nationals

Johnson on Detwiler and Ramos, plus Ramos on his return

March 03, 2013, 1:31pm

VIERA, Fla. - Not only did Wilson Ramos make his long-awaited return to game action, he also played an integral part in the Nationals' walk-off win over the Cardinals. Appearing in his first game since tearing the ACL and meniscus in his right knee last May 12, Ramos went 1-for-2, grounding out to third in his first at-bat and then doubling off the base of the right-center field wall leading off the bottom of the ninth. Sandy Leon was called upon to pinch-run for Ramos, and after he moved to...

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Hearing from Detwiler after his final pre-WBC outing (Nats walk off with win)

March 03, 2013, 11:05am

Nationals

Hearing from Detwiler after his final pre-WBC outing (Nats walk off with win)

VIERA, Fla. - We've got a 5-5 game here in Viera, as the Cardinals responded to Chad Tracy's two-run homer in the sixth with three runs of their own off Brandon Mann in the top of the seventh. Tracy's longball was his first of spring and gave the Nationals four home runs in their last two games. Wilson Ramos just stepped in for his first at-bat since tearing his ACL and meniscus last May 12, and after looking at fastball for strike one, Ramos bounced out to third base. He got a nice hand...

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Nationals trim spring camp roster to 50

March 03, 2013, 12:31pm

Nationals

Following today's game, the Washington Nationals re-assigned left-handed pitchers Bill Bray, Brandon Mann and Will Ohman and right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark to minor-league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 50 players in their big league camp.

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Detwiler done after two in final WBC tune-up (Zimmerman notches first RBI)

March 03, 2013, 9:05am

Nationals

Detwiler done after two in final WBC tune-up (Zimmerman notches first RBI)

VIERA, Fla. - Battling a stiff wind and cool conditions, Ross Detwiler pitched two innings of one-run ball in his final appearance for the Nationals before leaving to join Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Detwiler allowed back-to-back singles to open the game, then struck out the side, with Matt Carpenter, Ty Wigginton and Matt Adams all going down swinging. In the second, Detwiler again allowed two straight singles to start the frame. The Cardinals plated a run when Justin Christian...

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Wilson Ramos: "I feel like I'm a ballplayer again"

March 03, 2013, 7:29am

Nationals

Wilson Ramos: "I feel like I'm a ballplayer again"

VIERA, Fla. - A few minutes before I went over to Wilson Ramos' locker to have a brief chat with the Nationals catcher this morning, he met with manager Davey Johnson. In that meeting, Johnson told Ramos that the team's medical staff had cleared the 25-year-old to begin playing in Grapefruit League games. That in itself was great news. But Johnson then told Ramos that he would get one at-bat as the DH in this afternoon's game against the Cardinals, marking his first appearance in a game...

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Zimmerman, Ramos to make spring debuts; Rodriguez, Garcia updates (and lineups)

March 03, 2013, 6:14am

Nationals

Zimmerman, Ramos to make spring debuts; Rodriguez, Garcia updates (and lineups)

VIERA, Fla. - It's a brisk 48 degrees with a stiff breeze here at Space Coast Stadium this morning, weather that led Nationals players to snatch up beanies and ear sleeves in the clubhouse and toss on their windbreakers before taking the field for delayed warm-ups. A few of the Nats' veteran position players sent 11-year-old Drake LaRoche into manager Davey Johnson's office to ask if they could hit in the cages instead of taking a full batting practice on the field, both because of the...

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What a difference a year's made for Nationals' Zach Duke

March 03, 2013, 4:12am

Nationals

It was about this time last season everything changed for Zach Duke. Last season, he struggled in Houston Astros camp and was eventually released. Two days later, he was picked up by the Nationals. After battling to regain his consistency and break on his best pitches, he worked his way back to the majors. Oh, he did work all right. Duke went 15-5 with a 3.51 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse. The left-hander made 26 starts, and had two complete games and a shutout over 164 1/3 innings. He had 91...

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Johnson on Gonzalez's outing, Nats' power surge and Storen's inning (Perez to play in WBC)

March 02, 2013, 11:43am

Nationals

Johnson on Gonzalez's outing, Nats' power surge and Storen's inning (Perez to play in WBC)

JUPITER, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez didn't seem to think a strikeout-less outing was anything abnormal for him, given the circumstances today. Neither did his manager, Davey Johnson. Johnson attributed some of Gonzalez's issues with a lack of command of his secondary pitches to the conditions. It was a cool (by Florida standards) and breezy day in Jupiter today, leaving Gonzalez's hands dry and the ball a little slick. "He really didn't have a good feel for the ball because it was a little...

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Having some leftovers for breakfast

March 03, 2013, 3:16am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Yesterday, it was the Cardinals loading up their lineup with regulars, giving Gio Gonzalez a tough test on the road while the Nationals' batting order was filled mostly with backups and minor leaguers. The script will be flipped this afternoon at Space Coast Stadium, as the Nationals should have nearly all their starters in their lineup against the Cardinals and left-hander Jaime Garcia. Ryan Zimmerman will make his spring debut as the Nationals' DH today, and Bryce Harper,...

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From D.C. to Japan and back

February 25, 2013, 8:34am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - A few years ago, Brandon Mann was living in the Washington D.C., area, watching Stephen Strasburg dominate in his first season in the majors while Mann tried to scrap together a career on the diamond himself. A former 27th-round pick of the Rays, Mann's baseball journey took him from Double-A ball in 2009 to Independent League ball in 2010 to Japan in 2011. The left-hander played two the last two years for the Yokohama Bay Stars in Japan, working his way up from the minors to...

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Gonzalez speaks after a strikeout-less outing (Nats win 6-2)

March 02, 2013, 10:42am

Nationals

Gonzalez speaks after a strikeout-less outing (Nats win 6-2)

JUPITER, Fla. - While reporters were talking to Gio Gonzalez about his outing, Anthony Rendon ripped a double to center. Rendon now has two home runs and three doubles in seven games and is batting .438. Decent, I guess. Nathan Karns labored a bit through a scoreless fourth inning and Ryan Perry followed with three shutout innings of his own. Drew Storen is now on to work the eighth with the Nats leading 6-2. It's incredibly rare, even in spring, to see a pitching line next to Gonzalez's...

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Rendon goes yard again as Nats pile it on early (Gonzalez goes three)

March 02, 2013, 8:49am

Nationals

Rendon goes yard again as Nats pile it on early (Gonzalez goes three)

JUPITER, Fla. - Davey Johnson has stated unequivocally that Anthony Rendon has no shot of making the Nationals' opening day roster. Rendon doesn't seem to be letting that bit of news affect him in the least. The 22-year-old infielder just crushed his second home run of the spring, a long fly to dead center that bounced high off the batter's eye. It was a two-run shot, giving the Nationals a 4-1 lead heading to the third. Rendon now is 6-for-14 this spring and four of his hits have been...

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Ramos update and other pregame notes (with lineups)

March 02, 2013, 7:35am

Nationals

Ramos update and other pregame notes (with lineups)

JUPITER, Fla. - After getting examined by medical director Dr. Wiemi Douoguih this morning, catcher Wilson Ramos has been cleared to take part in some sliding drills back at the Nationals' complex at Space Coast Stadium, according to manager Davey Johnson. This will mark the first time sliding for Ramos since undergoing surgery to repair a torn right ACL and meniscus last summer. Ramos typically tucks his right leg when he slides, which has him a little worried about how the knee will...

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Bernadina posts two RBIs in WBC debut, Wang excels

March 02, 2013, 6:07am

Nationals

Bernadina posts two RBIs in WBC debut, Wang excels

JUPITER, Fla. - Spoiler alert: I'm about to provide updates of the Netherlands/Korea World Baseball Classic game, which is apparently airing on a time delay on MLB Network. I got scolded on Twitter by one fan who said that I ruined the game by posting an update on Roger Bernadina, so be warned, everyone. If you're really into the game on TV and don't want me to spoil your entire morning, stop reading now. Batting third in the Netherlands' lineup, Bernadina went 1-for-5 with a double and...

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What an improved changeup could mean for Zimmermann, plus plans for Rendon

March 02, 2013, 3:25am

Nationals

What an improved changeup could mean for Zimmermann, plus plans for Rendon

VIERA, Fla. - We've been here before, with Jordan Zimmermann feeling like he's turned a corner with his changeup, so to speak. Zimmermann has been working on his changeup for three straight years, hoping to get it to the point that he has enough confidence in the pitch to use it in games. Last year, Zimmermann thought he was at that point. He worked on the changeup for much of the early part of spring, felt it was improving, and then barely touched it during the regular season. That led...

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Johnson: Rendon has no chance of breaking camp with Nats

March 01, 2013, 12:33pm

Nationals

Johnson: Rendon has no chance of breaking camp with Nats

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Based on all we know about Anthony Rendon and the makeup of the Nationals' roster, it was probably safe to assume that Rendon has no shot at making the team out of camp this year. After all, Rendon has only 133 career professional at-bats under his belt, and he batted just .162 in 21 games at Double-A Harrisburg last year, the highest level he saw in 2012. Rendon, the Nationals' top pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, has battled injuries for much of the last...

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Johnson talks Zimmermann, Clippard after Nats win

March 01, 2013, 4:43pm

Nationals

Johnson talks Zimmermann, Clippard after Nats win

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - It looked for a second like the Braves were going to tie tonight's game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Jordan Parraz singled up the middle just behind the second base bag. Joey Terdoslavich (boy, what a name that is) made a turn around third and was ready to head for home, but Nationals second baseman Will Rhymes made a diving stop of the ball, hopped to his feet and kept Terdoslavich at third. One pitch later, reliever Jeremy Accardo got Elmer Reyes...

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Zimmermann loving how his changeup has progressed (Nats win)

March 01, 2013, 3:54pm

Nationals

Zimmermann loving how his changeup has progressed (Nats win)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Jordan Zimmermann has been working on his changeup for three years now. He's struggled to get a good feel of the pitch in the past, had issues finding the right arm action and searched for the proper velocity to maximize the changeup's effectiveness. Zimmermann didn't trust his changeup last year, and therefore threw it just 2.2 percent of the time. And now? "It feels really, really good right now," Zimmermann said following tonight's start against the Braves....

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Clippard's spring debut a strong one, Rendon in at short

March 01, 2013, 2:57pm

Nationals

Clippard's spring debut a strong one, Rendon in at short

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Tyler Clippard took a while before getting into a spring game, but once he did, he looked just like his old self. Clippard pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning tonight, striking out Christian Bethancourt swinging for the second out of the frame. The right-hander threw nine pitches, seven for strikes. He threw three changeups, by my count. That pitch is still nasty, even on March 1. We got a bit of a surprise in the sixth when Anthony Rendon trotted out to shortstop to take...

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Harper mashes, Young's schedule is set

March 01, 2013, 12:55pm

Nationals

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Every time the Nationals make the trip here to face the Braves, I look forward to watching Bryce Harper take batting practice, assuming he's on the trip. About 20-40 feet beyond the right field fence here, there's a castle-like tan wall that stands maybe 20 feet tall. I'm not really sure what purpose it serves, but it's out there, and it serves as another target for the heavy-hitting Harper. Harper has no problem clearing the Champion Stadium right field fence...