park: Giolito bakes and Harper, Nats say goodbye to Desmond

March 04, 2016, 6:18am

Nationals

Out of the Park: Giolito bakes and Harper, Nats say goodbye to Desmond

If you've been following along with the Nationals this spring training, you've probably come across a few mentions of top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito and his baking. Giolito and his roommate at big league camp, catcher Spencer Kieboom, have posted pictures here and there of the pitcher's tasty creations. But this week, we got some good views of Giolito's banana bread. Spring Training Monday baking round 3... pic.twitter.com/ua1ySMQS1m -- Lucas Giolito (@LGio27) February 29, 2016 The...

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Baker on Bonds the coach, plus other pregame notes

March 04, 2016, 7:37am

Nationals

Baker on Bonds the coach, plus other pregame notes

JUPITER, Fla. - Some pregame notes to whet your appetite before the Nationals and Marlins get going here at Roger Dean Stadium ... * Trea Turner is in the lineup today, starting at second base. We've already seen him at shortstop early this spring. I asked Dusty Baker if he wants to see him play both positions. "I talked to him about it. I talked to other people about it. I just want to see him play," Baker said. "The fact he can play short and second, which a lot of people can't,...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter

March 03, 2016, 6:41pm

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter

JUPITER, Fla. - Early spring training games typically are more about pitching than hitting, and that may apply even more this afternoon than usual when the Nationals face the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. They'll be sending three prominent starting pitchers to the mound in this game, each of them for two innings: Gio Gonzalez, Bronson Arroyo and Lucas Giolito. Gonzalez has nothing really to prove this spring; he simply needs to get himself prepared for the regular season. But this is a very...

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New-look top of Nats lineup produces in first spring game

March 03, 2016, 12:26pm

Nationals

New-look top of Nats lineup produces in first spring game

VIERA, Fla. - Daniel Murphy knew he'd be the center of attention today in the Nationals' spring home opener. Not because this was his first game appearance with his new team, but because it just happened to come against his old team. Murphy seemed a bit uncomfortable with all the attention he received, especially from the more than dozen Mets reporters who crowded around him outside the Nats clubhouse after he departed the game. Ultimately, Murphy felt most at ease on the field, especially...

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Vanilla is tasty enough for Scherzer in spring start vs. Mets (Nats win 9-4)

March 03, 2016, 10:15am

Nationals

Vanilla is tasty enough for Scherzer in spring start vs. Mets (Nats win 9-4)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 9, Mets 4 Recap: The first of at least 25 head-to-head meetings in 2016 (six in spring training, 19 in the regular season) between these National League East rivals didn't have near the importance that future showdowns likely will, but the Nationals happily put together a quality performance all around to thump the defending division champs. Their new-look lineup burst out of the gates for four runs in the bottom of the first against right-hander Rafael...

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Netting expanding to far edge of dugouts at Nationals Park

March 03, 2016, 6:43am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals are expanding the netting behind the plate at their ballpark this season in response to Major League Baseball's recent push for better fan safety. The netting at Nationals Park, which previously sat between the two dugouts, now will extend to the far end of each dugout. "In December, Major League Baseball released new guidelines regarding field netting," said Jennifer Giglio, Nationals vice president of communications. "An internal review of those guidelines led...

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Nationals announce extension of safety netting

March 03, 2016, 6:31am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today announced they are extending the on-field netting to the outer ends of both dugouts for the 2016 season. "In December, Major League Baseball released new guidelines regarding field netting. An internal review of those guidelines led us to conclude that expanding the field netting is the best approach to enhance fan safety," said Jennifer Giglio, vice president of communications for the Washington Nationals. The Nationals join at least four other MLB teams in...

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#TBT: Ian Desmond receives ovation in last home start in D.C.

March 02, 2016, 5:33pm

Nationals

#TBT: Ian Desmond receives ovation in last home start in D.C.

Drafted by the Expos in 2004, longtime National Ian Desmond was a staple in the infield. Over seven big league seasons with the Nationals, Desmond earned three Silver Slugger Awards and was named an All-Star in 2012. In 2015, as the Nats' season began to wind down, Desmond and fans knew that the shortstop's time in D.C. was likely coming to an end. In Desmond's last home game of the season, Trea Turner entered the game at shortstop in the ninth inning as manager Matt Williams allowed fans to...

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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Mets in Viera

March 03, 2016, 3:18am

Nationals

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Mets in Viera

VIERA, Fla. - There will be far more at stake when the Nationals and Mets for the first time in the regular season in May (and each time through September, perhaps beyond), but any time these two rivals get together on the diamond, it's worth a little extra attention. After the way things played out last year, this has become by far the best current rivalry in the National League East. After a 6-2 victory over the Rays in Port Charlotte yesterday, the Nationals get to host New York in their...

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Wilson Ramos returns to D.C. for LASIK surgery

March 03, 2016, 5:40am

Nationals

Wilson Ramos returns to D.C. for LASIK surgery

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos left camp this morning and returned to Washington, D.C., for LASIK eye surgery in an attempt to improve his vision. Ramos didn't suffer from any injury or ailment, manager Dusty Baker said. The problem simply was discovered during the annual eye exam all players are given as part of their spring training physical. "They just discovered it," Baker said. "That's the reason why they didn't do it earlier, when you do the exams and all that stuff....