nationals

Three Nats, one inning, nine pitches, three strikeouts

March 16, 2013, 4:57am

VIERA, Fla. - A two-run loss to the Dominican Republic two nights ago and a one-run loss to Puerto Rico last night, and that's it for Team USA. The World Baseball Classic is over for the American squad. Team USA will not be a part of the semifinal round, with the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Japan and the Netherlands making up the four teams left fighting for the WBC title. Gio Gonzalez and Ross Detwiler will report back to the Nationals, while Roger Bernadina (Netherlands) and Eury...

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Haren: "I had slop out there. It was embarrassing" (plus Johnson quotes)

March 15, 2013, 12:26pm

Nationals

Haren: "I had slop out there. It was embarrassing" (plus Johnson quotes)

JUPITER, Fla. - Dan Haren sure doesn't sugarcoat things. The veteran right-hander allowed five runs on six hits over five frames today in a 5-1 loss to the Cardinals, and as reporters approached to ask about his outing, Haren cracked a smile and tossed out a few obscenities. With his typical brutally honest and incredibly self-aware style, he then started delving into his issues on the mound today. "That was just one of those days, man," Haren said. "I felt like I was throwing a...

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Haren hit around in the first (Nats lose)

March 15, 2013, 9:32am

Nationals

Haren hit around in the first (Nats lose)

JUPITER, Fla. - Five batters into the bottom of the first inning here at Roger Dean Stadium, it was already 4-0 Cardinals. Dan Haren gave up a solo home run to Jon Jay on a 3-2 pitch to open the game, marking the second straight day a Nationals starter surrendered a leadoff homer. Chris Young did the same yesterday. Haren then gave up back-to-back singles to Daniel Descalso and Matt Carpenter, and after getting Ty Wigginton to pop out to second, Haren served up a three-run shot to Matt...

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Zimmerman could make spring debut at third base tomorrow (rotation notes)

March 15, 2013, 8:44am

Nationals

Zimmerman could make spring debut at third base tomorrow (rotation notes)

JUPITER, Fla. - Joe Namath is in the house today at Roger Dean Stadium. The New York Jets legend, who apparently lives nearby, walked onto the field right as the Nationals started taking batting practice, and stood near the cage with former Orioles star and MASN broadcaster Jim Palmer. Davey Johnson and Steve McCatty both came up to the group at various points to chat it up. Johnson played alongside, and is good friends with, Palmer. Not a bad trio there - an NFL Hall of Famer in Namath, a...

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Some of this, some of that

March 15, 2013, 4:18am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Ross Detwiler was on normal rest yesterday, but the Nationals left-hander didn't get the call during Team USA's 3-1 loss to the Dominican Republic in last night's World Baseball Classic. Team USA starter R.A. Dickey went five innings in the loss, so there wasn't much need for another multiple-inning guy. Manager Joe Torre went to five different relievers last night, none of whom worked more than 1 1/3 innings. The Americans will have an elimination game against Puerto Rico...

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Weekly Wrap: Starters making noise in spring training and WBC

March 14, 2013, 7:39pm

Nationals

Weekly Wrap: Starters making noise in spring training and WBC

While the Nationals continue holding camp in Viera, Fla., a few players made themselves known on the big stage, participating in the World Baseball Classic. Pitchers Ross Detwiler and Gio Gonzalez pitched four and five scoreless innings, respectively, for Team USA, both of which led to victories. On Wednesday, fellow hurler Stephen Strasburg was officially named the Nats' opening day starter. While Strasburg is a lock, the catcher's position is looking more open, with Wilson Ramos ahead of...

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Johnson on Young and Owings: "Those are veteran guys who are opening some eyes"

March 14, 2013, 1:57pm

Nationals

Johnson on Young and Owings: "Those are veteran guys who are opening some eyes"

VIERA, Fla. - Chris Young provided a solid four innings on the mound, Micah Owings provided the pop. The Nationals beat the Astros 6-3 this afternoon in large part due to the efforts of a 33-year-old pitcher and a 30-year-old pitcher-turned-position-player who are both in camp on minor league deals. Young threw four innings of one-run ball this afternoon. Outside of a leadoff homer that came on his fourth pitch of the game, Young did well to hold the Astros without a run, working out of a...

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Nats, Cardinals lineups

March 15, 2013, 6:46am

Nationals

JUPITER, Fla. - We've got a pretty good pitching matchup here at Roger Dean Stadium today, as Dan Haren and Adam Wainwright will take the mound this afternoon. The Nationals faced Wainwright here back on March 2 and smacked him around to the tune of five runs (four earned) on eight hits over three innings. Haren has looked pretty sharp this spring, and has felt like he's progressed a bit from start to start. We'll see how he fares today against a Cards lineup that has a handful of...

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Nationals pitching prospects Demny, Clay, Treinen, Encarnacion and Pineyro updates from camp

March 14, 2013, 12:11pm

Nationals

Right-hander Paul Demny has come to the accelerated development camp looking good and ready to pick up where he left off following his play in the Arizona Fall League. "He looks like he is in better shape," said Harrisburg Senators pitching coach Paul Menhart. "He took a couple of weeks off after the Arizona Fall League and came in here in really good shape. His arm is healthy. I expect big things out of him this year." Here are updates on a pair of newcomers to the Nationals...

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Owings goes yard, Young happy with his progress (Nats win)

March 14, 2013, 12:08pm

Nationals

Owings goes yard, Young happy with his progress (Nats win)

VIERA, Fla. - Micah Owings' power is as advertised. Owings crushed a grand slam way out to right field in the seventh inning, his second home run of spring, giving the Nationals a 6-3 lead. A former pitcher attempting to make the transition to a position player, Owings has really impressed with his bat this spring. He now is batting .368 in 19 at-bats, and five of his seven hits are for extra bases. Owings needs to work on his defense at first base and the outfield, and prove that he can...

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Young's done, Werth homers, Zimmerman continues to impress (Soriano update)

March 14, 2013, 10:53am

Nationals

Young's done, Werth homers, Zimmerman continues to impress (Soriano update)

VIERA, Fla. - After his last spring outing, his first in a Nationals uniform, Chris Young called his performance "erratic," saying that he would follow up a solid string of pitches with a handful of disappointing pitches in a row. Young was a little better today, bouncing back from surrendering a leadoff homer to open the game and throwing four solid innings. The veteran right-hander leaves with a 2-1 lead. He allowed four hits and two walks, striking out three. Young threw 72 pitches, 43...

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Johnson discusses Rendon's role this season, other cuts

March 14, 2013, 6:53am

Nationals

Johnson discusses Rendon's role this season, other cuts

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals officially sent seven players to minor league camp today, a group that includes infielders Anthony Rendon and Matt Skole and right-hander Nathan Karns. None of those three had a legitimate chance to make the Nationals' 25-man roster out of spring training, but all three still made good use of their time in big league camp. Rendon was the one who turned the most heads; the 22-year-old - who is the Nationals' top prospect - hit the cover off the ball this spring,...

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More on the catching competition

March 14, 2013, 9:15am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Earlier today, I wrote about Wilson Ramos working his way back into the conversation about who should be the Nationals' starting catcher on opening day. Until recently, it hadn't actually been much of a conversation. The job was Kurt Suzuki's, both because of the way Suzuki performed down the stretch last season and also because Ramos wasn't expected to be ready to handle a starting workload on April 1, less than 11 months after he tore the ACL and meniscus in his right...

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Perez, Karns, Leon and Rendon among Nats' cuts from spring camp

March 14, 2013, 7:03am

Nationals

Perez, Karns, Leon and Rendon among Nats' cuts from spring camp

The Washington Nationals today optioned outfielder Eury Perez to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and right-handed pitcher Nathan Karns, catcher Sandy Leon and infielder Anthony Rendon to Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. Additionally, the Nationals re-assigned left-handed pitcher Pat McCoy and infielders Will Rhymes and Matt Skole to minor league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. The...

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Ramos putting himself in the conversation for opening day starting job

March 14, 2013, 4:10am

Nationals

Ramos putting himself in the conversation for opening day starting job

VIERA, Fla. - Chris Young will get his second start of spring this afternoon as the Nationals host the Astros at Space Coast Stadium. Those in attendance this afternoon will also get to catch Rafael Soriano, Henry Rodriguez and Tyler Clippard, all three of whom are scheduled to take the mound today. Young will be throwing to Wilson Ramos, who will be behind the plate for the second straight day. This will mark Ramos' first time catching back-to-back games since tearing the ACL and meniscus...

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Rendon among Nats' cuts (updated with more cuts)

March 14, 2013, 5:46am

Nationals

Rendon among Nats' cuts (updated with more cuts)

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals sent four more players over to minor league camp this morning, according to a team source: infielders Anthony Rendon and Matt Skole, right-hander Nathan Karns and left-hander Pat McCoy. Update: In addition to the four players listed above, infielder Will Rhymes, catcher Sandy Leon and outfielder Eury Perez have also been sent to minor league camp, manager Davey Johnson announced. Rendon, Karns and Leon were optioned to Double-A Harrisburg, Perez was optioned to...

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Harper not getting carried away by red-hot spring

March 13, 2013, 1:55pm

Nationals

Harper not getting carried away by red-hot spring

VIERA, Fla. - It would appear that Bryce Harper is as locked in as locked in can be right now. The Nationals left fielder has 16 hits in 36 spring at-bats, good for a .444 average. After pulling a three-run home run over the right-center field fence today, Harper has three homers, two doubles and a triple this spring. He's slugging a ridiculous .806 in 13 games played. Ask Harper about his approach at the plate, however, and he'll manage to find something that irks him. "I don't know. I...

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Johnson on Storen, Harper, Ramos and more after Nats' 8-5 win

March 13, 2013, 1:13pm

Nationals

Johnson on Storen, Harper, Ramos and more after Nats' 8-5 win

VIERA, Fla. - So much for that dead-arm phase that Jordan Zimmermann was going through. Two days after notching a hole-in-one during a team par-3 team golf tournament, the first ace of his life, Zimmermann found a pretty good groove on the mound against the Mets, allowing just one earned run (three runs total) over 4 2/3 innings, with six strikeouts. "Jordan threw the heck out of the ball," manager Davey Johnson said. "Threw the ball great. Threw some good change-ups. Got 80 pitches in, I...

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Harper still streaking in spring (Nats beat Mets 8-5, beat Astros 9-7)

March 13, 2013, 9:58am

Nationals

Harper still streaking in spring (Nats beat Mets 8-5, beat Astros 9-7)

VIERA, Fla. - Not that kind of streaking. Take it easy. Bryce Harper continues to hit the cover off the baseball this spring, only elevating expectations for what could be to come in his second major league season. Harper crushed a three-run homer off Mets right-hander Matt Harvey in the first inning today, smoking a ball over the advertisements above the right-center field wall. It was Harper's third home run this spring and made him 15-for-33 during the Grapefruit League season. That's a...

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Stephen Strasburg named Nats' opening day starter

March 13, 2013, 6:48am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg named Nats' opening day starter

VIERA, Fla. - In no way is this a surprise, but Stephen Strasburg will be the Nationals' opening day starter for the second straight season. It's been clear for some time now that Strasburg was lining up to get the ball for April 1 against the Marlins at Nationals Park. Strasburg's spring training pitching schedule has him set to be on normal rest come April 1, and the right-hander has looked sharp in his four spring starts to this point. Manager Davey Johnson finally made the announcement...