by Andrew Lang
by Andrew Lang
Photo courtesy of Kelly Collis for TalkNats
The Grapefruit League schedule ends in a week from today as the Nationals will fly back to D.C. at the conclusion of next Sunday’s split-squad games. Stephen Strasburg gets this St. Paddy’s start and will get one more start before he leaves Florida. The Nats have a few question marks remaining before they head north. Continue reading
America’s pastime is not uniquely American. Baseball is played throughout the world, and boasts passionate fans in numerous countries. Despite this global popularity, baseball has not grown much in Europe. MLB is hoping to change that with its London Series, which will see the Red Sox and Yankees take on each other in a 2-game matchup across the pond at the end of June. Those games are sold-out, and MLB is already discussing teams to feature next year ( the AP reported MLB is considering either a Cubs/Cardinals series or Mets/Nationals), so there is definitely buzz in the UK for the event. Joey Mellows, a 34-year-old teacher from Portsmith, a city 60 miles southwest of London, is looking to capitalize on that buzz to help grow the game in his native England. Continue reading
Photo by Lynn G for TalkNats
We are getting closer to Opening Day, and Max Scherzer is pitching in this game then he will make one more start before Opening Day. The rotation order seems to be set along with the starting 8, but there are now serious questions about the bench after Michael Taylor‘s knee/hip strain plus Howie Kendrick has not returned to play in games. Continue reading
Trea Turner with his Park Vista High School coach Larry Greenstein
When Trea Turner attended Park Vista High School, he wore jersey #3 and was skinnier than he is now. He had a quick bat and quicker feet, and a heart of gold back in 2011 at PVHS. Not much has changed with Trea besides the MLB success and the size of his muscles and his bank account. Being a star player does have its perks as Turner needed about 35 tickets to accommodate all of the players and coaches from his old High School and the Washington Nationals made that happen. The PVHS Cobras still have many familiar faces including Trea’s high school head coach Larry Greenstein. The Cobra players received the red carpet treatment with a behind the scenes tour and time on the field with Trea. Days like that go a long way for these kids to see what is possible. Continue reading
Photo by Steve Mears for TalkNats
The Washington Nationals make their first trip to First Data Field this season to face the NY Mets. In today’s game, it’s Jeremy Hellickson against the left-handed Steven Matz. The bus is set to leave the FITTEAM complex at 8:30AM for the trip 55 miles north to St. Lucie County. Who goes on this trip will be interesting. Unfortunately, Michael A. Taylor won’t be one of them as he hurt his left knee yesterday when his leg hit the turf. Based on the way the Nationals give information, we should not expect any definitive news on Taylor until tomorrow — but who knows what manager Dave Martinez will disclose today. Our very own PB69 had his own sourced information on Taylor’s knee based on the doctor’s examination that it was “not too bad” and while that is good news when you talk about a knee, we know what bone bruises or a Grade I strain can do to a player. Maybe it is as benign as a kneecap bruise. We will see. Continue reading
Photo by Kevin Nibley for TalkNats
Who wants to wake up at 6 a.m. to get ready to drive to the FITTEAM BOTPB to load up on a 7 a.m. bus to then drive across one of Florida’s East to West routes to the Gulf Coast of Florida — then head north to Fort Myers to the Spring Training home of the Minnesota Twins.
These long bus rides are something the highly compensated veterans gave up long ago when they were minor leaguers who endured the endless rides from small town to smaller towns on charter buses and stayed at Red Roof Inns. When you make “The Show” you ride on charter jets and stay at Ritz Carltons. Life as a Major Leaguer is a privileged life, but most who made it to the bigs — paid their dues. So when you are faced with one of those 3 hour bus rides, you tell the boss you would rather stay back and pitch to minor leaguers. Yes, Anibal Sanchez‘s spot is due today in the rotation, and he will stay behind to pitch on Field #1 along Military Road on the back fields in West Palm Beach while Erick Fedde rides that bus to pitch for the Washington Nationals in Fort Myers. Continue reading
Baseball’s original “Opener” was Washington’s own Curly Ogden in 1924
During the course of the winter there was no shortage of consternation among players about a lack of free agency movement. Fast-forward to mid-March with The Bryce/ Manny Show having inked big, fat deals and all is well. Or is it? Other than the players still out there looking for work such as Dallas Kuechel and Gio Gonzalez the Free Agent Market seems to have changed form while remaining in operation. There were the two gargantuan deals. However, most deals seem to have shrunk in years and dollars. It may well be that the owners are squeezing their dimes tighter in general. The monster deals with the “Record Salaries” make public complaints against the system seem hollow and not worth the effort. Free Agency wasn’t the only burr under the saddle this winter, however. Igniting some interesting commentary was the tactic employed by Tampa Bay of using Relief Pitchers to start games. Nearly every team has a designated “Closer.” Tampa had “Openers” as well.
Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNats
For General Manager Mike Rizzo, he has to be grinning ear to ear with the showings from his top prospects. We are talking about Victor Robles, Carter Kieboom and the 18 year old Luis Garcia. Last night against the future Hall-of-Famer Justin Verlander, Carter Kieboom clubbed two home runs in two at-bats through a stiff win blowing in. Victor Robles worked two at-bats against Verlander and went 1-2 against him and later added a walk while raising his spring training OBP to .486. Luis Garcia only got one at-bat last night and stung a liner to left field that was caught, and the teenager is batting an even .300. Continue reading
Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNats
Sometimes Spring Training games are “must see” T.V., and you will have to wait until tonight for this game that will feature Justin Verlander versus Stephen Strasburg. There was a time when Strasburg was compared to Verlander for that big fastball and great secondary pitches. The Washington Nationals have less than two weeks remaining on the Grapefruit League schedule, and games like tonight show that spring training has moments that the true Floridian baseball fans have to love. Think about it. There are Florida residents who can watch a future Hall-of-Famer like Verlander and savor that until next year at this time because their alternative when the Grapefruit League ends is driving hours from Palm Beach County to the south to watch the Miami Marlins, and why would they do that? Continue reading
Photo by Andy Ward 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. Bonus! For the Cardinals, they give right-handed Jack Flaherty the start. Continue reading
"Opening Day should be a National holiday"
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