Results tagged ‘ Adam LaRoche ’
LaRoche to get second opinion on shoulder
Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche was not in Sunday’s lineup against the Orioles because of an ailing left shoulder. In fact, LaRoche plans to get a second opinion Monday to make sure that everything is OK with the shoulder.
During Spring Training, LaRoche was diagnosed with a torn labrum and is beginning to feel that the shoulder is hurting his swing. In 43 games, LaRoche is hitting .172 with three home runs and 15 RBIs.
While his shoulder doesn’t hurt when he swings the bat, LaRoche feels his shoulder is weak and the reason he cannot generate any power. The only time his shoulder hurts is when he throws the baseball. LaRoche has been told in the past that he could play the entire season with the injury.
“It has been frustrating for me,” LaRoche said. “It has been kind of a nagging thing. It doesn’t necessarily hurt when I swing , but I [leaning toward thinking that it is hurting my swing]. I got to think something is going on. Maybe not. I’ll be able to give it a day and rest it a little more. I’ll get another opinion and see if there is anything new.”
While he is having a subpar year at the plate, LaRoche is clearly the best defensive first baseman the Nationals ever had. His great range and scoops on throws are two reasons the club ranks eighth in the National League in defense.
However, LaRoche wonders if he is hurting the team by continuing to play with the sore shoulder.
“At some point, I have to weigh it to myself and say, ‘Am I doing more harm than good if I’m not right at the plate? If it’s mechanics or a slump, I know I can handle it because I know I can come out of it,” LaRoche said. “But when I go this long and have the same results, … I’m not helping us like I should be offensively.
“Defensively, I’m helping. I love saving these guys runs. Best case scenario, we get it ironed out real quick, get back out there and put this in the past.”
In LaRoche’s absence, Michael Morse is playing first base against the Orioles.
LaRoche, Nix support Nats’ Eckstein
Entering Friday’s action against the Orioles, the Nationals have a .223 batting average, the worst in the Major Leagues.
After Washington’s 1-0 loss to the Mets on Thursday afternoon, general manager Mike Rizzo ordered hitting coach Rick Eckstein not to talk to the media to help explain what’s going wrong with the offense. Rizzo declined to say why he made directive.
But first baseman Adam LaRoche and outfielder Laynce Nix said that Eckstein is not to blame for the season-long slump.
“It’s not easy for him at all. It might be harder on him than it is an individual hitter,” said LaRoche, who is hitting .172 for the season. “The entire team feels responsible. He has done everything he could possibility do to get guys on track. He spends more time watching video. He goes in the batter’s box to just to mimic player’s swings just to get a feeling in the batter’s box.”
Nix, who is the only position player who is hitting over .300 for the Nationals, said Eckstein is a positive person when he teaches the art of hitting.
“We are having a hard time putting hits together, getting guys on base or doing a lot of things right,” Nix said. “It’s pretty simple: We have to make our own breaks and not depend on luck. We feel for Eck and he feels a lot of heat, but we believe in him and he believes in us. Everybody is working hard. We will be out of this [slump] soon.”
LaRoche doing job on defense
Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche is off to a slow start with the bat, hitting .188 with three home runs and 15 RBIs. However, the offense hasn’t carried over into his defense, which the best the team has ever had at the position since it moved to Washington after the 2004 season.
In fact, his defense helped the Nationals in the late innings during their 8-4 victory over the Marlins at Nationals Park on Sunday afternoon.
In the eighth inning, with Tyler Clippard on the mound, the Marlins had a runner on first, when Logan Morrison lined out to LaRoche, who doubled off Gaby Sanchez at first base to end the threat.
An inning later, with Brett Hayes on first, Chris Coghlan hit groundball to LaRoche, who had to go far to his right before making a strong throw to reliever Cole Kimball to get Coghlan for the second out of the inning.
“I’m one of those fellows that needs to do something productive. It’s not working at the plate right now,” LaRoche said. “Luckily, the defense has been there and I’ve been able to help these guys out a little bit.”
LaRoche is playing with a small tear in his left rotator cuff and insisted that the injury has nothing to do with his lack of hitting.
“It doesn’t hurt to swing. I feel it throwing a little bit. I can’t say [the injury is the reason for the lack of offense].”
Talks progressing between Nationals, LaRoche
Talks between the Nationals and free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche are “progressing,” according to a baseball source. The negotiations are expected to continue sometime on Monday.
The source said the two parties are not far apart when it comes to getting a deal done.
It was revealed on New Year’s Eve that the Nationals have offered LaRoche a two-year deal. Terms of the offer were not disclosed.
Phone messages to LaRoche and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo were not returned.
The Nationals have been looking for a first baseman ever since they allowed slugger Adam Dunn to become a free agent. LaRoche, 31, brings consistency with the bat and glove. He is coming off the best season of his career, hitting .261 with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs for the D-backs. He is also an above-average defensive first baseman. This offseason, the Nationals have put an emphasis on defense, which has been below average the last three years.
If he signs with the Nationals, LaRoche will be reunited with center fielder Nyjer Morgan and reliever Sean Burnett. They were teammates for two-plus seasons from 2007 to 2009 in the Pirates organization.
In early December, LaRoche told MLB.com that he had interest in playing for the Nationals.
“If we come on the same page, I would definitely have interest in playing for them,” LaRoche said back then.
LaRoche said he believes the Nationals are going in the right direction after signing outfielder Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million contract.
“I think it shows how serious the Nationals are about getting the organization back on track and become a contender in the National League East,” LaRoche said. “They are probably tired of watching other teams [spend money and winning]. With the ballpark [Nationals Park] and a little money to spend, they are looking to start over.”
LaRoche has played in the big leagues for seven seasons. He is best known for playing with the Braves, but he has also spent time with the Red Sox. During those seven years, LaRoche is a .271 career hitter with 161 home runs and 569 RBIs.
LaRoche comes from a baseball family. His father, Dave, was a solid relief pitcher for the Angels, Yankees and Indians in the 1970s and ’80s, while his brother, Andy, played third base for the Pirates the last three years before becoming a free agent.
Nationals offer LaRoche two-year deal
After missing out on Derrek Lee, who agreed to terms with the Orioles, the Nationals continue to search for a first baseman. According to a baseball source, they have offered Adam LaRoche a two-year deal.
Terms of the offer were not disclosed. The source said getting a deal done “has been a slow process.” Published reports indicated that LaRoche would like a three-year deal, but Washington is not willing to a go to a third year.
Phone messages to LaRoche and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo were not returned.
LaRoche is a player whom the Nats have had their eyes on for several months. He is a solid defensive first baseman and is coming off the best season of his career, hitting .261 with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs for the D-backs.
In early December, LaRoche told MLB.com that he had interest in playing for the Nationals.
“If we come on the same page, I would definitely have interest in playing for them,” LaRoche said back then.
LaRoche said he believes the Nationals are going in the right direction after signing outfielder Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million contract.
“I think it shows how serious the Nationals are about getting the organization back on track and become a contender in the National League East,” LaRoche said. “They are probably tired of watching other teams [spend money and winning]. With the ballpark [Nationals Park] and a little money to spend, they are looking to start over.”
LaRoche has played in the big leagues for seven seasons. He is best known for playing with the Braves, but he has also spent time with the Red Sox and Pirates. During those seven years, LaRoche has a .271 career hitter with 161 home runs and 569 RBIs.
If they are unable to sign LaRoche, the Nationals will consider Casey Kotchman, an above average defensive first baseman, but limited with the bat.
This season, Kotchman played for the Mariners and hit .217 with nine home runs and 51 RBIs. He is best known for his years with the Angels. In 2007, he hit .296 with 11 home runs and 68 RBIs.
During his seven-year career, Kotchman has made nine errors in 4,875 chances.
LaRoche has interest in playing for Nationals
Free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche said Monday that he has interest in playing for the Nationals and his representative is expected to meet with the club in the next couple of days.
LaRoche is a player that Nationals have had their eyes on for several months. He is a solid defensive first baseman and is coming off the best season of his career, hitting .261 with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs for the D-backs.
“In the next few days we are going to start some conversations with the Nationals,” LaRoche said via phone. “If we come on the same page, I would definitely have interest in playing for them.”
LaRoche believes the Nationals are headed in the right direction after they agreed to terms with outfielder Jayson Werth on a seven-year, $126 million contract on Sunday.
“I think it shows how serious the Nationals are about getting the organization back on track and becoming a contender in the National League East,” LaRoche said. “They are probably tired of watching other teams [spend money and winning]. With the ballpark [Nationals Park] and a little money to spend, they are looking to start over.”
LaRoche has played in the big leagues for seven seasons. He is best known for playing with the Braves, but he has also spent time with the Red Sox and Pirates. During those seven years, LaRoche has a .271 career batting average with 161 home runs and 569 RBIs.
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