Mark Zuckerman
Mark Zuckerman

Kendrick, Taylor will start spring opener; Gomes sent home sick

Kendrick, Taylor will start spring opener; Gomes sent home sick
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If there was any concern about the injuries Howie Kendrick and Michael A. Taylor spent the winter rehabbing from preventing them from participating fully in spring training, those fears should be quashed. Both Kendrick (returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon) and Taylor (who suffered hip and oblique injuries this winter in the Dominican Republic) will be in Saturday night's starting lineup for the Nationals' Grapefruit League opener against the Astros. The Nats...
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Mark Zuckerman

After injury-plagued winter, Taylor hopes new swing pays off

After injury-plagued winter, Taylor hopes new swing pays off
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Michael A. Taylor went to the Dominican Republic in early December, the rare major league veteran who was willing to go play winter ball for the Gigantes del Cibao and try to implement some significant changes he and Nationals hitting coach Kevin Long made to his swing at the end of the 2018 season. It should've been a great proving ground for Taylor to try out those changes and allow him to report for spring training ahead of the curve. But two days in, Taylor pulled...
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Mark Zuckerman

Martinez challenges Turner to reach a lofty stolen base goal

Martinez challenges Turner to reach a lofty stolen base goal
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Davey Martinez called Trea Turner into his office this week and told the speedy shortstop he wants him to attempt more stolen bases this season. How many? Let's just say even the ultra-aggressive Turner was taken aback. "Yeah, he gave me a number," Turner said. "And I was like: 'Wow, all right.'" Martinez later revealed to assembled reporters that he thinks if Turner "attempts 75-80, we'll be in great shape." If Turner's able to pull that off, he'd be in...
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Mark Zuckerman

Day two of workouts: More live BP and Bobby Orr

Day two of workouts: More live BP and Bobby Orr
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Day two of full-squad workouts at Nationals camp looked a lot like day one. Aside from the Hockey Hall of Famer in attendance this time. We'll get to Bobby Orr in just a moment. But first, the actual baseball stuff. Just as they did Tuesday, the Nats emerged from their morning "Circle of Trust" meeting and fanned out across the practice fields outside FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches to begin stretching and throwing. Infielders took grounders. Outfielders worked...
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Mark Zuckerman

Involved Rendon wants to keep up contract talks with Nats

Involved Rendon wants to keep up contract talks with Nats
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If he had his way, Anthony Rendon would never have to field a question about his pending free agency and ongoing talks with the Nationals about a long-term extension that would prevent him from ever becoming a free agent. But Rendon, as media-averse as anyone on the Nats roster, understands that won't be the case this year. Just as it was with Bryce Harper last season, this is going to loom over him throughout 2018. And that's just not his cup of tea. "Definitely. I...
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Mark Zuckerman

Middle infielders' get-to-know-you process starts now

Middle infielders' get-to-know-you process starts now
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Brian Dozier and Trea Turner took their respective positions in the middle of the infield Tuesday morning and began the daily routine of fielding grounders. That soon morphed into double play turns, then drills that involved the entire Nationals infield, then the entire defense. Thus began the first step in building one of the most important relationships in baseball: second baseman and shortstop. Everyone has to go through it, and there's always a learning curve. It's...
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Mark Zuckerman

After watching Soto, Robles seeks to realize his own potential

After watching Soto, Robles seeks to realize his own potential
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It was both the greatest thing and the worst thing that could've happened from Victor Robles' perspective. Juan Soto's remarkable rookie season inspired his fellow Dominican outfielder, who knows he's about to get the same opportunity the Nationals gave the 19-year-old last year. But Robles also knows Soto set the bar so high as a rookie that some might just assume he's now capable of duplicating it himself. "It was very impressive, without a doubt," Robles said,...
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Mark Zuckerman

First full workout includes extra work in field, live BP showdown

First full workout includes extra work in field, live BP showdown
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals' first full-squad workout of 2019 featured some familiar sights (the daily "Circle of Trust" meeting, lots of defensive fundamental drills, live batting practice). It also featured some noticeable changes from last spring: Max Scherzer throwing two simulated "innings" to live hitters already, several instances when players were instructed to re-do a particular drill if it wasn't done flawlessly the first time. "It was great," manager Davey Martinez...
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Mark Zuckerman

With Machado heading to San Diego, attention turns to Harper

With Machado heading to San Diego, attention turns to Harper
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The first domino in the never-ending free agent stalemate of 2019 has finally fallen. Manny Machado has agreed to a 10-year, $300 million deal with the Padres, according to multiple reports this afternoon. Which means Bryce Harper is now on the clock, and the bar for his eventual contract has been set by San Diego. The Machado news broke as the Nationals' first full-squad workout was in its final stages, and word spread quickly through the complex. For veteran players...
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Mark Zuckerman

Nats full squad ready to take field for first time today

Nats full squad ready to take field for first time today
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Pitchers have each thrown at least two bullpen sessions. Catchers have begun to get acquainted with each of those pitchers and establish some rapport. Now it's time for the rest of the Nationals roster to join them on the field. The Nats will hold their first official full-squad workout this morning, all position players having reported on time and all having passed their physicals Monday. And it's not a moment too soon for those who are eager to get the meaty portion...
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Mark Zuckerman

After sensational rookie season, Soto ready for added pressure

After sensational rookie season, Soto ready for added pressure
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Juan Soto strode into the Nationals clubhouse this morning with all the swagger you expect from him. He gave hugs to teammates he hadn't seen since September, shared offseason stories and confidently conducted a lengthy interview with reporters in English. He was, in every way, a major league ballplayer completely comfortable in his surroundings. Which was all the more remarkable when you consider he'd never been in those surroundings before. Soto, you may recall,...
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Mark Zuckerman

Kendrick "ready to go" on first day of spring training

Kendrick "ready to go" on first day of spring training
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - When last we saw and heard from Howie Kendrick - 2 1/2 months ago at Winterfest - the rehabbing veteran said he "should" be ready for the start of spring training. At that point, he hadn't really tested his repaired Achilles tendon much, aside from some running on an anti-gravity treadmill. Today, as Nationals position players officially reported for spring training, Kendrick no longer had to include any qualifiers in assessing his status. He's here. He's good to...
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Mark Zuckerman

Rizzo "satisfied" with Nationals' roster as is

Rizzo "satisfied" with Nationals' roster as is
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - As position players across baseball report for spring training and other teams continue to seek upgrades via the large pool of still unsigned free agents, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo suggested he's perfectly content going into the season with the group he already has in place. "I really like the roster that we constructed so far," Rizzo said Sunday evening during a local gathering of GMs and managers from most clubs that train in Florida. "I think we filled...
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Mark Zuckerman

Manfred: Pitch clock this spring, free agency not broken

Manfred: Pitch clock this spring, free agency not broken
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Rob Manfred doesn't know when you'll see Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and the other still unsigned free agents report for spring training, but he expects it to happen soon. Major League Baseball's commissioner does know when you'll see a pitch clock ticking down during games: Next weekend, when the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues open play. During a 26-minute Q&A with reporters here this evening, Manfred revealed the league's intention to start using a 20-second...
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Mark Zuckerman

Zimmerman prepared to play much more this spring

Zimmerman prepared to play much more this spring
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - He's not about to start playing nine innings on Feb. 23 or make the five-hour round trip for a road game in Lake Buena Vista, but Ryan Zimmerman will see more game action this spring. Really, he has little choice but to make a change from his controversial preparation plan last spring, when he stayed almost exclusively on minor league fields and took only two at-bats in major league games, then proceeded to come out of the gates slow and suffer an oblique strain that...
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Mark Zuckerman

Former All-Star Álvarez hopes to complete journey back with Nats

Former All-Star Álvarez hopes to complete journey back with Nats
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Henderson Álvarez threw a no-hitter in the big leagues in 2013. He was a National League All-Star in 2014. He started on opening day for the Marlins in 2015. And he spent the 2018 season pitching for the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League. It's not exactly a conventional career path, and it wasn't Álvarez's preference. But given his lack of options last year, he was willing to swallow his pride a bit and head south of the border in an attempt to...
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Mark Zuckerman

Both catchers support timeshare plan, including pinch-hitting

Both catchers support timeshare plan, including pinch-hitting
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Martinez intends to split playing time among his two new catchers, and those two new catchers are perfectly fine with that plan. Though Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki each have been regulars for much of their respective careers, and though each is coming off a strong 2018 season, each understands the 2019 Nationals may be better off with roughly equal playing time between them. "If we make that a deal, this team is not going to go forward," Gomes...
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Mark Zuckerman

Observations from Saturday's workout

Observations from Saturday's workout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Max Scherzer didn't outlast his pitching mates in the bullpen like he did Thursday morning, but the Nationals ace did put on another display of precise preparation during his throwing session this morning. Scherzer, who in his first official bullpen of the spring was on the mound an additional five to seven minutes beyond the other pitchers in his group, actually finished before Joe Ross or Jeremy Hellickson did this time. But he made the most of his abbreviated...
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Mark Zuckerman

Martinez plans for more consistent batting order this season

Martinez plans for more consistent batting order this season
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals used 125 different lineups last season, some of that a byproduct of injuries and some of it a product of Davey Martinez's tinkering and attempts to create advantageous daily matchups. If things go as he hopes, Martinez will be deploying far fewer batting orders this season. "What I want to do, honestly, this year, if these guys are healthy, is have a constant lineup," the second-year manager said today. Martinez came to that realization during the...
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Mark Zuckerman

Plenty of former Nationals still looking for work

Plenty of former Nationals still looking for work
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - There are tons of still-unsigned free agents out there, as everyone's well aware at this point. And included on that long list are a whole bunch of former Nationals players, and we're not just talking about Bryce Harper. Several key members of the 2018 Nats are still looking for jobs, even as pitchers and catchers have reported across Florida and Arizona and position players are about to join them. Like Gio Gonzalez, whose long-awaited first foray into free agency...
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