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While it's clearly not the priority this offseason, improving the Nationals' bench for 2012 is one of general manager Mike Rizzo's tasks. And while Rizzo will make the moves, it will be in concert with manager Davey Johnson, who has to use the players to the best of their (and his) abilities. Therefore, GM and manager had better be on the same page in terms of roster construction.
Johnson has expressed a clear preference for a bench built on offense, while predecessor Jim Riggleman went...
The Orioles will introduce Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada today at a 4 p.m. press conference at Camden Yards.
Here's the first thing you need to know: His name is pronounced "sue-YO-she WAH-dah"
It's probably also good to know that Wada, 30, was 107-61 with a 3.13 ERA and 1,329 strikeouts in 210 career games and 1,444 2/3 innings over nine seasons with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League. In his 52 starts over the last two seasons, Wada is 33-13 with a 2.29...
The bench for each major league team is a major part of a team's long-term success through the ups and downs of a rigorous 162-game season.
Many times, if you make the right choices for your bench this time of year, it can reap short-term return if you trade them at the trading deadline for future prospects. Jerry Hairston Jr., made a big splash with the Milwaukee Brewers deep into the playoffs last season after the Nationals traded him for minor leaguer Erik Komatsu.
Last week, the...
The Orioles announced today that they have signed LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (sue-YO-she WAH-dah) to a two-year contract with a club option for 2014.
Wada, 30, was 107-61 with a 3.13 ERA (1444.2IP, 503ER) and 1,329 strikeouts in 210 career games (207 starts) over nine seasons with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League. In his 52 starts over the last two seasons, Wada is 33-13 with a 2.29 ERA (354.0IP, 90IP) and has struck out 337 batters while walking 95 and allowing just 18 home...
The 5 p.m. Eastern time deadline for submitting bids on the Yu Darvish posting has passed, and if the Nationals have bid on the Japanese right-hander, he isn't saying.
Appearing this evening on "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" on MASN, Rizzo sidestepped a direct question from host Amber Theoharis about whether the Nationals beat the clock with a bid. Just as he told reporters last week at the Winter Meetings when Darvish's posting was announced, Rizzo said it wasn't in the Nationals'...
The Orioles are trying to become big players in the international market, but they won't pursue Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish.
The Orioles will let the 5 p.m. deadline pass today without posting a bid, leaving other teams to fight for his services.
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports! has estimated that it could cost a team in the $30 million to $70 million range to win the rights to negotiate with the 25-year-old Darvish. Then there's the matter of getting his signature on a contract.
Meanwhile,...
The Nationals have released their Florida spring training schedule, a 32-game slate that begins Saturday, March 3 against the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla., and ends with a road game against the Red Sox in Lee County, Fla., on April 2. The Nats will play 15 Grapefruit League home games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla., beginning with a contest against the Astros on Sunday, March 4.
Included on this year's spring schedule are a March 15 home game against the New York Yankees and a March 24...
The Washington Nationals today released their 32-game 2012 spring training schedule, which features 15 home games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla, including a March 15 afternoon matchup with the New York Yankees.
The Nationals host the Astros on Sunday, March 4 to commence the home portion of the 2012 spring schedule. Washington's initial Grapefruit League contest comes one day earlier via a March 3 visit to play the Astros in nearby Kissimmee, Fla.
The March 15 visit from the Yankees...
By 5 p.m. Eastern time today, the bidding for the services of Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish will be done. Shortly thereafter - well, maybe early Thursday, since baseball seems to run on its own time schedule - perhaps we'll know if the Nationals placed a bid on the right-hander and, if they did, whether it was the winning one.
At least one baseball executive believes the Nationals will go all-in on Darvish, who is widely considered the best pitcher never to have pitched in Major League...
It must seem a little strange for Jeremy Guthrie to be greeted this way by so many people who approach him:
"So, are you surprised that you're still here?"
It happened again yesterday at Dave and Buster's at the Arundel Mills Mall. Reporters glided over to his table and greeted him warmly. Then it happened. Again.
One guy in the group asked if Guthrie was happy that he "was still here."
That's quite an opening line.
Guthrie wouldn't take the bait.
"Yeah, it's great to be back...