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Matthew Taylor: Recalling Rodriguez's long shot worthy of bronze

April 14, 2011, 5:12am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Recalling Rodriguez's long shot worthy of bronze

Perhaps the best feature of Camden Yards is the bronze baseballs along Eutaw Street marking home runs that landed on the walkway during game action. Visitors who tour the ballpark inevitably wind up looking down at the pavement to find their favorite players and teams. The baseballs embedded in the sidewalk tell part of the story - team, player, date, and distance - but there's more to know. That's why I started writing the Eutaw Street Chronicles on Roar from 34. Monday was the anniversary...

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Rachel Levitin: Root, root, root at your own risk

April 14, 2011, 6:12am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Root, root, root at your own risk

Ever since baseball returned to Washington in 2005, Philadelphia Phillies fans have targeted their share of rowdy behavior toward the Nationals. They trek en mass to the nation's capital, eager to shatter the souls of Nats fans and their players with nothing more than their die-hard allegiance to their own boys of summer. Opening day 2010 at Nationals Park is a day Nationals fans are not likely to forget - for at least a few years to come. As a patron in the stands of that game, my We Love...

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Dave Nichols: Nats hope for parallels to Capitals

April 13, 2011, 12:05pm

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Nats hope for parallels to Capitals

The Washington Capitals begin their quest for the Stanley Cup playoffs Wednesday against the New York Rangers. The Capitals have built a young, energetic, coachable, dedicated team through the draft, selected free agency and shrewd trading. They have signed their star players, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, to long-term, market standard contracts. They have embraced and backed their head coach, a 30-year plus minor league veteran who is now the winningest in the NHL since he took over...

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Matthew Taylor: Developing an appreciation for Rivera's talents

April 13, 2011, 6:48am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Developing an appreciation for Rivera's talents

For an Orioles fan, deciding on your favorite Yankees player is like deciding on your favorite dental procedure. Nevertheless, I've come to acknowledge, appreciate, and admire - notice I never said like - the talents of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera during the 17 seasons he's been cutting up major league hitters. Rather than breeding contempt, familiarity with one of the game's greatest closers has produced respect. No team is more familiar with Rivera than the Orioles, and Buck Showalter...

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Rachel Levitin: Where's the help from Nats' leadoff hitters?

April 13, 2011, 6:29am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Where's the help from Nats' leadoff hitters?

The crowd of 13,413 that braved an indefinite rainstorm that passed over Nationals Park last night bore witness to Jayson Werth's first game against his former team. Washington went on to win 7-4 behind an offense sparked by Werth (and his first home run against the Phillies in the fifth inning), Wilson Ramos, Laynce Nix and Rick Ankiel. With sluggers Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche sidelined with injuries last night, it was imperative that the Nationals step up and fill the...

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Rachel Levitin: As Ramos takes root, Nationals catch good fortune

April 12, 2011, 5:20am

Nationals

When Matt Capps was traded to the Minnesota Twins last summer it was hard for even the most faithful Nats fan to think, "Gee, where's the silver lining on this trade? Why get rid of our only 2010 All-Star?" Capps had an eventful year, including a strikeout against Red Sox power-hitter David Ortiz during the 2010 All-Star Game in Anaheim. Thanks to that strikeout, the National League won its first home-field advantage in a World Series since 1996. Capps was the Nationals' only All-Star...

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Matthew Taylor: A little background about the fans on TV

April 12, 2011, 4:55am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: A little background about the fans on TV

You've seen them before, probably more often than you'd like. And since I'm guest blogging for MASNsports.com this week, it seems like an appropriate time to discuss them. They're the fans in the lower seating bowl who stand out - by design or otherwise - when you're watching a game on television. They're akin to the people who stand outside the window at the "Today" show each morning with the notable difference that they're at a baseball game and supposedly interested in its outcome....

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Dave Nichols: Baseball driven by stats, stoked by hope

April 04, 2011, 8:32am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Baseball driven by stats, stoked by hope

Hi, my name is Dave NIchols and I write about the Washington Nationals. No, that's not my introduction at some self-help meeting, but it may as well be. I started a general baseball blog several years ago that grew into what Nats News Network is today: one of the very few independent Web sites credentialed to cover Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals. I am also credentialed to cover, and have a site dedicated to, the Washington Capitals. I consider it a great privilege and...

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Dave Nichols: Rehab, not hitters, is Strasburg's new challenge

April 05, 2011, 5:08am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Rehab, not hitters, is Strasburg's new challenge

The most important development for the Washington Nationals this season won't take place on the field. With no disrespect to an up-and-coming middle infield, a $126 million dollar man in right field or the growth of a potential All-Star phasing out one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, the biggest story to watch this season will take place in doctor's offices and on minor league fields across the mid-Atlantic. As much as Nats fans want to see a winner in Nationals Park in 2011,...

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Dave Nichols: Rizzo defends remade bench against early criticism

April 06, 2011, 6:44am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Rizzo defends remade bench against early criticism

The Washington Nationals spent much of the offseason trying to land a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, chasing after Cliff Lee, Zack Greinke and others to stabilize a starting staff that was in the lower third in the National League in almost every meaningful category in 2010. But general manager Mike Rizzo had a secondary goal: to strengthen the bench and to add players that would know and understand their roles as part-time players, something the Nats have had trouble with in the...

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Dave Nichols: Morgan's departure forces tough fit at leadoff spot

April 07, 2011, 5:43am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Morgan's departure forces tough fit at leadoff spot

When the Nationals traded Nyjer Morgan to the Milwaukee Brewers this spring, manager Jim Riggleman was left with an interesting decision. Having no prototypical leadoff hitter on the roster, who would he slot in that position? It's not like Morgan was the perfect choice. Once heralded as the center fielder of the present and future by general manager Mike Rizzo, Morgan has some serious flaws as a player and some will cite his erratic behavior last season, saying he may have significant...

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Rachel Levitin: Growing up with the Nats, new extended family

April 11, 2011, 5:23am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Growing up with the Nats, new extended family

Nationals fans watch the team's hiccups as they happen. Those hiccups are what make Washington baseball worth cheering for from the stands of Nationals Park. It's that whole underdog thing the north side of Chicago knows so well - minus the Billy Goat and alleged curse. Kind of. I feel obligated to admit that I grew up five minutes, walking, from Wrigley Field. Ever since I can remember, my late father would take me to Wrigley all the time. And, when he didn't, we passed that ivy-covered...

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Dave Nichols: A few of my favorite things

April 08, 2011, 5:46am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: A few of my favorite things

It's Friday, the Nationals had had a bit of a tough week, and I've brought enough gloom and doom in my first four posts this week to last for a while. If you've read all of my previous posts here, or follow my blog or my Twitter account, some of you may even wonder if there's anything about this team I actually do like. Well, with apologies to Oprah and Julie Andrews (how's that for obscure references in a baseball blog)?, let me share with you some of my favorite things about the 2011...

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Stacey Long: There's no opener like an opener in Baltimore

April 04, 2011, 8:26am

Orioles

Stacey Long: There's no opener like an opener in Baltimore

Hello MASNsports.com readers, and welcome to my first post on this fine Web site. My name is Stacey Long and I am the editor-in-chief at CamdenChat.com. Since 2005, Camden Chat has provided daily coverage of the Baltimore Orioles that is, in my (admittedly biased) opinion, the best you'll find on the Internet. Our writers are always intelligent, often hilarious and occasionally grumpy. With statistical analysis, thoughtful commentary and an occasional inspired haiku, Camden Chat covers the...

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Stacey Long: A different feel with invested, invigorated O's fans

April 05, 2011, 5:28am

Orioles

Stacey Long: A different feel with invested, invigorated O's fans

The online community for the Baltimore Orioles is a passionate and relatively tight-knit bunch. We comment on each other's blogs, we follow each other on Twitter and we never stop talking about the O's. Because of this it can be hard to have the proper perspective on the team's fan base as a whole. There are, of course, a lot of things to be excited about as an O's fan: The offseason acquisitions changed the look of the lineup, the young players are a valid reason for hope and we have our...

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Stacey Long: Is it too early to consider an extension for Hardy?

April 06, 2011, 4:53am

Orioles

Stacey Long: Is it too early to consider an extension for Hardy?

Of all the offseason acquisitions made by the Orioles, the one I found most exciting was the trade for shortstop J.J. Hardy. I thought he'd be a good fit for the Orioles back when he played for the Brewers, so picking him up from the Twins for the bargain price of two minor league relievers was, in my opinion, a fantastic move. The only thing that could make the deal better is if Orioles President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail takes the next step and extends Hardy before he has the...

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Stacey Long: The importance of Josh Rupe

April 07, 2011, 6:00am

Orioles

Stacey Long: The importance of Josh Rupe

In last night's loss to the Detroit Tigers, Josh Rupe pitched in relief and had what appeared to be a subpar outing. While he did give up two runs in three innings, Rupe actually saved the bullpen from what could have been a very taxing evening and subsequently a rough weekend. With starter Brad Bergesen unable to make it out of the fourth inning, the Orioles' bullpen was called on to pitch 5 1/3 innings in relief, not an easy task. With another game against the Tigers today and a weekend...

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Stacey Long: Keep O's hot start in perspective

April 08, 2011, 5:16am

Orioles

Stacey Long: Keep O's hot start in perspective

Did you know that the Orioles, not counting this year, have started the season 5-1 10 times (11 if you count the 1889 Orioles; I don't)? It seems like it's been forever since they started off a season this well, right? Wrong. The 2008 Orioles also started the season 5-1. They ended the season 68-93. They also started 5-1 in 2000 and ended with 74 wins, and in 1998 when they ended with 79 wins. In 1987 they started 5-1 and ended up with just 67 wins. Ouch. They also started 5-1 in 1966,...

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Matthew Taylor: Here's hoping Birds take wing in The Bronx

April 11, 2011, 6:03am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Here's hoping Birds take wing in The Bronx

The Orioles begin their season series with the Yankees on Tuesday. The last time the teams met, the O's posted an improbable 4-3 victory in 11 innings at Camden Yards. Luke Scott homered off Mariano Rivera in the ninth, and the Birds used good fortune - and even better managing - to escape unscathed in the 11th inning after the Yankees put a runner on third with nobody out. It was a thrilling game, made more special for me by the fact that I was there with my dad and my wife. Dad and I still...