Nats building power pitchers at instructs

Nats building power pitchers at instructs
Nationals prospect left-hander Sammy Solis (pronounced soh-lease) is getting ready to start the Arizona Fall league season and head back home. He says his time in Viera with the instructional league squad has been all about getting in condition to pitch against the best in Arizona. It is even more impressive to see Solis excel in Florida and get ready for the AFL, after signing with the Nationals less than two months ago (August 14). "It is actually going really well," Solis said as he...

Solis ready for Arizona

Solis ready for Arizona
Left-hander Sammy Solis has adapted well to the instructional league in Viera and is now ready to take on the challenge of the Arizona Fall League. The Nationals' second round selection, 51st overall, grew up in Arizona and went to school in San Diego, so he is thrilled to get a chance to pitch in such a prestigious offseason league that is stocked with potential superstars of the future. Last year, wunderkinds Jason Heyward and Stephen Strasburg played in Arizona before dazzling in the...

DC-IBWA Announces Awards

DC-IBWA Announces Awards
The D.C. Chaper of the Internet Baseball Writer's Association has announced award winners for the 2010 season. You can read more about the voting and see answers to a postseason poll among internet writers on the DC-IBWA website. This year's winners include: Goose Goslin Most Valuable Player (Player most valuable to the success of the Washington Nationals): 1st: Ryan Zimmerman (2nd consecutive year) 2nd: Adam Dunn 3rd: Livan Hernandez Walter Johnson Starting Pitcher of the...

Comeback winners give hope to Strasburg, Zimmermann

Comeback winners give hope to Strasburg, Zimmermann
Major league baseball announced Tuesday that pitchers Tim Hudson and Francisco Liriano have each won the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Hudson won the National league honor and will start Game 3 of the NLDS between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants. Liriano helped guide the Minnesota Twins to the American League Central title with a 14-10 record and a 3.62 ERA. He will start game 1 of the ALDS versus the New York Yankees Wednesday night. Both players returned from...

Nationals, Orioles see Dramatic Audience Growth on MASN

Nationals, Orioles see Dramatic Audience Growth on MASN
The Nationals and Orioles saw dramatic audience growth in the 2010 baseball season in both Washington and Baltimore, as well as across MASN's seven-state television territory, according to year-over-year Nielsen television ratings. More than 21 million households watched the Orioles and Nationals on MASN in 2010. Nationals The biggest ratings growth occurred in Washington, D.C. where the Nationals doubled their television audience, growing to a 1.4 HH rating - or 33,000 households - from a...

Norris confident adjustments at plate will help in Arizona

Norris confident adjustments at plate will help in Arizona
Potomac Nationals catcher Derek Norris has one more day at instructional league before heading to the Land of the Sun and the Arizona Fall League. The first workout is scheduled for Thursday and the first game is October 12. Norris says he is excited to be able to catch Brad Peacock, Adam Carr and Cole Kimball. Norris caught Kimball for one game and has never caught Carr. He says he can learn from calling games for other pitchers. "I am really looking forward to working with a guy like...

Nats made an impact off the field in 2010

Nats made an impact off the field in 2010
Throughout the season, the Washington Nationals participated in countless community service events in the Washington D.C. metro area. They brought joy to children in hospitals and schools, cleaned up the environment, made packages for troops overseas and visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed. They also helped with blood drives, youth baseball clinics and food banks, and raised money to find cures for multiple sclerosis and kidney disease. Led by former National Matt Capps, Ryan Zimmerman,...

Racing Presidents Promote Fire Safety

Racing Presidents Promote Fire Safety
On Tuesday, the Racing Presidents will help to promote fire safety at the Fire Prevention Fair at FEMA Headquarters in Washington D.C. Abe, George, Tom and Teddy will be on hand from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to help promote valuable tips for updating and maintaining home smoke alarms. FEMA and the National Fire Prevention Association are hosting the fair which runs from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This year's theme is "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With." National Fire Prevention Week...

Morse primed to take the next step

Morse primed to take the next step
Right fielder Michael Morse says he will spend the offseason working out with soon-to-be Hall of Famer and Nationals teammate catcher Ivan Rodriguez. Morse is hoping his .290, 15-home run season will translate into an every day starter job for the Nationals in 2011 and feels learning from one of the best will help him make that final step. "That will be kind of interesting. We are planning to workout with his trainer in Florida during the offseason," says Morse. "It will definitely help...

Hitting update for guys not named Bryce Harper

Hitting update for guys not named Bryce Harper
A quick update on how some of the Nats' prospects are hitting in Viera after the first two weeks of instructional league competition. Rick Schu, Nationals hitting coordinator, broke down a few of the guys on the roster. For our update on Bryce Harper, check this capsule from earlier this week. OF Destin Hood, Hagerstown "He is swinging the bat really well. We want him to execute situationally. We are looking for Destin to be more aggressive in hitters counts and use his lower half. He...

Favorite Moments of the 2010 Season

Favorite Moments of the 2010 Season
Now that the season is drawing to a close, what will you remember most about the Washington Nationals in 2010? I think the answer may be easy. For many of us, it's undoubtedly going to be Stephen Strasburg's incredible debut. But what about the rest of the season. What games, moments, plays and highlights will you remember? The presidential first pitch? An inside the park home run? Miss Iowa? Share your favorite moments below and watch this video of MASN's Debbi Taylor asking...

Pitching prospects update from instructs in Florida

Pitching prospects update from instructs in Florida
A quick update on the pitching prospects and how several of them are progressing after a couple of weeks at instructional league in Viera, Florida: The team was in Vero Beach today to take on Team China. First, an update on veteran Chien-Ming Wang - He threw a simulated game earlier this week and will throw a scheduled side session today. If everything goes well, they will likely put him in a game soon. Wang has been recovering from major shoulder surgery which took place about 14...

Espinosa excited to play winter ball in Puerto Rico

Espinosa excited to play winter ball in Puerto Rico
Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa is preparing to finish up the season strong and then play winter ball for one month in Puerto Rico for Ponce. Espinosa feels that playing winter ball will help refine his hitting skills and will give him more reps at second base after the major league season concludes. "I am very excited," Espinosa said. "I am really looking forward to the opportunity. I think that it is going to be great for my hitting, especially. That is the main reason I am...

Detwiler going for two in a row

Detwiler going for two in a row
Left-hander Ross Detwiler takes to the hill in the series finale with the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night at Nats Park, opposed by right-hander Joe Blanton. Detwiler was thrilled to get that win last time out but says a lot of credit goes to the defense behind him. "I went six innings and the team really picked me up," said Detwiler on the Nats defense. "After they pinch hit for me there, I think they scored four or five runs and it ended up being the winning run....

Nationals Name Tyler Moore Minor League Player of the Year, Tom Milone Minor League Pitcher of the Year

Nationals Name Tyler Moore Minor League Player of the Year, Tom Milone Minor League Pitcher of the Year
The Washington Nationals today named first baseman Tyler Moore as their Minor League Player of the Year and left-hander Tom Milone as their Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone and Director of Player Development Doug Harris made the joint announcement. Moore hit .269 with 43 doubles, 31 home runs, 111 RBI and 78 runs scored in 129 games with Potomac of the Single-A Carolina League. He...

Bryce Harper hits first home run at instructs

Bryce Harper hits first home run at instructs
Nationals' number one overall selection Bryce Harper connected on his first home run in an instructional league game against the Atlanta Braves today from Viera, Florida. Nationals hitting coordinator Rick Schu said it was an opposite field shot and that Harper also added a double in the rain-shortened game that was called in the third inning. Harper also smacked a triple on Friday and has fit in well in his first week at instructs, working with coach Tony Tarasco and others on defense in...

Milone selected Nats' MiL Pitcher of the Year

Milone selected Nats' MiL Pitcher of the Year
Left-handed pitcher Tom Milone has been named the franchise's 2010 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Milone went 12-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 27 starts for Double-A Harrisburg. Milone was very happy to be chosen for the honor by the Nationals because a lot of previous winners have gone on to pitch in the majors. "Obviously, it is a great honor being named player of the year for the whole system. That right there is an honor," Milone said. "There is long list of guys who have received...

Moore thrilled to be named Nats MiL POY

Moore thrilled to be named Nats MiL POY
First baseman Tyler Moore has been named the Nationals Minor League Player of the Year. Moore hit a franchise-record 31 homers with 111 RBI, 43 doubles, 78 runs and a .269 batting average in 129 games, guiding the Potomac Nationals to the Carolina League title. He led the League in doubles, home runs, RBI, extra-base hits (77), total bases (277) and slugging percentage (.552). Moore says he is thrilled to be honored with the award. "I feel blessed finishing strong like that, the way the...

Bryce Harper update

Bryce Harper update
Nationals number one pick Bryce Harper continues to get his work in after five games at the instructional league from Viera, Florida. Nationals hitting coordinator Rick Schu reports Harper went 1-for-4 Monday with a base hit to right field, a strikeout, a flyout to right field that just missed, and a groundout to the first baseman. Schu recounts Harper's work over the weekend, saying he is showing his talent and learning from each at bat. "Harps has got it a little bit tougher than...

Nats Honor Bobby Cox

Nats Honor Bobby Cox
On Sunday, the Nationals will honor legendary Braves manager Bobby Cox in a special pre-game ceremony. From 1991 to 2005, Cox won a record 14 straight division titles, five National League Pennants and the World Series in 1995. He will retire at the end of this season with 40 years of service to Major League Baseball. Willie Harris, who played for the Atlanta Braves in 2007, had plenty of kind things to say about Cox, whom he described as a player's manager. "He makes you feel a certain...