nationals

From D.C. to Japan and back

February 25, 2013, 8:34am

VIERA, Fla. - A few years ago, Brandon Mann was living in the Washington D.C., area, watching Stephen Strasburg dominate in his first season in the majors while Mann tried to scrap together a career on the diamond himself. A former 27th-round pick of the Rays, Mann's baseball journey took him from Double-A ball in 2009 to Independent League ball in 2010 to Japan in 2011. The left-hander played two the last two years for the Yokohama Bay Stars in Japan, working his way up from the minors to...

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Gonzalez speaks after a strikeout-less outing (Nats win 6-2)

March 02, 2013, 10:42am

Nationals

Gonzalez speaks after a strikeout-less outing (Nats win 6-2)

JUPITER, Fla. - While reporters were talking to Gio Gonzalez about his outing, Anthony Rendon ripped a double to center. Rendon now has two home runs and three doubles in seven games and is batting .438. Decent, I guess. Nathan Karns labored a bit through a scoreless fourth inning and Ryan Perry followed with three shutout innings of his own. Drew Storen is now on to work the eighth with the Nats leading 6-2. It's incredibly rare, even in spring, to see a pitching line next to Gonzalez's...

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Rendon goes yard again as Nats pile it on early (Gonzalez goes three)

March 02, 2013, 8:49am

Nationals

Rendon goes yard again as Nats pile it on early (Gonzalez goes three)

JUPITER, Fla. - Davey Johnson has stated unequivocally that Anthony Rendon has no shot of making the Nationals' opening day roster. Rendon doesn't seem to be letting that bit of news affect him in the least. The 22-year-old infielder just crushed his second home run of the spring, a long fly to dead center that bounced high off the batter's eye. It was a two-run shot, giving the Nationals a 4-1 lead heading to the third. Rendon now is 6-for-14 this spring and four of his hits have been...

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Ramos update and other pregame notes (with lineups)

March 02, 2013, 7:35am

Nationals

Ramos update and other pregame notes (with lineups)

JUPITER, Fla. - After getting examined by medical director Dr. Wiemi Douoguih this morning, catcher Wilson Ramos has been cleared to take part in some sliding drills back at the Nationals' complex at Space Coast Stadium, according to manager Davey Johnson. This will mark the first time sliding for Ramos since undergoing surgery to repair a torn right ACL and meniscus last summer. Ramos typically tucks his right leg when he slides, which has him a little worried about how the knee will...

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Bernadina posts two RBIs in WBC debut, Wang excels

March 02, 2013, 6:07am

Nationals

Bernadina posts two RBIs in WBC debut, Wang excels

JUPITER, Fla. - Spoiler alert: I'm about to provide updates of the Netherlands/Korea World Baseball Classic game, which is apparently airing on a time delay on MLB Network. I got scolded on Twitter by one fan who said that I ruined the game by posting an update on Roger Bernadina, so be warned, everyone. If you're really into the game on TV and don't want me to spoil your entire morning, stop reading now. Batting third in the Netherlands' lineup, Bernadina went 1-for-5 with a double and...

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What an improved changeup could mean for Zimmermann, plus plans for Rendon

March 02, 2013, 3:25am

Nationals

What an improved changeup could mean for Zimmermann, plus plans for Rendon

VIERA, Fla. - We've been here before, with Jordan Zimmermann feeling like he's turned a corner with his changeup, so to speak. Zimmermann has been working on his changeup for three straight years, hoping to get it to the point that he has enough confidence in the pitch to use it in games. Last year, Zimmermann thought he was at that point. He worked on the changeup for much of the early part of spring, felt it was improving, and then barely touched it during the regular season. That led...

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Johnson: Rendon has no chance of breaking camp with Nats

March 01, 2013, 12:33pm

Nationals

Johnson: Rendon has no chance of breaking camp with Nats

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Based on all we know about Anthony Rendon and the makeup of the Nationals' roster, it was probably safe to assume that Rendon has no shot at making the team out of camp this year. After all, Rendon has only 133 career professional at-bats under his belt, and he batted just .162 in 21 games at Double-A Harrisburg last year, the highest level he saw in 2012. Rendon, the Nationals' top pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, has battled injuries for much of the last...

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Johnson talks Zimmermann, Clippard after Nats win

March 01, 2013, 4:43pm

Nationals

Johnson talks Zimmermann, Clippard after Nats win

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - It looked for a second like the Braves were going to tie tonight's game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Jordan Parraz singled up the middle just behind the second base bag. Joey Terdoslavich (boy, what a name that is) made a turn around third and was ready to head for home, but Nationals second baseman Will Rhymes made a diving stop of the ball, hopped to his feet and kept Terdoslavich at third. One pitch later, reliever Jeremy Accardo got Elmer Reyes...

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Zimmermann loving how his changeup has progressed (Nats win)

March 01, 2013, 3:54pm

Nationals

Zimmermann loving how his changeup has progressed (Nats win)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Jordan Zimmermann has been working on his changeup for three years now. He's struggled to get a good feel of the pitch in the past, had issues finding the right arm action and searched for the proper velocity to maximize the changeup's effectiveness. Zimmermann didn't trust his changeup last year, and therefore threw it just 2.2 percent of the time. And now? "It feels really, really good right now," Zimmermann said following tonight's start against the Braves....

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Clippard's spring debut a strong one, Rendon in at short

March 01, 2013, 2:57pm

Nationals

Clippard's spring debut a strong one, Rendon in at short

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Tyler Clippard took a while before getting into a spring game, but once he did, he looked just like his old self. Clippard pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning tonight, striking out Christian Bethancourt swinging for the second out of the frame. The right-hander threw nine pitches, seven for strikes. He threw three changeups, by my count. That pitch is still nasty, even on March 1. We got a bit of a surprise in the sixth when Anthony Rendon trotted out to shortstop to take...

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Harper mashes, Young's schedule is set

March 01, 2013, 12:55pm

Nationals

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Every time the Nationals make the trip here to face the Braves, I look forward to watching Bryce Harper take batting practice, assuming he's on the trip. About 20-40 feet beyond the right field fence here, there's a castle-like tan wall that stands maybe 20 feet tall. I'm not really sure what purpose it serves, but it's out there, and it serves as another target for the heavy-hitting Harper. Harper has no problem clearing the Champion Stadium right field fence...

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Zimmermann pounding the zone, Harper homers (updated)

March 01, 2013, 2:00pm

Nationals

Zimmermann pounding the zone, Harper homers (updated)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Bryce Harper put the Nationals on the board just three batters into tonight's game at Champion Stadium, smacking an opposite-field home run off Braves starter Julio Teheran. The wind is blowing out to left here tonight, and a ball that looked like it might come down feet short of the fence ended up landing on the berm just beyond the wall. It's Harper's first home run of spring and makes him 7-for-11 on the Grapefruit League season. The reigning National League...

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Harper lands another cover, plus a few pitching updates (with Braves lineup)

March 01, 2013, 8:37am

Nationals

Harper lands another cover, plus a few pitching updates (with Braves lineup)

VIERA, Fla. - Not only was Bryce Harper featured on his second Sports Illustrated cover last week, the Nationals' 20-year-old phenom has also landed on the cover of Men's Health. Harper joins Angels outfielder Mike Trout and Giants catcher Buster Posey on one of the covers, but each player will also have his own individual cover, as well. "be as sexy as you can," but it's close. Chris Young was scheduled to throw another bullpen session today, but he is no longer on the pitching schedule...

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Some Friday morning notes and quotes

March 01, 2013, 3:17am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - After a lengthy night game last night, the Nationals will travel to Lake Buena Vista today for another 6:05 p.m. start, this time against the Braves. This will mark three night games in a five-game span, but after today, the Nats will play 13 straight afternoon contests. Players much prefer matinee games in spring, as do reporters. Night games, especially those on the road, really mess with the standard routine down here. The players are most definitely creatures of habit and...

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Weekly Wrap: NL East rivals test Nats

February 28, 2013, 7:36pm

Nationals

Starting off spring training games this week, the Nats got their first taste of the National League East with games versus the Marlins, Mets and Braves that ended in a win, three losses and two ties. On Sunday, the Nats announced that Christian Garcia would miss the next 10-14 days with a wrist/forearm strain. While the decision to rest the righty is conservative, the Nats are looking to give him the time he needs. Also close to a return is catcher Wilson Ramos, who is rehabbing from last...

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ESPN ranks Nationals No. 4 in latest "Future Power Rankings"

February 28, 2013, 5:21pm

Nationals

ESPN released its latest "Future Power Rankings" and the Nationals are ranked fourth out of the 30 major league teams. ESPN calls it a "detailed breakdown of the future of every major league franchise" by experts Jim Bowden, Keith Law and Buster Olney. The No. 4 ranking is a jump from 2012 when the Nationals were locked in at No. 11. Here is the link, but you will need a subscription to read the results. The rankings are based on each team's strength in five areas: major leagues, minor...

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Johnson talks Strasburg and Mattheus, says Zimmerman will DH Sunday

February 28, 2013, 5:30pm

Nationals

Johnson talks Strasburg and Mattheus, says Zimmerman will DH Sunday

VIERA, Fla. - After six games, the Nationals' spring record looks more like one a hockey team would see next to its name in the standings: 1-3-2. That's now two ties in the last five games, something Nats manager Davey Johnson isn't a fan of. "Awful," Johnson said with a laugh. "But at least we got 10 innings in and more guys got at-bats. (Ryan) Mattheus was outstanding, (Stephen) Strasburg outstanding." It was a bit surprising to see Mattheus trot out of the dugout to work the top of...

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Strasburg on his repertoire, what he's focusing on going forward (4-4 final in 10)

February 28, 2013, 3:57pm

Nationals

Strasburg on his repertoire, what he's focusing on going forward (4-4 final in 10)

VIERA, Fla. - It's 4-4 after seven innings here at Space Coast Stadium, as these two National League East squads have traded runs the entire evening. Yunesky Maya allowed single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, surrendering three hits and two walks in his two innings of work. Stephen Strasburg took a few positives out of his outing against the Mets tonight, a three-inning stint in which he allowed a run on two hits, walked one and struck out six. "I think I had a little bit better...

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Strasburg strikes out six in three strong innings

February 28, 2013, 2:17pm

Nationals

Strasburg strikes out six in three strong innings

VIERA, Fla. - It wasn't perfect, but it was pretty impressive. Stephen Strasburg got into a bit of trouble in his three innings of work tonight, surrendering three hits and two walks and allowing a first-inning run after a Mike Baxter sacrifice fly brought in Jordany Valdespin. Apparently Valdespin reaches base every single time he comes to the plate against the Nationals. Strasburg still looked good, though, showing off a biting curveball and tough changeup. He struck out six on the...

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Johnson talks Strasburg limits, Rodriguez, Abad

February 28, 2013, 11:48am

Nationals

Johnson talks Strasburg limits, Rodriguez, Abad

VIERA, Fla. - Yes, the headline says "Strasburg limits." Get your jokes out of the way now. Nationals manager Davey Johnson said that Stephen Strasburg will be on a 60-pitch limit tonight for his second start of spring. Pitching coach Steve McCatty likes to hold all starters to around 45 pitches their first time out, and it ups to 60 pitches for the second start. Johnson won't push Strasburg tonight, however. "If he gives me three innings and gets up around 50 pitches, that's good for...