nationals

New Caps fan Detwiler promises to be Rocking the Red

January 14, 2013, 8:08am

Ross Detwiler loves the puck. It's not unusual to see a throwback lid resting on the shelf of his locker, and his love of the St. Louis Blues stems from growing up in St. Louis. So what was the Nationals lefty doing over the weekend at Kettler Capitals Iceplex for a Capitals practice? Turns out the longtime Blues fan may be switching allegiances. During the USO Holiday Tour - in which a group of athletes including Nationals teammate Craig Stammen traversed four countries, visiting military...

Comments

Tags:

craig stammen national buzz nationals ross detwiler washington capitals

To tinker or not to tinker? That's the question

January 14, 2013, 5:07am

Nationals

To tinker or not to tinker? That's the question

Given the state of the Nationals' roster going into this offseason, general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson could have essentially run out pretty much the exact same team in 2013. They could have left Bryce Harper in center field and put Michael Morse in left. They could have kept Jayson Werth as their leadoff hitter, given the high on-base percentage Werth put up last season in that spot. They could have offered Edwin Jackson a qualifying offer or made an effort to re-up the...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko denard span edwin jackson michael morse mike rizzo nationals featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Daubach on the Dominican and updates Perez, Skole and Burns

January 12, 2013, 5:41am

Nationals

Daubach on the Dominican and updates Perez, Skole and Burns

High Single-A Potomac Nationals manager Brian Daubach recently completed winter ball as the hitting coach for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic. Daubach worked with 30 hitters from several teams, including Nationals outfielder Eury Perez. Daubach said their is nothing like baseball in the Dominican. He said the way the fans get into the games, being right on top of the action, reacting to every pitch and every swing, makes it feel like every game is a must-win. "It is pretty...

Comments

Tags:

brian daubach byron kerr eury perez hagerstown suns leones del escogido matt skole nationals potomac nationals frontstory_nationals2

Examining the Morse market

January 11, 2013, 6:10am

Nationals

The Tampa Bay Rays have been mentioned around baseball as one team that could look to make a deal for Nationals left fielder/first baseman Michael Morse. Joe Maddon's team is still looking for more offense, and the Rays have pitching that could be dealt in order to bring in a middle-of-the-order bat. The Baltimore Orioles seem to make a lot of sense for Morse, as well, given their needs, and could potentially make a run at the 30-year-old slugger. The New York Yankees are reportedly...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Baseball America's Nats No. 1 prospect: Anthony Rendon

January 11, 2013, 8:43am

Nationals

Baseball America's Nats No. 1 prospect: Anthony Rendon

When Anthony Rendon was first selected by the Nationals, there was a lot of excitement about his potential and how his quick hands and lightning reflexes in the batter's box would translate to the pro level. That excitement was tempered a bit when Rendon went down in April with a fractured ankle in a Single-A game at Lynchburg. Despite that ankle injury, Rendon came on strong and showed consistency in the field, which sets up for an exciting full season ahead. And the incredible potential...

Comments

Tags:

aaron fitt anthony rendon baseball america byron kerr nationals frontstory_nationals2

A hodgepodge of random notes (Nats sign Ohlendorf, West)

January 10, 2013, 8:28am

Nationals

A hodgepodge of random notes (Nats sign Ohlendorf, West)

Lost in all the Adam LaRoche/Michael Morse stuff the other day, I forgot to mention that it looks like the Nationals will have a new speedy outfielder wearing jersey No. 2 this season. Denard Span tweeted that he will be wearing No. 2 with the Nationals, which was his number while playing with the Twins. The previous owner of that jersey number, Roger Bernadina, apparently has agreed to part ways with it. Span tweeted that Bernadina was "very gracious" in giving up the number. So there...

Comments

Tags:

brandon mann dan kolko denard span javier vasquez mike rizzo nationals roger bernadina frontstory_nationals1

Weekly Wrap

January 10, 2013, 4:52pm

Nationals

For weeks now, I have been recapping the offseason news around the Nationals organization, which is brought to you by MASNsports.com's Dan Kolko and Byron Kerr. While there has been much news this winter, each week, my fingers typed something having to do with the lack of news regarding Adam LaRoche. But now, this week, I can officially say that the first baseman will be back in The District for the next two seasons. LaRoche, who won his first Gold Glove in 2012, and the Nats agreed to a...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite weekly wrap

MASN to air six Nats exhibition games

January 09, 2013, 9:39pm

Nationals

Even if your boss, significant other or parental unit won't allow you to make a trip down to Viera, Fla., to see a few Nationals spring training games in person, you'll have a chance to catch a number of Nats exhibition games on the small screen. I know, I know. It's not anywhere near the same thing, but for those of you starved for baseball, I'm sure it'll do. MASN HD will be airing six exhibition games this spring, five of which will take place at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. The TV...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

LaRoche was "fighting to get back" to Nationals

January 09, 2013, 8:48am

Nationals

One day after agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with the Nationals, first baseman Adam LaRoche said that despite other offers, he knew this was the place he wanted to be. There were negotiations with the Nationals and with some other teams, but one reason LaRoche did not accept something comparable was because the Nats already had a good team, and he felt most comfortable playing for them. "One of the big ones was I was fighting to get back to Washington," LaRoche said during a...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche byron kerr nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Let's look more at the lack of lefties (updated with Hall of Fame note)

January 09, 2013, 7:50am

Nationals

Let's look more at the lack of lefties (updated with Hall of Fame note)

Back at the Winter Meetings in December, Davey Johnson said that he'd ideally like to add another left-handed reliever to his bullpen, giving him better match-up options late in games. General manager Mike Rizzo echoed that sentiment, but said that the Nationals don't necessarily need to add a late-inning lefty. Rizzo's reasoning was that with Tyler Clippard, Craig Stammen and Ryan Mattheus in the Nationals' bullpen, Johnson has three righties who possess good track records against...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko mike rizzo nationals frontstory_nationals3

The waiting is working

January 06, 2013, 4:13am

Nationals

If the Rangers were considered a possible landing spot for Adam LaRoche a couple days ago, it's hard to believe they still are today. Texas reportedly has agreed to terms with first baseman/outfielder Lance Berkman on a one-year, $11 million contract, a deal which includes a vesting option for 2014. Berkman, a switch-hitter, gives the Rangers more pop from the left side of the plate and a guy that they can rotate in at a few positions. This deal comes after the Rangers signed left-handed...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche dan kolko nationals frontstory_nationals1

Baseball America's Nats No. 2 prospect: Lucas Giolito

January 09, 2013, 2:43am

Nationals

Baseball America's Nats No. 2 prospect: Lucas Giolito

The baseball recovery clock from Tommy John started on Aug. 31, 2012, for Lucas Giolito. But before that day, the Nationals and baseball gurus got a small window into the immense potential that made Giolito the team's No. 1 selection in the 2012 draft. The 6-foot-6, 225-lb., flame throwing right-hander out of Santa Monica, Calif., pitched two innings for Gulf Coast Nationals and then-manager Tripp Keister saw quickly why the Nationals have such high hopes for the 18-year-old. Giolito was...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr gulf coast nationals hagerstown suns lucas giolito nationals tripp keister frontstory_nationals2

What we learned about Rizzo from the LaRoche negotiations

January 09, 2013, 7:28am

Nationals

What we learned about Rizzo from the LaRoche negotiations

The weeks-long staredown between Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and first baseman Adam LaRoche has concluded, with the free agent getting the two-year deal the Nats offered rather than the three-year contract he sought. What did we learn from these negotiations? (First, let's just agree that we can call them negotiations, even though there was precious little give and take. Rizzo drew a line in the sand, didn't waver and basically forced LaRoche's hand. It wasn't exactly a...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche michael morse mike rizzo nationals nationals buzz pete kerzel frontstory_nationals1

Rizzo talks LaRoche signing, Morse trade options

January 08, 2013, 12:52pm

Nationals

Rizzo talks LaRoche signing, Morse trade options

After a few months of extended talks which saw little actual negotiating, the Nationals and Adam LaRoche today agreed on a two-year contract worth a guaranteed $24 million, a deal which brings one player in but will almost certainly send another out. LaRoche returns for the 2013 and 2014 seasons and has a mutual option for 2015, as well. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo viewed LaRoche as his "Plan A" all offseason, and today, he finally brought back the Gold Glove- and Silver...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche dan kolko michael morse mike rizzo nationals frontstory_nationals3

Why move Morse?

January 08, 2013, 8:26pm

Nationals

In the wake of the news that Adam LaRoche has signed a two-year deal with the Nationals worth a guaranteed $24 million, the most popular question among fans, by far, seems to be the following: Why would the Nats trade Michael Morse? Morse has become a popular guy with teammates and fans over the last couple years, thanks largely to his offensive production (it's tough to dislike a guy who hit .303 with a .910 OPS and 31 home runs two seasons ago), but also because of his quirky, fun-loving...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche dan kolko michael morse mike rizzo nationals featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

LaRoche returns to Nats on a two-year deal (deal is official)

January 08, 2013, 7:23am

Nationals

LaRoche returns to Nats on a two-year deal (deal is official)

It took a while, but the Nationals have gotten the guy they wanted all along. After lengthy negotiations centering around the length of a deal, the Nats and first baseman Adam LaRoche have agreed to terms on a two-year contract, a source has confirmed. LaRoche, who won Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger awards for his performance this last season, gives the Nationals great lefty-righty balance in their lineup and keeps their strong infield defense intact. LaRoche led the Nationals with 33...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1

Nationals agree to terms with 1B Adam LaRoche on two-year contract with mutual option for '15

January 08, 2013, 11:27am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with first baseman Adam LaRoche on a two-year contract with a mutual option for the 2015 season. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. LaRoche led all MLB first basemen in 2012 with a career-best 33 home runs and 69 extra-base hits in a fantastic two-way campaign that included a .271 batting average, 35 doubles, a career high-tying 100 RBIs, 67 walks, an .853 OPS, as well as...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Nats to host Yankees for March 29 exhibition

January 08, 2013, 9:15am

Nationals

Nats to host Yankees for March 29 exhibition

The Nationals made an announcement a couple minutes ago, but it in no way relates to Adam LaRoche re-signing, Michael Morse's future or anything along those lines. Because LaRoche needs to fly to D.C. for a physical before his new two-year contract can be finalized, we'll probably have to wait a day or two before the Nationals make a formal announcement that they've reached a deal with the first baseman. Instead, this bit of news concerns an exhibition between the Nats and the Yankees,...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals yankees frontstory_nationals3

Nationals announce 2013 exhibition game vs. New York Yankees

January 08, 2013, 9:01am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals will host the New York Yankees in an exhibition game at Nationals Park on Friday, March 29, 2013 at 2:05 p.m. Details for the team's 2013 season ticket plans are available online at nationals.com/2013. Tickets to see the Nationals take on the Yankees are included in all full, half or partial season ticket plans. In addition, tickets will be included in select mini and flex plans to be released in the coming weeks before single game tickets go on sale to the general...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Looking at the Suzuki/Ramos situation

January 08, 2013, 6:45am

Nationals

In past years, the Nationals have entered spring training with a number of jobs up for grabs. Position players have battled for starting roles, pitchers have competed for spots in the rotation or a seat in the bullpen and guys lower down the depth chart have tried to merely get their name on the 25-man roster. This spring, we'll see some of that; a couple of bullpen jobs will be there for the taking, and a seat on the bench can possibly be won with a strong effort in camp, as well. For the...