nationals

Nationals' pitching camp demonstrating "championship atmosphere"

March 10, 2012, 4:26am

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...

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Nationals beat Mets 8-2, tie Tigers

March 10, 2012, 11:08am

Nationals

Chien-Ming Wang went two innings, gave up two runs and struck out two as the Nationals beat the Mets 8-2 in one half of Saturday's split-squad games. Wang was followed by right-hander Craig Stammen, who was able to shut down the Mets for three innings. The pitching was just one strong part in the Nationals' win. Led by Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche, the offense was able to knock around Mets' starter R.A. Dickey for five runs and eight hits in three innings. Zimmerman drove in two runs...

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Ankiel sidelined by hamstring tightness (plus Saturday lineups)

March 10, 2012, 5:15am

Nationals

Ankiel sidelined by hamstring tightness (plus Saturday lineups)

First baseman Adam LaRoche will make his long-awaited Grapefruit League debut today in the home side of a split-squad game against the Mets. However, Nationals manager Davey Johnson had to tinker with his lineup a little due to the unavailability of outfielder Rick Ankiel. Ankiel is out today with a tight hamstring, and will be replaced in center field by Brett Carroll. Jason Michaels, who was supposed to DH today, will instead play left field, where Carroll originally was in the lineup posted...

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Hearing from LaRoche and Wang (updated)

March 10, 2012, 10:32am

Nationals

For some veterans, facing a knuckleballer right out of the chute after an extended injury absence would be a recipe for disaster. Suffice it to say Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche isn't most veterans. LaRoche, who had been sidelined by left shoulder soreness and a mild left ankle sprain, made his first Grapefruit League appearance Saturday as part of a Nationals split squad that faced the Mets at Space Coast Stadium. In his first at-bat, he hit an RBI single off knuckleball specialist...

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Johnson: Harper out "at least three days" (plus Friday's lineup)

March 09, 2012, 2:10pm

Nationals

Johnson: Harper out "at least three days" (plus Friday's lineup)

That left calf strain that has kept outfielder Bryce Harper out of the lineup for the past two days will probably force him to miss the rest of the weekend's spring training games. Though Harper expressed earlier today to reporters in Viera, Fla., that he expected to play in a split-squad game against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., on Saturday, Nationals manager Davey Johnson pretty much nixed those plans during his pregame meeting with reporters in Jupiter, Fla., before tonight's game...

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Meet Drew Storen, aka "Tinkerbell"

March 09, 2012, 9:31am

Nationals

In the span of just a couple seconds, everything changed for Drew Storen. He was no longer Drew Storen, major league closer. He was "Tinkerbell." Unfortunately. "This is the worst nickname in history," Storen said with a wry smile. The nickname didn't come from a teammate or an opponent trying to get a rise out of Storen. The 24-year-old can thank his manager for the constant stream of jokes that might be heading his way over the course of the next few months. Nationals manager Davey...

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Despite strong start to spring, Detwiler left looking at long relief

March 09, 2012, 3:25am

Nationals

Despite strong start to spring, Detwiler left looking at long relief

VIERA, Fla. - On practically any other team, Ross Detwiler would be spending his spring competing for a spot in the starting rotation. Unfortunately for the lefty, that's not the case here. When you're part of a pitching staff that features Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson, Chien-Ming Wang and John Lannan, you're likely to find yourself stuck in the bullpen, fighting for whatever innings are left over. That's the case with Detwiler, the No. 6 overall pick...

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Bryce Harper says calf injury is nothing serious (Nats win 8-0)

March 08, 2012, 10:16am

Nationals

Bryce Harper says calf injury is nothing serious (Nats win 8-0)

VIERA, Fla. - When he woke up this morning, Bryce Harper felt some tightness in his left calf. He tried to work it out on a stationary bike at the Nationals complex, but when the calf didn't respond, manager Davey Johnson decided to pull Harper from today's starting lineup against the Astros. Speaking in the Nationals' clubhouse moments ago, Harper said he doesn't think the injury is anything serious, and he expects to return in a matter of days. "It's just precautionary," Harper...

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Johnson: "Edwin Jackson was superb"

March 08, 2012, 12:05pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Edwin Jackson doesn't know what allowed him to get into such a groove today. He can't quite put his finger on it. But whatever was working this afternoon, the Nationals hope they see a lot more out of it from the 28-year-old starter. Jackson only faced one batter over the minimum in his four scoreless innings of work in this afternoon's 8-0 win over the Astros, striking out three and walking none. He popped the mitt with his fastball, worked in his slider, and found a good...

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Nats hold 2-0 lead over Houston (make that 4-0)

March 08, 2012, 9:18am

Nationals

Nats hold 2-0 lead over Houston (make that 4-0)

VIERA, Fla. - The buzz inside Space Coast Stadium just prior to first pitch was all about Bryce Harper being scratched from today's game because of left calf tightness. Edwin Jackson gave everyone something else to talk about. Jackson threw four scoreless innings against the Astros this afternoon, allowing just two hits and striking out three. The righty showed off impressive offspeed stuff today, and looked really sharp early, setting down the first six batters he faced. Ross Detwiler...

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Your latest LaRoche update

March 08, 2012, 7:24am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - For the second straight day, Adam LaRoche spent the late-morning hours out at Field 3 here at the Nationals spring training complex testing out his injured foot by getting in some at-bats during a minor league intrasquad game. Like yesterday, LaRoche hit third every half-inning, but unlike yesterday, he actually made some strong contact, ripping a home run to right-center field. It's worth noting that the longball came off Robbie Ray, a lefty. The issue with LaRoche is still...

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Bryce Harper scratched from today's lineup (updated)

March 08, 2012, 8:18am

Nationals

Bryce Harper scratched from today's lineup (updated)

VIERA, Fla. - When the Nationals took the field just prior to the top of the first inning, their top prospect was missing from what was set to be his starting spot in right field. Bryce Harper has been scratched from today's starting lineup. Manager Davey Johnson has moved Brett Carroll moving from center field to right and Eury Perez will take over in center field. There's no word as of yet on why Harper was a late scratch. Harper, the 19-year-old phenom who is battling for a spot on the...

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Quick hits plus today's lineup

March 08, 2012, 5:49am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Manager Davey Johnson says that left fielder Michael Morse is feeling better after dealing with a lat strain the last few days, and he while he isn't ready to return to Grapefruit League action yet, he will get some extra hitting in during the next three to four days. Same for Adam LaRoche, who will hit and run the bases today during an intrasquad minor league game after just taking some cuts during an intrasquad contest yesterday. I'm going to pop over to the side fields in a...

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Desmond finds his way into the hit column

March 07, 2012, 11:59am

Nationals

Desmond finds his way into the hit column

VIERA, Fla. - Davey Johnson hopped out of the dugout with a few innings left in this afternoon's game with the Cardinals and told home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom that he only had enough pitching to last nine innings. Cederstrom informed Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, who agreed to end the game after nine innings if the two teams happened to be locked in a tie. That's exactly how things played out. Catcher Carlos Maldonado blasted a two-run home run off Cardinals righty Lance Lynn in...

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An impressive first turn through the rotation

March 08, 2012, 3:23am

Nationals

An impressive first turn through the rotation

VIERA, Fla. - The first stage of spring training is now behind us. You know, the stage where each starting pitcher goes out and fires two or three innings, and then says he felt good regardless of the results. "Oh, I gave up six runs in two innings? I was just trying to throw strikes, so mission accomplished." "My curveball looked flat? Well I just wanted to get a feel for the ball again." So far, Nationals starters have needed to make very few excuses. The quintet of hurlers who have...

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Zimmermann fights lack of fastball command in scoreless outing (3-3 final)

March 07, 2012, 10:46am

Nationals

Zimmermann fights lack of fastball command in scoreless outing (3-3 final)

VIERA, Fla. - All three of Jordan Zimmermann's strikeouts during his three scoreless innings this afternoon came on sliders. But while the slider was working today, the Nationals' starter was less than thrilled with his fastball command in his spring training debut. "I felt OK," Zimmermann said. "I had a rough time locating the fastball today, but I threw some good ones when I needed to. The breaking pitches were pretty good. It's tough to throw them in this wind, but the ones I did...

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Brett Carroll looking to make big impression with Nationals

March 07, 2012, 7:08pm

Nationals

Outfielder Brett Carroll has bounced around a lot the last couple of seasons, so he is thrilled with the chance to impress on one team this spring training and work to secure a spot on the Nationals' 25-man roster. "The last four years I have been up and down in that fourth outfield role," the 29-year old Carroll said. "It has been a great experience, a blessing and it's been a grind. It was a lot of learning. There is a lot of adversity through that kind of role when you are used to...

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Power slowly starting to return for DeRosa

March 07, 2012, 9:54am

Nationals

Power slowly starting to return for DeRosa

VIERA, Fla. - Much like ligament replacement surgery in the elbow is named after a pitcher who underwent such a procedure, Mark DeRosa thinks wrist surgeries should have his name attached to them. "They named Tommy John (surgery) after him," DeRosa joked. DeRosa has probably earned that right. His left wrist has been under the knife enough times that the 37-year-old could probably perform the procedure on himself if he needed it again at any point down the road. Good thing DeRosa's a...

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Another Nats starter looks good in spring debut

March 07, 2012, 9:09am

Nationals

Another Nats starter looks good in spring debut

VIERA, Fla. - These Nationals starters keep matching each other. It'd be nice if they can do it when the games count, as well, but manager Davey Johnson will take strong innings anytime he can get them. Jordan Zimmermann is done after three scoreless frames this afternoon. The righty allowed three hits and a walk and hit a batter, but struck out three, including a third-inning punch-out of Cardinals third baseman Eugenio Velez on a filthy slider. Zimmermann threw 44 pitches, 25 of which...

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At-bats for LaRoche plus today's lineup

March 07, 2012, 6:48am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Pitchers don't start hitting during Grapefruit League games for another week or so, but this morning, they got a chance to place orders for what type of bat they'd like to use. The result was a few blank stares and some general confusion in the Nationals clubhouse about what style and model number each guy should go with. Reliever Brad Lidge joked that while he knew the type of the bat he swings, he's less certain of how to, you know, use it. That's kinda the important...