Nationals pitcher Craig Stammen has spent most of his time this offseason working out in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, or here in Washington as he gets ready for spring training next month. The right-hander feels very good after a successful transition to the bullpen in the second half of 2010. "I have been in D.C. more than in the past," Stammen said. "I have been able to work with our strength coach, John Philbin, and get all my stuff done. It has been good. I feel like I have my body...

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche has been known as a very consistent hitter and a solid defensive performer who had trouble at the plate early on each season. That was the trend until last season when he had an unusually strong start with the Arizona Diamondbacks. So what did he change last year to get off on the right foot? "Absolutely nothing," LaRoche said last week. But LaRoche is definitely aware of his career numbers. "Obviously, early on, it got frustrating having a slow start...

Brand-new Washington Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche was introduced Friday at Nationals Park and talked about how he wants to make his new home as difficult a place to play as any in the National League. In years past as a visiting ball player, that was not the case. LaRoche arrived as a Pirate, Brave and even a Diamondback at Nats Park and those teams expected to win and usually did. "It was pretty comfortable coming in here to play a series," LaRoche remembered. "That is no...

Now that the Nationals have Adam LaRoche in the fold and patrolling first base, the 2011 starting nine is taking shape. So without Adam Dunn in the cleanup spot, does that mean that Jayson Werth will instantly slide into that role? Manager Jim Riggleman says Werth can go there sometimes. So could Ryan Zimmerman or LaRoche, depending on pitching matchups. With left-handed hitters Nyjer Morgan, Roger Bernadina, Rick Ankiel, Corey Brown, LaRoche and switch-hitter Danny Epinosa, Riggleman has...

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa told me on 106.7 The Fan in D.C. that his hand is healing well from hamate surgery and he will be good to go for next month's spring training. He says injured players are expected to report to Viera, Fla., on Feb.13. "I am working out," Espinosa said. "It has gone really well. I have progressed very quickly. I really like where I am at (with the recovery from surgery). My scar has healed great. My hand strength is higher than it was when I was...

Manager Jim Riggleman is excited about how the 2011 Nationals shape up with a new right fielder - and now a new first baseman in Adam LaRoche. "I think the acquisitions that Mike Rizzo has made and that the Lerners were supportive of throughout this off season have been outstanding," Riggleman said. "They are going to pay dividends in (2011) and the future." Riggleman points to the Jayson Werth signing and Josh Willingham trade as the first two big alterations that really could adjust...

So how is Philadelphia reacting to the loss of Jayson Werth? Former Phillies standout John Kruk was on ESPN talking about the team's signing of Cliff Lee. He told the story of when he woke up his son with the news, "Guess who the Phillies signed?" His son answered, "Did they get Jayson Werth back?!" It gives you an idea of the impact of Werth had on the Phillies and their fans. Matt Gelb covers the Phillies for the Philadelphia Inquirer. I asked Gelb to go back to the first time...

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...

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...

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...

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...

For the Orioles hitters, it was another night getting asked about the lack of offense the team is producing and another night to talk about a loss. The O's offense has produced just two runs and 18 hits and a batting average of just .188 over the past three games after losing 5-1 to Seattle on Tuesday night in front of 12,614 at Camden Yards. Ty Wigginton was asked how hard it is to try and stay confident and upbeat as the losses mount and the runs are not coming. "I think right after a...

O's starter David Hernandez must be wondering what he has to do to get a win. He began tonight with some of the best stuff he's had all year, at times dominating stuff. But he couldn't keep it going and, as usual when he pitches, there were not many runs to work with either. He remains winless on the year as the Orioles lost 5-1 to Seattle to begin an eight-game homestand. "I just talked to Matt (Wieters) right now and he said 'that's the best stuff you've had in the first four...

Nolan Reimold had one of the Orioles' eight hits tonight, so perhaps he should be honored with a parade down Pratt St. Unfortunately for Reimold, that single was the only positive aspect of tonight's game. He went 1-for-4 to leave his average at .205. (It actually went up two points. Cue the band.) He also committed an error in left field and still seems to have some trouble judging balls. I thought it was telling that manager Dave Trembley, when asked during his post-game session with the...