Derek Norris shines Arizona, where will he start next season?

Derek Norris shines Arizona, where will he start next season?
The Scottsdale Scorpions won the Arizona Fall League championship with a roster filled with Nationals' prospects. Bryce Harper was a name most fans outside of the Nats organization would quickly recognize. But guys like Derek Norris, Michael Burgess and Steve Lombardozzi also made major contributions on the field during the Scorpions' 30 games in Arizona, lifting them to a first-ever title. Let's spotlight those stars beginning with Goddard, Kansas catcher Derek Norris, who ended up...
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Kimball: "We were there to win and that is all it came down to"

Kimball: "We were there to win and that is all it came down to"
The Scottsdale Scorpions rolled to their first ever Arizona fall league title Saturday 3-2 over the Peoria Javelinas with a complete baseball team anchored by a strong pitching staff. Nats prospect Sammy Solis and five others held the Javelinas to one earned run over nine innings and the defense, despite some early errors, came up with some huge plays in the end to save the game. Another Nats prospect, pitcher Cole Kimball, notched the save with a dominating ninth frame. "Just playing in...
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Nats prospects shine in AFL Championship win

Nats prospects shine in AFL Championship win
The Scottsdale Scorpions won the 2010 Arizona Fall League title with a 3-2 win over Peoria Javelinas with Nationals prospects making impacts throughout the game. Sammy Solis won the game, Cole Kimball pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save, Bryce Harper had the go-ahead RBI single and Stephen Lombardozzi smacked an RBI double to plate the eventual winning run. Solis pitched four solid innings with Kimball getting a strike out and a pair of weak infield grounders to save it. Kimball was...
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AFL Batting coach: Harper "something special"

AFL Batting coach: Harper "something special"
Nationals top prospect Bryce Harper started and smacked an RBI single to left in Saturday's Arizona Fall league championship game for the Scottsdale Scorpions after a pretty impressive month of fall baseball. Despite being on the taxi squad (maximum two games per week), Harper went 12-for-35 (.343) with three doubles, two triples, a homer and seven RBI in nine games. Scottsdale Scorpions batting coach Alan Zinter did not know what to expect when Harper arrived in mid-October, but he soon...
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Marrero, Kimball and Carr added to 40-man

Marrero, Kimball and Carr added to 40-man
The Nationals have selected the contracts of right-handed pitchers Adam Carr and Cole Kimball and first baseman Chris Marrero, placing them on the 40-man roster. Here are my recent visits with Cole Kimball from Arizona and Chris Marrero from Puerto Rico. Also, right-handed pitcher Juan Jaime was claimed off outright waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Nationals Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements Friday. Carr and Kimball have pitched...
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Espinosa breaks down hitting for cycle in Puerto Rico

Espinosa breaks down hitting for cycle in Puerto Rico
Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa hit for the cycle Tuesday for his team Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico. "It was really exciting and a lot of fun," says Espinosa. "It was funny because my Uncle Bob always use to joke with me to call him when I hit for the cycle. So I was thinking about him after the game and I gave him a call. He just started laughing." Espinosa hit a home run, drew a walk, smacked a triple, then a double and finished off the cycle with a single. It was the...
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Rizzo on Dunn, Lee and progression of young defense

Rizzo on Dunn, Lee and progression of young defense
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo checked in late last week with his thoughts on the possibility of resigning Adam Dunn and going after pitcher Cliff Lee. He also agrees that good ball clubs are built up the middle and is excited about the Nats young talent at those positions. Rizzo is pleased with how the off season talks are going for the team as a whole, not just in the possibility of getting Dunn back. "Things are going well on all fronts," says Rizzo. "We have the Adam Dunn...
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Desmond inspired to play even better in 2011

Desmond inspired to play even better in 2011
Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond is excited to get started with the 2011 season after a pretty impressive rookie campaign. Desmond was in town last week and sporting the new Nationals uniforms which he says are a perfect fit for the young, up-and-coming franchise. "I like them," says Desmond. "It is a new look, a new team, hopefully a new attitude next year." His favorite are the home whites and Desmond says the new uniforms have an "old school" feel to them. "This gives the team a...
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Clippard ready to deliver again in 2011

Clippard ready to deliver again in 2011
Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard was in town this week to check out the new uniforms for 2011 and work out with the students in the 5th grade P.E. Class at Long Branch elementary school in Arlington, Virginia. Clippard and pitcher Jordan Zimmermann were on hand at Long Branch to teach the kids proper technique while throwing balls to a fellow student. They also answered questions about what it is like to be a major league baseball player. "It is everything," says Clippard. "We...
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Harper crushes two triples; Rizzo pleased with progress

Harper crushes two triples; Rizzo pleased with progress
Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper had a tremendous Wednesday in guiding the Scottsdale Scorpions to a 11-1 win over Peoria. Harper went 2-for-5 with two triples, two RBI and scored two runs. Harper is now batting .357, 10-for-28 with two doubles, two triples, one homer and 6 RBI. His SLG% is now .679. General manager Mike Rizzo is very impressed with Harper's solid steps in the AFL. "The competition alone for him playing in the Arizona fall league is tremendous for him and for his...
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Cathcart ready for dual roles for Nationals in 2011

Cathcart ready for dual roles for Nationals in 2011
Potomac Nationals manager Gary Cathcart will have dual roles for the organization in 2011 and be able to coach dozens of prospects as a roving instructor and manager. The first half of the season, Cathcart will be a roving instructor for the Nationals in the Gulf Coast League and Hagerstown. "They like the idea of having another set of eyes alongside (Field Coordinator) Bobby Henley to coach these guys and evaluate our talent," Cathcart said. After the draft in June, Cathcart will manage...
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Marrero takes step forward with solid work in Puerto Rico

Marrero takes step forward with solid work in Puerto Rico
Nationals prospect Chris Marrero is working hard to improve offensively and defensively by playing winter ball in Puerto Rico alongside second baseman Danny Espinosa. Marrero says he has enjoyed the experience playing ball in the offseason again this year after getting an invite to Arizona in 2009. In 10 games for Leones de Ponce, Marrero is batting .349 with 3 doubles and 8 RBI. "I am been feeling good. My swing as been coming around. I have been getting a lot of hits and feeling good at...
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Espinosa adjusts swing to make more contact

Espinosa adjusts swing to make more contact
Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa continues to play well in winter ball in Puerto Rico and has altered his batting stance a little to shorten his swing so he can make more contact and get on base. "I have made a little bit of an adjustment. The first three games (here in Puerto Rico) I had four or five strikeouts. That was a point that manager Jim Riggleman had really touched on is that they would really like to see those (strikeout numbers) go down. He said he would be willing to give...
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Kimball confident for next step to big leagues

Kimball confident for next step to big leagues
Nationals prospect, relief pitcher Cole Kimball, is enjoying his experience pitching in the Arizona Fall League and is thrilled to get an invite to the Rising Stars All-Star Game Sunday. "It has been great. I am not pitching every other day like I was this summer so it is hard to get into a rhythm when you pitch only every three or four days," Kimball said. But he hasn't had any trouble adjusting to less work. Kimball is 0-0 with a 1.13 ERA in 7 games with 8 strikeouts and only one run...
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Burgess and Kimball named to AFL Rising Stars Game

Burgess and Kimball named to AFL Rising Stars Game
Nationals prospects outfielder Michael Burgess and pitcher Cole Kimball have been named to the Eastern Division All-Star team of the Arizona Fall League. The Rising Stars game will be played November 6 in Surprise. Twenty-eight players who played in last year's Rising Stars game, such as Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen and Buster Posey, made at least an appearance in the Majors this summer. The Scorpions' coaching staff will coach the Eastern team, based on having the best record on...
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Solis adds new pitch, readies for 4th AFL start

Solis adds new pitch, readies for 4th AFL start
Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis says his month in the Arizona Fall League has been an invaluable experience and he has learned a lot, even from a recent rough outing. More importantly, Solis has been taught a new pitch to add to his other three potent pitches. On October 28 versus Surprise, Solis went five innings, allowed eight hits, five runs (two of which were earned), one home run, one walk and three strikeouts. Solis says it was one of those games where the opposition was just...
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Instructs Wrap-Up: Notes on infield and catching prospects

Instructs Wrap-Up: Notes on infield and catching prospects
Here is an update on a few of the prospects that continue to improve as the offseason rolls along. All of these players were at the instructional league camp in Viera. Nationals hitting coordinator Rick Schu says the entire camp went very well and turned out to be an excellent teaching tool for the organization as several players refined their offensive and defensive skills before heading off to winter ball or back home for offseason work. Carolina League MVP Tyler Moore showed what he has...
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Norris and Burgess making strides in Arizona

Norris and Burgess making strides in Arizona
Nationals outfielder Michael Burgess and catcher Derek Norris are working hard to play well and improve in their time with the Scottsdale Scorpions this month in at the Arizona Fall League. Norris and Burgess are each batting above .300 with a combined three homers and 19 RBI through nine games. Burgess is hitting .303 (10-33) with four runs, two doubles, a triple and seven RBI in nine games so far. He has struck out 11 times, but has committed just one error and is riding an eight-game...
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Maxwell undergoes Tommy John, eyes February return

Maxwell undergoes Tommy John, eyes February return
Nationals outfielder Justin Maxwell underwent surgery to replace a ligament in his left elbow October 13. Maxwell says the famed Tommy John surgery will keep him out for four to six months. Maxwell injured his left elbow the last Saturday of the season in New York against the Mets when he dove for a catch in center field. He made the catch, but the next day his elbow didn't feel good. "I had injured my elbow before during spring training, but this time my elbow swelled up pretty bad,"...
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Nationals bring back Riggleman for 2011

Nationals bring back Riggleman for 2011
The Nationals have announced that Jim Riggleman will return as manager for the team in 2011 for his third year as skipper of the club. In 2010, the Nationals improved by 10 victories over their 2009 campaign, from 59 to 69 wins. Riggleman was very pleased with the announcement, saying "Mike (Rizzo) and I talked some during September, and I was given every indication that" the team would pick up the option. "It is a good thing and I am excited to get going." Riggleman originally signed...
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