Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Notable names, absences at NatsFest

USA Today Sports Images
Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth each are scheduled to appear at NatsFest.
The majority of players off the Nationals' roster are scheduled to attend next week's NatsFest, though a couple of prominent names notably will be absent.

Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa, Dan Haren, Denard Span and Kurt Suzuki are among the 25 players listed as attendees to the event, which will be held Jan. 26 at the Washington Convention Center. (All appearances are subject to change.)

Also scheduled to attend are three players who face uncertain futures with the organization in the wake of recent acquisitions: Michael Morse, Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard. That could lead to some interesting, perhaps awkward, conversations between the players and team execs, media members and fans who will be there in person.

Notable among the list of Nationals who aren't scheduled to attend are manager Davey Johnson, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, right-hander Stephen Strasburg and first baseman Adam LaRoche.

The first two currently are halfway around the world in Africa, Johnson on vacation and Zimmerman on his honeymoon. Strasburg, meanwhile, will be hosting his annual charity 5K run in San Diego that day. No reason has been given for the expected absence of LaRoche, who just re-signed a two-year, $24 million deal with the Nationals last week.

NatsFest, which is being held at the convention center for the first time after previously taking place at Nationals Park, features autograph and photo sessions, Q&A events, interactive games and other stations. Season-ticket holders will have exclusive access from 11 a.m. - noon, with doors open to the general public from noon - 4 p.m. Full information on the event can be found here.

Here's the full list of players scheduled to attend...
OF Corey Brown
RHP Tyler Clippard
SS Ian Desmond
LHP Ross Detwiler
2B Danny Espinosa
RHP Christian Garcia
LHP Gio Gonzalez
OF Brian Goodwin
RHP Dan Haren
OF Bryce Harper
RHP Nathan Karns
INF Steve Lombardozzi
RHP Ryan Mattheus
1B/OF Tyler Moore
1B/OF Michael Morse
RHP Ryan Perry
3B Anthony Rendon
INF Will Rhymes
1B/3B Matt Skole
OF Denard Span
RHP Drew Storen
C Kurt Suzuki
1B/3B Chad Tracy
OF Jayson Werth
RHP Jordan Zimmermann

55 comments:

MicheleS said...

Now I just need to decide what Shirsey to wear.

The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes. said...

No reason has been given for the expected absence of LaRoche, who just re-signed a two-year, $24 million deal with the Nationals last week.

He's holding out for a three FanFest deal. Also, there's no ballpark security at the NatsFest and Michael Morse recently started following Tonya Harding on Twitter.

Tcostant said...

Seems like Stras avoids this thing like the plague; didn't he miss this last time because he got married just to avoid this event ;)

NatsNut said...

Your shirseys aren't jinxed are they Michele? Because then I'd request that you not wear Clippard's. Thanks.

baseballswami said...

Stras has a charity 5 k in San Diego planned way before Nats fest.

Nats1924 said...

Agreed, it seems Stras doesnt like these kind of events and prefers to stay away from the media.

I know its way too early, I think he is the most likely to bolt when he becomes a FA. Likely to a west coast team. - hope im wrong

Kathleen said...

Greetings, all. Long-time reader, first-time poster here. Thanks for all of the baseball knowledge you impart -- I have a lot to learn given that there was no team here for most of my 40+ years!

We are attending NatsFest and are wondering if you or anyone who know has 2 autograph session vouchers they'd be interested in swapping for 2 vouchers for a session at a different time? The ticket system forced us to buy 4 vouchers for the same session rather than 2 vouchers each for 2 different sessions. Our 6-year old daughter really wants to meet the Nats, so we'd love to connect with anyone who has autograph session vouchers for a time OTHER THAN the 11:15 a.m. "Session B", which is what we have. Please note that this is during the NatsFest time for season ticket holders only, so I'm assuming we'll need to swap with another season ticket holder.

Thanks very much, Kathleen

Section 222 said...

I know its way too early, I think he is the most likely to bolt when he becomes a FA. Likely to a west coast team. - hope im wrong

Dear Mr. Buzzkill,

Yeah, way too early.

Sincerely,

Nats fans

MicheleS said...

NatsNut. Nope the shirsey's aren't cursed. I have been wearing my LaRoche one all off season in hopes that he would come back. That worked.

Nats1924 said...

attn section 222

you can say stras leaving is buzzkill....sometimes a player like Stras leaving is a good thing for the Nats.

Would you want to give Stras a $150M contract? ...i'd rather set aside that money towards Harper

UnkyD said...

1924: kindly save that for your buzzkill friends, at least for a couple more years?

Section 222 said...

Would you want to give Stras a $150M contract? ...i'd rather set aside that money towards Harper

1. Stras will be a free agent after 2016.
2. Harper will be a free agent after 2018.
3. The team will make a ton of money over the next four seasons (2013-2016), hopefully contending for a WS ring every year and winning one, if not more. And they can win a few more after re-signing Stras to help pay the bill for Harper.
4. So yes, I would give Stras a $150 million contract. (By then, $150 million will probably be a bargain...)
5. And no, there is no reason to let him go in order to save money for Harper.
6. A resolution to the MASN fiasco will make everything easier.
7. The Lerners are billionaires.

Anonymous said...

LaRoche is probably busy killin' critters while camo'd. Yee Haw. LaRoche makes Kenny Powers seem like Albert Einstein.

Joe Seamhead said...

Strasburg was at both of the last two NatsFests. I was at both of them and saw him up close and personal. ALR was there the year before last, not sure about last year. Davey was there, [he autographed my Davey Johnson jersey]. MicheleS, we won't be going this year. A friend is throwing a party in my honor.Maybe Rizzo will do the Q&A this year since Davey won't be there. I don't get the LaRoche comment above 5c3cd. He's got adult ADD, but he's a very bright guy.

NatsNut said...

LOL

Section 222 said...

Dear Mr. Buzzkill,

Yeah, way too early.

Sincerely,

Nats fans

January 16, 2013 3:43 PM

NatsNut said...

Good work, Michele. You have my permission to wear a Clippard shirsey. =)

Faraz Shaikh said...

i think all fans attending fanfest should wear morse jerseys so he knows how much we care about. he then can persuade Rizzo to not trade him and stay here in reduced role for one more season.

Water23 said...

Faraz,

Although I would love to have him on the bench, it would be a career mistake for him not to ask for a trade. He is going to hit the FA market next year an needs very solid year to cash in on a multi-year contract.

NatsLady said...

Stras will be at least $200 million if he wins a Cy Young award or two and is MVP of a World Series.

Theophilus T. S. said...

Water is right. And I don't think he'll have to ask.

Gonat said...

Jon Morosi‏@jonmorosi

#Mariners close to acquiring Mike Morse, sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me.

MicheleS said...

AND more news...
Jon Morosi‏@jonmorosi

#Mariners close to acquiring Mike Morse, sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me.

Gonat said...

Hold the line at Michael Morse's autograph table.

natsfan1a said...

Eh, nothing to get. Just another ad hominem attack by an anonymous Internet commenter. ;-)

I don't get the LaRoche comment above 5c3cd. He's got adult ADD, but he's a very bright guy.

Gonat said...

Michele, add a drink for me.

peric said...

There goes Morse ... and here comes AJ Cole starting pitching prospect.

MicheleS said...

We got AJ Cole back per Kilgore in the deal

peric said...

Looks like someone else isn't showing for Natsfest 2013.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

There's the 3 team trade, just not the blockbuster I envisioned.

Maybe Texas and the Nats still hook up.

peric said...

John Jaso would have been an interesting acquisition for the Nats as well. A left-handed hitting catcher? The Nats could certainly use one.

Gonat said...

Not a bad trade. Not a great trade. TyMo just exhaled.

MicheleS said...

There is more to the deal. at least two more players coming to the Nats besides Cole

Gonat said...

Michele is bringing it!

baseballswami said...

Will miss you, Mike!

Gonat said...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...
There's the 3 team trade, just not the blockbuster I envisioned.

Maybe Texas and the Nats still hook up.

January 16, 2013 6:53 PM
_________________________________

You had the 3 team trade right and you had Seattle as one of the phones ringing.

Just not a trade you would call a blockbuster.

peric said...

2013 in the first round the Nats select AJ Cole right-handed starter.

natsfan1a said...

Yes, Comak says she heard a "good" prospect and a PTBNL as well as Cole.

Good luck and happy gorse-hacking to Morse.

peric said...

Maybe Texas and the Nats still hook up.

Relief pitching plus overflow position player prospects.

BigCat said...

Cole started in high A Stockton in the California League last year, a notorious hitters league, and got absolutely blistered. 0-7 with an ERA just under 8.00. They sent him to low A in the Midwest League and he flourished 6-3 with a 2.07 ERA. He is still a youngster. But to give up Morse for him even up is terrible. Hopefully Michele is right and there is more to the deal

Gonat said...

Danny Knobler as CBS Sports is also saying AJ Cole + 2 more players.

Unknown said...

whats the consensus on the trade and getting cole back?

MicheleS said...

BTW.. 1A is right, I read off Amanda's twitter feed. Just typing as fast as I can for those that are not on the Tweeter. HI DAVEY!!!

MicheleS said...

Teddy right now, the Mariners are getting ROASTED for trading Jaso to the A's.

BigCat said...

What is it that Nats Jack always says "In Rizzo I trust."

Unknown said...

I heard we got a "good" prospect and a PTBNL 3 players for Morse pretty good depending on how we devolop Cole, and who the other prospect is so far.

Unknown said...

Yah i have seen that so far MicheleS not happy for trading Jaso, A's fans are loving it as far as I know.

SCNatsFan said...

As stated above, TyMo is the happiest guy in the room.

Will miss Morse, wonder if the Mariners have Take Me On on their playlist.

Have to reserve judgement until we see what we get back but Cole was the one guy I hated to lose in the Gio trade.

BigCat said...

I would think Cole would start in Potomac next year.

MicheleS said...

SCNats. From the splits with Cole last year he did better after they moved him to the low A team. So there is hope.

Gonat said...

Jaso was a top prospect in the Tampa system but his ratings dropped and Tampa traded him.

SCNatsFan said...

Michele he is young and a project but Rizzo must see something he likes

Unknown said...

I think Rizzo liked Cole, glad we got him back, hopefully he flourishes under our system like he did two years ago, still 21, waiting on judgement until we know the "good" prospect (fingers crossed for Zunino lol) curious what FG has to say about the trade, because they severally critized Morse and his value.

MicheleS said...

teddy.. Dave Cameron is GOING APE on the Mariners.

MicheleS said...

And Mark New Posted us

3on2out said...

From the Mariners he came and to the Mariners he returns. He paid his dues with the Nats...worked his way off the bench...served credibly at two positions...was part of one amazing winning season and now it's back to the left coast, rain and losing baseball. At least their rookie quarterback's ligaments are all intact. We will miss Mikey Mo.

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