nationals

Johnson satisfied with Nationals' initial workout of spring

February 21, 2012, 11:00am

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...

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A little more strength makes all the difference for LaRoche

February 20, 2012, 12:30pm

Nationals

A little more strength makes all the difference for LaRoche

VIERA, Fla. - The swing is free and easy, and Adam LaRoche hopes that he can soon throw with more strength. The Nationals first baseman can finally cut loose a throw without worrying that lingering soreness would inhibit his movement for a couple of days or more. Having his left shoulder surgically repaired in June turned out to be the right course of action for the 32-year-old LaRoche, who signed a two-year, $16 million deal with Washington last offseason and lasted only 43 games, with a .172...

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Johnson says only three roster spots are up for grabs

February 20, 2012, 11:41am

Nationals

Johnson says only three roster spots are up for grabs

VIERA, Fla. - Not so long ago, the Nationals would report to Space Coast Stadium for spring training with more question marks than sure things. The collection of journeymen, hangers-on, hopeful youngsters, guys who had flamed out elsewhere and a few legitimate talents would go through workouts and play games; the front office and manager would try to piece together a 25-man roster that could last the season. Suffice it to say Davey Johnson's job this spring will be much easier. "I'd say...

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Harper: "I want to play and I want to play in D.C."

February 20, 2012, 10:51am

Nationals

Harper: "I want to play and I want to play in D.C."

VIERA, Fla. - If there's a tagline attached to Bryce Harper's second major league spring training, it's this: D.C. or bust. The Nationals' top prospect arrived at Space Coast Stadium on Monday, still tiptoeing between cockiness and confidence, yet still sure that he can break camp with the Nats and contribute at the major league level as a 19-year-old. "They're going to make their decisions and I'm going to come here and play. ... I think that's the biggest thing," Harper said. "If...

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Rookie Rendon shows respect for his roadblock at third base

February 20, 2012, 7:40am

Nationals

Rookie Rendon shows respect for his roadblock at third base

VIERA, Fla. - Anthony Rendon is no stranger to Space Coast Stadium, having made an appearance here at fall instructional league after the Nationals made the Rice third baseman the sixth overall pick in the June draft. But arriving at his first spring training made the 21-year-old think of how far he's come in a very brief time. "It's crazy," Rendon said after arriving at his locker stall in the Nationals clubhouse Monday morning. "Feels like just yesterday I was playing select ball...

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Rizzo on Cameron, Lombardozzi, Strasburg and more

February 20, 2012, 7:07am

Nationals

Rizzo on Cameron, Lombardozzi, Strasburg and more

VIERA, Fla. - More and more position players are trickling into camp - including the Nats' first-round picks in the last two drafts, outfielder Bryce Harper and infielder Anthony Rendon - and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo held an extended session with reporters this morning and talked about a variety of subjects. * Rizzo said outfielder Mike Cameron, whose retirement was announced yesterday, called the Nationals "out of the blue" Wednesday to tell them he wasn't going to report....

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With spots available, Jeff Mandel could make big move this season

February 19, 2012, 3:48pm

Nationals

With spots available, Jeff Mandel could make big move this season

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs reliever

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Notes from the Nationals clubhouse

February 19, 2012, 9:02am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Count Rick Ankiel among the few people happy that Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is still searching for a center fielder who can hit leadoff. If Rizzo had found elusive quarry this offseason, Ankiel might still be searching for a job. Two weeks ago, Ankiel inked a minor league deal with the Nationals, getting a spring training invitation that's more formality than anything. Barring a collapse of epic proportions, Ankiel will be on the opening day roster at Chicago's...

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Cameron tells Nationals he's retiring (updated)

February 19, 2012, 6:49am

Nationals

VIERA,Fla. - A few minutes ago, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was joking with reporters about how empty the Space Coast Stadium clubhouse felt with only 55 players needing locker space. It was a far cry from 2007, when 71 players were jammed into the room, necessitating extra locker stalls in the middle of the clubhouse. Now, there's unexpectedly one less player. According to this tweet from the club's public relations department, veteran outfielder Mike Cameron has notified the...