this was the scene earl today as stanford pitcher drew signed with the washington nationals. full details coming up next with nats xtra.  welcome presented by verizon wireless. great news to start today's pregame show. pitcher from stanford signs 1.6 million with the nationals. he gets his jersey and ready to

play some baseball. >> i love everything about it. i have known the family 30 something years. what a great quality family. he went to stanford. this is the way they do things. it's not about the money. it's the dream his grandfather had for his son mark. that didn't work out. drew pitching at stanford, doing a great job. they say he has tremendous stuff. i've not seen him pitch. everyone i talked to says he has the stuff. >> the butterflies, when you put that cap down on your head, that's got to be exciting for drew and his family. he was pumped up as a national. >> it's been a crazy week. being able to throw in this beautiful new ball park was an experience in itself. yesterday not being sure what was going to happen. hearing my name called was an

experience like no other. i don't think anything else could top it besides winning the series. >> we took the best name available. it so happens we spoke at length after we drafted him and found a guy that his goals and aspirations matched up with our time frame. he wanted to get out and sign right away to start his career. it had nothing to do with strategy and planning. he was next on our list. we plucked him. >> i've always been a nationals fan. with stephen strasbourg coming in, there's going to be excitement with this team. it's a great park to be in. >> from the begin, they have said they want to build from within with home grown talent. look at if guys in the system that have made it already.

>> these guys in the big leagues have done a great job. i really feel this ball club is in the right direction. don't look at the standings now or win loss record. it takes a while to get what you want, build through the system. this shows that everything is headed in the right direction here. aaron crow is now behind us. we signed the guy that would have been our number one pick last year. we're going to probably get it done with strasbourg. we've got 11 pitchers drafted. we're going to get to that later. guys that are big that are projected to grow into their body, mostly 2 -- 6'2", throwing 90 out of high school. i think it will be a tremendous year for the nationals. >> there can be gems on this

list. look at some of these guys that can help the nationals down the line. >> there's been a lot more drafted in the second and third round to make it in the big leagues than guys that have gone number one. in the last 20 years, there's not been one hall of fame pitcher drafted number one. maybe we've drafted the first in strasbourg. anthony morse 6'2", 200 pounds. michael taylor is a good, young short stop that has an exceptional hand. all the way down the list, waver, jordan, apple bee, carnes. carnes is a guy from texas tech that throws the ball at 95 miles per hour. he's had some arm trouble. they're talking about him having a tremendous a. they're hoping he is over the arm

trouble. one of my favorite players growing up and one of your teammates from the astros. >> one of the best young talents unfortunately got hit in the face. he's a short stop. he's a high school player out of puerto rico. i don't know if he'll be signable. he's also like drew. he wants his family to play baseball. he was always the guy that was all business. it wasn't about the money. it was about the joy of playing the game. you look at the two guys that made the day to start off the draft. these were the crown jewels. >> strasbourg, we've said a lot about him. i don't know if we said enough.

i found out through two scouts today that he is the best prospect either of them have seen. one in 26 years and the other in his 17th year. they went out to see him and said and a half -- said that he was unbelievable. he's just 20-year-old. drew came on the radar late for us. he's got real good action on his fastball. 92, 93 miles per hour fastball. tremendous late action. he can get it to 95. he's got a 6-1 strike out walk ratio. that's what your looking for. unusually he is a reliever, closer. not too many times do you have guys that are signed that were relievers in college.

he certainly has a great arm. two great young prospects adding to what i think is building to be what is going to become the legacy of the washington nationals. >> it's funny you said that. we talked aorta chad. the first time he was introduced to the nationals he was a ball boy. he saw chad cordero. it's similar to what he did, signed the first day. he's motivated to play baseball. >> there's no question about it. makeup is a huge part of this thing. you talk about arms -- it's all about people make pitches and the type of character they have. not just being a good person.

busting your tail day in and day out, you're not going to be denied. drew's family, i've known them a long time. they're that type of family. hardworking family, never ask for anything. they have done what they had to do to earn their keep. i talked to his dad today. i said you're going to make that money up in a hurry if you get grafted. >> we're ready for game two tonight. martis gets warmed up. he had a hot streak going trying to get back on track. we'll continue previewing the cincinnati reds on a nice night in june. stay there.

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he led the league the next year. this year he's 5-6. he's got a good fastball. he's 8th in the national leag in strikeouts over the last five years. the last two years he dropped off a little in strikeouts. he doesn't walk anybody either. he's pitched really well of late. we know shairon martis got of to that blissful start. he's 5-1. i'd like to see him hit pitches with a fastball. he throws an awful lot with t change up. he has a little bit of

difficulty. he can't walk 27 people and strikeout 27. he's got to have better command. he has to get more pitches economical. he throws too many to get t out. >> you look at harang. he's had an impressive year. one of the guys they're building around here. as for martis, nice start. may 14 was his last win. as you said, not getting enou strikeouts here. >> i don't think he'll be a strikeout guy. he's got a good fastball, not an overpowering fastball. if you get the 292 miles per hour fastball up and it sink, it's right back in the meat o the plate. he's got to work that fastbal inside then go soft and away with the changeup. that's going to make the slid way more effective. >> one of the sliders they had earlier in the season. how's he doing as he gets

ready? >> he pitched three innings last night. he was able to hit 92 on the gun. he was 88,89. we started with optimism because scott olson was here. he's earned himself a position in this ball club via his thr years with the marlins. >> we hope he comes back. manny is not a guy that hey, he was able to pitch up here after two years in major leag baseball, they feel he's a major pitcher. wells had one inning. he's one of the guys that in the middle of the heat, somebody brings up here. >> you look at what they're

looking for in the future. matt is one of the guys they had last year. nice to see him pitching in june. it's been a debate, are you going with the young guys, lo around the league? >> i like it. it goes back to jim. mike likes young people. he's been a tremendous evaluator of talent. you have three of the best all of baseball. they're going to spend money here, sign their young talent they may not play here, you m not see them as a part of the washington nationals, but they'll develop and being important people to acquire the positions. >> you all the need pitching matter what team you are.

>> you'll never have enough pitchers. >> we have 11 pitchers on t board drafted yesterday and today. you never can have enough. we didn't mention clipper sti trying to get it. >> there's a lot of names starting to pop up consistent in the back of my mind me thinking, hey, these guys are going to be big factors in th major league somewhere. >> the nationals one more gam at home tomorrow after tonight's game. then they head to tampa bay t take on the rays. the saturday game will be joined in progress at 7:05 because of the tampa bay's early start at tropicana field. it's harang and martis coming up next. hey. don't move.

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because you'll get up to $150 dollars back and over 100 hd channels when you upgrade to verizon fios. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities at 800.974.6006 tty/v i will now return you to your program and unfortunately for some of you, to cable. yeah! wait, what? this is humiliating. stand still so we can get an accurate reading. okay...um...eighteen pounds and a smidge. a smidge? y'know, there's really no need to weigh packages under 70 pounds. with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service, if it fits, it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. cool. you know this scale is off by a good 7, 8 pounds. maybe five. priority mail flat rate boxes only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship. welcome back. a shot of the field there.

getting ready for game two as the nationals look for a win to get back after the 3-2 setback yesterday. brandon phillips was a hero to put them ahead 3-1. 14 rbis and 7 stolen bases. looking at the starting line up. at 3rd, hairston to lineup. phillips 2nd baseman. laynce nix will bat cleanup for the reds. at 1st, hernandez. bruce in right. hanigan is the catcher. harang is the catcher for dusty baker. willingham certainly excite to be back in the lineup. .280 hit with 6 doubles and 2 home runs. the nine homers will come up big if he can connect again tonight. guzman in the top spot, short stop. zimmermann at 3rd batting 3

3rd. dunn batting cleanup in left. willingham right fielder. bard will call the game for the pitcher batting 9th. we look at that time reds and nationals as they try to get things going in this series. trying to add a punch to the lineup with willingham in the lineup. >> no doubt. he deserves to play. he has hit the ball extremely well. i believe he needs an opportunity to go out there and play two or three weeks and see what he can do. it's the toughest thing in the world to try to play part time. the second toughest thing is not knowing if you're going play. you've got to do it bat after bat. he's worked real hard. he deserves a shot to play. the schedule takes a turn after this series. inner league ball clubs next.

tampa bay rays are the defending champs on the road to tropicana field. the first chance ever to see the brand new yankees stadium in new york. >> the rays scare me. they've got good offense, great pitching. when you have longoria do you think there, they're going to score a lot of runs. talking about new york, my goodness. that is like a little league field. every ball hit is going out of the ball park. florida, they've got good pitching. they're coming off a tremendous year believing they can win. they've gotten off to a bad start six games out. they're within striking distance. >> the key to win, hit the cat walks in tropicana. that's my little cheese for

that series. that's all it's going to take. hit the cat walks. >> if you hit the cat walk right over the mound, is that a home run? >> no. i'm going to go over that. >> time of the hold of the day brought to you by just for men marry color. arthur rhodes and weathers at the top of the list. mathis rounds out the hold as they look to keep the cincinnati squad in the game. these relievers keep their team in the game. you too can stay in the game with just for men hair color. we mentioned josh willingham. we'll be back to talk about the reds tonight. coming up next harang and

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only from at&t. he's got to get used to angles of the balls coming back to him. >> manny acta talking about josh willingham in the field. little bit of a change tonight as we get ready for the reds. for game two number, ben in the segment as well from the washington times. a little different with josh willingham. this is his first time in left field. how do you think it will play out? >> i think it will be fine. he's gotten good reviews from the coaching staff. like manny says, you see a ball, catch a ball.

the bigger move is what he brings to the table. it got to the point where you couldn't afford to keep willingham's bat out of the lineup. in terms of not having to worry about him too much. what you gain off willingham will be worth the trade off. >> the main thing was angles as you throw n. what did he mean by that? how much does it affect the player? >> he's used to going to his right for the ball. the ball really slices back to you from a right handed bat. the biggest difference i believe when i played the out field was the throw from right field to 3 3rd base. it extends that base. from left it's a shorter throw. you have to be a little less aggressive to get the runner from 1st to 3rd. on a double or triple, you

really can't make a mistake. the 3rd base coach will be down the line. if there's a bobble, he'll send the runner. the angles are a big part of it. you have to be more aggressive because of the long throw in deep corner field. >> josh just got through sickness. he hasn't started in a while. he's got to be happy. the sickness slowed him down a little. how is he strength wise? >> i think he's fairly good in that regard. he's had the flu virus obviously. it's been a week or so now. he's had chance to take batting practice and get back in a little bit of a normal routine. beyond that, i think this whole thing of going with kearns and getting used to him has can i

-- he can play 1st base. he's done catching as well. he's manned outfield most of his career. >> i'm surprised he hasn't played right field unless it was on ball clubs with strong armed guys. generally when you play outfield, you play all positions. i couldn't play a lick in center field. i did catch it when i got to it. he'll be fine out there. he's a good athlete. the key is not embarrassing yourself. the way to do that is practicing practicing. reds and nationals with josh willingham in left field. it's a good one. it will help in josh can get on the board. coming up for game 2 at nationals park. we're ready for june baseball.

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