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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Sean Doolittle will be the Nationals closer to open the season. That declaration, made this afternoon by new manager Davey Martinez, did not constitute earth-shattering news. Given the way Doolittle performed late last season, and given the current makeup of the Nats bullpen, that was a foregone conclusion.
The more notable development this season for Doolittle would involve not when he pitches but what he pitches.
After firmly establishing himself as a top-notch...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Rubén Tejada has reported to camp, leaving only a few position players marked absent. Everyone is required to be at the Ed Smith Stadium complex on Sunday, with the first full-squad workout held the following day.
Manager Buck Showalter said he hasn't seen outfielder Cedric Mullins and infielders Garabez Rosa and Éngelb Vielma, the latter experiencing a visa issue in Venezuela.
"Did you see (Jake) Arrieta?" Showalter quipped. "Don't keep...
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Davey Martinez is serious about keeping his workouts short and efficient.
Today's session outside The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, the second official pitchers and catchers workout, wrapped up in 90 minutes once again. Players were already back in the clubhouse well before the South Florida sun reached its peak.
Don't confuse short workouts with lazy workouts, though. Players went through all the usual spring drills, and those pitchers who threw off the mound did so...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop said he regrets skipping the annual FanFest event last month at the Baltimore Convention Center and vows to make amends.
"Yeah, of course, for the fans," he said upon reporting to camp this morning. "That's why I'm going to sign for them. Every fan, I'm going to sign for them and give them something back. I'm glad it's over and I can focus on baseball now so I can focus on being out there and helping the team win."
Schoop declined...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado's equipment bag from the World Baseball Classic arrived at his locker this morning a few minutes before the three-time All-Star, who walked into the clubhouse with a big smile on his face, approached every teammate, and offered a handshake and a hug. One at a time. Every player he could find.
Machado and second baseman Jonathan Schoop have reported to camp two days before the first full-squad workout, best friends arriving almost simultaneously at the Ed Smith...
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals' spring training stadium, barely a year old, is already getting a new name.
The Nationals and Astros are planning to announce next week a naming rights deal for The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches with FITTEAM, a local "healthy lifestyle company," sources familiar with the decision confirmed.
The new name for the stadium: FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
The announcement of a reported 12-year deal between FITTEAM and both franchises that share the...
Fans of the Orioles are used to low expectations for their team. Have the Orioles ever been predicted recently to win the American League East? Maybe by a random reporter/analyst or two over the years, but not often. And that goes back to a year they were the defending AL East champs.
But this year, coming off a season where the Orioles featured a 5.70 rotation ERA and finished in last place, the expectations seem as low as probably anytime since they and their fans endured 14 consecutive...
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Ask Shawn Kelley about 2017 and the veteran reliever will talk about how much he enjoyed watching his Nationals teammates play well but how frustrated he was personally to not have contributed much to that success. There were injuries to his neck, back and elbow, and there were some brutal appearances on the mound that led to a 7.27 ERA and an astounding 12 home runs surrendered in only 26 innings.
"I'm just glad it's 2018," he said with a smile.
Kelley is able to...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles aren't done with the construction of their rotation. There's scaffolding in place with two openings behind Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy and Andrew Cashner - in no particular order.
Hard hats are recommended again with names dropping off the board.
The preference remains to add a left-hander, though Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. could break camp with the team as the fifth starter. Otherwise, he's got a good shot at occupying a spot in the bullpen.
One member of the...
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Davey Martinez walked into his first press conference of the spring, sat down in front of a microphone and addressed the room full of reporters.
"I have to say, I'm tired," he sighed.
Tired? At 12:30 p.m.? On Day One of spring training?
"Well, I've been here since 5:30," he said. "I get up every day at 5. Can't slow the brain down. I've got a lot to think about, you know. Pretty good team."
Yes, it is. And rarely has any first-time manager ever been handed the...