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It's much bigger than I thought. So big, in fact, it's destined for the big screen. "The Strasburg Effect." I mentioned the other day that I was in Tennessee for a few days, to speak to students at my alma mater, Austin Peay State University, America's Greatest Institution of Higher Learning. Knowing it would be chilly down there - actually, it's been unseasonably cold in
Leroy Tillman passed away last week. Most of you have no idea who Leroy was. Most recently he did PR for a local area hospital. But 30 years ago, plus or minus, Leroy produced my show on WTOP. He previously had produced Ken Beatrice's show on WMAL. And later on he worked for George Michael at Channel 4. Leroy was a sports fan, and he
Bob Chakales, the Senators' Opening Day Starter in 1957, died in Richmond on Thursday. He was 82. Chakales - pronounced Shackles - spent all or part of three seasons in a Washington uniform, winning 6 and losing 8, with a 4.58 ERA. Overall, in 7 seasons he was 15-25, 4.54, with Washington, Cleveland, Baltimore, Boston and Chicago (AL). He came to the Senators from the
Chien-Ming Wang's signing is now official. And while it may be late May before he's able to start a game in the big leagues, it's one of those gambles with a very high upside. Speaking with Yankees' broadcaster Ken Singleton last night, Wang's got the kind of work ethic that should translate into success in the NL. "He'll work his way back, count on that,"
The last time I saw Cristian Guzman, he was still ambulatory. He was hobbling, yes, but could still walk around on his own. Guzman had bunions - and had 'em bad. Now, maybe you've had bunions before, or maybe you have no idea what bunions are. Here's the textbook definition: "An inflammation of the synovial bursa of the great toe, usually resulting in enlargement of
If all goes well, in a couple of years prospect Chris Marrero will be wearing a Washington uniform. Marrero isn't a new name in Washington baseball annals, however. For 5 seasons starting in 1950, the American League Nats had a righthanded pitcher named Conrado "Connie" Marrero who made his big league debut at an age many players are saying "Adios." He was 38 years old.
Kris Benson? For everyone who's complained about other players who the Nationals have signed to minor league contracts - see Estes, Shawn - the prospect of Kris Benson seems much farther out there. Granted, Mike Rizzo and Benson's agent are just talking at the moment, but Benson, at 35, is several years removed from his best work. The former first overall pick out of Clemson
Question: How many wins is an acceptable number for the 2010 Nationals? I've said for several weeks now that I see this team winning somewhere between 75-78 games. I think they're head and shoulders better than the club Manny Acta took to Viera a year ago, a club I thought would win in the low 70's, basing that number on how they played while I
I loved the snow when I was 12. Now, not so much. Enough is enough. Chien-Ming Wang is reportedly deciding between two offers on a 2010 contract, one of which is Washington. Wang turns 30 at the end of March, and in 104 big league starts is 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA. A huge winning percentage, .679, but with the Yankees, so weigh it accordingly.
On the one hand, I'm impressed by the fervor some fans display in reacting to any Nationals' transaction, regardless of how insignificant they seem. On the other hand, I wonder why so many want to paint a negative picture of each transaction, as if they know better than professional baseball people. Take the recent signing of pitcher Shawn Estes to a minor league contract, reportedly
Unless you're too busy standing in a checkout line at the grocery store this afternoon, we're doing a special edition "Wall-to-Wall Baseball" show again today from 3-7pm on MASN. Nats' skipper Jim Riggleman will join us for a segment in the 4 o'clock hour. We got a lot of good Nationals' calls yesterday. Let's try that again, okay?
I wouldn't get too emotional over Orlando Hudson picking the Twins over the Nationals, and the Nats ending up with Adam Kennedy to play second base. I never saw Hudson as a true difference-maker. True, he's solid defensively, and a career .280+ hitter. But his production at the plate tailed off in the second half of 2009, and while he's two years younger than Kennedy,
Many believe that Orlando Hudson signing with the Nationals is a foregone conclusion, and perhaps it is. Hudson's got a great reputation inside the game, and adding him to the top of the Nationals' lineup behind Nyjer Morgan seems like a great idea. However, there are some in the game who feel that Hudson's year with the Dodgers - while solid statistically from all indications
It was welcome news to hear that Jon Miller is the 2010 Ford Frick Award winner. He'll be presented the award at this year's Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in July. Many fans mistakenly believe that the Frick Award is equivalent to induction to the Hall of Fame itself. They'll cite it as membership in the "broadcaster's wing" at the Hall of Fame. I guess
The situation with the Nationals and free agent Orlando Hudson reminds me of those sitcom auction scenes where someone swoops in with a dramatic last-second bid that's many times the actual value of the item, and ends up losing their shirt. Hudson entered the free agent market looking for a $9 million payday, but so far, the bids have been well short of that. Fellow
