Knorr returns to staff as Nats finalize coaching changes

Knorr returns to staff as Nats finalize coaching changes
The Nationals finalized their 2021 coaching staff today, filling the one vacancy that hadn't yet been publicly announced with one of the longest-tenured members of their organization. Randy Knorr, who has been a player, coach or minor league manager with the Nats franchise since 2001 in Montreal, will join the big league staff for the fourth time in the last decade-plus, serving as first base coach for the first time. Bob Henley, after a one-year stint at first base, will move back to the...

More on Menhart's exit and his possible successor with the Nats

More on Menhart's exit and his possible successor with the Nats
On May 2, 2019, the Nationals elected to fire pitching coach Derek Lilliquist and replace him with Paul Menhart, who had been with the organization since 2006. Menhart guided the Nats through rough waters in May last year, then helped the Nats bullpen turn the season around. At 12 games below the .500 mark on May 24, the Nats would ultimately earn a National League wild card spot and finish the miraculous comeback season with a world championship. But nearly 12 months later, the Nats have...

Nationals cut ties with pitching coach Paul Menhart

Nationals cut ties with pitching coach Paul Menhart
After a season where injuries wrecked the starting rotation and ineffectiveness hampered the bullpen, the Nationals have cut ties with pitching coach Paul Menhart following 15 years in the organization. Menhart, 51, said he received a telephone call from manager Davey Martinez this evening with the news that his contract, which was up on Oct. 31, would not be renewed. "I'm not sure how to take all of this," Menhart said in a text message to MASNsports.com. "It's quite a shock." Menhart...

No words: A look inside Austin Voth's first complete game win

No words: A look inside Austin Voth's first complete game win
After the sixth inning of the Nationals' 5-1 seven-inning win over the Phillies in the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader at Nats Park, starter Austin Voth knew he had enough left in the tank to pitch one more frame. His pitch count had reached 91 - the most he had thrown this season was 88 - and that was in five innings one week ago versus Tampa Bay. But the right-hander didn't care. The Phillies had only two hits off of him, and he still felt strong enough to go for the complete game. So the...

Martinez says Voth will remain in rotation, start Friday

Martinez says Voth will remain in rotation, start Friday
Manager Davey Martinez is not giving up on right-hander Austin Voth. Pitching coach Paul Menhart, Voth and Martinez are working on trying to figure out how to get some more movement and cutting action on Voth's fastball. Voth wants to be able to alter the spin rate so that opposing hitters have a tougher time picking up his fastball. Martinez confirmed today that Voth will remain in the rotation and start one of the two games of the doubleheader Friday in Atlanta. "He's going to throw...

Doolittle on rehab of knee and simplified mechanics

Doolittle on rehab of knee and simplified mechanics
Left-hander Sean Doolittle is back with the Nationals and is eligible to pitch tonight. His last appearance was Aug. 10. He was placed on the injured list Aug. 11 with right knee fatigue. Manager Davey Martinez said the club wanted Doolittle to rehab his sore knee and build some strength in his lower half in his two weeks at the alternate training site in Fredericksburg. "Just go down there and hone in on his mechanics," Martinez said during his pregame Zoom video call Saturday. "I think...

Game 25 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

Game 25 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins
The Nationals look to even their series with the Marlins today with a 12:35 p.m. first pitch at Nats Park. Aníbal Sánchez gets the call, looking to build off his last start where he said he felt strong at the end of the outing, which is a good sign. Manager Davey Martinez and pitching coach Paul Menhart have worked with Sánchez to get him to throw less between starts so he is fresher on game day. Sánchez (0-3, 8.50) faces Marlins right-hander Humberto Mejía (0-1, 5.68 ERA)....

Finnegan on making the Nats roster: "It's incredible"

Finnegan on making the Nats roster: "It's incredible"
Right-hander Kyle Finnegan has been in the minors since 2013, so making the opening day roster in 2020 with the Nationals was a big step. Since arriving as a sixth-round pick by the Athletics, Finnegan has played for seven different teams and logged time at every level. He was a starter from 2013 to 2015, making it to Double-A in 2014 and Triple-A in 2017. The Nats signed him as a free agent in December 2019. In late March, the Nats optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg. But then the coronavirus...

Nats ready to take next step with first exhibition game

Nats ready to take next step with first exhibition game
They've spent the last two weeks working first in small groups, then as a full (socially distanced) unit. They took grounders. They took batting practice. They threw off the bullpen mound. They simulated some game situations. And they played several intrasquad games. And now, at long last, the Nationals will take the field and play a baseball game against an opposing team for the first time in 127 days. It's not a real game, merely an exhibition. But this Saturday evening gathering with the...

Menhart "impressed" with pitchers' readiness after hiatus

Menhart "impressed" with pitchers' readiness after hiatus
After the entire team had departed West Palm Beach and spread throughout North America, the Nationals coaching staff was left to figure out what to tell each player to do to stay sharp until everyone could gather together again. The staff had to do this without having any idea when or where baseball would resume. And that meant nobody faced a challenge as difficult as Paul Menhart, the Nationals pitching coach tasked with creating and communicating the plan to several dozen pitchers. At the...

Martinez and Rizzo emphasize player safety during day one of return

Martinez and Rizzo emphasize player safety during day one of return
Nationals manager Davey Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo understand that being successful in the world of Major League Baseball during the coronavirus pandemic boils down to two main challenges: staying safe and playing good baseball. From day one of summer training at Nats Park today, the skipper for the defending world champions already feels the difference in playing baseball during a pandemic. "We have to be socially distant, so that's one thing," Martinez said during his...

Importance of Nationals' pitcher-catcher bond begins in Rookie-level ball

Importance of Nationals' pitcher-catcher bond begins in Rookie-level ball
The Nationals work very hard on teaching their catchers how to guide each pitcher through their outing, making sure the duo remain on the same page, keeping them focused on the task at hand. This concentration on the next pitch - an ability to clear out distraction that might have been caused by the last play - is important in helping the pitcher and catcher stay on point. These two players have to work together for the team to be successful. "Another thing that our organization really...

Nats prospect watch: Rutledge focusing on harnessing strength

Nats prospect watch: Rutledge focusing on harnessing strength
The Nationals' new pitching coordinator is veteran coach and former major league pitcher Brad Holman, who takes over for Paul Menhart, now the Nats pitching coach. Holman was the pitching coach for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies last season, and was the bullpen coach for the Texas Rangers from 2015-2017. Holman has had time to get a good look at and work with the pitching prospects in the Nats system, with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs in 2018, Fresno in 2019, in the instructional league and now...

Baseball America Nats No. 8 prospect: RHP Mason Denaburg

Baseball America Nats No. 8 prospect: RHP Mason Denaburg
The Nationals would like to see 2018 first-round selection Mason Denaburg build innings this upcoming season after battling through nagging injuries in 2019. The 20-year-old starter dealt with a shoulder issue that prevented him from enjoying most of his 2019 campaign. Baseball America Nats correspondent Lacy Lusk agrees this is an important year coming up for Denaburg. The right-hander is locked in as Baseball America's No. 8 prospect in its latest Nationals Top 10. No. 8 Mason Denaburg "The...

Insights from Doolittle and Menhart at Nats Winterfest

Insights from Doolittle and Menhart at Nats Winterfest
Here are some great insights from the Nats Winterfest last week at Nationals Park. Closer Sean Doolittle shared about his time starting out in pro baseball when he arrived as a hitter. After suffering through several injuries, it was suggested to Doolittle that he switch from position player to pitcher. He then slowly made the transformation and got himself to the big leagues. "I definitely took the scenic route to get to the major leagues," Doolittle said on 106.7 The Fan on Sunday. "In...

Nats shift three coaches into new roles, add one new staffer

Nats shift three coaches into new roles, add one new staffer
SAN DIEGO - The Nationals are shuffling three of their coaches to new positions for the 2020 season, with Tim Bogar taking over as bench coach, Chip Hale moving to third base coach and Bob Henley switching to first base coach. Every member of Davey Martinez's World Series winning staff returns next season, with one exception: Pat Roessler has been hired as assistant hitting coach, replacing Joe Dillon, who accepted the lead hitting coach's job with the Phillies last month. That means three...

Pitching lesson with Menhart, photo with trophy up for auction

Pitching lesson with Menhart, photo with trophy up for auction
SAN DIEGO - How would you like to get a personal bullpen session in with a World Series champion pitching coach? Or get a family photo session with the Commissioner's Trophy? Those items are now up for bid as part of the Major League Baseball's annual Winter Meetings auction, which this year benefits ALS Charities. Bids can be placed here and remain live until 10 p.m. Thursday. Every MLB club offers up multiples items for auction, and the Nationals have two offerings for fans. The first is a...

Scherzer empties tank for seven innings in Nats' 6-1 win

Scherzer empties tank for seven innings in Nats' 6-1 win
The Nationals had left-hander Sean Doolittle warming up in the seventh inning. His club was facing elimination but led 6-1 in Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers at Nationals Park. Max Scherzer had allowed only three hits and one run in six frames against the vaunted Dodgers lineup. He had thrown 82 pitches. But then he fought through the seventh, firing 27 more pitches, and willed his team within six outs of a must-win game The Dodgers' Corey Seager flew out to...

Strasburg on Nationals' return to postseason: "It's so special"

Strasburg on Nationals' return to postseason: "It's so special"
The celebration for all of the veterans rolled along in the Nationals clubhouse for quite some time after their 6-5 win over the Phillies on Tuesday night. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg had a chance to step back and soak it all in. This will be his third postseason to pitch in. He was shut down famously in 2012, but pitched in the 2014 and 2017 postseasons. "It's so special. It's just a testament to the guys that we have in this clubhouse," Strasburg said. "We never stopped believing. It...

After four years away, Barrett emotional in successful return

After four years away, Barrett emotional in successful return
ATLANTA - Close to 1,500 days since his last appearance in the major leagues, Aaron Barrett had many a time to dream about returning to the mound in another regular season game. Aug. 5, 2015 to Sept. 7, 2019. Rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and then a brutal broken arm, Barrett went through so much to get back. Then on a warm night, six minutes from his offseason home, wearing the jersey of the Nationals again and with his whole family and many of his friends in attendance cheering him on,...