O-O day has arrived and tough personnel decisions continue! #Nats

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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Nats beat Cardinals 7-0. My Nats post game review

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Alex Ross

My Nats post game review

March 26, 2016

Alex Ross, Age 7, Gaithersburg, MD

Today I went with my dad and my best friend Justin (and his dad too), to a Nats game, the Nats were playing the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. This game was much better than last night when I went because last night the game got rained out.  I got lots of autographs from players and coaches today – they were really nice.  I got autographs from Dusty Baker, Davey Lopes, and Michael A. Taylor.

Today it was also Michael A. Taylor’s birthday and for his birthday he gave me an autograph!

alexross6

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A Jupiter redux! Same bat channel, not same bat time, and a different team. #Nats

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Andrew Lang

Yesterday, it was the Nats in Jupiter for a night game against the Marlins, and that was a complete wash-out. Today, the Nationals return to the same stadium hoping it has dried out for a game against the St. Louis Cardinals for a 1:05pm start time. The Cards and Marlins share the same Spring Training complex in Palm Beach County.

The current temperature in Jupiter is 75° and headed to 83° with partly cloudy skies and winds 5mph and no rain expected in the forecast.

The Nats were forecasted to pitch Roark last night, and he will pitch this afternoon against the Cardinals.

Here is today’s line-up subject to change without notice:

  1. Stephen Drew 2B
  2. Matt den Dekker CF
  3. Michael A. Taylor RF aka Birthday Kid
  4. Ryan Zimmerman 1B
  5. Wilson Ramos C
  6. Chris Heisey LF
  7. Danny Espinosa SS
  8. Scott Sizemore 3B
  9. Tanner Roark RHP

A big Happy Birthday to Michael A. Taylor!

 

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There Is More Pressure On The Team That Is Expected To Win

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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#Nats travel to Jupiter to face the #Marlins

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Andrew Lang

Tanner Roark will start for the Nationals against David Phelps of the Marlins. The game time is 7:05 this evening at the Marlins’ spring training home they share with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Nats will travel back there tomorrow to face the Cardinals.

There are only 7 more tune-up games before Opening Day, and Roark will be stretched out further today to get ready for the regular season.

The Nats travel roster today brings this line-up:

  1. Ben Revere CF
  2. Daniel Murphy 2B
  3. Bryce Harper RF
  4. Anthony Rendon 3B
  5. Jayson Werth LF
  6. Clint Robinson 1B
  7. Michael A. Taylor RF

7. Danny Espinosa SS

8. José Lobaton C

9. Tanner Roark P

These relievers are all scheduled to pitch: Belisle, Rivero & Burnett

Note that Tyler Moore did play 3B yesterday and is traveling with the team to Jupiter.

The game will be on the radio through the MLB App.

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The last bench spot competition is less one player #Nats

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Mike Rizzo reportedly has placed Tyler Moore on waivers which in turn will remove him off the 40 man roster, and out of the competition for the last bench spot.

This doesn’t guarantee that Tyler Moore won’t be a Nat in the future as that will be dependent on whether Moore is picked up by another team off waivers.

The bench competition we believe is set with 4 players: Lobaton, C. Robinson, S. Drew and Michael A. Taylor which leaves the last spot to come  down to the obvious and the not so obvious.

The obvious would be choosing the last bench spot from Matt den Dekker, Brendan Ryan, Chris Heisey, Scott Sizemore, Tony Campana, Jhonatan Solano and Reed Johnson as they are the remaining position players in big league camp along with Trea Turner

The not so obvious is that Stephen Drew is the starter and Danny Espinosa rides the bench or the far-fetched scenario to many is that Trea Turner makes the Opening Day roster or Rizzo carries an extra bench bat until he needs the roster spot for the 5th starter or Rizzo makes a trade or signs a player off waivers.

At this point, Dusty Baker and Mike Rizzo might both be vacillating on the decision. You see the dynamic that Trea Turner brings that nobody else can to this team, and then you have Heisey who brings a history of being a clutch pinch-hitter that is an obvious need for this bench.

The early fan favorite was Scott Sizemore who was pounding the ball early in camp, and now Michael A. Taylor has taken over as the hottest hitter in the Grapefruit League.

Photo by Luis Albisu for TalkNats.com

Photo by Luis Albisu for TalkNats.com

 

Tyler Moore will always be a large part of Nationals history as he has the greatest pinch-hit in Nats history from his pinch-hit GW RBIs in the Nats 1st ever playoff game in team history in Game 1 against the Cardinals.

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Scherzer tunes up for Opening Day

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Today might feel like a playoff game with Max Scherzer and Adam Wainwright pitching for their respective teams today as we head into the final week of baseball in Florida. The Cardinals travel to Viera for this matchup of Aces.

There is also one change with Danny Espinosa. He said that the Viera batter’s eye is an issue for him so he will only play in the road games. Trea Turner will start in his place today.

Here’s today’s batting order:

  1. Trea Turner SS
  2. Daniel Murphy 2B
  3. Bryce Harper RF
  4. Ryan Zimmerman 1B
  5. Jayson Werth LF
  6. Anthony Rendon 3B
  7. Michael A. Taylor CF
  8. Wilson Ramos C
  9. Max Scherzer P

Yes, there is no DH today as Scherzer bats for himself, and don’t be surprised if Max is bunting even with bases empty.

This game will be carried on the radio with the MLB App. Start time is 1:05pm in Viera.

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Coaching up players is another of baseball’s intangibles

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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UPDATED: Giolito sent to MiLB Camp! The Yankees travel to Viera as Tanaka and Strasburg face-off 5:05pm 3/23/16

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

UPDATED 2:20PM: Lucas Giolito was reassigned to Minor League camp. It was was expected to happen but we hoped later than sooner.  Giolito left a lasting impression with a dominant pitching performance against the Mets “A” team. Nats fans will have to wait a little longer to see Gio Grande pitch with the Nats “A” team again.

There are just 12 days remaining before Opening Day, and the Nats enjoyed a rare Spring off-day yesterday with some light workouts and golf, and some barbeques. The Yankees will make their one trip to Viera as they go from the Gulf side in Tampa Florida to the Atlantic Coast side in Viera.  The bus ride according to Google is 2 hours 4 minutes for the 132.5 mile journey, and that is without hitting traffic on Route 4 eastbound while averaging a driving speed of 63.86mph. Note: That seems like a high rate of speed on Fiske Blvd and Stadium Parkway.

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Bowden and Memolo talk about the #Nats and #Mets

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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