MRI reveals no structural damage to Storen's elbow (plus Morse, LaRoche notes)

MRI reveals no structural damage to Storen's elbow (plus Morse, LaRoche notes)
VIERA, Fla. - The test results on Drew Storen's right elbow have come in, and the Nationals can breathe a sigh of relief. Storen underwent an MRI on his right elbow yesterday, and the test confirmed that the Nats closer does not have any structural damage to his arm. There's a little inflammation in the elbow joint, Storen said, but nothing's wrong with the reliever's UCL. That's the ligament which, if torn, can result in Tommy John surgery. "There's nothing extremely unnormal,"...

Bernadina leaves game with apparent injury

Bernadina leaves game with apparent injury
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Roger Bernadina has left today's game against the Astros after just two and a half innings, with Brett Carroll replacing him in center field. Bernadina appeared to tweak something when he tracked down a long fly ball off the bat of Astros third baseman Chris Johnson in the bottom of the second. The 27-year-old outfielder needed to quickly go back close to the warning track to make the catch. He bent down at the waist after making the grab, appearing to stretch his...

Washington Nationals receive Legacy of Hope award from USO of Metropolitan Washington

Washington Nationals receive Legacy of Hope award from USO of Metropolitan Washington
The Washington Nationals' extensive efforts in the military community were recognized last night when the team was presented with the USO of Metropolitan Washington's Legacy of Hope Award during its 30th Annual Awards Dinner at the Ritz-Carlton in Arlington, Va. Established in 2004, the award is named after famed entertainer and longtime USO advocate Bob Hope and is presented annually to an organization that exhibits extraordinary dedication to supporting our nation's service members. "As...

Say goodbye to Gonzalez's sparkling spring numbers

Say goodbye to Gonzalez's sparkling spring numbers
JUPITER, Fla. - Other than a couple minor bumps in the road, everything had gone pretty smoothly for Gio Gonzalez in his first three spring starts. Including stats from a rained out game March 11, he'd thrown 10 1/3 innings, allowing just one earned run, five hits and four walks in that time, with 10 strikeouts. That's good for a 0.87 ERA. In today's 9-0 loss to the Cardinals, things didn't go quite so smoothly for Gonzalez. And that's a massive understatement. Gonzalez's spring ERA...

The Lombardozzi-in-left experiment

The Lombardozzi-in-left experiment
JUPITER, Fla. - With Michael Morse looking increasingly unlikely to be ready for opening day, manager Davey Johnson has started thinking about Plan B. Or, should I say, Plan C. Or D. That plan, whichever letter is attached to it, is using infielder Steve Lombardozzi in left field on occasion. The experiment was put into action yesterday in the Nats' 3-2 loss to the Braves, when Lombardozzi trotted out to left in the middle innings. He'd taken part in his first outfield training session...

Gonzalez smacked around in Jupiter (Nats lose 9-0)

Gonzalez smacked around in Jupiter (Nats lose 9-0)
JUPITER, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez retired two of the nine batters he faced in the fourth inning today against the Cardinals. He gave up a two-run homer, two doubles, two singles and two walks, all in that frame. Not exactly his finest outing. The Nationals lefty was pulled after 3 2/3 innings of work, having allowed eight earned runs overall, 10 hits and four walks. He struck out three and threw 83 pitches, 50 for strikes. Hey, at least he built that pitch count up. Ryan Mattheus came on to...

Michael Morse's opening day status is unclear

Michael Morse's opening day status is unclear
JUPITER, Fla. - Michael Morse's chances of being in the Nationals' lineup on opening day are apparently decreasing. Manager Davey Johnson said that a definite timetable has not yet been set for Morse to return to action, as he's still having problems with a strained lat muscle, but that it would probably be "a couple weeks" before Morse will begin baseball activities. Morse feels OK, but the Nationals are playing things safe with their projected starting left fielder and cleanup hitter,...

Storen has more discomfort, Nady to get minor league action

Storen has more discomfort, Nady to get minor league action
JUPITER, Fla. - About 90 percent of Davey Johnson's pregame session with reporters consisted of injury discussions. Hey, there's suddenly lots to talk about on that front. Johnson said closer Drew Storen is still feeling some discomfort in his bicep and triceps after playing catch yesterday. The team will take things very carefully with the 24-year-old over the next few days. "Storen is getting further tests on his condition on his arm and he's still had small discomfort when he threw on...

Talking on-base percentage at the top of the order

Talking on-base percentage at the top of the order
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals will travel nearly two hours south down Interstate 95 today to take on the Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla., their first of three straight road games. Some quality miles will be put on the team bus over this three-day stretch, as the Nats will be in Kissimmee to play the Astros tomorrow and then will head all the way across the state to face the Orioles in Sarasota on Saturday. Given that I need to fill up my rental car (a Jeep Patriot) about every 15 minutes, I should...

Wrapping up a busy day in Viera

Wrapping up a busy day in Viera
VIERA, Fla. - So far today, we've had news that Stephen Strasburg will be the Nationals' opening day starter, Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche possibly not being ready for the start of the season, Steve Lombardozzi making his first career appearance in the outfield and word that Chien-Ming Wang will likely start the regular season on the DL. Just another quiet afternoon at Space Coast Stadium. The Nationals needed one more strike to close this day out with a win over the Braves, but Ryan...

Moore will spend lots of time at first base this season

Moore will spend lots of time at first base this season
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...

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

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...

Lannan feels himself trending upward

Lannan feels himself trending upward
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...

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

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...

Learning lots about Lombardozzi

Learning lots about Lombardozzi
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...

A fan's guide to the Nationals' April schedule

A fan's guide to the Nationals' April schedule
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...

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

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...

Stephen Strasburg will be the Nats' opening day starter

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...

For Strasburg, a major step in the right direction

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...

Tyler Moore focused on his speed and footwork in outfield defense

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...