nationals

Storen far from worried after blown save, plus Espinosa quotes

February 24, 2013, 1:18pm

VIERA, Fla. - When Drew Storen took the mound for his first appearance of the spring last year, he says he attacked the outing much like he would if it was the regular season, throwing with nearly full force right out of the gate. The next day, Storen said he could tell something was wrong with his right elbow. The Nationals reliever ended up needing surgery to remove bone chips in the elbow, and he missed more than half of the season as a result. That's why Storen came into today's outing...

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Three Nationals prospects learning new spots as accelerated development program begins

February 24, 2013, 6:54pm

Nationals

The Nationals' accelerated development roster confirmed the club's confidence in positional changes for Justin Miller and Kevin Keyes. Miller and Keyes worked at new positions during October's instructional league workouts. Miller switched from the infield to catcher and Keyes from the outfield to first base. Miller is listed as a catcher and Keyes as first baseman on the roster released last week for accelerated development camp in Viera, Fla. With the unfortunate news that Spencer...

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Zimmermann doesn't look like he's missed a beat (we've got some rain)

February 24, 2013, 8:28am

Nationals

Zimmermann doesn't look like he's missed a beat (we've got some rain)

VIERA, Fla. - It might only be Feb. 24, but Jordan Zimmermann looks like he's in midseason form. Zimmermann has quickly fired two scoreless innings this afternoon, allowing just a two-out single in the first. The Nationals right-hander has kept the ball down, inducing five groundball outs and getting Matt Downs swinging on an off-speed pitch in the second inning. Through these two frames, Zimmermann has thrown just 23 pitches, 15 for strikes. There isn't a stadium gun here at Space Coast...

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Rendon goes yard, Zimmermann feels his changeup is improving

February 24, 2013, 10:40am

Nationals

Rendon goes yard, Zimmermann feels his changeup is improving

VIERA, Fla. - We're back under way after a rain delay of 1 hour, 6 minutes, and the Nationals' lineup looks a heck of a lot different than it did before the tarp was pulled onto the field. Denard Span, Bryce Harper, Chad Tracy, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and Kurt Suzuki have all been pulled, with a host of minor leaguers replacing them in the lineup. Anthony Rendon just went yard to right-center, a two-run shot off Marlins right-hander Ryan Webb. Rendon hit just six home runs in 133...

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Christian Garcia could miss two weeks, plus notes on Henry Rodriguez, Chris Young

February 24, 2013, 6:11am

Nationals

Christian Garcia could miss two weeks, plus notes on Henry Rodriguez, Chris Young

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals are confident that Christian Garcia's wrist/forearm strain isn't anything serious, but they're not taking any chances with the promising right-hander. As a result, Garcia will be held out for the next 10-14 days, according to manager Davey Johnson. Garcia said today that he's been feeling better in recent days after first experiencing some tightness in his throwing wrist/forearm area when throwing a bullpen session last Sunday. The 27-year-old, who has had...

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Johnson reminisces, Purke progressing, Mayor Gray visits Viera

February 24, 2013, 7:03am

Nationals

Johnson reminisces, Purke progressing, Mayor Gray visits Viera

VIERA, Fla. - A few Nationals players not in the lineup today are making their way over to Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500, which led manager Davey Johnson to reminisce about his own experience at the race. Johnson says he was invited to ride in the pace car before the Daytona 500 some 40 years ago, and while he didn't recall who won the race that year, other important details about that day came to mind. "I got to sit with Ms. Stick Shift in the bleachers. You remember...

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Nats, Marlins lineups for home opener at Space Coast Stadium

February 24, 2013, 4:43am

Nationals

Nats, Marlins lineups for home opener at Space Coast Stadium

VIERA, Fla. - The new-look Marlins (is that a nice way to say it, or what?) come to town this afternoon to take on the Nationals in their home opener at Space Coast Stadium. Danny Espinosa and Kurt Suzuki will make their spring debuts this afternoon under cloudy skies, as the Nationals face young right-hander Henderson Alvarez, one of the arms the Marlins got from the Blue Jays in that massive trade this offseason. Jordan Zimmermann gets the ball for the Nats, with Zach Duke scheduled to...

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This spring, Strasburg looking more at the big picture

February 24, 2013, 3:05am

Nationals

This spring, Strasburg looking more at the big picture

VIERA, Fla. - There was a time not too long ago when Stephen Strasburg would have thrown a mini fit had he allowed a two-run homer to the light-hitting Ruben Tejada and needed 31 pitches to get out of his first inning of spring. That time might've even been last February. "I think last year at this time, if he would've done what he did in that first inning, we would have seen gloves flying, cups flying," shortstop Ian Desmond said yesterday. "He was pretty fairly composed...

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Strasburg focuses on positives after a "debacle" of a first inning

February 23, 2013, 11:12am

Nationals

Strasburg focuses on positives after a "debacle" of a first inning

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - If you've watched Stephen Strasburg pitch enough, you're aware of the fact that he can be one of his toughest opponents. The Nationals right-hander is so competitive and gets so amped up for big starts that he can end up fighting himself on the mound, resulting in stretches where he overthrows and loses his effectiveness. You can understand, then, why Strasburg was, as he put it, "really geeked up" for this afternoon's spring training opener. Not only was it his...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 5-3 loss in spring opener

February 23, 2013, 11:34am

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' 5-3 loss in spring opener

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - If Stephen Strasburg wasn't going to harp on the negatives from his spring opener, manager Davey Johnson sure wasn't. The Nationals skipper knew that Strasburg would be throwing mostly fastballs, and he knew that Mets hitters would be looking to tee off. This early in spring, Johnson was mainly happy that Strasburg made it through his two innings and was able to get his full work in. "I thought he threw the ball all right," Johnson said. "He kind of jumped a little...

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Game updates plus Harper, Desmond quotes (Mets top Nats 5-3)

February 23, 2013, 10:08am

Nationals

Game updates plus Harper, Desmond quotes (Mets top Nats 5-3)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Not much has changed from last year. Davey Johnson's still getting plenty of use out of Craig Stammen's right arm. Stammen worked two innings this afternoon, throwing 39 pitches, and apparently will get a workload similar to that of the Nationals' starters early in spring. Stammen allowed three hits and one run, knotting the game at 3-3 for a brief time. It's now 5-3 Mets here in the top of the eighth inning. With both teams emptying their benches and using minor...

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Strasburg allows two-run bomb in first inning of spring (much sharper in second)

February 23, 2013, 7:42am

Nationals

Strasburg allows two-run bomb in first inning of spring (much sharper in second)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - I told you the wind could be a factor today. Stephen Strasburg's first inning of spring saw him surrender a two-run homer to a guy - Ruben Tejada - who had just one home run in 114 games last season. Tejada took a 93 mph Strasburg fastball over the left-center field fence, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead over the Nationals just two batters into Strasburg's Grapefruit League debut. The ball was struck well, but it definitely was wind-aided. We might be in for a few more of...

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Johnson responds to report claiming Storen battled injury in NLDS

February 23, 2013, 6:46am

Nationals

Johnson responds to report claiming Storen battled injury in NLDS

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Asked today about

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Garcia getting second opinion on forearm, Zimmerman has strong BP session

February 22, 2013, 10:52am

Nationals

Garcia getting second opinion on forearm, Zimmerman has strong BP session

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals believe that the lingering tightness in the area between Christian Garcia's right wrist and forearm is due to a strain, but they are awaiting a second opinion on the right-hander's MRI results, which they hope will clear up what manager Davey Johnson has called "a strange injury." Garcia has been feeling tightness in his right arm for the last few days, but he doesn't notice any discomfort when throwing curveballs or changeups. The tightness is only present...

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Johnson talks Strasburg limits, plus Nats, Mets lineups

February 23, 2013, 6:27am

Nationals

Johnson talks Strasburg limits, plus Nats, Mets lineups

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Greetings from Tradition Field, where the sun is out and the breeze is, as well. A nice wind is blowing out to center this afternoon, and the Nationals were taking full advantage during batting practice. One BP group, made up of Bryce Harper, Tyler Moore, Chris Marrero and Micah Owings, sent dozens of souvenirs out to the fans beyond the fence, and Moore and Marrero even tattooed a couple balls off the scoreboard in left-center. We could have quite a show out here...

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Let the games begin

February 23, 2013, 3:04am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - The last couple weeks have been fun and all, with players reporting to camp, discussing their goals for the 2013 season and kicking off the start of spring training. But you can bet the guys in the Nationals clubhouse are glad the start of the Grapefruit League season is finally here, and frankly, so are the beat writers. There are only so many blog entries one can get out of watching players take part in baserunning drills or field comebackers. There are only so many times you...

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Gio Gonzalez says blood, urine tests for PEDs came back negative

February 22, 2013, 8:25am

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez says blood, urine tests for PEDs came back negative

VIERA, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez has received word from the Major League Baseball Players Association that he has tested negative for performance-enhancing drugs. Two days after the Miami New Times listed Gonzalez among a group of players linked to Biogenesis, a Miami-area anti-aging clinic that was allegedly supplying performance-enhancing substances to players, Gonzalez had both his blood and urine tested by MLB. The Nationals left-hander, who finished third in the National League Cy Young...

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Why the Nationals have an accelerated development program

February 22, 2013, 9:35am

Nationals

This week, the Nationals revealed their accelerated development roster. The intrasquad games with this roster begin around March 1. Some fans asked what is the accelerated development roster and what is its purpose? Nationals director of minor league operations Mark Scialabba says the development program has three main goals: 1. To place the Nationals' top prospects on one roster for focused one-on-one work with the coaching staff and instructors. The idea is to get the best together and...

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Chris Young on his health, how he views his future with Nats

February 22, 2013, 9:37am

Nationals

Chris Young on his health, how he views his future with Nats

VIERA, Fla. - Right about now, Chris Young should be toeing a mound somewhere at the Nationals' spring facility, throwing a bullpen session in front of his new pitching coach, Steve McCatty, and other Nats staffers. Young got to the Nationals' complex this morning after signing a minor league deal with the team last night, and spent the early part of today going through various medical procedures. He was scheduled to throw at 2:30 p.m., after which the Nats will determine how to utilize the...

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Rizzo discusses Young signing (with Saturday's travel roster)

February 22, 2013, 5:44am

Nationals

Rizzo discusses Young signing (with Saturday's travel roster)

VIERA, Fla. - It's not hard to spot Chris Young, so when I walked past the trainer's room a bit earlier and saw a 6-foot-10 figure to my right, I knew the newest Nationals pitcher had arrived in camp. Young, who the Nats signed to a minor league deal yesterday, will throw a bullpen session for the Nationals today and then the team will decide where he's at in his throwing program and how best to utilize him over the next couple of weeks. For now, general manager Mike Rizzo is just happy to...