Josh Land

Ted Leavengood: Can Nats compete without more international signings?

August 20, 2013, 5:50am

As an organization, the Washington Nationals have largely eschewed big international signings. Last week, they paid $900,000 for Anderson Franco and the front office has said it will be more aggressive in international markets moving forward. Prior forays have been disappointing at best. They got nothing except legal fees for the $1.4 million they paid to Dominican phenom Smiley Gonzalez in 2006. They tried again in 2009 when they landed Cuban emigre, Yunesky Maya, who commanded a four-year, $8...

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Zach Wilt: Baseball is a funny game

August 20, 2013, 5:04am

Orioles

I'm sure you've heard people say "baseball is a funny game." It's typically the cliche saying that fans throw out when they can't explain the outcome of the three-hour sporting event they dedicate their life to over the course of 162 days between April and September. For me, that inexplicable nature is part of the reason I love this game so much. Though, I can certainly understand it driving some people absolutely bonkers. On Tuesday night, the Texas Rangers clobbered the Houston Astros...

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Dave Nichols: Strasburg shows backbone standing up for Harper

August 19, 2013, 5:56am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Strasburg shows backbone standing up for Harper

It was a wild weekend in Atlanta. Not so much for the actual baseball content, as the Nationals dropped another series to the Braves, setting their season record against the division leaders at 4-12. Rather, after Bryce Harper was hit by pitches twice Friday night, the Nationals - at least their top starting pitcher - decided enough was enough. Harper, a player who will forevermore wear a target on his back with the Braves, was hit twice Friday night by two different pitchers, the second time...

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Domenic Vadala: Hoping for a repeat performance

August 19, 2013, 5:40am

Orioles

Domenic Vadala: Hoping for a repeat performance

I think it'll be a long time before people forget last August and September at the yard. I would submit that those games were about as much fun for Orioles fans as we've ever seen. Granted, that was only the third playoff season for the Birds since they moved into Camden Yards in 1992, but in both 1996 and 1997, there wasn't the potential for the Orioles' fate to be decided in the last days of the season, as happened last year - and also potentially this year. They were far ahead of the...

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Social Media Weekend wrap

August 18, 2013, 6:00pm

Orioles

While the Orioles got the series win over the Rockies, we gave fans their own chance to win. MASN's Social Media Weekend, styled by Hair Cuttery, gave our loyal fans opportunities to win through our different social media outlets. By following us on Twitter, Facebook, mobile and Instagram, fans at Camden Yards were given the chance to win seat upgrades and autographed gear. Before Saturday's game, our mobile followers were invited to a photo session with Darren O'Day. In front of a bright...

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Orioles option right-hander Josh Stinson to Triple-A Norfolk

August 18, 2013, 1:31pm

Orioles

The Orioles announced after today's game that they have optioned right-hander Josh Stinson to Triple-A Norfolk. Stinson, 25, appeared in each of the last two games for the Orioles after being recalled yesterday, pitching a total of 2.1 scoreless innings. A corresponding roster move will be announced before tomorrow's game.

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Orioles recall right-hander Josh Stinson from Triple-A Norfolk

August 17, 2013, 10:07am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Josh Stinson from Triple-A Norfolk. Stinson, 25, is joining the Orioles for the third time this season (also April 24 and July 10-11). He made one start, allowing five earned runs in 5.2 innings on April 24 against Toronto. In 21 starts for the Tides this season, Stinson has gone 7-5 with a 3.75 ERA (124.2IP, 52ER).

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Orioles option outfielder Henry Urrutia to Triple-A Norfolk

August 16, 2013, 7:15pm

Orioles

The Orioles announced after tonight's game that they have optioned outfielder Henry Urrutia to Triple-A Norfolk. Urrutia has batted .269/.269/.308 (14-for-52) in 21 games for the Orioles since making his major league debut on July 20 at Texas. A corresponding roster move will be announced on Saturday.

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Patrick Reddington: Dan Haren's tidy narrative

August 16, 2013, 6:31am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Dan Haren's tidy narrative

Dan Haren told reporters this winter he was surprised by the concerns about his health when he hit the free agent market. After all, the 32-year-old right-hander had made just one trip to the disabled list in his 10-year major league career. The Los Angeles Angels put the pitcher on the DL in July 2012 with what was described then as a lower back issue. In Haren's third season in Los Angeles following a 2010 trade from Arizona, he started 6-8 with a 4.86 ERA, 24 walks (2.08 BB/9) and 86...

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Matthew Taylor: Jim Johnson, meet Don Aase

August 16, 2013, 5:58am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Jim Johnson, meet Don Aase

The Orioles are coming off a demoralizing three-game sweep at the hands (actually, the bats) of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who won each game in walk-off fashion. I don't need to tell you that Jim Johnson recorded blown saves in the final two games of the series. Johnson currently ranks as the major league leader in both saves (39) and blown saves (nine). In the same season that he tallied his club-record 35th consecutive save, Johnson appears to be on the verge of setting an ignominious team...

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Nationals recall right-hander Drew Storen, option right-hander Ryan Mattheus

August 15, 2013, 8:48am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled right-handed pitcher Drew Storen from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and optioned right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus to Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Storen pitched in six games and posted an 11/0 strikeout-to-walk ratio with Syracuse. The 26-year-old worked 2.1 perfect innings with four strikeouts during his last three appearances with the Chiefs. In 47 relief...

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Rachel Levitin: That pesky thing called perspective

August 15, 2013, 5:33am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: That pesky thing called perspective

When it comes time to reflect on the Nationals' 2013 season, my thought is that this one will be all about managing expectations. After last night's victory against the San Francisco Giants - the Nats' fifth win in a row - I found myself on the Metro amid the postgame foot traffic. While sitting there, I gathered nuggets from people's conversations and took notice of those who were wearing curly W attire. The general consensus, as far as I was able to infer, is that the big issue people...

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Andrew Stetka: The good, bad and ugly from O's West Coast swing

August 15, 2013, 5:21am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: The good, bad and ugly from O's West Coast swing

A whole lot will be written and even more will be said following the Orioles' recent 4-4 road trip to the West Coast. There was a whole lot that went down on the field that led to a 4-1 start to the swing but saw it finish with three devastating walk-off losses to the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Let this be a bit of a break from all of the on-the-field talk and chatter. I was able to attend four out of the eight games on the trip and had an outstanding experience everywhere I went. As an...

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David Huzzard: A few thoughts on hope

August 14, 2013, 5:32am

Nationals

The Nationals' four-game winning streak is a small glimmer of hope, faint light from a far off place. In "The Dark Knight Rises," Bane shows Batman the means to escape his prison. It is a one-in-a-million shot. One person out of all the prisoners had done it and it was a mystery as to if that were fact or fiction. It is the nature of hope. Hope cannot exist without despair. The 2013 Nationals have been full of despair and this small glimmer of hope shouldn't excite anyone. The Nationals...

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Neal Shaffer: There but for the grace of the baseball gods ...

August 13, 2013, 8:22pm

Orioles

Neal Shaffer: There but for the grace of the baseball gods ...

Today, let's talk about a team. A team with more than a couple of young, All-Star-capable players and an overall talent level that grades out better than average. One with a decorated, veteran manager. They were very bad for a long time but they made a playoff run last year and, in doing so, laid the foundation for a strong future. We're talking, of course, about the Washington Nationals. Maybe you're one of those Baltimore fans who harbors a weird hatred of D.C. I'm not. I loved watching...

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Ted Leavengood: Playing for pride

August 13, 2013, 4:53am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg's complete-game shutout on Sunday was an exclamation point at the end of a weekend statement that the Nationals have found their sense of pride. It was the best game of Strasburg's young career. He has said many times that he wants to go deeper into seasons, deeper into games and it doesn't get much deeper than a complete-game shutout. Coming at the end of the weekend sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, it emphasized Davey Johnson's assertion that the team needed to play...

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Zach Wilt: Who would start a wild card game for O's?

August 13, 2013, 4:42am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Who would start a wild card game for O's?

It's becoming increasingly more difficult to not compare the 2013 Orioles to their 2012 squad. I can't promise that I won't do this every week for the rest of this season. As of Aug. 13, the Orioles find themselves five games back of the first-place Red Sox in the AL East with their 65-53 record. On this date a season ago, the Orioles were also in third place in the division with a 62-53 record, six games behind the leading Yankees. While drawing these comparisons, I began to ponder Buck...

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Wild weekend in Washington

August 12, 2013, 9:59am

Nationals

If you blinked over the weekend, you probably missed something. Between a series sweep, a couple of career milestones (and Gatorade showers to go along with them) and MASN's Social Media Weekend, this weekend was one to remember at Nats Park. The Nationals entered their weekend series against the Phillies with a four-game losing streak, but behind Dan Haren's quality start and some lively bats, the Nats broke the streak with a 9-2 win Friday. Saturday, the Nationals came from behind to...

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David Nichols: Werth's resurgence provides some fun down the stretch

August 12, 2013, 5:51am

Nationals

David Nichols: Werth's resurgence provides some fun down the stretch

The Nationals swept the Phillies over the weekend. That always feels good. But the Nats are still eight games out of a wild card spot with just 45 games to play. It's not an impossibility, but the odds of making the postseason sure aren't great. What is great, though, is the way Jayson Werth has been playing this summer. The veteran outfielder is in the midst of what could possibly be his finest season at the plate as a big leaguer. Due to the hamstring injury that caused him to miss a...

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Domenic Vadala: Will Orioles make another move?

August 12, 2013, 5:29am

Orioles

To say the least, a few waves were made around Birdland the other day when former Oriole Mark Reynolds was designated for assignment by Cleveland. A lot of fans felt that the Orioles should have looked to re-sign Reynolds, and the thought crossed my mind, as well. However, I'm not sure that Reynolds is precisely what the Orioles need right at this moment. We all know who Reynolds is on the field, so there's no use in going into it here. Last offseason, I said on Birds Watcher that I felt the...