The 2012 Washington Nationals season ended in about the worst way possible, but that’s all over starting today. The 2013 season is finally underway. Pitchers and catchers are required to report to the Washington Nationals Spring Training facility in Viera, Florida by today, though many like Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, and Zach Duke have already reported.

There will be a lot of energy focused on Gio Gonzalez in the first couple of days, but don’t get caught up in that. Enjoy that we can start talking about real baseball, and the first spring games are less than two weeks away. Happy Pitchers and Catchers, everyone!

Thanks for your patience, readers. This is the last installment of the 2012 Player-By-Player wrap up. (photo: The Washington Post)

Henry Rodriguez is the ultimate “pitcher with potential.” He has potential because he can hit triple-digits on the radar gun with his fastball on command. The problem: he rarely knows where it’s going. His only truly decent season was his 2011 campaign where he had a 3.56 ERA in 65.2 innings. Unfortunately, he also had a 1.508 WHIP and led the National League with 14 wild pitches.

In 2012, his potential earned him a few games as the Nationals' closer. Unfortunately, he blew 25% of his save chances before he was removed from the role in favor of Tyler Clippard. In just 29.1 innngs because of a back injury, Rodriguez still finished third in wild pitches in the National League and finished with a 5.83 ERA.

There was a Nationals Classic on MASN the other day, and Henry Rodriguez was on the mound. It is easy to forget how terrifying it was to watch HRod pitch. When he’s on, he is absolutely untouchable with his fastball and an occasional changeup. When he’s not on, it’s worse than a train wreck. The catcher’s mitt could be a mile wide and he couldn’t hit it.

Next year: It’s hard to imagine how Rodriguez cracks the 25-man roster this season because of the team’s depth there, but if he doesn’t, he’s out of minor league options which would put him on the open market. If he becomes available, some team will pick him up, seeing the same potential in him that the Nationals did when they acquired him in the Josh Willingham trade.

Next up: Some 2013 season previews

Throughout the offseason, The Nats Blog will look back at every player’s 2012 season to summarize and analyze his performance, and we’ll look ahead to his possible role in 2013. We’ll go from #1 Steve Lombardozzi all the way to #63 Henry Rodriguez until Spring Training. Enjoy.

Though his call-up to the major leagues was a bit overshadowed by Bryce Harper’s the day before, Tyler Moore stepped into the spotlight in his own right during the 2012 season.

The 26-year-old, who was drafted by the Nationals in 2008 in  the 16^th round, had been one of the Nats’ top prospects for some time, with good reason. In both 2010 and 2011, Moore hit 31 home runs in the minor leagues and held a batting average of .269 and .270, respectively, which earned him a slew of minor league honors and awards. Moore continued to show his prowess at the plate against major league pitchers when he  played with the big club, although it took him a little while to adjust.

In his first month with the team he hit .158 with seven strikeouts in 19 at-bats. After being briefly sent back down to the minors, he was recalled on June 7 and remained with the team through the end of the season. Upon his return, he showed the potential he had flaunted in the minors. In the following 63 games with the Nationals, he had 137 at-bats and produced a slash line of .277/.349/.562, with 10 home runs 29 total RBI.

It is also worth noting that Moore, a first baseman by trade, had never played outfield before the 2012 season, but he spent the majority of his time there for the Nationals. Moore credited Bo Porter, the Nationals’ former third base coach, with helping him learn to play the position, and though he wasn’t quite Gold Glove caliber, he never made an error in 30 total chances.

Moore’s first season in the majors also gave him the fortunate opportunity to play in the postseason, and the rookie earned his participation. He saw his sole at-bat of the postseason in Game 1 of the NLDS, and with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Moore salvaged a game that was looking grim. Moore lofted a 93-mile-per-hour fastball into left field, scoring Michael Morse and Ian Desmond and pushing the score to 3-2, Nationals. The St. Louis Cardinals didn’t score again in the remaining innings, and Moore went home a hero after his first-ever postseason appearance.

Next Year: Moore’s days in the minors appear to be over. In 2013 he will most likely fill a similar role to the one he held in 2012, as a member of the Goon Squad, backup left fielder and first baseman, unless injuries thrust him into a starting position. He had a fairly high strikeout percentage (26.9) in 2012, which isn’t ideal for a pinch hitter, but having a starter-caliber player as an option off the bench is too valuable an asset to waste in the minors.

Up Next: #63 Henry Rodriguez

Christian Garcia is the type of player that you want to see succeed, because he has a story. He’s had Tommy John surgery twice, which is a nail in the coffin for most pitches, but he’s shown some success following his second surgery.

Garcia was called up to the big club in September with Zach Duke, and he is being groomed as a starter for the Nats now after a great September and postseason. He lit up the minors with an astonishing 0.86 ERA and 0.917 WHIP with Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse before his call up, proving his value since his acquisition from the Yankees organization.

In nine out of 12 levels in his career’s, Garcia’s had a 9.00 or higher K/9, and in September 2012, he stranded almost 98% of baserunners in 13 games with a 10.66 K/9. If Garcia can stay healthy, this is the type of performance that people can expect from the righty.

Next year: I’m not sure what to expect from the experiment of stretching out Christian Garcia as a starter. He certainly has great potential, but his injury history with major elbow surgery is a point of great concern.

I expect Garcia to start in Triple-A as a starter to see if they can make it work, but he’ll probably be the first call up as a righty reliever should any injuries occur at the MLB level. His talent is too valuable to a team that is going to be in contention for big things this year.

Next up: #57 Tyler Moore

Throughout the offseason, The Nats Blog will look back at every player’s 2012 season to summarize and analyze his performance, and we’ll look ahead to his possible role in 2013. We’ll go from #1 Steve Lombardozzi all the way to #63 Henry Rodriguez until Spring Training. Enjoy.

There’s not much to say about Brad Lidge and the 2012 season. The former star closer was brought into the organization as insurance for Drew Storen, the Nats young closer, but that never worked the way the team had hoped. Storen went down with elbow surgery and Lidge never panned out before being released and retiring this offseason.

Eury Perez deserves a bit more exploration. He was a September call up for the Nats, mainly as a baserunner and a defensive replacement. After rising from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Syracuse in 2012, Perez has really shown his value. He posted an impressive .314/.344/.705 slash line at all MiLB levels last season.

Perez’s claim to fame is speed, though, and he let that show with the big club. He appeared in 13 games, eight of them as a pinch runner. He had three stolen bases and three runs in those limited chances.

All of this combined made him the seventh-best prospect in the Nationals organization for 2013, according to Baseball America. He didn’t appear on the previous list, but that probably has more to do with top prospects leaving the organization than with his significant improvement.

Next Year: Lidge will be golfing after announcing his retirement in December. Perez will probably start in Triple-A to get some more opportunities, but it’s possible we could see him again in 2013 if a few key players suffer injuries.

Up Next: #56 Christian Garcia

Throughout the offseason, The Nats Blog will look back at every player’s 2012 season to summarize and analyze his performance, and we’ll look ahead to his possible role in 2013. We’ll go from #1 Steve Lombardozzi all the way to #63 Henry Rodriguez until Spring Training. Enjoy.

Carlos Maldonado is a journeyman catcher that has been in the Nationals organization almost since its existence. Even still, the 34-year-old catcher who pushes 300 lbs. has just 74 MLB plate appearances in his career. He was called up in 2012 after the ludicrous number of injuries to Nats catchers. He didn’t record a hit.

Michael Gonzalez was a surprisingly important member of the Nats bullpen in 2012, especially during Sean Burnett’s struggles. Gonzalez recored a 3.03 ERA in 35.2 innings, and he pitched well against righties and lefties. It was a bit of a reclamation season for Gonzalez, who had struggled in Baltimore and Texas the previous season.

Ryan Mattheus, the Firework himself, had another great year in 2012. He posted a 2.85 ERA, nearly identical to his 2.81 ERA from 2011, but his WHIP and K/9 improved in more than double the number of innings. He can light up the radar gun in the mid-90s and can even pitch late innings. Here’s hoping he keeps his warm up song, because it’s impossible to be angry when you hear it.

Next year: Maldonado will sit in the minor leagues for the Nationals again in 2013. Hopefully he doesn’t make an appearance for the Nats, because that would mean there were serious injury issues at the catcher’s spot again. Gonzalez signed a one-year deal to play for the Milwaukee Brewers. Ryan Mattheus will work middle innings the majority of the time for the Nats now that Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen, and Rafael Soriano have the late innings.

Up Next: #54 Brad Lidge and #55 Eury Perez

Throughout the offseason, The Nats Blog will look back at every player’s 2012 season to summarize and analyze his performance, and we’ll look ahead to his possible role in 2013. We’ll go from #1 Steve Lombardozzi all the way to #63 Henry Rodriguez until Spring Training. Enjoy.

For Ross Detwiler, last season was the one that Washington Nationals fans had hoped for since June 2007, when he was drafted sixth overall. His career had really flailed with mediocre appearances and hip injuries, until he took the league by storm as one of the best fifth starters in baseball in 2012.

It was a bit of a coup when Detwiler was named to the 25-man roster at the end of spring training instead of John Lannan. Lannan was widely considered a lock for the rotation, but Dewiler’s impressive end to 2011 and a good spring combined with the reality of remaining minor league options for Lannan and an injured Chien-Ming Wang sealed the deal.

Wang’s return from injury created some uncertainty for Detwiler, and he was moved to the bullpen for about a month. But after Wang’s struggles, Detwiler locked down his spot in the rotation for the rest of the season. He posted career-best numbers as a starter with a 3.40 ERA and 1.223 WHIP. He also did something very unique for a starter at the MLB level. He threw a ton of fastballs.

More than 80% of Detwiler’s pitches were fastballs, five percent higher than his career average. He clearly became comfortable with the pitch, and he even started throwing it harder as a starter, averaging 93 miles per hour on the pitch.

Earlier this offseason, Detwiler signed a one-year deal worth $2.3375 million to avoid arbitration, and it was a well-deserved raise. He was the Nationals' best starter in the postseason, and in just one season, he became an invaluable member of the best pitching rotation in baseball.

Next Year: I expect Detwiler to be the Nats' number four starter in 2013 with Dan Haren sliding into the fifth spot. Assuming Gio Gonzalez starts the season with the Nats, he’ll be in the number two spot, giving the rotation perfect left-right balance if Detwiler takes the four spot.

Up Next: #49 Carlos Maldonado, #51 Michael Gonzalez, #52 Ryan Mattheus

Throughout the offseason, The Nats Blog will look back at every player’s 2012 season to summarize and analyze his performance, and we’ll look ahead to his possible role in 2013. We’ll go from #1 Steve Lombardozzi all the way to #63 Henry Rodriguez until Spring Training. Enjoy.

When the Washington Nationals traded for Gio Gonzalez from the Oakland Athletics, it became the biggest splash of the Nats’ 2011 offseason. Nats fans started getting excited about how the rotation was shaping up, and Gio didn’t disappoint.

Gio led the pack among National League pitchers and commanded respect from opposing batters. He pitched 199.1 innings for the Nationals in 2012, and recorded a 2.89 ERA (sixth in NL), .206 batting average against (first in NL), and 1.13 WHIP (eighth in NL). His 207 strikeouts ranked fourth in the National League, and his 21 wins ranked first. All of these tremendous numbers are what earned him consideration as a Cy Young award finalist.

He won Pitcher of the Month for May, when got the win in all five of the games he pitched, and recorded a 2.25 ERA and .156 BAA with 45 strikeouts. In 2012, Gio was also invited to play in the All-Star Game for the second time in his career, and he won the Warren Spahn Award as recognition for being the best left-handed pitcher of the year. He could also easily win MLB’s Most Permanent Smile Award if there was such a thing, as the most smiley National brought a great positive energy and sense of humor to the team. 

After pitching for Oakland in the American League for four years, Gio only had seven career at-bats to his name when he moved to Washington. He didn’t have the most success at the plate (he finished with a .094 batting average), however, he did hit his first major league home run and he learned a little something about sliding when running the bases (Watch this and tell me you didn’t laugh).

Next Year: Gio is signed to a five-year, $42 million contract, with team vesting options for 2017 and 2018, so he can be expected to be showing his smiling face around Washington for many years to come. If he is not subject to disciplinary action from MLB from the ongoing PED investigation he and several other players are involved in, he will pitch second in the rotation for the Nationals.

Up Next: #48 Ross Detwiler