Nats' top prospects - No. 8: Eury Perez

Nats' top prospects - No. 8: Eury Perez
Greetings from Alabama where it snowed here in Birmingham for the first time ever! (That is the rumor.) I am here with George Washington basketball as they take on Alabama-Birmingham tonight. As we did in Oregon last week, how about all the major league ball players from Alabama? Okay, so that would take awhile. The list is much longer than in Oregon, headed by all-time players like Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, Ozzie Smith, Bo Jackson, George Foster and Willie Mays plus former Nats outfielder...

Nats' top prospects - No. 9: Chris Marrero

Nats' top prospects - No. 9: Chris Marrero
Nationals prospect first baseman Chris Marrero had another solid year at Double-A Harrisburg and followed that up with a superb campaign in the Puerto Rican winter league. Last month, the Nats placed Marrero in the 40-man roster. Marrero was impressive, to say the least, with the Senators, batting .294 in 141 games, smacking 18 homers with 82 RBIs. That included 154 hits, 28 doubles and 73 runs scored. Showing it was no fluke, he continued to hit well for Ponce, batting .306 in 26 games with...

Nats' top prospects - No. 10: Brad Peacock

Nats' top prospects - No. 10: Brad Peacock
In case you missed Ben Goessling's outstanding update on Baseball America's list of Top 10 prospects in Nationals organization, here it is again. I spoke with Aaron Fitt of Baseball America who works to put together the prospect list each season and asked him to run down the Nats top prospects. We begin at number 10, right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock. Peacock's numbers were pretty impressive in 2010, as he was promoted from Single-A to Double-A. He finished 6-11 with a 4.50 ERA overall in...

"How Do You Know" review

"How Do You Know" review
I've delayed writing a review of "How Do You Know," the new motion picture starting Owen Wilson as a Nationals reliever, because I'm not sure how to say this in an articulate but kind way - the movie is terrible. Sure, it's worth going just to see Wilson ponder true love in the visiting bullpen while wearing the Curly W, and the season ticket holders who participated as extras did a great job. But the film will probably be a let down even if your expectations are already low. ...

Knorr on Norris: Potential future All-Star catcher

Knorr on Norris: Potential future All-Star catcher
Catcher Derek Norris made quick leaps at the end of the 2010 season with a championship at Potomac, expert education at instructional league, followed by another title in the Arizona Fall League. Along the way, newly appointed Syracuse manager Randy Knorr kept tabs on the talented backstop and liked what he saw. Knorr says Norris is closer to making that next step but still has work to do in the minor leagues. "I don't see him as a big league catcher yet," Knorr said. "I think there is...

Will Werth play in D.C. into his 40s?

Will Werth play in D.C. into his 40s?
Greetings from the spectacular Pacific Northwest, I am writing to you from Corvallis, Ore., on the campus of Oregon State University. I am here with George Washington basketball for a game tonight. (By the way, who are the most famous major league baseball players from Oregon? My picks are Harold Reynolds, Dale Murphy, Aaron Rowand, Wally Backman and Larry Andersen. Do you have a few?) But I am always thinking Nationals baseball and have contemplated the long-term impact Jayson Werth in...

Willingham on new opportunity: "I'm excited"

Willingham on new opportunity: "I'm excited"
The Nationals took another step with the trade of popular outfielder Josh Willingham to the Oakland Athletics for right-hander Henry Rodriguez and outfielder Corey Brown. Willingham confirmed the trade and is excited about his new opportunity but also is appreciative of his time with the Nationals. As for his new team, Willingham says the Athletics are going in the right direction and have talent in the outfield. "Oakland has got a .500 baseball club and already has some good outfielders...

Nats holiday discounts and store hours

Nats holiday discounts and store hours
From Dec.16 through Dec.23, the Nationals Park Team Store in center field will have special holiday discounts and hours. The store will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday leading up to Christmas. Selected items will be discounted at 50 percent and the new Jayson Werth jerseys will be available for purchase. Shoppers can park in Lot C on the corner of 1st and N streets for free. Today, Screech will stop by to sign autographs and pictures from noon-12:45 p.m. Fans can also...

Lerner impressed first meeting Werth

Lerner impressed first meeting Werth
Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner knew from his first meeting with outfielder Jayson Werth that this is a player he wanted and could play in D.C. for a long time. Lerner was struck by what kind of man Werth was during their initial conversation and how they shared a similar vision for the Nationals. "No surprise as far as I am concerned," Lerner recalls. "When we went and interviewed him in Scott Boras' office in California a couple of weeks back, we were so impressed with the young...

Racing Presidents in "The Nutcracker"

Racing Presidents in "The Nutcracker"
Last week, the Racing Presidents traded in their running shoes for ballet slippers. Teddy, Abe, George and Tom appeared in Septime Webre's The Nutcracker at Warner Theatre. Check out their rehearsal and performance video below:

Knorr: Lombardozzi "just knows the game"

Knorr: Lombardozzi "just knows the game"
The Nationals like what they have seen so far from young infielders Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa, who appear to be the shortstop and second basemen of the future for the Nats in 2011 and beyond. The next second baseman set to impress in the chain is Stephen Lombardozzi, who displayed solid numbers in Single-A Potomac, Double-A Harrisburg and Scottsdale of the Arizona Fall League this season. Lombardozzi produced the game-winning RBI hit to lift Scottsdale to the AFL championship. He...

"How Do You Know" updates

"How Do You Know" updates
The long-awaited debut of Owen Wilson as a Nationals reliever in "How Do You Know" has finally arrived. The film opens Friday, but some Nationals season ticket holders will be invited to screen the movie on Wednesday evening in Washington, D.C. The team will host a red carpet VIP event to promote the film. In Los Angeles, the real red carpet for the film begins tonight at 9:30 p.m. Fans can watch at http://youtube.com/HowDoYouKnowMovie. You might also want to tune in to Owen Wilson's...

Knorr: Harper has "great baseball instincts"

Knorr: Harper has "great baseball instincts"
New Syracuse Chiefs manager Randy Knorr guided the Scottsdale Scorpions to the Arizona Fall League title last month with several Nationals prospects on his roster, including No. 1 overall selection Bryce Harper. Harper had a great month in Arizona, batting .343 with three doubles, two triples, a homer and seven RBIs in nine games. He had an RBI single in the championship game, a 3-2 win over Peoria. "Everybody sees him hit the ball out of Yellowstone Park, per se, and he does do that,"...

Strasburg's goal: "Best shape of my life"

Strasburg's goal: "Best shape of my life"
Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is rehabilitating on schedule from Tommy John surgery in early September. Strasburg is in good spirits and says he is one or two months away from baseball activities. "They have a plan in place that is normal to start throwing about four or five months after surgery," Strasburg said. "I am now three months post-surgery. So, in a month or two, I will be able to get throwing again. Right now, I am concentrating on getting my elbow stronger." Strasburg...

Odds and ends

Odds and ends
A few quick off-the-field news items, and then you can quickly return to our extensive Winter Meetings coverage: Nationals hitting coach Rick Eckstein will donate his kidney to his brother on Wednesday, according to Bill Ladson. Kidney disease runs in the Eckstein family. Rick's brother Ken, who will receive the kidney, had a previous transplant in 1991. Rick and the entire family are huge proponents of organ donation. Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner is blogging from the Winter...

Harper and Werth same outfield in 2012?

Harper and Werth same outfield in 2012?
With the Nationals signing of Jayson Werth this week, the focus on 2012 becomes even more exciting for Nats fans with the prospect of a healthy Stephen Strasburg paired with Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and say, even Bryce Harper? That is what Bryce is hoping for. He talked about making his debut in 2012 with Strasburg to MLB Network during the Arizona Fall League championship. But a more realistic debut for Harper would be 2013, according to Jim Callis, executive editor for Baseball...

'How Do You Know' L.A. Premiere (Updated)

'How Do You Know' L.A. Premiere (Updated)
Friends and fans have pointed out that Columbia Pictures has scheduled the world premiere of How Do You Know, a romantic comedy featuring Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Jack Nicholson for Monday, Dec. 13th at 7 p.m. the Regency Village Theatre and the Regency Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles. Tickets are available starting at $350, which includes the premiere screening and a private after-party. In the movie, Owen Wilson plays "Matty," a Washington Nationals reliever. Fans can...

Prospect Profile: Michael Burgess

Prospect Profile: Michael Burgess
Nationals prospect Michael Burgess had a solid October-November in the Arizona Fall League with the Scottsdale Scorpions. Burgess won the championship with the Scorpions and played on the Rising Stars team, hitting .246 with three doubles, three triples, two homers and 12 RBI. Scorpions batting coach Alan Zinter liked what he saw from Burgess in Arizona, comparing his power capability to another prospect in the Nationals chain. "His power is right up there with Bryce Harper," Zinter...

A moment of silence

A moment of silence
Despite the exciting news yesterday and the optimism that greets us each year at the Winter Meetings, there is a cloud hanging over NatsTown today. This weekend, former Nationals closer Chad Cordero and his wife lost their 3-month-old daughter, Tehya. We are sending condolences to Chad and his family during this very difficult time. Chad was and still is a beloved part of this organization and its history. His loss is heartbreaking. There will be a "Moment of Silence" to support the...

Callis: Dunn move "makes sense" long term for Nats

Callis: Dunn move "makes sense" long term for Nats
Despite an uproar by Nats fans to Adam Dunn leaving for the Chicago White Sox, baseball expert Jim Callis thinks it is the right move for the Nationals in the long term. "I think it makes sense," says the executive editor of Baseball America. "Could Adam Dunn help them next year, certainly. When you are looking long term, the Nationals still aren't ready to contend. So what Adam Dunn would have done for your 2011 team would have been irrelevant." It is obvious Dunn is, and can continue...