Philadelphia Phillies starter Nola pitches against the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park in the 2016 season. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports As the Philadelphia Phillies continue to build back towards competitiveness, the development of a handful of their best youngsters is key to 2017 success.
Category: National League
Wieters joins Nationals; Judge hits long homer for Yankees
In this May 31, 2016 file photo, Matt Wieters, then with the Baltimore Orioles, waits for the pitch as home plate umpire Cory Blaser watches during the third inning of a baseball game as Boston Red Sox’ Travis Shaw bats, in Baltimore. The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with a 2018 player option with catcher Matt Wieters on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.
Happy to have a ‘J-O-B,’ Lind lands in camp with Nationals
Even if Adam Lind signed with an annual contender that has a first baseman coming off his worst season and an aging left fielder, he spoke in frank terms while discussing what his contract offer from the Washington Nationals meant. “It’s a J-O-B,” Lind said.
Nutting: Pirates had ‘step back’ in ’16, but talent is there
” The Pittsburgh Pirates missed the playoffs last season for the first time in four years, but that won’t cause chairman Bob Nutting to abandon the team’s steady, build-from-within approach. “We have not embraced, as many teams have, that you have to go in cycles and you have to commit to five years of a bad team in a rebuilding cycle,” Nutting said Monday after addressing the team at spring training.
‘Here I come to save the day!’ Eaton likes Mighty Mouse look
Eaton, who is expected to start in center field a… . Washington Nationals center fielder Adam Eaton, right, blows a bubble during a spring training baseball workout Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Torey Lovullo Seeks Consistency
For the Arizona Diamondbacks to rise to the top of the National League West Division standings, manager Torey Lovullo asks just one thing. Well, Lovullo, beginning his first season as field manager of the Diamondbacks, may have several requests of his players.
A look at the NL East at the start of spring training
In this May 24, 2016, file photo, then-Toronto Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey delivers against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game in New York. Former NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey signed with the the Atlanta Braves on a one-year contract in the off-season, as the team added a 42-year-old knuckleballer to a thin rotation as the team moves into a new ballpark.
Diamondbacks report with essentially same team as in 2016
The Arizona Diamondbacks reported to spring training on Monday with a roster not a whole lot different than last season’s. With new general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo at the helm, the Diamondbacks are planning to give their young players another shot to turn the organization around.
Non-roster invitees to watch in the National League West
Diamondbacks 101 provides 24/7 obsessive sports coverage of the Diamondbacks as a part of Sports Media 101 . For news, op/ed, game reviews, team updates and even rumors you will find all of it on Diamondbacks 101.
Retooled Cardinals have sights set on postseason return
It was one thing for many people to predict St. Louis would finish behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central Division before last season. It’s another matter entirely for the Cardinals heading into this spring training, knowing they are indeed the team doing the chasing of the defending World Series champions.
Washington Nationals: Is Bryce Harper The Best Right Fielder In NL East?
Aug 21, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper watches his three run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Today, our State of the NL East continues as we take a look at where Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper ranks in the division As spring training gets closer and closer, we continue to rank the National League East by position.
NL West teams at the start of spring training
In this Oct. 18, 2016, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager hits an RBI single during the third inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball championship series against the Chicago Cubs, in Los Angeles. After coming within two games of reaching the World Series, the Dodgers had a simple plan going into the offseason: keep their roster intact and make a couple of additions.
NL East teams at the start of spring training
A team-by-team look at the National League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad: Going campin’: After winning the NL East for the third time in five years, and once again losing their opening playoff series, the Nationals made just a couple of significant off-season additions. Instead, GM Mike Rizzo brings his team to its new spring training facility counting on the returning core to be productive, including RHPs Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg , RF Bryce Harper , and INFs Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon.
NL Central teams at the start of spring training
In this July 7, 2016, file photo, Chicago Cubs’ Kris Bryant scores on a single hit by Ben Zobrist during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, in Chicago.
Colorado Rockies: 3 Things You Should Know on February 10
… off right. Along with looking at the other teams in the National League West, the Associated Press wrote (and Fox Sports published) this look at the Rockies heading into the season. Spoiler alert: There are a lot of good things said about the team …
Rockies spend big in offseason to bolster bullpen, 1st base
The usually cost-conscious Colorado Rockies went on a little bit… . FILE – In this May 31, 2016, file photo, then-Texas Rangers’ Ian Desmond watches his two-run double off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber during the eighth inning of a baseball game, in Cleveland.
Miami Marlins: Jason Hammel is an Intriguing Option
… Hammel’s stuff is declining after he was left off the Cubs postseason roster, according to John Perrotto of FanRag Sports. The market is down on Hammel, who only saw his ERA go from 3.74 to 3.83 from 2015 to 2016, but his FIP indicated that the …
Arizona Diamondbacks: Starting Rotation is the Biggest Key in 2017
The Arizona Diamondbacks were one of the more disappointing MLB stories in 2016, and three starting pitchers may be their biggest 2017 keys to success. After winning the National League West Division crown in the 2011 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks fell to a .500 finish in each of the next two seasons.
Scully’s swan song season a memorable one
Vin Scully’s final year of broadcasting brought smiles, tears and unforgettable poignant memories … and that was just in the announcing booth. Since Harry Truman was president, every generation of Dodgers fans adored Scully.
Miami Marlins May Be Surprise Team of 2017
The National League East is expected to come down to the New York Mets or the Washington Nationals next year. However, the Miami Marlins may surprise both teams and make a push for the division.
Miami Marlins May Be Surprise Team of 2017
The National League East is expected to come down to the New York Mets or the Washington Nationals next year. However, the Miami Marlins may surprise both teams and make a push for the division.
Jhoulys Chacin joins Padres, who keep Clayton Richard
Richard, 33, was 3-4 with a 3.33 ERA this year for the Chicago Cubs and Padres. He also pitched with San Diego from 2009-13.
Nationals’ starter Max Scherzer on second Cy Young, home run issues + more…
Max Scherzer gave up 27 home runs in 228 2a 3 innings in 2015, in the first year of his 7-year/$210M deal with the Washington Nationals, which was tied for the fifth-most home runs allowed among qualified National League starters. He gave up 17 in 96 2a 3 IP in the second half after allowing 10 in 132 innings in the first-half of the season.