nationals

Where are the weaknesses?

December 18, 2012, 6:06am

Another day has passed, and still no announcement from the Red Sox on whether they've finally completed their deal with first baseman/catcher Mike Napoli. Napoli and the Red Sox agreed to terms on a three-year, $39 million deal at the Winter Meetings more than two weeks ago, but the deal has still not been made official. There are reports that the Red Sox have found some sort of issues with Napoli's physical, and while the two sides are still working on a way to finalize the contract they...

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Keister takes positive attitude to Hagerstown

December 18, 2012, 8:43pm

Nationals

Keister takes positive attitude to Hagerstown

It was about one year ago that Tripp Keister was making the jump from collegiate coach at Wesley College to his job as manager for the Gulf Coast League Nationals. Now he has been promoted to manage the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Keister believes his purpose and job description really hasn't changed despite the classification jump. "I look forward to being at (Hagerstown)," Keister said this week. "I recognize as a player development staff member your job is still the same: Get these...

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Updates on Walters, Tatusko and Lozada for Leones de Ponce

December 17, 2012, 5:22am

Nationals

Updates on Walters, Tatusko and Lozada for Leones de Ponce

Here are some updates on Leones de Ponce in the Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (offseason league) this past week and how the Nationals' prospects are faring. Third baseman Zach Walters has put together four multi-hit games in his last nine contests, with 10 hits since Dec. 6. He had three hits on Dec. 6 and Dec. 16, plus a pair of base knocks on Dec. 7 and Dec. 14. Over his last 10 games, he is hitting .270 and his overall average is .260 overall with eight doubles and 13 RBIs...

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Look for more action on the bases in 2013

December 16, 2012, 5:24am

Nationals

Look for more action on the bases in 2013

The Nationals weren't a team that relied heavily on speed in 2012. They didn't have to. When healthy, the Nats' starting lineup featured eight guys who have hit at least 15 home runs in a season. Seven of those players have legitimate 25-homer power. The Nats also had a strong overall team on-base percentage, which nearly slotted them in the top third of the league in that category. They were tied for 14th in the league in stolen bases last season, swiping 105 bags. Not bad, but nothing...

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A few William & Mary standouts looking to make Nationals

December 15, 2012, 4:20am

Nationals

A pair of former College of William & Mary standouts, Will Rhymes and Bill Bray, will be looking to make the Nationals out of spring training. Second baseman Rhymes is a non-roster invitee who most recently played for the Tampa Bay Rays. The 5-foot-9, 155-lb. infielder is a career .266 hitter with 23 extra-base hits and 29 RBIs in 130 games. He broke in with the Detroit Tigers in 2010, and played 83 games in Motown. He was MiLB.com organization All-Star with the Tigers for 2010 and has made...

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Some surprising pitching news within the division

December 15, 2012, 6:02am

Nationals

Some surprising pitching news within the division

Given we currently have a free agent market in which Anibal Sanchez, a pitcher coming off a nine-win, 3.86-ERA season, can land a five-year, $80 million deal, it's shocking that the Mets aren't willing to offer R.A. Dickey the two-year, $26 million extension he's seeking. Instead, the Mets are on the verge of dealing the Cy Young Award-winning knuckleballer to the Blue Jays, according to reports, for top catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud and other pieces. I guess this is the move you make...

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A new twist in the LaRoche talks (plus an international signing)

December 13, 2012, 11:38am

Nationals

Yesterday, I wrote about the possible ripple effects of Josh Hamilton leaving the Rangers, and specifically how that could impact Adam LaRoche's chances of re-signing with the Nationals. Well, it's happened. Hamilton has left the Rangers. Hamilton has agreed to a whopping five-year, $125 million deal with the Angels, according to reports. This gives the Angels one of the most lethal offensive trios in recent memory, with Hamilton joining Albert Pujols and Mike Trout near the top of the...

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Source: Daubach to manage Potomac, Keister to Hagerstown in 2013

December 13, 2012, 5:09pm

Nationals

Source: Daubach to manage Potomac, Keister to Hagerstown in 2013

The Nationals will announce their 2013 minor league coaching staff and coordinators later today. A club source told MASNsports.com that the biggest changes are two managerial promotions at the Single-A level. Brian Daubach moves from low Single-A Hagerstown to high Single-A Potomac as manager, while Tripp Keister steps up from the Gulf Coast League Nationals to manage the Suns. Hitting coach Mark Harris has been promoted from Hagerstown to Potomac. Former Potomac manager Brian Rupp moves to...

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The market is starting to play out

December 14, 2012, 6:01am

Nationals

We all know about the so-called "Madden curse," where some football fans believe that a player landing on the cover of the popular "Madden" video game will lead to that player getting injured or having a sub-par season the following year. Does the curse apply to baseball video games, as well? Nationals fans should hope not. Bryce Harper is one of the candidates to grace the cover of "MLB 13: The Show," and the 20-year-old outfielder apparently has already taken part in a campaign shoot...

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Nationals announce 2013 minor league managers, coaches and coordinators

December 14, 2012, 5:18am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today named their minor league managers, coaches and coordinators for the 2013 season. Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone, Director of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Minor League Operations Mark Scialabba made the joint announcement. The Nationals promoted two managers within their system, elevating Brian Daubach from Single-A Hagerstown to High-A Potomac and Tripp Kiester from the Gulf Coast League...

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You'll have to wait longer for Nats' first pick in 2013 draft

December 13, 2012, 9:28am

Nationals

You'll have to wait longer for Nats' first pick in 2013 draft

For the most part, Nationals fans who treat the First-Year Player Draft in June like it was Christmas Day have not had to wait long to open their first present. Since their arrival in D.C. from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals have traditionally drafted pretty high, the reward for usually finishing low in the standings. Take away their choice of Miami Gardens, Fla., prep outfielder Chris Marrero with the 15th selection in the 2006 draft and last year's selection of California...

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Weekly Wrap

December 13, 2012, 4:10pm

Nationals

A week removed from the Winter Meetings, the biggest news out of the Nationals organization is the lack of news. The Nats still have yet to make moves involving Michael Morse and/or Adam LaRoche, who Byron Kerr compares here. Where LaRoche will land for the 2013 season is uncertain, although the Nats said at the Winter Meetings that they were confident he would be back in D.C. Yesterday, the Angels announced that they had reached an agreement on a five-year, $125 million contract with...

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Kimball felt "back to normal" with repaired shoulder in AFL

December 12, 2012, 5:44pm

Nationals

Kimball felt "back to normal" with repaired shoulder in AFL

Although Cole Kimball is always a fierce competitor when he takes the mound, the Nationals told the right-handed reliever that his innings in the Arizona Fall League were more important than the numbers. But if you know Kimball, and if you remember how he pitched for the Nationals in his short 2011 stint, he is never satisfied with just pitching. He wants to go out and win every time. Kimball pitched in 15 innings over 11 games for the AFL's Salt River Rafters, compiling a 4.80 ERA. He...

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What is LaRoche waiting on?

December 12, 2012, 5:19am

Nationals

According to the latest odds put out by the sports book Bovada, the Nationals are tied with the Tigers and Dodgers at 17/2 as the favorites to win the 2013 World Series. I tweeted out that information last night, only to have about five people respond telling me to stop being a jinx. If the Nats lose 100 games next season, you'll know who to blame. I made an appearance on "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" on MASN last night (you can catch the video of my call-in here), and during the...

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Some of this, some of that

December 13, 2012, 6:12am

Nationals

If you're interested in following Jim Riggleman's post-Nationals career path, I've got an update for you. Riggleman has received a promotion from the Reds and will be managing their Triple-A team in Louisville in 2013. He had spent the 2012 season managing the Reds' Double-A affiliate in Pensacola. The former Nats skipper had been talked about as a candidate for the Astros' bench coach job under Bo Porter and my MASNsports.com colleague Roch Kubatko reported that Riggleman was among...

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Garcia's long journey to the majors takes another twist

December 11, 2012, 5:49am

Nationals

Garcia's long journey to the majors takes another twist

If you knew the name of Christian Garcia a year ago, you either are borderline fanatical about the Nationals' minor league system or you are somehow related to the right-handed pitcher. At this time last year, Garcia had wrapped up his first season in the Nationals' organization, appearing in 10 games at short-season Single-A Auburn and one game at Triple-A Syracuse. Garcia pitched well in 2011, posting a 2.66 ERA. He still was pretty low on the organizational depth chart, but at least...

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Tale of the tape: LaRoche vs. Morse

December 11, 2012, 4:37am

Nationals

If Adam LaRoche re-signs with the Nationals, does that mean Michael Morse will be traded? With Denard Span in center field, Bryce Harper in left and Jayson Werth in right, is Morse the first baseman? If that is the case, is LaRoche gone? These questions have been in play for what seems like almost a month, as teams expressed interest in Morse and LaRoche sought a long-term contract from the Nationals and others. Here is a quick look at the tale of the tape: (We see this comparison all the...

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Nats pitchers Detwiler and Stammen to travel on USO holiday tour

December 11, 2012, 7:30am

Nationals

Nats pitchers Detwiler and Stammen to travel on USO holiday tour

Washington Nationals pitchers Ross Detwiler and Craig Stammen will join Washington Capitals forward Matt Hendricks, critically-acclaimed country music singer Kellie Pickler and comedian/CBS "Excused" host Iliza Shlesinger on the 2012 USO holiday tour led by the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey. General Dempsey will lead the group on a seven-day, four-country tour to military venues. Detwiler and Stammen recently concluded their 2012 season with the...

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For Rizzo and Nats, patience preferred over spendthrift ways

December 08, 2012, 9:02am

Nationals

For Rizzo and Nats, patience preferred over spendthrift ways

If you're not an aficionado of Rotisserie League Baseball - yes, capitalized and trademarked, to distinguish it from the generic and bastardized forms of fantasy sports not invented by founding father Dan Okrent - you might be wondering why the Nationals are being so frugal when they've obviously got money to spend and needs to fill. The $13 million they shelled out for one year of Dan Haren is way less than the $100 million-plus that Zack Greinke will command, and it's not like the...

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Comparing Haren with the guy he'll be replacing

December 10, 2012, 5:03am

Nationals

Comparing Haren with the guy he'll be replacing

I'm back from my mini-vacation through Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, three states that I hadn't ever visited prior to last week. I ate lots of fantastic food, heard some excellent live music and drank one or two adult beverages. I could say that I'm happy to now be home, but that would be a bit of a lie, and I wouldn't dare lie to you fine folks. While I was gone, the Nationals' signing of Dan Haren became official. Both the veteran right-hander and his new team claim that...