nationals

Talking LaRoche's injury and a possible first base platoon

March 26, 2012, 7:35am

VIERA, Fla. - Apparently, Jayson Werth's monster home run yesterday really did make a crash landing on his truck. Werth told reporters this morning that several witnesses saw the baseball nail the truck and that there was a "smoldering crater in the hood". The Nationals right fielder might have taken some liberties with that story, but regardless, yesterday's blast was hit far enough to clear a patio area beyond the left-field fence, fly through a patch of trees and come down all the way...

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Guest bloggers to return for 2012 season

March 23, 2012, 5:09pm

Nationals

Guest bloggers to return for 2012 season

It's been an offseason of change, both for the Nationals and our coverage here at MASNsports.com. For the team itself, there's a slew of new faces in both the lineup and rotation, bringing along with them optimism that the Nationals can crack the postseason for the first time since moving to our nation's capital. On our Web site, that very team poised to make a championship run has a new beat writer. You may have seen him before covering some sport the locals call football, but rest...

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Destin Hood focusing on throwing with continued positive results

March 25, 2012, 8:28pm

Nationals

Destin Hood focusing on throwing with continued positive results

We have mentioned some of the placements for Nationals prospects to begin the season: Bryce Harper and Tyler Moore in Triple-A Syracuse, Sandy Leon and Jeff Kobernus at Double-A Harrisburg, and Matt Purke and Anthony Rendon at Single-A Potomac. Another outstanding prospect that will move up from Potomac to Harrisburg this spring is outfielder Destin Hood, who had a tremendous campaign in Woodbridge, Va., last summer. Hood hit .276 in 128 games, with 29 doubles, five triples, 13 homers, 83 RBIs...

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Nats' bats do some damage - literally

March 25, 2012, 2:15pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Jayson Werth hadn't yet checked his truck, so he couldn't confirm the rumor. Regardless, he didn't seem to care one way or the other. According to members of the Space Coast Stadium grounds crew, Werth's first inning home run - an absolute laser to left - didn't just do damage to Mets starter Matt Harvey's spring ERA, it also did some damage to Werth's pickup truck. Werth crushed a Harvey pitch so far over the left-field wall that it came down over a patio area and near...

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After another strong start, Strasburg "ready to go" for opener

March 25, 2012, 3:04pm

Nationals

After another strong start, Strasburg "ready to go" for opener

VIERA, Fla. - Throwing into a stiff cross-wind on a warm afternoon at Space Coast Stadium, Stephen Strasburg didn't have his best stuff. He allowed seven base runners in five frames, and needed to work out of jams with runners in scoring position in the first, third and fourth innings. But Strasburg made it through his five innings of work without allowing a run, and left today's game feeling like he passed his final real test before the start of the regular season. "I feel ready to go,"...

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Your latest incremental updates on Morse, LaRoche, Ankiel

March 25, 2012, 7:56am

Nationals

Your latest incremental updates on Morse, LaRoche, Ankiel

VIERA, Fla. - Given the fact that it rained here in Viera this morning, it's only fitting that Stephen Strasburg is taking the mound for the Nationals today. Strasburg always seems to get the ball when the temperature drops or the conditions are poor. "He's a mudder," manager Davey Johnson joked. Here are your latest injury updates, which seem to be getting tweaked every 12 hours: Left fielder Michael Morse (strained lat) is now scheduled to start throwing on Wednesday, and will start...

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Here come the runs (and they keep coming)

March 25, 2012, 9:56am

Nationals

Here come the runs (and they keep coming)

VIERA, Fla. - The sun has fought its way through the clouds here in Viera, and the Nationals' bats have fought their way out of a lengthy slump. The Nationals batted around in the first inning today, scoring five runs on seven hits. Three of those hits left Space Coast Stadium, with Ian Desmond, Jayson Werth and Roger Bernadina providing the big flies. Werth's homer was absolutely crushed - crushed - out to left, clearing an entire section of bleachers beyond the left field fence and nearly...

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"Bad Henry" nowhere to be found this spring

March 25, 2012, 4:36am

Nationals

"Bad Henry" nowhere to be found this spring

VIERA, Fla. - On Thursday, after reliever Henry Rodriguez had delivered yet another scoreless inning of work without allowing a base runner, Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty turned to manager Davey Johnson and delivered a sentence which would've been laughable not all that long ago. "Can you believe Henry probably has the best command on the staff?" McCatty said. Yes, McCatty was referring to the Henry Rodriguez who had 14 wild pitches last season, nine more than any other Nationals...

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Today's Nats lineup vs. Mets

March 25, 2012, 6:16am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Davey Johnson had hoped to write in his opening day lineup for this afternoon's game against the Mets, but that's kind of tough to do when two of your middle-of-the-order hitters are banged up and your center fielder is still recovering from a quad injury. Instead, this is the lineup Johnson will send out today against New York: SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Jayson Werth 1B Mark DeRosa C Jesus Flores CF Roger Bernadina LF Steve Lombardozzi P Stephen...

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Meeting with the manager after the Nats' 12-3 loss

March 24, 2012, 12:53pm

Nationals

Meeting with the manager after the Nats' 12-3 loss

SARASOTA, Fla. - Amid the poor pitching, lack of offense and defensive miscues, there was one major positive for the Nationals coming out of today. Stephen Strasburg tweeted that he shot a 69 in a round of miniature golf. So, there's that. Actually, can you "shoot" anything in mini golf? Don't really know the correct terminology there. Regardless, the Nats again failed to notch a win today, marking their 11th straight game without a victory. They recorded as many errors (four) as they...

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Jackson hit around in 12-3 loss to O's

March 24, 2012, 10:11am

Nationals

SARASOTA, Fla. - It's been an up-and-down afternoon for Edwin Jackson. The Nationals' starter gave up one run in the first inning after allowing three straight hits, but followed that up with a stellar second frame, retiring the side in order and striking out two of the three Orioles he faced. Then, in the third, things started to unravel for Jackson. The righty gave up a leadoff single to second baseman Robert Andino and subsequently allowed Andino to scoot over to second on a throwing...

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Nats readying for possibility of opening day without Storen

March 24, 2012, 8:21am

Nationals

Nats readying for possibility of opening day without Storen

SARASOTA, Fla. - After putting what seems like a couple thousand miles on my rental car over the last 24 hours, I'm all set up here in the press box at Ed Smith Stadium for the Battle of the Beltways, Florida Edition. I've smacked my MASNsports.com colleague Roch Kubatko around a little bit, and now that that important piece of business is out of the way, I can pass along some Nationals injury updates. Manager Davey Johnson said today that the Nationals are going to put closer Drew Storen...

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Nationals lineup vs. Orioles

March 24, 2012, 7:22am

Nationals

SARASOTA, Fla. - Edwin Jackson will take the hill when the Nationals play the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on MASN/MASN HD as part of the Orioles' spring schedule. Here's the Nationals' lineup. SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa CF Rick Ankiel 1B Chad Tracy C Wilson Ramos DH Jesus Flroes LF Corey Brown RF Brett Carroll 3B Steve Lombardozzi RHP Edwin Jackson

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Leon again turning heads with consistent play

March 23, 2012, 4:49pm

Nationals

Leon again turning heads with consistent play

There is always concern when the franchise must trade some of its best prospects at certain positions. This offseason, it was pitcher and catcher, and Derek Norris had carried the flag as the best Nationals backstop prospect for what seemed like many years. With his trade to the Oakland A's, does that mean that the depth at catcher has dried up? Not in the least. With so many outstanding catchers still in the system - from Cole Leonida to Adrian Nieto, from David Frietas to Jhonathan Solano...

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Final notes from Kissimmee

March 23, 2012, 2:02pm

Nationals

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Roger Bernadina has a bruised right big toe after fouling a ball off his foot yesterday. The Nationals outfielder tried to play through the pain today, but was pulled from this afternoon's game after two and a half innings when the toe started acting up on him. Bernadina said the toe isn't all that swollen, and manager Davey Johnson expects the 27-year-old back in the lineup on Sunday. Here's what Jordan Zimmermann had to say about today's outing, in which he went five...

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Rizzo optimistic about Morse's status, doesn't expect major moves

March 23, 2012, 12:22pm

Nationals

Rizzo optimistic about Morse's status, doesn't expect major moves

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed Michael Morse had a PRP injection in an attempt to stimulate healing in the left fielder's strained lat, but said he doesn't expect Morse's injury to cause him to miss an extended portion of the regular season. In fact, Rizzo says Morse might even be able to suit up when the Nats open the season against the Cubs on April 5. "I feel good about him opening day, and if not opening day, soon thereafter," Rizzo said. "That's...

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Nats' bats remain asleep in yet another loss

March 23, 2012, 1:28pm

Nationals

Nats' bats remain asleep in yet another loss

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Following the Nationals' 5-1 loss to the Astros this afternoon, a defeat which made the Nationals 0-9-1 in their last 10 spring games, Jordan Zimmermann was asked about the team's recent spring struggles. "Saving the wins," Zimmermann said. The Nats can continue to joke about the losses for now, because these games mean nothing. But it's tough to ignore the way that they've been dropping their ballgames lately. After today's one-run effort, the Nationals have now...

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Nats getting no-hit through six innings (Nats lose 5-1)

March 23, 2012, 10:46am

Nationals

Nats getting no-hit through six innings (Nats lose 5-1)

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - A day after Davey Johnson said he wasn't worried about his team's offensive struggles, his players are pushing things a bit. The Nationals have yet to record a hit through six innings of play against the Astros this afternoon, and have just sent just one over the minimum to the plate. Their lone base runner came in the first, when Danny Espinosa walked with one out. The Astros, on the other hand, are having no trouble putting runs on the board. They've had five guys...

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Bench picture starting to come into focus

March 23, 2012, 9:20am

Nationals

Bench picture starting to come into focus

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - As we inch closer and closer to opening day - and we're now under the two-week mark until the real games have arrived - guys are running out of chances to impress manager Davey Johnson and try and earn one of the final couple spots on the Nationals' roster. Things are made a little murky by the injuries to left fielder Michael Morse and first baseman Adam LaRoche, which might open another position or two on the 25-man roster if those guys need to start the season on the DL....

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MRI reveals no structural damage to Storen's elbow (plus Morse, LaRoche notes)

March 23, 2012, 5:27am

Nationals

MRI reveals no structural damage to Storen's elbow (plus Morse, LaRoche notes)

VIERA, Fla. - The test results on Drew Storen's right elbow have come in, and the Nationals can breathe a sigh of relief. Storen underwent an MRI on his right elbow yesterday, and the test confirmed that the Nats closer does not have any structural damage to his arm. There's a little inflammation in the elbow joint, Storen said, but nothing's wrong with the reliever's UCL. That's the ligament which, if torn, can result in Tommy John surgery. "There's nothing extremely unnormal,"...