One of the pleasures of spring training is the unknown.  It’s like winter is summer camp, then everyone comes back to school and you get to see how they’ve changed.  For Steve Lombardozzi and the Nationals, that change could translate into a spot on the roster.

Lombardozzi has been given a great opportunity this spring.  Davey Johnson has been giving him a lot of playing time, and his 23 games is second most anyone on the team has participated in.  In those 23 games, Lombardozzi has taken advantage.

He has hit .328 this spring with a .355 OBP and .751 OPS with a home run and 3 RBI.  He has taken it upon himself to earn an Opening Day spot, and he very well may have earned it.  With the most recent Nats cuts, it looks as though both him ad Xavier Nady have good chances for making the big leagues.

Something else that has undoubtedly helped Lombardozzi is how versatile he has been this spring.  He has played all over the field, both the infield and outfield.  With the current set of injuries the Nats are dealing with, having someone who can be put in any of those situations is useful.

» Continue reading “Could This Be Lombardozzi’s Breakout Year?”

We got a fantastic look at Jordan Zimmermann yesterday in a 3-2 win over the Mets.  Imagine a whole season with him…because that’s what’s about to happen.  Here’s the rest of what you missed:

-From us, Stan Kasten is now one of the owners of the Dodgers.  Here’s look back at his time with the Nats.

-Remember when we talked about how Cutter Dykstra was reportedly dating Jamie-Lynn Sigler? Well, now there’s art. [Nats Equirer]

-Here are some highlights from the Nats appearance on MLB Networks 30 Clubs in 30 Days. [Federal Baseball]

-As we predicted weeks ago, Xavier Nady is now in the mix for a potential job with the big club. [Wash Times]

-Ex-Nat Cristian Guzman was cut by the Indians. [AP]

-While Michael Morse is still unlikely for Opening Day, he was cleared for accelerated baseball activities. So that’s something. [Nats Journal]

There is little doubt to the value of Jordan Zimmermann to the Nationals.  He carried the rotation last season while Stephen Strasburg recovered.  There has never been a time where both of them are healthy before…until 2012.

Unlike Strasburg, Zimmermann wasn’t drafted until the second round in 2007.  He appeared in 16 games in 2009, but Tommy John surgery shortened his sophomore season to just seven games in 2010.

Though Zimmermann was thought of as a solid future pitcher, he had some shine taken away from his debut and early career.  The team was coming off of a 100 loss season that was only made brighter by the fact that Strasburg was drafted.

Once Zimmermann got injured, even less attention was paid to him, as the pitching focus began to shift to tracking Strasburg and his journey into the majors.  Around when Zimmermann returned was also when Strasburg was debuting, again outshining the former.

» Continue reading “Nats Ready To Have Zimmermann An Entire Season”

The Dodgers have had a bit of a dramatic year.  It finally came to an end last night, with a group buying them for $2 billion.  Part of that group? Magic Johnson and…ex-Nationals president Stan Kasten? You betcha.

Kasten was the president under the Lerner’s ownership from 2006 to 2010, when he eventually stepped down.  He saw the Nats through their leanest years, and really through most of their existence.

He saw them through back-to-back terrible seasons that led the Nats to receiving back-to-back first round draft picks.

Kasten’s most lasting legacy with the Nationals comes from a move he didn’t make until just before he left: hiring Mike Rizzo as general manager.  Since he took over in 2009, the Nats have steadily improved with the help of Rizzo’s calculated moves.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig was a big part in Kasten becoming part of the Nats in 2006.  He wanted to sell to the Lerners, but the league wanted someone they knew and trusted as a “baseball man” to fully hand it over.  Enter: Stan Kasten.

It may have taken longer than the typical D.C. sports fan’s patience (but then you get the Redskins), but the success we are seeing now is due, in large part, to the foundation Kasten gave the franchise when it first came from Montreal.

» Continue reading “Stan Kasten Buys Dodgers…A Look At His Nats History”

Well, that offense was fun while it lasted.  The Nats lost 3-1 to the Marlins yesterday, but possibly more concerning is a potential injury to Rick Ankiel.  Nats outfielders are already going down like flies, and it could get dicey if more are out.  Here’s what you need to know.

-First, from us:

• The Nats have organized their second annual Wounded Warrior Amputee Celebrity Softball Classic for next week after an exhibition with the Red Sox.  Check out all the details (including celebrity roster) here.

• As we were discussing above, it may get interesting in the Nats outfield to start the season.

-To prepare for this potential day of outfield weirdness (or any other opportunities) Johnson is going to be giving Lombardozzi a lot of work to get him adjusted to a major league level and improve his versatility. [Wash Times]

-The Nats appear to be in good hands with Brad Lidge, as do their young relievers who will get to look alongside him this season. [Nats Journal]

-The difference between Jackson starting poorly and Gonzalez starting poorly: Gonzalez makes adjustments and comes back strong before it gets out of hand. Like yesterday. [CSN Washington]

-Apparently the Nats could become ‘part of the family’ with Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler reportedly dating a player in the organization. [Nationals Talk]

-A look at another possible candidate that could help the Nats depth this season. [District on Deck]

-We haven’t talked about Bryce Harper in a while, so here’s some from Mike Rizzo and Davey Johnson. [Federal Baseball]

There were several things that were certain coming into 2012 for the Nationals, particularly in the pitching staff and the infield.  What still has the most wiggle room in spring training is the outfield, a situation exasperated by a lack of a clear center field solution and an injury to Michael Morse.

Many thought going into the off season that the Nats needed a clear center fielder, preferably one that would also fix the team’s lead off hitting problems.  Time came and went, and while the Nats were reportedly in many talks, nothing ever materialized.

That brings us to now.  The Nats said that Jayson Werth could start in center field, but things are looking less certain as Roger Bernadina heats up.  He has tweaked hit swing, and it has paid off with a .279 average and 2 home runs.  The only person on the team he trails in the category is Werth, who has 3.

» Continue reading “With Bernadina Breakout And Morse Injury, Who Starts in Nats Outfield?”

The Nationals have been recognized for their work supporting our military.  One of the events that they are trying to make a mainstay is the Wounded Warrior Amputee Celebrity Softball Classic, which will be held on April 3rd for the second straight year.

On that day, the Nats will take on the Boston Red Sox in an exhibition game before each team starts their regular 2012 season.  This game will take place at 3:05 at Nats Park, and a ticket to that game also gets you in for the softball game to take place immediately after.

A team of celebrities will take on a softball team made up of Wounded Warrior amputees.  Here is the roster of the celebrity team, per team release:

John “Cakes” Auville                  Host, The Sports Junkies, 106.7 The Fan
Kristen Berset                              Sports Anchor/Reporter, WUSA-TV (CBS 9)
Buddy Biancalana                       World Series Champion Shortstop, KC Royals
Hakem Dermish                          Sports Anchor/Reporter, WRC-TV (NBC 4)
» Continue reading “Nats Hold Celebrity Softball Classic After Red Sox Exhibition”

The Nats were able to feed off their 12-0 win the other day to take down the Astros yesterday 7-4.  Roger Bernadina may be playing his way back onto the Nats (which we’ll look at later this afternoon) but for now, here’s what you need to know:

-First, from us: consistency remains the Nats worst enemy; Lannan named 5th starter, but will he capitalize before Wang returns?

-Cool story–Wilson Ramos’ new walk-up song was composed by his uncle. Must mean a lot to have his family close after everything that happened this winter. [Nats Enquirer]

-LaRoche is closing in on a return, but we’ve heard that before. [CSN Washington]

-There was some actual investigative reporting into how far Werth’s HR (that has since been confirmed hit his car) went. No worries, the Post is on it. [Nats Journal]

-Speaking of Werth, he’s been discretely having a pretty good spring. Perhaps 2011 troubles are behind him? [Nats Blog]

Good thing that trade never went through, eh?  With Chien-Ming Wang out with injury, the Nats will start John Lannan in the 5th rotation spot to start the season, bringing the Opening Day rotation to:

1. Stephen Strasburg
2. Gio Gonzalez
3. Jordan Zimmermann
4. Edwin Jackson
5. John Lannan

This is quote the 180 for Lannan, who not too long ago was still being thrown around in trade rumors.  After acquiring Gonzalez and Jackson in the off season with healthy Strasburg, Zimmermann, and Wang in the rotation, it was thought Lannan’s services were at their end in Washington.

Clearly, keeping him around through spring training and being patient has paid off for Mike Rizzo.  There were almost certainly offers he could’ve pulled the trigger on, but instead he kept Lannan around, and now he will fill in for an injured Wang (hehe).

» Continue reading “With Wang Out, Lannan Named 5th Nats Starter”

Sure, it’s only spring training.  But with just a couple of weeks before the season opener in Chicago, the Nationals 11 straight games without winning.  That is, until yesterday, when the Nats broke out for a 12-0 win over the Mets.  I think I echo many Nats fans when I say…WHAT THE HELL?!

Don’t get me wrong.  A win is a win, even if it is during games that don’t count.  But the Nats were completely sucking.  They couldn’t hit anything, the pitching staff couldn’t get anything in the strike zone (or they did it TOO well), and they were handed loss after loss.

Does this inconsistency infuriate anyone else?

There is so much potential with this team.  There is a starting rotation that will be able to keep the Nats in most games, but bats need to do their part as well.  In those 11 games, they were outscored 67-30, and more importantly, shut out twice.

» Continue reading “The Infuriation With Nats in Yeserday’s Win”