We've almost reached the halfway point of the longest spring training on record, so this seems like a good time to take a look at what has happened so far in Nats camp and what is yet to come before the team heads north for Opening Day. Chase Hughes and I will address a bunch of topics this afternoon when we tape several segments for our online Beltway Baseball show.
And, as always, one of those segments will feature your questions on the Nats and our (usually) educated answers. If you've got something you'd like to ask, please submit it in the comments section below. We'll pick the best ones to use in the show, which will be posted on the site in several segments over the next few days.
Is Tyler Moore Definitely starting on the bench this year and not in AAA? Is there anyone in camp that could force the issue?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the status with MASN? Wasn't this suppose to be settled over a year ago? What are the owners committee waiting for and are they afraid of Angelos? With a team of the Nats ability shouldn't they be trying to get as much publicity as possible? This is the time to make the Nationals and baseball VERY popular in the DC and Virginia area!
ReplyDeletehow is Ryan Zimmerman's throwing progressing?
ReplyDeleteDo you see Rendon as many saw Harper last year that he is ready to start once they give him a position?
ReplyDeleteWho was really impressing you this spring, who won't break with the club and come North? How do Clippard and Storen seem to you? Is Span fitting in yet? His tweets all seem to be about Minnesota. And he was tweeting during a game about something so un-baseball related. I'm worried about him.
ReplyDeleteMark, did you listen to Dmitri Young and Robert Ficks podcast with Chad Cordero and Michael Morse?
ReplyDeleteIf so, any clue why Dmitri was calling Tim Foli a S-N-I-T-C-H?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhich pitcher coming off an injury/surgery has impressed the Nats' staff the most with how far along they are?
ReplyDeleteNathan Karns ends up in AA or AAA?
ReplyDeleteI found this graphic that shows where the Nats are located with respect to other Grapefruit league teams. Are there any AL teams that have leases running out or are dissatisfied with their arrangement, either in FL or AZ, that could conceivably share the Viera complex with the Nats? (I know Mark did a story a while back, anything new?)
ReplyDeleteLook at the bottom of the story. You can click on the logos for fun facts... :
Grapefruit League
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-insider-gardner-grandy-flip-back-article-1.1278610
Your best guess what becomes of HRod?
ReplyDeleteIs Werth showing signs that his power might return this year?
ReplyDeleteWe're hearing contradicting reports on whether Espi is taking a new approach at the plate. What's your sense on whether he's headed for a better season that last year?
Do you think Haren is truly over is injury problems? What are the chances that he starts 30 games this year?
Echo SCNatsFan about HRod, also, do you think they can/will try and trade Corey Brown and/or Riverio before they head north?
ReplyDeletePiggybacking on SJM308, could Rizzo fortify a trade package with Lombo or Espi with the remaining player the starter and have Riverio as the backup and Rendon honing his 2nd base D in Harrisburg?
ReplyDeleteCorrected post, for timeline.
ReplyDeleteJaneB, I'm confused. I just took a quick look at Span's feed and saw one Twins-related item in the past few weeks. Unless you're also counting replies to Tweets directed to him from Minnesota. Should he ignore them now that he's a Nat? Personally, it's not an issue for me if he doesn't (nor would it be an issue if former Nats did not forget this fan base :-)).
Span was with them for a long time. Just as some of us have fond memories of teams we grew up with, I would think that he does of the team he played with. I can't speak to the tweeting-during-a-game point, as I don't know any specifics about it. I'm not big on Tweeting generally, but I won't get into that.
Oh, and my question is World Series, or bust? (What?)
ReplyDeleteMark, has Chris Marrero impressed Davey and Rizzo with his defense and how does his defense compare with that of Tyler Moore as a backup first baseman? I see that the Nats have Tyler listed as an outfielder on their 40 man roster.
ReplyDeleteDown the road, what do you see the nats doing with Rendon? Trading him, trading someone else to open up with room for him, or something else?
ReplyDeleteOh, and of course, I'm not Mark either. Oops. I'm just hoping that we'll give the new kid on the block a chance. :-)
ReplyDeletenatsfan1a said...
I can't speak to the tweeting-during-a-game point, as I don't know any specifics about it.
Which player can be the surprise for the team this year?
ReplyDeleteI mean, like Mike Morse two years ago as first baseman or Ian Desmond stats improvement of last season.
What are the chances the Nats wind up w/ an extended deal in Viera? I was looking at the Red Sox stadium in Ft. Myers on one the of the MLB network games -- it's a palace and there is no way I can see Ft. Myers building a similar palace for the Nats. Nor can I see the Nats settling for anything less. Or spending a ton of their own money. And there is no motion toward any other new location. (Talk but no action.) More and more I believe Ft. Myers is just a way to extract more from Brevard County.
ReplyDeleteMark, whatever happened to Brad Meyers? Shouldn't he be completely healed by now?
ReplyDeleteMark, whatever happened to Brad Meyers? Shouldn't he be completely healed by now?
ReplyDeleteNatsJack in Florida said...
ReplyDeleteOh...... don't expect Rizzo or Davey to give up on Espi any time soon.
He'll have to slump badly or reinjure that damaged shoulder to lose his spot in the lineup.
March 05, 2013 8:59 AM
Thom Loverro wrote an article on Espi and that he has the full support of the team.
Not to change the subject, but big news today is Wilson Ramos starting behind the dish and Rafael Soriano will make his Spring debut!
ReplyDeleteLoverro link. Comak also has a piece but y'all know how to get to her site (hint: see Blog Roll at left). :-)
ReplyDelete(Re. Comak, I meant Espi-related.))
ReplyDeleteMost important and urgent question of the day: Who won the Nats' scratch golf tournament?
ReplyDeleteThinking that it was a pitcher?? Probably Stras?
Where's the Leader Board?
Mark, last year one of the topics at Nats ST was how early everyone showed up, how close-knit they all were, and how eager they all were to start the season. Is that same camaraderie and eagerness to get started still noticeable in Viera this year, or has team chemistry changed due to trades and maturing players?
ReplyDeleteWhat's the status of Micah Owings? Do they see him as a back-up first baseman in the bigs, or as organizational depth in the minors?
ReplyDeleteWhere do they plan on playing Rendon? How many "reps" do they think he needs before calling him up?
How is Cole Kimball's shoulder?
How does Danny Espinosa feel about being compared (in the Thom Loverro article)to Cindy Crawford's mole?
ReplyDelete"NatsJack in Florida said...
ReplyDeleteOh...... don't expect Rizzo or Davey to give up on Espi any time soon."
They already tried to trade him two years ago. Rizzo would try, again, if he thinks it will help the team. That's not what I say, it's what Rizzo has said, time and time again. There are very few untouchables on the current ML roster, and Espinosa is obviously not one of them.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDanny re injury his shoulder.....how would we know....he will not tell anyone and Nats Medical/training staff clearly does not have the skills to know....Davey and Rizzo did not notice his Sept and Playoff numbers when he struck out like 80% of his ABs in Oct.......so.....Honestly....he is here to stay no matter what he does for some reason.
ReplyDelete