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.

Craig Stammen got his 2012 job after Mike Rizzo and Davey Johnson saw all they needed from him during his 2011 call up. He showed potential in five long-relief appearances, allowing just one hit and no runs in 8.1 innings that September as he revived his fledgling career. In comparison, the 2009-2010 version of Stammen posted a 5.12 ERA and a 1.404 WHIP in 38 starts, and it looked like he may be going the way of Garrett Mock, which is to say out of the organization and possibly out of baseball.

In his rebirth as a reliever, Stammen was able to concentrate on throwing hard and using his two best pitches: a fastball and a devastating slider. His average fastball velocity was up more than two miles per hour since his first season, which is common for a starter turned reliever, but it definitely fueled some of his success.

As the 2012 season wore on, Stammen went from a long-reliever and mop up pitcher to a guy that Davey Johnson could occasionally trust in the late innings. His tight, electric slider regularly confounded batters, especially righties. He even earned his first career save in late September on his way to a 2.34 ERA, by far a career best during a full season. All in all, Stammen was an integral part of an extremely talented Nationals bullpen.

For Nationals fans of old, there aren’t many players from the 2009 roster left on 2012 roster, so it’s nice to see someone figure it out from that rag-tag group of players. Many pitchers from that year are no longer even in baseball on the major league level, including guys like J.D. Martin, Shairon Martis, Garrett Mock, and Scott Olsen.

Next year: Stammen’s primary role will likely remain a long-reliever in 2013 as the Nationals have so much depth in the late innings with the addition of Rafael Soriano this offseason. His 3.45 FIP in 2012 seems to indicate he’s due for a regression, though not a big one, and that is still an admirable number. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Stammen have another solid season.

Next up: #36 Tyler Clippard

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.

A player like Bryce Harper is going to be recorded in baseball history as a special player, regardless of how he performs the rest of his career. People argue that he is over-hyped, and maybe to a degree that’s true. But the numbers speak for themselves, and they show that Harper is a great athlete, who played a huge role on baseball’s winningest team of 2012, and whose rookie season should not soon be forgotten. So just in case you need to be reminded how awesome Harper’s accomplishments last season were, keep reading.

Despite urgings from General Manager Mike Rizzo that Harper would not be rushed to the majors, when Ryan Zimmerman went on the disabled list on April 28, Harper’s time had arrived. He went to work right away, going 1-for-3 with an RBI in his debut, and earning NL Rookie of the Month for May, when he put together an offensive slash line of .271/.355/.505 with four home runs.

That was just the first award of many that Harper collected in his first year in the majors. He won NL Rookie of the Month for a second time in September for hitting .330/.398/.651 with seven homers and four stolen bases. He then went on to earn NL Rookie of the Year, as well as the Nationals Heart and Hustle Award, and an invitation to represent his team in the 2012 All-Star Game.

Harper finished the season with a slash line of .270/.340/.477 and 120 strikeouts. He nearly made it to a 20-20 season with 18 stolen bases and 22 home runs, and he ranked best on the team with his nine triples and 98 runs scored.

Compared with other 19-year-old major leaguers throughout MLB history, Harper ranked first in walks (56) and doubles (26), and second in triples, home runs and stolen bases. When you think about the fact his name was being mentioned in the same sentence as names like Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey Jr. and Babe Ruth, you realize there’s a reason they call the kid a phenom.

And even though constantly being reminded of Harper’s teenage phenom-ness got a little old after a while, it truly is remarkable to step back and think that he achieved these incredible accomplishments, which some players don’t earn in their entire careers, when the average player his age was a college freshman with a vague dream of being drafted in the next few years. Take away all the awards and the great performance, just his ability to play in the postseason as a 19-year-old is enough to make any college player faint with jealousy.

In addition to his fantastic numerical contributions to the team – Fan Graphs gave him a 4.9 WAR value – Harper’s presence on the team added much to the narrative of the Nationals’ thrilling rise to excellence. Stealing home off Cole Hamels and prompting Rizzo to make some animal references, the unparalleled amounts of eye-black he painted on his cheeks during day games, his involvement with the benches-clearing brawl against the Chicago Cubs, running around the outfield with blood streaming down his face, his feud with Ozzie Gullien, and chasing the teenager home run record, all kept Nationals fans supremely entertained in 2012.

With a personality and mindset toward the game like Harper’s, Nats fans are pretty much guaranteed another long list of memorable Harper moments in 2013. And for the people who wonder, can he do it again? That’s a clown question, bro.

Next Year: Harper will play left field in 2013, and will have a place in the Nationals outfield for many years to come (he doesn’t become eligible for arbitration until 2015). It’s exciting to think what he is capable of producing at the plate with a whole year of major-league experience under his belt, especially if he is hitting third or fourth in the lineup.

Up Next: #35 Craig Stammen

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.

Edwin Jackson was an interesting case for the Washington Nationals in 2012. Signed in February for a one-year deal, Jackson was seen as a durable, experienced player to fit into a Nationals rotation that featured young, inexperienced pitchers. Jackson had experience pitching in the National League, playing for the 2010 Arizona Diamondbacks and the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals. He also had postseason experience – something the majority of the Nationals lacked – from pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 playoffs and for St. Louis in 2011. All of these assets made him a great addition to the Nationals’ rotation. 

Jackson averaged 207 1/3 IP from 2009-2011, and had a 3.79 ERA in 2011, a good stat the Nationals hoped would continue in 2012. His job was to be a good fourth starter and eat up plenty of innings. Some people tried to compare Jackson to John Lannan, saying that Jackson was an overpay for a right-handed version of Lannan. That claim isn't even remotely true, as Jackson has the right stuff to be an ace of a major league pitching staff.

Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty felt that Jackson could be better by changing the way he pitched, and worked with him to avoid showing too much of the ball when pitching. Based on Jackson’s numbers in 2012, McCatty’s instruction seemed to have helped, at least somewhat. Jackson was 10-11 last season with a 4.03 ERA in 189 2/3 innings pitched, and he posted career-low numbers in several categories: WHIP (1.22), batting average against (.243) and walks (58).

There were moments in 2012 that left fans very impressed with Jackson. He pitched a great complete game in D.C. against the Cincinnati Reds in April, allowing only one run and striking out nine.

Jackson was consistent for most of the season, pitching around a 3.50 ERA. However, he struggled greatly in September. That month he earned one win and two losses with a 7.92 ERA, his worst month with the Nationals. During the postseason he continued that stat trend when he gave up four runs in five innings in Game Three of the NLDS. There was also the strange appearance in Game Five, when he came out of the bullpen to pitch the seventh inning and gave up a run in what would be a sad game for Nationals fans.

At the end of the 2012 postseason the Nationals declined to make Jackson a qualifying offer, making him a free agent. The Nationals then signed free agent Dan Haren to replace Jackson's spot in the rotation. 

Next Year: Jackson signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, where he will most likely be the second or third starter. After playing for five teams in the last four years, this contract marks the first time since his three years with the Rays from 2006-2009 that Jackson has signed a multi-year deal.

Up Next: #34 Bryce Harper

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.

Traditionally a starter, Tom Gorzelanny pitched his first season serving solely as a reliever in 2012 (save for one spot start to allow Gio Gonzalez to rest before the National League Division Series), and it was one of the best seasons of his career.

Gorzelanny frustrated Washington Nationals fans in 2011 with his 2-6 win-loss record and his 4.03 ERA through 105 innings and 15 starts (yes, Tom Gorzelanny was a starter as recently as one full season ago. Let that sink in for a minute). But in 2012 he all but won them over with his drastically improved performance.

The 30 year old posted a sub-three ERA for the first time in his major league career last season, his 2.88 mark nearly half his career ERA of 4.41. His batting average against (.242) was the second lowest it’s ever been, and was substantially lower than his career average .264.

Gorzelanny’s stats were middle-of-the-road compared to the rest of the Nationals bullpen, but remember that that bullpen was among the best in baseball. Gorzelanny’s talent was absolutely a contributing factor to the solidness of the Nationals relief staff, which ranked in the top 10 in baseball and third in the NL by ERA.

Next Year: Because he posted such solid numbers last year, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Gorzelanny to a two-year $6 million contract in December. Leaving a left-handed hole in the Nationals’ bullpen to fill one on the lefty-lacking Milwaukee staff. Also, the uncertainty of the Brewers’ starting rotation may afford Gorzelanny the opportunity to be a starter again, a position he prefers.

Up Next: #33 Edwin Jackson

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.

John Lannan had the least glamorous job of his 2012 teammates, but he can easily be considered an unsung hero of the Washington Nationals’ storied season.

The six-year veteran, who was once the Opening Day starter for the Nationals, began last season in the minor leagues because there was simply no room for him in the starting rotation after the acquisitions of Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson during the 2011 offseason. Although Lannan asked to be traded when he learned of his demotion, Mike Rizzo did not release the reliable lefty because he knew the team would need a trustworthy starting pitcher to fill in for Stephen Strasburg after he was shut down.

Lannan struggled in the minors a bit at first, and finished his time at Triple-A Syracuse with a 4.30 ERA through 148.2 innings with 86 strikeouts and a 9-11 win-loss record. But when he was called upon to start for the major league club, he gave the Nationals exactly what they asked of him.

Of the six games he started with the 2012 Nationals, he earned four wins, one loss and a no-decision. He pitched 32 total innings with a 4.13 ERA, 17 strikeouts and a 1.44 WHIP. Although those aren’t sensational numbers and Fan Graphs awarded him a WAR value of just 0.5, his contribution to the team late in the season when their ace was shut down and their pitching staff was tired goes beyond what statistics can show.

However, those mediocre numbers weren’t going to earn him a spot on the 2013 roster among pitchers in the Cy Young conversation. He was non-tendered this offseason, and for the first time since being drafted by them in 2005, Lannan will play for a team that isn’t the Nationals.

Next Year: After becoming a free agent, Lannan signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He is slated to be the fifth starter for the Phillies, but it will be interesting to see how he is received by the Nationals’ rivals. Phillies fans have a history of disliking Lannan for breaking Chase Utley’s hand, which knocked their star out of commission during what was without a doubt the best offensive season of his career and had the potential to be a record breaking one.

Up Next: #32 Tom Gorzelanny

Gio Gonzalez, the ace of the Washington Nationals pitching staff during their first playoff appearance in 2012, has been tied to a clinic that has allegedly provided performance-enhancing drugs, according to a report by Tim Elfrink at the Miami New Times. Gonzalez is one of several players named in the article, including Melky Cabrera and Barolo Colon, who were suspended last season for the use of PEDs.

According to the article, Dr. Anthony Bosch is the doctor who kept detailed notes on his clients, which include Gio Gonzalez and his father, Max.  The pitcher’s name appears in the Dr. Bosch’s notebook five times, and one of those times includes a reference to “Aminorip,” a muscle-building protein.

Max Gonzalez is listed often in Bosch’s notes, too, but he insists it had nothing to do with Gio, saying, “My son works very, very hard, and he’s as clean as apple pie. I went to Tony because I needed to lose weight. A friend recommended him, and he did great work for me. But that’s it. He never met my son. Never. And if I knew he was doing these things with steroids, do you think I’d be dumb enough to go there?”

On the other side, the clinic’s former secretary said of Dr. Bosch, "He sold HGH and steroids. Everyone who worked there knew that was what our business was."

If this report is true, it would obviously be a huge blow to the Washington Nationals and Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez was a finalist for the NL Cy Young Award in 2012 and was a 21-game winner for the team with the best record in baseball. Hopefully, there is some sort of reasonable explanation that the fan favorite has for appearing in this type of report.

UPDATE 12:05 PM: Gio Gonzalez released a statement via his Twitter account saying, "I've never used performance enhancing drugs of any kind and I never will ,[sic] I've never met or spoken with tony Bosch or use any substance provided by him. Anything said to the contrary is a lie." So there is Gio, defending himself vehemently on social media.

If you were to ask Washington Nationals fans what their biggest concern is entering the season with this 2013  club, you'd likely only get a handful of different responses. That's a refreshing change from past years when we entered the season with way more questions than answers.

Some might point to free-agent acquisition Drew Haren's health problems and question his ability to pitch to his 2011 form. Others might worry that the team traded power hitter Mike Morse and replace him in the lineup with a speed guy, Denard Span. If I were a gambling man, however, I'd bet the house that the majority of those wearing Curly W's in Washington would identify Danny Espinosa's health and 2012 performance as their biggest cause of uncertainty entering Spring Training.

Espinosa recently told the media that he had been playing the end of last year with a torn rotator cuff. The slick fielding second baseman said that he rehabilitated the injury without surgery in the offseason, but that it played a significant role in his poor performance down the stretch in 2012. That decline was noticeable. Espinosa was just one for 15 in the Playoffs last year, with seven strikeouts, and no runs scored.

Most Nats fans, however, will likely tell you that the news of his recent injury isn't the greatest cause of their uncertainty. Quite simply, aside form one month in the middle of the campaign, Espinosa was pretty dreadful at the plate all year. The 25-year-old hit 17 homers and scored 82 runs, but he also led the National League with 182 strikeouts, and walked less than he had the year before. His struggles were so bad, at times, that it seemed that if any rally reached the back of the team's lineup, it was almost a given it would end once his spot in the order came to bat. 

So where does that leave Espinosa on a packed roster full of talented young players who all improved last season? Is he the black sheep of a potential World Series winning club? Or is he poised to breakout in a fully-healthy 26-year-old season? 

It's hard to say, but there are two things I do know. 

First, Nats' General Manager Mike Rizzo is NOT afraid to make a change to improve his team even marginally. We saw him go out and acquire Rafael Soriano just this month to improve their bullpen, despite already having a strong presence there. In the past we've seen him move popular players at his behest, regardless of the popularity of the move. Given that, very few guys on this roster are safe without a high level of performance, and that's something Nats fans should embrace. 

Second, Anthony Rendon is going to be knocking on the door to Nats Park a lot sooner than many think. The 22-year-old was considered extremely close to Major League ready when he was drafted by the Nats in 2011, and when we saw him in spring training, we could see why. The Texas native has a Major League swing, with Major League patience and Major League bat speed. What he didn't have in 2012 was good health, as injuries forced him to play just 43 games in the minor last year, the majority of which was a rusty stint in Double-A Harrisburg where he hit just .162 in 82 plate appearances. 

That being said, Rendon bounced back in the Arizona Fall League. The former Golden Spikes award winner hit .383/.436/.494 and greatly impressed the Nats scouting team. Rizzo is not one to rush anyone, but if Rendon tears it up in Spring Training, as I expect him to do, and tears it up in the minors in April and May, how long can he keep him  off the roster? 

It is important to remember, however, that Rendon is not a second baseman. He played third in college and has bounced around the infield so far since joining the Nationals organization. He's a quick guy, and when we had the chance to watch him at second in Spring Training last year it seemed that he was more than capable of fielding the position. Espinosa, on the other hand, is still one of the best with the glove at  second base in the game. Danny ranked fifth in the majors at the position in UZR/150, committing just six errors at second base. 

We all know how much Rizzo and Davey Johnson value defense. Adam LaRoche, a major re-signing by the Nats this offseason was made for many reasons. While leadership, and a strong 2012 at the plate played a role, his ability to be a force defensively at first base was a huge part. Would the Nats stick with a struggling Espinosa at the plate if he was providing Gold Glove caliber defense? I'd say it's very likely. 

It's not to the point to say that Espinosa is on the Hot Seat. In fact, that's one of the most exciting parts about this team this year. No one is on the Hot Seat. This is just to say that Espinosa is the closest thing to a weak link that the Nats are throwing out there this year, and the Anthony Rendon storyline is absolutely one to keep an eye on. According to WAR, Espinosa was the third most valuable second baseman in the National League last season, so if he is a problem, it's a good problem for the Nats to have. 

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. (photo courtesy: Cheryl Nichols, DistrictSportsPage)

It doesn't feel like it now, but Zach Duke didn't appear on the Nationals' MLB roster until early September as a call up. After being signed as an extra starter prior to the 2012 season, he pitched extremely well in 26 starts for Triple-A Syracuse. He posted a 3.51 ERA, which was the best ERA at any level in any season with more than two appearances since his rookie season in 2005.

After he was called up, I was extremely excited to watch Zach Duke pitch at the major league level. He had some opportunities with Pittsburgh and Arizona recently, but none of them were particularly successful after his 2009 season where he was named to the NL All-Star team after an exceptional start to the season. The second half of his season was less exceptional, and he ended up with an ERA above 4.00. He hadn't had anything to really hang his hat on since.

Despite it maybe being against the odds, the impressive numbers continued once he was called up. In eight September appearances from the bullpen, Duke posted a 1.32 ERA and a 1.098 WHIP in 13.2 innings. It wasn't enough to get him added to the Nationals postseason roster, but it was enough to get him a major league deal for the 2013 season.

Duke is one of those reclamation stories I love seeing in baseball where a player with real potential has a flash of brilliance followed by a prolonged slump and somehow makes it back. Time will tell if he's able to continue his success from 2012 in the Nationals bullpen this season.

Next year: Duke will likely be on the only left-handed reliever in the Nationals bullpen this season, but I imagine he'll be splitting the long relief appearances with Craig Stammen as well as taking on some lefty specialist duties. I expect Duke to have a solid year, though probably not quite as great as his brief stint with the team in 2012.

Next up: #31 John Lannan