nationals

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

April 01, 2012, 10:37am

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...

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Wrapping up the Nats' 3-2 win over Miami

March 30, 2012, 6:51pm

Nationals

Wrapping up the Nats' 3-2 win over Miami

VIERA, Fla. - For the record, I'm still not used to typing the "Miami" Marlins. It's still weird to me. That is all. As reporters were down in the clubhouse postgame, we overheard a quote from Ian Desmond talking with Johnny Holliday and Ray Knight on MASN's "Nats Xtra." Desmond was discussing his first-pitch home run hit off Marlins righty Josh Johnson leading off the bottom of the first inning tonight. The homer cut through a breeze and banged off a light pole over the left-center...

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Chien-Ming Wang continues to make strides in rehab

March 30, 2012, 2:37pm

Nationals

Chien-Ming Wang continues to make strides in rehab

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals continue to be pleased with Chien-Ming Wang's progress as the righty works back from a left hamstring injury. Wang threw from 300 feet yesterday and "looked great," according to manager Davey Johnson. As a result, the Nats skipper has decided to bring Wang north with the club when camp breaks. "He looked great throwing the ball," Johnson said. "So I just want to keep looking at him for another four or five days." It's still unclear whether Wang will...

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Espinosa in the midst of quite a funk (Nats beat Marlins 3-2)

March 30, 2012, 3:10pm

Nationals

Espinosa in the midst of quite a funk (Nats beat Marlins 3-2)

VIERA, Fla. - Good thing it's still spring. Otherwise, it'd be time to start getting a little worried. Danny Espinosa has struck out in both of his at-bats against Marlins starter Josh Johnson tonight, going down swinging each time. The Nationals second baseman and No. 2 hitter now has 22 strikeouts in 62 spring at-bats, and if that wasn't bad enough, he's gone down on strikes in 10 of his last 20 ABs. Manager Davey Johnson has said repeatedly that he likes where Espinosa is at this...

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Nats don't expect to make any roster additions, plus Rizzo notes

March 30, 2012, 1:16pm

Nationals

Nats don't expect to make any roster additions, plus Rizzo notes

VIERA, Fla. - Major league teams will scour the free agent market and waiver wire over this next week, checking to see if players cut by other teams are worthy of adding to their own roster. The Nationals will obviously be among the teams monitoring the transaction wire leading up to opening day, but according to general manager Mike Rizzo, they don't plan on bringing in anyone from the outside to fill out their 25-man roster. "Barring something out of the ordinary, I think you're looking...

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Ankiel added to 40-man roster, but will he be ready opening day?

March 30, 2012, 12:35pm

Nationals

Ankiel added to 40-man roster, but will he be ready opening day?

VIERA, Fla. - In the least surprising move of camp, the Nationals have added center fielder Rick Ankiel to their 40-man roster. Ankiel, signed to a minor league deal this offseason, is set to be the Nats' opening day center fielder, if healthy. "He had a nice year for us last year," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "He's a terrific teammate to have around and his defense kind of spoke for itself last year. We feel really good where he's at with the bat right now. He's put in a lot of...

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Livan Hernandez is back in the NL East

March 30, 2012, 10:26am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - We might be seeing a lot of Livan Hernandez this year. The 37-year-old righty, who appeared certain to make the Astros' rotation entering spring, was released by Houston today, and then within a couple hours, Hernandez had signed with the Braves. CBSsports.com first reported Hernandez's signing with the Nationals' division rival. Hernandez allowed 10 earned runs in 16 Grapefruit League innings for Houston, although the bulk of that damage was allowed in one recent start. As...

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Carroll talks life on the roster bubble

March 30, 2012, 5:56am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - After a stretch where they went winless in a span of 11 Grapefruit League games, the Nationals have now won five of their last six following yesterday's split-squad sweep. It's too bad the results mean just as little now as they did during the losing streak. The Nats will host the Marlins at 6:05 p.m. tonight, and you can catch the battle of division rivals on MASN. Bob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo will have the call for you. We know that Ross Detwiler will be on the mound...

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Nationals select the contract of outfielder Rick Ankiel

March 30, 2012, 12:39pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today selected outfielder Rick Ankiel to their 40-man roster. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals 40-man roster now includes 39 players.

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Things looking good for Carroll, Nady

March 29, 2012, 1:49pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Here's what Davey Johnson had to say about his bench players following today's win over the Braves: "It's no secret I like the way (Brett) Carroll fits. He's a little better fit for what we're trying to do. (Xavier) Nady is a nice fit, too. (Mark) DeRosa's a nice fit." It might not be official that Carroll and Nady will make the Nats' 25-man roster, but it's pretty darn close to official. Carroll helped get that much closer to locking up a roster spot by going 1-for-2...

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Nationals don't want to rush top outfield prospect Perez

March 29, 2012, 11:16am

Nationals

Another outfielder working his way up the system is Dominican prospect Eury Perez, who hit .283 with 41 RBIs, 45 stolen bases in 119 games last season for Single-A Potomac. Now he is poised to make that next step. But let's not put too much pressure on the kid, says Nationals outfield coordinator Tony Tarasco. After all, he is only 21 years old and is still learning the game. "Eury has all the tools," Tarasco said. "He is another great ball player. I worry that because of our need for a...

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Nats get second win of the day, beating Tigers 5-3

March 29, 2012, 5:02pm

Nationals

Nats get second win of the day, beating Tigers 5-3

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals completed a split-squad sweep today by picking up a 5-3 win over the Tigers tonight. I wasn't in Lakeland for tonight's game - the timing just didn't work out with the afternoon schedule in Viera being what it was - but the Nats fans who were there were treated to a strong performance by the three position players who are still on the big league roster. Steve Lombardozzi went 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI, and Jesus Flores and Chad Tracy each added two hits, as...