nationals

Kieboom savoring every minute of his first major league camp

February 22, 2015, 4:55am

VIERA, Fla. - It's not hard to spot the guys at spring training who aren't long for camp. Every clubhouse is full of guys who fill a necessary role: to log innings once starting pitchers and key relievers have finished throwing their allotted pitches, or take the field or grab a bat late in games when the regulars are done their work for the day. Many are wide-eyed and baby-faced. Most wear numbers you'd find stretched across the back of a burly football offensive lineman. Most are crammed...

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The unselfish Tanner Roark

February 21, 2015, 8:07pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Max Scherzer's addition to the Nationals' five-man rotation leaves Tanner Roark as the odd man out. Definitely not what Roark was expecting after delivering a 15-10 record with a 2.85 ERA and 1.093 WHIP in his first complete season as a starter last year. On Saturday, Roark began spring training grouped with Scherzer in the first bullpen session. Afterward, he sat in front of his locker and showed remarkable composure when discussing the situation. "What are you going to say?...

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Gonzalez, Fister and Zimmermann throw first bullpen sessions of spring (with workout photos)

February 22, 2015, 7:31am

Nationals

Gonzalez, Fister and Zimmermann throw first bullpen sessions of spring (with workout photos)

VIERA, Fla. - Jordan Zimmermann took a break from his first bullpen session of the spring Sunday morning, exiting the fenced-in area where the 'pen mounds are located and making a pair of hard right turns to get to the water jug. As he was en route to quench his thirst, a fan next to quench his thirst, the guy next to the jug called out, "That (18-inning National League Division Series) game was a heartbreaker." Zimmermann offered a half-hearted smile, rolled his eyes and sarcastically...

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With 2016 option picked up, Williams gets back to business (with Rizzo comments)

February 21, 2015, 10:18am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams led the first day of spring training workouts for pitchers and catchers on Saturday, just a short time after the club announced it had exercised its 2016 option on his contract. That decision means Williams, who skippered the Nats to their second National League East title in three seasons and won NL Manager of the Year honors in his rookie campaign on the bench, will be with the club for at least two more seasons. "I'm excited to be a part of the...

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Ramos impressed by Scherzer on first day (with video, photos)

February 21, 2015, 11:33am

Nationals

Ramos impressed by Scherzer on first day (with video, photos)

VIERA, Fla. - It was quite the scene when new Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer took the practice mound next to Stephen Strasburg at the start of today's first official workout for pitchers and catchers. Fans and media hurried to get a good spot for an early preview of the two fireballers planning to lead the Nats' star-studded rotation. Wilson Ramos crouched down behind the plate for his first opportunity to catch Scherzer, the 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner. However, he only lasted three or...

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Sights from the first day of Nationals workouts (with video and photos)

February 21, 2015, 6:58am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - At 10:39 a.m. this morning, a few seconds before the horn signaling the first drill of Nationals spring training sounded, right-hander Max Scherzer uncorked a throw toward catcher Wilson Ramos in the area where the first bullpen sessions were convening. Spring training 2015 was under way. It was cloudy and cool at the Space Coast Stadium complex the Nationals call home. Players made the short hike from the clubhouse to the practice fields a little more briskly than usual, owing to...

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Nationals reward Williams by picking up 2016 option

February 21, 2015, 3:58am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals announced this morning that they have picked up the team option for 2016 on manager Matt Williams' contract. It was a pretty good first year for Williams, who made his major league managerial debut with the Nats in 2014. The best record in the National League (96-66) and a runaway NL East title helped Wiliams to earn recognition as the NL Manager of the Year. "We are happy to pick up Matt's option for the 2016 season," general manager Mike Rizzo said in a...

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Zimmermann on a winter of rumors and prospects for an extension

February 21, 2015, 4:46am

Nationals

Zimmermann on a winter of rumors and prospects for an extension

VIERA, Fla. - There were times this offseason when Jordan Zimmermann couldn't help but wonder if his career in Washington, D.C., was over. Try as he might to stick to his usual winter routines, there were constant reminders that he was entering his walk year, that his pending free agency might result in the Nationals dealing him if they were unable or unwilling to come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension Zimmermann returned to his native Wisconsin and tried to immerse himself in...

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Motivated Scherzer determined to be even better

February 20, 2015, 7:42pm

Nationals

Motivated Scherzer determined to be even better

VIERA, Fla. - Max Scherzer arrived for his first official day of work with the Nationals at Space Coast Stadium on Friday. After a mandatory physical and some clubhouse introductions, the $210 million man met the media for the first time since he was introduced at Nationals Park on Jan. 21. "Just to be able to be a part of this organization, it's been great so far," said Scherzer. "They've treated me so well so far. It also helps having a few faces around here that I know as well. I played...

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Janssen: "I love when everybody's against you"

February 20, 2015, 2:08pm

Nationals

Janssen: "I love when everybody's against you"

VIERA, Fla. - On Thursday, Casey Janssen walked into a new team clubhouse for the first time in his career. Since being drafted in 2004, Janssen has spent the last 10 years in the Blue Jays organization. The right-hander said it was odd to put on new colors - Nationals red - but that he had heard from several friends around the game that assured him he made the right decision when he signed with Washington late last month. "Coaches, guys on the team, guys on other teams that I'm familiar...

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Nationals exercise 2016 option on manager Matt Williams

February 21, 2015, 4:02am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals exercised the 2016 club option on manager Matt Williams' contract on Saturday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. "We are happy to pick up Matt's option for the 2016 season," Rizzo said. "It shows the great confidence we have in Matt to continue to lead this team on the field. During his rookie season, he helped us navigate through injuries and led us to our second NL East Division title in three years. His...

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Strasburg: "Everybody wants to be that No. 1 guy"

February 20, 2015, 9:22am

Nationals

Strasburg: "Everybody wants to be that No. 1 guy"

VIERA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg arrived at Space Coast Stadium on Thursday ready to prepare for his sixth season in the majors. It's hard to believe it's been almost five years since Strasburg made his sensational major league debut, fanning 14 Pirates all the way back in June of 2010. The 26-year-old Strasburg has usually been the hottest trending Nats topic dating back to his days at San Diego State when he was already pegged to be the savior for a franchise holding the No. 1 pick in the...

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A look at the new MLB rules to speed up the game

February 20, 2015, 4:00pm

Nationals Orioles

A look at the new MLB rules to speed up the game

Last spring training, baseball was dealing with the new instant replay rules and the catcher/runner collisions at home plate. This spring training, baseball is emphasizing speed-up rules. The average time of game was 3 hours, 4 minutes last year. Major League Baseball would like to see that fall to 2:45. In the 1980s, the average time of game was 2:33. A 20-second pitch clock that was set up in the Arizona Fall League, and will be used in Double-A and Triple-A leagues this season, is not part...

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Gonzalez: "Just shut up and play"

February 19, 2015, 7:18pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez arrived for spring training as somewhat of a forgotten man in the incredible Nationals starting rotation. The hype surrounds the signing of Max Scherzer while some controversy follows the impending free agency of Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister. Stephen Strasburg seemingly will always dominate headlines. So here's Gonzalez coming off a frustrating season in which he landed on the disabled list for the first time in his career. Left shoulder inflammation bothered...

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Ramos sets healthy goals

February 19, 2015, 12:33pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - This Nationals roster is facing more expectations than questions heading into the season. But the ability to stay healthy is one issue that's concerning for this team, considering several key players have missed extended time in recent years. Catcher Wilson Ramos is one of those players who's struggled with injuries. In 2012, a knee injury limited him to only 24 games behind the plate. Multiple hamstring injuries allowed him to call just 77 games in 2013. Last season, it was a...

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Reunited and it feels so good

February 19, 2015, 10:41am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Last offseason, Doug Fister was the Nationals' prize offseason acquisition when he arrived in D.C. via a trade with Detroit. This time around, it's his former Tigers teammate Max Scherzer who is the talk of NatsTown. Fister landed in Detroit from Seattle at the trade deadline in 2011. Over the next two-plus seasons, Scherzer and Fister were a combined 84-39 while helping to lead the Tigers to three straight American League Central titles and a World Series runner-up appearance...

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Warming up

February 18, 2015, 7:16pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - It's finally here. Nationals pitchers and catchers are due to report at Space Coast Stadium to begin preparing for a 2015 season that's loaded with expectations. World Series predictions surround this team, leaving heavy pressure resting on the shoulders, or arms, of a starting rotation that's as talented as the game has seen in the past few decades. The oddsmakers loved the Nats going into the 2015 season. How could they not after blowing away the National League East by 17...

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Nats positional preview: Bullpen

February 16, 2015, 7:27pm

Nationals

With just two days left until pitchers and report to Space Coast Stadium for spring training, our positional breakdown reaches the relievers. A couple of major moves by Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo in January changed the whole dynamic of the bullpen. First, the departure of Tyler Clippard surprised many. The reliable right-hander was expected to resume his role as the eighth inning set-up man in 2015 until a trade sent him to Oakland for infielder Yunel Escobar. Clippard, a two-time...

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Nats positional preview: Starting pitchers

February 18, 2015, 2:06am

Nationals

Nats positional preview: Starting pitchers

Time to take a look at the part of this Nationals team guaranteed to damage a plethora of hitters' egos and cause a lot of sleepless nights for opposing managers in 2015: the starting rotation. Every night throughout the season, the Nationals' starting pitcher should have his name in lights on a marquee outside the ballpark. This is a blockbuster five-man rotation. It figures to be the main storyline for this team and one that all of Major League Baseball will follow during the season. The...

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Stacked Nationals are atop pitching-rich National League East

February 18, 2015, 4:24am

Nationals

The Nationals have the best rotation in baseball, but considering the way pitching is stacked in the National League East, they might need it to win a second consecutive division title. The Braves usually challenge the Nationals. But this year, the Mets and the Marlins are likely to be the Nationals' biggest headaches. The Braves rotation is strong, but not as deep as last season. The Phillies are trying to start over, and lefty Cole Hamels will be front and center in trade discussions as...