nationals

News and notes from Nats Park

February 23, 2012, 3:49pm

Greetings, Nationals fans. As we draw closer to the start of another season of Nationals baseball, there are a number of things to discuss and opportunities to present before opening day. First off, for those fans who applied to become a 2012 Nationals ball girl, the 25 finalists have been chosen and will take part in the tryouts portion of the process Saturday at Nationals Park. The finalists who met a series of requirements must prove they have a strong knowledge of the game of baseball...

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Humbled Morse wants to use breakthrough as a baseline

February 23, 2012, 10:58am

Nationals

Humbled Morse wants to use breakthrough as a baseline

Of the countless words used to describe Michael Morse's breakthrough season in 2011 - and a .303 average, 31 homers and 95 RBIs will get you a lot of plaudits, not to mention Most Valuable Player votes - the most unexpected may been uttered by Morse himself. "Last year, to me, was very humbling," Morse said Thursday morning in the Nationals' clubhouse. "It was something I always knew I could do. Now I feel like it's the tip of the iceberg. I feel I have so much more to offer. Now I know...

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McCatty, Johnson want Storen to slow down a little

February 23, 2012, 10:15am

Nationals

McCatty, Johnson want Storen to slow down a little

VIERA, Fla. - Drew Storen was between pitches in his bullpen session Thursday when pitching coach Steve McCatty walked over to him and interrupted his series of tosses to catcher Wilson Ramos. The conversation looked pretty one-sided, with Storen doing all the listening, and McCatty was making a plea that Storen is used to hearing. "He just keeps telling me to slow down," Storen said later. "I kind of ... wrecked my reputation in spring training because I threw about 100 pitches in 10...

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Wang to get extra day of rest, Gonzalez unleashes "snapdragons"

February 23, 2012, 9:50am

Nationals

Wang to get extra day of rest, Gonzalez unleashes "snapdragons"

VIERA, Fla. - Today should have been Chien-Ming Wang's day to throw a bullpen. Instead, the right-hander got an extra day of rest, a move Nationals manager Davey Johnson said would be repeated early in camp to allow Wang to build up his strength and stamina. "These guys have been around for a little bit, they know what they need to do to get that prepared. ... Since (Wang is) on a little different rest period, I will ... probably have him throw a simulated game for his first start here, or a...

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Why Baseball America's No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper won't start season with Nationals

February 22, 2012, 6:29am

Nationals

Baseball America has released their annual Top 100 prospect list and the Nationals' No. 1 prospect is also their No. 1 again, outfielder Bryce Harper. It is an impressive list again, with Harper just ahead of top prospects Rays' left-handed pitcher Matt Moore and Angels' outfielder Mike Trout. Baseball America executive editor Jim Callis said he spoke with 11 player personnel experts for another magazine feature, and they had Harper just ahead of Moore and Trout. The main reason:...

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And then there were none ...

February 23, 2012, 7:05am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - All present and accounted for. The last two straggers - one with an excused absence, one who probably didn't realize he'd be the last arrival to camp even though he was reporting early - showed up at Space Cost Stadium today, meaning all the Nationals have reported to spring training. Right-hander Henry Rodriguez, whose absence was excused, was by his locker stall bright and early. He had been granted a waiver from the Feb. 19 reporting date to work through a personal issue in...

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Nats, Zimmerman continue to talk; Rizzo "hopeful" of deal

February 23, 2012, 4:52am

Nationals

Nats, Zimmerman continue to talk; Rizzo "hopeful" of deal

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Thursday that he continues to be engaged in talks with Ryan Zimmerman and his representatives in hopes of hammering out a contract extension before the third baseman's Saturday deadline for a deal. "We continue to talk and have discussions," Rizzo said. "His agent (Brodie Van Wagenen) is in town, so that makes it easier." Zimmerman has said that he wants a deal in place by the time full-squad workouts begin Saturday or discussions...

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Newcomer Lidge more than willing to share his experience

February 22, 2012, 12:19pm

Nationals

Newcomer Lidge more than willing to share his experience

VIERA, Fla. - Brad Lidge isn't ready to open his arms to the role of bullpen sage just because he's got 10 major league seasons and 223 career saves under his belt. But he was lucky enough to have established closers like Trevor Hoffman and Billy Wagner reach out to him when he was younger, and the 35-year-old Lidge is more than willing to do the same for the Nationals' young relievers, paying it forward so they can better adapt to and succeed in their roles. "If I see something going on...

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Johnson satisfied with Nationals' initial workout of spring

February 21, 2012, 11:00am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - For the first workout of the spring for Nationals pitchers and catchers, the first time he's kicked off a major league camp since 2000 in Dodgertown at the now-vacatedVero Beach, Fla., facility, manager Davey Johnson took a page from the past in his instructions to a vastly improved mound staff. Fastballs and change-ups were allowed in the first side sessions. Breaking balls were not. When you're 69 and the oldest manager in the majors, you have a perspective some of the...

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Johnson embraces players' manager moniker

February 21, 2012, 11:40am

Nationals

Johnson embraces players' manager moniker

VIERA, Fla. - Go ahead, call the Nationals' Davey Johnson a players' manager. Some major league skippers might bristle at that moniker, which to some indicates that they mollycoddle millionaires and refuse to exert their managerial authority. Not Johnson, who values the relationship he culls with his players, figuring the more intimate the understanding of his charges, the better he's able to perform his job. "I always try and put a guy in a situation that's conducive for him to succeed....

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Nats' Morse still a big hit with Taiwanese media

February 22, 2012, 11:10am

Nationals

Nats' Morse still a big hit with Taiwanese media

VIERA, Fla. - For a few minutes Wednesday afternoon, a Nationals player was swarmed by Taiwanese media, who crowded around him outside the first base dugout at Space Coast Stadium, still cameras clicking, video cameras running and note pads in hand. Surprise, it wasn't Chien-Ming Wang, who has apparently been replaced as the media darling among his countrymen by teammate Michael Morse. Morse toured Taiwan with a group of Major League Baseball all-stars back in November, immediately...

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More from the manager

February 22, 2012, 10:13am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - More from Nationals manager Davey Johnson after the Nationals' second workout of the spring Wednesday. With utility man Mark DeRosa reporting, the only two players who haven't shown up in camp are non-roster outfielder

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Wrist woes behind him, DeRosa comes full circle to utility role

February 22, 2012, 7:11am

Nationals

Wrist woes behind him, DeRosa comes full circle to utility role

VIERA, Fla. - The tendon he ruptured in his left wrist swinging at a pitch from Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw in L.A. last May 18 may have been a blessing in disguise for Mark DeRosa. Of course, at the time, all the veteran could do was wince and wonder whether his career was over. "To be honest with you, since I've ruptured it, it's the best that it felt," said DeRosa, who reported to Nationals camp on Wednesday, leaving only non-roster outfielder Xavier Paul unaccounted for among...

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Jackson will work on not tipping pitches in windup

February 22, 2012, 10:08am

Nationals

Jackson will work on not tipping pitches in windup

VIERA, Fla. - One of the main goals the Nationals have for veteran Edwin Jackson this spring is to correct a flaw in his delivery that may lead to the right-hander tipping his pitches, particularly from a full windup. Jackson went through his first side session today, throwing to catcher Wilson Ramos, and manager Davey Johnson says the problem, first discovered by pitching coach Steve McCatty while watching video of Jackson before camp, is still evident. "He's tipping his pitches. I did...

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Zimmerman firm on Saturday deadline for contract talks

February 22, 2012, 9:18am

Nationals

Zimmerman firm on Saturday deadline for contract talks

VIERA, Fla. - Agent Brodie Van Waganen is in Nationals camp, fueling speculation that he's trying to get something done on the Ryan Zimmerman contract front by Saturday, the deadline the third baseman has imposed on a possible long-term deal. Zimmerman reiterated Wednesday that he will shut down talks with the club if a deal isn't reached by then. "It's not fair for all these guys here to have to worry about that every day," Zimmerman said. "It's not fair for me to answer questions...

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Nationals profile rising in ESPN league rankings

February 20, 2012, 3:21am

Nationals

It seems ages ago the Nationals were battling through rough seasons and long losing streaks with a rag tag bunch that won 59 and 69 games in back-to-back seasons. But with steady improvement, keen trades and the possible windfall of arguably the top draft picks in first-year player history (Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon), the Nationals are garnering attention outside the mid-Atlantic region. And with good reason. General manager Mike Rizzo has put together a solid...

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After ordeal, Ramos prefers to focus on baseball

February 21, 2012, 10:03am

Nationals

After ordeal, Ramos prefers to focus on baseball

VIERA, Fla. - The ink on the inside of his left forearm, only a week old, speaks to the happy resolution Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos prefers not to speak of. In black script among a bevy of sky-blue highlights are the words, "Todo lo puedo en Cristo, que me fortalice" - "I put everything in Jesus, because he's got my back," Ramos said by way of translation - along with the Bible verse, Philippians 4:13, where the saying originated and the date "11-11-11." Last Nov. 11 will forever...

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Marrero's path to Nationals takes an injury detour

February 21, 2012, 5:07am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - While the Nationals' pitchers and catchers undertake their first workout today, the early-reporting position players stretch and hit and throw, first baseman Chris Marrero will think about what might have been. He'll run the steps at Space Coast Stadium, head to the trainer's room for therapy, maybe do some light throwing. But any hopes the 23-year-old had of picking up after his 2011 major league debut evaporated in November, when he tore his left hamstring in a winter league...

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Finding innings for 10 potential starters is Johnson's challenge

February 20, 2012, 4:06pm

Nationals

Finding innings for 10 potential starters is Johnson's challenge

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals pitchers and catchers will work out for the first time this morning, and manger Davey Johnson will put into motion his plan to find enough innings to make sure all of his starting pitchers are ready for the 2012 season. It won't be easy. Quite frankly, the math doesn't work in Johnson's favor. He's got 10 pitchers in camp who have started a game in the bigs in the past two seasons, and only five spots in the rotation. Figuring that his rotation will consist of lefty...

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Nationals announce accelerated development camp roster

February 20, 2012, 4:57pm

Nationals

The Nationals have released the roster for their accelerated camp and it is a who's-who of the top talent and depth in the system as the franchise heads in to 2012. The accelerated development camp is an outstanding opportunity for the top prospects to begin spring training at the same time the major leaguers get started with the Nationals' best coaches putting them through their paces and preparing them for the season. Here is the roster: Pitchers (26) Right-handed pitchers: Dixon...