Mike Rizzo goes one-on-one with Mark Zuckerman on the Nats' offseason
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Fri, 18 Jan 2013|
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CSN Washington dot com. Mike I'll see you had Tanya bullpen depth and their story -- clipper like you feel like adding Rafael Soriano was the right move to make right now. Reno strengthening strength you know we -- the ultimate confidence and then story in corporate and Matthews and stand in the Russell. We electable than last year we lovable this year and and it's it's it's a matter of more depth. You never have too many arms and you can never have too many guys with with closer mentality some clothes stuff. It's torn has plenty of experience for the last couple seasons pitched very well maybe up until that final game how do you want him. To approach all of this and and what we've got sick and going in spring training. Or you say to him that that we love them we love his stuff was is his attitude and and assess his mental makeup. And he just has to do what he can do and and is utilized stuff that he -- -- where -- pitching in the eighth inning or seventh in -- ordinance and he's gonna have ample opportunities to -- this ball club and he's he's going to learn from pretty good cloture and unfortunately now and there and it's it's going to you know it's going to be beneficial to him. Now once you resigning Adam LaRoche and you Michael Morse might be extraneous so. What made that move the right move to make right now. Well you know we got the deal that we want to get to read you know we we identified the type of player that we wanted to -- we have media -- it's a small small group of of players that we -- there accepted for for Michael because he's a quality player we need to get a quality package backed we wanted to infuse. Talent -- it back into a minor league system with Swiss and prospects and we feel that we've we've got two really good prospects and and the possibility of him on the CSN Washington dot com.
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Bruce Allen and Redskins are looking to build on last year's successCSN Washington dot com is it a little bit different this you're not gonna sneak up by anyone you're gonna have a little bit more pulls on your back. That's okay. That's OK we've. We believe in our players the Redskins have planning to be confident about after capturing the division crown last season but despite all of their success. GM Bruce Allen stresses that they can't feel too complacent. feel comfortable we have to get better. And fortunately we have a young. Core of the team and we think those players better this year. With the season veterans that we have I think we have good leadership. You gotta do and that's look. One key element of that leadership faces linebacker Brian Orakpo return after missing most of the 112 season it's more. Won the possible. Well I know the the other part of the defense is also excited to get them back in. He's got a great attitude it's followed all the doctors. We need Brian Orakpo. The Redskins held their offseason additions will be that pushed the team needs to go even further next season. And his work was completed on the skins are you training facility in Richmond there will still be plenty of work players need to do in Tampa. their spot on the roster coach Shanahan from the beginning is one of competition and we're gonna have an excellent competition at a lot of positions. Not just for playing time but to make the football team. That's a training camp sport let everybody. Have an opportunity to succeed. CSN Washington dot com.
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Bryce Harper historically struggles in San FranCsnwashington.com. Bryce Harper that San Francisco is one of his favorite places to play. That may be the case but he's struggled a hit there so far in his young career has won 43 batting average at AT&T park is his third worst. At any ballpark in baseball. Joining me now as I and that's insider mark Zuckerman mark let's start with Bryce Harper how important. Is his presence to the line up right now. It's really important cordoning. Do that often struggles they've had a lot of it is attributable. Being out mall adjacent worked out people at the two of them in the to get there once in the last eighteen. Harper the most productive hitter. The loss of work an injury has been just as beaten. Good and giving it it is of course the collective one teaching. With the 200 spot for an awful and not put anybody on base for. We're in there and broke him right in. Absolutely but one guy who hasn't been struggling right now as Adam LaRoche what's been his secret to his recent six sacks. Well you know if this goes back to a little especially with chipper Jones and Atlanta at the beginning of the former rival but also former teammate as it is when he played Chipper knows his swing started he stepped it up with a deep in Houston and it but until with a career high hitting streak. I think I the pressure off and for awhile is looking just to go the opposite he is. The last few days he seemed to turn a ball and really get to that just you know. And the right that huge difference that it was going in there and going to do you know. As long to get harper back it'll be quarter but it can be used to edge. CSN Washington dot com.
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Oxbow pulls off Preakness upsetCSN Washington dot com. So the wait for eight triple crowd continues. It was I spoke pull it off the upset fifteen to one. Longshot if it was a convincing win here at the Preakness Stakes. He's jockey Gary Stevens said after the race he knew this what was over at the half mile post I fully expected that. Or possibly departing and will take charge. Would be making a run but I am I came into the stretch so loaded I couldn't believe that no one challenged me going into the far turn and when no one did. I said I think everybody is in trouble right now a lot of critics are gonna think that I'm. Still haven't seen this but I one with a little something left or not. When Gary turned the corner and we got that little bit a spurt on the lead change. Then I got to feel pretty comfortable of course I'm not auction or at that point I'm I'm trying to find will take charge and title town five and see how this things unfolding. After they you know hit the 36 people only watched one on. Satellite TU. To win a classic. It's fifty years old after seven years retirement it doesn't get any better this this this is a super super sweet and it happened for the right guy. All the stars were aligned in. I couldn't be more pleased. When in the saying it. It's even more special win it for the Wayne Lukas and his team. historic day here at old hall of fame trainer. He now has fourteen Triple wins which is the most of all time. In Baltimore Brett Myers Comcast sports net. CSN Washington dot com.
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Beltway Baseball: Why Strasburg will be just fineCSN Washington dot com. Are welcomed the beltway baseball here on CSN Washington dot com on chase Hughes and mark Zuckerman. And mark we've been through a month and a few weeks or overly down here. And the nationals as a team having kinda inconsistent but one thing that is really travelling fans and people around league starting to notice is it consistency of Stephen Strasburg. The numbers aren't that far off from what we've seen but it anyone who's watched him over the last few years and tell maybe there's something something a little bit off he's having trouble finding the strike zone. What do you make of the situation and do you think it is that they concern yeah I mean the thing is like you said the numbers don't look. It that far off feeds the pitching. for big league pitcher but he set such a high bar for so we've come to expect so much. Patted him it just doesn't quite look like what you expected the biggest thing is fastball command. You know he's not. Throwing strikes getting ahead in the count. The way it did it was so amazing about him as a rookie when he came back originally from the Tommy John surgery was the fact that. He could be a power pitcher while still having excellent coming that deadly combination. Just not quite there yet. Curve balls still excellent still excellent. I think you're seeing signs of improvement I think he's getting there but he still working on to think that it's mechanical mostly. And they they seem to determine and it's not physical it's mormons and you can see it on the on the field he's the body language that. He's impatient he gets frustrates easily and this just a matter of him being such a perfectionist. He's not used to not being great. He's used to being great not just good right exactly and I think that's that next step and take if he's really gonna become an ace of the World Series contender. It's about hey it doesn't matter what happens behind him Doesn't matter what run support I the umpire and I'm gonna go out I'm gonna beat no matter We're seeing there and do that right now I think it's time for Strasburg if he really wants to become an elite. Top. The line pitcher. That's what he needs you now quickly another guy who's had trouble as you can also I think might be a little bit more of a concern is his command has been quite there. I think it's curve ball isn't quite as sharp as it was last year this is something that might he might work out the kinks out. But he has been pride stuff yeah I mean an more erratic certainly had some fantastic start and that's really troubling ones I think his last start Pittsburgh may have been a turning point for them. Got a huge jam in the first inning lead off home runs very first pitch then he loads the bases. Nobody out. Battle back and get out six straight after that I can almost see a little something clicked inside and minutes that. Maybe this you Ozzie admitted afterwards and younger version him would have melted there. Let it spiral out control. That might be assigned an comes back next time that made it a big turning point mark let's talk about the catching situation we're moving through May and so far Davey has. Rotated kind of alternated and depending on the edge depending on the he said that at some he's gonna have to make a decision we saw over the weekend go back to back with Ramos. At some point. Maybe you and you think we're gonna see him go with the primary catcher I think so maybe not a true number one in the and a guy you know catching you know once or twice a week and I think he does. Number one wanna play the hot hand whoever it is. I think he hopes its problems he understands that everyone understands. That Wilson Ramos has higher ceilings and Kurt Suzuki put the whole package together offensively defensively he can do more so I think you're gonna start to see that. It Suzuki gets hot they'll play obviously. I think the preference be for to ultimately take over. I went into the numbers last week how the pitching staff has done with Suzuki and For some reason everybody but you done way better with over the past few seasons in their career ERA is. Are better with him in their career marks I don't I don't know I can't tell you why that is but that's the case yeah and I the pictures all insist they'll have both guys I don't know if there even where it. Yzerman tops they had success with Suzuki and it's amazing stats that would certainly something overtime that you have to look him. Now as we're getting close to the middle of may what we take stock with the division first the Braves came out really hot out of the gate. It was it was really at the point were you thinking all right who's gonna slow him down or what's gonna slow them down they didn't seem to have a weakness whatsoever. The nationals. Meanwhile your 500. But as they're starting to get things going they're not that far behind it could be much worse at this point oh absolutely mean if the nationals. Figure that April was their worst month but that's as bad against them they're going to be all right because they hover around 500. And the rays came back to earth and what's it was gonna happen next maybe not. To this extent you're surprised by that we're gonna play 900 ball. All right I think it was twelve and when you start here to me what's interesting is all of a sudden they're closer Craig Kimbrel. Most dominant closer in baseball last year and the first month this year he's blown three saves in days yeah giving up home runs. That's. Staggered problem right there I mean who knows just a blip. Or something long term about but also without Johnny Panthers won their top. Setup men and PG beaches and come back and just came back Heyward been out for a while there. BJ Upton knocked off to a good start the play and they got a lot of weapons are they're going to be good. Long term but they may not be quite easily as we and BJ Upton has been really bad and having having gas was really early on but. he's not looking like the next Mike Capps at this point about one thing I think it's interesting as the two best guys I think in their offense have to look at the numbers today. They've been Justin Upton and Chris Johnson who of course were with the team much yeah exactly they talk on all the offseason moves it made it mentioned Johnson as much damage in the Upton Brothers that night do you think getting Freddie Freeman back to deal with me that isn't fantastic all around first baseman. The Braves are going to be fine long term this can make good race really do believe that. CSN Washington dot com.
