Author Archive
Eckstein on Harper: ‘At a loss for words’
Nationals hitting coach Rick Eckstein was at a loss for words when it came to describing left fielder Bryce Harper, who hit two home runs in a 2-0 victory over the Marlins.
During Spring Training, Harper, 20, was clearly the Nationals’ best player, hitting .478 with three home runs and 15 RBIs.
“You see what I see. It’s incredible,” Eckstein said. “This young man has really shown us what he is capable of doing. I think he has learned more about what he is capable of doing. He has learned about who he is on the baseball field, his demeanor, the way he carries himself, the way he interacts with his teammates. Today was just him expressing his talents. He is an amazing young man. I really don’t know how to put it into words.”
Eckstein declined to put numbers on Harper, but expects him to be a major player on the team in 2013.
“Bryce has put more pressure on himself than anybody else can put on him. He shows up every day with a passion to be the best not only what he could be, but the best that has ever played.”
Nats’ Soriano picks up first save of season
Nationals closer Rafael Soriano was not productive during Spring Training, going 1-1 with an 8.10 ERA. But, during Monday’s 2-0 victory over the Marlins, one would have never thought that Soriano had a poor spring.
In fact, he looked like that guy who saved 42 games for the Yankees last year. He pitched one shutout inning, picked up two strikeouts and his first save as a member of the Nationals. After he struck out Giancarlo Stanton to end the game, Soriano untucked his jersey to indicate that the game was over and it waas time to go home.
“Obviously, Spring Training is overrated, but he certainly turned it up a notch and made nothing but quality pitches. He was outstanding,” manager Davey Johnson said about Soriano.
Teammate Tyler Clippard wasn’t surprised that Soriano produced after the regular season started.
“He was always a guy that shines when the lights came on,” Clippard said. “I think we all realize that. In Spring Training, he is a veteran guy. He knew what he needed to do to get ready and he was ready.”
Rival Q&A: Giancarlo Stanton
Since he entered the Major Leagues in 2011, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton has had plenty of success against the Nationals, hitting .341 with 14 home runs and 32 RBIs. MLB.com caught up with Stanton recently to talk about his performances against the Nationals.
MLB.com: Ever since you came into the league, your biggest success has come against the Nationals. How do you explain it?
Giancarlo Stanton: You can’t attest it to anything specific. They have one of the best pitching staffs in the league. There is nothing I can say that clicks against them. It’s just one of those things.
MLB.com: Most of your success has come at Nationals Park.
Stanton: It has a great backdrop. You can see the ball pretty well out here. There isn’t anything special other than that.
MLB.com: On Twitter, I call you the living legend because of what you do against the Nationals. When you hear that, what do you think?
Stanton: Thank you. That’s cool. You have to take it for what it’s worth knowing there are other great players. I’ll keep pushing forward and play.
MLB.com: The Marlins didn’t play badly during Spring Training. How do you think they will do this season?
Stanton: The spring is completely different from what we are about to go through now. I’ll take the energy from spring and hope to put it together [for this season]. We are going to have adversity and we are going to have great competition. We have to step up.
It’s all up in the air. We have to put it together. We’ll be fine. It could go either way. It’s one of those things where we have the tools to do it. So we have to surprise some people. It’s how long those tools are going to stay sharp, or are we going to go out?
MLB.com: Bryce Harper once tweeted that he wouldn’t mind having you as a teammate. He said this after you were upset about the Marlins being dismantled during the offseason. What was your reaction to Harper’s comments?
Stanton: It was cool. We would all love to play together. Us in the same lineup would be ridiculous. It was all in good pleasure, all fun.
MLB.com: A lot of fans would love to see you play in DC because of your success at Nationals Park. How good is it to know that the fans in DC respect you?
Stanton: It’s good. When fans who are not from your city respect the way you play and know the type of player that you are, it’s such a good feeling.
MLB.com: What kind of season do you think you will have?
Stanton: I have to be locked in. Everybody says that every year. I say more so this year because … there is not added pressure, but obviously more people are looking to me this year than in previous years. I don’t need to live up to anybody’s expectations. That’s not my focus. I need to live up to what I’m capable of. That’s one day at a time, that’s one at-bat at a time.
Nats’ Garcia to start throwing program
Nationals right-hander Christian Garcia received good news on Sunday. The team doctors cleared him to start playing catch and he threw on flat ground from 45 feet that same day. On Monday, he threw from 60 feet.
“It went really well. I couldn’t have done any better,” Garcia said. “The ball came out of my hand well.”
Garcia, who is on the disabled list because of a right forearm tendon injury, will stay with the Nationals until they go to Cincinnati on Thursday evening. He will then start his throwing program in Viera, Fla.
Garcia still doesn’t know if he is going to be a starter or reliever. Manager Davey Johnson has made it known that he would like Garcia to be a starter.
“I have no idea. Right now, we are trying to get back into the throwing program,” Garcia said. “It’s about staying healthy and getting on the mound again.
Garcia didn’t pitch in a Grapefruit League game after feeling pain in his forearm during the team’s first workout in February. He felt the cold weather played a role in his discomfort.
Nats’ 25-man roster set
The Nationals re-assigned left-hander J.C. Romero to minor league camp on Sunday. With this move, the Nationals’ 25-Man Roster is set. See the roster below:
PITCHERS
LHP Ross Detwiler
LHP Zach Duke
LHP Gio Gonzalez
RHP Tyler Clippard
RHP Dan Haren
RHP Ryan Mattheus
RHP Henry Rodriguez
RHP Rafael Soriano
RHP Craig Stammen
RHP Drew Storen
RHP Stephen Strasburg
RHP Jordan Zimmermann
Catchers
Wilson Ramos
Kurt Suzuki
INFIELDERS
Ian Desmond
Danny Espinosa (S)
Adam LaRoche (L)
Steve Lombardozzi (S)
Chad Tracy (L)
Ryan Zimmerman
OUTFIELDERS
Roger Bernadina (L)
Bryce Harper (L
Tyler Moore
Denard Span (L)
Jayson Werth
Opening Day lineups for Marlins, Nationals
Here are the Opening Day lineups for the Marlins and Nationals.
Marlins
Juan Pierre — LF
Chris Coghlan–CF
Giancarlo Stanton– RF
Placido Polanco–3B
Rob Brantly–C
Donovan Solano — 2B
Casey Kotchman–1B
Adeiny Hechavarria — SS
Ricky Nolasco — RHP
Nationals
Denard Span–CF
Jayson Werth–RF
Bryce Harper –LF
Ryan Zimmerman–3B
Adam LaRoche –1B
Ian Desmond – SS
Danny Espinosa –2B
Wilson Ramos — C
Stephen Strasburg–RHP
Nats’ Ramos named Opening Day catcher
Moments after the Nationals lost to the Yankees, 4-2, Nationals manager Davey Johnson announced that Wilson Ramos will be the Opening Day catcher against the Marlins on Monday. However, Ramos will alternate behind the plate with Kurt Suzuki, who will start against Florida on Wednesday. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez will pitch that day.
Ramos recovered from a devastating right knee injury and had a great exhibition season, hitting .333 with two home runs and five RBIs. He also played solid defense behind the plate. Johnson told Ramos the good news during batting practice.
“With the progress he has made — … [Ramos] had been out all year and rehabbing hard. He has looked great all spring behind the dish and he has bounced around better than I’ve seen him in the years I’ve been here,” Johnson said. “I look at both Ramos and Suzuki as No. 1 catchers.”
According to Ramos, he worked hard to get his right knee back in shape within 10 months. He hurt the knee last May against the Reds.
“Now I’m here 100 percent. That’s the most important thing for me and the team,” Ramos said.
Ramos is OK with alternating behind the plate with Suzuki. In fact, Ramos said expects to learn a lot from six-year veteran.
“I know he can teach me a lot. He has more experience than me at this level,” Ramos said. “I have a lot of things to learn from him. … It feels great that I’m working with him. We have to talk a lot about the pitching staff. We have a young pitching staff, so we need to work hard this year. We have to talk to each other and get to work.”
Nats’ Rodriguez put on 25-man roster
After his team lost to the Yankees, 4-2, at Nationals Park on Friday afternoon, Nationals manager Davey Johnson announced that reliever Henry Rodriguez was put on the 25-man roster, which meant that left-hander J.C. Romero will start the season with Triple A Syracuse.
Rodriguez pitched one inning in Friday’s game against the Yankees and didn’t allow a run in the sixth inning. He was able to get two quick outs, but then walked Brett Gardner. However, Ichiro Suzuki ended the inning by grounding out to second baseman Danny Espinosa.
“I told you he would come around,” Johnson said about Rodriguez. “He didn’t have much of a spring and [didn’t play Winter Ball].”
Earlier this week, Johnson announced that Rodriguez was experiencing right elbow soreness, but Rodriguez was back on the mound on Monday and Wednesday and pitched a combined two shutout innings. He struck out three batters and walked three others. According to Johnson, Rodriguez’s fastball was clocked as high as 98 mph.
Rodriguez missed the postseason last year after having bone spurs removed from his right elbow. This spring, Rodriguez didn’t play in his first Grapefruit League game until March 8 because of forearm tightness.
“He is still a great talent,” Johnson said. “I’m not anywhere close to giving up on Henry. It was probably the first time in his life that he had his arm operated on. Also, he didn’t pitch half of last year and didn’t have any winter ball. We couldn’t get him on the mound [this spring] because of medical restrictions. He has not been afforded the opportunity like everybody else in the bullpen. He has had a short spring.”
Harrisburg has awesome roster
Look at this roster for Double A Harrisburg. It’s awesome. Manager Matt LeCroy has a lot to work with this year.
Pitchers
Aaron Barrett
Brian Broderick
Caleb Clay
Paul Demny
Marcos Frias
Trevor Holder
Neil Holland
Nathan Karns
Ian Krol
Pat Lehman
Matt Swynenberg
Blake Treinen
Rob Wort
Catchers
Jeff Howell
Sandy Leon
Kris Watts
Infielders
Rick Hague
Josh Johnson
Joe Lozada
Sean Nicol
Anthony Rendon
Matt Skole
Outfielders
Justin Bloxom
Brian Goodwin
Destin Hood
Steven Souza
Nats need to make one more roster move
The Nationals currently have 26 players on the Spring Training roster, and manager Davey Johnson said the final cut will come after the team’s game against the Yankees at Nationals Park on Friday afternoon.
The Nationals have to make a decision between right-hander Henry Rodriguez and lefty J.C. Romero. Rodriguez is expected to pitch on Friday, and this outing could determine if he makes the team. He could also land on the disabled list to start the season.
Earlier this week, Johnson announced that Rodriguez was experiencing right elbow soreness, but Rodriguez was back on the mound on Monday and Wednesday and pitched a combined two shutout innings. He struck out three batters and walked three others. According to Johnson, Rodriguez’s fastball was clocked as high as 98 mph.
Rodriguez missed the postseason last year after having bone spurs removed from his right elbow. This spring, Rodriguez didn’t play in his first Grapefruit League game until March 8 because of forearm tightness.
“He is still a great talent,” Johnson said. “I’m not anywhere close to giving up on Henry. It was probably the first time in his life that he had his arm operated on. Also, he didn’t pitch half of last year and didn’t have any winter ball. We couldn’t get him on the mound [this spring] because of medical restrictions. He has not been afforded the opportunity like everybody else in the bullpen. He has had a short spring.”
If Romero makes the club, he will be one of two lefties out of the bullpen. He was signed to a Minor League deal last Friday, and he looks like he is in midseason form after pitching for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. He has pitched two shutout innings for Washington.
If Romero doesn’t make the team, he will start the season for Triple-A Syracuse.
The Rocket
Recent Comments