Notes: Ortiz still trying to find groove

03/12/2006
JUPITER, Fla. -- Ramon Ortiz pitched in his third game of the spring on Sunday, giving up three runs in three innings against the Marlins. He has now allowed a team-high 11 runs in eight innings.
Ortiz was often behind in the count and walked three batters in the process. The Marlins took advantage of Ortiz's ineffectiveness by scoring a run in the first inning and two more in the third.
The right-hander didn't seem too worried about his outing because he is trying to perfect his backdoor slider and changeup, new pitches added to his repertoire. The slider was taught to him by Jose Rijo, the special assistant to the general manager, while pitching coach Randy St. Claire is helping Ortiz with the changeup.
"I'm working on [those two pitches] right now. But I have to keep it going and throw them in different situations," Ortiz said. "I know I didn't throw very well in the last two games. I'm not worried about walks, hits or runs. I'm worried about my pitches -- my changeup and slider."
St. Claire didn't seem overly concerned either, but he said Ortiz needs to be more aggressive in the strike zone. The pitching coach will not worry about results until later in the spring.
"His stuff is good. He is doing a lot of work. We changed some stuff with his delivery, where I sped him up a little bit," St. Claire said.
Injury report: Outfielder Jose Guillen took 30 swings off a tee on Sunday and didn't feel any pain in his left wrist. It's the first time the right-handed hitter has participated in baseball activities since being diagnosed with fluid and inflammation in the wrist.
"This is just the first step. I'm really happy," Guillen said.
Guillen hopes to take more swings off the tee later in the week and then take light batting practice with his teammates by early next week.
Joey Eischen threw batting practice without any problems on Sunday and is expected to pitch in a game this week. The left-hander hasn't played in a Spring Training game because of shoulder tendinitis. ...
Ryan Drese is working slowly to get back on the mound, and St. Claire hopes that the right-hander can pitch in a game toward the end of Spring Training.
Drese missed most of September because of a slap tear in the shoulder.
Behind the plate: Manager Frank Robinson said on Sunday that he looks at Robert Fick and Matt LeCroy as the emergency catchers and Mike DiFelice, Wiki Gonzalez and Alberto Castillo competing to be Brian Schneider's backup catcher.
Fick and LeCroy are considered below-average behind the plate. Fick hasn't played a Grapefruit League game because of an elbow operation and LeCroy has had serious problems throwing runners out and catching routine popups. Both players can play other positions. They will spell Nick Johnson at first base, while Fick can play the corner outfield spots.
DiFelice and Gonzalez had a chance to compete in the World Baseball Classic for Italy and Venezuela, respectively, but they decided to stay with the Nationals throughout the spring. Castillo, on the other hand, is playing for the Dominican Republic.
DiFelice and Gonzalez are having good springs with the bat. DiFelice is hitting .421 (8-for-19), while Gonzalez is 4-for-12 (.333).
"I'm having good at-bats at the plate. I'm trying to get my timing down and go up there have a pretty good idea of what I want to do at the plate," DiFelice said. "It's no secret that we are out here to compete, so we are trying to get that energy level up."
The first game: Robinson and St. Claire have talked about the possibility of John Patterson pitching on Opening Day against the Mets at Shea Stadium.
The game plan is in place in case Livan Hernandez doesn't make his first two starts of the spring. Hernandez, who is recovering from right knee surgery, already made his Spring Training debut on March 9 and is planning to pitch again on March 14 against the Marlins.
Error of their ways: The Nationals have made 16 errors in their last seven games, and it concerns Robinson that his players can't make routine plays.
On Sunday, the Nationals made three errors against the Marlins. One of those miscues was made by LeCroy at first base. He let a ball go through his legs late in the game.
"It becomes like anything else -- it becomes habit forming. You just don't want to see sloppy play. We are not playing good sharp baseball in every aspect of the game," Robinson said.
Around the horn: Kenny Kelly is 6-for-18 (.333) with two RBIs. ... Pitchers Saul Ramirez and Steve Watkins are the only Nationals with victories this spring. ... Travis Hughes has given up 10 runs in 3 2/3 innings. ... Second baseman Jose Vidro went 1-for-3 with an RBI on Sunday. ... The Nationals are 1-10-1 this spring.

Source: http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/