nationals

Nats say Harper still has a shot at opening day roster

March 14, 2012, 8:23am

VIERA, Fla. - While Bryce Harper's chances of making the Nationals' opening day roster have taken a hit as he's missed the last six days because of a left calf injury, general manager Mike Rizzo says that Harper still is in the mix for the team's starting right fielder job. "We haven't made any decision to the contrary," Rizzo said. "He's still in the picture, and we're still early in the decision-making process." Harper, the Nats' top prospect, has gone 5-for-11 (.455) in...

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Surprise: Harper to play center field tonight (updated again)

March 14, 2012, 1:02pm

Nationals

Surprise: Harper to play center field tonight (updated again)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Bryce Harper won't just be returning to the lineup tonight for the first time in a week after suffering a left calf injury. He'll also be playing center field. After a late lineup change, Harper will get the start in center for the Nationals tonight, with Roger Bernadina moving over to right field and Eury Perez manning left field. Update: Bernadina has been scratched from tonight's lineup because he's experiencing lightheadedness after having a tooth pulled...

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Morse update plus tonight's lineup

March 14, 2012, 9:28am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Michael Morse isn't in the Nationals' lineup tonight, but that doesn't mean the left fielder isn't getting work in today. Morse, who is still dealing with a lat strain, will head over to a side field at the Nats' complex and play in a minor league game today. He plans on getting 6-8 at-bats during that game, which he much prefers over the 2-3 that he would get if he was to travel with the Nationals to Orlando for tonight's game against the Braves. "I can actually work on...

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Opening day starter still up in the air

March 14, 2012, 5:42am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Manager Davey Johnson isn't ready to announce how his starting pitchers will line up for the first couple regular season series just yet, but that decision will come fairly soon. While we've now been through the Nationals' rotation twice, Johnson wants to see each starter go one more time and get up around that 75-pitch limit before he makes any decisions on how things will play out in early April. The two obvious candidates get the honors as the Nats' opening day starter...

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Emptying the notebook after the Nats' 6-3 loss

March 13, 2012, 6:29pm

Nationals

Emptying the notebook after the Nats' 6-3 loss

VIERA, Fla. - Bryce Harper made it through today's workout without experiencing any issues with his ailing left calf, and the right fielder will return to the Nationals' lineup tomorrow evening against the Braves, as planned. Left fielder Michael Morse will not travel to Disney to face Atlanta after seeing action at DH the last two games. As reporters walked into the clubhouse following tonight's 6-3 Nats' loss to Detroit, the replay of the game was airing on MASN on the lone clubhouse...

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Despite results, Jackson pleased with his outing (Nats lose 6-3)

March 13, 2012, 4:57pm

Nationals

Despite results, Jackson pleased with his outing (Nats lose 6-3)

VIERA, Fla. - Edwin Jackson should have been out of the first inning having retired the side in order. Instead, he needed to face an extra hitter when left fielder Jason Michaels dropped a lazy fly ball, and Jackson followed by giving up a two-run homer to the next batter he faced. Jackson could've benefited from a double play on a sharply-hit ground ball hit up the middle in the fourth inning. Instead, shortstop Ian Desmond stumbled and only managed to get a force at second base by taping...

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Nats' bench battle should go down to the wire

March 13, 2012, 1:26pm

Nationals

Nats' bench battle should go down to the wire

VIERA, Fla. - While the bulk of the spots on manager Davey Johnson's bench are accounted for at this point, the battle for the last slot might get fierce. Johnson said today that the competition for the final bench job "probably won't be settled until the last day" of spring, allowing outfielders Brett Carroll and Jason Michaels and infielders Chad Tracy, Mark Teahen and Andres Blanco plenty of time to sort out who will crack the 25-man roster. First baseman Tyler Moore, who has hit 31...

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A rundown of banged-up outfielders

March 13, 2012, 11:59am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Here are a few rapid-fire injury updates before I have to pop right back down to the field in a couple minutes. You ready? Here we go. As I mentioned a bit ago, Bryce Harper is in tomorrow's Nationals lineup, but manager Davey Johnson wants to watch him get a full workout today. If Harper comes through the workout feeling OK, he'll be in there tomorrow against the Braves. Johnson noted how Harper was here at 7:15 this morning, raring to go. Today marks the sixth straight day...

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Jackson shaky in third start, Zimmerman still locked in

March 13, 2012, 3:45pm

Nationals

Jackson shaky in third start, Zimmerman still locked in

VIERA, Fla. - How many bad jokes can I make about Ryan Zimmerman being on fire? Nobody touch his bat; you might scald your hands. Don't look directly at him, you might hurt your eyes. OK, two is enough. Zimmerman is now hitting a whopping .615 this spring after doubling to right-center in his second at-bat tonight. The Nationals' third baseman is 8-for-13 in Grapefruit League action, and remarkably, six of his hits are for extra bases. He also has the Nats' lone RBI of the night, which...

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"The Fielding Bible" lists Nats' Ankiel as best outfield arm

March 13, 2012, 7:25am

Nationals

"The Fielding Bible" lists Nats' Ankiel as best outfield arm

The Nationals' outfield defense was a major reason the team finished only one game under .500 in 2011. Their defense, with arms such as Rick Ankiel, Jayson Werth, Michael Morse and quite possibly top prospect Bryce Harper patrolling the warning track this season, could take a step forward again as the franchise seeks its first playoff berth since 1981. Looking back at last year's defensive statistics, Ankiel saved eight runs in center field, the best in baseball from that position, according...

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Rendon, Purke part of first round of Nats cuts

March 12, 2012, 1:59pm

Nationals

Rendon, Purke part of first round of Nats cuts

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals trimmed nine players from their stable of players at big league camp today, including two of their top three picks in the 2011 draft. First-round pick Anthony Rendon, who has seen time at multiple infield positions this spring, and third-round left-handed pitcher Matt Purke were both optioned to Single-A Potomac. Infielder Carlos Rivero was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, while six others - right-handed pitchers Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Rafael Martin, catcher Sandy...

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Johnson on Clippard's role, DeRosa's influence, Harper's injury and more

March 12, 2012, 8:25am

Nationals

Johnson on Clippard's role, DeRosa's influence, Harper's injury and more

Tyler Clippard will continue to be one of the most important parts of the Nationals' bullpen. But manager Davey Johnson wants to make one alteration to the right-hander's job description heading into 2012. "I don't envision him coming into ballgames before the seventh inning," Johnson told reporters in Viera, Fla., this morning before the Nationals hosted a Cardinals split squad. "Last year, I think he had a lot of appearances prior to me getting here early on where there was a fire that...

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Nationals trim roster to 45

March 12, 2012, 1:28pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today optioned left-handed pitcher Matt Purke and infielder Anthony Rendon to Potomac of the Single-A Carolina League and optioned infielder Carlos Rivero to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Additionally, the Nationals re-assigned right-handed pitchers Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Rafael Martin, catcher Sandy Leon, infielder Jarrett Hoffpauir and outfielders Corey Brown and Xavier Paul to minor-league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball...

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Goodwin, Harper lead discussion of Nationals' top outfield prospects

March 12, 2012, 11:09am

Nationals

The outfield depth of the Nationals' system has certainly been fortified over the last few seasons through draft and free agent acquisition, especially with the inclusion of former catcher and No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper moving to a corner outfield position in his first season. But also garnering major attention has been former University of North Carolina and the 34th overall selection in 2011, outfielder Brian Goodwin, who the franchise hope will eventually be that prototypical center...

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Gonzalez's start that wasn't was pretty impressive

March 11, 2012, 1:26pm

Nationals

Gonzalez's start that wasn't was pretty impressive

Officially, Gio Gonzalez's four-inning stint against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon doesn't exist. It was washed away, just like the game itself, after four innings. What happened before, however, left both Gonzalez and Nationals manager Davey Johnson quite pleased. Gonzalez allowed two singles, fanned a pair and had a 1-0 lead when rains swept through Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., before the top of the fifth. As the Nationals packed up to head back to Viera, Fla., Gonzalez told...

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Nats-Cardinals washed out after fourth inning

March 11, 2012, 11:29am

Nationals

Nats-Cardinals washed out after fourth inning

Today's Nationals-Cardinals game in Jupiter, Fla., has been canceled after a rain delay. The Nats were leading 1-0 after the fourth inning when play was halted. Lefty Gio Gonzalez went four innings for the Nationals in his second spring start. He allowed two hits and struck out two. The Nationals scored in the third inning when Brett Carroll hit a leadoff single off St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook, went to third on a one-out single by Andres Blanco and then came home on Roger Bernadina's...

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Updates on Morse, Ankiel, Harper

March 11, 2012, 11:01am

Nationals

Nationals manager Davey Johnson told reporters in Jupiter, Fla., before today's game against the Cardinals that outfielder Michael Morse had a cortisone shot Saturday and could return to the lineup as the designated hitter by tomorrow. Morse was scratched from Tuesday's lineup with a sore right lat muscle, and has been trying to work through the problem since then. Some of the pain has subsided, Johnson said, but Morse still feels some problems when he throws. Johnson said he was "a little...

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Gonzalez takes hill vs. Cardinals (plus Sunday's lineup)

March 11, 2012, 6:33am

Nationals

Gonzalez takes hill vs. Cardinals (plus Sunday's lineup)

With only four teams on Florida's East Coast for spring training, someone has to bite the bullet when it comes to scheduling Grapefruit League games. Today, it's the Nationals, who make their second trip to Jupiter, Fla., in three days, this time for an exhibition contest against the Cardinals. The nearly two-hour drive to Roger Dean Stadium isn't really a bad one - it's straight down Interstate 95 from Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. But since the Nats are doing it two days after they...

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Johnson and Ramos speak after Nats' 8-2 win over Mets

March 10, 2012, 2:11pm

Nationals

Johnson and Ramos speak after Nats' 8-2 win over Mets

Some comments from Nationals manager Davey Johnson to reporters after his split squad beat the Mets 8-2 this afternoon in Viera, Fla.: On winner Chien-Ming Wang's first start: "I was really impressed with Chien-Ming. The ball was really coming out of his hand free and easy. ... I could tell from the get-go he was around 90 or above (with) great life and great movement. His command I'm sure wasn't what he wanted it, but he was awful close." On whether Wang has completed his comeback from...

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Nationals' pitching camp demonstrating "championship atmosphere"

March 10, 2012, 4:26am

Nationals

The names of the Nationals front-line pitchers in 2012 spring training certainly grab your attention: guys like Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, Edwin Jackson, Chien Ming-Wang, John Lannan, Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen. Then there are what I like to call the glue guys. The pitchers that may not get the big headlines, but will be crucial to the overall success of this staff and key to the pennant run the Nationals hope to realize this season: guys like Ross Detwiler, Sean...