Seven Nationals spring training games to air on MASN (updated with radio schedule)

Seven Nationals spring training games to air on MASN (updated with radio schedule)
It may be in the 50s today, but here's something guaranteed to create some additional warm feelings in NatsTown: the Nationals' 2012 spring training broadcast schedule on MASN. Seven Nationals Grapefruit League games will be televised on MASN's dedicated high-definition channel, MASN HD, beginning with a Sunday, March 4 game from Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla., against the Houston Astros. All afternoon games will be replayed the same day in prime time on MASN HD. * Sunday, March 4 at 1...

Rounding up news on Fielder, Zimmerman (updated)

Rounding up news on Fielder, Zimmerman (updated)
Better prepare for the long haul - it's going to be a while before Prince Fielder comes to a decision on where he's going to play in 2012 and beyond. To get your morning started, here are some random thoughts related to the Nationals, their pursuit of Fielder and other news in and around NatsTown: * Fielder and agent Scott Boras are holding firm on their demand for a deal of eight years or more. That's not going to fly with the Nationals, who would prefer a shorter term - say, five or six...

Washington Nationals announce 2012 spring training broadcast schedule

Washington Nationals announce 2012 spring training broadcast schedule
Washington Nationals broadcast partners Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) and 106.7 The Fan will broadcast a total of 13 Nationals Spring Training matchups throughout the weeks leading up to the start of the 2012 regular season. The Nationals 2012 Grapefruit League schedule features six games televised by MASN and nine games airing on 106.7 The Fan, with one broadcast on partner station WNEW 1580 AM. 106.7 The Fan will broadcast the first game of the spring on March 3 when the Nationals play...

MASN announces Nationals spring training broadcast schedule

MASN announces Nationals spring training broadcast schedule
MASN, the television home of the Washington Nationals, has announced its 2012 spring training schedule. The network will televise seven Nationals spring training games, and all will appear on MASN's dedicated high-definition channel, MASN HD. The Nationals' March 4 home game against the Houston Astros in Viera, Florida, will kick off MASN's Grapefruit League coverage. MASN will broadcast four more games from Space Coast Stadium, the team's spring training home: March 13 against the...

Morse-for-Langerhans trade was a steal for Nationals

Morse-for-Langerhans trade was a steal for Nationals
That trade for Michael Morse is looking pretty good for the Nationals right now, don't you think? Following the announcement that Morse has signed a multi-year extension with the Nationals, the trade that brought his big bat to Washington two and a half years ago returns to the spotlight. On June 28, 2009, the Nationals sent outfielder Ryan Langerhans to Seattle for Morse. At the time, it was a trade of minor leaguers who both had had a taste of the majors, but each had not been able to...

The sound of silence (updated)

The sound of silence (updated)
It's difficult to interpret Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo's prolonged silence on the subject of Prince Fielder. Either the club continues to negotiate with the free agent slugger in hopes that he'll man first base in 2012, or talks have again reached an impasse. There's really not much middle ground. One thing we do know: This is standard operating procedure from Rizzo, who clearly prefers the backroom, behind-the-scenes approach to his job, as opposed to those front office...

Five questions about Michael Morse's multi-year deal

Five questions about Michael Morse's multi-year deal
While you're digesting whatever was for dinner tonight - for me, it was PF Chang's kung-pao chicken, stir-fried in sirachi sauce - it's also a good time to deliberate the two-year, $10.5 million extension between the Nationals and outfielder/first baseman Michael Morse that was announced late this afternoon. The contract essentially buys out the slugger's final two arbitration years after a breakout 2011 season, but raises some questions. So here's five queries and their answers concerning...

Beasley: Bryce Harper "can handle" starting season with Nationals

Beasley: Bryce Harper "can handle" starting season with Nationals
Nationals No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper is preparing for his second season of professional baseball after a successful debut. Harper was able to play well at three levels in 2011: low Single-A, Double-A and the Arizona Fall League. Many believe he is ready now and could survive from day one this season with the Nationals. But Harper is only 19. Should he spend another season in the minors to hone his skills? Physically, he is ready, but how important is the mental part of the game to long-term...

Tyler Moore will focus on outfield, first base at spring training

Tyler Moore will focus on outfield, first base at spring training
Double-A Harrisburg Senators first baseman Tyler Moore has shown the best power in the Nationals' system the last two seasons with 62 combined home runs. The Mississippi State product has been so highly regarded by the parent club that he practiced outfield positions during instructional league to see if there were additional ways to get him on the field. New Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs manager Tony Beasley knows everything about Moore's game, having skippered him for an entire season in...

Projecting the Nationals' bullpen

Projecting the Nationals' bullpen
There's little doubt that the bullpen was one of the Nationals' strong points in 2011. The numbers are impressive - a 31-23 record, 98 holds, 49 saves in 76 opportunities, 44 home runs allowed in 520 2/3 innings, 72 percent of first batters faced by relievers retired, a 3.20 ERA - and yielded an All-Star nod for Tyler Clippard. So going into 2012, is it fair to expect more of the same? Relief is among the most volatile spots on any roster, and there are few guarantees that last year's...

Nationals agree to terms with Michael Morse on multi-year contract extension

Nationals agree to terms with Michael Morse on multi-year contract extension
The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with outfielder/first baseman Michael Morse on a multi-year contract extension, thus avoiding salary arbitration. This contract was agreed upon prior to arbitration figures being exchanged and was contingent upon a since-completed physical. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Morse, 29, is a career .296 (338-for-1140) hitter with 69 doubles, 52 home runs and 183 RBIs in...

Darvish deal done, Fielder returns to front burner

Darvish deal done, Fielder returns to front burner
Yu Darvish is a Texas Ranger, agreeing to a six-year deal worth $60 million about 25 minutes ahead of the 5 p.m. Eastern time deadline for the sides to agree on a contract. The Rangers will pay a hefty price - a $51.7 million posting fee to the Nippon Ham Fighters, in addition to the terms of the contract - to secure the Japanese right-hander, while Darvish's signing will allow the rest of the free agent market to return to the business of hammering out deals for players who have been reduced...

Senators' Hot Stove Dinner slated for Feb. 4

Senators' Hot Stove Dinner slated for Feb. 4
The Double-A Harrisburg Senators recently added former Washington Senators great Frank Howard to their guest list for their second annual Hot Stove Dinner, which is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4. More from the Senators' press release: The dinner will be at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel. For the second year in a row, the dinner is supporting the Harrisburg Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities (RBI) program. Here is the guest list for the event (with possiblities of more being...

Stephen Strasburg tweets he's back on the mound

Stephen Strasburg tweets he's back on the mound
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg used Twitter on Wednesday to announce he has started throwing his first bullpen sessions of 2012. "Threw first bullpen today felt great just like riding a bike!" Strasburg tweeted. This is positive news for the Nationals that their franchise arm is warming up on schedule for spring training, which begins next month in Viera, Fla. Strasburg returned last season from successful Tommy John ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow and went 1-1...

Mondry-Cohen represents Nationals in MLB Network's "Baseball IQ"

Mondry-Cohen represents Nationals in MLB Network's "Baseball IQ"
When a memo calling for representatives to test their baseball knowledge on a new game show was sent out to every major league team, it didn't take long for the Nationals to choose their guy. They needed someone with drive, someone who would compete, and of course, some knowledge on the game of baseball couldn't hurt. Enter Samuel Mondry-Cohen. Mondry-Cohen, the Nationals' baseball operations analyst, was chosen to represent the organization on MLB Network's new game show, "Baseball...

Clippard, Nats agree on one-year deal, avoiding arbitration (updated)

Clippard, Nats agree on one-year deal, avoiding arbitration (updated)
The Nationals have just announced that they've agreed to a one-year deal with right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard, leaving only two unsigned, arbitration-eligible players: outfielder/first baseman Michael Morse and left-hander John Lannan. Clippard appeared to be a candidate for a long-term extension after earning his first All-Star Game nod and going 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA and a franchise-record 38 holds in 72 games last season. He struck out 104, second-most in the National League behind...

What if ... the Nationals hadn't signed Jayson Werth?

What if ... the Nationals hadn't signed Jayson Werth?
The beauty of "What If?" Wednesdays is that we can either go deep into the past or delve into the not-so-distant, er, distance. Regardless of when the space/time continuum is disturbed - just recently or long-term - there are always potential ramifications to be pored over and pondered, discussed and dissected. Today, we set the way-back machine for just over a year ago, Dec. 5, 2010, to be exact, with a destination for Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (better known to casual observers as the site of...

Nats get some prime time treatment on ESPN in 2012

Nats get some prime time treatment on ESPN in 2012
Don't look now, but the Nationals' national profile - at least in the eyes of those people responsible for putting together nationally televised baseball schedules- is on the rise. ESPN released its preliminary 2012 "Sunday Night Baseball" schedule this morning and the slate includes two games involving the Nationals. The Phillies' visit to Nationals Park on Sunday, May 6 will air in prime time, as will the Nats' game at Turner Field in Atlanta on Sunday, May 27. It's possible the...

Nationals swap salary figures with Morse, Lannan (plus Gonzalez contract details)

Nationals swap salary figures with Morse, Lannan (plus Gonzalez contract details)
The Nationals and their remaining two arbitration-eligible players - left-hander John Lannan and outfielder/first baseman Michael Morse - have exchanged salary figures in preparation for arbitration hearings which will be scheduled during February in St. Petersburg, Fla. This is the next step in the arbitration process and doesn't preclude the parties from reaching an amicable settlement right up until the third-party arbitrator rules for one side or the other. In any case, the Nationals...

How Bryce Harper is dealing with success and failure

How Bryce Harper is dealing with success and failure
Triple-A Syracuse manager Tony Beasley said outfielder Bryce Harper has made excellent progress on and off the field in his first year in professional baseball and is learning what every minor league player learns at this level: how to deal with success and failure. Beasley skippered the Nationals' No. 1 prospect from July 4 until the end of the season at Double-A Harrisburg and may see Harper soon in his new job as Syracuse's manager. The 19-year old Harper certainly did not disappoint...