Milone concentrating on getting lefties out

Milone concentrating on getting lefties out
Nationals minor league Pitcher of the Year Tom Milone started against the Houston Astros on Tuesday and pitched well, allowing just one hit over two innings of shutout ball with no walks and no strikeouts. The left-hander, in Nationals accelerated camp and facing Houston minor leaguers, threw between 20 to 25 pitches, inducing a pair of flyouts and three groundouts. "It felt good coming out of the hand," the former USC hurler reported. "I have no complaints. My arm felt great. I was...

Norris confident his defense will catch up to his offense

Norris confident his defense will catch up to his offense
Derek Norris received high praise this week from manager Jim Riggleman, who has been impressed with the way camp has started for the Nationals' top catching prospect. Norris feels completely healthy after battling through injuries last season. His 2010 campaign was slowed by a broken bone in his hand before the season began. In May, he was hit by a pitch in his head and suffered a concussion. Norris now has a clean bill of health and that has helped him at the plate. In four games this...

Solis tosses two no-hit innings during Sunday scrimmage

Solis tosses two no-hit innings during Sunday scrimmage
Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis pitched a pair of no-hit innings in Sunday's scrimmage pitting Washington farmhands against Houston Astros prospects. Solis threw the seventh and eighth innings and, after a shaky start, settled down and dominated. "First guy, I got to 0-2 and hit him," Solis said. "It was just a little jitters. It was the first time seeing an opposing hitter in there so I was a little excited. After that, I settled down perfectly, allowed no hits for two innings with no...

Offseason program paying dividends for Nats' Detwiler

Offseason program paying dividends for Nats' Detwiler
Lefthander Ross Detwiler continues to show good mechanics and renewed core strength following offseason rehabilitation from the hip injury that nagged him last season. The only bump in the first 10 days at spring camp in Viera, Fla., has been a slight head cold and sore throat that left him tired Thursday. But Detwiler will return to throwing live batting practice today. "Everything is feeling great," Detwiler said. "I think with my offseason program and really honing in on building...

Nationals prospects to scrimmage Sunday

Nationals prospects to scrimmage Sunday
Nationals prospects are getting up to speed (pardon the pun) at the accelerated minor league camp. Big workouts are set for today with a large group coming down on their own from every minor league team in the Nats organization. The first scrimmage is scheduled for tomorrow. The coaches have worked them out over the past two weeks and two dozen pitchers have been able to continue their winter workout programs while in Viera, Fla. "About six or seven pitchers have come down religiously each...

Scouting the Mets: Harris adjusting well to new team

Scouting the Mets: Harris adjusting well to new team
The New York Mets' offseason was littered with news about the financial troubles of owner Fred Wilpon and his dealings with disgraced financier Bernie Madoff. The bad news off the field continues to plague the Mets well into spring training. Steve Popper, who covers the Mets for The (Bergen) Record, says it is hard to ignore the ownership issues and how that might affect the on field product for the Mets. He says the Mets players have taken notice. "I think the players are trying to ignore...

Nationals trim camp roster to 58

Nationals trim camp roster to 58
The Washington Nationals today re-assigned left-handed pitcher Matt Chico and right-handed pitchers Joe Bisenius and Shairon Martis to minor-league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 58 players in their big league camp.

Nationals agree on 2011 contracts with 18 players; renew Clippard, Zimmermann

Nationals agree on 2011 contracts with 18 players; renew Clippard, Zimmermann
The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms on 2011 contracts with left-handed pitchers Ross Detwiler and Atahualpa Severino, right-handed pitchers Collin Balester, Brian Broderick, Adam Carr, Cole Kimball, Garrett Mock, Elvin Ramirez, Henry Rodriguez, Craig Stammen and Drew Storen, catcher Wilson Ramos, infielders Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and Chris Marrero, and outfielders Roger Bernadina, Corey Brown and Nyjer Morgan. Additionally, the Nationals have renewed the contracts of right-handed...

Scouting the Phillies: Utley injury early concern

Scouting the Phillies: Utley injury early concern
Chase Utley's injury has dominated news out of the Phillies camp in Clearwater, Fla., early in March, according to Matt Gelb, who covers the team for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Utley is nursing patellar tendinitis in his right knee, and the team is not sure when he is going to play. A few Nationals fans wonder if the Phillies miss Jayson Werth so far in spring training? Former Phillies standout Mike Schmidt thinks they are going to really miss him, but Gelb says for most of the players,...

Save Nats Park on April 14

Save Nats Park on April 14
Opening day 2010 remains one of the worst, most painful memories for Nationals fans in this team's brief history. When thousands upon thousands of Phillies fans marched into Nationals Park last April and declared it their southern headquarters, Nationals fans were outraged. Phillies fans were unapologetic about their stunt, suggesting that if Nationals fans truly cared about their team, they'd show up night after night. This season, Nationals fans have an opportunity to drown out those...

Vote on Clippard's entrance song

Vote on Clippard's entrance song
Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard has taken to Twitter to poll fans on his entrance song for this season. Though Clippard hasn't started tweeting yet, teammate Drew Storen is spreading the word on his Twitter account and encouraging fans to vote in the poll. Your choices: The beloved "Peaches" tune by Presidents of the U.S.A., which Clippard used last season, or The Fugees' classic, "Ready Or Not." Fans can vote here.

Mock and Wilkie look to make positive impressions

Mock and Wilkie look to make positive impressions
Right-hander Garrett Mock is looking to rebound from neck surgery that derailed his 2010 season. Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty said Mock has worked hard to get healthy and is ready to just put it on the field "Garrett and I have talked so much the last four years," McCatty said. "All I tell him is, 'Just sit back and let your ability speak for you.' He has tremendous stuff. We all try to get it to surface on the field. Sometimes you just have to get out of your own way, so to...

WJFK-FM 106.7 The Fan to broadcast Nationals games beginning in March

WJFK-FM 106.7 The Fan to broadcast Nationals games beginning in March
The Washington Nationals announced today that 106.7 The Fan will serve as the official flagship station for Nationals baseball games beginning with the upcoming 2011 season. Owned and operated by CBS RADIO, 106.7 The Fan has signed on to broadcast Nationals spring training match-ups as well as regular-season and postseason games. Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler will serve as the team's radio voices during these broadcasts. "With 106.7 The Fan's great roster of talent and focus on local...

So what about Detwiler and Maya?

So what about Detwiler and Maya?
A lot of talk has centered around John Lannan, Jason Marquis, Livan Hernandez, Tom Gorzelanny and Jordan Zimmermann as the potential five starters for the Nationals when the season gets going past the off-days early in April. Making it interesting, though, is the potential of Ross Detwiler and Yunesky Maya. Detwiler is returning from a nagging hip injury, and Maya is learning on the job after his quick introduction to the big leagues late last season. Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty...

Lerners hope to break ground on new urban baseball academy in May

Lerners hope to break ground on new urban baseball academy in May
It was a dream that always seemed far off into the future - an obscure plan to host an urban youth baseball development academy in the nation's capital. That day is arriving, or will be arriving soon, and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation is busy moving forward at a frenzied pace after overcoming complex bureaucratic obstacles. It's something the Lerner family has poured its hearts into since assuming ownership of the team in 2006. And this past winter, the final piece fell into...

Read, Novas highlight 16 international signings by Nationals

Read, Novas highlight 16 international signings by Nationals
The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms on professional contracts with 16 international free agents, highlighted by catcher Raudy Read and outfielder Randy Novas. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Nationals Director of International Scouting Johnny DiPuglia made the joint announcement. Read was signed out of the Dominican Republic and has great instincts behind the plate, including exceptional hands, feet and arm strength. The...

Kimball ready to make big impression in Viera

Kimball ready to make big impression in Viera
Nationals pitcher Cole Kimball has settled in nicely in his first big league camp and is ready to go for today's initial full team workout. Kimball pitched well over last summer and then saved the championship game of the Arizona Fall League. That experience helped him for this week and he is thrilled to be in Viera, Fla., now. "This is awesome for me," Kimball said. "Arizona was beneficial because I only had one month off so I didn't have to build back arm strength. I didn't lose it...

Are Desmond, Espinosa long-term answers in the middle?

Are Desmond, Espinosa long-term answers in the middle?
Manager Jim Riggleman has talked about it before. Build solid defense up the middle and your pitching staff will look a whole lot better. The Nationals already have a Gold Glove third baseman in Ryan Zimmerman. This year they added a quality glove at first base in Adam LaRoche. Now, they hope the pairing of two young, energetic infielders at shortstop and second base will protect their defense for seasons to come. Shortstop Ian Desmond said he was disappointed in his defense last season....

Want to see Bryce Harper's first game? Visit Rome

Want to see Bryce Harper's first game?  Visit Rome
It is never too early to plan ahead if you are hoping to catch a glimpse (or a game) of No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper in the Nationals system this season. Many Nationals fans are hoping to see Harper in Woodbridge, Va., which is just minutes from the Capital Beltway, if he is promoted quickly to Single-A Potomac. Most believe Harper's first taste of minor league baseball will be with Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Hagerstown, Md., is an easy drive from the D.C. area, just 71 miles from...

2011 single-game Nats tickets, NatsFest tickets on sale March 3

2011 single-game Nats tickets, NatsFest tickets on sale March 3
The Washington Nationals today announced that single game tickets for the 2011 season will go on sale Thursday, March 3 at 10 a.m. Tickets may be purchased online at nationals.com, by calling 888.632.NATS (6287) or by visiting the Nationals Park Main Box Office (Half and N Streets, SE). Popular pre- and post-game events including Signature Sundays (pre-game) and Kids Run the Bases (Sundays postgame) will once again be a part of the fan experience at Nationals Park, while various season-long...