Randy Knorr thrilled at chance to manage Harrisburg

Randy Knorr thrilled at chance to manage Harrisburg
41-year old Randy Knorr has been around baseball all his life, appeared in the 1993 World Series while with Toronto, and brings to the table a wealth of knowledge as a player, coach and manager. Knorr was a major league catcher for the Astros, Bluejays, Rangers, Marlins and Expos. Now he has a new challenge before him with the Nationals. After coaching for the Nats in the bullpen last season, The team signed him to become the manager for their Double A affiliate, Harrisburg Senators. He...

Ben Sheets primer

Ben Sheets primer
It obviously would be another great get for the Nats to sign free agent four-time All-Star right-hander Ben Sheets. He has spent his entire eight-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers and had a very impressive 13-9, 3.09 ERA in 31 starts back in 2008. He had 5 complete games that season and 3 shutouts, which was a career high. Sheets won a Gold Medal for the U.S.A. in 2000 Summer Olympics in which he pitched 22 innings, struck out 11 batters, walked one, and gave up 11 hits during the...

Bergmann ready for the Nats to win

Bergmann ready for the Nats to win
Nats veteran relief pitcher Jason Bergmann was one of four players to resign with the team yesterday. Bergmann received a one-year deal worth a reported $750,000. I spoke with Jason about his new contract and the future of the Nats as spring training draws closer in Viera. Jason and his family live in Viera where he has been training and getting ready for 2010. He told me he was driving by Space Coast Stadium as we spoke about his new deal. Congratulations on your new deal with the Nats. ...

Stammen wants to start for the Nats

Stammen wants to start for the Nats
I checked in with Nationals pitcher Craig Stammen in Dayton, Ohio as he watched his Dayton Flyers play the George Washington Colonials in college basketball Wednesday night (Flyers won 66-51). Stammen took me on a tour of his alma mater, showing me the campus, the student housing known affectionately as "the Ghetto" and the Flyers' baseball stadium. He also joined me at halftime to talk Nats baseball as he prepares for Viera. Thank you to Federal News Radio and the Nationals flagship for...

NatsFest and Winter Caravan this week (updated)

NatsFest and Winter Caravan this week (updated)
The Nationals Fanfest and Winter Caravan is upon us with festivities kicking off Wednesday. The Caravan culminates Sunday with the NatsFest at Nationals Park. I spoke with Nats pitcher Craig Stammen last week and I mentioned seeing the Cincinnati Reds' winter caravan on the local news in Dayton. Stammen says it was Jim Bowden's idea to do the same thing with the Nationals when he arrived and the NatsFest and Winter caravan was implemented in D.C. A couple of notes about Sunday's NatsFest...

Balester feels like a "totally different pitcher"

Balester feels like a "totally different pitcher"
Nats pitcher Collin Balester had a nice throwing session with a pair of minor leaguers today, and tomorrow he'll pitch with new teammate Matt Capps for the first time. In crucial news, Collin has really worked on his moustache in the offseason. It's getting to Rollie Fingers proportions. Collin told me, "I like to twist the sides with some moustache wax. When someone looks at your face and they have trouble recognizing you with the crazy moustache that is where it is going to be...

Nats Caravan: Drew Storen

Nats Caravan: Drew Storen
The Winter Caravan kicked off Wednesday as the Nats greeted fans in Virginia. Nats Top 10 pick pitcher Drew Storen signed autographs and posed for photographs with fans at Hard Times café in Arlington, alongside pitcher Ryan Speier, shortstop Danny Espinosa and manager Jim Riggleman. I sat down with Storen and he talked about his upcoming first spring training with the Nats, the rookie education program he attended as the Nats representative, and what he's done since...

Nats Caravan: Danny Espinosa

Nats Caravan: Danny Espinosa
I got the chance to speak with Nationals prospect shortstop Danny Espinosa as the Nats Winter Caravan rolled through Virginia. Espinosa is working hard preparing for spring training and had a very busy summer, logging 160 games between the minors and the Arizona Fall League. Danny sat down with me during the Nats stop at Hard Times Cafe in Arlington, Virginia (love the Cincinnati Chili 3-way with some fresh diced tomatoes, but I digress). Espinosa talked to me about his 160-game effort...

Bryce Harper has good debut in Nevada

Bryce Harper has good debut in Nevada
The 17-year old catching phenom Bryce Harper made his collegiate debut Friday night in Henderson, Nevada as the College of Southern Nevada beat Arizona Western 11-4. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, five members of the Nationals scouting department were on hand including Bob Boone, Roy Clark and scouting director Kris Kline. The Review-Journal reported there were 40 scouts at the game and 100 at the practice Thursday. Harper started at third base and went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and...

Nats Caravan: Brian Bruney

Nats Caravan: Brian Bruney
At Sunday's NatsFest I had a chance to talk with one of the newest Nationals, pitcher Brian Bruney, who came over from the New York Yankees. Bruney was 5-0 with a 3.92 ERA in 44 games with the Yankees last season. Bruney went in-depth as to why he likes the Nats and what he wants to change in the way he approaches the game. He also talked about being a part of NatsFest and meeting the Nationals fans and teammates, his impression of Pudge Rodriguez and what he thinks of his new...

On Bryce Harper's Weekend

On Bryce Harper's Weekend
Here is a quick update on Bryce Harper's weekend from Todd Dewey of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, who got to see Bryce in person for his debut Friday night. What did you think from what you saw of Bryce? "I thought Harper looked good in his debut, considering he skipped his final two years of high school. There was definitely excitement and anticipation in the air as he stepped to the plate for the first time." What stood out about Bryce's first at-bat? "I was impressed with his...

Confident Speier looking toward healthy 2010

Confident Speier looking toward healthy 2010
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
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
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
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
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?
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"
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
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
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...