Spring Training Thread

[DPMOmaha]

In what should come as a suprise to...no one, MASN and MASN HD has picked up SS' Spring Training debut on March 9th vs. the Tigers.

WNFF friend Ben Goessling seems to have broken this story, which, again, should come as a suprise to no one since he works for, make sure you're sitting down, MASN.

[Ben Goessling]

Yeah, definitely had some sources to work on that one. 

Wanted to jump in here and call everybody's attention to a few things in this blog post: http://masnsports.com/2010/03/public-service-announcements--.html. I'm chatting over at MASN on Wednesday night at 7:30, and I'm going to do things a little differently than usual: I'll take Nats questions for 45 minutes, then I'm going to turn the tables. I want to discuss what kinds of things you'd like to see from our Nats coverage, what kinds of things bug you and how we can be better. I'm mostly talking about the online coverage here, not the TV coverage as much. I'm really enjoying the lively discussion about this topic over here --http://dcbb.blogspot.com/2010/02/too-much-coverage.html -- and it's been on my mind a lot lately.

So that, among other things, is addressed in the blog post above, and I'd love to hear from you about it. If you can check it out and leave your comments in that blog post about whether the time and format work (as well as a possible tweetup), I'd be much obliged. Thanks!

[cmdterps44]

Just glad to have confirmation the Strasburg start will be televised!

[PANatsFan]

Not in the FioS program guide yet, unfortunately, but I told it to tape from 1-4pm just in case.

[UnkleWheez]

That's the day before my surgery. I will be home watching the game. I am so excited. Not only to see him, but to see baseball. Well yeah, to see him pitch.

[Galah]

I kayaked with dolphins last year off fort myers beach, it was beautiful.

I kayak with dolphins on the Indian River off Cocoa Beach...also beautiful

[tomterp]

I kayak with dolphins on the Indian River off Cocoa Beach...also beautiful

How do you know they weren't porpoises?

No matter, they are all very cool.  Many people would be surprised to learn how aggressively dolphins can push their way inshore, into very small creeks and bays, in search of food.  I've been standing waist deep in water, fishing by casting into a deeper channel, and had to stop casting because the dolphin found the croaker I was catching, and they were only 30 feet away from me.  While kayaking, I've seen them push into very tiny tidal creeks, some only 8-10 feet wide.  My brother in law (in South Carolina) saw two dolphin chase a bunch of fish onto an exposed (low tide) mud bank, whereupon the dolphin rolled out of the water onto dry land, and ate their fill of fish (red drum) before casually rolling back into the water. 

[Galah]

well, the Banana and Indian Rivers, out by Cocoa Beach aren't exactly small....more like the Potomac south of DC, but warmer.

They are very cool,amazing to watch them hunt in a pack. Heard up a school of bait fish and then just tear into them.

[tomterp]

They are very cool,amazing to watch them hunt in a pack. Heard up a school of bait fish and then just tear into them.

The croaker that I was catching (before and after the dolphin arrived) were about a pound apiece, and the red drum my bro-in-law saw them eating were over 3-4 lbs apiece.  They'll definitely eat fish of about any size they can get their mouths on.

[Galah]

The croaker that I was catching (before and after the dolphin arrived) were about a pound apiece, and the red drum my bro-in-law saw them eating were over 3-4 lbs apiece.  They'll definitely eat fish of about any size they can get their mouths on.

hmmm, sounds like humans ;-)

[PANatsFan]

well, the Banana and Indian Rivers, out by Cocoa Beach aren't exactly small....more like the Potomac south of DC, but warmer.

They are very cool,amazing to watch them hunt in a pack. Heard up a school of bait fish and then just tear into them.

I saw them in the Everglades near Naples. Wild dolphins > trained ones. Unbelievable.

[Spinman]

I was at Spring training this past weekend and what a show the hitters put on. If Ryan Zimmerman doesn't hit 40 dingers this year I will be shocked. Out of the 20 at bats he had he hit 10 of them over the fence and 2 of them were 400 foot bombs!  There were about 20 fans beyond the fence and they were running around almost to the street,  getting the bombs by Zimmerman.   I was listening to a few Nats pitchers say after seeing Zimmerman hit " I am sure glad Zimmerman is one hitter I won't have to face this year!"  

It was a show. Dukes looks awesome and in really great shape. He was hitting it so hard that when the ball was coming toward you and you thought about catching it you caught yourself saying no way am I trying to catch that shot! Guzman looks 10 years younger and in awesome shape. Martis is getting a bum rap on his weight. He looks really good so I don't know where that report came from about his weight. Also, Balester looked dynomite in his bullpen and BP. Wicked , wicked curve ball. I don't know where the " Up in the Zone " on his fastball quote came from ( Ben). Balester looked awesome.
 I think we are all starting to learn to take with a grain of salt what we see in print. lets not forget the writers, write but the Nats front office signs the players checks.

There were many other observations so let me know if you have any questions.

[PANatsFan]

I don't know where the " Up in the Zone " on his fastball quote came from ( Ben). Balester looked awesome.


There were many other observations so let me know if you have any questions.

Great summary by WNFF Chief Correspondent, Grandpa Spinman.

[Galah]

Keep it coming Spinman, nice to have another set of eyes down there at ST!

[Spinman]

Great summary by WNFF Chief Correspondent, Grandpa Spinman.

Another thing I  noticed at camp was Jordan Zimmermann throwing medium long toss with the Nats trainers. Jordan looked really comfortable. If we can keep all the young guys around and healthy we will be really , really good in a few years.  The competition this spring is so elevated from the last two spring trainnings I have been at. You can tell the guys under contract are really loose but the guys fighting for spots are very focused.

I was surprised how small Everyday Eddie is. He just looks like a seasoned, salty dog, Veteran and the guys really like him and Villone too. You could tell they are respected in Camp. the coaches demeaner even changes when the Vets are around. Either one could make the team. My guess would be one of them does.
 Livan looked as steady as ever. He throws strikes. Not hard , but throws strikes. If I had to pick the 12 pitchers who would break from camp in April after getting a 3 day view of them they would be... in no particular order.
Lannan, Marquis, Chico, Balester, Mock, Clippard, Bergmann, Stammen, Everyday Eddie, Capps (looked really good and throws a heavy ball and he was one of the nicest guys to talk with)  Bruney, Burnett

Again, this is from what I saw in 3 days. The real evaluations begin on Thursday.  Strasburg, June, Olsen, May ( He seemed to not be throwing but only 75% so maybe he's not ready yet. Pitching in the cold weather in April probably wouldn't be a good Idea for him.) Detwiler  was on crutches but out there everyday in civi's.June/July

[Spinman]

By the way, Mike Morse just looks like a ballplayer. He might make this team. Chris Duncan can flat out crush the baseball. He hits screamers.

[Lintyfresh85]

If I had to pick the 12 pitchers who would break from camp in April after getting a 3 day view of them they would be... in no particular order.

Lannan, Marquis, Chico, Balester, Mock, Clippard, Bergmann, Stammen, Everyday Eddie, Capps (looked really good and throws a heavy ball and he was one of the nicest guys to talk with)  Bruney, Burnett

What role would Balester be in? I haven't read anything from any of the writers that seem to put him in the rotation or bullpen.

Would be good to see him make it either way.

[tomterp]

By the way, Mike Morse just looks like a ballplayer. He might make this team. Chris Duncan can flat out crush the baseball. He hits screamers.

Duncan can be a really good ballplayer if he's over his (back?) injury.  That's really good to hear. 

[tomterp]

What role would Balester be in? I haven't read anything from any of the writers that seem to put him in the rotation or bullpen?

Would be good to see him make it either way.

Most of the writers consider him a longshot.  Ben gave him a 10% chance for opening day rotation, but how much can anybody tell from a few calisthentics and some long toss?   

Bally had a poor spring last year, but ended up getting significant ML time anyway. And as I pointed out in another thread recently, the #6, probably 7-8 guys too are all going to get significant innings.  Of course, 7-8 might be Wang and Stras, but you get my point.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Interesting to see in the lineup posted by Imref at #244 that Duncan is playing some first base.  Maybe there is room for a LHB corner OF with some pop to be a bat off the bench.  playing first should help, too.  perhaps a Harris - Duncan - Bruntlett - Nieves - Morse bench, unless they want a pinch runner / defensive guy in addition to Harris.

[blue911]

Interesting to see in the lineup posted by Imref at #244 that Duncan is playing some first base.  Maybe there is room for a LHB corner OF with some pop to be a bat off the bench.  playing first should help, too.  perhaps a Harris - Duncan - Bruntlett - Nieves - Morse bench, unless they want a pinch runner / defensive guy in addition to Harris.

Duncan is a firstbaseman that was chased into the outfield by Albert Pujols.


EDIT: I think Duncan may have a shot if Riggleman wants a balanced bench.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I/M/O, the guy out of my 5 who should not go north would be Bruntlett.  Morse and Harris can cover the infield for spot duty. If there is an injury, then Desmond comes up.  That leaves room for Taveras / Owens / J-Max.

Come think of it, maybe the force feeding of Desmond into the OF makes him the Bruntlett and Taveras alternative?  I'd rather have him at Syracuse.

I think there are a lot of jobs to be won.

[DPMOmaha]

But, if Bruntlett doesn't make the team, who will turn the triple plays?

[JMW IV]

can Morse play 2B, if Duncan is the primary backup 1B? just outta curiosity.

come to think of it, we have a very flexible potential bench.

Harris 2B/LF/CF
Morse 1B/3B/RF
Duncan 1B/RF

we're short a backup SS though, that fact may push Duncan or Morse out, in favor of Bruntlett.

i'm not an advocate of Desmond as a utility guy.  and while theoretically, Harris should be able to play SS, I'm not so sure about it.

[Spinman]

Most of the writers consider him a longshot.  Ben gave him a 10% chance for opening day rotation, but how much can anybody tell from a few calisthentics and some long toss?   

Bally had a poor spring last year, but ended up getting significant ML time anyway. And as I pointed out in another thread recently, the #6, probably 7-8 guys too are all going to get significant innings.  Of course, 7-8 might be Wang and Stras, but you get my point.

Just because things aren't be written about someone doesn't mean they are not in the mix. Just like MCCatty said in a quote earlier about that same comment... " Maybe they aren't asking the right questions about somebody."
 Yes indeed Duncan was taking a lot of defensive first base action while I was down there.  The best drill I saw was for catchers. They had the pitching machine set up to throw 2 " Foul balls" up about 3 seconds apart and the guys tried to catch one ball after the other ball.  That was really funny to see and they did it only a couple of times successfully. It looked really hard to do because of balance issues by always looking up and moving around. They were really dizzy! Great drill.   Man, did Norris look good and really big! Good for the future Nat. He would hang onto his mask until the last moment and throw that thing so hard out of the way so he didn't trip over it. Great fundamentals. I learned a lot of little things at camp that if I was still coaching little league I would use.