Josh Land

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "John, Paul, George and Ben"

July 05, 2016, 5:42pm

What a treat to be joined by MASN reporter and journalist Mel Antonen. When I asked if he would join me on "Hitting the Books," he immediately said yes - and even more quickly said he had a couple of children's books he would like to talk about. When you get that kind of response that requires no time and is delivered with enthusiasm, I can't wait to hear what he has to say. I was right. His books, "George, Paul, John and Ben" and "Cowboy and Octopus," are wonderful. They immediately...

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Steve Mears: What moves does Rizzo have in mind for Nats?

July 05, 2016, 6:28am

Nationals

Steve Mears: What moves does Rizzo have in mind for Nats?

The trade deadline is on Aug. 1 this year and that is 26 days away. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo seems poised to make some moves, and all teams in first place will make some moves. What we do not know is what Mike Rizzo has in mind for his top two prospects, Lucas Giolito and Trea Turner. "(Giolito) threw 137 innings last year total," Rizzo said. "We will build off that. We have a protocol in place that we'll stick to and adhere to. We have had it mapped out since spring training,...

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Ryan Romano: Just how good is Brad Brach?

July 05, 2016, 5:39am

Orioles

Ryan Romano: Just how good is Brad Brach?

Heading into the season, everyone knew that the Orioles would rely heavily upon their relief corps. Thus far, the group has had some ups and downs. Darren O'Day has an ERA above 3.00 for the first time since 2011, and his trip to the disabled list has prevented him from improving on that. Mychal Givens has a high ERA as well, albeit an unlucky one. And the supporting cast....to put it lightly, they haven't really supported. Thanks to Zach Britton and Brad Brach, though, the bullpen has fared...

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Orioles make four roster moves

July 04, 2016, 2:43pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled outfielder Dariel Alvarez from Triple-A Norfolk, recalled left-handed pitcher Jayson Aquino from Double-A Bowie, placed infielder Pedro Alvarez on the bereavement list, and optioned left-hander Ariel Miranda to Triple-A Norfolk. Dariel Ãlvarez, 27, hit .271/.309/.363 (88-for-325) with three home runs, 21 doubles, and 33 RBI over 82 games this season with Triple-A Norfolk. He made his Major League debut last season by hitting .241/.290/.370...

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Andrew Stetka: No excuse for Machado's baserunning blunders

July 04, 2016, 5:38am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: No excuse for Machado's baserunning blunders

There's no question that I am an unabashed member of the Manny Machado fan club. Since the day he was called up to the major leagues in 2012, I've watched along with all of the other amazed Orioles fans at Machado's brilliance. There's a reason he's one of the top candidates to win the American League MVP award this season - it's because of his supreme talent and sudden ability to put it together. But there is one part of Machado's game that has come under scrutiny this season, and...

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Marty Niland: Espinosa providing fireworks for Nationals

July 04, 2016, 5:24am

Nationals

Friday's postgame fireworks were canceled due to extra innings, and rain might well wash out many of the Washington area's July 4 pyrotechnics this year, but Danny Espinosa has been making the Nationals offense explode for the past few weeks. It's hard to say whether the Nats shortstop is the most productive No. 8 hitter in team history, but it's safe to say not many players have put together a series, a week or even a month like the man who wears No. 8 for the Nats. Espinosa burned the...

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Opposite dugout: Ace Kershaw sidelined for now, but Dodgers still dangerous

July 03, 2016, 6:32pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Ace Kershaw sidelined for now, but Dodgers still dangerous

Manager: Dave Roberts (1st season) Record: 47-37 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: SS Corey Seager (.303 average, 17 HR, 40 RBIs); 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.278 average, 80 hits); SP Kenta Maeda (7-5, 2.82 ERA); RP Kenley Jansen (1.34 ERA, 24 saves). Season series vs. Orioles: 1st meeting (1-2 in 2013) Pitching probables: July 4: RHP Yovani Gallardo vs. LHP Julio Urias, 9:10 p.m., MASNJuly 5: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Kenta Maeda, 10:10 p.m., MASN2July 6: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. RHP Bud Norris,...

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Nationals reinstate RHP Stephen Strasburg

July 03, 2016, 9:43am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals reinstated right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday and placed right-handed pitcher Joe Ross on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Strasburg, who will start for Washington on Sunday afternoon vs. Cincinnati, returns to the Nationals' active roster after missing 17 games with an upper back strain. The right-hander...

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Nationals agree to terms with 19 International free agents

July 02, 2016, 4:52pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with 19 international free agents: right-handed pitcher Johan Adon, right-handed pitcher Thony Amoroso, infielder Yasel Antuna, right-handed pitcher Carlos Cuello, outfielder David Escobar, shotstop Luis Garcia, right-handed pitcher Niomar Gomez, right-handed pitcher Rafael Melendez, outfielder Ricardo Mendez, catcher Kelvin Pacheco, right-handed pitcher Eric Pena, outfielder Landerson Pena, catcher Wilmer Perez, catcher Israel Pineda, infielder...

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Patrick Reddington: Rizzo and Baker on Ramos' improvements

July 01, 2016, 5:12am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Rizzo and Baker on Ramos' improvements

Wilson Ramos started the night on Thursday leading all major league catchers with a .339 average, a .385 on-base percentage and a .554 slugging percentage. Ramos, 28, also had the least strikeouts of any major league backstop, with 30 total in 252 plate appearances. He had an eleven-game hit streak end in Wednesday's series finale with the New York Mets. Before the Nationals swept their three-game set with their National League East rivals that night, general manager Mike Rizzo talked to 106.7...

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Matthew Taylor: Jonathan Schoop on historic homer pace for O's second basemen

July 01, 2016, 4:57am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Jonathan Schoop on historic homer pace for O's second basemen

Only one Orioles batter has hit a home run 446 feet or longer in each of the last three baseball seasons, according to ESPN's Home Run Tracker. That batter is Jonathan Schoop, the O's hard-hitting 24-year-old second baseman who is well on his way to a career high in homers. As Schoop continues to learn to hit at the major league level, he will establish new Orioles precedents for power hitting by a second baseman, likely starting as soon as this season. Schoop had the team's second-longest...

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David Huzzard: The Marlins are now the Nats' biggest threat

June 30, 2016, 4:49am

Nationals

David Huzzard: The Marlins are now the Nats' biggest threat

All this time, we, Nats fans, have been focused on the Mets, and after a horrific road trip by the Nationals and a sweep of New York, there is a new contender. It would have been nice if the sweep of the Mets reset the terrible occurrence of the road trip, but it instead gave rise to a new threat: the Miami Marlins. There is only a half-game difference between the Marlins and Mets in the standings, but the Fish are in second when they weren't expected to even be contending for the division....

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Zach Wilt: Soaking up the Orioles' historic run through June

June 29, 2016, 7:20pm

Orioles

I've got some good news and some bad news, Orioles fans. The good news is the Orioles have won 19 games in June, their highest total of any month this season. With an 19-8 record, they've recorded a .703 winning percentage this month, their highest winning percentage in any month since the 2012 season. The bad news is today is the last day of this amazing month. Tomorrow begins July. I don't know about you, but I've had an absolute blast watching this team take the field over their last 27...

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Opposite dugout: Reds continue to scuffle in tough NL Central

June 29, 2016, 6:37pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Reds continue to scuffle in tough NL Central

Manager: Bryan Price (3rd season) Record: 29-50 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: RF Jay Bruce (.279, 17 HR, 59 RBIs), SS Zack Cozart (.266, 11 HR, 32 RBIs), CF Billy Hamilton (19 stolen bases, 51 hits), RHP Blake Wood (5-1, 3.29 ERA), RHP Anthony DeSclafani (2-0, 1.52 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: June 30: LHP Brandon Finnegan vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASNJuly 1: RHP Anthony DeSclafani vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 6:05 p.m., MASNJuly 2: RHP Dan Straily vs. RHP...

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Dillon Atkinson: Birds on the verge of some longball history

June 29, 2016, 5:28am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: Birds on the verge of some longball history

We've known over the past couple of seasons that the Orioles are a homer-happy ballclub. The offense lives and dies by the longball. But this season, they're in the hunt to make history three times with home runs. Two of the possible record-breaking moments are very imminent. First, the record closest to beating is the most homers in June by a team. The mark to beat is 55, set by the 1996 Athletics. After three home runs in the Orioles' offensive explosion Tuesday night, the Birds sit at 54...

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Charlie Fliegel: Where would Ben Revere be most productive?

June 29, 2016, 5:12am

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Where would Ben Revere be most productive?

Ben Revere had a really good day on Monday, going 4-for-5. Maybe it's a sign that he's returning to form. Then again, he didn't get a hit last night. But even if he is getting back to his old self, he still can be a divisive player. That's because he's the kind of hitter that is ideal for a sabermetric vs. traditionalist head-butting. As a speedster who (usually) hits for a high batting average, he is an old school dream at leadoff. On the other hand, he has an unimpressive OBP and sees...

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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Worst Hard Times"

June 28, 2016, 1:21pm

Can we even begin to understand what people went through in the Great Depression, World War I, World War II or the Dust Bowl? Are we so concentrated on the now that we fail to see how the "then" screams at us to learn from history? Timothy Egan's award -winning book on the Dust Bowl, "The Worst Hard Times," will touch you deeply if you will let it. You can feel the ravage of the wind, the dust, the locust and the agony of all lost. These were people who went to what would become the Dust...

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Steve Mears: Was Monday night's win the defining game of 2016 for the Nats?

June 28, 2016, 5:08am

Nationals

Steve Mears: Was Monday night's win the defining game of 2016 for the Nats?

We never know which game to circle on the calendar as a key game or 'the' key game during themarathon 162-game schedule, but clearly last night's game was 'a' key game for both the WashingtonNationals and the New York Mets. Time will tell whether or not last night was 'the' key game. The key game in the 2012 season was the doubleheader game where the Nats came back to beat theirdivision rival after losing a heartbreaking game the night before and the first game of the doubleheader.The...

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Ryan Romano: O's run bases well, despite lack of steals

June 28, 2016, 4:48am

Orioles

Ryan Romano: O's run bases well, despite lack of steals

Every so often, I hear legends -- faint whispers upon the breeze -- of Orioles squads that would steal bases. Brian Roberts, Brady Anderson, Al Bumbry: These speedsters could constantly threaten to break for the open bag, and many times they made good on that threat. But they have come and gone, and the team has sorely missed their presence, especially as of late. For the third straight season, the Orioles rank last in the majors in stolen bases. On a more advanced basis, they don't fare much...

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Opposite dugout: Padres showing signs of life in June

June 27, 2016, 3:54pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Padres showing signs of life in June

Manager: Andy Green (1st season) Record: 33-44 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Wil Myers (.282 average, 17 HR, 50 RBIs); CF Jon Jay (.296 average, 24 2B, 80 hits); LF Melvin Upton (.261 average, 11 HR, 17 SB); SP Christian Friedrich (4-2, 3.60 ERA); RP Kevin Quackenbush (5-3, 3.77 ERA). Season series vs. Orioles: 1-1 Pitching probables: June 28: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez vs. RHP Erik Johnson, 10:10 p.m., MASN2June 29: RHP Yovani Gallardo vs. LHP Christian Friedrich, 3:40 p.m., MASN Inside the...