Game #13 marks another #Scherzday as #Nats travel to Jupiter

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Kevin Nibley for TalkNats

Tell us if you have heard this before — the Nationals have a Grapefruit League road game in Jupiter at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The 14-mile drive up I-95 is also great for Nationals fans to make the short drive up the road to see the team in another venue, and today they get to see Max Scherzer on the mound and Gerardo Parra in an “A” lineup for the first time since Game 5 of the 2019 World Series! Bonus! For the Cardinals, they give right-handed John Gant the start, and the Nats just faced him last week.  Continue reading →

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The injury list grew today by adding Stephen Strasburg

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Craig Nedrow for TalkNats

If you read down the injury list for players on the Washington Nationals big league roster, Stephen Strasburg just got added to that list. In total, there are now seven players on the medical list from the 51-players on the big league roster. None of them would be deemed major, but each could disrupt the Opening Day roster.

The most serious of the injuries would be with Gerardo Parra and Aaron Barrett who both had knee procedures done, but neither player was projected to be key parts of the 2021 roster. Right-hander Rogelio Armenteros who is a fringe starter was shutdown late last month with arm pain but is reportedly back to throwing. Welington Castillo who was signed as catching depth is dealing with a shoulder issue, and he is probably fourth or fifth on the depth chart. A different story with Strasburg, Jon Lester, and Tanner Rainey who are all key components with Stras and Lester combining for 40 percent of the starting rotation.  Continue reading →

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Game #12 Stephen Strasburg can be seen on TV! First cuts made!

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Craig Nedrow for TalkNats

If you have the MLB app or the ability to watch ATT Sportsnet-SW, they can watch this Washington Nationals game today with Stephen Strasburg on the mound facing the Astros. This is the first broadcasted glimpse of Stras since August 14 of last year. The World Series MVP feels like the key to the Nats success in 2021.

For those with or without TV, this game is also available on Nats radio network with Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler calling the game. One of the great things the Nats have done is beef up the radio coverage in this Spring Training due to the lack of television. For some of us old enough to remember back to the 1970s and prior before cable, radio was our only way to follow a game unless you attended in-person.

We are now at the halfway point in the Grapefruit League schedule of 24-games at the conclusion of this game. Time is certainly running short on the Spring Training schedule with the final game scheduled just 15 days away on March 29 then a two-day break before Opening Day on April 1.  Continue reading →

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Game #11 with Joe Ross against the Mets in some Grapefruit League baseball!

Posted on March 13, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNats

With Joe Ross as the presumptive fifth starter, the Nats rotation goes to Stephen Strasburg tomorrow followed by Max Scherzer then Patrick Corbin according to manager Dave Martinez. At some point the rotation will be reseeded and Jon Lester will be added into the rotation. For tonight, it is Ross versus the Mets.
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Continual improvement and never being satisfied is what makes Max Scherzer so special as a pitcher and a mentor!

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Laura Peebles for TalkNats.com

What makes Max Scherzer so special? It is his desire to always be improving and never being satisfied with the past. Scherzer made his debut on April 29, 2008 at the age of 23 ¾. Since then, his resumé has added 3 Cy Young awards including 2 in the NL and 1 in the AL, 7 All-Star games, immaculate innings, a 20-strikeout game, and World Series champ.

But Scherzer wants more. He knows he won’t reach 300 wins in his illustrious career, but he is 25 Curly W’s from 200. He won’t say that is a goal when asked but said it is a nice number. He also said that 2021 will not be his last season in baseball even though that record-breaking contract that he signed at the time for 7-years and $210 million ends this season. Continue reading →

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Game #10 Patrick Corbin on the mound for the #Nats

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo of the front gates of Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter by Sol Tucker for TalkNats.com

Once again the Washington Nationals are traveling that 14-mile road trip to the north to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium which is the Spring Training home of the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals jointly. They are part of the four team configuration along with the Nats and Astros that call Palm Beach County home. It is convenient in this compacted Spring Training  that MLB limited to only neighboring teams to curtail the travel, and the fifth team in the circuit is the Mets.

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The math could work for the #Nats to extend Trea and Soto!

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo courtesy of Andrew Lang for TalkNats

You never want to look back and do the coulda, shoulda, woulda. The Washington Nationals can do it. There just has to be a shift away from the $100 million starting rotations if the Nats have a real chance to retain Trea Turner and Juan Soto for the rest of this decade and beyond for the 22 year old, Soto. Continue reading →

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Game #9 has Max Scherzer for his second start!

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNats

After Max Scherzer twisted his ankle before camp opened, his first start was pushed back to get him healthy. Today, the Washington Nationals’ ace makes his second start in the Grapefruit League schedule as they stretch him out in this Spring Training.  We are 3 weeks from Opening Day.  Continue reading →

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Game #8 gets Stephen Strasburg into his 1st Grapefruit start of 2021!

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Craig Nedrow for TalkNats

Technically most of us will not see Stephen Strasburg pitch his first start of Spring Training today, but the good news is the game will be live on the Nats radio network calling the action. Continue reading →

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Game #7 gets Joe Ross on the mound!

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo from Sol Tucker for TalkNats

The Washington Nationals will get Joe Ross on the Spring Training mound for the first time in 2021. Last year, Ross opted-out due to COVID concerns. He will be eased back into the 2021 season, and with Stephen Strasburg scheduled to pitch tomorrow, the Nats just need to get Jon Lester back on the mound. It might be a while for Lester who is recovering from his surgery last week to remove his thyroid gland. Continue reading →

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