guestblogger

Domenic Vadala: On closing acts and changed fortunes

September 24, 2012, 5:00am

Orioles

Domenic Vadala: On closing acts and changed fortunes

On Friday night, the Boston Red Sox come to town for the final home series of 2012's regular season. Friday is also the Sept. 28, which will mark the one-year anniversary of last season's spectacular finish to the regular season. I'll spare everyone the details yet again, however the act of Robert Andino hitting an RBI single to win it for the Fighting Showalters followed almost immediately by Evan Longoria hitting a walk off homer in St. Petersburg, Fla., is something that will not soon...

Comments

Tags:

domenic vadala guestblogger orioles orioles buzz robert andino

Matthew Taylor: Historical proof that more is better

September 21, 2012, 5:38am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Historical proof that more is better

The Orioles extended their remarkable run of consecutive extra-inning victories to 15 this week with wins in 18 and 11 innings against Seattle. Overall, the O's are 15-2 in extra-inning games in 2012. Explanations for the team's success in extra frames are varied; however, the historical marker you'll hear referenced most often is that the current 15-game extra-inning streak is the longest such effort since 1949, when the Cleveland Indians won 17 straight extra-inning games. History tends to...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matthew taylor orioles orioles buzz

Marty Niland: Memories of 1981 Expos, franchise's last playoff team

September 21, 2012, 4:23am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Memories of 1981 Expos, franchise's last playoff team

Nationals fans no longer have to dream of the day their team makes the playoffs. It's a reality. Thursday's night's win over the Dodgers put the city of Washington, D.C., in the baseball postseason for the first time since 1933 and this franchise in the playoffs for the first time in 31 years. The team that moved to Washington to become the Nationals, the Montreal Expos, made its first - and only - National League playoff appearance in 1981. In a year when baseball fans endured a nearly...

Comments

Tags:

andre dawson gary carter guest blogger guestblogger marty niland montreal expos nationals nationals buzz

James Baker: The magic number

September 20, 2012, 8:46am

Orioles

The Orioles have off today so Baltimore gets to take part in its new favorite game: Scoreboard Watching! O's fans everywhere will be paying attention to the Rays, Yankees, Angels and Athletics games to see how the most direct competition fares. If all goes according to plan, the Orioles could awake tomorrow in a very advantageous position. The Orioles are in control of their own destiny, and their most recent spate of miraculous impossible play has put them in a very cushy place. The way I...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger james baker orioles orioles buzz

David Huzzard: How replay could have helped the Nats

September 20, 2012, 6:24am

Nationals

David Huzzard: How replay could have helped the Nats

June 16: Tyler Moore crosses home plate ahead of the tag but is called out by home plate umpire Tim Timmons. September 15: Adam LaRoche is ruled to have come off the bag by Marvin Hudson. The runner is called safe and the following batter, Jason Heyward, hits a two-run, game-tying homer. September 19: Home plate umpire Alan Porter forgets to watch Matt Kemp running to home as Ryan Zimmerman makes the tag on Adrian Gonzalez. The umpires decide to award the Dodgers with an additional run. Every...

Comments

Tags:

david huzzard guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz

Rachel Levitin: If you still can't find a reason to watch the Nats, here's some

September 19, 2012, 5:47am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: If you still can't find a reason to watch the Nats, here's some

The novelty of postseason fever seems to be all the rage these days. As great and historic as this whole postseason thing is and sounds, it's not the sole reason for watching the Nationals in 2012. It's a great selling point, but it's not the only one. Perhaps this can be deemed a wake-up call of sorts, not unlike the time I went on to discuss why everyone should stop talking about Stephen Strasburg as if he were the messiah. Or maybe this is more reminiscent of the time I preached about...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz rachel levitin

Neal Shaffer: The 2012 Orioles season is a teaching moment

September 19, 2012, 5:22am

Orioles

It's funny how time moves. Even funnier how "normal" moves with it. Think of the last daunting task you undertook. Depending on your age, it might be applying for college or graduating college. It might be looking for a job. It might be buying a house or having a kid. It might be sending that kid off to school. It might be taking the plunge into retirement. Whatever it is, it probably felt huge when you first started planning. It may have even felt one or two ticks short of impossible....

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger neal shaffer orioles orioles buzz

Stephen Walker: For Nationals, storm clouds obscure rainbows

September 17, 2012, 6:51pm

Nationals

Earlier, in this space, I encouraged Nationals fans to enjoy the first season of rainbows in Washington since 1969. Well, after this past weekend's gruesome three-game sweep at the hands of the Atlanta Braves, storm clouds have appeared on the horizon. The Nationals still hold baseball's best record, and their lead in the National League East over the Braves is at five games after Atlanta's 7-5 win over the Miami Marlins. As Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche recently said, "Any day you...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz stephen walker

Zach Wilt: The three best games I've ever attended

September 18, 2012, 4:31am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: The three best games I've ever attended

I received a text message from my good pal and former college roommate Reilly last week asking when we could get together. It had been far too long and different jobs in different locations have made it more difficult to get together than either of us probably ever would have imagined during our days in Tower B at Towson University. Reilly asked what my plans were and I told him I was booked up Wednesday night and during the day Thursday, as I had tickets to watch the Orioles face the Rays at...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz zach wilt

Ted Leavengood: Hope, dreams and fairness in the postseason

September 17, 2012, 5:31am

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: Hope, dreams and fairness in the postseason

Atlanta swept three games from the Nationals over the weekend in a disheartening affair that Bruce Springsteen, who appeared at Nationals Park on Friday night, might well have called a "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out." Averaging almost 40,000 for the first two games, the Braves gave the Nationals a look at playoff atmosphere and pressure. The Braves were playing with their backs to the wall, 8 1/2 games behind Washington. But they showed how it's done, battling back Saturday and winning three...

Comments

Tags:

bruce springsteen guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz ted leavengood

Domenic Vadala: Time loves a hero

September 16, 2012, 5:08pm

Orioles

There are so many different angles at which we can look at these 2012 Orioles. However, needless to say 2012 will always represent a return to glory of a once-great franchise. Ironically - and who among us ever thought we'd hear this - I've seen some blabber on message boards to the effect that people are getting tired of hearing so much about the Orioles on national outlets. Feels strange not to be talking about Boston or New York, doesn't it? When Manny Machado's blooper hit the ground...

Comments

Tags:

domenic vadala guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Matthew Taylor: New Oriole Magic ends string of 14 losing seasons

September 14, 2012, 6:37am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: New Oriole Magic ends string of 14 losing seasons

Let's start with this: The Orioles' run of 14 losing seasons is over. The O's 14th-inning victory Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays was their 81st of the 2012 season, ensuring that they can do no worse than a .500 record. If you follow the team closely, you know the numbers and therefore understand how appropriate it was for the Orioles to secure a non-losing fashion in the manner they did. Here's a refresher: the Orioles are 27-7 in one-run games, 64-0 when they lead after the seventh...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matthew taylor orioles orioles buzz

Marty Niland: G. Gonzalez primed to join elite company

September 14, 2012, 4:30am

Nationals

Marty Niland: G. Gonzalez primed to join elite company

Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez will be looking to join an exclusive club this weekend in Atlanta. He's set to take the mound Sunday bidding for his 20th win of the season. If he gets it, he'll not only be the first 20-game winner in the major leagues this year, he'll be the first player in a Washington uniform to do it in 59 years. With a win in Atlanta or another of his final starts this season, Gonzalez will join a club that includes Walter Johnson, who won at least 20 a dozen times...

Comments

Tags:

davey johnson gio gonzalez guest blogger guestblogger marty niland nationals nationals buzz

James Baker: No longer losers

September 13, 2012, 8:31am

Orioles

The Orioles have won their 80th game. Let that sink in for a minute. What else is there to say? With a sweep today, the Orioles will finally end the 14-year losing streak that has plagued this team, its fans and the city of Baltimore. Confederate money, 30-3, Jeff Maier, Raffy -gate, Mazzilli, The Mother's Day Massacre, Armando Benitez, Omar Dhal, BJ Ryan, Kurt Ainsworth - all will be wiped away. The Orioles can no longer be lumped together with the laughing stocks of sport. No longer can...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger james baker orioles orioles buzz

David Huzzard: Nats need statement wins as they look toward postseason

September 13, 2012, 5:48am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Nats need statement wins as they look toward postseason

At 8 1/2 games up in the division, it would take a momentous collapse for the Washington Nationals to lose it. Think about it this way. If the Nationals go 9-10 in their remaining games to finish with a record of 98-64, the Braves would have to win every game to win the East outright or go 17-1 to tie. As commanding as the Nationals' lead is, nothing is over. Every one of the Nationals' remaining opponents are over .500 and in the hunt for the wild card, the two most dangerous being the...

Comments

Tags:

david huzzard guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz

Rachel Levitin: Nats, MLB need to work something out with Metro before the playoffs

September 12, 2012, 4:36am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Nats, MLB need to work something out with Metro before the playoffs

There's one big problem with the Nationals being as good as they are this season. What's ironic about that problem is that it has nothing to do with baseball and has everything to do with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority closing at midnight. This is a topic of conversation that will continue to come up until the end of the season and will persist until the season officially comes to a close (pending playoff games). I've sounded off regarding my Metro pet peeves before, but...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz rachel levitin

Neal Shaffer: Shifting expectations and keeping them in check

September 11, 2012, 6:53pm

Orioles

Neal Shaffer: Shifting expectations and keeping them in check

The Orioles have played themselves into a string of curious and unexpected situations this season. Possibly none more so, however, than this: They may have raised expectations to the point where missing the playoffs would actually be a disappointment. Last night, as Jason Hammel exited the game with an injury, I had the strangest feeling I've ever had as an O's fan. What I should have felt was, "Ah, well, this stretch run is going to be tough, but it's already been a great ride." Instead,...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger neal shaffer orioles orioles buzz

Zach Wilt: What's wrong with Pedro Strop?

September 11, 2012, 4:55am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: What's wrong with Pedro Strop?

Three weeks ago, Pedro Strop was thought of as one of the top setup guys in baseball. If Strop came into the game, fans assumed three outs and a Jim Johnson save the next inning. Over his last six appearances, Strop has walked five, struck out four and recorded an 18.00 ERA (six earned runs in three innings). Opponents are hitting .500 with a .609 OBP off the Orioles' flamethrowing relief pitcher. Everyone remembers Strop allowing two runs in the eighth inning of last Thursday's dramatic...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz pedro strop zach wilt

Stephen Walker: Nothing is certain, but Nats are built to last

September 11, 2012, 4:43am

Nationals

Stephen Walker: Nothing is certain, but Nats are built to last

In all the hullabaloo surrounding the Nationals' decision to end Stephen Strasburg's season, one common comment from the media outside the Washington area has been, "How can Washington shut down its best pitcher when they are so close to the playoffs? This is the team's dream season. They may never be in this position again." The implication? The Nationals' 2012 season, despite the fact that they currently own baseball's best record, is a fluke, a one-year wonder of good fortune and...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz stephen walker

Ted Leavengood: John Lannan, the perfect National

September 10, 2012, 7:21am

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: John Lannan, the perfect National

The conventional wisdom early in 2004 was that Washington, D.C., might not be ready for baseball quite yet. In upstate New York, much the same was said of John Lannan as a college pitcher who was not really ready for the big leagues. And yet here they both are, together, at this critical juncture in 2012. Every game for the next two weeks will take on added importance. It is all on the line now as Lannan steps in this week for Stephen Strasburg. Lannan and Washington both came out of nowhere...