Contract extension with Nationals makes sense for Strasburg

Contract extension with Nationals makes sense for Strasburg
Let's say, for the sake of argument, that the Nationals' Stephen Strasburg wanted to become a free agent after the season and pitch on the West Coast where he'd be closer to home in San Diego. Strasburg, 27, never talked about his future with reporters, but it's reasonable that a West Coast guy would give up the rush-rush pace of the East Coast for the sunshine of Southern California. Strasburg, though, has signed a seven-year, $175 million contract to stay with the Nationals at least...
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Sizzling starts like Cubs' are difficult to beat

Sizzling starts like Cubs' are difficult to beat
As the Nationals found out first-hand this weekend, the Cubs are off to a sizzling start. They are 24-6 after sweeping Washington in Wrigley Field. The last time the Cubs were 26-4 to start a season was 1907, the year they won the World Series. The Cubs' start brings back memories of the 1984 Tigers, the Sparky Anderson-managed team that started 35-5, won 104 games and the American League East by 15 games. The Tigers were 26-4 after their first 30 games. Those Tigers won their first nine games...
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Some notes on Daniel Murphy

Some notes on Daniel Murphy
The Nationals' new second baseman is on a hitting rampage. He's hit in 23 of 26 Nationals games. He has 13 multi-hit games, has RBIs in six consecutive games and in Kansas City, he became the 10th player to get his 1,000th career hit wearing a Nationals uniform. Here are things to know about Murphy: * Murphy, a left-handed batter, hit a career-high 14 home runs for the Mets last season, eight in the final two months, four each in August and September. Mets batting coach Kevin Long worked with...
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What we learned from the first month of the baseball season

What we learned from the first month of the baseball season
The first month of the baseball season is in the books. The first checkpoint has arrived, and so here's what you need to know about April's developing stories. * The Trevor-ending story: Sorry to start with a bad pun, but who could resist? And who would have thought that Colorado shortstop Trevor Story's home runs would be all the rage after the first month? He has 10 going into the week, including five in Arizona and four at the Rockies' Coors Field. In an unusual scheduling twist, the...
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Burriss back in hometown with new team and outlook

Burriss back in hometown with new team and outlook
Emmanuel Burriss arrived early Thursday afternoon in the Phillies clubhouse at Nationals Park. He had spent the morning with his dad, Allen, in his U Street neighborhood in D.C. "We were just driving around, talking, looking at the neighborhood,'' Burriss said. "Things have changed.'' Burriss is happy to see turf fields replacing the diamonds that he played on. "Our fields had weeds, broken glass and rocks,'' Burriss says. "Kids aren't stupid. They don't want to play on those...
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Chicago another region outside mid-Atlantic with optimistic starts in 2016

Chicago another region outside mid-Atlantic with optimistic starts in 2016
The Nationals and Orioles are giving mid-Atlantic baseball fans reasons to believe this season is going to be special. But this isn't the only region that's excited about how the first three weeks have gone. Check out Chicago. The Cubs, picked by many to win their first World Series since 1908, are leading the National League Central, and the White Sox - the team from the Chicago's South Side - are off to their best start since 2006, winning 13 of their first 19. The White Sox hope that a...
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Answers to some pressing early-season baseball questions

Answers to some pressing early-season baseball questions
You have questions and we have answers: Q: How does Daniel Murphy like playing for the Nationals, given he was with the rival Mets last season? A: Murphy has fit in perfectly, and how could any one argue with his production? Another contribution from Murphy: He's met with each of the Nationals pitchers to give them scouting reports on how the Mets viewed them last season. He's told them when the Mets were comfortable at the plate, when they weren't and when they were expecting certain...
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Is MLB's new slide rule too severe?

Is MLB's new slide rule too severe?
Major League Baseball is trying to make sliding plays at second base safer, but, as the season starts, the debate has shifted to whether MLB has gone overboard with regulations. This started in October's playoffs when the Dodgers' Chase Utley slid late into second base and broke the leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. A rules committee was formed. Now there are rules that put restrictions on the play where a runner can break up a double play. Are the rules too severe? The new Rule 6.01 says...
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Some predictions for the 2016 season

Some predictions for the 2016 season
As the season opens, here are thoughts, predictions and tips on how the season is going to go: * The Nationals are going to win the National League East by eight games over the Mets. Outside of Bronson Arroyo, what problems have there been? The offense will be much improved with the left-handed bats of Daniel Murphy and Ben Revere - players who seldom strike out - adding balance. And it helps that Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon are healthy. Last spring training, Rendon had four...
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Digging deeper into possible AL storylines for the coming season

Digging deeper into possible AL storylines for the coming season
Has there ever been a season where the three American League divisions have been more wide open? The Orioles, in the postseason in 2012 and 2014, spent more than $200 million to keep a talented roster together, and they are going to need all of that to contend in the AL East. The defending champion Toronto Blue Jays have firepower, but questions in the rotation. Boston has added rotation and bullpen help to one of the worst staffs in the AL in 2015 As usual, Tampa Bay has pitching depth. But...
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Breaking down the National League storylines for 2016

Breaking down the National League storylines for 2016
As the Nationals enter their 12th season in Washington, they'll have a new manager, Dusty Baker, who is trying to get over the same hurdle as the team itself. Baker, at 66 the second-oldest manager in the majors behind the Mets' Terry Collins, is trying to win his first World Series ring as a manager. He came close in 2002 when his Giants lost the World Series in seven games to the Angels after leading three games to two. The Nationals lost in the National League Division Series in 2012 to...
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Blast off: Could powerful O's order make home run history?

Blast off: Could powerful O's order make home run history?
The Orioles are loaded with home run hitters this season and could have a history-making power lineup. The Orioles have a chance to be the first team in history to have five players with at least 30 home runs. In fact, there could be six. Count 'em. Chris Davis hit 47 last season, Manny Machado 35, Adam Jones 27. Jonathan Schoop hit 15 in 86 games. Mark Trumbo has two consecutive 30-home run seasons on his resume with the Los Angeles Angels, hitting 32 and 34 in 2012-2013. Imagine what he'll...
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Looking at position battles, including Trea Turner's shot as the Nats' shortstop

Looking at position battles, including Trea Turner's shot as the Nats' shortstop
At 22, Trea Turner is one of the Nationals' top prospects after arriving in a trade from the San Diego Padres. He hit .322 in 116 games for three minor league teams in two organizations last season. And with Ian Desmond now the Texas Rangers left fielder, Turner is the Nationals shortstop of the future. The question is, "When will the future begin?" The answer starts to unfold this week as the Nationals open Grapefruit League play. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo says that Turner can be...
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For Ian Desmond, new challenges aplenty after long wait to sign

For Ian Desmond, new challenges aplenty after long wait to sign
Former Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond not only has a new team and a new league, he has a new position. At 30, Desmond signed for $8 million to play left field for the Texas Rangers. Desmond has played four games in the outfield during his career. He'll get the advantage of playing 15 home games in Texas during April. Desmond, who hit .233 last season, goes to Boston's Fenway Park to battle the Green Monster the first week in July. The Rangers' plan was to use Josh Hamilton in left field,...
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Nationals, Mets look like the pitching leaders in NL East race

Nationals, Mets look like the pitching leaders in NL East race
As Nationals pitchers and catchers settle in for their final spring training in Viera, Fla., some familiar faces will be elsewhere. Jordan Zimmermann, who came up in 2008 and had a 3.32 ERA in 117 starts, signed with Detroit. Reliever Craig Stammen, a National since 2009, is with Cleveland and Drew Storen, who saved 95 games after joining the team in 2010, was traded to Toronto. So after missing the playoffs in 2015, the Nationals takes aim at knocking off the New York Mets and their collection...
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Looking at the pitching landscape in the AL East

Looking at the pitching landscape in the AL East
With a .500 record and a third-place finish, the Orioles didn't meet expectations last season. And now, as pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the Orioles will have to beat reconstructed pitching staffs in the American League East to make the playoffs for the third time in five years. The defending champion Blue Jays have former Nationals closer Drew Storen for their bullpen, but their rotation is without David Price, who signed with Boston. The Red Sox beefed up their bullpen...
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Questions for each American League team heading into spring training

Questions for each American League team heading into spring training
Spring training camps open this week in Arizona and Florida, and of course, there are questions to be answered for American League teams: Kansas City: Can the Royals make a third consecutive World Series and be the first team to do so since the 1998-2001 Yankees? The Athletics were also in three consecutive World Series from 1988-1990. Toronto: Will former National Drew Storen, who lost his closer's role to Rafael Soriano and then Jonathan Papelbon in D.C., unseat 21-year-old Roberto Osuna as...
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Questions for each National League team going into spring training

Questions for each National League team going into spring training
Spring training has arrived in Florida and Arizona, and I have questions about every one of the 15 National League teams. Here they are: St. Louis: Can the Cardinals, who won 100 games last year despite key injuries, be able to get rebound seasons from pitcher Adam Wainwright, catcher Yadier Molina, first baseman Matt Adams and outfielder Matt Holliday? Los Angeles: How much will the Dodgers miss Zack Greinke, who signed a free agent contract with the Diamondbacks and broke up the best one-two...
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With Super Bowl in the books, time to turn attentions to baseball's questions

With Super Bowl in the books, time to turn attentions to baseball's questions
Super Bowl 50 is complete. The Denver Broncos are celebrating a 24-10 victory against the Carolina Panthers. This all means, of course, that baseball spring training is the next big event. The Orioles' first workout for pitchers and catchers is Feb. 19. The Nationals start a day later. Both teams' pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 18. The Orioles' biggest questions are pitching and right field. The Nationals' new manager, Dusty Baker, will have five new bullpen pitchers and a rotation...
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Finding connections between the Super Bowl and baseball

Finding connections between the Super Bowl and baseball
This is the NFL's Super Bowl week. It is the 50th Super Bowl. It should be Super Bowl L, in keeping with the sport's Roman numeral tradition, but this year, the NFL decided to go with "50" instead of the capital L. So while the Super Bowl is grabbing all the headlines, let's see how many baseball angles we can find to the Carolina-Denver game that's going to be played Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.: * Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, was supposed to be built in San...
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