nationals

Williams on naming a No. 1 starter, Gwynn and more (with photo and videos)

March 03, 2015, 1:04pm

VIERA, Fla. - Since Max Scherzer joined the star-studded Nationals rotation, many have argued with friends over adult beverages, or with sports talk show hosts, as to which pitcher should start on opening day. Some have even skipped the looming 162-game schedule and jumped to Game 1 of the National League Division Series in October. October? Can we get some sun first? "I think there's worse problems to have in the world than deciding who's going to pitch Game 1," Scherzer told ESPN on...

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Scherzer to start spring training opener

March 03, 2015, 10:07am

Nationals

Scherzer to start spring training opener

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams announced this afternoon that Max Scherzer will start Thursday's spring training opener against the Mets. Tanner Roark, who most likely will be bumped from this year's starting rotation due to Scherzer's signing, will be the next to take the mound in the first exhibition game. Williams has a limit in mind for his pitchers. "Two innings, 45-ish (pitches), depending on how it goes, depending how stressful those innings are," Williams said. "It...

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Tony Gwynn Jr. signs minor league deal with invite to spring training

March 02, 2015, 5:17pm

Nationals

Tony Gwynn Jr. signs minor league deal with invite to spring training

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have agreed to terms with outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. The 32-year-old has played parts of eight seasons in the majors with the Brewers, Padres, Dodgers and Phillies. Gwynn played his college ball at San Diego State and was drafted by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. His best year in the majors came with the Padres, where his father, Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn,...

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Williams on Taylor's progress: "He's really close"

March 02, 2015, 6:52pm

Nationals

Williams on Taylor's progress: "He's really close"

VIERA, Fla. - Michael A. Taylor's rare combination of power and speed has led him to be considered as one of the top prospects in all of baseball. The 23-year-old made the jump to the majors in August 2014 and hit his first home run in his big league debut at Citi Field in New York. Most would think that would easily be the highlight for his short stint in the majors, but the humble Taylor offered another when asked. "I think being a part of the no-hitter was probably the highlight," said...

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Live BP continues for starters, while work continues at first base

March 02, 2015, 11:45am

Nationals

Live BP continues for starters, while work continues at first base

VIERA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer and Tanner Roark took the hill yesterday, throwing to actual hitters for the first time this spring training. Today brought a chance for the rest of the rotation - Doug Fister, Gio Gonzalez, and Jordan Zimmermann - to show its pitches to live Nationals stepping into the batter's box. "Gio's velocity was really good. His curveball was good," manager Matt Williams said. "Zim was typical Zim in that he just pounded the zone with the exception of...

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A conversation with John Kruk on the Nationals

March 01, 2015, 7:47pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - ESPN's tour bus rolled into Viera on Sunday to preview the Nationals during a special midday presentation of "SportsCenter." Buster Olney and John Kruk of "Baseball Tonight" and anchor Bram Weinstein interviewed several Nats players, including Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer, throughout the morning. Afterward, I had a chance to sit down with Kruk on the bus for a conversation about the Nats and the upcoming season. Kruk, of course, played in the majors for 10 seasons as a first...

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Barrett looks to wipe out postseason memories

March 02, 2015, 6:41am

Nationals

Barrett looks to wipe out postseason memories

VIERA, Fla. - ESPN's Buster Olney and John Kruk stopped by Nationals camp on Sunday. After taking in practice and talking with many of the players, the two discussed which Nationals players were the ones to watch in a 2015 season filled with so many expectations. With a star-studded rotation dominating the headlines, along with a lineup including Anthony Rendon and Bryce Harper, Olney's response may surprise you. "When you look at this team, it's clear the biggest weakness on paper is their...

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Scanning the key major leaguers seeking a fully healthy 2015

March 02, 2015, 7:22am

Nationals Orioles

Scanning the key major leaguers seeking a fully healthy 2015

As Grapefruit and Cactus league games get started, the Nationals hope that Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth can stay healthy. Also, the area's other local nine, the Orioles, needs health in Manny Machado's knees and Matt Wieters' elbow. Here's a look at other teams with similar concerns: * Wil Myers, San Diego: The all-pitch, no-hit Padres from a year ago have revamped their outfield with Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and the 24-year-old Myers, who was named American League Rookie of...

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Catch four "Nationals Classics" on MASN HD this week

March 02, 2015, 5:29am

Nationals

Start spreading the news ... Grapefruit League action begins this week! The first Nationals spring training game will be played Thursday, March 5 at 1:30 p.m. MASN HD will air its first spring training game of the season on Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m. While we await live Grapefruit League baseball, catch five "Nationals Classics" this week on MASN HD. Here's what's on deck: Monday, March 2, 10 p.m.: Games played between the Orioles and Nationals usually have a flair for the dramatic. May...

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Espinosa stays right, while Williams talks left

March 01, 2015, 2:57pm

Nationals

Espinosa stays right, while Williams talks left

VIERA, Fla. - Seems like Danny Espinosa is taking most of his fielding reps with Ian Desmond at shortstop while Yunel Escobar and Dan Uggla are handling second base. But the focus this spring training is on improving Espinosa's production at the plate. The career switch-hitter continues to take extra batting practice every day as he attempts to transition exclusively to a right-handed hitter. As Nationals manager Matt Williams told us earlier, that means spending more time standing in the box...

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Scherzer, Nats pitchers face live hitters

March 01, 2015, 9:56am

Nationals

Scherzer, Nats pitchers face live hitters

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals pitchers threw to live hitters for the first time in spring training this morning. Though very few swings were taken, it does serve to be beneficial for pitchers to have actual hitters digging in the box as opposed to just throwing bullpen sessions. Fans scurried to the practice field where Max Scherzer was taking the mound to get a look at the newest Nats star. "First time out there facing hitters and it actually seemed like I knew what I was doing," Scherzer said....

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McLouth closing in on full strength

February 28, 2015, 6:50pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Nate McLouth's first season in Washington never got on track. He was bothered by shoulder inflammation throughout much of the year, which eventually led to surgery in August to repair a torn right labrum. Before shutting it down, the veteran outfielder managed just a .173 batting average with one home run and seven RBIs in 79 games. Those numbers were the worst of McLouth's 10-year career. He earned a two-year, $10.75 million contract from the Nationals after a productive 2013...

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Williams provides update on pitchers as weather forces Nats off the field

February 28, 2015, 8:10am

Nationals

Williams provides update on pitchers as weather forces Nats off the field

VIERA, Fla. - Heavy rain overnight and more this morning forced the Nationals off the practice fields today. Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated that Saturday was already expected to be a light day with no bullpen throwing sessions scheduled. "It's a little sloppy out there," Williams said. "Pitchers threw and we hit in the cage. We didn't cancel. But to get out there on the fields and run around - it's unseasonably cool and rainy, so adjustments have to be made sometimes. We got...

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Lefty Hill on his way to Viera after signing minor league deal

February 27, 2015, 4:20pm

Nationals

Lefty Hill on his way to Viera after signing minor league deal

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Rich Hill on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. The Angels released Hill last summer after he failed to get an out in two relief appearances. The Yankees signed him to a minor league deal in July. He bounced back and forth from Triple-A to the majors, posting a 1.69 ERA over 14 appearances with New York. The 34-year-old Hill spent the early part of his career as a starter with the Cubs and...

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A critical spring for Tyler Moore

February 27, 2015, 7:10pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Fans of all ages jostle for position outside the Space Coast Stadium practice facility, hoping to get some of their favorite Nationals players to sign a baseball or take a selfie after team workouts. Most shout for Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman or Max Scherzer to stop for a second, but on Thursday afternoon it wasn't one of the Nats stars who became one kid's most valuable player. "Mr. Moore, can I have your autograph," said the youngster. With that the Nationals part-time...

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Williams hasn't decided starter for exhibition opener, updates on Escobar, Zimmerman

February 27, 2015, 12:15pm

Nationals

Williams hasn't decided starter for exhibition opener, updates on Escobar, Zimmerman

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams said all of his pitchers are healthy and pitching well even after heavy bullpen sessions the past couple of days. The staff will get a day off tomorrow before throwing live batting practice beginning Sunday. "We'll do that for a couple of days and get them some hitters to look at," Williams said. "Everybody's on track. Everybody feels good about it. I think we're where we need to be at this point." It's unknown who will be on the mound in...

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No more second thoughts for Yunel Escobar

February 26, 2015, 6:44pm

Nationals

No more second thoughts for Yunel Escobar

VIERA, Fla. - Yunel Escobar wasn't thrilled when he found out he was headed to the Nationals in a trade last month. That's because Nats general manager Mike Rizzo made the move to acquire Escobar not to play shortstop, but rather second base, a position the 32-year-old hasn't seen action at since his rookie season in 2007. "I had a conversation with him through his interpreter over the phone that day, the day the trade was official, and explained our desire to him," Nationals manager Matt...

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Roundup: Span's birthday, Scherzer's first week, Espinosa's swing (with video)

February 27, 2015, 10:10am

Nationals

Roundup: Span's birthday, Scherzer's first week, Espinosa's swing (with video)

VIERA, Fla. - This morning's workout began with the team singing "Happy Birthday" to center fielder Denard Span. "It was heartfelt man," Span said. "It felt good. Birthdays are birthdays. You start to get a little bit older and birthdays don't mean as much as they used to, but it was a lot of fun getting put in the circle and everybody singing." While in the circle, Span showed off some of his best dance moves as teammates clapped and shouted. "They told me to do the Carlton dance...

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Even on shelf, Jayson Werth takes part in first full-squad workout

February 26, 2015, 12:17pm

Nationals

Even on shelf, Jayson Werth takes part in first full-squad workout

VIERA, Fla. - Jayson Werth was on the field this morning as the Nationals began their first official full-squad workouts in preparation for the 2015 season. He was limited though, not participating in any throwing or hitting drills, while still recovering from right shoulder surgery early last month. Werth continues to focus on opening day as a return date with the initial rehabilitation period being two to three months after the procedure. "That's kind of my goal," he said today. "Again...

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Williams says Nats cautious as Nate McLouth returns from shoulder injury

February 26, 2015, 3:20pm

Nationals

Williams says Nats cautious as Nate McLouth returns from shoulder injury

Nationals outfielder Nate McLouth comes to spring training rehabbing an injury that ended his season prematurely in August. McLouth is recovering from a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The left-handed hitting utility outfielder is critical for a team that needs to ensure it has some offense coming from that side of the plate besides Bryce Harper and Denard Span, especially with the departure of Adam LaRoche. McLouth's value doubles with the uncertainty surrounding Jayson Werth and his own...