nationals

Zimmerman discusses his throwing, Nats craving meaningful games

March 27, 2013, 4:17am

VIERA, Fla. - Watch Ryan Zimmerman warm up his arm in between innings of spring games with throws across the diamond, and it's clear that his adjusted throwing motion is still a bit of a work in progress. Some throws skip into the dirt, short-hopping first baseman Adam LaRoche. Some throws are wide, pulling LaRoche off the bag. Two straight warm-up tosses before the bottom of the first inning yesterday yanked LaRoche to the home plate side of first. This has been noticed by some scouts, who...

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Sore thumb could lead to a couple of days off for Harper

March 26, 2013, 12:46pm

Nationals

Sore thumb could lead to a couple of days off for Harper

JUPITER, Fla. - You sure wouldn't know it by looking at his recent numbers, but Bryce Harper is still dealing with a sore left thumb, and it might force him out of the Nationals lineup for a few days. Harper initially injured his thumb Friday against the Tigers when he got jammed by a Drew Smyly pitch. After getting a day off Saturday, Harper has played in three straight games, going 8-for-8 with a walk in that span. Today, however, Harper got jammed again in his second at-bat (an RBI single...

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Power arms: Pitchers use weight room to maintain strength throughout season

March 26, 2013, 5:30pm

Nationals

Power arms: Pitchers use weight room to maintain strength throughout season

Not on the diamond. Not on the mound. Not during bullpens. You will not see this component of a pitcher's preparation for a game or a season. But it is absolutely crucial to every step and every pitch they make in their career. It is strength training. So with fans not getting a chance to see what a pitcher's work is like in the weight room, several fans have asked what the weight training regimen is like for each pitcher before and during the season? How much should pitchers lift?...

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Despite the numbers, Haren says he's ready, confident

March 26, 2013, 1:14pm

Nationals

Despite the numbers, Haren says he's ready, confident

JUPITER, Fla. - It's been somewhat of an ongoing theme this spring: Dan Haren pitches pretty well, but has one bad inning or makes a few bad pitches and his stat line suffers, making it look as if he's getting bashed all around the park. Today, Haren worked six innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs. He allowed four home runs - two off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton - and will finish the Grapefruit League season with a 6.39 ERA, having allowed 14 earned runs in his last 16 1/3...

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Harper's spring streak continues (Nats lose)

March 26, 2013, 10:34am

Nationals

Harper's spring streak continues (Nats lose)

JUPITER, Fla. - Bryce Harper's day is done after 4 1/2 innings of work, and while it's just spring, Marlins pitchers probably couldn't be happier that the Nationals left fielder is out of the game. Harper is on an absolute tear right now, as evidenced by the fact that he's reached base in 10 straight plate appearances. Nine of those 10 trips to the plate have resulted in hits, seven of which came after Harper injured his left thumb on a jam-shot single. For the spring, Harper is now...

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If Young leaves, Duke will step into sixth starter's role (with lineups)

March 26, 2013, 8:59am

Nationals

If Young leaves, Duke will step into sixth starter's role (with lineups)

JUPITER, Fla. - As I mentioned earlier, Sports Illustrated has picked the Nationals to win the World Series. Your thoughts, Davey Johnson? "I don't care. It's nice," Johnson said. "Better than being picked to come in last." The Nationals have known for a little while now that Chris Young would almost certainly be opting out of his minor league contract and seeing whether he could find a spot in a big league rotation somewhere. Now that Young has done just that, and he's been granted...

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Nats grant Chris Young his unconditional release

March 26, 2013, 7:38am

Nationals

Nats grant Chris Young his unconditional release

JUPITER, Fla. - It's not much of a surprise, but Chris Young is now a free agent. The Nationals have granted Young his unconditional release, this after the veteran right-hander chose to opt out of his minor league deal following his start last night in Kissimmee. The Nats had 24 hours to place Young on their 25-man roster after the 33-year-old opted out, but they chose not to do so. As a result, Young is now free to sign with whatever team he chooses. Young had said that he hoped to work...

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Johnson talks Young, Rodriguez's shaky inning, Romero's debut

March 25, 2013, 6:12pm

Nationals

Johnson talks Young, Rodriguez's shaky inning, Romero's debut

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Because he had a handful of relievers needing to get in their work, Davey Johnson limited Chris Young to just four innings in tonight's 6-4 loss to the Astros. He liked what he saw in those four innings, though. And really, the Nationals have liked what they've seen from Young all spring. The veteran right-hander allowed just one uneared run on two hits with a walk, a hit batter and two strikeouts. He hasn't allowed an earned run since the first inning of his start three...

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What's left to accomplish in Florida?

March 26, 2013, 4:12am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - If you don't happen to follow me on Twitter - and if you don't, what the heck are you waiting for? - polled on their predictions for the 2013 MLB season, five have the Nationals reaching the World Series and four picked the Nationals to win it all. All seven, for what it's worth, have the Nats winning the National League East. Two writers see Bryce Harper winning NL MVP honors, and two more see Stephen Strasburg winning the NL Cy Young. The bandwagon is starting to get...

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Nationals release Chris Young

March 26, 2013, 7:37am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today granted right-handed pitcher Chris Young his unconditional release. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 30 players in their big league camp.

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Young opts out of deal with Nats, says he wants to return (Nats lose)

March 25, 2013, 5:07pm

Nationals

Young opts out of deal with Nats, says he wants to return (Nats lose)

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Shortly after allowing just one unearned run over four strong innings tonight against the Astros, Chris Young said that he has opted out of his minor league deal with the Nationals. The Nats now have 24 hours to place Young on the 25-man roster - which is incredibly unlikely - or the veteran right-hander will become a free agent. Young, 33, again said that he has thoroughly enjoyed his time with the Nationals and added that his agent has had talks with the team about...

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Young strong again, LaRoche heating up, Rodriguez being Rodriguez

March 25, 2013, 3:55pm

Nationals

Young strong again, LaRoche heating up, Rodriguez being Rodriguez

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Dating to March 14, Chris Young has now worked 12 straight innings without allowing an earned run. Some big league team out there has a hole in its rotation, and that team might be wise to take a shot on this 6-foot-10 right-hander. Young held the Astros to two hits and an unearned run through four innings tonight, and if not for two misplayed popups, he would have retired 10 of the last 11 he faced. As it is, he's still pitched pretty darn well, especially after allowing...

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Elbow soreness behind him, Rodriguez will pitch tonight (plus rotation notes)

March 25, 2013, 1:35pm

Nationals

Elbow soreness behind him, Rodriguez will pitch tonight (plus rotation notes)

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Yesterday morning, Davey Johnson reported that Henry Rodriguez was dealing with some soreness in his right elbow, which the Nationals right-hander had operated on last August to clean up a bone spur. Johnson and general manager Mike Rizzo both said they weren't worried about Rodriguez's health, but any time you're talking about elbow soreness for a pitcher, especially one just seven months removed from surgery on said elbow, you wonder if any further issues could...

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Nats-Astros lineups and a few notes

March 25, 2013, 11:44am

Nationals

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Kyle Lohse finally has a team. I guess his days of throwing simulated games against community college squads are over. Lohse agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal with the Brewers, according to reports. He'll now have a solid week to get to know his teammates before opening day. Former Nats starter John Lannan got smacked around a bit today. The Phillies lefty gave up 12 runs on 14 hits over four innings today in a game against the Blue Jays. I guess he was just working...

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Some of this, some of that

March 25, 2013, 4:46am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - After more than five long months of waiting, we only have to wait a bit longer. Opening day is just one week away. Only four more Grapefruit League games down here in Florida (not that anyone's counting or anything), an exhibition against the Yankees at Nationals Park and two off-days stand between the Nationals and their 2013 regular season opener against the Marlins on April 1. I think I can speak for all parties involved here - fans, players and reporters - that the opener...

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Garcia to DL, Rivero to Triple-A in Nats cuts

March 25, 2013, 5:27am

Nationals

Garcia to DL, Rivero to Triple-A in Nats cuts

The Washington Nationals today placed right-handed pitcher Christian Garcia on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to March 22, with a right forearm tendon injury and outrighted infielder Carlos Rivero to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Rivero will remain in Major League Spring Training. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 31 players in their big league camp.

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Hearing from Zimmermann, Harper after rain-shortened win

March 24, 2013, 12:34pm

Nationals

Hearing from Zimmermann, Harper after rain-shortened win

VIERA, Fla. - The infield here at Space Coast Stadium is currently one giant lake. The grounds crew wasn't able to get the big tarp onto the field before the skies opened up in the top of the eighth inning this afternoon, and the Braves-Nationals game was called with the Nationals officially picking up a 9-3 win after seven innings of play. Jordan Zimmermann battled winds of at least 29 mph to throw six strong innings. In his final Grapefruit League start this spring, Zimmermann allowed...

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Rosenbaum returned to Nats, Zimmmermann done after six (game called in eighth)

March 24, 2013, 11:02am

Nationals

Rosenbaum returned to Nats, Zimmmermann done after six (game called in eighth)

VIERA, Fla. - Within two days, the Nationals have gotten back both players they lost in the Rule 5 draft this offseason. The Tigers returned infielder Jeff Kobernus to the Nats yesterday, and today, a source confirmed that left-hander Danny Rosenbaum has been returned by the Rockies. Rosenbaum spent last season at Double-A Harrisburg, going 8-10 with a 3.94 ERA. The 25-year-old went 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in eight innings with the Rockies this spring, and after Colorado determined that...

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Garcia lands on DL, Rivero outrighted to Triple-A

March 24, 2013, 1:20pm

Nationals

Garcia lands on DL, Rivero outrighted to Triple-A

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made a couple of roster moves after today's rain-shortened game, placing right-hander Christian Garcia on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm tendon injury and outrighting infielder Carlos Rivero to Triple-A Syracuse. Garcia's DL stint is retroactive to March 22. Rivero had to clear waivers for the Nationals to outright him to Triple-A, and him doing so is a bit of a surprise. The Nats were afraid they'd lose the 24-year-old, but he went unclaimed,...

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Young yet to make a decision on future with Nats

March 24, 2013, 7:37am

Nationals

Young yet to make a decision on future with Nats

VIERA, Fla. - Chris Young is going to wait at least another day before deciding whether to opt out of his minor league contract with the Nationals. Under the terms of his current deal, Young could choose to opt out of his contract with the Nats today and search for a big league deal on the free agent market, but instead, he's planning on making his scheduled start with the team tomorrow in Kissimmee against the Astros. "I'm going to pitch tomorrow and then we'll evaluate at that point,"...