Lefty Pérez Signs for a Shot at Rotation – The Post
Vet Perez added to rotation battle – The Wash. Times
In Perez, Nats get a gamer–and a teacher – The Free Lance-Star
Yesterday, LHP Odalis Pérez non-guaranteed minor league contract with the Nationals. He’ll earn $850,000 if he makes the MLB roster with incentives kicking in after 20 starts. Last year, Pérez made 26 starts, compiling a 8-11 record with a 5.57 ERA.
Leader in the clubhouse – The Wash. Times
Zimmerman emits confidence, quietly – The Free Lance-Star
3B Ryan Zimmerman is assuming more of a leadership role as he enters his third spring training with Washington. Manager Manny Acta asked him to be more vocal and the “face of the franchise” is responding.
This is a big year for Zimmerman. He has been through two seasons and this may be the year where we find out if he is a great player or merely a good one.
Nationals Say Fare Well To Their Young Arms – The Post
Yet another, boy the pitching situation has come a long way from a year ago article.
“It’s more rookies this year than so-called retreads,” pitcher Jason Bergmann said. “Guys like Lannan, Detwiler, Balester — guys who have come up through the organization, guys who are our guys. It just shows that what we’re doing is working. [The front office] is picking the right guys, and the right guys are moving through the system.
Let’s guess how many days until we see this article again in one of the four papers at spring training.
Lannan loving life after quick ascent – Florida Today
LHP Jon Lannan is one of those new pitchers mentioned above. He blew through the minors last year and had a 2-2 record in six major league starts.
THOM LOVERRO – Younger Boone brother shared a light of hope – The Wash. Times
When Aaron Boone was with the Reds he convinced long-time Dayton Daily News sportswriter Hal McCoy not to quit despite going almost completely blind. Boone is also a hero to me (and should be to you too) for his 2003 ALCS walk-off home run to win the Yankees the pennant. Even if you don’t like the Yankees, think of it as him holding off the insufferable Red Sox nation for another year.
Nats’ lefty Ray King sees the light – Florida Today
Another “Ray King isn’t as fat” article.
Q & A with Chad Cordero – The Wash. Times
The closer is now one of the longest-tenured Nats at only 25 years old.
EDITORIAL – District hits foul on stadium costs – The Wash. Examiner
This misleading editorial was picked apart by Tim Lemke of The Wash. Times on the chatter blog.
Spring Training Report – The Wash. Times
Take A Look Inside The New Nationals Ballpark – WUSA
Another ballpark tour! I take issue with the line “District residents will see what their $611 million in tax dollars gets them. Nationals fans will see what their three years of suffering through RFK gets them.” That is misleading — District residents are not taxed to build the ballpark. The bonds that funded construction are being paid off by a tax on large businesses, so there is no direct residential taxation.