nationals

Johnson on Haren, Soriano and Clippard (Purke sent to minor league camp)

March 05, 2013, 11:55am

VIERA, Fla. - Following today's 7-1 win over the Astros, the Nationals optioned left-hander Matt Purke to low-A Hagerstown. Purke, who is recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent last summer, will head over to minor league camp to continue his rehab. The 2011 third-round pick has been throwing bullpen sessions every Tuesday and Friday at about 50 percent effort. "His rehab is coming along great, but he's not going to be ready to work here, so we're sending him over (to minor league...

Comments

Tags:

dan haren dan kolko davey johnson matt purke nationals rafael soriano spring training tyler clippard frontstory_nationals1

Soriano throws a scoreless inning, Haren discusses his start (Nats win)

March 05, 2013, 10:51am

Nationals

Soriano throws a scoreless inning, Haren discusses his start (Nats win)

VIERA, Fla. - Rafael Soriano just faced three hitters in a scoreless seventh inning, throwing 12 pitches (seven strikes) and striking out Astros outfielder Robbie Grossman to end the frame. Making his Grapefruit League debut with the Nationals, Soriano gave up a flyout to deep center off the bat of Justin Maxwell, then allowed a single to J.D. Martinez, which bounced off the glove of Ian Desmond. Just a couple of pitches later, Martinez was caught stealing, thanks to a strong throw by catcher...

Comments

Tags:

dan haren dan kolko nationals rafael soriano spring training frontstory_nationals3

Nationals trim spring training roster to 49

March 05, 2013, 11:37am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today optioned left-handed pitcher Matt Purke to Hagerstown of the Single-A South Atlantic League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 49 players in their big league camp.

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Haren and Ramos both look sharp vs. Astros

March 05, 2013, 9:03am

Nationals

Haren and Ramos both look sharp vs. Astros

VIERA, Fla. - Dan Haren worked both sides of the plate, mixed in some sharp off-speed stuff and cut his way through the Astros' lineup through his first two innings of work this afternoon. Haren retired the first six Astros hitters he faced, not letting a ball out of the infield in that time, before hitting a bit of a bump in the third. The veteran righty allowed a run on two hits and a walk in that third inning, but he'll likely leave Space Coast Stadium today pleased with his...

Comments

Tags:

astros dan haren dan kolko nationals spring training wilson ramos frontstory_nationals1

Bo Porter is back

March 05, 2013, 7:56am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Bo Porter spent much of the late morning walking around the field inside Space Coast Stadium, giving friendly handshakes and dishing out big hugs. The Astros' new manager, who spent the last two years with the Nationals as the team's third base coach, is back in Viera today to play his former team. As the Nats took batting practice, Porter weaved his way behind the batting cage, having lengthy chats with Nationals owner Mark Lerner, manager Davey Johnson and many of his former...

Comments

Tags:

astros bo porter dan kolko davey johnson nationals spring training frontstory_nationals3

Soriano makes his debut today, Ramos behind the plate (with lineups)

March 05, 2013, 6:42am

Nationals

Soriano makes his debut today, Ramos behind the plate (with lineups)

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Johnson used yesterday's off-day the same way many of use spend our days away from the job: He got stuff done around the house. Johnson went back to his home in the Orlando area and took care of a couple "dangerous jobs," including replacing a handful of light bulbs that were 24 feet off the ground. He got through the tasks just fine, then took a playful jab at Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who broke his leg while skydiving yesterday. "I...

Comments

Tags:

astros dan kolko davey johnson henry rodriguez lineups nationals rafael soriano wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Changing teams can leave players feeling like the new kid in school

March 05, 2013, 3:50am

Nationals

Changing teams can leave players feeling like the new kid in school

VIERA, Fla. - Roger Bernadina's World Baseball Classic journey will continue for at least another week, as the Nationals outfielder delivered an RBI single early this morning, helping the Netherlands defeat Australia to advance to the second round of the WBC. The Netherlands will now fly from Taiwan to Japan for second-round action, which will start later this week. Bernadina, who is racking up some impressive frequent flier miles on this trip, now has two hits and three RBIs in three WBC...

Comments

Tags:

dan haren dan kolko denard span nationals spring training frontstory_nationals1

Young declares himself ready for Grapefruit League debut

March 04, 2013, 9:57am

Nationals

Young declares himself ready for Grapefruit League debut

VIERA, Fla. - Chris Young has never been a guy who wows scouts with his overpowering stuff or blows hitters away with a fastball that reaches the mid-to-upper 90s. The veteran right-hander has made a nice career out of throwing strikes, deceiving hitters with his repertoire and using his 6-foot-10 frame to create a different pitch trajectory than batters are used to. Today, pitching in a minor league intrasquad game inside Space Coast Stadium, Young looked a lot like the guy the Nationals...

Comments

Tags:

chris young dan kolko nationals spring training frontstory_nationals3

Walters attempting to stand out while still blending in

March 04, 2013, 7:14am

Nationals

Walters attempting to stand out while still blending in

VIERA, Fla. - Zach Walters admits he has a bit of flair. Born in Cheyenne, Wyo., but raised in Las Vegas, Walters has a colorful personality, and he's got a bit of a colorful wardrobe, as well. One day earlier this spring, Walters, an eager 23-year-old shortstop in the Nationals' organization, was getting ready for a workout at the team's facilities at Space Coast Stadium. He tossed on a pair of sneakers that had what Walters described as "blindingly neon green" shoelaces on them. As...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals spring training zach walters frontstory_nationals3

A closer look into Rendon's offensive potential

March 04, 2013, 3:38am

Nationals

A closer look into Rendon's offensive potential

VIERA, Fla. - Today marks the Nationals' first day off so far this spring, and of course it comes on a day when temperatures are expected to barely make it into the 60s. It's currently 38 degrees here on the east coast of Florida. So much for a beach trip this morning. The Nationals' facilities will be open to players and coaches looking to work out today, but there will be no media availability. I will, however, make my way over to the back fields at the Space Coast Stadium complex this...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon dan kolko nationals rick eckstein spring training frontstory_nationals1

Bray, Ohman among four Nats sent to minor league camp

March 03, 2013, 12:49pm

Nationals

Bray, Ohman among four Nats sent to minor league camp

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have made their first round of cuts, sending left-handed pitchers Bill Bray, Will Ohman and Brandon Mann, and right-hander Tanner Roark to minor league camp. Bray and Ohman, brought in on minor league deals, were hopeful of winning a role in the Nats' bullpen. Mechanical issues set Bray back this spring, and he allowed three runs (two earned), five hits and a walk in two innings of work. Ohman battled a hamstring injury that slowed him over the last week, and he...

Comments

Tags:

bill bray brandon mann dan kolko davey johnson nationals spring training tanner roark will ohman frontstory_nationals3

Johnson on Detwiler and Ramos, plus Ramos on his return

March 03, 2013, 1:31pm

Nationals

Johnson on Detwiler and Ramos, plus Ramos on his return

VIERA, Fla. - Not only did Wilson Ramos make his long-awaited return to game action, he also played an integral part in the Nationals' walk-off win over the Cardinals. Appearing in his first game since tearing the ACL and meniscus in his right knee last May 12, Ramos went 1-for-2, grounding out to third in his first at-bat and then doubling off the base of the right-center field wall leading off the bottom of the ninth. Sandy Leon was called upon to pinch-run for Ramos, and after he moved to...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson frontstory_nationals1 nationals ross detwiler spring training wilson ramos

Hearing from Detwiler after his final pre-WBC outing (Nats walk off with win)

March 03, 2013, 11:05am

Nationals

Hearing from Detwiler after his final pre-WBC outing (Nats walk off with win)

VIERA, Fla. - We've got a 5-5 game here in Viera, as the Cardinals responded to Chad Tracy's two-run homer in the sixth with three runs of their own off Brandon Mann in the top of the seventh. Tracy's longball was his first of spring and gave the Nationals four home runs in their last two games. Wilson Ramos just stepped in for his first at-bat since tearing his ACL and meniscus last May 12, and after looking at fastball for strike one, Ramos bounced out to third base. He got a nice hand...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals ross detwiler spring training frontstory_nationals3

Nationals trim spring camp roster to 50

March 03, 2013, 12:31pm

Nationals

Following today's game, the Washington Nationals re-assigned left-handed pitchers Bill Bray, Brandon Mann and Will Ohman and right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark to minor-league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 50 players in their big league camp.

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Detwiler done after two in final WBC tune-up (Zimmerman notches first RBI)

March 03, 2013, 9:05am

Nationals

Detwiler done after two in final WBC tune-up (Zimmerman notches first RBI)

VIERA, Fla. - Battling a stiff wind and cool conditions, Ross Detwiler pitched two innings of one-run ball in his final appearance for the Nationals before leaving to join Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Detwiler allowed back-to-back singles to open the game, then struck out the side, with Matt Carpenter, Ty Wigginton and Matt Adams all going down swinging. In the second, Detwiler again allowed two straight singles to start the frame. The Cardinals plated a run when Justin Christian...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals ross detwiler spring training frontfeatured_nationals

Wilson Ramos: "I feel like I'm a ballplayer again"

March 03, 2013, 7:29am

Nationals

Wilson Ramos: "I feel like I'm a ballplayer again"

VIERA, Fla. - A few minutes before I went over to Wilson Ramos' locker to have a brief chat with the Nationals catcher this morning, he met with manager Davey Johnson. In that meeting, Johnson told Ramos that the team's medical staff had cleared the 25-year-old to begin playing in Grapefruit League games. That in itself was great news. But Johnson then told Ramos that he would get one at-bat as the DH in this afternoon's game against the Cardinals, marking his first appearance in a game...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals spring training wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Zimmerman, Ramos to make spring debuts; Rodriguez, Garcia updates (and lineups)

March 03, 2013, 6:14am

Nationals

Zimmerman, Ramos to make spring debuts; Rodriguez, Garcia updates (and lineups)

VIERA, Fla. - It's a brisk 48 degrees with a stiff breeze here at Space Coast Stadium this morning, weather that led Nationals players to snatch up beanies and ear sleeves in the clubhouse and toss on their windbreakers before taking the field for delayed warm-ups. A few of the Nats' veteran position players sent 11-year-old Drake LaRoche into manager Davey Johnson's office to ask if they could hit in the cages instead of taking a full batting practice on the field, both because of the...

Comments

Tags:

christian garcia dan kolko davey johnson henry rodriguez micah owings nationals ryan zimmerman spring training wilson ramos frontstory_nationals1

What a difference a year's made for Nationals' Zach Duke

March 03, 2013, 4:12am

Nationals

It was about this time last season everything changed for Zach Duke. Last season, he struggled in Houston Astros camp and was eventually released. Two days later, he was picked up by the Nationals. After battling to regain his consistency and break on his best pitches, he worked his way back to the majors. Oh, he did work all right. Duke went 15-5 with a 3.51 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse. The left-hander made 26 starts, and had two complete games and a shutout over 164 1/3 innings. He had 91...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr greg booker jeff mandel john lannan nationals spin williams syracuse tanner roark zach duke frontstory_nationals2

Johnson on Gonzalez's outing, Nats' power surge and Storen's inning (Perez to play in WBC)

March 02, 2013, 11:43am

Nationals

Johnson on Gonzalez's outing, Nats' power surge and Storen's inning (Perez to play in WBC)

JUPITER, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez didn't seem to think a strikeout-less outing was anything abnormal for him, given the circumstances today. Neither did his manager, Davey Johnson. Johnson attributed some of Gonzalez's issues with a lack of command of his secondary pitches to the conditions. It was a cool (by Florida standards) and breezy day in Jupiter today, leaving Gonzalez's hands dry and the ball a little slick. "He really didn't have a good feel for the ball because it was a little...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson nationals spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Having some leftovers for breakfast

March 03, 2013, 3:16am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Yesterday, it was the Cardinals loading up their lineup with regulars, giving Gio Gonzalez a tough test on the road while the Nationals' batting order was filled mostly with backups and minor leaguers. The script will be flipped this afternoon at Space Coast Stadium, as the Nationals should have nearly all their starters in their lineup against the Cardinals and left-hander Jaime Garcia. Ryan Zimmerman will make his spring debut as the Nationals' DH today, and Bryce Harper,...