nationals

Moore will spend lots of time at first base this season

March 21, 2012, 6:21pm

I have written a lot during the offseason about the Nationals working with first baseman Tyler Moore at outfield positions to improve his versatility. That is still true. Just like Michael Morse, the Nationals would love to have Moore be able to play different spots all over the field so they can get his offensive output in the majors sooner rather than later. But roster needs change quickly, and with the injury to former Triple-A Syracuse first baseman Chris Marrero, the need for Moore to...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr chris marrero nationals syracuse chiefs tyler moore frontstory_nationals2

Nats won't rush Morse, LaRoche back for opening day

March 21, 2012, 9:31am

Nationals

Nats won't rush Morse, LaRoche back for opening day

VIERA, Fla. - We're under way here at Space Coast Stadium, as John Lannan takes the mound to face the Braves. If you've got TV access at the office or happen to be hanging at home, you can catch today's game live on MASN. Lannan is now through two innings, having allowed two hits but no runs. We're scoreless entering the bottom of the second. Despite recent injuries to both left fielder Michael Morse and first baseman Adam LaRoche, the Nationals have said all along that they're not...

Comments

Tags:

davey johnson drew storen michael morse nationals spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Lannan feels himself trending upward

March 21, 2012, 1:10pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Normally in spring training, John Lannan comes out of the gates hot, then goes through a bit of a downturn before trying to get back on track for the start of the regular season. This year's been the opposite. The Nationals lefty started out slow, but feels that with each start, he's getting closer to being in prime condition for the beginning of April. "I'm progressing in a manner where I start off pretty slow and now I'm getting to a point where before opening day...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko john lannan nationals spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Lannan's day is done, Lombardozzi in left (Nats lose 3-2)

March 21, 2012, 10:44am

Nationals

Lannan's day is done, Lombardozzi in left (Nats lose 3-2)

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth, with Jason Michaels' RBI groundout bringing in Ryan Zimmerman for the only run of the game. Ian Desmond has a walk today (his second in as many days) and an error (marking his fourth defensive miscue of the spring). John Lannan's day is done after four innings of work. The lefty didn't allow a run, largely thanks to a stiff wind blowing in, and gave up three hits and a walk. He struck out three and threw 79 pitches, 50...

Comments

Tags:

ian desmond john lannan nationals spring training steve lombardozzi frontfeatured_nationals

Learning lots about Lombardozzi

March 21, 2012, 4:10am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Prior to the start of spring training, if I had told you that Craig Stammen would be leading the Nationals in strikeouts nearly three weeks into the Grapefruit League season, would you have believed me? If I had told you that Stephen Strasburg would have only one fewer hit than both Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche with 17 spring games in the books, would you have thought I was insane? In this game, you just never know what will happen on any given day. Another thing you never...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko danny espinosa davey johnson nationals spring training steve lombardozzi frontstory_nationals3

A fan's guide to the Nationals' April schedule

March 21, 2012, 7:52am

Nationals

Let's get you ready for the first month of the season, and if you have the good fortune of seeing the Nationals on the road to begin in Chicago and New York, here is a quick primer. Every time I get an advance schedule for a local team, I always look to see what other sporting events are going on in the four major professional sports and check the live music or comedy schedules to see if they possibly matchup with off-days. I also have to hit the best pizza, wings or hot dog joints available...

Comments

Tags:

astros byron kerr cubs dodgers marlins mets nationals padres reds frontstory_nationals2

Strasburg finds a groove in fourth spring start (Nats fall to Mets 2-0)

March 20, 2012, 4:14pm

Nationals

Strasburg finds a groove in fourth spring start (Nats fall to Mets 2-0)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg had an eventful first few innings here at Digital Domain Park, dodging the shard of a broken bat, smoking a line drive to the opposite field and beating out an infield single. He does it all, folks. On the mound, Strasburg completed five innings tonight, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out three in his finest outing of spring. He threw 85 pitches, 53 for strikes. Unlike in his past starts, where he came out overthrowing, Strasburg...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals spring training stephen strasburg frontfeatured_nationals featured_sidebar

Stephen Strasburg will be the Nats' opening day starter

March 21, 2012, 6:33am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg will be the Nats' opening day starter

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals' rotation is loaded with talent, but in manager Davey Johnson's mind, there was only one real choice to start opening day. That guy is Stephen Strasburg. Johnson announced Strasburg as his April 5 opening day starter in Chicago this morning, less than 12 hours after Strasburg delivered his finest outing of spring, throwing five one-run innings and striking out three. "It was easy. Very easy," Johnson said. "It has nothing to do with favoritism. He's my...

Comments

Tags:

davey johnson nationals spring training stephen strasburg frontfeatured_nationals featured_sidebar

For Strasburg, a major step in the right direction

March 20, 2012, 6:12pm

Nationals

For Strasburg, a major step in the right direction

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Nationals were shut out and only registered five hits in tonight's 2-0 loss to the Mets, but that means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Much more important was the strong outing turned in by Stephen Strasburg, who took a major step forward in his spring development tonight, throwing five innings, allowing just one run on two hits, striking out three and working his pitch count up to 85. It was by far the best start of Strasburg's spring. After allowing...

Comments

Tags:

craig stammen dan kolko davey johnson nationals rick ankiel spring training stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Tyler Moore focused on his speed and footwork in outfield defense

March 20, 2012, 6:13am

Nationals

Tyler Moore focused on his speed and footwork in outfield defense

Bryce Harper and Tyler Moore, the future heart of the Nationals' order, could be side-by-side in the Triple-A outfield for a few games this season. The Nationals want Harper to play a lot of center field while at Triple-A Syracuse. That would give Harper significant experience at all three outfield positions, dating back to March 2011. Updated: A Nationals source said they anticipate Moore will play mostly at first base, but he could see a few games in the outfield. During instructional...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr nationals tony tarasco tyler moore frontstory_nationals2

Lee County votes to pursue Nationals for spring training

March 20, 2012, 10:46am

Nationals

Lee County, Fla., commissioners voted this morning to enter into negotiations with the Nationals that could lead to the club moving from its current spring training facility following the 2013 Grapefruit League season and relocating from Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla., to City of Palms Park across the state in Fort Myers. According to the Naples Daily News, the county's Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to pursue the Nationals, who would join the American League's Minnesota Twins...

Comments

Tags:

city of palms park lee county nationals pete kerzel frontstory_nationals2

Rizzo: Harper could be Nats' long-term answer in center field

March 20, 2012, 2:53pm

Nationals

Rizzo: Harper could be Nats' long-term answer in center field

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Just prior to first pitch here tonight, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo met with reporters to discuss the decision to option outfielder Bryce Harper to Triple-A Syracuse. Rizzo said that he and the rest of the Nationals brass were impressed with what they saw from Harper in spring, but wanted to give him a chance to refine his skills in the minors before getting a chance to play every day in the bigs. "We felt that he could use the at-bats down at Triple-A,"...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko nationals spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Nats expect Storen back soon

March 20, 2012, 3:40pm

Nationals

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - It's been nearly two weeks since Drew Storen last threw in a Grapefruit League game, but the Nationals say their closer is fine. He's just battling a case of strep throat and some soreness which the Nats say is normal. Storen has thrown just two innings this spring, his last coming March 7. "Other than the usual pitching soreness that you have during spring training, he's fine," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "He's a little under the weather the last four or...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson drew storen mike rizzo nationals spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Johnson committed to Desmond, Espinosa atop lineup

March 20, 2012, 4:56am

Nationals

Johnson committed to Desmond, Espinosa atop lineup

VIERA, Fla. - If you've seen the lineups Davey Johnson has been writing up this spring, you've probably noticed that the Nationals manager has been experimenting with shortstop Ian Desmond as his leadoff hitter and second baseman Danny Espinosa in the two-hole. Three weeks into Grapefruit League games, it's no longer an experiment. It's officially how the top of the lineup will be constructed come opening day. "I'm not auditioning," Johnson said. "I told them the other day, 'You guys...

Comments

Tags:

davey johnson nationals spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Notes on the rest of the cuts

March 19, 2012, 12:13pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Oh yeah, Bryce Harper wasn't the only guy cut from the Nationals' big league roster yesterday. The other three haven't gotten quite as much attention, for whatever reason. Not exactly sure why. In addition to Harper, the Nationals also optioned first baseman Tyler Moore and catcher Jhonatan Solano to Triple-A Syracuse yesterday, and reassigned infielder Mark Teahen to minor league camp. It's important to note that just because a player has been optioned to a certain...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko mark teahen nationals spring training tyler moore featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Like it or not, Nats handling Harper the right way

March 19, 2012, 5:23am

Nationals

Like it or not, Nats handling Harper the right way

VIERA, Fla. - Today marks the Nationals' only off-day of the Grapefruit League season. Players will get a chance to rest up or hit the beach, manager Davey Johnson will go home and see his wife ... and I'll continue to write about the Nats. Am I a saint for writing even on the off day? No. Well, maybe. But hey, there's a lot to discuss, especially after yesterday's announcement that the Nats optioned outfielder Bryce Harper to Triple-A Syracuse. There will certainly be some who are upset...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko nationals spring training frontfeatured_nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Bryce Harper is right on schedule for D.C.

March 18, 2012, 6:27pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper is right on schedule for D.C.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that outfielder Bryce Harper was sent to Triple-A Syracuse to begin the 2012 campaign, eliminating the question of whether the Nationals' top prospect would break camp with the system's top team and head to D.C. in April. It is the best scenario for the 19-year-old to taste every level of the minor league system so he will be ready with a good dose of experience before he dons a Nationals jersey on South Capitol Street in a major league game. Of course...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr nationals syracuse chiefs tyler moore frontstory_nationals2

Harper sliding over to center field at Triple-A

March 18, 2012, 4:16pm

Nationals

Harper sliding over to center field at Triple-A

VIERA, Fla. - In Bryce Harper's mind, there was one upside to finding out late this afternoon that he was being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse: He also learned he'd be playing center field in the minors. "I love it," Harper said, a smile creeping across his face. "After (manager Davey Johnson) said that to me, I was excited to get down there and work on my center field." The Nationals have decided to play Harper "predominantly" in center at Triple-A, according to Johnson, which is an...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko davey johnson jayson werth nationals spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Nationals option Harper, two others to Triple-A Syracuse

March 18, 2012, 1:56pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today optioned catcher Jhonatan Solano, first baseman Tyler Moore and outfielder Bryce Harper to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Additionally, the Nationals re-assigned infielder Mark Teahen to minor-league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. The Nationals currently have 37 players in their big league camp.

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release bryce harper nationals

Jackson, Detwiler talk about their outings (Nats lose 11-7)

March 18, 2012, 12:19pm

Nationals

Jackson, Detwiler talk about their outings (Nats lose 11-7)

VIERA, Fla. - Right-hander Edwin Jackson obviously wasn't thrilled with his four-inning, four-run, seven-hit, three-walk outing today, but he's not going to get too hung up on the numbers. "Results weren't really the greatest, but I felt pretty good," Jackson said in the Nats' clubhouse a bit ago. "The only thing I come away from (this) working on is just the walks. Everything else I can accept. They had hits, a lot of them on the ground. They had a few hits in the air, but I'll take...