nationals

Nationals release accelerated development roster

February 20, 2013, 7:10pm

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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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Soriano impresses in first bullpen session as a National

February 18, 2013, 9:03am

Nationals

Soriano impresses in first bullpen session as a National

VIERA, Fla. - This was Rafael Soriano's first bullpen session since arriving at Nationals camp on Saturday, so he wasn't about to overdo it. Soriano took part in some long toss as the Nationals' pitchers warmed up at the start of their workout, then chatted with manager Davey Johnson and pitching coach Steve McCatty, the three men discussing how heavy a workload to give Soriano early in camp. The 33-year-old righty then took a mound about midway down the bullpen 10-pack, two mounds away...

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Various Monday morning odds and ends

February 18, 2013, 3:02am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - He might have a new team's colors on these days, but Michael Morse can still crush a baseball. That apparently hasn't changed. Now a member of the Mariners after being traded out west this offseason, Morse reportedly struck a ball so well during batting practice yesterday that it not only flew over the outfield fence, but also had enough distance to carry a road before coming down in a parking lot beyond left field. Here's a picture of exactly how far Morse's shot reportedly...

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Notes from the first full-squad workout of spring

February 17, 2013, 10:31am

Nationals

Notes from the first full-squad workout of spring

VIERA, Fla. - Players, coaches and reporters braved the elements this morning for the first full-squad workout of Nationals camp, spending about 1 hour, 45 minutes on the minor league fields. OK, so I know low-40s and windy is nothing compared to what those of you up north are dealing with these days. But humor me as I continue a baseball writer's spring training tradition of complaining when the temperature dips below 55 degrees. It was a fairly quiet, low-key workout today; pitchers in the...

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Johnson on Cole Kimball: "I think he's back"

February 17, 2013, 9:18am

Nationals

Johnson on Cole Kimball: "I think he's back"

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals fans got a glimpse of Cole Kimball's immense ability in the early part of the 2011 season. Unfortunately, it was just a brief glimpse. Kimball posted a 1.93 ERA over 12 appearances in 2011, holding hitters to a .174 batting average and not looking at all like an intimidated 25-year-old rookie. A torn rotator cuff derailed Kimball's career, however, costing him the rest of the 2011 campaign and limiting him to just six minor league rehab appearances last season. After...

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Gonzalez to join Team USA for second round of World Baseball Classic

February 17, 2013, 8:44am

Nationals

Gonzalez to join Team USA for second round of World Baseball Classic

VIERA, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez is excited to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, but the Nationals lefty will need to wait until the second round of the tournament before taking the mound for his country. Nats manager Davey Johnson was informed by Team USA pitching coach Greg Maddux that Gonzalez will pitch in the WBC March 12, should Team USA not be eliminated in the initial pool stage. This would allow Gonzalez to make three spring training starts for the Nationals, which Johnson...

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Twenty good minutes with Jayson Werth

February 16, 2013, 10:23am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Jayson Werth arrived at Space Coast Stadium today, took a look around the Nationals clubhouse and liked what he saw. Werth talked with reporters for more than 20 minutes this afternoon, covering a wide range of topics. But one of the first things Werth discussed was how talented the Nationals are. Such comments drew a question about whether Werth had even been on a team that was as complete on paper as this Nats squad. "Has there ever been a team that's this complete on...