Quick hits from Williams' session with reporters (with video)
By Dan Kolko
SAN DIEGO - Nationals manager Matt Williams just met with local reporters for nearly a half-hour, and while I don't have the time to pass along a full notebook from his session, here are some quick hits before I run off to take part in Mike Rizzo's nightly meeting with the media.
* Williams understands the situation that Rizzo is in this winter when it comes to the crop of players that are set to become free agents in 2015, and he acknowledges that the Nats are listening to offers on Jordan Zimmermann. But ideally, Williams says he'd like to have Zimmermann back in his rotation next season.
"I love him on our team," Williams said. "I love to give him the ball every fifth day. And I hope that I get a chance to do that for a long time to come. But it is the business of the game, and you have to deal with it."
* Williams sees himself using Jayson Werth in left field some next year, with Bryce Harper playing some right. Werth hasn't played left in his four years in D.C., but that's a spot he could see time at in 2015. "I think we can do some of that, yeah," Williams said.
* Danny Espinosa has experimented some with hitting right-handed against right-handed pitching, Williams says, and that's something that will continue in spring. Espinosa has much better splits from the right side of the plate, but it's a process having to learn how to face pitches that move away from you, as compared to everything always breaking toward you when you're a switch-hitter.
Williams wasn't willing to say that Espinosa will definitely give up switch-hitting, but it sounds like he will continue to experiment with facing right-handed pitching as a right-handed hitter this spring, when he can get extended reps.
* Williams noted that Adam LaRoche's departure will create a major void on the roster in a number of ways, but he sees the left-handed-hitting Harper as a guy who could potentially move into the middle of the order and create more balance there. With LaRoche gone, the Nats are a more right-handed-heavy lineup, as currently constructed.
* Asked about what young players he's looking forward to seeing compete for jobs in spring, Williams mentioned Steven Souza Jr.'s name, saying that Souza has an opportunity to make the club. Williams feels Souza is ready to make that leap.
* Williams sees himself using Jayson Werth in left field some next year, with Bryce Harper playing some right. Werth hasn't played left in his four years in D.C., but that's a spot he could see time at in 2015. "I think we can do some of that, yeah," Williams said.
* Danny Espinosa has experimented some with hitting right-handed against right-handed pitching, Williams says, and that's something that will continue in spring. Espinosa has much better splits from the right side of the plate, but it's a process having to learn how to face pitches that move away from you, as compared to everything always breaking toward you when you're a switch-hitter.
Williams wasn't willing to say that Espinosa will definitely give up switch-hitting, but it sounds like he will continue to experiment with facing right-handed pitching as a right-handed hitter this spring, when he can get extended reps.
* Williams noted that Adam LaRoche's departure will create a major void on the roster in a number of ways, but he sees the left-handed-hitting Harper as a guy who could potentially move into the middle of the order and create more balance there. With LaRoche gone, the Nats are a more right-handed-heavy lineup, as currently constructed.
* Asked about what young players he's looking forward to seeing compete for jobs in spring, Williams mentioned Steven Souza Jr.'s name, saying that Souza has an opportunity to make the club. Williams feels Souza is ready to make that leap.
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