nationals

Nats ready for nine (possibly shortened) innings and fans

February 27, 2021, 6:44pm

It's been 154 days since the Nationals last played a baseball game. Exactly 22 weeks since they wrapped up the bizarre 2020 season with a 15-5 thumping of the Mets. As was the case for the entire 60-game campaign, there were zero fans in attendance. So imagine the feeling everyone in uniform has as they wake up this morning, look at the calendar and realize they're not only going to play a ballgame today, but they're going to play it in front of fans. Yep, the 2021 Grapefruit League opens...

Comments

Tags:

coronavirus davey martinez mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime spring training st. louis cardinals featured_sidebar josh harrison frontstory_nationals3

Lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter

February 28, 2021, 4:25am

Nationals

And away we go ... Yes, there's a ballgame today in Florida. The Nationals are playing the Cardinals in Jupiter, the first of 24 games on the Grapefruit League schedule. And there are a whole lot of starters playing for both clubs. Davey Martinez's lineup includes Victor Robles leading off and Trea Turner batting third (yep, they really are going to test this out this spring). It doesn't include Juan Soto, but it does feature a 4-5-6 of Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Starlin Castro. If you...

Comments

Tags:

erick fedde josh bell lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime spring training st. louis cardinals trea turner victor robles frontstory_nationals1

After derailed 2020, Castro ready to show Nats who he is

February 27, 2021, 11:07am

Nationals

After derailed 2020, Castro ready to show Nats who he is

Starlin Castro is one of the most accomplished hitters in baseball, a four-time All-Star who has received votes for Rookie of the Year and MVP. He's led the National League in hits. He was on every top prospects list when he first sped through the Cubs' farm system more than a decade ago. He's 19th among all active players with 1,633 hits, and everyone ahead of him on the list has played in at least 131 more big league games than he has. Yet ask someone to name the most important members of...

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez josh harrison mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime spring training starlin castro featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Martinez on Fedde starting opener, Hand closing and Parra's knee

February 26, 2021, 10:03am

Nationals

Martinez on Fedde starting opener, Hand closing and Parra's knee

With his top two starting pitchers spending the beginning of spring training ramping up after injuries, Nationals manager Davey Martinez has chosen right-hander Erick Fedde to start Sunday's Grapefruit League opener against the Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla. "We want to get him out there," Martinez said of Fedde this afternoon during his Zoom conference call with reporters. "He looks good. Built him up a little bit. So feel like he'll be the guy." Fedde will be limited to 30 pitches, which...

Comments

Tags:

brad hand davey martinez erick fedde gerardo parra nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel featured_sidebar

Bell ready to be the guy who hits behind Soto

February 25, 2021, 7:04pm

Nationals

Bell ready to be the guy who hits behind Soto

The most important hit in Nationals history - well, until he produced an even more important hit three weeks later - came moments after the opponents intentionally walked Juan Soto. Yep, it's easy to forget now what preceded Howie Kendrick's 10th-inning grand slam at Dodger Stadium in Game 5 of the 2019 National League Division Series, but it was indeed an intentional walk of Soto. The Dodgers weren't about to let the then-20-year-old sensation beat them in a winner-take-all game. They would...

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez josh bell juan soto mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Slimmer Robles ready to reassert himself on defense, at bat

February 26, 2021, 11:59am

Nationals

Slimmer Robles ready to reassert himself on defense, at bat

Victor Robles heard the whispers last season. That the 15 pounds he put on during the coronavirus pandemic backfired, making his first-step reaction times in the outfield slower and hampering his swing. In short, he bulked up a little too much and paid the price for it. So instead of relaxing this winter, Robles packed up his gear and headed to his native Dominican Republic, where he focused on refining his game by trimming some weight from a 6-foot frame that had become noticeably bigger than...

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez juan soto kyle schwarber nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel victor robles featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

After year away, Zimmerman relishing return to Nats

February 25, 2021, 10:24am

Nationals

After year away, Zimmerman relishing return to Nats

Though a few things have changed since he last walked into the Nationals clubhouse - like the mandatory COVID-19 testing and temperature checks, the spaced-out lockers and the fact everyone must wear a mask indoors - Ryan Zimmerman feels far more a sense of familiarity right now at his home away from home. "It's good to be back out here and kind of going through the day-to-day grind again," he said. "I missed that part, for sure." It's been nearly a year since Zimmerman was last with his...

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Kieboom tries to block out the noise and trust himself

February 24, 2021, 6:18pm

Nationals

Kieboom tries to block out the noise and trust himself

Carter Kieboom has heard all your theories. That he wasn't aggressive enough at the plate. That he was hampered by an injury. That he couldn't handle the pressure of replacing Anthony Rendon at third base. And he heard all the chatter this winter about his future with the Nationals. That the club was going to trade for a new third baseman, either Kris Bryant or maybe Eugenio SuÃ¡rez. Or sign a free agent who would bump him out of the lineup, like Justin Turner or DJ LeMahieu. Here, though,...

Comments

Tags:

carter kieboom mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Washington Nationals announce Phil Rizzo Scout of the Year Award

February 25, 2021, 10:54am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals announced the inaugural Phil Rizzo Scout of the Year Award on Thursday. The award will be given annually to the Washington Nationals scout who represents the integrity, character, and work ethic exemplified by Phil Rizzo. Steve Arnieri, Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations and General Manager, is the first winner. The award will be presented annually at the baseball Winter Meetings. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Notes on Scherzer, Jeffress, live BP and exhibition games

February 24, 2021, 10:06am

Nationals

Notes on Scherzer, Jeffress, live BP and exhibition games

For the first time this spring, all 72 players in the Nationals' big league camp were on the field and participating today. On the second day of full-squad workouts, the only two pitchers who had yet to participate (Javy Guerra and Jeremy Jeffress) were cleared to join their teammates. Guerra, who had been in Arizona with his wife as she gave birth in recent days, arrived in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday and on Tuesday cleared his mandatory intake testing. Jeffress, meanwhile, passed his...

Comments

Tags:

brad hand davey martinez javy guerra jeremy jeffress mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime spring training victor robles featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nationals announce 2021 spring training radio broadcast schedule

February 25, 2021, 8:10am

Nationals

This year, fans will be able to listen to a record number of Nationals Spring Training games. The flagship station of the Washington Nationals, 106.7 The Fan (WJFK-FM) in Washington D.C., and The Team 980 (WTEM-AM) will broadcast a total of eight Nationals Spring Training matchups. For the first time, the Nationals are also pleased to offer seven Spring Training games streamed through Nationals.com. Please see the full radio broadcast schedule below (all programming is subject to change). In...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

How will the Turner-Soto Era of Nationals baseball be defined?

February 23, 2021, 6:34pm

Nationals

The Nationals, like every franchise, have been through multiple eras over the years. Break down their 17 seasons in the District into smaller chunks, and you can rattle off each of those eras with only a handful of names. The Frank Robinson Era. The Ryan Zimmerman Era. The Adam Dunn Era. The Stephen Strasburg-Jordan Zimmermann Era. The Bryce Harper-Jayson Werth Era. The Max Scherzer-Strasburg-Anthony Rendon Championship Club. And now, the Trea Turner-Juan Soto Era. Make no mistake, that's the...

Comments

Tags:

juan soto mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime spring training trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Pitching and offense aplenty

February 23, 2021, 8:11am

Nationals

Well, pitchers and catchers have reported to West Palm Beach, followed by position players. Pretty soon, there will be Grapefruit League games. And before you know it, the regular season will be upon us, pandemic willing. But before we turn the page to a new season, we've got time for one more collection of "Nationals Classics" on MASN. This week's array of retro games includes some of the most memorable pitching and hitting performances by the Nationals. So sit back and enjoy them. The...

Comments

Tags:

masn max scherzer nationals nationals buzz nationals classics pete kerzel ryan zimmerman stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals2

Turner, Soto grapple with question of long-term extensions

February 23, 2021, 11:03am

Nationals

Turner, Soto grapple with question of long-term extensions

The questions were inevitable. When a star homegrown player approaching free agency reports for spring training, he's going to be asked about contract discussions. And when it happens only days after one of baseball's brightest young stars signs a gargantuan extension with his club, it's a foregone conclusion. So neither Trea Turner nor Juan Soto could've been surprised today when the subject came up in their respective first Zoom sessions with reporters of 2021. On the heels of Fernando...

Comments

Tags:

juan soto mark zuckerman mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime spring training trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Scherzer throws off mound, full squad takes field for first time

February 23, 2021, 8:31am

Nationals

Scherzer throws off mound, full squad takes field for first time

Max Scherzer was back on a mound this morning in West Palm Beach, Fla., throwing pitches (albeit not many and not at full velocity) for the first time since a sprained left ankle sidetracked him two weeks ago. Scherzer was cleared to resume throwing off the bullpen mound. He wound up throwing 10 pitches, "very light," according to manager Davey Martinez. "We just wanted to see him land on that foot," Martinez said during his daily Zoom session with reporters. "He said he felt good. We'll...

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime spring training featured_sidebar javy guerra jeremy jeffress frontstory_nationals3

With deep bullpen, Nats think they're set to close games

February 22, 2021, 7:07pm

Nationals

With deep bullpen, Nats think they're set to close games

If you wanted to try to distill the story of the Nationals bullpen over the last several seasons into one simplified narrative, it would be this: Davey Martinez didn't trust enough guys to pitch in high-leverage situations, forcing the manager to overuse his one or two best relievers, which sometimes led to ineffectiveness or injury. It's a pattern that has often repeated itself around here, and it's one Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo appear determined to avoid in 2021. And how...

Comments

Tags:

brad hand daniel hudson davey martinez jeremy jeffress kyle finnegan mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime spring training tanner rainey wander suero will harris featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Scherzer throwing on flat ground, Lester happy to blend in

February 22, 2021, 10:08am

Nationals

Scherzer throwing on flat ground, Lester happy to blend in

The Nationals aren't about to let Max Scherzer rush his way back from a sprained ankle, but as their ace continues to shows signs of progress, they will let him progressively ramp himself back up to the point where he's caught up to everyone else in camp. Scherzer took an important step in that process over the last two days when he was able to throw on flat ground and work out without reporting any significant issues with his left ankle. Scherzer threw from 60 feet Sunday and "felt...

Comments

Tags:

jon lester mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nationals adding another accomplished reliever in Jeffress

February 22, 2021, 8:17am

Nationals

A Nationals bullpen that already looked deep on paper could be getting a boost from another experienced arm: right-hander Jeremy Jeffress, who has agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp, manager Davey Martinez confirmed this afternoon. "He's got to come in, take his intake test, take a physical and then we'll know more after that," Martinez said from West Palm Beach, Fla., during his daily Zoom session with reporters. "But if everything goes well, I'm excited...

Comments

Tags:

bullpen davey martinez jeremy jeffress mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Martinez searching for way to move Turner out of leadoff spot

February 21, 2021, 6:00pm

Nationals

Martinez searching for way to move Turner out of leadoff spot

Trea Turner already had established himself as one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball. Then over the course of 60 dominant games in 2020, the Nationals shortstop established himself as one of the best offensive players in baseball, period. Don't believe it? Look at the numbers. Last season Turner ranked fifth in the majors in batting average (.335), fifth in runs scored (46), first in hits (78), third in total bases (137), sixth in extra base hits (31), 12th in slugging percentage (.588),...

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime spring training trea turner victor robles featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

After injury wiped out 2020, Strasburg healthy and determined

February 21, 2021, 9:12am

Nationals

After injury wiped out 2020, Strasburg healthy and determined

The numbness started in his right thumb, in early July just after the Nationals gathered in D.C. to begin an abbreviated summer training camp. As he continued to build himself up for the shortened 2020 regular season, the numbness began to spread to his hand. When it came time to make his scheduled season debut July 25 against the Yankees, Stephen Strasburg realized he couldn't effectively pitch like this. So the Nats medical staff tried to treat the injury with cortisone shots and...