http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/814 Recent articles about Wil Nieves en-us Who? Wil Nieves blocks balls!
 Note to Mike Rizzo: 
 Wil Nieves wants you to know it isn't necessary to go out and find another catcher for defensive purposes for next season. Wil says the Nats will do just fine in 2010 with he and Josh Bard, thank you very much. Via Nationals dot com:
 
 'If you look at the games, count how many balls the pitchers throw in the dirt," Nieves said. "We block balls. I've had games where I blocked 10 to 15 balls. We have... Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:51:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wil_Nieves_says_We_block_balls/1221265 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wil_Nieves_says_We_block_balls/1221265 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wil_Nieves_says_We_block_balls/1221265 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/b/3be0b8722f4f188066203965d0b287812184bfbf/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_16_78e8.jpg 
 
 (Photo of Matt LeCroy talking on a baseball-shaped phone courtesy of Minnesota Department of Public Safety Web Site.)
 
 
 Matt LeCroy: S.O.S.!
 
 Wil Nieves left tonight's game with an apparent leg injury. Gimpy Josh Bard and his bad hammy and groin now catching...Josh Willingham an option in an emergency. Jesus Flores recovering from Dr. James Andrews' knife.
 Is it too late to bring back former Nats backup catcher, and current Hagerstown... Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:31:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Hurry_Quick_Someone_get_Matt_LeCroy_on_the_phone/1193064 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Hurry_Quick_Someone_get_Matt_LeCroy_on_the_phone/1193064 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Hurry_Quick_Someone_get_Matt_LeCroy_on_the_phone/1193064 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/8/68a02e6230c9c3bd0c78e60f4c629139b20e3204/small/MLB_MAY_19_6b63.jpg (by Mike Henderson) Wil Nieves came up lame in his only Thursday at-bat. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/BREAKING_Wil_Nieves_Injured/1192938 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/BREAKING_Wil_Nieves_Injured/1192938 (by Mike Henderson) Wil Nieves came up lame in his only Thursday at-bat. Fortunately, the Nats may have recently-acquired Jamie Burke ready to go. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/UPDATED_Wil_Nieves_Injured_Nats_Acquire_Burke/1194231 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/UPDATED_Wil_Nieves_Injured_Nats_Acquire_Burke/1194231 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/UPDATED_Wil_Nieves_Injured_Nats_Acquire_Burke/1194231 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/8/68a02e6230c9c3bd0c78e60f4c629139b20e3204/small/MLB_MAY_19_6b63.jpg Man, if the team hadn’t just resigned Livan! (I can’t remember how to do the upside down exclamation point on my Mac), I wouldn’t know what player to really look forward to watching. Well, maybe Wil Nieves (you know me and catchers). Nyjer Morgan broke his left hand sliding stealing third base in the first [...] Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:07:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Say_it_isn_8217t_so_T_Plush/1059458 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Say_it_isn_8217t_so_T_Plush/1059458 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Say_it_isn_8217t_so_T_Plush/1059458 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/b/3be0b8722f4f188066203965d0b287812184bfbf/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_16_78e8.jpg 
 
 (AP Photo/Al Behrman. That's two - count 'em - two good starts in a row from Garrett Mock. And to think we wanted him bussed back to Syracuse just three starts ago.)
 
 
 "He's gotten a little better each time out. But today, I thought, was his best." (Jim Riggleman, via Washington Times, 8/15/2009)
 
 Belliard + Nieves = Firepower!
 
 
 Nationals 2, Reds 0: 3-game losing skid, snapped. Mock tosses six shutout inning... Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:23:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Mock_and_Roll/990437 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Mock_and_Roll/990437 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Mock_and_Roll/990437 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/f/ffea1bf5cb74ed2c3ae23d58fda6a296b019b6bf/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_04_78d0.jpg [ Photoset ] ESPN Zone hosted catcher Wil Nieves yesterday in the Nationals Q&A series. He has a great sense of humor and answered questions about his walk-off homerun against the Cubs that sparked a MASN Defining Moment commercial (Who?). He also chatted about how he got into baseball, how he became a catcher and [...] Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:12:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wil_Nieves_has_a_very_cool_Mom/739824 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wil_Nieves_has_a_very_cool_Mom/739824 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wil_Nieves_has_a_very_cool_Mom/739824 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/7/f714bfaecc5bf174f9136551119f10964d0aafc7/small/MLB_MAY_19_72c7.jpg Tomorrow, catcher Wil Nieves will participate in a Q&A with fans at ESPN Zone. Doors open at 11 a.m. — the event begins at noon.   As always, Charlie Slowes is the moderator. ESPN Zone 555 12th Street, NW Washington, DC Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:28:11 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wil_Nieves_at_ESPN_Zone/732490 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wil_Nieves_at_ESPN_Zone/732490 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wil_Nieves_at_ESPN_Zone/732490 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/7/f714bfaecc5bf174f9136551119f10964d0aafc7/small/MLB_MAY_19_72c7.jpg (by Jeff Bergin) Wil Nieves, made famous by the wonderful MASN ads, will now see more time as Jesus Flores will possibly be lost for the entire season. Flores, who suffered a stress fracture during rehab, is out, and Rizzo has maintained that Bard and Nieves will be the catchers in place for the season. What is the impact? Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:45:24 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wil_Nieves_Who_Wil_Nieves/651697 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Wil_Nieves_Who_Wil_Nieves/651697 It's not official yet and I hope it doesn't become official. My hope is sinking, though. Mike Mussina will retire this week after 18 seasons and 270 career wins. What a difference a year makes: On April 12, 2007 I said that his best days were with the Orioles. A few weeks later, on April 28th, I ... Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:18:49 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Mike_Mussina_Expected_To_Retire_This_Week/384947 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Mike_Mussina_Expected_To_Retire_This_Week/384947 Wil Nieves, my favorite backup catcher circa 2008 (since my previous favorite dropped out of the game during the season and hasn't played for the Nats in years, but still holds a place in my heart) follows this blog! If, of course, that really is his profile and not some poser. Hi Wil! Still ... Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:42:12 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Color_me_stunned/377302 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Color_me_stunned/377302 Joe Torre doesn't believe in personal catchers, but with the success Mike Mussina has had with Wil Nieves this season, he's willing to go with whatever works: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:28:14 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Mussina_Nieves_Whatever_Works/16222 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Mussina_Nieves_Whatever_Works/16222