"...To anybody that does not know me that was offended, or took offense with what I said in my weak attempt to be humorous during a down time during the game, I truly apologize. That's not truly how I feel about any baseball fan -- men, women, or children. And so I wrote a blog, in my own words, not the words of other people who'd like you to think differently, on MASNSports.com. So, my humble and sincere apology if I offended anybody last week."
My mother was and continues to be my biggest fan. She has been there since I was eight years old playing Little League in Southington, Connecticut, shouting encouragement from the stands.
I'll never forget 20 years ago during the NCLS; I thought I was on the top of my game, having played in my first All-Star Game earlier that summer. But my mom said to me, "Rob you've got a good arsenal, but you still need a strikeout pitch."
Mom was right, of course, and she remains as insightful a student of the game as I have ever known.
Likewise, my wife not only comes to every Nats game, but also scores every pitch, and genuinely feels it when her team makes an error or loses the game.
My 21-year-old daughter, who against my wishes, wears her Coco Crisp Red Sox Jersey to Yankee Stadium, does it to show pride and respect for her team.
That's the great thing about baseball. No matter who you are or where you're from, you can - and should - have a passion for the game and for the celebration of the game by its legions of fans in the stands. Those are the values I learned in Southington, and they are part of who I am today.
The game of baseball transcends race, sex, ethnicity, and economic status. Everyone can be a fan of this game and that's why it remains our national pastime.
As a former player and a current broadcaster, I love baseball. Encouraging new fans and building upon our audience is essential to the future of the game. That's why I host a national baseball radio show five days a week.
And it's why I volunteer my time at various clinics and seminars throughout the year, to help bring baseball into the lives of new fans.
The other night I made an off-handed comment, the meaning of which may have been misconstrued beyond what was said. If any fan of this great game took offense, then he or she should know that this was neither my intention nor my history in the game.
I have had the privilege of knowing a great many fans of all backgrounds who are students of the game. Many of baseball's most insightful fans, television viewers, and callers to my radio show are women.
And just like my mom in 1990, they know what they're talking about.
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Ross Detwiler is a 24-year-old left-handed pitcher drafted in the first round of the 2007 MLB Draft. He is back from offseason hip surgery and in the Nats' rotation.
He and Rob Dibble sat down to discuss a variety of topics including the health of his hip, the impact of catcher Ivan Rodriguez and the young staff of the Washington Nationals, now and in the future.
Watch the video below to see the whole interview between Rob and Ross.
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After the Atlanta Braves pulled off a perfect double steal against the Nationals, Rob Dibble takes a look at how to defend against it.
Watch the video below as the former Major Leaguer talks with Nationals third base coach Pat Listach to provide an in-depth breakdown of how to prevent a successful double steal.
Cristian Guzman has always been a solid switch-hitter when he's healthy. This season, Guzman is hitting .287 and helping rookie shortstop Ian Desmond transition to the Major Leagues.
In addition to being a mentor and switch-hitter, Guzman is working on switching his position from shortstop to second base, and occasionally right field.
Rob asked Guzman his thoughts on Desmond and playing second base.
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You've probably heard that George Steinbrenner passed away this morning at the age of 80. I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts from being able to meet and interview him over the years to just being able to hear how he impacted so many people's lives, including my own.
I met Mr. Steinbrenner some 20 years ago, first as a player and then as a broadcaster.
He was always nice, respectful, and down to earth. He always made me feel better about myself after spending some time with him.
My very good friend and radio partner for many years, former Rangers and Red Sox manger Kevin Kennedy said his favorite memory after winning the American League East Division was the note he received shortly after. It was from Mr. Steinbrenner, congratulating him on the win.
No matter what you may, think Steinbrenner was always a class act.
The late owner of the Reds, Marge Schott, loved Steinbrenner and always asked George for advice - like the time she traded for Deion Sanders; she first consulted Mr. Steinbrenner, who told her to ask the veteran players what they thought, then go get him. She did, and Deion was one of my favorite teammates.
My former manager, Lou Pinella, who is known for arguments with umpires, told me that George told him when he managed the Yankees that if you are going to argue, make it more entertaining for the fans!
My former GM, Bill Bergesch, who I saw at Old Yankee Stadium, was still on the Yankee payroll, still had his company car and parking spot, and was still welcome in the owner's box.
Many people have told me nothing but amazing stories about Mr. Steinbrenner. Yes, I'm sure you will also hear some negative stories, but my father always taught me to treat everyone the way you would want to be treated; and thats's exactly how I will remember Mr. Steinbrenner - with nothing but love and respect because that is how he treated me.
I will miss him very much, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
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Prior to Stephen Strasburg's start against the Atlanta Braves, Rob got the opportunity to sit down with Nats' pitching coach Steve McCatty to talk Strasburg and his development so far as a Major Leaguer.
Rob also got the opportunity to ask McCatty what Strasburg did wrong in his last start against the Royals.
Watch to see what his weaknesses were, that way you can see if he adjusts tonight as he faces the Braves.
The question will get more legs as we get closer to the final picking of The NL All-Star team around July 9, but this is what some MLB managers are saying right now...
Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he would not be in favor of Strasburg making the NL All-Star squad. His argument is that he feels you would have to leave someone off who may deserve it more, and that if Strasburg continues to progress as he has in his first three major league starts, he will make plenty of games. In his words: "Earn it."
Charlie Manuel, the manager for this year's NL All-Star team has said that if Strasburg goes 5-0 and continues to mow down opponents, he would be in favor of the Stras Man making the team.
Ryan Howard, who got ripped off a few years ago after leading the NL in HRs and RBI at the break and didn't make the team, is also in favor of Strasburg being on the team.
It all depends on which camp you fall in with. The All-Star Game, even with 34-man rosters, the new DH rule, and the re-entry rule, even with all the crazy changes, is still a game that counts for home-field advantage in the World Series. In my own opinion, if you want to win the game, not just go on merit or mania, Strasburg should 100% be on that roster.
I have been around pro baseball since 1983, and Stephen Strasburg is the most amazing thing I have witnessed in those 27 years - from his talent to his appeal and likeability.
Finally, if the All-Star Game is truly about the fans - and I'm as big a fan as anyone - Stephen Strasburg should be in Anaheim come the second week of July.
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Ivan Rodriguez is off to a great start at the plate with the Nats, hitting .367 with 15 RBI. But the job Pudge has done behind the plate has been just as impressive.
The future Hall of Fame catcher gives Rob Dibble a demonstration of how body positioning plays a major role in his defensive success, and talks about how important it is for a catcher to be able to manage a pitching staff.
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Today Josh Willingham and I had the privilege of visiting some of the bravest men and women in this country. We went over to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.
For people who may not know, it's where some of the most courageous military men and women are sent straight from the battlefield, their first stop on the road to recovery after they have been severely wounded during combat.
Today we met with some Marines that had been caught in a fire fight and hit pretty hard. Seeing 20-and 21-year-olds that were hurt because they were just doing their jobs is a very, very humbling experience. We can never repay our young men and women, but we can surely thank them and hope that they know we will forever be in their debt.
I can never complain about having a bad day at work, or think I have it bad compared to someone else. Seeing how tough, how proud these wonderful people are makes me feel lucky to be an American.
At one point, one of the Marines (who lost his leg to an IED) jumped up out of bed to take a photo with Josh and I. Knowing he didn't want to seem soft or weak by laying in bed even though he lost a leg maybe two weeks earlier will stay with me the rest of my life.
I'm proud to say I'm a much better person because these few and proud Marines - who we were supposed to cheer up - raised my love and appreciation of our youth to a new level.
Oh yeah, we talked a little baseball too! So, when you see them out at the ballpark, please take a minute out of your day to say Thank You!
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I, for one, am not surprised by the Nationals' start.
Baseball is a team sport, and they stress team. From Wil Nieves to Alberto Gonzales, the Nationals are built to fight - Fight for every run, fight for every out.
The Nats now have players who play unselfish, hardcore baseball the way it's meant to be played. When Ryan Zimmerman went down with the bad hamstring, the Nationals didn't miss a beat. Whether it's Adam Kennedy, Alberto or Willie Harris - whoever has filled in has done a beautiful job.
When Scott Olsen made his first start in Philly, he didn't care that they got their rings for being the NL Champs from last year. He attacked them like they stole his dog. It was most impressive.
John Lannan was outstanding last night against the Brewers. Matt Capps is bringing the heat and getting that all-important last out.
Rizzo and Mr. Kasten have done a great job putting the 2010 team together, and the best signing by far was Ivan "HOF" Rodriguez. His play is infectious. His desire is remarkable. The Nationals are lucky to have this perfect teacher to watch.
That's how baseball should be played. Keep it going men.
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Baseball is a game where the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins.
After the first three games of the 2010 season, some things have already started to become apparent.
The veterans brought in this year will change the culture in the Nationals' clubhouse on and off the field. Just watching how some of the new Nats like Ivan Rodriguez, Adam Kennedy, Jason Marquis, Tyler Walker, Matt Capps and Brian Bruney go about their business is a pleasure. Hard working, determined, and relentless are a few words that come to mind.
I can tell you from speaking to the players, this organization is going in the winning direction. Wins and losses, of course they matter, but players who truly hate to lose and are willing to do whatever it takes to win are hard to find.
Add to the new additions, Dunn, Zimm, The Hammer, Nyjer, Ian, Wil, Willie, Cristian, the starting rotation and the bullpen, and you get a great group of determined guys. I wish I was still playing because I would love to go into battle every night with this team!
Respect, that's what you want as a reputation, but you have to earn it.
The Nats now have some players willing to go out and get it done. Just check out the end of yesterday's win. The defense, hustle and heads up plays, together with solid coaching moves are what won that game, and isn't that fun to watch?
Honestly, I can't wait to get to the park here in NY and see what tonight brings. Catch you later!
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In another couple of weeks the Nats will start Spring Training for the 2010 season.
What you, as loyal fans, really want to know is how is this team going to play? Well, me too!
What I will tell you first, is that everyone, from the Lerner family to Drew Storen and Danny Espinosa, care very much about what is going on in DC on and off the field.
As I and the players - Zimm, Dunn, Willingham, Morgan, Lannan, Stammen, and Clippard, to name a few, as well as manager Jim Riggleman, GM Mike Rizzo and team President Stan Kasten and new arrivals like Jason Marquis, Matt Capps, Brian Bruney, and Ivan Rodriguez - made the rounds from local health care hospitals, to The USO at Fort Belvoir, to a local Children's Hospital, one thing was perfectly clear: This group of men and women mean business!
They want to WIN baseball games, but more importantly, they want to do it while being present in the community.
Why would that matter, you might ask? They need to know who they are playing for and what effect winning will have on the local and loyal fans.
The players are hungry, even angry (NO ONE likes to lose), and most of the new players have World Series rings. The team looks better on paper, but to steal Jim Riggleman's line, "We may look good on paper, but we still have to play out every game."
Not one player, fan, team rep, owner, or broadcaster, wants this year's team to fail. We are all in it to win it!
Winning a Championship will not come easy, and the other 29 teams are not just going to hand over the trophy. But with total commitment all the way from ownership to the last fan, we can prevail - I've seen it happen before!
Again, a special thanks to John Guagliano and his entire staff for including me in a memorable week during the Nats Winter Caravan!
Also, look out for my next blog, The "Young Bucks" want in the game...
-RKD
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As the season winds down, try and stay positive and build for tomorrow.
I know it sounds cliche, and maybe it is; but it's how we deal with failure and stay grounded in this game.
No matter how the season ends in DC, there will be some who wish to break down the season into numbers and how the team finished.
Once again, I will remind people that it only takes a year to turn a negative into a positive.
Let's take Tampa in 2007. They finished the year with 66 wins and 96 losses and finished 30 games back in last place. But they didn't let 2007 stand in the way of 2008, and they went out, stuck together, improved 31 games and won 97 en route to winning the toughest division in Baseball, the AL East.
This year's great story has to be the Texas Rangers: 79-83 in 2008 and they finished in second place in the AL West, 21 games back of the AL West winning Los Angeles Angels. They had the best offense in 2008 and the worst pitching staff in the American League.
They hired pitching coach Mike Maddux from Milwaukee and now they are ranked fourth in the AL in pitching. They have one veteran starter, Kevin Millwood (371 starts), and four young starters with around 140 starts combined. One of the best of the Young Bucks, Scott Feldman is 16-4 and has 51 career starts.
The offense is fifth this year. The Texas Rangers of 2009 and the Tampa Bay Rays of 2008 learned a lot from failure and chose to be positive and focused the following year.
It's not just adding talent to rosters that helps winning (although it can't hurt); it's learning every day, being prepared for every obstacle, applying tough lessons to future games and not letting a few rough patches get in the way.
I like a lot of what I've seen this year, but it's not up to me. It's up to everyone involved with the team - the coaches, the media, the organization, and most of all the fans. If everyone stays positive, it can be done.
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One thing that has bothered me since I retired after the 1996 season is the way pro baseball pitchers have been handled--or should I say mishandled.
Not many people will ever be blessed with the skills necessary to pitch at the Major League level. When the Washington Nationals drafted and signed Stephen Strasburg, it marked a new beginning for them and the start of Stephen's pro career.
He is a very special young pitcher, just like Tim Lincecum, Tommy Hanson, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.
Some of the hype surrounding those players has been expected, but some of these pitchers, I feel, were pressed into big league action before they were ready. I truly believe that pitch counts are way overrated and great mechanics, not throwing across your body, repeating your delivery and protecting your arm are way too overlooked in today's game.
Were Kerry Wood and/or Mark Prior rushed to the bigs? Were they too young, or were they not taught properly? We may never know that answer.
My idol growing up, and even when I made it to the pros, was Nolan Ryan - why? - not just because he had a great fastball, but he also had the mechanics to last well into his 40s.
The same goes for Greg Maddux. I wish the same for all of today's pitchers, including Stephen Strasburg. I don't think age should dictate when you should be put in the Big Leagues.
Tim Lincecum made 13 minor league starts and threw 65 innings before finishing the 2007 season with SF by making 24 big league starts and throwing another 150 innings. Tommy Hanson of the Braves made 75 minor league starts and threw 430 innings before coming up this year at 22.
I don't think age should dictate when you are ready to pitch in the Major Leagues, but I'm quite certain great mechanics should.
Let's give Stephen Strasburg and every other young pitcher the tools necessary to last as long as Nolan Ryan or Greg Maddux - That way we can all enjoy them all for a very long time...
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The Nationals have done their part, now it's time for Stephen Strasburg to do his.
Nationals President Stan Kasten and owners Ted and Mark Lerner have offered the 21-year-old more than the record amount given to then Cubs 1st round pick Mark Prior back in 2001.
We are talking about $10.5 million. Not only is that more money then 99.9 percent of the rest of the world, but we are talking about wanting to play professional baseball.
Strasburg can choose to listen to an agent that is comparing him to pitchers who received record deals that have all turned out to be busts. Jose Contreras, Kei Igawa and Daisuke Matsuzaka were for the most part over-hyped busts that have really done nothing to even come close to what they were signed for.
Why isn't Scott Boras comparing Strasburg to Tim Lincecum, Tommy Hanson, Matt Cain or Rick Porcello? He can't even touch them talent wise and guys like Hanson that signed for $325,000 are the real deal. Also, Hanson was a 22nd round pick and has earned the respect of his peers and anyone that knows baseball.
Kid, if you want respect you have to earn it, if you want to be hated as much as your agent Scott Boras, hold out and go pitch in independent league baseball.
The choice is really up to you -- hold out and put your progress towards the big leagues, push back time towards arbitration, and oh yea, risk getting hurt in some independent league game, or how about building on being the richest amateur draft pick to date in the history of MLB.
Good luck.