Spring Training Thread

[Nat of the Living Dead]

"69, Dudes!"



"WHOA!"

[Obed_Marsh]

Guzman shut down with shoulder discomfort. Team hopes short term and minor. Not sched for dr. for now.

http://twitter.com/cst_cubs

Oh wait. He means Ángel Guzmán. Anyone else think they were talking our Guzzie?

[PANatsFan]

Not cool, man. Not cool.

[houston-nat]

Looks like we're about to find out who RHP Rafael Martin (age 25) is. The Nationals just purchased his contract from a Mexican team, the Saraperos de Saltillo.
http://twitter.com/washingnats

[houston-nat]

He's a relief pitcher. In 2009, 63.1 IP over 54 games; WHIP of 1.29 with 65 Ks, 25 BBs and 6 home runs. Was second on the team for games finished, but never got a save.

[PANatsFan]

He's a relief pitcher. In 2009, 63.1 IP over 54 games; WHIP of 1.29 with 65 Ks, 25 BBs and 6 home runs. Was second on the team for games finished, but never got a save.

Less than 1 HR / 9 innings = the new old Saul Rivera? nice.

[Lintyfresh85]

Except he throws 92-94 and is looked at as the set-up man of the future for Storen.

[cmdterps44]

He's a relief pitcher. In 2009, 63.1 IP over 54 games; WHIP of 1.29 with 65 Ks, 25 BBs and 6 home runs. Was second on the team for games finished, but never got a save.

How many runs did he give up? Nevermind. Didn't think he'd have a baseball reference.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=martin003raf

[PANatsFan]

Except he throws 92-94 and is looked at as the set-up man of the future for Storen.

Saul was a set up man. People forget just how dominant he was for 2 years.

[PatsNats28]

49:20:6c:69:6b:65:20:74:68:61:74:20:70:6c:61:6e:2e:20:4a:61:73:6f:6e:20:61:6e:64:20:44:65:62:62:69:65:20:63:61:6e:20:62:65:63:6f:6d:65:20:72:61:63:69:6e:67:20:70:72:65:73:69:64:65:6e:74:73:20:61:6e:64:20:68:69:73:20:77:69:66:65:20:63:61:6e:20:74:61:6b:65:20:73:69:64:65:6c:69:6e:65:20:72:65:70:6f:72:74:65:72:20:64:75:74:79:2e

um what?

[PANatsFan]

Looks like we're about to find out who RHP Rafael Martin (age 25) is. The Nationals just purchased his contract from a Mexican team, the Saraperos de Saltillo.
http://twitter.com/washingnats

I'm going out on a limb and predicting that this is a far better signing than Colby Lewis. I think Lewis is a total mirage.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Looks like we're about to find out who RHP Rafael Martin (age 25) is. The Nationals just purchased his contract from a Mexican team, the Saraperos de Saltillo.
http://twitter.com/washingnats

I'm going out on a limb and predicting that this is a far better signing than Colby Lewis. I think Lewis is a total mirage.

wouldn't you love to see Martin wear a pro wrestler's mask and a cape when he comes out of the bullpen, just to add to the mystique and aura.

[cmdterps44]

wouldn't you love to see Martin wear a pro wrestler's mask and a cape when he comes out of the bullpen, just to add to the mystique and aura.

[DPMOmaha]

Televised games for Spring Training update:

We've known about the 4 games on MASN for a while.  March 12 vs the Yanks, March 15 vs. Atlanta, March 24th @ the Yanks, April 3 vs. the Sawks.  MLB Network has picked up the March 12th game and also the Mets feed of the March 27th game. 

There are also two other Mets games that are being shown by their broadcast teams on March 7 (WPIX) and April 1 (SNY).  So, if you have a way to get those out of market networks, you might be able to pick up a couple extra games.  Right now, the SS debut is not scheduled for TV.  I wouldn't be shocked to see ESPN pick it up.  It looks like most teams have released their spring broadcast schedules.

[CJames0569]

Televised games for Spring Training update:

We've known about the 4 games on MASN for a while.  March 12 vs the Yanks, March 15 vs. Atlanta, March 24th @ the Yanks, April 3 vs. the Sawks.  MLB Network has picked up the March 12th game and also the Mets feed of the March 27th game. 

There are also two other Mets games that are being shown by their broadcast teams on March 7 (WPIX) and April 1 (SNY).  So, if you have a way to get those out of market networks, you might be able to pick up a couple extra games.  Right now, the SS debut is not scheduled for TV.  I wouldn't be shocked to see ESPN pick it up.  It looks like most teams have released their spring broadcast schedules.

Thanks I'm out of the broadcast area, so I obviously have to look for whatever games I can catch.

[sportsfan882]

http://therocket.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/02/nats_olsen_has_rotation_spot_d.html

If he is 100 percent healthy by Opening Day, Nationals left-hander Scott Olsen will be a lock in the rotation, according to manager Jim Riggleman.

Olsen is coming off shoulder surgery, and the Nationals are hoping that Olsen can be the pitcher he was with the Marlins -- pitching 200 innings and having double-digit victories.     

"He is a big piece," pitching coach Steve McCatty said. "He had good seasons with the Marlins. He is a quality pitcher."

Olsen was pleased to learn that the team still has faith in him. Currently, he said his shoulder is about 90 percent strong.
 
"It's good to have a manager in your corner," Olsen said. "It helps mentally to know that you have the head honcho backing you up provided that you are healthy. The health is going to be the determining factor. I feel good right now. I hope make even more progress and get stronger. I don't have any reason to think I won't be ready."

the freak? I don't get it. Olsen was as bad as Daniel Cabrera last year and hasn't had a good season in years.

[Obed_Marsh]

They are doing it just to piss you off. They are jealous of your post count.

[cmdterps44]

http://therocket.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/02/nats_olsen_has_rotation_spot_d.html

the freak? I don't get it. Olsen was as bad as Daniel Cabrera last year and hasn't had a good season in years.

He's only pitched for 5 years. His first, second, and fourth were his best. His fifth, last year, was terrible but remember he could have been pitching injured. Hes not Daniel Cabrera so I think its fair to give him a chance with the rest of them. If hes 100% and he pitches like last year then yes we should get rid of his presense in the rotation. If he pitches pretty decently, like at least in his fourth season, I wouldn't mind having him in there until we find something better.

[Minty Fresh]

They are doing it just to piss you off. They are jealous of your post count.

Win.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

I dig the new BP hats.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think A-Clown would be more pleased if the quote was

"He is a big piece of . . .," pitching coach Steve McCatty said.

how many locks does this rotation have?  Marquis and Lannan are givens.  Olsen if healthy.  Mock  I think some of the writers (Sheinin? Food Critic? - there are not many others) have as a favorite for a slot.  Add in Livo, who Food Critic says he can't imagine not making it. Same article has Riggleman now talking about Stammen as a long man even though he was supposed to be the best of the 4/5 guys before the Livo signing.

I'm looking forward to the  movie - "March of the Mediocres."

I/M/O, a healthy Olsen limits the need for Livo.  I would like to see what we have in Stammen and avoid cutting Bergmann and Chico, or keeping Eddie G off the roster.

[cmdterps44]

Same article has Riggleman now talking about Stammen as a long man even though he was supposed to be the best of the 4/5 guys before the Livo signing.

Hasn't there been a discussion on Stammen here about how he could be a great reliever, or am I just thinking of peoples opinions?

Id like to see Balester and Martin givin shots as well. Hopefully this March it turns out to be an interesting battle.

[Evolution33]

I dig the new BP hats.

Damn it I do too. freakers get $35.00 more of my money.

[Smithian]

Whatever happened to Shairon Martis? One day he had an amazing first start, next day he was 5-0 as a starter, the next day he was in the trash heap in the minors never to be heard from again.

[Lintyfresh85]

I think the 5-0 start masked a lot of problems with his peripherals that showed he wouldn't keep up his lucky winning streak.