nationals

Yankees-Nationals lineups for Nats Park exhibition

March 29, 2013, 7:49am

It's gameday in D.C. The Nationals are making their final preparations for the 2013 season, hosting the New York Yankees in an exhibition game. You can catch all the action on MASN HD at 2 p.m., with play-by-play voice Bob Carpenter and analyst F.P. Santangelo calling the action. Left fielder Bryce Harper's sore left thumb is no longer a concern - he's in the lineup, batting third. Ahead of him in the batting order is Jayson Werth, who got yesterday off after being plunked in the left elbow...

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Back in the district

March 29, 2013, 4:44am

Nationals

No more "Viera, Fla. - ..." dateline. What a beautiful sight. I'm back in the mid-Atlantic region, where the temperature isn't really that much colder than it was on the east coast of Florida. The Nationals arrived back in D.C. last night and will take on the Yankees at 2 p.m. this afternoon at Nats Park, an exhibition that will serve as the final chance for guys to get a taste of game action before the regular season arrives. For those of you with the day off or TV access at work, the...

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An insider's look at the National League heading into 2013

March 29, 2013, 6:15am

Nationals

An insider's look at the National League heading into 2013

The San Francisco Giants are taking aim at winning their third World Series in four seasons. But first, they have to conquer the National League. Here's what the NL looks like: ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Storyline: After making the 2011 playoffs, the Diamondbacks took a step back last season. They have a deep rotation, more speed and better lineup balance. Bounce-back seasons from RHPs Ian Kennedy and Trevor Cahill will help. Players to watch: CF Adam Eaton, who will miss April because of a...

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Johnson wraps up Nats' Grapefruit League season (plus cuts)

March 28, 2013, 12:42pm

Nationals

Johnson wraps up Nats' Grapefruit League season (plus cuts)

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals' Grapefruit League season is over. The bags in the home clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium are all packed and the players are dressed and ready for their flight up to D.C. Thirty-three spring training games are in the books. Only tomorrow's exhibition against the Yankees at Nats Park and two days off stand between the Nationals and the 2013 regular season. "We're ready to get out of here," manager Davey Johnson said after this afternoon's 5-1 win over the Mets....

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Spring Training Wrap: It's Nats baseball season

March 28, 2013, 8:27pm

Nationals

Spring Training Wrap: It's Nats baseball season

It's been a long winter. I think the snowstorm that many of us saw on the East Coast this week really drove that statement home. After a lengthy offseason and spring training, which was extended due to the World Baseball Classic, I can finally utter the words that I have been waiting to say for months: "Baseball is back." The Nationals will wrap up their spring at home in D.C., facing the Yankees in an exhibition game Friday. If you can't make it out to Nats Park, be sure to check out the...

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Gonzalez's final regular season tune-up a strong one (Nats win 5-1)

March 28, 2013, 11:46am

Nationals

Gonzalez's final regular season tune-up a strong one (Nats win 5-1)

VIERA, Fla. - It's 5-1 Nationals here in the eighth inning at Space Coast Stadium in what's turned into a minor league game. Neil Holland, who spent nearly all of last season at high Single-A Potomac, has worked the last two innings for the Nats. Remarkably, despite having been with the Nationals for two full springs now, Gio Gonzalez hadn't made a start at Space Coast Stadium until today. All five of his Grapefruit League outings last spring came on the road, and his first four big league...

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Nationals trim spring training roster to 26

March 28, 2013, 2:32pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today re-assigned first baseman/outfielder Micah Owings and infielder/outfielder Carlos Rivero to minor-league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 26 players in their big league camp.

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LaRoche, Espinosa homer before starters exit

March 28, 2013, 10:38am

Nationals

LaRoche, Espinosa homer before starters exit

VIERA, Fla. - There weren't too many called strikes taken by Nationals hitters in their final Grapefruit League at-bats this afternoon. Everyone is eager to get the heck out of here and make their way up to D.C. The Nationals attacked Mets starter Domingo Tapia today, pouncing on early pitches in the zone and doing some damage with them. Adam LaRoche crushed a solo homer way out to right leading off the second, and two batters later, Danny Espinosa followed with a longball of his...

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Barring a change, Rodriguez will grab final spot in Nats bullpen

March 28, 2013, 8:23am

Nationals

Barring a change, Rodriguez will grab final spot in Nats bullpen

VIERA, Fla. - Yesterday, we learned that both Henry Rodriguez and J.C. Romero would make the trip to D.C. with the Nationals following this afternoon's Grapefruit League finale, leaving the two relievers in the mix for the final spot in the Nats' bullpen. Today, manager Davey Johnson said that unless Rodriguez suffers some kind of injury when he appears in tomorrow's exhibition game against the Yankees at Nats Park, the flame-throwing right-hander would get that final bullpen spot, with...

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Ted Leavengood: What to take from a topsy-turvy spring

March 28, 2013, 9:09am

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: What to take from a topsy-turvy spring

This spring has been a confusing one. The only cherry blossoms we have seen were the white puffs of snow clinging to the branches several days ago. Nationals spring training hasn't blossomed the way we thought either. The expectations are so different after winning 98 games in 2012. We want to win them all, even the ones in March. Like the osprey soaring on March winds above Viera, the Nationals have ridden Bryce Harper's bat on one day only to be grounded the next as the pitching staff is...

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MASNsports.com sets Nats guest blogger rotation for first half of 2013

March 27, 2013, 10:46am

Nationals

MASNsports.com sets Nats guest blogger rotation for first half of 2013

The way MASNsports.com is structured, conversation is encouraged. And good conversation requires strong, distinctive voices. The blogosphere covering baseball is Washington, D.C., is one of the strongest collections of baseball observers in the major leagues, chocked full of well-reasoned opinions and creative storytellers. We're happy to once again welcome these dedicated writers to our pages for the 2013. Guest bloggers will return to MASNsports.com, offering their viewpoints each weekday...

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Harper back in Nats lineup, Werth not

March 28, 2013, 8:48am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - After getting his second game off in a five-day span in order to rest a sore left thumb, Bryce Harper is back in the Nationals lineup for today's Grapefruit League finale against the Mets. Harper sat out yesterday's game against the Braves after getting jammed the day prior in a two-hit performance in Jupiter. He said his thumb felt better when he woke up yesterday, and the thumb had improved enough by today that he was cleared to return to the lineup. "He wanted one or two...

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Relievers' lofty spring ERAs not a concern in Nats camp

March 28, 2013, 4:46am

Nationals

Relievers' lofty spring ERAs not a concern in Nats camp

VIERA, Fla. - It's here. The final day of spring training is here. Boy, these seven weeks really have flown by. I'm kidding. They really haven't. It's time to get out of here and get some meaningful games under way. I've jammed all my clothes into a couple bags, left some condiments in the fridge in my hotel room and am about to head out the door and make the drive over to Space Coast Stadium for the final time this spring. If you're on the east coast of Florida and need some barbeque...

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Zimmerman, Ramos discuss their power display

March 27, 2013, 2:00pm

Nationals

Zimmerman, Ramos discuss their power display

VIERA, Fla. - Eight home runs were hit at Space Coast Stadium today. Five of those eight came off the collective bats of Ryan Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos. Zimmerman crushed three home runs in a three-at-bat span this afternoon, giving him four longballs on the spring and boosting his Grapefruit League average to .308. Each year, Zimmerman says he needs 50 at-bats in spring to feel like he's ready for the season. Strangely enough, his first homer of the day came with Zimmerman having 49...

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His spring complete, Detwiler will play the waiting game

March 27, 2013, 2:23pm

Nationals

His spring complete, Detwiler will play the waiting game

VIERA, Fla. - Add Ross Detwiler to the lengthy list of Nationals players who can't wait for the regular season to start. "Beautiful Viera, where the wind always blows out," Detwiler joked as reporters approached him in the Nationals' clubhouse after today's outing. Detwiler's final tune-up before the regular season was a pretty solid one. He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, both on solo home runs. He surrendered eight hits, a walk and a hit batter while striking out two in a...

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No decision yet on final bullpen spot (Abad, Maldonado cut)

March 27, 2013, 12:52pm

Nationals

No decision yet on final bullpen spot (Abad, Maldonado cut)

VIERA, Fla. - Following this afternoon's 11-2 split-squad win over the Braves, the Nationals made two cuts, sending left-hander Fernando Abad and catcher Carlos Maldonado over to minor league camp. Abad, who came into camp competing for a spot in the bullpen, impressed this spring. He went 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in eight appearances spanning seven innings. Maldonado was 3-for-13 (.231) with a double in 15 games played. The cuts leave the Nats with 28 players remaining in big league...

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Nationals reassign Abad, Maldonado to minor league camp

March 27, 2013, 1:27pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today re-assigned left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad and catcher Carlos Maldonado to minor league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 28 players in their big league camp.

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Ramos making a late case for the opening day catching job (Nats win 11-2)

March 27, 2013, 10:43am

Nationals

Ramos making a late case for the opening day catching job (Nats win 11-2)

VIERA, Fla. - Wilson Ramos is having himself a ballgame. And with opening day now just five days away, you have to wonder whether it will influence manager Davey Johnson's decision on who will be his opening day catcher. Ramos has crushed two home runs today - one to right field in the third inning and one way out to left field in the fourth - both on the first pitch of the at-bat. The first home run was of the solo variety, the second was a three-run shot. Coming into today, Ramos was...

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Harper out of Nats lineup, not concerned about sore thumb (with lineups)

March 27, 2013, 8:41am

Nationals

Harper out of Nats lineup, not concerned about sore thumb (with lineups)

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals lineup today doesn't have Bryce Harper's name in it, and tomorrow's might not, as well. Harper is dealing with some inflammation in his left thumb after getting jammed by a pitch yesterday. While Harper says the thumb feels better today than it did after he left yesterday's game against the Marlins, he will get a day off today and the plan was for him to not take batting practice in an effort to avoid further soreness. "Feels fine," Harper said. "I thought...

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Strasburg gets in his final work of spring, final cuts coming soon

March 27, 2013, 9:18am

Nationals

Strasburg gets in his final work of spring, final cuts coming soon

VIERA, Fla. - Instead of making the trip all the way to Jupiter to throw just a few meaningless innings the day before the Nationals leave Florida, Stephen Strasburg got in his final spring frames over on the minor league side today. Facing a lineup made up of members of the Nats' Triple-A team, Strasburg's outing was largely uneventful. He allowed back-to-back softly hit singles in one inning, one off the bat of Will Rhymes, drawing a frustrated swipe of the glove from Strasburg. Strasburg...