Josh Land

Opposite Dugout: Up-and-down Rockies awaiting word on brawl-related discipline

April 11, 2018, 2:43pm

Manager: Bud Black (3rd year) Record: 6-7 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Charlie Blackmon (4 HR, 6 RBIs), 3B Nolan Arenado (.311 with 1 HR, 6 RBIs), SS Trevor Story (3 HR, 6 RBIs), 2B DJ LeMahieu (.308 with 2 HR, 4 RBIs), RF Carlos GonzÃ¡lez (2 HR, 6 RBIs), RHP Chad Bettis (1-0, 2.53 ERA), RHP Wade Davis (3.38 ERA, 5 saves) â€‹ Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-4 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 12: RHP Chad Bettis (1-0) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (1-0) 7:05 p.m., MASN...

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Liz Barr: Severino deserves to be Nats' backup backstop

April 11, 2018, 5:58am

Nationals

Liz Barr: Severino deserves to be Nats' backup backstop

There were question marks in the air during spring training over who the Nationals' backup catcher would be. The team answered that question by sending Pedro Severino to Triple-A and choosing Miguel Montero to back up Matt Wieters on opening day. However, the Nationals caught the injury bug, Wieters went on the DL, and Severino was quickly recalled. Not only that, but Montero eventually went on paternity leave, and throughout that time, Severino was the primary starter. And, boy, has he...

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Josh Michael: Undefeated Shorebirds are worth the price of admission

April 11, 2018, 5:48am

Orioles

Josh Michael: Undefeated Shorebirds are worth the price of admission

The 2018 minor league season is in full swing now for the Orioles' four full-season affiliates, and while there is plenty of talent throughout the affiliates' rosters, the low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds are the standouts thus far. I knew the Shorebirds were going to have a good pitching staff thanks in large part to having seven pitchers currently in the Top 30 Orioles' prospects list per MLBPipeline.com. Their offense was anticipated to be solid, but had some unknowns in it, as well. Thus...

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Marty Niland: It didn't take long for inaugural Nats to win fans' hearts

April 09, 2018, 5:36am

Nationals

Marty Niland: It didn't take long for inaugural Nats to win fans' hearts

I will always love the Nationals, but I'm still waiting for something that will make me fall in love with this year's team - something momentous to convince me that this year's edition of the Nats is capable of doing great things. In 2005, their first year in Washington, it took just two games for a star to emerge and prove this team was doing more than just taking up residence, but was capable of winning our hearts. Washington was hungry for baseball after going without since Senators owner...

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Andrew Stetka: Machado's move to short still puzzles

April 09, 2018, 5:29am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Machado's move to short still puzzles

When Buck Showalter announced at Orioles FanFest in late January that Manny Machado would be moving to shortstop full-time, pushing Tim Beckham to third base, I didn't really blink at the move. It seemed inevitable, really, despite my own personal apprehensions. Machado is, as everyone knows, in his walk year. The move to short was conceivably to increase his value to potential trade suitors. From a personal standpoint for Machado, it would also increase his value as a free agent. Despite the...

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Ryan Sullivan: Grace is best-kept secret in Nationals 'pen

April 06, 2018, 5:35am

Nationals

Recently, an entertainer in World Wrestling Entertainment named Buddy Murphy began calling himself "professional wrestling's best-kept secret." With all due respect to his creative catchphrase, I believe we should start calling Nationals reliever Matt Grace "D.C. baseball's best-kept secret." Last season, Grace was quietly effective for the Nationals, producing a 4.32 ERA, 1.360 WHIP and 31 strikeouts against 18 walks over 50 innings pitched. An eighth-round pick by Washington in the 2010...

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Zach Wilt: O's patient approach starting to pay dividends

April 06, 2018, 5:19am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: O's patient approach starting to pay dividends

It was hard to stay positive after a 1-5 start to the season. Our outlook after opening day was so promising, with Adam Jones walking it off in the 11th inning in front of a sold-out crowd at Camden Yards. But after the Gatorade shower and celebration at home plate, the Orioles went the next week without another win and came to the Bronx looking for their second victory of the 2018 season. Despite their their struggles entering the series against the Yankees, there were some encouraging signs...

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Opposite dugout: Healthy roster key to success for Mets

April 04, 2018, 7:38pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Healthy roster key to success for Mets

Manager: Mickey Callaway (1st season) Record: 4-1 Last 10 games: 4-1 Who to watch: LF Yoenis CÃ©spedes (.278 average with 2 HR, 6 RBIs); SS Amed Rosario (.333 average with 5 RBIs); 1B AdriÃ¡n GonzÃ¡lez (.308 average with .471 OBP); RHP Jacob deGrom (1-0, 1.59 ERA); RHP Matt Harvey (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (6-13 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 5: RHP Jacob deGrom (1-0) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (1-0); 1:05 p.m., MASNApril 7: LHP Steven Matz (0-1) vs....

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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Cocktail Waitress"

April 04, 2018, 10:11am

Orioles

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Cocktail Waitress"

We return now to noir. That genre of writing also referred to as "hardboiled," "tabloid murder" and "lose/lose fiction." James Cain is considered by many to be the writer who most influenced these noir works in the U.S. along with Raymond Chandler ("The Big Sleep") and Dashiell Hammett ("The Maltese Falcon"). His seminal works include "Double Indemnity" and "The Postman Always Rings Twice." These are considered classic writings not only in the noir field, but in fiction...

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@masnNationals Prize Wheel!

April 04, 2018, 8:46am

Liz Barr: Formidable foursome gets Nats off to fast start

April 04, 2018, 6:16am

Nationals

Liz Barr: Formidable foursome gets Nats off to fast start

Welcome back to baseball. You hear that sound in the air? The sound of home runs leaving the park, bags being swiped and an umpire ringing up a strike three call? That means the Nationals are at it again. They've been hitting, running and, most importantly, pitching. The Nationals arguably have the best four-man starting rotation in the National League, and after the first turn through the rotation, the starting pitching was on display. The group of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio...

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Josh Michael: Breaking down a pair of promising pitching prospects

April 04, 2018, 4:59am

Orioles

Josh Michael: Breaking down a pair of promising pitching prospects

The 2018 minor league season will kick off Thursday, and I for one am extremely excited because the state of the Orioles' farm system has vastly improved over the past few years. Today, I want to highlight two pitchers that most O's fans are not very familiar with, but are prospects that I am very excited about. First up is a lefty who almost wasn't even an Oriole. Cameron Bishop, 22, was selected by the Orioles in the 26th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal-Irvine. His...

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Washington Nationals to face New York Mets in 2018 home opener on Thursday

April 03, 2018, 11:23am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals will celebrate Opening Day and their first home game of the 2018 season on Thursday, April 5 at 1:05 p.m. when the team hosts the New York Mets. The Nationals want all fans to enjoy the entirety of the Opening Day experience, and are encouraging fans to plan ahead and come to the ballpark early. Fans are encouraged to enter the ballpark through the gate closest to their seating area to avoid congestion at the Center Field Gate. ALL GATES will open at 11:00...

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Adam Eaton named National League Player of the Week

April 02, 2018, 11:49am

Nationals

Adam Eaton named National League Player of the Week

Following a weekend in which he hit .615 (8-for-13) with two doubles, two home runs, five RBI, one walk and seven runs scored, Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton was named the National League Player of the Week on Monday. Major League Baseball made the announcement on MLB Network. Eaton, 29, returned to the Nationals lineup on Opening Day after an 11-month recovery and rehabilitation following left-knee surgery on May 9, 2017. He singled to center field to lead off Friday's contest and went...

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Orioles baseball continues in Sarasota with extended spring training

April 02, 2018, 11:10am

Orioles

Home games are open to the public, free of charge With the Major League Baseball season now underway, the Orioles' year-round baseball operations continue in Sarasota with Extended Spring Training. The public is invited to watch Orioles minor league players in action at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in April, May, and June. There is no charge to attend the games, which will be held on Field 4. Gates open 30 minutes before game time. Free parking is available in the East Lot. Please note that...

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Marty Niland: Nats fans demand more than, "Wait'll next year and hope"

April 01, 2018, 10:22am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Nats fans demand more than, "Wait'll next year and hope"

Baseball is said to be a timeless game. The rhythm of the game and the season bring generations together, and phrases like "Bang! Zoom!" and "See you later!" have a special meaning around here in the spring, summer and fall. Year after year, we pack the ballpark, gather around the television, tune in to broadcasts, even shuttle the kids to Little League practice and games, united by traditions and the history behind them. But as enduring as the national pastime is supposed to be, it has...

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Andrew Stetka: How Orioles could extend recent positivity

April 01, 2018, 10:12am

Orioles

There's no question it's been a positive few weeks for the Orioles. After an offseason that looked bleak and disconcerting, the team made a few moves on and off the field that helped spring things to life. There was the announcement of the "Kids Cheer Free" program, which allows adults to bring children 9 and under to a game for free. Then the team backed up its signing of pitcher Andrew Cashner by bringing in another free agent starter, Alex Cobb. The O's also announced new pricing...

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Ryan Sullivan: Three bold Nationals predictions on opening day

March 30, 2018, 7:21am

Nationals

Happy opening day, baseball friends! After many months of battling cold temperatures and evenings without the soothing voices of Bob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo, Nationals baseball returns today. One of the many great things about opening day is the sense of optimism it brings with it - spring in Washington can be truly beautiful and the beginning of a baseball season leads one to think of the endless possibilities over 162 games. Naturally, this leads fans to start making predictions for...

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Zach Wilt: Arms will dictate Orioles' success in 2018

March 30, 2018, 5:24am

Orioles

In 2018, the Orioles will go as far as their starting pitching will take them. I think I've been writing that same sentence for the last seven years. It's basic, but it's true. The O's offense is strong and should be even better this season. Last year, the team fell out of contention because its starting pitching struggled. The Birds' rotation ranked last in ERA (5.70), 27th in walks per nine innings (3.74) and gave up more hard contact (35 percent) than 26 of the 30 teams in baseball. The...

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Opposite dugout: Twins out to prove 2017 wasn't an anomaly

March 28, 2018, 6:41am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Twins out to prove 2017 wasn't an anomaly

Manager: Paul Molitor (4th season) Record: 85-77 (2nd in AL Central in 2017; captured 2nd AL wild card) Last 10 games: Season opener Who to watch: 2B Brian Dozier (.271 average, 34 HR, 93 RBIs); 3B Miguel SanÃ³ (.264 average, 28 HR, 77 RBIs); CF Byron Buxton (.253 average, 29 SB); RHP JosÃ© BerrÃos (14-8, 3.89 ERA); RHP Lance Lynn (11-8, 3.43 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (5-2 in 2017) Pitching probables: March 29: RHP Jake Odorizzi (10-8, 4.14 ERA) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy...