Mark Zuckerman

Suzuki takes the high road after Correa lashes out

February 16, 2020, 9:14am

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Kurt Suzuki wasn't expecting to find himself in the middle of the war of words between the Astros and players around the majors who are now blasting the 2017 champs for cheating by illegally stealing signs. But when the Nationals catcher was quoted in The Washington Post saying he believed the Astros were still cheating during the 2019 World Series - "We could hear it from their dugout. We heard their whistling." - he suddenly was thrust into the fray and earned the...

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How improved bullpen could make up for loss of Rendon

February 15, 2020, 5:42pm

Nationals

How improved bullpen could make up for loss of Rendon

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - So much mental energy has been spent this winter trying to figure out how the Nationals are going to account for the loss of Anthony Rendon's production. Here's one potential way they could do it: by having a better bullpen. It may not seem one has anything to do with the other at first glance, but the Nats actually do view this as a realistic way to make up for the loss of Rendon without adding another big bat to their lineup. The idea is simple: If you can't score...

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High-energy Robles reports early, will get chance to lead off

February 15, 2020, 10:02am

Nationals

High-energy Robles reports early, will get chance to lead off

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - He came bounding through the doors around 8:30 a.m., announcing his presence with authority in an otherwise sleepy clubhouse partially filled with pitchers and catchers. Position players are not required to report to Nationals camp until Monday, but a handful have already found their way here, staying mostly quiet and staying mostly out of the way. Victor Robles, however, wasn't worried about letting everybody know he's here. And he's ready to go. "I was having a...

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Super Bowl commercial capped Barrett's emotional comeback

February 15, 2020, 8:56am

Nationals

Super Bowl commercial capped Barrett's emotional comeback

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Aaron Barrett was working out in his hometown in Mississippi three weeks ago when he got a text message from a friend with an odd question included: "Have you seen the Budweiser commercial?" Barrett, completely confused, replied that he hadn't and then asked why. "You're in it," the friend responded. Thus did the Nationals reliever, learn he was part of Budweiser's annual Super Bowl commercial. The 60-second ad, titled "Typical Americans," including clips of...

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Strasburg on track, Rizzo on contract, Hellickson retires

February 14, 2020, 5:57pm

Nationals

Strasburg on track, Rizzo on contract, Hellickson retires

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Like Max Scherzer the previous day, Stephen Strasburg threw 56 pitches during his bullpen session Friday morning. Like Scherzer, he felt perfectly normal. Like Scherzer, this winter and spring really won't be all that different from prior ones, despite all the extra pitches Strasburg threw last fall. "I mean, you try and take the same amount of time off, and then you get right back into it and treat it like another routine," the right-hander said. "So I got the...

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With no trade in works, third base job is Kieboom's to lose

February 14, 2020, 11:25am

Nationals

With no trade in works, third base job is Kieboom's to lose

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have a plan and a backup plan to replace Anthony Rendon at third base this season. Plan A is for Carter Kieboom, long considered one of the organization's top prospects, to prove he deserves the job this spring and enter the season as the everyday third baseman. Plan B is for several veterans already on the roster - AsdrÃºbal Cabrera and Howie Kendrick among them - to hold down the fort at third base while Kieboom gets more seasoning in the minors. There...

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Rizzo won't be satisfied until Astros admit they "cheated"

February 14, 2020, 9:34am

Nationals

Rizzo won't be satisfied until Astros admit they "cheated"

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - At some point this spring, the Astros sign-stealing scandal will dissipate into the background and earn only occasional mention. Not yet, though. The saga that has engulfed the baseball world for weeks continues to be front and center at camps across Florida and Arizona, especially this particular camp that houses both of the 2019 World Series participants. It didn't help that Thursday's press conference outside the Houston clubhouse, in which owner Jim Crane and stars...

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Martinez's message for defending champs: "Repeat the process"

February 13, 2020, 6:32pm

Nationals

Martinez's message for defending champs: "Repeat the process"

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - That Davey Martinez was even present for the opening of spring training Thursday was significant from a Nationals historical perspective. By merely setting foot on the practice fields outside FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, Martinez became only the second manager in club history to lead his third spring camp. Dusty Baker didn't do it. Neither did Davey Johnson, Jim Riggleman or Matt Williams. Frank Robinson technically managed the franchise for five springs, but...

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Healthy Scherzer leads the way on first day of workouts

February 13, 2020, 12:05pm

Nationals

Healthy Scherzer leads the way on first day of workouts

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Oh, yeah, there actually was some baseball being practiced around here today. It kind of got lost in the shuffle of the Nationals opening their title defense while the Astros tried to defend themselves, but pitchers and catchers took the fields outside FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for the first time in 2020. And that meant Max Scherzer took the mound in front of the public for the first time in 2020. Which is always a must-see event. Scherzer actually reports to...

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As Astros apologize, Nats players share thoughts on scandal

February 13, 2020, 10:37am

Nationals

As Astros apologize, Nats players share thoughts on scandal

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The contrast was impossible to ignore. On one side of FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, more than 50 reporters and photographers listened to Astros owner Jim Crane and players Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve apologize for the sign-stealing scandal that has engulfed baseball since it was revealed three months ago. It was not, by all accounts, well received. On the other side of this sprawling complex, a grand total of seven media members (four writers, one print...

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A wild first day of spring expected in West Palm Beach

February 12, 2020, 5:27pm

Nationals

A wild first day of spring expected in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Sometime around 9:30 a.m. today, every pitcher and catcher in Nationals camp will emerge from the clubhouse and gather on the adjacent agility field outside for the first of 37 planned "Circle of Trust" morning meetings. Davey Martinez will set the tone for the day - and the spring in general - with some combination of instruction, wisdom and laughter. Perhaps a live animal will be involved. It's happened before. The World Series champions will be loose and free,...

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Nats invite 22 non-roster players to big league camp

February 12, 2020, 12:01pm

Nationals

Nats invite 22 non-roster players to big league camp

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have invited 22 non-roster players to participate in big league camp, a group that includes a host of veterans with major league experience and a handful of prospects who aren't yet on the organization's 40-man roster. Among the veterans who signed minor league contracts and were extended big league invitations are: * Javy Guerra, who made 40 relief appearances for the Nationals last season with a 4.86 ERA and 1.248 WHIP and then pitched in a pair of...

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Spring training storylines: Life as defending champs

February 11, 2020, 9:56am

Nationals

Spring training storylines: Life as defending champs

We've reached the final countdown to spring training, so we're counting down the most important storylines surrounding the Nationals this spring. We conclude today with the quest to repeat as World Series champions ... Nationals pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach today. Just as they've done each of the last three springs. And just as they did the previous 12 springs in Viera. Nothing special happens. Guys just show up at the complex, reunite with teammates, coaches and support...

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Spring training storylines: Is Kieboom the answer at third?

February 10, 2020, 8:00pm

Nationals

Spring training storylines: Is Kieboom the answer at third?

We've reached the final countdown to spring training, so we're counting down the most important storylines surrounding the Nationals this spring. We continue today with the search for Anthony Rendon's replacement at third base ... When Bryce Harper departed for Philadelphia one year ago, the Nationals knew exactly how they intended to account for his loss. They had three starting outfielders already in house, and most importantly, they were confident Juan Soto could make up the offensive...

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Spring training storylines: Finding the right lineup combo

February 09, 2020, 7:24pm

Nationals

Spring training storylines: Finding the right lineup combo

We've reached the final countdown to spring training, so we're counting down the most important storylines surrounding the Nationals this spring. We continue today with the lineup decisions Davey Martinez must make ... It's surprise quiz time, folks. Do you remember who batted leadoff for the Nationals on opening day last season? Who hit sixth? Who hit eighth? (No peeking allowed.) Do you know the answer? You'll be forgiven if you forgot that Adam Eaton was the Nats' first batter of 2019,...

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Seven Nats exhibition games to be broadcast on MASN

February 09, 2020, 8:39am

Nationals

Seven Nats exhibition games to be broadcast on MASN

MASN announced today that seven Nationals exhibition games will be televised this spring, including next week's highly anticipated Grapefruit League opener against the Astros and new manager Dusty Baker. The first six televised games will all come from FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The seventh broadcast game will come from Nationals Park, where the defending World Series champions will face a team made up of organizational prospects in a just-announced 4 p.m. exhibition finale dubbed...

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Spring training storylines: The No. 5 starter competition

February 08, 2020, 8:00pm

Nationals

Spring training storylines: The No. 5 starter competition

We've reached the final countdown to spring training, so we're counting down the most important storylines surrounding the Nationals this spring. We continue today with the battle for the No. 5 starter's job ... It's not unusual for a club to hold an open competition for at least one spot in its opening day rotation. It is unusual, however, for a club to have four elite starters already locked in and three relatively experienced competitors in the running for that final job, with all three...

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Spring training storylines: Rizzo and Martinez's contracts

February 07, 2020, 8:08pm

Nationals

Spring training storylines: Rizzo and Martinez's contracts

We've reached the final countdown to spring training, so we're counting down the most important storylines surrounding the Nationals this spring. We begin today with the status of Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez's contracts ... If there's one subject a defending World Series champion shouldn't have to think about, it's the future of its general manager and manager. Really, why would anyone spend a second wondering how secure Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez's jobs are? Why? Because at this...

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Nationals outfield returns intact, with room for growth

February 06, 2020, 1:25pm

Nationals

As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series concludes today with the outfield ... The Nationals infield may be chock full of questions entering spring training, but the guys who will line up behind them are firmly locked into place. All three starting outfielders - plus the primary backups - from last season return. And there's every reason to believe that group will be highly productive again, with room for...

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New-look infield must answer plenty of questions this spring

February 05, 2020, 7:51pm

Nationals

New-look infield must answer plenty of questions this spring

As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the infield ... So much of the Nationals' World Series-winning roster returns intact this spring, but one aspect of the roster has undergone some serious change since we last saw this team take the field. An infield that was among the most productive in the majors is going to look quite different this time around, thanks to one huge departure and...