nationals

All but one Nationals roster spot now accounted for

April 02, 2012, 9:40am

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Now that the Nationals have announced they will officially place four guys on the disabled list to start the season, the team's opening day roster is very close to being finalized. At this point, the position players are all set, manager Davey Johnson confirmed. The 13 position players that remain in the Nats' big league camp will make the 25-man roster. Wilson Ramos and Jesus Flores will be the catchers. Your infielders will be: Adam LaRoche, Danny Espinosa, Ian...

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Nats trail Red Sox in Florida spring training finale (Nats lose 4-2)

April 02, 2012, 11:33am

Nationals

Nats trail Red Sox in Florida spring training finale (Nats lose 4-2)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - If there's some good news today amid all the players going on the DL and the injury to Roger Bernadina, it's that Danny Espinosa might be starting to click. The Nationals second baseman ripped his second homer in as many days this afternoon, taking one out to center field here at JetBlue Park. After going without a homer or an RBI for his first 21 games of spring training, Espinosa has two big flies in the last 26 hours or so. This one came from the left side, which is...

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Bernadina leaves game after being hit by pickoff throw (updated)

April 02, 2012, 9:59am

Nationals

Bernadina leaves game after being hit by pickoff throw (updated)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Nationals cannot catch a break. Already without their projected starting left fielder and center fielder, both of whom will start the season on the disabled list, the Nationals will have to play the rest of today's spring training finale without Roger Bernadina, who was expected to start in center field on opening day. Bernadina has been pulled from today's game after being hit on the leg by an errant Aaron Cook pickoff throw. The Nats outfielder jogged into second...

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Morse, Storen, Ankiel, Wang will start season on DL

April 02, 2012, 9:11am

Nationals

Morse, Storen, Ankiel, Wang will start season on DL

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Nationals will be without their projected cleanup hitter/left fielder, closer, starting center fielder and fifth starter to begin the season. Manager Davey Johnson said today that Michael Morse, Drew Storen, Rick Ankiel and Chien-Ming Wang will all start the season on the disabled list. Morse (strained lat) and Ankiel (quad) will work out the with the team these next couple days but will begin the season on a rehab assignment, likely with Double-A Harrisburg, Johnson...

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Starters showing signs they're set (plus today's lineup)

April 02, 2012, 5:25am

Nationals

Starters showing signs they're set (plus today's lineup)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Good morning from Fort Myers, where I spent the night last night ahead of today's Nationals spring training finale against the Red Sox. Unfortunately, the Nationals had to make the nearly two-hour drive back from Jupiter to Viera following yesterday's game against the Cardinals, and then leave their Space Coast Stadium complex at around 7 a.m. this morning in order to head all the way across the state to make it here. Yeah, I bet all those guys are ready to head north to...

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Nats sign Michaels to minor league deal

April 02, 2012, 7:24am

Nationals

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Nationals released Jason Michaels on Thursday. Now the veteran outfielder is back with the organization. The Nats announced today that they've agreed to terms on a minor league contract with Michaels, who will report to Triple-A Syracuse. Michaels hit .220 with one homer and seven RBIs in 41 at-bats with the Nats this spring. The 35-year-old had an opt-out clause in his original minor league deal with the Nats, and after looking around for a major league deal with...

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Late-game theatrics leave Nats ready for games that matter

April 01, 2012, 1:03pm

Nationals

Late-game theatrics leave Nats ready for games that matter

JUPITER, Fla. - Davey Johnson walked into the Nationals clubhouse after today's 2-1 win over the Cardinals with a giant smile on his face. "That's baseball at its best," Johnson said. "If that doesn't get your motor running, nothing will." The last inning and a half of today's ballgame was incredibly entertaining. Working in a tie game in the bottom of the eighth, Henry Rodriguez was involved in an intense battle with Cardinals leadoff hitter Tyler Greene, and eventually struck out...

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Final quotes from the Nats clubhouse

April 01, 2012, 1:59pm

Nationals

JUPITER, Fla. - Danny Espinosa ripped a solo home run to right field in today's win over the Cardinals, giving him his first homer and first RBI this spring. But the Nationals second baseman was actually more pleased with his single to left off Cardinals closer Jason Motte in the top of the ninth inning than he was with the longball earlier in the game. "That was a two-strike count," Espinosa said. "I stuck with my approach I try to stay with all the time. I was able just to really put...

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Maldonado reassigned, Gonzalez reacts to final spring start

April 01, 2012, 1:36pm

Nationals

Maldonado reassigned, Gonzalez reacts to final spring start

JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals made one roster move after today's game, reassigning catcher Carlos Maldonado to minor league camp. Maldonado, who really impressed manager Davey Johnson this spring, will back up Jhonatan Solano at Triple-A Syracuse. "I hate to lose him," Johnson said. "He's been like my favorite chair." The Nats now officially have 33 players left in major league camp. Gio Gonzalez didn't just throw five very impressive innings today in his final outing before the...

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Nationals' minor league rosters taking shape

April 01, 2012, 7:01am

Nationals

The Nationals' minor league affiliates' regular season rosters are starting to take shape with the major league club finalizing their 25-man major league club. Here are some of the highlights of what each of the affiliates could look like this season: Single-A Hagerstown catching duties will be split by Adrian Nieto, Cole Leonida and others. I have confirmed the infielders are Matt Skole, Brett Newsome, Bryce Ortega, Cutter Dykstra and Justin Miller. Outfielders include Brian Goodwin, Caleb...

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Injuries creating openings

April 01, 2012, 4:12am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez will make his final spring training start this afternoon against the Cardinals, a team that he's beginning to get pretty familiar with. And not in a good way. This will be the lefty's third start against St. Louis in a five-game span, with all three of those games coming in Jupiter at Roger Dean Stadium. Gonzalez isn't thrilled with the way the spring schedule has aligned, as the Cardinals will have gotten a fairly good look at his repertoire over the last...

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Gonzalez finds a groove, DeRosa stays in one (Nats win 2-1)

April 01, 2012, 10:37am

Nationals

Gonzalez finds a groove, DeRosa stays in one (Nats win 2-1)

JUPITER, Fla. - Poor Adam Wainwright. The Cardinals right-hander was just minding his business, enjoying a day in-between starts, when he saw his truck being driven onto the field and "given away" to a lucky "fan" at Roger Dean Stadium. The "fan" came sprinting down from the seats, celebrating his "prize" with a small child in his arms, as a stunned Wainwright watched from the Cards' dugout. Then Wainwright saw teammate Lance Berkman pop his head out of the driver's side window...

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Nationals reassign Maldanado

April 01, 2012, 12:59pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today reassigned catcher Carlos Maldonado to minor league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 33 players in their big league camp.

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Today's Nats lineup plus pregame notes on Ankiel, Durbin, Storen

April 01, 2012, 7:43am

Nationals

Today's Nats lineup plus pregame notes on Ankiel, Durbin, Storen

JUPITER, Fla. - Roger Bernadina is back with the Nationals after flying down to Curacao for his father's funeral, but he's not in manager Davey Johnson's starting lineup today against the Cardinals. Jayson Werth will start in center field today, with Mark DeRosa in left and Xavier Nady in right. Johnson said yesterday that Werth is his third option in center behind Rick Ankiel and Bernadina, but option No. 3 will be put into action this afternoon. Ankiel - who is now looking like he might...

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Purke, Ray and Hague will begin season in extended spring training

March 31, 2012, 8:47am

Nationals

Purke, Ray and Hague will begin season in extended spring training

A quick note I just received on some top prospects for the Nationals who will begin the season in extended spring training in Viera, Fla., as they worked to get healthy and/or build strength. Shortstop Rick Hague, who missed most of last season, continues rehabbing and gaining strength back in his shoulder while working in Florida. He is about a month away from playing time in the system. Pitchers Matt Purke and Robbie Ray will also begin the season in Florida at extended spring training....

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Ankiel could open season on DL

March 31, 2012, 12:38pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - There's a chance two-thirds of the Nationals' projected starting outfield is on the disabled list come opening day. Manager Davey Johnson said following today's 6-2 loss to the Cardinals that center fielder Rick Ankiel might open the season on the disabled list because of a lingering quad injury which has kept him out of action for the bulk of spring. Ankiel, who has just 15 at-bats this spring, hasn't played since re-aggravating the quad on Tuesday, and if he's unable to...

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Strasburg's spring training is complete (Nats lose 6-2)

March 31, 2012, 10:20am

Nationals

Strasburg's spring training is complete (Nats lose 6-2)

VIERA, Fla. - After a stellar outing last time out, Stephen Strasburg's final tune-up for the regular season didn't go quite as smoothly. Strasburg went four innings today against the Cardinals, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out three and was pulled after throwing 67 pitches in his four frames of work. Manager Davey Johnson had said he wanted Strasburg to throw 60-70 pitches today, and the righty did just that. But he had to work through a lengthy second inning, in...

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Adjusted Nats lineup plus pregame notes

March 31, 2012, 7:21am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Well, today marks the final game of spring at Space Coast Stadium. Someone get me a tissue. This might get emotional. Roger Bernadina was scheduled to be starting in center field and hitting seventh today, but he hasn't made it back to Viera yet after flying home to Curacao for his father's funeral. As a result, Corey Brown will fill in for Bernadina today against the Cardinals. Danny Espinosa will play shortstop today for the Nationals, with Ian Desmond getting the day off....

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Reason for Espinosa's struggles: He can't see the ball

March 31, 2012, 3:55am

Nationals

Reason for Espinosa's struggles: He can't see the ball

VIERA, Fla. - Twenty-three strikeouts in 63 spring at-bats - that's cause for concern. Nine strikeouts in his most recent 16 at-bats - that's cause for concern. So why isn't Danny Espinosa concerned when he's the owner of the above statistics? Because the Nationals second baseman feels that once the regular season starts, or more specifically, once he gets away from Space Coast Stadium, he's bound to start swinging the bat more effectively. Espinosa, a switch-hitter, has a theory for...

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Nationals outfield prospects Oduber, Taylor, Goodwin, Hood and more shining in camp

March 31, 2012, 6:19am

Nationals

We have talked a lot about and previewed prospects like Bryce Harper, Eury Perez, Brian Goodwin, Destin Hood and others. Here is the latest updates on how a few of these outfield prospects are faring as the regular season quickly draws near with minor league rosters about set. Nationals outfield coordinator Tony Tarasco said the work of Hood, Michael Taylor and Randolph Oduber has been standing out during spring training. "Taylor, Oduber and Hood are tremendous athletes," Tarasco said. "I...