Mark Zuckerman

After rough 2015, Tanner Roark expects to return to rotation

February 18, 2016, 9:56am

Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

After rough 2015, Tanner Roark expects to return to rotation

VIERA, Fla. - Tanner Roark, of all people, knows how things can change in the blink of an eye. He learned last year never to assume anything when it comes to baseball. But make no mistake, the Nationals right-hander fully expects his role to be defined this season. And he expects that role to place (and keep) him in the Nats rotation. "I expect to start," Roark said Thursday on the day pitchers and catchers officially reported for spring training. "I'm coming in here to prepare as a...

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Live from Viera ... it's reporting day

February 17, 2016, 6:45pm

Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - A very pleasant good morning to you from Florida's Space Coast, where the sun is shining, the temperature will approach 70 degrees this afternoon and the four best words in baseball will at last be uttered after a long winter: Pitchers and catchers report. Yes, it's the first official day of spring training and it all gets underway shortly at Space Coast Stadium. It's at this point when I'm compelled to offer this disclaimer: Reporting date is kind of a misnomer. Pitchers and...

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Nats sign veteran reliever Matt Belisle to minor league deal

February 17, 2016, 6:40pm

Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

Nats sign veteran reliever Matt Belisle to minor league deal

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals added another veteran reliever to their spring training mix on the eve of reporting day, signing right-hander Matt Belisle on Wednesday to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp. Belisle, 35, has spent parts of 12 seasons in the majors, going 49-55 with a 4.34 ERA in 558 career appearances, all but 44 of them coming out of the bullpen. A workhorse for the Rockies in recent years, he pitched in 368 games from 2010-14, second only to former...

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A re-introduction to the Nats ... and me

February 16, 2016, 7:45am

Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

A re-introduction to the Nats ... and me

When last we saw them assembled on a baseball field, the Nationals were managed by Matt Williams. Ian Desmond was their shortstop. Jordan Zimmermann was their most-consistent pitcher over a period of five years. Drew Storen was a key part of their bullpen. When next we see them assembled on a baseball field, none of that will be true. Williams was fired less than 24 hours after the season finale, ultimately replaced by Dusty Baker (after a brief fling with Bud Black went awry). Desmond and...