nationals

Weekly Wrap

February 21, 2013, 6:58pm

We're just a day away from the Nationals' Grapefruit League opener. Stephen Strasburg will take the mound for the game, and MASN will keep you updated with the latest news and pictures from spring training. For up-to-the-minute updates, be sure to follow Dan Kolko on Twitter and our Nats account on Instagram. There's been much news to report during the second week of spring training, including some interesting storylines out of Viera, Fla. According to a recent report by ESPN's "Outside...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite weekly wrap

Now healthy, Rendon confident he can show his stuff

February 21, 2013, 4:39am

Nationals

Now healthy, Rendon confident he can show his stuff

VIERA, Fla. - Anthony Rendon knows that he's been labeled injury-prone by some around the league. He knows that scouts and fans have seen him suffer three ankle injuries in a four-year span, with a shoulder injury thrown in there, as well. The former first-round pick understands that some might doubt whether he can put together a full, healthy season and deliver on the promise that led many to label him the top prospect out of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. All Rendon can do now is go...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon dan kolko nationals spring training frontstory_nationals1

Nats agree with Chris Young on minor league deal with spring invite

February 21, 2013, 11:51am

Nationals

Nats agree with Chris Young on minor league deal with spring invite

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Chris Young on a minor-league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Young is 53-43 with a 3.79 ERA in 159 career starts with New York-NL (2011-12), San Diego (2006-10) and Texas (2004-05). The 33-year-old, who earned an All-Star nod with the Padres in '07, has posted winning seasons in...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

One area of focus that could put Detwiler "over the top"

February 21, 2013, 2:45am

Nationals

One area of focus that could put Detwiler "over the top"

VIERA, Fla. - Dating back to the second half of last season, one of Davey Johnson's ongoing goals has been to convince Ross Detwiler to utilize more off-speed pitches while on the mound. Detwiler has success largely because of his sinker, a biting two-seam fastball that hitters can't lay off, but often can do little with. It's Detwiler's bread and butter, and when the 26-year-old left-hander mixes the two-seamer with his hard, straight four-seam fastball, hitters have a hard time...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko kurt suzuki nationals ross detwiler spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Pitching schedules for today's live BP and first two spring games

February 21, 2013, 4:22am

Nationals

Pitching schedules for today's live BP and first two spring games

VIERA, Fla. - Tyler Moore faced Stephen Strasburg, a 15-game winner last year, during live batting practice yesterday morning. Moore will square off against Dan Haren, a 10-year veteran and three-time All-Star during live BP today. "Bring 'em on," Moore said this morning with a chuckle. "Rack 'em up." It'll be Haren, Ross Ohlendorf, Jeremy Accardo, Ryan Perry and Brendan Mann throwing to hitters on Field 1 this morning. Moore, Roger Bernadina, Chad Tracy, Jayson Werth, Ryan...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals

Hearing from the catchers (plus Gonzalez statement)

February 20, 2013, 12:06pm

Nationals

Hearing from the catchers (plus Gonzalez statement)

VIERA, Fla. - Kurt Suzuki looks at live batting practice sessions from multiple perspectives. As he stands in the batter's box, he obviously sees the pitches coming in at him with a hitter's mindset. But the Nationals catcher also views things from the perspective of a guy who will be behind the plate on the receiving end of these pitches. Suzuki was in the box today facing reliever Drew Storen during live BP, and he was really impressed with what he saw. "He was telling you what it was...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko drew storen gio gonzalez kurt suzuki nationals spring training wilson ramos frontstory_nationals3

Nationals release accelerated development roster

February 20, 2013, 7:10pm

Nationals

The Nationals have put together their list of prospects for the accelerated development program as they prepare to go to work next month in Viera, Fla. The pitchers listed include recently reacquired A.J. Cole, plus Lucas Giolito, Sammy Solis and Blake Schwartz. Justin Miller is listed as a catcher and Kevin Keyes as a first baseman after working those new positions in instructional league in October. Jason Martinson and Rick Hague also listed among the infielders. Brian Goodwin, Michael...

Comments

Tags:

aj cole brian goodwin byron kerr lucas giolito nationals sammy solis frontstory_nationals2

Quick-hit notes from Wednesday's workout

February 20, 2013, 7:17am

Nationals

Quick-hit notes from Wednesday's workout

VIERA, Fla. - Tyler Moore, Roger Bernadina, Chris Snyder and Chad Tracy all took their hacks against Stephen Strasburg this morning in the right-hander's first live batting practice session of spring. As Bernadina warmed up just before stepping into the cage, he turned around and started chatting with a couple of reporters. I asked whether Bernadina would be going yard off Strasburg, and Bernadina quickly turned his head toward the mound as Strasburg fired in a few warm-up pitches that had to...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals spring training bryce harper danny espinosa drew storen jayson werth nathan karns roger bernadina ross detwiler ryan matheus stephen strasburg wilson ramos frontstory_nationals3

Nats center field prospects a "position of strength" with Perez and Goodwin leading way

February 20, 2013, 8:55am

Nationals

Nats center field prospects a "position of strength" with Perez and Goodwin leading way

I spoke last week about the acquisition of Denard Span and how it sets up a very good order of center fielders now throughout the Nationals system. Eury Perez, Brian Goodwin, Michael Taylor and Billy Burns have played well at each level of the system as they look to get better this season and move up. Goodwin was recognized this week as the No. 70 prospect by Baseball America. "I think center field is a position of strength for us," Nationals director of player development Doug Harris...

Comments

Tags:

billy burns brian goodwin byron kerr denard span doug harris eury perez michael taylor nationals frontstory_nationals2

Schedule set for live batting practice sessions

February 20, 2013, 5:01am

Nationals

Schedule set for live batting practice sessions

VIERA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg will throw live batting practice this morning. Bryce Harper will hit off live batting practice this morning. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the two former No. 1 overall picks will be facing off against each other out on the minor league fields today during the Nationals' workout. Strasburg is scheduled to be the first pitcher to throw live BP out on Field 1. He'll be followed by Ross Detwiler, Drew Storen, Ryan Mattheus, Bill Bray and Nathan...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals spring training

Impact of the newest report on Gonzalez, Biogenesis

February 20, 2013, 2:57am

Nationals

Impact of the newest report on Gonzalez, Biogenesis

VIERA, Fla. - Some might wonder whether yesterday's ESPN report claiming Gio Gonzalez did not receive performance-enhancers from Biogenesis, a Miami-area anti-aging clinic, will have any effect on Gonzalez as the Nationals lefty prepares for the season. Will it lift a weight off Gonzalez's shoulders? Will the report get rid of a distraction that has lingered around the Nationals' clubhouse for the last week and a half, since large clusters of players started filing into camp? Those two...

Comments

Tags:

biogenesis dan kolko gio gonzalez nationals spring training frontstory_nationals1

Report: Gonzalez did not receive PEDs from Biogenesis

February 19, 2013, 3:42pm

Nationals

Report: Gonzalez did not receive PEDs from Biogenesis

VIERA, Fla. - Ever since being linked to Biogenesis, a Miami-area anti-aging clinic that allegedly was supplying performance-enhancing drugs to major league players, and its founder, Tony Bosch, Gio Gonzalez has denied any wrongdoing or PED usage. "At the end of the day," Gonzalez said a week ago, "I've never taken performance-enhancing drugs, and I never will." A report from ESPN's "Outside the Lines" backs up Gonzalez's claim. The report cites two sources familiar with Bosch's...

Comments

Tags:

biogenesis dan kolko gio gonzalez nationals spring training featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Baseball America ranks Rendon and two others on top 100 list

February 19, 2013, 11:13am

Nationals

Baseball America ranks Rendon and two others on top 100 list

Baseball America's latest top 100 prospect list features three of the Nationals' hottest youngsters. Third baseman Anthony Rendon, right-hander Lucas Giolito and center fielder Brian Goodwin all rank in the top 70. Rendon is rated No. 30. The 2011 first-rounder has made big strides since last April's ankle injury. With his consistent play in the Arizona Fall League adding to the at-bats he lost early on, he will be ready to go to start 2013 for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Showing...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon brian goodwin byron kerr frontstory_nationals2 lucas giolito nationals

Gonzalez keeps things light, Span sprays line drives

February 19, 2013, 11:17am

Nationals

Gonzalez keeps things light, Span sprays line drives

VIERA, Fla. - With both the "A" and "B" pitching groups having the day off to rest up from bullpen sessions, the Nationals took part in a laid-back workout on the minor league fields this morning. Pitchers all participated in various pickoff drills, infielders got in some work doing rundowns, and the final part of the workout before batting practice got under way was reserved for comebackers and bunt plays. These are the days when fundamentals are the main focus. As major leaguers, these...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko danny espinosa denard span gio gonzalez nationals ryan zimmerman spring training frontstory_nationals3

Nationals excited about Destin Hood's "upside" in 2013

February 17, 2013, 7:05pm

Nationals

Right fielder Destin Hood would like nothing better than to have a full season with no nagging injuries or games missed due to sickness. Saddled with just 94 games played last season, Hood was never really able to get in the groove that he would've wanted at this point in his career. But he certainly finished 2012 with a flourish. On opening day this season, Hood will be just 23 years old, so there is still plenty of time for the athletic, 6-foot-1, 225 lb., outfielder to show what he is...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr destin hood doug harris harrisburg nationals potomac frontstory_nationals2

Same old Giants: Loyalty is part of business model for World Series winner

February 19, 2013, 6:22am

Nationals Orioles

As full-squad workouts hit full throttle, it is interesting to note that the San Francisco Giants will be fielding the same team that beat the Detroit Tigers in last October's World Series. Usually, teams change personnel even when they win a title. The Giants kept their outfield together, with Gregor Blanco, Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence. They re-signed second baseman Marco Scutaro, 37, to a long-term deal. Are the Giants putting their roster together with their heart? Maybe, but general...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_nationals4 frontstory_orioles4 mel antonen nationals orioles

More on the Christian Garcia dilemma

February 18, 2013, 7:11pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Johnson gets why Christian Garcia might prefer to remain a reliever. Johnson knows that after spending eight-plus years in the minor leagues, Garcia finally was able to make it to the bigs because he became a dominant late-inning guy out of the bullpen. The Nats skipper understands that if everything else was equal and Garcia had his pick of roles, he'd probably choose to remain a bullpen guy on the big league squad. But Johnson also knows that Garcia...

Comments

Tags:

christian garcia dan kolko davey johnson nationals spring training frontstory_nationals3

Bray eager to bounce back from "worst year I've ever had in baseball"

February 19, 2013, 5:15am

Nationals

Bray eager to bounce back from "worst year I've ever had in baseball"

VIERA, Fla. - Not only does Bill Bray come to Nationals camp this year fighting to win a job, he comes in fighting to put the bad habits he picked up during an injury-plagued 2012 season behind him. And it's a process that isn't as easy as it might sound. Bray excelled with the Reds in 2011, putting up a 2.98 ERA in a whopping 79 appearances, becoming a crucial part of Cincinnati's bullpen. He entered 2012 hoping to have similar success, but suffered a groin injury that threw him...

Comments

Tags:

bill bray dan kolko nationals spring training frontstory_nationals1

Strasburg to start Nats' spring opener (plus Ramos note)

February 18, 2013, 8:22am

Nationals

Strasburg to start Nats' spring opener (plus Ramos note)

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals' Grapefruit League opener is now just five days away, and while pitchers haven't started throwing live batting practice yet, manager Davey Johnson already knows who his starter for the spring opener will be. Stephen Strasburg will get the ball Saturday, as the Nationals head to Port St. Lucie to take on the Mets in their first Grapefruit League game of the year. The Nationals' spring home opener against the Marlins, which is Sunday, will be started by Jordan...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson gio gonzalez jordan zimmermann mike rizzo nationals spring training stephen strasburg wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Rizzo on Garcia's role, Skole's progress, Rodriguez's health

February 18, 2013, 10:43am

Nationals

Rizzo on Garcia's role, Skole's progress, Rodriguez's health

VIERA, Fla. - Is Christian Garcia a starter? Is the promising 27-year-old a reliever? No one knows at this point, not even Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo or manager Davey Johnson. The Nationals' decision makers are coming into this spring with an open mind on Garcia, letting how the righty pitches and how their pitching staff is constructed steer their decision on how Garcia will be used. "We know he can do both, and that's an important thing," Rizzo said early this afternoon....