Spring training starts today.......

[vasprtsfn]

Just wanted to say HAPPY SPRING TRAINING OPENING DAY!!!!!!!
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edit: Hi everyone. This will the official Spring Training thread since we already have a start on it. Its been made a sticky thread so it'll be at the top of the forum through ST. Post your ST stuff here.

Thanks for letting me butt in here.

Bob

[Ryan25Zimmerman]

I still can't wait to see what happens with Soriano, who becomes our starting CF, and what the overall mood of the team is. LETS GO NATS!

[KingJ]

That offseason went by quickly.

If we are going to win some games, it is definitely going to be on the shoulder of the guys that arrived first at Spring Training: Ryan Church, Ryan Zimmerman, Ramon Ortiz, Felix Rodriguez, Gary Majewski, Luis Ayala, and Chad Cordero.

Church is getting overwhelming support for the CF job by plenty of Nats fans on blogs, forums, and on the Nationals.com online poll who don't believe in the Watson hype and Byrd's aging abilities

Zimmerman already is a proven defensive 3B, but needs to prove his bat. The Dutch hit .397 in September, but Guzman also hit around there in September, too, which leaves his projections anywhere between the next Michael Young and the next Pokey Reese.

Ortiz's stats show him to be an unreliable, high ERA pitcher, but I see him as the next Esteban Loaiza in waiting. Guy is a workhorse able to start 34 games, pitch 200 innings, and have a 3.50 ERA. He just hasn't been able to accomplish it pitching most of his career in the American League with the Angels and in Cincy which is known for its hitter friendly park.

If Ortiz is going to be this year's Loaiza, Rodriguez will likely be this year's Carrasco. Rodriguez is in the same boat as was Carrasco last year: high ERAs, low IP, but good K-BB ratio that good spark into something great. St. Claire lighted a fire last year with Hector and with Wetteland as his trusty sidekick, Felix could become another 90-inning 1.50 ERA forest fire behind our rotation.

Majewski and Ayala combined 159 IP last year (+/- 79 IP each) to become best setup duo in the majors with 86 of those innings coming from Majewski. I think we need to see the same 160 IP from the two, but with the majority going to Ayala instead who I see as the more all around better pitcher.

Cordero needs to get more help from the offense and rest of pen if he wants to thrive. He pitched in 74 games last year which is too much to ask for from a guy who was tailored since high school to only be a closer. From here on out: make sure Cordero only gets as 40 save ops next year (offense) and only has to pitch in save ops (rest of pen).

Also, I pray that Bill Bray and Jay Bergmann can continue their stamina development in the minors. Majewski could bring in a good-sized/big name player from a reliever needy team (Arizona, Boston, TB, Texas, Cincy) in July which leaves Rodriguez/Stanton as the short term duo replacements and Bray/Bergmann the long term.

[KingJ]

Patterson has a new look at camp and I like it. I think the facial hair will make him look more dangerous on the mound:

[Bob Hannah]

Patterson is supposed to have worked on the change up Randy St. Clair taught to Carrasco last year. If he gets that pitch down pat he'll be dangerous this season.

[KingJ]

Originally Posted by Bob Hannah

Patterson is supposed to have worked on the change up Randy St. Clair taught to Carrasco last year. If he gets that pitch down pat he'll be dangerous this season.

St. Claire needs to teach that change up to every pitcher we ever invite to spring training. Nothing like having 30 super pitchers available as trade bait each season.

[KingJ]

Chad Bowden, 12, the son of Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden, catches a ball during practice at the team's Major League Baseball spring training facility, Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, in Viera, Fla.

Bowden even gave his own kid a spring training invite.

[Ryan25Zimmerman]

Originally Posted by KingJ

Chad Bowden, 12, the son of Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden, catches a ball during practice at the team's Major League Baseball spring training facility, Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, in Viera, Fla.

Bowden even gave his own kid a spring training invite.

Looks like his kid has a better glove hand then Guzman

[KingJ]

In a completely unexpected move, catcher Erick San Pedro replaced the departed Jamey Carroll on the 40 man. Pedro was the 2nd round pick of the Expos in 2004 and has a career .151 minor league BA with A Savannah and A Potomac.

However, BaseballAmerica.com does call San Pedro the Nats best defensive catcher.

[eddiejc1]

Originally Posted by Ryan25Zimmerman

Looks like his kid has a better glove hand then Guzman

He could have a better bat, too!

Eddie Cunningham

[Ryan25Zimmerman]

Originally Posted by KingJ

In a completely unexpected move, catcher Erick San Pedro replaced the departed Jamey Carroll on the 40 man. Pedro was the 2nd round pick of the Expos in 2004 and has a career .151 minor league BA with A Savannah and A Potomac.

However, BaseballAmerica.com does call San Pedro the Nats best defensive catcher.

WHAT!!! I've always been told that Schneider is probably the best defensive catcher in the NL if not the entire MLB. But even if Pedro was the best defensive catcher in the world, nothing makes up for that BA.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Schneider is good, but I still think Matheny is somewhat (0.1%) better than Schneider. Schnieder rules when he catches would-be basestealers.

[KingJ]

Originally Posted by Ryan25Zimmerman

WHAT!!! I've always been told that Schneider is probably the best defensive catcher in the NL if not the entire MLB. But even if Pedro was the best defensive catcher in the world, nothing makes up for that BA.

Sorry. I meant to say San Pedro was the best defensive catcher in the Nats minor league system.

[Ryan25Zimmerman]

Originally Posted by KingJ

Sorry. I meant to say San Pedro was the best defensive catcher in the Nats minor league system.

Oh ok, now it makes sense.

[Bob Hannah]

Some links to keep you updated on ST at Viera. Post your own. Try not to repeat. Enjoy.

Livan's Knee: Crazy, from the Washington Post.

Reliever, Catchers, Basestealing and Injuries from the Washington Post.

Nats Up Sosa Ante (Sammy Says "No" ) from nationals.com

Jimbo's Own Pen from The Examiner

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Originally Posted by Dave Sheinin

His right knee was so messed up last season, Livan Hernandez said Monday, it had to be drained of fluid every three starts. He would pitch for the Washington Nationals one night, no doubt going seven or eight innings and resisting any attempt to pry the ball out of his hand, then wake up the next morning barely able to walk

Whoa!! Lets hope nothing serious happens

[KingJ]

Behold, the first sightings of our new bullpen coach and former closer, John Wetteland chatting with Gary Majewski:

[KingJ]

And a picture of our team's most valuable Guzman:

[Ryan25Zimmerman]

Originally Posted by KingJ

And a picture of our team's most valuable Guzman:

Well, I just read an article and it made this point. The team was 70-63 with guzman in the lineup

[KingJ]

My thoughts about Guzman this season can be expressed pretty well in this blog: http://nats3play.blogspot.com/2006/02/guzmania.html

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Originally Posted by KingJ

Behold, the first sightings of our new bullpen coach and former closer, John Wetteland chatting with Gary Majewski:

John Wetteland...a personal favorite...good luck!

[KingJ]

Good news: After doing some extra work, Jose Guillen was 100% at batting practice today according to Ladson. He also said he will now be ready to play as soon as the Mets v. Nats exhibition game on March 15. THANK GOD Sosa rejected us so we only have one right fielder now.

Then again, this could also turn out like Vidro's claims of years past that he was 100%. I guess that is why we have Michael Tucker... I think...

[KingJ]

Reading the blogs today, I have some unconfirmed bad news: Lawrence's shoulder has apparently gotten worse and he will have to have surgery that will put him out until August.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Alfonso Soriano will not play in the first two ST Nationals games because he is going to participate in the WBC.

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/...=.jsp&c_id=was

Nats notes:

Originally Posted by Nationals.com

VIERA, Fla. -- Second baseman Alfonso Soriano has been working hard with the Nationals and getting ready for the World Baseball Classic, but according to a baseball source, he will not start Washington's first two games of the exhibition season before going to Kissimmee, Fla., to work out with the Dominican Republic team.
The Nationals play their first two games against the Kia Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates, respectively, and that means that Marlon Byrd, Ryan Church and Brandon Watson most likely will get the starting nods in the outfield, while Jose Vidro will play second base.

During Monday's workout, Soriano was playing center field and didn't have any problems with his glove and range.

"He looked good in [center field] during [batting practice] today," said one person who saw him play.

The Nationals want Soriano to play every day in the outfield, but he has repeatedly said that he wants to play second base. In fact, Soriano is playing in the World Baseball Classic as a second baseman.

Once Soriano comes back, Washington will then determine its next course of action.

The rotation: John Patterson is scheduled to pitch in the first game against Kia at Space Coast Stadium on Wednesday, while Ramon Ortiz and Tony Armas Jr. will throw against the Pirates on Thursday and Friday, respectively. John Rauch and Billy Traber will throw in the split-squad games on Saturday.

The Nationals want Armas to pitch in a Spring Training game before he represents Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

Ace Livan Hernandez, who is coming off knee surgery, is expected to pitch against the Marlins on March 9.

Going away: After having a successful bullpen session on Monday afternoon, reliever Luis Ayala said that he is going to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. There were some doubts that Ayala would play in the tournament because of a sore right elbow he suffered last week.

"This is my country," Ayala said. "I played for Mexico in different tournaments. I even went to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 1986. I feel great. I want to play for my team in any situation."

A new man: General manager Jim Bowden said that left-hander Michael Hinckley looks to be a better pitcher than what he saw last Spring Training.

"He looks good, totally different guy -- different mechanics, different arm action. I didn't recognize him," Bowden said.

Around the horn: Bowden said that trade rumors involving Nick Johnson, Church and Soriano are not true. A published report had Bowden talking to the Red Sox about right-hander Bronson Arroyo for those players. ... The Nationals decided not to go after Red Sox left-hander David Wells, believing that he isn't healthy enough. ... Outfielder Christian Guerrero, the cousin of Vladimir Guerrero, had to leave the Nationals because of a family tragedy. Three members of his family were killed in a car crash. ... Catcher Wiki Gonzalez is not in camp because his wife is having a baby. ... Hernandez had his dog, "Blue," in the clubhouse. The dog is a malamute. It was the second animal spotted in the Nationals clubhouse this spring. During the first day of camp, Robert Fick had his kitten, Paul Wall, roaming around in the clubhouse.

[Ryan25Zimmerman]

WE WIN WE WIN!!!

NATIONALS 13, Kia Tigers 8
at Viera, Fla.
Wednesday, March 1

Nationals at the plate: Matt LeCroy drove in three runs with a bases-clearing single, while Cristian Guzman went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Brandon Watson, in the running for the center-field job, went hitless in four at-bats. Ryan Church went 2-for-3 with an RBI. The Nationals scored at least one run in each of the first five innings. Alex Escobar hit the only home run of the game, a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Tigers at the plate: Outfielder Jae-Loo Lee drove in two runs against John Patterson, while third baseman Michael Cervenak, the only American on the team, drove in two runs as well.

Nationals on the mound: Patterson gave up two runs in one inning. He was supposed to pitch two innings, but he already passed his 35-pitch limit. Closer Chad Cordero, coming into the game in the fifth inning, gave up four runs, three earned, in one-third of an inning.

Tigers on the mound: Starter Sang Hwa Lee pitched two innings and surrendered five runs, two earned, on four hits. He threw 40 pitches, 28 of them for strikes. Reliever Jeong-Cheol Gwak pitched one inning and gave up three runs.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 1-1; Nationals 1-0.

Up next: The Nationals return to Space Coast Stadium to play the Pirates on Friday. Right-hander Ramon Ortiz, making his Nationals debut, will start the game, while Kyle Denney, Steve Watkins, Kevin Gryboski and Valerio De Los Santos will pitch in relief.