Entries Listing
By Pete Kerzel, January 26, 2013 4:41 PM
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NatsFest is over. At least I'm pretty sure it is. The media work area in Salon D is windowless and removed from where all the action was earlier this afternoon. But a lot of the ushers and greeters and helpers have been parading through the adjacent room, and that's a sure sign the paying customers have departed with a bunch of new curly W merchandise
By Pete Kerzel, January 26, 2013 3:56 PM
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Drew Storen's elbow feels fine, and his psyche shows no scars from a meltdown in Game 5 of the National League Division Series that the right-hander would probably prefer to permanently file away, never to be remembered. A London vacation after the premature end to his season helped Storen unwind and begin the process of moving on past extremely personal disappointment. "It's harder because you
By Pete Kerzel, January 26, 2013 2:29 PM
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Ross Detwiler probably will be the first of the Nationals' contingent to arrive in Viera, Fla., for spring training. He leaves Sunday. "It's nine degrees at home" in St. Louis, Detwiler said at NatsFest on Saturday. "I can't get outside." Temperatures in the 20s and 30s in Washington, D.C., are balmy by comparison - warm enough that Detwiler has been hoofing it around town since
By Pete Kerzel, January 26, 2013 2:27 PM
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There will be changes for first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore in 2013. For starters, he's ditched the offensive lineman's No. 57 that used to be on his jersey. Instead, he's returned to a more familiar No. 12. "I've always had it," Moore said at NatsFest, "all through the minors." The last player to don No. 12 for the Nationals? Pinch hitter deluxe Matt Stairs in 2011.
By Pete Kerzel, January 26, 2013 11:53 AM
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NatsFest is under way at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and it didn't take long for fans to start cheering. At a "State of the Nationals" forum for season ticket holders featuring principal owner Mark Lerner and general manager Mike Rizzo, Lerner drew loud applause by proclaiming, "We're going to the World Series this year." There's little doubt that has been the focus since
By Olivia Witherite, January 25, 2013 8:17 AM
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Ready for NatsFest on Saturday? If you're headed out to the event, be sure to follow @MASNNationals on Twitter and Instagram and to text "NATSFEST" to 29292 for the latest event news and contest updates. MASN will be at the event, hosting a grin-and-grab photo booth, which will give fans a chance to take pictures with players and MASN personalities. Fans will have plenty to
By Ted Leavengood, January 22, 2013 3:46 PM
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The fuse running toward the 2013 baseball season has three weeks left. And then the powder keg of anticipation that has built since Jayson's Werth's walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Cardinals will explode into the 2013 season. History always provides a good lens for viewing the present, and a century ago, at the end of January 1913, Walter Johnson
By Pete Kerzel, January 21, 2013 11:07 AM
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Last week, we drew back the curtain on some of the events that will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as part of NatsFest on Saturday. We also hinted that you'd have the opportunity to get your picture snapped with some of your favorite Nationals and MASN personalities. Well, the lineup is now set. Check out the MASN booth in the middle
By Pete Kerzel, January 19, 2013 7:24 AM
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General manager Mike Rizzo left little doubt that Rafael Soriano will be the Nationals' primary ninth-inning option for 2013. For the money they're paying Soriano - two years and $28 million with a vesting option for a third year - that was pretty much predetermined. Soriano doesn't have the long history as a closer that Rizzo referenced in yesterday's press conference at Nationals Park. He's
By Olivia Witherite, January 18, 2013 8:23 AM
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There have been some big changes around the Nats organization this week, including a new closer. The Nationals announced that they agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with former Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano. In the reliever's introductory press conference yesterday, GM Mike Rizzo announced that while Soriano would be the closer, Drew Storen would still be an important part of the 'pen. Yesterday, Storen
By Pete Kerzel, January 16, 2013 1:17 PM
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NatsFest is only 10 days away, and information is finally leaking out about exactly what visitors to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center can expect for the event, which will run from noon-4 p.m. (with season ticket holders getting in an hour early at 11 a.m.). First, there are no longer autograph vouchers available for purchase through the team. However, you might be lucky enough
By Pete Kerzel, January 15, 2013 8:43 AM
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Los Angeles, where Bryce Harper made his major league debut on April 28, will also be the site of the Nationals outfielder's debut on late night television. Harper, the National League Rookie of the Year, will appear tonight on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," which emanates from the City of Angels. The show starts at 11:35 p.m. Eastern time. Memo to show host Jimmy Kimmel: Watch
By Pete Kerzel, January 14, 2013 12:47 PM
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Ross Detwiler loves the puck. It's not unusual to see a throwback lid resting on the shelf of his locker, and his love of the St. Louis Blues stems from growing up in St. Louis. So what was the Nationals lefty doing over the weekend at Kettler Capitals Iceplex for a Capitals practice? Turns out the longtime Blues fan may be switching allegiances. During the
By Olivia Witherite, January 11, 2013 8:46 AM
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For weeks now, I have been recapping the offseason news around the Nationals organization, which is brought to you by MASNsports.com's Dan Kolko and Byron Kerr. While there has been much news this winter, each week, my fingers typed something having to do with the lack of news regarding Adam LaRoche. But now, this week, I can officially say that the first baseman will be
By Pete Kerzel, January 9, 2013 11:28 AM
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The weeks-long staredown between Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and first baseman Adam LaRoche has concluded, with the free agent getting the two-year deal the Nats offered rather than the three-year contract he sought. What did we learn from these negotiations? (First, let's just agree that we can call them negotiations, even though there was precious little give and take. Rizzo drew a line in
By Pete Kerzel, January 7, 2013 2:53 PM
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Think the accolades for Bryce Harper's incredible rookie season ended with his selection as National League Rookie of the Year? Think again. Harper is one of seven major leaguers hoping to become the face of Sony's MLB 13 The Show, and social media-savvy fans are going to determine which of the players appears on the cover of the popular video game. Beginning today, through Jan.
By Olivia Witherite, January 4, 2013 7:43 AM
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With the new year is the old news regarding Adam LaRoche, who still has yet to receive the three-year deal he is seeking. Reliever Michael Gonzalez signed a one-year deal with the Brewers last Friday, further thinning out the Nats' bullpen. The Nats are continuing to gain national attention in the offseason, and were ranked the top roster in the majors, according to The Boston