Ramos sets healthy goals

VIERA, Fla. - This Nationals roster is facing more expectations than questions heading into the season. But the ability to stay healthy is one issue that's concerning for this team, considering several key players have missed extended time in recent years.

Catcher Wilson Ramos is one of those players who's struggled with injuries. In 2012, a knee injury limited him to only 24 games behind the plate. Multiple hamstring injuries allowed him to call just 77 games in 2013. Last season, it was a broken hamate bone and more hamstring issues restricting him to 87 games. In 2011, Ramos was able to catch in a career-high 108 games, completing 103 of them. Standing in the Space Coast Stadium clubhouse on Thursday, the 27-year-old explained he's set goals far exceeding his frustrating past.

"For me, I think this is the year to do that," he said. "I work for that. I work to catch 120-130 games. That's my goal for this year."

Ramos spent much of the offseason getting healthy and training in his home country of Venezuela. He changed his plan and it's left him with a positive approach to this season.

"I'm working with my legs a lot," Ramos said. "The last three years, I had problems with my leg. But this year, the offseason, I worked a lot with my legs. I was really working on my agility. This year, I feel 100 percent. I feel like I'm running without problems. When I feel 100 percent when I'm running in the field, that's when I don't have any problems behind the plate. I ran 100 percent down in my country, and it feels great."

The Nats need Ramos' bat in their lineup. If he can reach the games played goals he's set this season, he has the potential to hit 20 home runs and drive in 65-plus runs. His .269 career batting average is more than respectable for a catcher.

Beyond his bat, this star-studded pitching staff needs Ramos behind the plate. Like most, Ramos was surprised when he heard Max Scherzer had signed with his ballclub.

"I saw that on Twitter the first time, and I read the news and I felt excited," said Ramos. "I know that guy will help the team. We've got a really good rotation. With this guy, it feels really good to have the best rotation in baseball."

The five-year veteran says he'll let Scherzer call a game this spring to learn his tendencies.

"I tried to do the same with (Rafael) Soriano when he was new to this team," he said. "Spring training is for knowing those guys. So this spring, I will work on knowing how he likes to pitch, to try to be on the same page for the season. I will try to do that in spring training, try to learn how he likes to throw, try to put those things on the field during the season."

It's clear to see how frustrating injuries have been for Ramos especially when you listen to the pride he takes in preparing for his craft.

"Every year, I'm concentrating more on my work behind the plate," said Ramos. "That's the best tool for the catcher. Hitting, you can go in the cage for like 20 minutes and you can work on everything you want to work. Behind the plate, it's too much time and learning what those guys want to hit, what they want to throw. You have to think quick.

"I feel like I have a quick mind. I remember those hitters a lot. I'm a catcher. I saw those guys pretty close to me, every game, every day. I know what they like, what they want to hit. That's the plan. The pitcher has another plan. They know what they want to throw. And I know what I want to call."

Ramos said he feels no pressure catching a talented staff full of so many expectations.

"Last year was a great year for us. We had a great rotation," he said. "This is another year. We have to try to work, try to do everything right and see what happens."