McCatty: "No doubt" bullpen can be as good as last year

McCatty: "No doubt" bullpen can be as good as last year
All you have to do is get to the sixth or seventh inning. That is what successful pitching staffs can do and that separates them from the have nots. Imagine if that was all the starters had to do: just go six or seven. With the Nationals bullpen a position of strength last season, general manager Mike Rizzo hopes the pieces he has added to the staff in the offseason can solidify the relief corps to be even stronger this season. Rizzo wants them to be so good that games feel abbreviated to...

Viera only first step in Harper's big opening season

Viera only first step in Harper's big opening season
The next couple of weeks will be a dream come true for Bryce Harper. The No. 1 prospect catcher-turned-outfielder takes the next important step to realizing that dream of playing baseball in the major leagues. That next step begins in Viera, Fla. Similar to what he did last year at fall instructional league and in the Arizona Fall League, Harper will be learning from experienced coaches and players in the Washington system. But this month will be even better, because now he will be...

Nats' Balester again throwing downhill with confidence

Nats' Balester again throwing downhill with confidence
What a difference a year has made for Nationals right-hander Collin Balester. Heading into spring training 2010, Balester was a starter with 22 games under his belt, but not much consistency - and a tendency for giving up some big runs. After working hard in the minors to redefine his role and regain confidence on the mound, Balester made a nice transition to the bullpen. "I think this year I feel a lot better where I am at," Balester said. "Last year, I heard going in, 'If you don't...

Big season for Zimmermann sets Nats up nicely for 2012

Big season for Zimmermann sets Nats up nicely for 2012
Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann expects big things from himself this season after missing most of 2010 rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery. There was that moment last year that had him - and the Nationals - hopeful. On the mound in Single-A Frederick, the opposing pitcher was laboring in sizzling, summer heat and drawing out each inning. Then Zimmermann, pitching for Potomac, took to the hill and fired crisp, on-target fast balls and knee-buckling changeups, attacking and...

Riggleman, McCatty agree: "strongest" rotation since their arrival

Riggleman, McCatty agree: "strongest" rotation since their arrival
Nationals pitchers and catchers report Tuesday in Viera, Fla., with the most talented group since the team moved to Washington. That might not be saying much considering the struggles the team has had, but you still have to be impressed with the work general manager Mike Rizzo has done to assemble two dozen pitchers that will compete for a chance at the 25-man for opening day. The sheer number of pitchers available to pitching coach Steve McCatty made him downright giddy earlier this month as...

Cubs scribe: Gorzelanny "wants to start" for Nats

Cubs scribe:  Gorzelanny "wants to start" for Nats
Left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a January trade, will be making his first appearance in a Nationals uniform at spring training in Viera, Fla., early next week. The Nationals look like a good fit for the big southpaw, who moves from a crowded rotation to a staff in need of consistency in its starting five.   Carrie Muskat, who covers the Cubs for MLB.com, says Chicago has a lot of starting depth, so maybe a change of scenery was...

More Nats ticket plans available

More Nats ticket plans available
If full season or half season plans are too much, but you still want guaranteed tickets for a few Nationals games this season, the Nationals have more options available. In addition to the three mini-plans released last week, the Nationals will now offer five Grand Slam Flex Plans for the 2011 season. These packages, which start at $60, allow fans to select four games from one of five plans and receive a fifth game free. Fans can choose from Screech's Curly "W" Plan, the Double Play Promo...

McCatty's friendly bet with Strasburg

McCatty's friendly bet with Strasburg
Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg continues making excellent progress in his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery at the end of last season. Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post last month about how Strasburg is getting in such good shape that he has six-pack abdominal muscles. McCatty said at first he didn't believe it, so he decided to set up a friendly wager with Strasburg. "We have a bet," McCatty told me. "Strassy and I have a bet. He...

Norris positioned well for spring training invite

Norris positioned well for spring training invite
Catching prospect Derek Norris is primed to begin spring training with the Nationals in Viera, Fla., next week. He will arrive at the facility a few days prior to the mandatory Feb. 15 report date. Last week, Norris was one of seven players invited to join the Nationals spring training workouts at Space Coast stadium. "It is always good to get invited to spring training especially after having a little bit of a down year last season," said Norris, who batted just .235 in 94 games for...

LeCroy ready to get started in Potomac

LeCroy ready to get started in Potomac
The Single-A Potomac Nationals have a new manager in Matt LeCroy to defend their Mills Cup championship in 2011. The former major leaguer guided the Single-A Hagerstown Suns last season and is excited to head to Woodbridge with a few of the players that made a difference at his previous stop along for the ride. "We had a good year last year," LeCroy said. "Guys really progressed, actually way better than we thought. Now, they will be able to move up. It is a challenging league. It will be a...

GW's Wilkie thrilled to snag invite to Viera

GW's Wilkie thrilled to snag invite to Viera
The Nationals extended invitations to spring training to another batch of players Friday and right-hander Josh Wilkie from George Washington University was among them. Wilkie notched nine holds and eight saves with a 2.45 ERA and .228 batting average against in 53 games, including one start, last season for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. In five minor league seasons, the 26-year-old has 28 holds, 31 saves and a 2.91 ERA in 210 games. Signed as a non-drafted free agent in June 2006, he is a...

New coach Mark Harris ready to help teach P-Nats how to hit

New coach Mark Harris ready to help teach P-Nats how to hit
The Single-A

New Nats mini-plans on sale

New Nats mini-plans on sale
The Nationals have announced a new lineup of ticket mini-plans for fans to purchase this season. Each plan features one free game. The brand new Manager's Plan offers 15 games for the price of 14. The best part is that fans can create their own lineup of favorite games through this plan, which includes opening day, interleague games and games against National League East rivals. Ivan Rodriguez is not yet a member of baseball's Hall of Fame, but according to the Nationals, fans can watch him...

Maxwell "grateful" to Nats, "excited" to join Yankees

Maxwell "grateful" to Nats, "excited" to join Yankees
Former Nationals outfielder and University of Maryland star Justin Maxwell has been traded to the New York Yankees and is thrilled to be able to continue his dream of playing major league baseball. But Maxwell also will miss his former teammates and coaches. Maxwell found out about the deal only a few minutes before we talked and battled a bad cell connection when he was told. But he was able to make out "trade" and "Yankees". "I am pumped up and my family is excited, too," Maxwell...

Tyler Moore should begin 2011 in Harrisburg

Tyler Moore should begin 2011 in Harrisburg
Carolina League Player of the Year Tyler Moore is likely to begin the season in Double-A Harrisburg after smashing several records for the Mills Cup champion Potomac Nationals last year, according to Washington Nationals director of player development Doug Harris. "He had a phenomenal year, I have never seen anything like it in 22 years. He was hitting .199 at the halfway mark and ended up hitting .260 with 30-plus (homers) and 100-plus (RBIs)," Harris said. " It is really a credit to...

Nats' Harris: "There is a plan for Bryce Harper"

Nats' Harris: "There is a plan for Bryce Harper"
With spring training just two weeks away, future prospects in the Nationals' system are getting ready to showcase their talents for the team's top brass in Florida. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris attended the Potomac Nationals Hot Stove Banquet on Sunday night in Springfield, Va., and shared some insight as to who might be with the big club as the team heads back to D.C. in late March. Harris believes the franchise has built depth that will help the Nationals get...

Seen and heard at the P-Nats' Hot Stove Banquet

Seen and heard at the P-Nats' Hot Stove Banquet
New Potomac manager Matt LeCroy was introduced and Washington Nationals assistant general manager Bryan Minniti served as the keynote speaker at the 16th annual Potomac Nationals Hot Stove Banquet at the Hilton in Springfield, Va., on Sunday night. LeCroy was promoted in the offseason after guiding Single-A Hagerstown last year. A lot of those prospects will again be under his tutelage now at Single-A Potomac of the Carolina League. "It is a challenging league," LeCroy noted. "I...

Mock's extra rest means he's extra ready for Viera

Mock's extra rest means he's extra ready for Viera
Nationals right-hander Garrett Mock is excited to get started with the 2011 season after an injury-filled 2010 campaign that included neck surgery. Mock has been working out and throwing in his hometown of Houston and plans to report to Viera, Fla., the Nationals' spring training home, next Friday so he can find an apartment and get an early start. "I just got done with a throwing session," Mock said. "I did some long toss, nothing strenuous. I will have a longer bullpen session...

Balester participates in TwitChange campaign

Balester participates in TwitChange campaign
Professional athletes and celebrities including Nationals pitcher Collin Balester have teamed up with TwitChange, an online organizing and fundraising service to raise money for Operation Once in a Lifetime. The TwitChange campaign is led by Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, who recruited dozens of fellow athletes and celebrities on Twitter to join his cause. From today through Feb. 5, fans can bid on Twitter-inspired auctions featuring their favorite celebrities and athletes including...

Spring training tickets on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.

Spring training tickets on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.
Sick of staring at the piles of snow, fallen trees and slushy roads? Wouldn't you rather be enjoying Florida's sunny beaches or catching rays at a Nationals spring training game? On Saturday morning, you can book your flight, get your tickets and start imagining warmer temperatures. Nationals spring training tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. You won't want to miss any of the action leading into the 2011 season. But moreover, who can resist an escape to the south? Why not go to Viera, Fla., a...