Confident Speier looking toward healthy 2010
Confident Speier looking toward healthy 2010
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Nationals reliever Ryan Speier comes over from the Colorado Rockies looking to make the opening day roster for 2010. Speier is a local boy, who went to West Springfield and Radford University. He is excited to get started and attempt to crack the lineup. "This is huge for me and my family," Speier said. "When I was talking to my agent during free agency, there were three teams that were in the mix and we had no idea that I was even on the Nationals' radar." "When the Winter...
Riggleman on Kennedy
Riggleman on Kennedy
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals have agreed to a deal with veteran second baseman Adam Kennedy. Kennedy has played with the Cardinals, Angels and Athletics. Nats manager Jim Riggleman remembers dealing with Kennedy when he was the minor league field coordinator for the St. Louis Cardinals. "Adam is a professional hitter," Riggleman said. "He is a talented player. Adam can do a little of everything. He can hit. He can run the bases. He can play second very well. He is an all around player and will...
Desmond ready for new challenge
Desmond ready for new challenge
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Last week the Nationals signed second baseman Adam Kennedy to shore up the middle infield for the 2010 season. Mike Rizzo has said he would like to sign one more veteran starting pitcher to finish up the off season changes. A lot of talk last week centered around the possiblity of signing a second baseman and if that did not come to fruition, one scenario had the Nats starting the season with Cristian Guzman and Ian Desmond as the double play combination. Now with Kennedy signed, where does...
Bryce Harper: Week Two
Bryce Harper: Week Two
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Two weeks into the season and a very good start for Bryce Harper at College of Southern Nevada. The Coyotes are a perfect 8-0 and have outscored opponents 60-17. Bryce has played catcher and third base. Harper is hitting .323 in 8 starts, 10-31 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers and 9 RBI. His slugging percentage is a team-leading .677 with 5 BB and 4 K and he has a .977 fielding percentage with just one error. Here is a game-by-game recap from last week for the College of Southern...
Bryce Harper Update from College Coach
Bryce Harper Update from College Coach
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Another update on 17-year old collegiate baseball phenom Bryce Harper who is playing for the College of Southern Nevada. He is batting .323, 10-31 with 2 HRs and 9 RBI. The Coyotes are off to a very good start at 8-0. Bryce's baseball coach Tim Chambers on the latest with Bryce and Southern Nevada: "The team has done really well. It was pretty crazy the first week with 40 scouts in attendance for that first game." In the opening week, "Bryce played good. His first game he hit a sac...
Does Garrett Mock want to be a starter?
Does Garrett Mock want to be a starter?
Byron Kerr
Nationals
I had a chance to talk with Nationals pitcher Garrett Mock as he prepares for the 2010 season in Viera, Florida. He went 3-10 with a 5.62 ERA in 28 games with 15 starts. His last start was an impressive no-decision against Atlanta on October 1. In that game he allowed 1 earned run, a solo homer, in 6 innings, scattering 5 hits. "I wish I had 15 more games. Last year, I had a few good outings. I was a starter, a reliever and a spot starter. With so many different roles I am learning so...
Exclusive: Strasburg confirms knee is "100 percent"
Exclusive: Strasburg confirms knee is "100 percent"
Byron Kerr
Nationals
I had a chance to catch up with No. 1 overall selection Stephen Strasburg as he embarks on his first professional spring training as a member of the Washington Nationals. It was a busy offseason for Strasburg. He participated in the Arizona Fall League and married girlfriend Rachel Lackey last month in San Diego. Strasburg signed a record $15.1 million contract with the Nationals in mid-August before getting his start in the Arizona Fall League, going 4-1 with a 4.26 ERA in five...
Marquis not satisfied with .500 season
Marquis not satisfied with .500 season
Byron Kerr
Nationals
As we countdown to spring training 2010, let's put a spotlight today on pitcher Jason Marquis, the newest front line starter for the Nats. I had talked to Ryan Speier during NatsFest, who like Marquis, came over from the Colorado Rockies. Speier said some of his breaking pitches didn't do what he expected they would do at 5,280 feet, so he had to adjust a little bit and become more of a power pitcher. I had a chance to speak with Jason with other reporters at last month's NatsFest. I...
Chico ready to return better than ever
Chico ready to return better than ever
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Nationals lefthander Matt Chico missed most of the 2009 season after having elbow surgery in 2008. Chico is optimistic he can return even better than he was before the surgery because he is pain free for the first time since his first spring training in 2004. I had a chance to talk with Matt as he prepares in Viera for spring training. How does elbow feel? "I pitched 83 innings last year in Low A and Double A. I made three or four starts. Everything was good at that point. Some simple...
Riggleman's thoughts on Chien-Ming Wang
Riggleman's thoughts on Chien-Ming Wang
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals announced today they have signed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang. Wang won 38 games in 2006 and 2007 for the New York Yankees. I asked manager Jim Riggleman what he thought of the signing of Chien-Ming Wang: "I think it is a great signing on the part of the whole organization. It makes a statement by the Lerners, Stan Kasten and Mike Rizzo that we are not standing pat. "We are trying to do everything we can to improve because we know he will likely not be ready early in the season....