Read, Novas highlight 16 international signings by Nationals

Read, Novas highlight 16 international signings by Nationals
The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms on professional contracts with 16 international free agents, highlighted by catcher Raudy Read and outfielder Randy Novas. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Nationals Director of International Scouting Johnny DiPuglia made the joint announcement. Read was signed out of the Dominican Republic and has great instincts behind the plate, including exceptional hands, feet and arm strength. The...

Honorary bat girl contest opens for Nationals fans

Honorary bat girl contest opens for Nationals fans
Major League Baseball® and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world's largest breast cancer organization, recently launched the 2011 Honorary Bat Girl Contest, a campaign to recognize baseball fans who have been affected by breast cancer and have demonstrated a commitment to eradicating the disease. Washington Nationals fans ages 18 and older can go online at www.honorarybatgirl.com to share inspirational stories about themselves or loved ones who are...

Werth and Desmond bobbleheads among 2011 promotions

Werth and Desmond bobbleheads among 2011 promotions
On Friday, the Nationals released a list of new promotions for the 2011 season. Of course, the most exciting additions are Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond collectible bobbleheads. Werth will be honored with his very first Nationals bobblehead on Saturday, July 30, against the Mets. Desmond's first bobblehead will be given out on Saturday, Aug. 20 against the Phillies. The bobbleheads are a PNC Bank promotion for the first 15,000 fans at each of those games. There will also be another Fan's...

MASN announces spring training broadcast schedule, will televise "NatsFest 2011"

MASN announces spring training broadcast schedule, will televise "NatsFest 2011"
MASN, the television home of the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles, has announced its 2011 spring training schedule. The network will televise 10 spring training games - five for each team - and all will appear on MASN's dedicated high-definition channel, MASN HD. Kicking off the baseball season on MASN HD, the Nationals will face the Atlanta Braves on March 6 in Viera, Florida. MASN's preseason Nationals schedule will include four other games from Space Coast Stadium, the team's...

Kimball ready to make big impression in Viera

Kimball ready to make big impression in Viera
Nationals pitcher Cole Kimball has settled in nicely in his first big league camp and is ready to go for today's initial full team workout. Kimball pitched well over last summer and then saved the championship game of the Arizona Fall League. That experience helped him for this week and he is thrilled to be in Viera, Fla., now. "This is awesome for me," Kimball said. "Arizona was beneficial because I only had one month off so I didn't have to build back arm strength. I didn't lose it...

Are Desmond, Espinosa long-term answers in the middle?

Are Desmond, Espinosa long-term answers in the middle?
Manager Jim Riggleman has talked about it before. Build solid defense up the middle and your pitching staff will look a whole lot better. The Nationals already have a Gold Glove third baseman in Ryan Zimmerman. This year they added a quality glove at first base in Adam LaRoche. Now, they hope the pairing of two young, energetic infielders at shortstop and second base will protect their defense for seasons to come. Shortstop Ian Desmond said he was disappointed in his defense last season....

Want to see Bryce Harper's first game? Visit Rome

Want to see Bryce Harper's first game?  Visit Rome
It is never too early to plan ahead if you are hoping to catch a glimpse (or a game) of No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper in the Nationals system this season. Many Nationals fans are hoping to see Harper in Woodbridge, Va., which is just minutes from the Capital Beltway, if he is promoted quickly to Single-A Potomac. Most believe Harper's first taste of minor league baseball will be with Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Hagerstown, Md., is an easy drive from the D.C. area, just 71 miles from...

NatsFest details announced

NatsFest details announced
The Nationals have now officially announced that NatsFest will take place between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on March 30. Fans will have an opportunity to watch the Nationals practice, meet players and coaches, take photos with Ryan Zimmerman's Silver Slugger award, visit MASN's interactive area and race against the GEICO Racing Presidents. There will also be a special Kids Zone with a bounce house, interactive games, face painters and balloon artists. Of course, the team store and concession...

2011 single-game Nats tickets, NatsFest tickets on sale March 3

2011 single-game Nats tickets, NatsFest tickets on sale March 3
The Washington Nationals today announced that single game tickets for the 2011 season will go on sale Thursday, March 3 at 10 a.m. Tickets may be purchased online at nationals.com, by calling 888.632.NATS (6287) or by visiting the Nationals Park Main Box Office (Half and N Streets, SE). Popular pre- and post-game events including Signature Sundays (pre-game) and Kids Run the Bases (Sundays postgame) will once again be a part of the fan experience at Nationals Park, while various season-long...

McCatty: "No doubt" bullpen can be as good as last year

McCatty: "No doubt" bullpen can be as good as last year
All you have to do is get to the sixth or seventh inning. That is what successful pitching staffs can do and that separates them from the have nots. Imagine if that was all the starters had to do: just go six or seven. With the Nationals bullpen a position of strength last season, general manager Mike Rizzo hopes the pieces he has added to the staff in the offseason can solidify the relief corps to be even stronger this season. Rizzo wants them to be so good that games feel abbreviated to...

A few good women

A few good women
Do you know a woman who has gone to bat against breast cancer? Major League Baseball and Susan G. Komen for the Cure are again teaming up to honor and celebrate extraordinary women across the country who have battled breast cancer. To enter, fans can submit stories about how they've battled or overcome breast cancer. You can also sort through the inspiring stories and vote for your favorite candidates. The winners will serve as honorary bat girls during Major League Baseball's Mother's...

Viera only first step in Harper's big opening season

Viera only first step in Harper's big opening season
The next couple of weeks will be a dream come true for Bryce Harper. The No. 1 prospect catcher-turned-outfielder takes the next important step to realizing that dream of playing baseball in the major leagues. That next step begins in Viera, Fla. Similar to what he did last year at fall instructional league and in the Arizona Fall League, Harper will be learning from experienced coaches and players in the Washington system. But this month will be even better, because now he will be...

Nats' Balester again throwing downhill with confidence

Nats' Balester again throwing downhill with confidence
What a difference a year has made for Nationals right-hander Collin Balester. Heading into spring training 2010, Balester was a starter with 22 games under his belt, but not much consistency - and a tendency for giving up some big runs. After working hard in the minors to redefine his role and regain confidence on the mound, Balester made a nice transition to the bullpen. "I think this year I feel a lot better where I am at," Balester said. "Last year, I heard going in, 'If you don't...

Win a trip to spring training

Win a trip to spring training
What could be better than winning round-trip airfare and a two-night hotel stay to catch Nationals spring training in Viera, Fla.? What if you also won a behind-the-scenes tour, a meet-and-greet with Nationals players and an opportunity to take on-field batting practice? DC101 and Miller Lite have teamed up to send one lucky Nationals fan on a VIP trip to Florida from March 25-27. To win, listen to Elliot in the Morning on DC101. He'll be giving away tickets to opening day on March 31 and...

Big season for Zimmermann sets Nats up nicely for 2012

Big season for Zimmermann sets Nats up nicely for 2012
Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann expects big things from himself this season after missing most of 2010 rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery. There was that moment last year that had him - and the Nationals - hopeful. On the mound in Single-A Frederick, the opposing pitcher was laboring in sizzling, summer heat and drawing out each inning. Then Zimmermann, pitching for Potomac, took to the hill and fired crisp, on-target fast balls and knee-buckling changeups, attacking and...

Riggleman, McCatty agree: "strongest" rotation since their arrival

Riggleman, McCatty agree: "strongest" rotation since their arrival
Nationals pitchers and catchers report Tuesday in Viera, Fla., with the most talented group since the team moved to Washington. That might not be saying much considering the struggles the team has had, but you still have to be impressed with the work general manager Mike Rizzo has done to assemble two dozen pitchers that will compete for a chance at the 25-man for opening day. The sheer number of pitchers available to pitching coach Steve McCatty made him downright giddy earlier this month as...

Cubs scribe: Gorzelanny "wants to start" for Nats

Cubs scribe:  Gorzelanny "wants to start" for Nats
Left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a January trade, will be making his first appearance in a Nationals uniform at spring training in Viera, Fla., early next week. The Nationals look like a good fit for the big southpaw, who moves from a crowded rotation to a staff in need of consistency in its starting five.   Carrie Muskat, who covers the Cubs for MLB.com, says Chicago has a lot of starting depth, so maybe a change of scenery was...

More Nats ticket plans available

More Nats ticket plans available
If full season or half season plans are too much, but you still want guaranteed tickets for a few Nationals games this season, the Nationals have more options available. In addition to the three mini-plans released last week, the Nationals will now offer five Grand Slam Flex Plans for the 2011 season. These packages, which start at $60, allow fans to select four games from one of five plans and receive a fifth game free. Fans can choose from Screech's Curly "W" Plan, the Double Play Promo...

McCatty's friendly bet with Strasburg

McCatty's friendly bet with Strasburg
Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg continues making excellent progress in his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery at the end of last season. Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post last month about how Strasburg is getting in such good shape that he has six-pack abdominal muscles. McCatty said at first he didn't believe it, so he decided to set up a friendly wager with Strasburg. "We have a bet," McCatty told me. "Strassy and I have a bet. He...

Washington Nationals announce 2011 Grand Slam Flex Plans

Washington Nationals announce 2011 Grand Slam Flex Plans
Ballclub also launches NatsFest 3-Pack, offering three prime games and a FREE ticket to NatsFest The Washington Nationals today announced Grand Slam Flex Plans for the 2011 season, giving fans the opportunity to select four games from one of five plans and receive a fifth game of their choice for FREE. Starting as low as $60 per seat, the five different packages offer affordable multiple-game options, most of which include Opening Day seats available for purchase before single game tickets go...