nationals

Mild ankle sprain gives LaRoche chance to rest shoulder (updated)

March 01, 2012, 5:36am

VIERA, Fla. - A mild left ankle sprain will keep Adam LaRoche out of today's organized workouts, but the Nationals first baseman expects to throw and hit a little in hopes of being ready to play Sunday for the team's home Grapefruit League opener against the Astros. "I don't want to flare it up any more than it is," said LaRoche, who injured the ankle in base running drills two days ago. "There's no point right now risking dragging this thing out for another week if we can knock it out...

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Extra effort gives Lidge markedly better results

March 01, 2012, 10:10am

Nationals

Extra effort gives Lidge markedly better results

VIERA, Fla. - Michael Morse swung and drove a low pitch from Brad Lidge into the ground, the ball dribbling to a stop at the lip of the infield where grass turns into dirt in front of the hole at shortstop. On the next pitch, Morse barely made contact on a letter-high offering, and the ball fluttered into the netting of the batting cage above him and dropped to his feet. Considering Morse knew what Lidge was throwing, Lidge's second session of live bating practice Thursday was much better...

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Saturday starter Jackson eager to move on to next phase of preseason

March 01, 2012, 4:18am

Nationals

Saturday starter Jackson eager to move on to next phase of preseason

VIERA, Fla. - For Edwin Jackson, starting Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla., is nothing more than a ceremonial assignment. But the right-hander is eager to move on to the next phase of spring training and to begin forging a relationship with his starting catcher, likely Wilson Ramos. "It's an upgrade from live BP," Jackson said. "It's more game mode. You're out there (and) it's more game focused." It's also an opportunity to formulate a...

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Newcomer Perry hopes trade to Nationals will help rebuild confidence

February 29, 2012, 11:47am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - One look at Ryan Perry's arms tells you the relief pitcher isn't afraid to share his point of view. Each arm is covered in a sleeve of tattoos, and the intricate work on the baseball-themed ink on his left arm is the newest addition. It was done this winter by Glendale, Ariz., tattoo artist Justin Kramer in three separate sessions that each required seven to eight hours to complete. "Everything's intertwined in baseball," said Perry, who was acquired from the Tigers in...

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Splintered bat shows Burnett is getting desired movement on pitches

February 29, 2012, 10:42am

Nationals

Splintered bat shows Burnett is getting desired movement on pitches

VIERA, Fla. - The most impressive arm in Wednesday's live batting practice belonged to left-hander Sean Burnett. The reliever's effort elicited praise from his teammates and Burnett got a measure of retribution against Michael Morse, who crushed a ball off the batter's eye in center field when the two squared off in the first round of live batting practice during spring workouts Sunday. This time around, Morse swung and made contact only to see his bat shatter into two pieces, one of which...

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Power hitter Tyler Moore becoming versatile asset Nationals envisioned

February 29, 2012, 9:25am

Nationals

Double-A Harrisburg first baseman Tyler Moore is coming off another 31 home run season, something you don't see very often. Moore has been the most consistent long ball hitter in the Nationals' system the last two seasons, totaling an incredible 62 round trippers and 201 RBIs. National Web sites have taken notice. Moore has been named back to back MiLB.com Nationals Organization Player of the Year. At the end of last season, the Nationals started to experiment with Moore in the outfield....

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Werth participates at his own pace, may be held out of weekend games

February 29, 2012, 9:55am

Nationals

Werth participates at his own pace, may be held out of weekend games

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Johnson expected outfielder Jayson Werth to miss a second straight day of workouts because of back spasms. Turns out Werth felt well enough to take part at his own pace, though Johnson's not sure he'll have Werth available when Grapefruit League play begins this weekend. Werth wasn't present at the beginning of workouts while he received treatment on his lower back. Whatever the team's trainers did worked well enough to allow Werth to hit on his own in...

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Johnson's advice to Ankiel: Relax

February 29, 2012, 10:58am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Johnson hopes that a more relaxed approach at the plate will pay dividends for veteran outfielder Rick Ankiel. Last year, Ankiel batted .239 with nine homers and 37 RBIs in 122 games with the Nationals, beginning the season as their starting center fielder. This year, Ankiel's role is a little less clear. The Nationals signed him to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, and he'll either get time in center field if Bryce Harper...

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"Over" Twitter, Harper deletes his account (updated)

February 29, 2012, 5:21am

Nationals

"Over" Twitter, Harper deletes his account (updated)

VIERA, Fla. - Bryce Harper has deleted his Twitter account, and the Nationals' top prospect said the decision was his and was not prompted by warnings from manager Davey Johnson. "I was just over it. Got bored and decided to leave," Harper said Wednesday morning as he dressed for the Nationals' workout. @BHarp3407, it appears, is no more - at least until Harper decides to revive it. Earlier this week, the Nationals' public relations staff and representatives from Major League Baseball...

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Werth missing as Wednesday workout begins (updated)

February 29, 2012, 5:05am

Nationals

Werth missing as Wednesday workout begins (updated)

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals moved their preseason drills from the minor league complex to Space Coast Stadium on Wednesday, but outfielder Jayson Werth was missing when the workout began. Instead, Werth was receiving treatment on his lower back. Werth missed Tuesday's workout with back spasms, according to manager Davey Johnson. While the rest of his teammates dressed in red jerseys and gray pants, Werth lingered in the clubhouse in shorts and a t-shirt. Approached by reporters for an update...

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Beasley works a room with a purpose

February 29, 2012, 5:40am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Tony Beasley, manager of the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse, N.Y., enters the home clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium 10 minutes before the scheduled start of a morning workout and makes a beeline for the corner packed with position players who will likely comprise the bulk of his Chiefs roster come opening day. Beasley, who was promoted to Syracuse after managing at Double-A Harrisburg last year, works the line of lockers with the aplomb of a Capitol Hill lobbyist,...

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In Nats' bullpen, Gorzelanny is a man of many talents

February 28, 2012, 12:07pm

Nationals

In Nats' bullpen, Gorzelanny is a man of many talents

In an era where bullpens are filled with specialists who only want to excel in their own narrow role, Tom Gorzelanny is an anachronistic chameleon. The Nationals left-hander can morph into whatever manager Davey Johnson needs him to be. Long relief? Gorzelanny was once a starting pitcher. Two innings or more? No problem. An out against a tough left-handed batter? He's up for that. "I probably would have been upset about it (early in my career). I would have said, 'I'm a starter and this is...

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Rizzo confirms Solis will undergo Tommy John surgery in L.A. next Tuesday

February 28, 2012, 11:55am

Nationals

Rizzo confirms Solis will undergo Tommy John surgery in L.A. next Tuesday

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed Tuesday afternoon that left-handed pitching prospect Sammy Solis will need Tommy John ligament-reconstruction surgery on his left elbow, and will be sidelined for 12 months. The surgery will be performed in Los Angeles next Tuesday by Dr. Lewis Yocum, the same orthopedic surgeon who performed the procedure on Nationals pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. The 23-year-old Solis, a second-round pick in the 2010 draft,...

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Not satisfied by postseason? How about the Nats in the World Series?

February 28, 2012, 7:02pm

Nationals

Not satisfied by postseason? How about the Nats in the World Series?

With the Nationals shoring up what could be a very talented pitching staff and the extension given to the "face of the franchise" third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, it's been a pretty good week for the team from South Capitol Street (the loss of No. 6 prospect Sammy Solis to Tommy John surgery, notwithstanding). As recent as 2009, it was difficult to find positive national recognition for what the Washington Nationals were doing, but another indication came down the World Wide Web pike this week...

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Back spasms sideline Werth from workout

February 28, 2012, 9:19am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Outfielder Jayson Werth took Tuesday off from workouts after reporting to Space Coast Stadium with muscle spasms in his back. "His back was hurting. ... He didn't work out," manager Davey Johnson said. The Nationals have escaped serious injuries thus far through spring training, and Werth's back spasms are the first problem substantial enough to cause a player to miss drills. "It's something I'm not taking any chances with," Johnson said. "I know he worked out a lot in...

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Ability to pitch two innings makes Clippard "invaluable"

February 28, 2012, 10:18am

Nationals

Ability to pitch two innings makes Clippard "invaluable"

VIERA, Fla. - Good managers think ahead, constructing contingency plans for an emergency. The Nationals' bullpen is a strength, but what would Davey Johnson do if Drew Storen wasn't available to close games for an extended period? Johnson doesn't want to consider that possibility - last July, at the trade deadline, the skipper stumped for the Nationals not to trade Storen - but he knows he's got alternatives. Tyler Clippard, who usually sets Storen up, would be one choice. But maybe not...

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Freeze frames and weird poses highlight photo day

February 28, 2012, 5:37am

Nationals

Freeze frames and weird poses highlight photo day

VIERA, Fla. - If players are frozen like statues, posed in awkward positions while rapid-fire shutters whir, it must be photo day. To hear Nationals tell it, this is one of the most dreaded days of spring training, when full uniforms are donned and players and coaches run the gauntlet of photographers snapping pictures for baseball cards, promotional campaigns and other purposes approved by Major League Baseball. Photo day at Space Coast Stadium, they say, makes a two-hour clubhouse meeting to...

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Solis in California visiting doctor to check ailing elbow; Tommy John major possiblity

February 28, 2012, 7:29am

Nationals

Solis in California visiting doctor to check ailing elbow; Tommy John major possiblity

A source with the Nationals has confirmed left-hander Sammy Solis has been shut down and is in California to meet with Dr. Lewis Yocum, who is examining his injured elbow. The team is awaiting the diagnosis of what likely would be season-ending Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery for the talented No. 6 prospect in the Nationals' system. Solis felt elbow discomfort during his playing time in the Arizona Fall League and offseason rest did not improve his condition. The University of San...

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For four Nationals, life's the pits at wreck-filled Daytona 500

February 28, 2012, 5:07am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Michael Morse got in touch with his inner Bubba on Monday night, accompanying three teammates to the Daytona 500, which was run about 70 miles north in Daytona Beach, Fla. It was the first NASCAR Sprint Cup experience for Morse, and won't be the last. "It was awesome, it was a great experience," said Morse. "First one ever. I never knew how much they worked - the pit crew, the drivers, the owners, the spotters. It's just constant non-stop chaos." A friend of general...

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Carving out bench niche is Tracy's goal in Nationals camp

February 27, 2012, 11:34am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - He's 31, hasn't played regularly in the majors in 2006 and last played in Japan, where the cultural experience far outweighed anything he did on the field. But Chad Tracy once slugged 27 homers in a single season for the Diamondbacks, where the man who drafted him is now the Nationals' general manager. Plus, he hits left-handed and is versatile enough to play both the infield and outfield corners. Not so long ago, Tracy would have bristled at the notion of being a bench...