Spring Training Thread

[JCA-CrystalCity]

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.

Morse came up as a SS and played 25 games there last year in Tacoma (AAA).  He also played 19 games for Tacoma at second.  He could fill in for a few days there on spot duty. An injury DL'ng Guzman would mean either Desmond or Espinosa could be called up.

[vinnysmullet]

Glad to see not much has changed 'round these here parts. A little baseball, a little humor, a little pent-up vitriol spewed forth here and there . . .

[tomterp]

A few comments from John Perrotto, Baseball Prospectus:

The Nationals were the only team to finish behind the Mets in the NL East last season, as their 59-103 record was the worst in the major leagues. Yet optimism abounds at the Nationals' camp this spring as reliever Jason Bergmann, who has participated in each spring training since the franchise relocated from Montreal prior to the 2005 season, can attest.

"It just feels different because of the personnel around me," Bergmann told the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore. "More than last year, more than the year before that, I believe in this team. Everything seems stable. Every year, there's been an issue. This year it's strictly about baseball."

Washington had a tumultuous spring last year, as GM Jim Bowden resigned on March 1 amidst allegations that he knew about a bonus-skimming scandal in the Dominican Republic involving Nationals scouts. Assistant GM Mike Rizzo took over Bowden's responsibilities and eventually was promoted to GM as the Nationals went 33-48 in the second half of the season after being 26-61 at the All-Star break.

Rizzo addressed the team at the start of full-squad workouts last week. Though his speech lasted but two minutes, it was inspired and had a tone that said, "We're putting 2009 behind us because our expectation is to win."

"I just wanted to make sure they heard it from me," Rizzo said. "The players should be focused to win, prepare to win, and expect to win. There really has been a different attitude. We're all tired of losing. We're all tired of talking about 100-loss seasons and No. 1 picks. You have to believe you can win before you start winning. I think that has taken place."

That has made the Nationals' situation so much better than a year ago at this time. "Last year was about the worst possible vibe you could have," club president Stan Kasten said.

[PANatsFan]

See the Morse thread I'm going to start.

[Smithian]

I want to go down there and go to Padrino's in Orlando and just drive around and visit various ballparks and just sit out in the warmth and watch baseball. I can't wait to be sweeting my ass off in the DC humidity and watching baseball. Every day that it gets closer it seems further away.

Baseball in the warmth? I envy you. I've been catching Arkansas baseball last two weekends and yesterday. It got up to the mid 40's and 50's opening weekend but yesterday I had to sit in the mid 20's wind chill to watch the Razorbacks beat up #25 Kansas to tune of 15-4. You need to go catch some baseball in freezing cold weather to truly appreciate warm weather.

[PANatsFan]

Baseball in the warmth? I envy you. I've been catching Arkansas baseball last two weekends and yesterday. It got up to the mid 40's and 50's opening weekend but yesterday I had to sit in the mid 20's wind chill to watch the Razorbacks beat up #25 Kansas to tune of 15-4. You need to go catch some baseball in freezing cold weather to truly appreciate warm weather.

try PSU vs Bucknell in the 30's.

[Smithian]

Could be a tad chilly...

I'm just glad I have a good baseball team to watch while the Nats are rebuilding. I'm a student so I get in free and the Razorback are loaded this year. Should be fun to watch them all year.

I'm hoping to make it up to Saint Louis to watch the Nationals this year.

[CALSGR8]

Anyone going to be in Clearwater on the 14th:

This sounds cool!


http://mlbpaa.mlb.com/mlbpaa/downloads/2010_clearwater_clinic.doc

Bright House Field to Host MLB Alumni Legends of Baseball Game
Tickets on Sale Now Through the Clearwater Threshers Box Office.

CLEARWATER, FL--- Former Major League All-Stars and Hall of Famers such as Gaylord Perry, Jeff Kent, Jeff Cirillo, Sam McDowell, Doug Flutie, Jim Perry, Kevin Maris, country music star Jason Aldean and many more who will take the field at Bright House Field on Sunday March 14th, 2010 participate in the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association’s “Baseball for Kids” legends game, Home Run Derby and “Legends for Youth” Baseball Clinic.
Tickets are on sale Prices range from $5 for Berm $12 for Baseline and Field Box seating $15 for Premium Box seats and $25 for Club Level. For more information, or to purchase tickets please go to http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/spring_training/tickets.jsp?c_id=phi.
The schedule of events:
1:00 p.m.    Legends of Youth Baseball Clinic (free)
5:15 p.m.   Home Run Derby
6:05 p.m.   “Legends of Baseball” Game
The schedule of events:
Proceeds from the event will benefit:
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation helps to build character and teach critical life lessons to disadvantaged young people residing in America's most distressed communities through baseball and softball themed programs.The Major League Baseball Players Association was formed in 1982 in order to promote the game of baseball, raise money for charity, inspire and educate youth through positive sport images and protect the dignity of the game through former players.
                  
For tickets contact:
Jason Adams
(727) 712-4411
jason@threshersbaseball.com

[Nat of the Living Dead]

OMFG...Nats game today. Not just one. Two of them! Which do I pay closer attention to? Decisions, decisions, options, options. :Shock:

Thank God baseball is back.

[JMW IV]

from Ben's chat yesterday:

5. Balester -- Everybody talks about the Twitter stuff, so we hear about him more than we otherwise would. But he's been wild in his live BP sessions so far, and will have quite a bit to prove in games.

masnnats: The mustache has gotten a lot of play -- to the point where John Lannan accused Balester of over-tweeting a few days ago -- but other than that, I don't know how much attention Balester is getting. He was really struggling to keep his fastball down during his live BP session the other day, and might be fiddling with mechanics again. I'll be interested to see him in a game situation, because he's going to have a lot to prove.

i was afraid something like this might be the case. no wonder everyone talks about his mustache, but nobody talks about his pitching. doesn't bode well.

[sportsfan882]

damn. hopefully he fares better in real games

[tomterp]

i was afraid something like this might be the case. no wonder everyone talks about his mustache, but nobody talks about his pitching. doesn't bode well.

Well, it isn't like there has been a lot of pitching to talk about with anybody, it's just getting started now.

[Spinman]

from Ben's chat yesterday:

i was afraid something like this might be the case. no wonder everyone talks about his mustache, but nobody talks about his pitching. doesn't bode well.

I was watching Balester's bull pen and Ben wasn't even there. Ben was watching Mock, while I was watching Balester.  MCCatty said to Balester after his pen... Fantastic, Bally!  I don't understand where Ben is getting his info from.  However we will see from today on who is headed to "The Cuse" and who is headed to DC!  Pound the zone= DC! Up in the zone= The Cuse! No excuses! None of this young guys stuff. They all have enough experience to figure it out.
 Go Nats! Go Win!

[JMW IV]

I was watching Balester's bull pen and Ben wasn't even there. Ben was watching Mock, while I was watching Balester.  MCCatty said to Balester after his pen... Fantastic, Bally!  I don't understand where Ben is getting his info from. 

perhaps he watched more than one bullpen session. maybe Balester threw more than once this week.

who knows. i'm just the messenger.

[The Chief]

ST just started, I'm not going to make any snap judgments about anyone yet.

[Spinman]

perhaps he watched more than one bullpen session. maybe Balester threw more than once this week.

who knows. i'm just the messenger.

Yes he has thrown many pens but the one Ben was referring to just happened to be the one I was at and he wasn't at. Thats all I am saying.
  Bull pens don't win you a spot in the rotation. St outings that are successful do. Bally knows from last year that he can move up or down in the pecking order based on what he does in games.
Competition is good but winning games is why they are all there. Last yer we were talking about competition for spots. This year the Nats are all about winning and whatever it takes to get there.

[HalfSmokes]

At this point in spring training, how can you really judge a pitcher? If he can't keep the fast ball down a month from now, that may be a problem, but for now isn't everyone just trying to work on stuff

[tomterp]

At this point in spring training, how can you really judge a pitcher? If he can't keep the fast ball down a month from now, that may be a problem, but for now isn't everyone just trying to work on stuff

Lincicum sucked yesterday.  Wild, all over the place.  Patterson his ass!   

[Nat of the Living Dead]

So wait, these games aren't even on XM?!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Who picked up on Bally's drop and drive motion, said it could lead to the ball saying, and was a waste of his height?

[Nat of the Living Dead]

I think I just stabbed myself in the leg with my pen...

[tomterp]

Who picked up on Bally's drop and drive motion, said it could lead to the ball saying, and was a waste of his height?

JMU Alumni

http://www.wnff.net/index.php/topic,16790.msg520239.html#msg520239

Though I think you meant "sailing", not saying, cause the Nats aren't playing with talking balls to my knowledge.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Who picked up on Bally's drop and drive motion, said it could lead to the ball sayingsailing, and was a waste of his height?

edit

Thought it was JMU Alumni, but was not 100% sure.  Spinman, is Bally experimenting with a different delivery?

[Spinman]

edit

Thought it was JMU Alumni, but was not 100% sure.  Spinman, is Bally experimenting with a different delivery?

No, just hiding the ball better.

[PANatsFan]

No, just hiding the ball better.