MLB Team Report – Washington Nationals – INSIDE PITCH
The Nationals of 2013 will look a lot like some of the powerful Oriole teams that manager Davey Johnson played on in the 1960s and 1970s. Those teams were loaded with power and depth, and the Nationals will have plenty of the latter.
One place where they’ll have some real depth will be at catcher. The Nationals are going to have the good combination of Wilson Ramos and Kurt Suzuki there.
Ramos, who pushed Ivan Rodriguez out of a job, is trying to come back from a serious knee injury last May that ended his season. Johnson said Friday that Ramos will start Monday’s season opener with the Marlins.
Ramos had a .333 average this spring and looked like he was well on the way back. The Nationals had thought he would be the team’s No. 1 catcher for a long time, but last year’s injury forced them to make the move to get Suzuki from the A’s later in the season.
Suzuki is a solid defensive catcher who struggled at the plate for a while last year in Washington, but he eventually settled in. A good defensive catcher is perfect in the backup role, and that’s probably what would happen to Suzuki if Ramos comes all the way back.
Johnson could start either player without problem. Suzuki’s been a longtime starter, and Ramos is growing into one.
The fact that Johnson has those options makes life easier for the skipper for various reasons.
If Ramos runs into problems coming back for whatever reason, Johnson could put Suzuki in to take some pressure off. Or Johnson could use Suzuki just to catch certain pitchers.
Backup catchers often are guys who don’t play much and can’t be starters, but the Nationals have a different situation this season. They’ve got two players who could start for any team in baseball.
It just gives Johnson more cards to play in more ways this season, one where the Nationals probably already have as much talent as any team in baseball.
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MLB Team Report – Washington Nationals – NOTES, QUOTES
–OF Bryce Harper sat out a couple of games to rest a sore left thumb, but he will play when the Nationals open the season against Miami on Monday.
Harper jammed his thumb March 22 while batting against Detroit and aggravated it March 26 against Miami.
–RHP Stephen Strasburg gets the nod to start Opening Day and will have the restraints of an innings limit lifted in 2013. Strasburg admitted early in camp that knowing he was going to be shut down in September was on his mind and might have contributed to uneven late-season performances. General manager Mike Rizzo said before this season that Strasburg is free to pitch for as long as necessary this season as the team hopes for an even longer October run.
–RHP Jordan Zimmermann felt like he accomplished what he set out to do in spring training — stay healthy and get a lot of work in as he prepares for April. He was also able to fine tune his pitches. “I’m pretty much ready to go,” Zimmermann told the Washington Post. “I definitely feel good. The fastball is right where I want it, and the changeup has come a long ways. I feel like I can throw it any time.”
–2B Danny Espinosa hopes for a more consistent season after finishing spring training strong at the plate. Espinosa’s 2012 campaign was hurt due to a troublesome shoulder, and his strikeout total rose to an uncomfortable 189, the highest of his career. He has also struck out 355 times the past two seasons, with particular trouble making contact from the left side of the plate. But his contact has improved in spring, and he continues to show a good amount of power.
–RHP Chris Young opted out of his minor league contract with the Nationals after an effective four-inning stint March 25 lowered his spring ERA to 2.25. Young gave up just one run, which was unearned, in his final outing against the Astros. There was no room for him in the Nationals’ loaded rotation, so he’ll look for a big-league contract with another team. Young, 33, went 4-9 with a 4.15 ERA in 20 starts for the Mets last season.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1 — LHP Zach Duke is the only southpaw in the bullpen after the team did not re-sign LHP Tom Gorzelanny, LHP Sean Burnett or LHP Michael Gonzalez. Veteran LHP J.C. Romero could be an option sometime during the season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “‘World Series or bust.’ That’s probably the slogan this year. But I’m comfortable with that.” — Manager Davey Johnson.
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MLB Team Report – Washington Nationals – ROSTER REPORT
The Nationals head into 2013 with what is considered their most talented 25-man roster since they arrived in D.C. in 2005. The addition of CF Denard Span, RHP Rafael Soriano and RHP Dan Haren were the major offseason changes to a team that won a major league-leading 98 games last season.
RHP Stephen Strasburg has no innings limit this season and LF Bryce Harper is the coming off a Rookie of the Year honor. 3B Ryan Zimmerman, RF Jayson Werth and 2B Danny Espinosa all should be back healthy to maintain the power in a potent lineup.
ROTATION:
1. RHP Stephen Strasburg
2. LHP Gio Gonzalez
3. RHP Jordan Zimmermann
4. RHP Dan Haren
5. LHP Ross Detwiler
Strasburg should be able to go 200-plus innings this season and Gonzalez and Detwiler also showcased their talents in the World Baseball Classic. There is concern about whether Haren can return to the form he often showed earlier in his career.
Detwiler could move into the No. 4 spot after an impressive Game 4 outing last season against the Cardinals in the divisional series. Zimmermann has worked to fine tune his fastball and if his change-up can improve, it will make life difficult for hitters trying to advance runners.
There is no true sixth starter available if injury to one of the top five occurs. Veteran RHP Chris Young looked good in camp, but he opted out of his minor league contract. LHP Zach Duke and RHP Craig Stammen can start, if necessary, from the bullpen. LHP John Lannan has moved on to the Phillies and Triple-A RHP Yunesky Maya has never been able to get enough batters out to be a legitimate major league No. 5.
BULLPEN:
RHP Rafael Soriano (closer)
RHP Drew Storen
RHP Tyler Clippard
LHP Zach Duke
RHP Craig Stammen
RHP Ryan Mattheus
RHP Henry Rodriguez
This was a strong part of the 2012 roster, but a trio of left-handers moved on (Tom Gorzelanny, Michael Gonzalez and Sean Burnett).
There was concern after Storen blew a save opportunity in Game 5 of the division series last season to the Cardinals, and how that would mentally affect the young reliever in the long term. Some believed that the acquisition of Soriano meant that the franchise had lost a bit of confidence in Storen. General manager Mike Rizzo insisted that was not the case.
Having Clippard, Storen and Soriano to close out games appears to be an advantage. The slightly altered middle relieving corps, including the return of Rodriguez, who can throw 100-mph fastball but lacked control as the season wore on as he battled an elbow injury, remains a question mark. Stammen and Mattheus were solid most of last season. RHP Christian Garcia begins the season on the 15-day disabled list with a sore forearm.
LINEUP:
1. CF Denard Span
2. RF Jayson Werth
3. LF Bryce Harper
4. 3B Ryan Zimmerman
5. 1B Adam LaRoche
6. SS Ian Desmond
7. 2B Danny Espinosa
8. C Wilson Ramos
For the first time, the Nationals have a legitimate and consistent prototypical leadoff hitter — Span. Manager Davey Johnson could move Werth further down in the lineup or put Harper in the cleanup spot, to take advantage of their power numbers. Werth at No. 2 is good because of his speed and on-base percentage.
With the return of C Wilson Ramos, Nos. 1 through 8 would all be serious power threats. Espinosa is a switch-hitter who struggled from the left side of the plate last season. Desmond has quietly become one of the most important bats in the lineup and worked all spring on improving contact.
This team did not steal bases very well last season, so they are hoping that Span and Werth at the top of the order will allow for more men-on-base opportunities for Zimmerman, Harper and LaRoche. Will the loss of 1B/LF Michael Morse (Mariners) in the middle of the lineup slow run-producing or can this trio pick up the slack?
RESERVES:
INF Chad Tracy
INF/OF Tyler Moore
INF/OF Steve Lombardozzi
OF Roger Bernadina
C Kurt Suzuki
The Nationals made sure to lock up Tracy before the end of last season because of his pinch-hitting abilities. Moore could have a breakout season and would start on several less-talented teams. Lombardozzi can play several positions, has good on-base numbers and makes few defensive mistakes. Ramos also can be a starter if not for his rehabbing of an injured knee. Bernadina adds a quick left-handed bat and can run down most outfield fly balls with his speed in center field.
MEDICAL WATCH:
–OF Bryce Harper (sore left thumb) was hurt March 22, and he nursed the injury the next week. He still expected to be ready for Opening Day.
–RHP Christian Garcia (partial tear in forearm tendon) was hurt Feb. 21. He went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He probably will miss the season’s first month, according to the Washington Post.
