nationals

Williams wants to get a closer look at Jordan (plus lineups and other notes)

March 07, 2014, 7:44am

VIERA, Fla. - Former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie is here at Space Coast Stadium today, wearing a personalized No. 22 Nationals jersey. Flutie, who went to Boston College, also has shorts with a Red Sox logo on them, repping two organizations at once. I guess we can let that slide. Flutie took batting practice in the Nats' third hitting group today and spent some time talking to players and team staffers. The former Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Bowler actually has a pretty good swing and...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko lineups nationals ryan mattheus spring training zach walters frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1

Nate McLouth: Internet television star

March 07, 2014, 2:30am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - OK, so "star" might be overstating it a bit. But there probably aren't many current major league ballplayers who have appeared in a major television series. Nate McLouth has. It all came together last July, when McLouth was offered a chance to appear in "House of Cards," a popular show starring Kevin Spacey that airs on Netflix. An episode of the show was going to be shot at Camden Yards, and McLouth, a big fan of the show and a member of the Orioles at the time, jumped at...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nate mclouth nationals spring training frontstory_nationals1

Three scoreless turned in by Zimmermann in his second spring outing (updated)

March 06, 2014, 2:21pm

Nationals

Three scoreless turned in by Zimmermann in his second spring outing (updated)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Jordan Zimmermann's first start this spring came against the Braves. He worked two quick, scoreless innings. Zimmermann's second start this spring also comes against Atlanta. He had to work a bit harder to get through this outing, but he delivered three scoreless frames this time, striking out four. After two pretty smooth innings to start his outing, featuring only one Atlanta baserunner, Zimmermann had to work out of a jam in the third. Braves center fielder Matt...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko jordan zimmermann nationals spring training frontstory_nationals3

Ohlendorf dealing with back spasms, plus more after Nats' 3-2 loss

March 06, 2014, 4:56pm

Nationals

Ohlendorf dealing with back spasms, plus more after Nats' 3-2 loss

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Manager Matt Williams said after tonight's 3-2 Nationals loss that right-hander Ross Ohlendorf left the game with lower back spasms, which cropped up during the right-hander's first batter faced this spring. Making his Grapefruit League debut, Ohlendorf faced just four hitters and didn't retire any of them before being pulled from the game. He walked off with trainer Lee Kuntz, and after being examined, it was determined that back spasms were the cause of...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko jordan zimmermann matt williams nationals ross ohlendorf spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Weekly Wrap: Nats pitchers make spring debuts

March 06, 2014, 12:26pm

Nationals

Weekly Wrap: Nats pitchers make spring debuts

The Nationals have done many different drills this spring to perfect fundamentals. Pitchers have taken infield, shifts have been implemented in spring games and signs have been practiced. So when the Nats took the field for spring games, you may have thought that there would be clean plays, strong defense and low-scoring games. Then the Nats squeaked by the Braves in a game this week, and the final score was 16-15. #SpringTrainingProblems Yes, these games mean nothing, but that box score is...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite weekly wrap

Ohlendorf leaves game with trainer (Braves win 3-2)

March 06, 2014, 3:25pm

Nationals

Ohlendorf leaves game with trainer (Braves win 3-2)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Braves 3, Nationals 2 Recap: Jordan Zimmermann was sharp in his second start of spring, throwing three scoreless innings, striking out four. The Nats rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth on Michael A. Taylor's two-out, two-strike RBI single, but Braeden Schlehuber dropped in an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to give the Braves a 3-2 win. Need to know: Ross Ohlendorf left the game after facing just four batters in the sixth (none of whom he...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals ross ohlendorf spring training frontfeatured_nationals

A host of pregame notes from Champion Stadium

March 06, 2014, 12:23pm

Nationals

A host of pregame notes from Champion Stadium

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The tarp has been pulled off the field here at Champion Stadium and it looks like there will be baseball played tonight between the Nationals and Braves. It's incredibly overcast and gloomy-looking here, and based on the radar that I just looked at, there's a chance we get a little more rain before first pitch. But Jordan Zimmermann should be good to make his second start of spring, both of which will be against Atlanta. Manager Matt Williams said that he's looking...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko matt williams michael gonzalez nationals ross ohlendorf spring training frontstory_nationals1

Given Clippard's workload, how long can he keep it going?

March 06, 2014, 3:22am

Nationals

Given Clippard's workload, how long can he keep it going?

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals head back to the Orlando area today to face the Braves for the second time in three days. Only this time, they do so at night. The two National League East rivals are scheduled to square off at 6:05 p.m. tonight, although heavy rain is in the forecast for today. We'll have to see whether that affects Jordan Zimmermann's second scheduled start of spring. Ross Ohlendorf is set to follow Zimmermann to the mound and make his first spring training appearance today...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals spring training tyler clippard featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Pitching order set through Saturday (with tonight's lineup, weather update)

March 06, 2014, 7:24am

Nationals

Pitching order set through Saturday (with tonight's lineup, weather update)

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals will have their first split-squad games of spring Saturday, and they've posted their pitching order through those games. Doug Fister will start tomorrow at home against the Astros, with Tanner Roark piggybacking him. (For those unaware, that's the term used when another starter immediately follows the pitcher who began the spring game. I don't expect Roark to actually get a piggyback ride from Fister.) Rafael Soriano is also scheduled to pitch tomorrow, which...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals spring training frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1

Williams discusses Nats' 11-5 win over Mets (with Walters update)

March 05, 2014, 12:03pm

Nationals

Williams discusses Nats' 11-5 win over Mets (with Walters update)

VIERA, Fla. - The guys at the back end of the Nationals' spring training roster were the ones doing the heavy hitting today, as the Nats put up nine total runs in their final two turns to the plate en route to an 11-5 win over the Mets. Ian Desmond homered early on for the Nats, but they got the bulk of their offense from minor leaguers and non-roster invitees, as Brian Goodwin, Sandy Leon and Matt Skole all homered in the seventh or eighth innings and the Nationals pulled away late. "The...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko matt williams nationals spring training featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals ian desmond zach walters frontstory_nationals1

Gio Gonzalez and Tyler Clippard speak after their spring debuts (Nats win 11-5)

March 05, 2014, 10:41am

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez and Tyler Clippard speak after their spring debuts (Nats win 11-5)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 11, Mets 5 Recap: Four Nationals smacked home runs - Ian Desmond, Brian Goodwin, Sandy Leon and Matt Skole - and the Nats scored nine unanswered runs in the late innings to come back from a 4-2 deficit. Need to know: Gio Gonzalez was solid in his spring debut, throwing two scoreless innings. Tyler Clippard worked a scoreless fifth. Jerry Blevins was sharp in a scoreless seventh. On deck: Thursday, at Braves in Lake Buena Vista, 6:05 p.m. VIERA, Fla....

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko gio gonzalez nationals spring training tyler clippard featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Williams on Espinosa's start, Walters at second, thoughts on Carroll (update)

March 05, 2014, 7:46am

Nationals

Williams on Espinosa's start, Walters at second, thoughts on Carroll (update)

VIERA, Fla. - I've got all kinds of notes for you this morning on the Nationals' middle infield options. Prepare yourselves accordingly. Danny Espinosa has started spring by going 0-for-10 with an RBI and a hit by pitch, numbers which don't exactly demonstrate that the middle infielder is clicking offensively. It's important to note that this is still a very small sample size, however, and that spring training statistics can be misleading for any number of reasons. The way Matt...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko danny espinosa jamey carroll mike fontenot nationals zach walters frontstory_nationals3

G. Gonzalez works two scoreless, plus updates on the rotation and more (updated)

March 05, 2014, 8:49am

Nationals

G. Gonzalez works two scoreless, plus updates on the rotation and more (updated)

VIERA, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez has completed two scoreless innings of work against a Mets split squad in his spring debut, allowing one hit and striking out one. It was an easy two frames for Gonzalez, who surrendered a Kirk Nieuwenhuis single through the hole on the left side with one out in the first, only to then get Andrew Brown to tap out to catcher Jhonatan Solano and Brandon Allen to fly out to center. In the second, Gonzalez got Wilmer Flores to fly out to right, then struck out Eric...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko gio gonzalez matt williams nationals ross ohlendorf ryan mattheus spring training frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1

Nats lineup vs. Mets has Walters starting at second (Walters scratched)

March 05, 2014, 4:33am

Nationals

Nats lineup vs. Mets has Walters starting at second (Walters scratched)

VIERA, Fla. - Zach Walters has played just 11 games at second base in his professional career. He'll play second today as the Nationals host the Mets for the first time this spring. Gio Gonzalez will make his spring debut today, and the Nats lineup features many regulars. Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa are both out of the starting lineup, however, and Walters is getting a rare start there. I asked manager Matt Williams about the decision to play Walters at second today, and I'll have...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko lineups mets nationals spring training frontstory_nationals3

Nationals Chatter: Strasburg offers advice, Zimmerman talks fatherhood, and more

March 04, 2014, 9:04am

Nationals

Baseball games are being played. I repeat. Baseball games are being played. Who cares if the games are relatively meaningless? It's baseball and I'm happy. Check out below what other outlets are saying about the Nationals. * As everyone knows, Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg underwent Tommy John surgery in 2010. The Nats then placed Strasburg on an innings limit in 2012, the first full season he pitched since having the procedure. The New York Post's Kevin Kernan recently...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper courtney lofgren ian desmond jordan zimmermann nationals nationals chatter ross detwiler ryan zimmerman stephen strasburg wilson ramos

Giveaway: Enter to win a signed Drew Storen ball and prize pack

March 04, 2014, 12:22pm

Nationals

Not that we're counting or anything, but 26 days until opening day! We know you're anticipating the return of baseball in D.C. While we wait, we're holding a giveaway. Enter to win an autographed Drew Storen baseball (pictured above) and a prize pack! When prompted, be sure to share this giveaway on Facebook and Twitter for possible bonus entries. Good luck, Nats nation! (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js =...

Comments

Tags:

drew storen giveaway nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite

In meaningless game against Braves, Nats put a few drills into action

March 04, 2014, 12:13pm

Nationals

In meaningless game against Braves, Nats put a few drills into action

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - You've heard, and will continue to hear, that spring training results mean absolutely nothing and that these games are more of a chance for players and managers to work on specific things and get practice in various situations. If you need evidence of that, look to the bottom of the eighth inning of today's 8-4 Nationals loss to the Braves, when Nats reliever Luis Ayala loaded the bases in a tie game and manager Matt Williams didn't hesitate to pull an unorthodox...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko drew storen matt williams nationals spring training steven souza frontstory_nationals3

Many factors need to be considered in Nats' bullpen battle

March 05, 2014, 2:40am

Nationals

Many factors need to be considered in Nats' bullpen battle

VIERA, Fla. - Even prior to yesterday, the Nationals had a great deal of competition for the final couple of spots in their bullpen. The signing of left-handed reliever Michael Gonzalez to a minor league deal only adds to that competition. With Rafael Soriano, Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen, Jerry Blevins and Craig Stammen having a lock on five of the Nats' relief jobs (as long as they stay healthy in spring), that seemingly leaves two slots available in the opening day bullpen. And going...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko matt williams nationals spring training featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Werth set to play tomorrow, Mattheus cleared to start throwing (M. Gonzalez note)

March 04, 2014, 7:34am

Nationals

Werth set to play tomorrow, Mattheus cleared to start throwing (M. Gonzalez note)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Jayson Werth's spring debut might have been bumped back a few days, but he's now scheduled to appear in his first Grapefruit League contest tomorrow against the Mets. Werth was originally scheduled to start in right field for the Nationals on Sunday, but he was scratched from the lineup due to a right biceps strain. Manager Matt Williams said today that Werth has progressed over the last couple of days, and is expected to be in the starting lineup for tomorrow's...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko jayson werth jeff kobernus matt williams nationals ryan mattheus featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Strasburg discusses his debut (Nats lose 8-4)

March 04, 2014, 10:15am

Nationals

Strasburg discusses his debut (Nats lose 8-4)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP SCORE: Braves 8, Nationals 4 Recap: Matt Williams rolled the dice late in the game, deciding to implement something the Nats have worked on in drills. With the game tied and the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Williams brought in right fielder Steven Souza Jr. to play first base, giving the Nats five infielders. The move backfired, as Braves infielder Phil Gosselin ripped a bases-clearing triple to right - exactly where Souza would have been...