Espinosa's groundball approach paying dividends (Soriano, Rodriguez notes)

Espinosa's groundball approach paying dividends (Soriano, Rodriguez notes)
VIERA, Fla. - Want to get a good indication of just how well Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa is hitting in spring training? Check out his batting practice session and see how many sharp ground balls are rocketing off his bat. A 1-for-3 day in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Tigers upped his Grapefruit League batting average to .316, and continued to dispel any worries about Espinosa's decision to strengthen his torn left rotator cuff instead of opting for offseason surgery. He's been...

Soriano hurting, pushed back to Saturday (plus Rivero, Duke, Kimball notes)

Soriano hurting, pushed back to Saturday (plus Rivero, Duke, Kimball notes)
VIERA, Fla. - Closer Rafael Soriano, less than a day removed from a root canal to treat an infected wisdom tooth, will not pitch as scheduled today against the Tigers. "He's recovering from a long day in the dentist's chair. ... He'll be pitching tomorrow," manager Davey Johnson said. "Talking to him earlier today, he's not feeling ready to go." Johnson said the delay won't affect his plans to pitch Soriano in back-to-back games by the end of spring training. While Soriano's a lock...

Soriano gets to root of tooth pain, Bernadina returns and says he's "close"

Soriano gets to root of tooth pain, Bernadina returns and says he's "close"
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Rafael Soriano's wisdom tooth issues will hopefully be a thing of the past very soon. The Nationals closer was scheduled to undergo a root canal this afternoon near the team's Viera spring headquarters and manager Davey Johnson said he thinks the right-hander might be able to pitch as scheduled Friday against the Tigers at Space Coast Stadium. "I think he had a root canal at 2 o'clock," Johnson said before the Nationals battled the Braves at Champion Field on...

Nationals-Marlins lineups (plus Bernadina, Soriano notes)

Nationals-Marlins lineups (plus Bernadina, Soriano notes)
JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals get another look at right-hander Chris Young today against the Miami Marlins, and it could be their last. Signed to a minor league deal Feb. 22 as part of general manager Mike Rizzo's offseason attempt to bolster the Nats' starting pitching depth, Young has an opt-out clause in his contract. He can leave the club March 24 if he doesn't think he'll have a shot at a roster spot - or if he thinks he can find a major league job elsewhere. The Nationals have him...

Johnson on Soriano's outing, Storen's rebound (plus Gonzalez note)

Johnson on Soriano's outing, Storen's rebound (plus Gonzalez note)
VIERA, Fla. - It'll take a lot more than one subpar outing for Nationals manager Davey Johnson to lose faith in new closer Rafael Soriano. Soriano had a hiccup Monday afternoon, coughing up a 1-0 lead in an outing that Johnson said was nowhere near as bad as it looked. "I thought that was the best he's thrown all spring," Johnson said after Soriano yielded four runs on five hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning, absorbing the loss in a 5-1 defeat. "I thought he made some quality...

Three Nats, one inning, nine pitches, three strikeouts

Three Nats, one inning, nine pitches, three strikeouts
VIERA, Fla. - A two-run loss to the Dominican Republic two nights ago and a one-run loss to Puerto Rico last night, and that's it for Team USA. The World Baseball Classic is over for the American squad. Team USA will not be a part of the semifinal round, with the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Japan and the Netherlands making up the four teams left fighting for the WBC title. Gio Gonzalez and Ross Detwiler will report back to the Nationals, while Roger Bernadina (Netherlands) and Eury...

Johnson on Young and Owings: "Those are veteran guys who are opening some eyes"

Johnson on Young and Owings: "Those are veteran guys who are opening some eyes"
VIERA, Fla. - Chris Young provided a solid four innings on the mound, Micah Owings provided the pop. The Nationals beat the Astros 6-3 this afternoon in large part due to the efforts of a 33-year-old pitcher and a 30-year-old pitcher-turned-position-player who are both in camp on minor league deals. Young threw four innings of one-run ball this afternoon. Outside of a leadoff homer that came on his fourth pitch of the game, Young did well to hold the Astros without a run, working out of a...

New book spotlights the game's all-time best closers: Where does Rafael Soriano stack up?

New book spotlights the game's all-time best closers: Where does Rafael Soriano stack up?
Baseball can sometimes be broken down to an individual sport, especially for the closers. If a batter makes an out, he still has eight other guys that can make a play, his team still has two more outs. A closer has defenders behind him, but it's ultimately one pitcher versus one hitter. One pitch can end the game. One pitch can also turn into a blown save. In a new book, "Closer: Major League Players Reveal The Inside Pitch On Saving The Game" (Running Press - 2013, $15.00), Kevin Neary...

Johnson on Haren, Soriano and Clippard (Purke sent to minor league camp)

Johnson on Haren, Soriano and Clippard (Purke sent to minor league camp)
VIERA, Fla. - Following today's 7-1 win over the Astros, the Nationals optioned left-hander Matt Purke to low-A Hagerstown. Purke, who is recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent last summer, will head over to minor league camp to continue his rehab. The 2011 third-round pick has been throwing bullpen sessions every Tuesday and Friday at about 50 percent effort. "His rehab is coming along great, but he's not going to be ready to work here, so we're sending him over (to minor league...

Soriano throws a scoreless inning, Haren discusses his start (Nats win)

Soriano throws a scoreless inning, Haren discusses his start (Nats win)
VIERA, Fla. - Rafael Soriano just faced three hitters in a scoreless seventh inning, throwing 12 pitches (seven strikes) and striking out Astros outfielder Robbie Grossman to end the frame. Making his Grapefruit League debut with the Nationals, Soriano gave up a flyout to deep center off the bat of Justin Maxwell, then allowed a single to J.D. Martinez, which bounced off the glove of Ian Desmond. Just a couple of pitches later, Martinez was caught stealing, thanks to a strong throw by catcher...

Soriano makes his debut today, Ramos behind the plate (with lineups)

Soriano makes his debut today, Ramos behind the plate (with lineups)
VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Johnson used yesterday's off-day the same way many of use spend our days away from the job: He got stuff done around the house. Johnson went back to his home in the Orlando area and took care of a couple "dangerous jobs," including replacing a handful of light bulbs that were 24 feet off the ground. He got through the tasks just fine, then took a playful jab at Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who broke his leg while skydiving yesterday. "I...

Young, Soriano throw live BP, Rodriguez is next (with Vasquez note)

Young, Soriano throw live BP, Rodriguez is next (with Vasquez note)
VIERA, Fla. - Javier Vasquez has pulled out of the World Baseball Classic and decided not to pitch in the major leagues this season, according to El Nuevo Día, a Puerto Rican newspaper. The Nationals had scouted Vasquez in Puerto Rico this offseason prior to the veteran right-hander suffering a meniscus injury. General manager Mike Rizzo went down to watch Vasquez in person, and had been considering Vasquez as an option to give the Nationals increased starting pitching depth within the...

News and notes on the final workout day before spring games

News and notes on the final workout day before spring games
VIERA, Fla. - Ready for a few fun facts about the Nationals' newest pitcher, Chris Young, who was signed to a minor league deal yesterday? Young spent the 2003 season in the Expos' minor league system after being acquired from the Pirates in as part of a deal for Matt Herges, and pitched for high Single-A Brevard County and Double-A Harrisburg. He was traded to the Rangers in 2004 and broke into the big leagues with Texas that season. The 6-foot-10 righty is tied with three others as the...

Soriano impresses in first bullpen session as a National

Soriano impresses in first bullpen session as a National
VIERA, Fla. - This was Rafael Soriano's first bullpen session since arriving at Nationals camp on Saturday, so he wasn't about to overdo it. Soriano took part in some long toss as the Nationals' pitchers warmed up at the start of their workout, then chatted with manager Davey Johnson and pitching coach Steve McCatty, the three men discussing how heavy a workload to give Soriano early in camp. The 33-year-old righty then took a mound about midway down the bullpen 10-pack, two mounds away...

Soriano arrives, Zimmermann talks contract

Soriano arrives, Zimmermann talks contract
VIERA, Fla. - Rafael Soriano had hoped to arrive to Nationals camp a little early in order to get acclimated to a new team, coaching staff and teammates. A visa issue delayed his arrival by a few days, but after getting his visa stamped yesterday, Soriano arrived at Space Coast Stadium this morning, ready to get things started. He gave a hug to Gio Gonzalez, briefly chatted with pitching coach Steve McCatty as Latin music played from his iPhone and then went to go get in his first workout in...

Soriano has his visa, plus workout notes

Soriano has his visa, plus workout notes
VIERA, Fla. - Rafael Soriano has obtained his visa and is expected to be at Nationals camp in the next day or two, according to a team source. The deadline for pitchers and catchers to report to spring training was Tuesday, but Soriano was unable to arrive on time due to an issue with his visa. A native of the Dominican Republic, Soriano should be here shortly and will get with manager Davey Johnson and pitching coach Steve McCatty to discuss how he'll be used early in camp. The Nationals...

Johnson discusses Soriano's absence, reactions from first workout

Johnson discusses Soriano's absence, reactions from first workout
VIERA, Fla. - As I mentioned earlier, the Nationals have confirmed that closer Rafael Soriano's arrival at camp has been delayed by a visa issue. According to a source, because Soriano has a new employer, his previous visa, which was for five years, needs to be adjusted. While the Nats would obviously prefer to have Soriano in camp, it's still very early. Camp is extended this year because of the World Baseball Classic anyway, and it's not like Soriano hasn't been through this process...

No sign of Rafael Soriano at Nationals camp (updated twice)

No sign of Rafael Soriano at Nationals camp (updated twice)
VIERA, Fla. - Nationals pitchers and catchers are getting ready to take the fields for their first official workout of spring. All of them, that is, except for Rafael Soriano, who has not yet been seen at Nats camp. The deadline for pitchers and catchers to report was midnight Tuesday. Soriano's locker has clearly not been touched since it was assembled by the Nationals' clubhouse staff, and his parking pass still sits on the bottom ledge of the locker. Despite inquiries, team officials...

Notes and quotes from Davey Johnson's first media session this spring

Notes and quotes from Davey Johnson's first media session this spring
VIERA, Fla. - Davey Johnson strolled into the home dugout at Space Coast Stadium a bit ago, wearing a blue track suit and sneakers, a smile on his face as the last season of his managerial career has gotten under way. After participating in meetings with coaches and front office members over parts of the last couple of days and taking his physical this morning, the 70-year-old Nationals skipper told stories of his offseason trip to Africa, recounting tales of watching a lion eating a warthog,...

As pitchers and catchers report, some mound notes to start off spring training

As pitchers and catchers report, some mound notes to start off spring training
As pitchers and catchers report to camps in Florida and Arizona, here are two predictions for each of the local nines: Zach Britton will be the Orioles' fifth starter and the Nationals will not trade Drew Storen, the closer who has been unseated by Rafael Soriano. The first four in the Orioles' rotation will probably be Jason Hammel, Wei-Yin Chen, Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez, with the No. 5 spot up for grabs. Britton, who was injured last season, will win the job because all he needs...