Spring Training 2024

[imref]

It's almost that time:

Pitchers and catchers report: February 14
First full workouts: February 20
ST Opening Day: February 24

No word yet on broadcast coverage.

[Natsinpwc]

MASN will report on the game via Morse code relayed from the park to its studios. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

MASN will report on the game via Morse code relayed from the park to its studios. 

made me want to google up the scene from Bull Durham where the announcer does play by play off of a teletype.

[Five Banners]

Wow, they barely travel out of southeast Florida. Used to at least see them going over for games in Lakeland and Tampa.

[Natsinpwc]

They go to Fort Myers a couple of times.  That looks like about a two and a half hour drive. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

They go to Fort Myers a couple of times.  That looks like about a two and a half hour drive. 

I'd hope they'd do both the Twins and the Red Sox on consecutive days, perhaps split squads, to cut the travel time.

[imref]

Some NRIs announced via Andrew Golden:

First major league ST: Dylan Crews, Robert Hassell III, James Wood, Darren Baker, Brady House and Trey Lipscomb

Others: Travis Blankenhorn, Lewin Diaz, Joe La Sorsa, Brady Lindsly and Juan Yepez

[Senatorswin]

58 days until first game in Cincinnati.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Some NRIs announced via Andrew Golden:

First major league ST: Dylan Crews, Robert Hassell III, James Wood, Darren Baker, Brady House and Trey Lipscomb

Others: Travis Blankenhorn, Lewin Diaz, Joe La Sorsa, Brady Lindsly and Juan Yepez

I think Baker and Crews have legit shots to win jobs. I think Baker maybe more than Crews.

The Gallo signing I think hurts Blankenhorn. La Sorsa, Diaz, and Yepez have shots, too.

Locks:
2 Cs - Ruiz and Adams / Millas
3 primary LF/ DH / 1B - Gallo, Meneses, Garrett
4 IF - Senzel, Abrams, Garcia, Vargas.
1 RF - Thomas
1 CF - Robles or Young

That's 11. 2 slots open. Probably a backup OF (Call) and maybe Nunez. Young, Crews, and Baker can upset the apple cart with good springs. Adams can lose a slot with a bad spring. Room for Yepez if Meneses is the primary DH and Garrett isn't ready.

A fun look would be Thomas or Gallo in center, the other in a corner, and Garrett in the OF. Opens up a slot for a DH / 1B.

[Senatorswin]

It seems if there's a close decision the deciding factor could be which one is better at stealing a base. That will be true mostly with Robles or Young.

[welch]

MASN will report on the game via Morse code relayed from the park to its studios. 

That's how it was done in the early 1930s. Starting in 1934, Arch McDonald would broadcast Nats games from his studio in a drugstore downtown. He read play-by-play from a teletype.

[imref]

Going to be real interesting to see if Strasburg shows up in ten days.

[imref]

ST hat is out:

[JCA-CrystalCity]

like it

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Not bad!

[Senatorswin]

I got the Lindy's baseball preview magazine that comes out every year just before spring training. If you read the position-by-position writeup for the Nats you would think OMG, they're going to be the Wizards. But a rival scout gives an opinion on each team. Here's what the rival scout said about the Nats in their section:

Scout's Take

This is a team I think too many people are sleeping on. Their rebuild is not going to take that long. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a winning record this year ... CJ Abrams has crazy tools. He takes such unusual angles at short, just makes every play with sheer athleticism, but it's starting to work. As soon as they announced the rule changes last year, I knew he was going to run wild. I didn't think he'd put together his hit and power this quick though ... . Mackenzie Gore has had one of the weirdest prospect trajectories I can remember, but I know they feel he's figured it out now. Probably more of a two than an ace , but he's gonna look like an ace on his best days.

[imref]

does he not realize how many times we'll play the rest of the NL East this year?

[Senatorswin]

does he not realize how many times we'll play the rest of the NL East this year?

The magazine actually picks the Phillies to finish first in the east ahead of the Braves. I hope not.

[Smithian]

I got the Lindy's baseball preview magazine that comes out every year just before spring training. If you read the position-by-position writeup for the Nats you would think OMG, they're going to be the Wizards. But a rival scout gives an opinion on each team. Here's what the rival scout said about the Nats in their section:

Scout's Take

This is a team I think too many people are sleeping on. Their rebuild is not going to take that long. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a winning record this year ... CJ Abrams has crazy tools. He takes such unusual angles at short, just makes every play with sheer athleticism, but it's starting to work. As soon as they announced the rule changes last year, I knew he was going to run wild. I didn't think he'd put together his hit and power this quick though ... . Mackenzie Gore has had one of the weirdest prospect trajectories I can remember, but I know they feel he's figured it out now. Probably more of a two than an ace , but he's gonna look like an ace on his best days.

That is the optimistic take. I appreciate it.

It does remind of 2009 when before Spring Training there was some article or take that the Nationals pitching staff, with some luck, could round into a really good unit. Didn't turn out.

[Senatorswin]

does he not realize how many times we'll play the rest of the NL East this year?

The strange thing is last year the Nats weren't bad against the other teams in the east except the Marlins. Who would of thought the team they couldn't beat is the Marlins:

Mets - 6-7
Phillies - 6-7
Braves 5-8
Marlins - 2-11

[IanRubbish]

Scout's Take

This is a team I think too many people are sleeping on. Their rebuild is not going to take that long. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a winning record this year

Doesn't mention the low BABIP/soft contact hitting approach, disastrous D at catcher, high pitches per IP by starters, etc.  There are team level issues that need to get addressed and it's not clear they will be.  I don't see any chance for a winning record, but I'm more excited for Spring Training than the Regular Season just to see what the kids will do. 

[Senatorswin]

Doesn't mention the low BABIP/soft contact hitting approach, disastrous D at catcher, high pitches per IP by starters, etc.  There are team level issues that need to get addressed and it's not clear they will be.  I don't see any chance for a winning record, but I'm more excited for Spring Training than the Regular Season just to see what the kids will do.

The regular preview on the Nats in the magazine pretty much covers all that.

[Five Banners]

ST hat is out:
(Image removed from quote.)

And no matter how the year goes, the 24 is done in a way to bring to mind Nick Johnson, or the first visit of Kurt Suzuki

[welch]

The ST hat almost is a traditional Nationals / Senators hat. Many years, the team all blue but with a white block 'W'.

[IanRubbish]

Going to be real interesting to see if Strasburg shows up in ten days.

Someone has to ask Rizzo about that.