CHICAGO - Twice today, Adam LaRoche and Jayson Werth have come to the plate with two runners in scoring position.
Twice today, LaRoche struck out swinging and Werth flew out to right to end the threat.
The Nationals have left five runners on base through three innings this afternoon, and left 'em loaded in the third. Today, at least, the Nats haven't had issues with Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa getting on base; instead, they're having issues getting their No. 1 and No. 2 hitters...
CHICAGO - Yes, a baseball game will be played at Wrigley Field today. No, John Lannan will not be here for it.
We've talked a ton about Lannan over these last three days, but there are other notes to pass along as we close in on first pitch.
Manager Davey Johnson said today that Brad Lidge will be his closer today, but don't take that to mean that Lidge will be in for the ninth inning every time the Nats have a save situation prior to Drew Storen's return from elbow inflammation.
Johnson...
CHICAGO - The Nationals understand John Lannan is angry and frustrated with being bumped out of the rotation and sent down to Triple-A Syracuse.
They even appreciate the fact that he feels the way he does, because, as general manager Mike Rizzo says, "If he was any other way, I would wonder about him."
But the fact that Lannan has requested a trade doesn't change anything in Rizzo or manager Davey Johnson's minds. They're going to keep Lannan at Syracuse and are in no rush to dump the...
CHICAGO - Hello, Wrigley.
I'm all set up here in the press box high atop iconic Wrigley Field, and man, could there be a more perfect place for opening day 2012? (Other than Nationals Park, of course.)
This is just a fantastic setting, and while it's a bit chilly here this morning, the sun is out in full force and it should get up to 51 degrees by gametime.
There's a stiff 17 mph wind blowing almost directly in from center, which will help starting pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Ryan...
CHICAGO - Happy opening day, everyone, and welcome to my brand spankin' new blog here on MASNsports.com - Nationals Pastime.
Clever title, huh? Feel free to bookmark the link to my landing page, email it to your friends and tell your grandparents, cousins and annoying co-workers all about it. This is where you'll be able to find me from now on, although you can still flip through our Nationals Buzz blog for my full spring training archive, right through yesterday's email from John Lannan...
CHICAGO - Barely 24 hours after being skipped over for a spot in the Nationals' rotation and instead optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, left-hander John Lannan has asked the Nationals for a trade.
In an email to members of the local media, Lannan explained his decision, saying he has met with Nats general manager Mike Rizzo twice since being informed yesterday that he would not make the team's 25-man opening day roster, and told Rizzo, "I believe a trade would be the best solution for everyone...
CHICAGO - Hello from the Windy City, which actually isn't that windy at all today.
It's a beautiful 55 degrees here and for someone who hasn't seen the city before (the one-day trip with my dad to see a game at Wrigley when I was 13 doesn't really count in my mind), the cab ride in along the water provided a nice little mini-tour.
I look forward to a getting a taste of Chicago (literally) when a few of the other beat reporters and I head out to grab some deep-dish pizza sometime over...
With all the hoopla surrounding the Nationals' decision to option John Lannan to Triple-A Syracuse and slide Ross Detwiler into the starting rotation, a couple other roster decisions might have gotten overlooked.
The Lannan move opened up a roster spot that allowed the Nationals to keep right-hander Craig Stammen, who would have been ticketed for Syracuse's rotation had Lannan broken camp with the major league club.
Stammen put together a very strong spring, posting a 1.98 ERA in 13 2/3...
So much for there not being any surprise roster decisions at the end of Nationals spring training.
So much for the Nats setting their rotation over a week ago, leaving only a couple bench spots and the final bullpen job up for grabs.
So much for that whole "John's my guy" thing.
Given the way the Nationals had acted ever since Chien-Ming Wang went down with a hamstring strain in mid-March, an injury which officially opened up a spot in their rotation, the decision to option John Lannan...
Prior to today, Drew Storen already had a full bullpen session under his belt as he works back from elbow inflammation.
But this afternoon, working off the bullpen mound at Nationals Park, Storen cleared his next hurdle in his rehab - he threw with some conviction, trusting his arm and pounding the catcher's mitt with force.
"I let it go a little bit today, probably for the first time in a while, and didn't feel bad at all," Storen said. "So I'm happy with that."
Storen, who said...
ORLANDO, Fla. - I'm finally leaving the state of Florida, a bit more tired and with a much heavier farmer's tan than when I arrived.
While we still have one exhibition game remaining before opening day gets here, spring training is officially over. The Nationals have worked their way into playing shape, finalized all but one spot on their 25-man roster and welcomed one fantastic new beat writer who will be covering them this season.
I'm completely unbiased on that last front.
Before I...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Roger Bernadina had to leave today's game against the Red Sox less than five minutes after it started.
Bernadina was hit on the outside of his right knee by an Aaron Cook pickoff throw during the top of the first inning, and after getting some attention from the training staff, the Nationals outfielder limped off the field.
Expected to be the Nats center fielder on opening day this Thursday, Bernadina said after the game that there's some minor swelling in the knee, but...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Nationals closed out their Grapefruit League season this afternoon with a 4-2 loss to the Red Sox.
But in my mind at least, the game takes the backseat today. The real story, the story worth telling, is of the four guys on the roster bubble who learned today that they'll be heading north with the Nationals as part of the team's 25-man opening day roster.
Chad Tracy, a man who slugged 27 homers with the Diamondbacks in 2005, hit just .235 with one home run in Japan...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - If there's some good news today amid all the players going on the DL and the injury to Roger Bernadina, it's that Danny Espinosa might be starting to click.
The Nationals second baseman ripped his second homer in as many days this afternoon, taking one out to center field here at JetBlue Park.
After going without a homer or an RBI for his first 21 games of spring training, Espinosa has two big flies in the last 26 hours or so.
This one came from the left side, which is...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Nationals cannot catch a break.
Already without their projected starting left fielder and center fielder, both of whom will start the season on the disabled list, the Nationals will have to play the rest of today's spring training finale without Roger Bernadina, who was expected to start in center field on opening day.
Bernadina has been pulled from today's game after being hit on the leg by an errant Aaron Cook pickoff throw.
The Nats outfielder jogged into second...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Now that the Nationals have announced they will officially place four guys on the disabled list to start the season, the team's opening day roster is very close to being finalized.
At this point, the position players are all set, manager Davey Johnson confirmed. The 13 position players that remain in the Nats' big league camp will make the 25-man roster.
Wilson Ramos and Jesus Flores will be the catchers.
Your infielders will be: Adam LaRoche, Danny Espinosa, Ian...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Nationals will be without their projected cleanup hitter/left fielder, closer, starting center fielder and fifth starter to begin the season.
Manager Davey Johnson said today that Michael Morse, Drew Storen, Rick Ankiel and Chien-Ming Wang will all start the season on the disabled list.
Morse (strained lat) and Ankiel (quad) will work out the with the team these next couple days but will begin the season on a rehab assignment, likely with Double-A Harrisburg, Johnson...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Nationals released Jason Michaels on Thursday. Now the veteran outfielder is back with the organization.
The Nats announced today that they've agreed to terms on a minor league contract with Michaels, who will report to Triple-A Syracuse.
Michaels hit .220 with one homer and seven RBIs in 41 at-bats with the Nats this spring.
The 35-year-old had an opt-out clause in his original minor league deal with the Nats, and after looking around for a major league deal with...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Good morning from Fort Myers, where I spent the night last night ahead of today's Nationals spring training finale against the Red Sox.
Unfortunately, the Nationals had to make the nearly two-hour drive back from Jupiter to Viera following yesterday's game against the Cardinals, and then leave their Space Coast Stadium complex at around 7 a.m. this morning in order to head all the way across the state to make it here.
Yeah, I bet all those guys are ready to head north to...
JUPITER, Fla. - Danny Espinosa ripped a solo home run to right field in today's win over the Cardinals, giving him his first homer and first RBI this spring.
But the Nationals second baseman was actually more pleased with his single to left off Cardinals closer Jason Motte in the top of the ninth inning than he was with the longball earlier in the game.
"That was a two-strike count," Espinosa said. "I stuck with my approach I try to stay with all the time. I was able just to really put...