Nats-Astros lineups and a few notes

Nats-Astros lineups and a few notes
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Kyle Lohse finally has a team. I guess his days of throwing simulated games against community college squads are over. Lohse agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal with the Brewers, according to reports. He'll now have a solid week to get to know his teammates before opening day. Former Nats starter John Lannan got smacked around a bit today. The Phillies lefty gave up 12 runs on 14 hits over four innings today in a game against the Blue Jays. I guess he was just working...

Some of this, some of that

Some of this, some of that
VIERA, Fla. - After more than five long months of waiting, we only have to wait a bit longer. Opening day is just one week away. Only four more Grapefruit League games down here in Florida (not that anyone's counting or anything), an exhibition against the Yankees at Nationals Park and two off-days stand between the Nationals and their 2013 regular season opener against the Marlins on April 1. I think I can speak for all parties involved here - fans, players and reporters - that the opener...

Garcia to DL, Rivero to Triple-A in Nats cuts

Garcia to DL, Rivero to Triple-A in Nats cuts
The Washington Nationals today placed right-handed pitcher Christian Garcia on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to March 22, with a right forearm tendon injury and outrighted infielder Carlos Rivero to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Rivero will remain in Major League Spring Training. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 31 players in their big league camp.

Hearing from Zimmermann, Harper after rain-shortened win

Hearing from Zimmermann, Harper after rain-shortened win
VIERA, Fla. - The infield here at Space Coast Stadium is currently one giant lake. The grounds crew wasn't able to get the big tarp onto the field before the skies opened up in the top of the eighth inning this afternoon, and the Braves-Nationals game was called with the Nationals officially picking up a 9-3 win after seven innings of play. Jordan Zimmermann battled winds of at least 29 mph to throw six strong innings. In his final Grapefruit League start this spring, Zimmermann allowed...

Rosenbaum returned to Nats, Zimmmermann done after six (game called in eighth)

Rosenbaum returned to Nats, Zimmmermann done after six (game called in eighth)
VIERA, Fla. - Within two days, the Nationals have gotten back both players they lost in the Rule 5 draft this offseason. The Tigers returned infielder Jeff Kobernus to the Nats yesterday, and today, a source confirmed that left-hander Danny Rosenbaum has been returned by the Rockies. Rosenbaum spent last season at Double-A Harrisburg, going 8-10 with a 3.94 ERA. The 25-year-old went 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in eight innings with the Rockies this spring, and after Colorado determined that...

Garcia lands on DL, Rivero outrighted to Triple-A

Garcia lands on DL, Rivero outrighted to Triple-A
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made a couple of roster moves after today's rain-shortened game, placing right-hander Christian Garcia on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm tendon injury and outrighting infielder Carlos Rivero to Triple-A Syracuse. Garcia's DL stint is retroactive to March 22. Rivero had to clear waivers for the Nationals to outright him to Triple-A, and him doing so is a bit of a surprise. The Nats were afraid they'd lose the 24-year-old, but he went unclaimed,...

Young yet to make a decision on future with Nats

Young yet to make a decision on future with Nats
VIERA, Fla. - Chris Young is going to wait at least another day before deciding whether to opt out of his minor league contract with the Nationals. Under the terms of his current deal, Young could choose to opt out of his contract with the Nats today and search for a big league deal on the free agent market, but instead, he's planning on making his scheduled start with the team tomorrow in Kissimmee against the Astros. "I'm going to pitch tomorrow and then we'll evaluate at that point,"...

Zimmermann keeps cruising, Harper keeps raking

Zimmermann keeps cruising, Harper keeps raking
VIERA, Fla. - Think Jordan Zimmermann is ready for games that actually mean something? The guy just finished off a stretch where he had retired 27 hitters in between base hits allowed. Working through a stiff cross wind that is blowing around 25 mph, Zimmermann went the first three innings without surrendering a hit to the Braves this afternoon, facing the minimum over that span. The right-hander allowed a leadoff hit to open his last start, against the Tigers, only to then hold Detroit...

Rodriguez battling elbow soreness, Harper good to play (with lineups)

Rodriguez battling elbow soreness, Harper good to play (with lineups)
VIERA, Fla. - You never know what information will come out of an interview session with Davey Johnson. Today, reporters learned that former Orioles shortstop Mark Belanger never wore a cup. Don't ask how we got there. We also learned that Henry Rodriguez has hit a bit of a snag in his spring throwing progression, and the question now is whether it will at all affect his status for opening day. Rodriguez will not pitch this afternoon against the Braves after experiencing a little elbow...

Scanning the spring stats (with Young note)

Scanning the spring stats (with Young note)
VIERA, Fla. - Stats mean very little in spring. We know this. Ask a player about his sub-par spring training numbers, you're bound to get an eye-roll and a "C'mon, man!" type of look. On the flip side, what's a .375 spring batting average get you? Unless you're competing for a roster spot or a starting job, it'll get you a whole lot of nothing, that's what. That said, it's still interesting to take a look at what guys have accomplished more than a month into spring training games....

Kobernus returned to Nationals

Kobernus returned to Nationals
VIERA, Fla. - Oh, hey there. I'm back. After a few days home, I've returned to Viera ready for the final stretch. The Nats now have just five more days down here before shipping up north to take on the Yankees in an exhibition game at Nationals Park on March 29, and I'll have you covered the rest of the way. Big thanks to Pete Kerzel for filling in for me in my absence. My time away from Florida was actually a bit longer than expected; my flight down to Orlando got hit with a lengthy...

Not official yet, but Syracuse Chiefs roster taking shape

Not official yet, but Syracuse Chiefs roster taking shape
The Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs' roster is taking shape as they get closer to their season opener April 4 at Lehigh Valley. They begin with seven games on the road. The roster is not official and could change before opening day, but this list is a good general idea of what the Chiefs will look like next week. The coaching staff has Tony Beasley as manager, with new addition player/coach Jason Michaels assisting batting coach Troy Gingrich and pitching coach Greg Booker. According to milb.com,...

Nationals lineup vs. Mets (Harper scratched)

Nationals lineup vs. Mets (Harper scratched)
VIERA, Fla - Before I head over to Orlando International Airport for the flight back to Baltimore, I wanted to pass along the Nationals lineup for today's 1:10 p.m. game against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie. Consider it my going away gift to you. MASNsports.com's Dan Kolko will be at Tradition Field this afternoon and will handle coverage duties for the remainder of spring training, through the Nationals' March 29 exhibition game against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park. A...

Strasburg averts scare on Fielder's shot through the box

Strasburg averts scare on Fielder's shot through the box
VIERA, Fla. - As soon as the ball came off Prince Fielder's bat in the fourth inning, Stephen Strasburg immediately knew two things: The screamer was coming right at him, and he had a shot to catch it. The ball hit him, and he didn't snag it. And as it caromed into short center field for a single, all eyes turned to the mound as Nationals personnel descended upon the ace to make sure he was OK. It was the kind of reaction play that can either be a pitcher's best friend or worst enemy....

Espinosa's groundball approach paying dividends (Soriano, Rodriguez notes)

Espinosa's groundball approach paying dividends (Soriano, Rodriguez notes)
VIERA, Fla. - Want to get a good indication of just how well Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa is hitting in spring training? Check out his batting practice session and see how many sharp ground balls are rocketing off his bat. A 1-for-3 day in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Tigers upped his Grapefruit League batting average to .316, and continued to dispel any worries about Espinosa's decision to strengthen his torn left rotator cuff instead of opting for offseason surgery. He's been...

Except for home run, Strasburg in command (Nats lose 4-3)

Except for home run, Strasburg in command (Nats lose 4-3)
VIERA, Fla. - It seems odd to see the 0-2 record next to Stephen Strasburg's name on the stats sheet. The 4.66 ERA he toted into today's game against the Tigers looks a little strange, too. But then again, this is spring training and the stats here don't count. What's that old baseball adage about not making player personnel judgments based on statistics from March or September? Through three innings in his sixth spring start, Strasburg has looked pretty much in command, save for the...

Kimball, Accardo cut from Nats camp (plus Young note)

Kimball, Accardo cut from Nats camp (plus Young note)
VIERA, Fla. - First pitch in the Tigers-Nationals game is 20 minutes way, but the Nats have made two more cuts. Right-hander Cole Kimball has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, while right-hander Jeremy Accardo has been reassigned to minor league camp. Kimball, in his first camp since right shoulder surgery performed in July 2011, pitched to a 2.84 ERA in seven relief appearances this spring. He hasn't pitched since March 13 because of tightness in his back and was scheduled to throw a...

Soriano hurting, pushed back to Saturday (plus Rivero, Duke, Kimball notes)

Soriano hurting, pushed back to Saturday (plus Rivero, Duke, Kimball notes)
VIERA, Fla. - Closer Rafael Soriano, less than a day removed from a root canal to treat an infected wisdom tooth, will not pitch as scheduled today against the Tigers. "He's recovering from a long day in the dentist's chair. ... He'll be pitching tomorrow," manager Davey Johnson said. "Talking to him earlier today, he's not feeling ready to go." Johnson said the delay won't affect his plans to pitch Soriano in back-to-back games by the end of spring training. While Soriano's a lock...

Nationals trim spring training roster to 32

Nationals trim spring training roster to 32
The Washington Nationals today optioned right-handed pitcher Cole Kimball to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and re-assigned right-handed pitcher Jeremy Accardo to minor league camp. Earlier today, the Nationals agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher J.C. Romero 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 announcements. The Nationals currently...

Nationals ink J.C. Romero to minor league deal with invite to big league camp

Nationals ink J.C. Romero to minor league deal with invite to big league camp
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals' search for left-handed relief help has taken them in a familiar direction. This morning, the club signed veteran J.C. Romero to a minor league deal with an invitation to the final days of big league spring training. The Nationals scouted Romero during his recent stint with the Puerto Rican entry in the World Baseball Classic, where he worked to a 3.86 ERA in five games and demonstrated improved velocity. "We're going to give J.C. an opportunity to see if he can...