Josh Land

Homestand kicks off with All-Star balloting

April 30, 2012, 3:58pm

The Nationals return home after a six-game road trip out west. Things started out well, as the Nats took two of three in San Diego, but a sweep by the Dodgers has Washington looking to rebound upon its return to Nationals Park. One thing a homestand also ensures is another set of perks and incentives for fans to get out to the ballpark and root root root for the home team and it kicks off with the annual All-Star voting beginning Tuesday when the Nationals open a series with the...

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Ted Leavengood: A Hollywood script with much left to write

April 30, 2012, 5:52am

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: A Hollywood script with much left to write

No team in the National League East had a better April than the Nationals, and Saturday night the Hollywood script writers worked over time on a fairy tale ending. Bryce Harper's first game in the major leagues was the setting. It drew so much press attention to Dodger Stadium that the Queen of England could have slipped into town unnoticed. Harper may have been the headline for the Nationals' weekend at Dodger Stadium, but Stephen Strasburg's brilliant performance Saturday night made real...

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Olivia Witherite: Was it OK to say goodbye to Guthrie?

April 30, 2012, 5:31am

Orioles

Olivia Witherite: Was it OK to say goodbye to Guthrie?

It has been almost three months since the trade heard around Baltimore occurred when starter Jeremy Guthrie was dealt to the Rockies for Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom. While there were strong reactions, many of which were extremely negative, Hammel and Lindstrom have now settled in nicely into their respective roles. But are they comparable to the Orioles' old ace? Hammel began the season in the No. 3 starter's role, a few short days after Guthrie settled in as the new ace in Colorado....

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Nationals recall first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore, place infielder Mark DeRosa on DL

April 29, 2012, 10:29am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed infielder Mark DeRosa on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to April 28, with a left oblique strain. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Moore batted .286 (22-for-77) with three doubles, seven home runs, 20 RBIs and 10 walks in 22 games this season with Syracuse. His home run and...

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Nationals recall outfielder Bryce Harper, place third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on DL

April 28, 2012, 12:03pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled outfielder Bryce Harper from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to April 21, with right shoulder inflammation. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The 19-year-old Harper is expected to make his debut during tonight's game in Los Angeles-NL. The first-overall selection in the 2010...

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Nationals recall right-handed pitcher Ryan Perry, place right-handed pitcher Brad Lidge on disabled list

April 27, 2012, 3:47pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled right-handed pitcher Ryan Perry from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed right-handed pitcher Brad Lidge on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to April 22, with an abdominal wall strain. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Perry went 1-0 with two saves and a 2.00 ERA in eight relief appearances with Syracuse this season. The 25-year-old is 5-6 with two...

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Orioles reinstate infielder Robert Andino from paternity list; right-handed pitcher Jason Berken optioned to Triple-A Norfolk

April 27, 2012, 1:50pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated infielder Robert Andino from the Paternity List and optioned right-handed pitcher Jason Berken to Triple-A Norfolk. Andino, 28, started the first 17 games of the season (16 at 2B, one at SS) and batted .300/.333/.433 in 60 at-bats. He missed two games for the birth of his daughter, Amarise Hazel Andino. Berken, 28, has pitched to a 0.60 ERA (15.0IP, ER) with four walks and 10 strikeouts in three starts for the Tides this season.

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Matthew Taylor: Bullish on the bullpen

April 27, 2012, 5:36am

Orioles

The Orioles currently have one of the game's best relief corps. The bullpen's 1.96 ERA and 10 saves are tops in baseball. Take a moment to let that sink in. The team that for the past decade or more has been synonymous with late-inning meltdowns (think Mother's Day Massacre) and historic failings (think 30-3) has one of the game's finest late-inning outfits. Earlier in the week, fellow guest blogger Heath Bintliff of Dempsey's Army proclaimed, "For the first time in years, I am loving...

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Orioles Legends Celebration Series kicks off with Frank Robinson sculpture unveiling this Saturday

April 26, 2012, 1:12pm

Orioles

The Orioles Legends Celebration Series kicks off this Saturday, April 28, with the unveiling of a sculpture of Frank Robinson at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in the area beyond left-center field. Robinson's larger-than-life bronze sculpture is the first of six the Orioles will reveal this season, each depicting one of the greatest Orioles of all time. There will be a limited amount of space available for fans to view the unveiling itself, so those interested in watching should arrive at Eutaw...

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Anthony Amobi: Wieters' emergence silences his critics

April 26, 2012, 5:20am

Orioles

Anthony Amobi: Wieters' emergence silences his critics

Heading into the 2012 season, Matt Wieters has emerged as a leader for the Orioles. Many have argued whether or not he is a bust - despite only having played in the major leagues for less than three full seasons. That being said, he is far from that. So Wieters has not turned into the next Johnny Bench or a Joe Mauer with power. The promise of the night when he debuted is still there, but it has taken a while to come to the surface. Various television shows, Web sites, sports talk radio...

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Dave Nichols: A dose of reality in an unreal start

April 26, 2012, 4:24am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: A dose of reality in an unreal start

The Nationals, now 14-4, own the best record in the National League, just a half-game behind the Texas Rangers for the best record in all of baseball. Heady stuff. Of course, a .778 winning percentage is impossible to keep up, but the Nats have taken strong advantage of a weak early schedule to race out to a good start. The pitching has, of course, been the big story. Dominant starters, shutdown relievers, two closers (for now). But the team - and the fans - got a shock this week with Ryan...

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Neal Shaffer: What draws you to Camden Yards?

April 25, 2012, 5:32am

Orioles

Neal Shaffer: What draws you to Camden Yards?

One thing we know for certain: Fourteen years of poor performance has taken a toll on the fan base. It has thinned the ranks of casual fans, of course; that much is obvious. But I believe it has thinned the ranks of die-hards as well. Across the board, there just aren't as many Orioles fans as there used to be. The evidence is anecdotal but extant. That the O's are off to a decent start and the NFL draft still dominates sports talk radio says quite a bit. That online comment forums are often...

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Rachel Levitin: Die-hard Nats fans have been waiting for this

April 25, 2012, 5:07am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Die-hard Nats fans have been waiting for this

As it stands, the Nationals are 13-4 and the division rival Phillies are 8-10. It's early yet, but that doesn't mean it's not fun for fans to fantasize about winning baseball in Washington. This tiny taste of what it feels like to sit atop the standings for more than a day or two is special for long-time Nats fans. It's been less than a decade, but the die-hard Nats fan contingent have held out for what they expected would eventually occur. These are the fans who braved the conditions at...

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Orioles to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day at Camden Yards

April 24, 2012, 1:15pm

Orioles

In recognition of the 65th anniversary of Jackie Robinson becoming the first African-American player in Major League Baseball, the Orioles will honor a Jackie Robinson Foundation scholar in a special pregame ceremony before their game Tuesday, April 24 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Matthew Robinson, a student at Howard University from Chicago, IL., will be presented with a #42 jersey by Orioles outfielder Adam Jones. Robinson is one of over 1,300 young men and women who were able to attend...

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Joe Drugan: It's time to give Lombardozzi a chance

April 24, 2012, 5:29am

Nationals

Joe Drugan: It's time to give Lombardozzi a chance

The Nationals have come out guns blazing in the first 16 games of the 2012 season. The guns that are blazing thus far are radar guns from the pitching staff, though. The Nationals offense has struggled mightily in the first few weeks of the season, ranking 20th in batting average, 21st in runs, and 23rd in slugging. It's time to switch things up in NatsTown, and it starts in left field. With Michael Morse out of commission for at least another month, it's time for the Nats to look to options...

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Heath Bintliff: What a relief it is

April 23, 2012, 7:28pm

Orioles

For the first time in years, I am loving the Orioles bullpen. I loved them when they broke camp. I thought it was almost perfectly constructed, given the personnel on hand and they are performing admirably. Over the past 14 years of losing, the bullpen has ranked among the worst in baseball, year in and year out. Sure, there were a couple of exceptions, but Orioles bullpens of the aughts and beyond have generally provided the proverbial gasoline on the starting staff's fires. Not in 2012....

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Olivia Witherite: Fans, please stay seated past April

April 23, 2012, 5:35am

Orioles

Olivia Witherite: Fans, please stay seated past April

When it comes to the Orioles, I usually have a great idea of what to say about the team, and generally, it's some kind of justified gripe. However, with the team off to a solid 9-7 start, I find myself slightly conflicted. I'd love to be one to take the optimistic route and say that the start is a sign. No, not even a sign for a pennant win or playoff security, but rather a sign to finish above .500 in what I believe is the toughest division in Major League Baseball. But I can't. Because...

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Ted Leavengood: A flood of riches

April 22, 2012, 8:55am

Nationals

The rain is falling on the mound, It's falling on the plate, But when the Nats are 12 and 4, The next game's worth the wait. - Ted Leavengood There is nothing cloudy or damp about the superlatives being used to describe the Nationals' pitching staff. However, it is dedicated Nationals fans who are most aware of what it all means as they behold the endless parade of goose eggs, the never-ending lust for just one run, any run, no matter what it takes to make another great pitching...

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Washington Nationals welcome 15 millionth fan in franchise history

April 21, 2012, 10:09am

Nationals

Earlier today, the Washington Nationals proudly welcomed the 15 millionth fan in franchise history before the team hosted the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Sarah McCarty from Fairfax, Va., was designated as the 15 millionth fan to attend a Nationals game in Washington since the franchise relocated from Montreal in 2005. McCarty was presented with a Jayson Werth autographed jersey during an in-game presentation shown on the NatsHD scoreboard. McCarty will also receive four Lexus Presidents...

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Marty Niland: How will the Nats handle coming down to Earth?

April 20, 2012, 5:13am

Nationals

Marty Niland: How will the Nats handle coming down to Earth?

There's not much a baseball team can do about games like the Nationals' 11-4 loss Thursday night to the Houston Astros. The pitching, overpowering so far in 2012, was shelled for 17 hits, including three triples off starter Edwin Jackson in the first inning. The bullpen offered little relief, with Tom Gorzelanny surrendering six runs and eight hits of his own. Aside from Ryan Zimmerman's first home run of the season, a three-run shot in the third inning, the offense was unproductive with...