guestblogger

Marty Niland: Taking a trip back to the 2012 playoff clincher

September 19, 2016, 4:53am

As the Nationals begin the second leg of their final road trip this season, fans are still wondering when they will clinch the National League East title. Barring an extended losing streak against teams playing less than .500 ball at the moment, the Nats are likely to celebrate their third division title in five years in a visitors clubhouse in front of another team's fans. That might be bittersweet for many Nats fans, but they can still remember some celebrations that came at home. In fact,...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger marty niland nationals nationals buzz

Andrew Stetka: Finishing with non-losing record still an underrated sight

September 19, 2016, 4:44am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Finishing with non-losing record still an underrated sight

It hit me like a ton of bricks the other day. I suppose I was caught up in the aftermath of a thrilling win that took a perfect relay throw to seal it: Michael Bourn to Manny Machado to Matt Wieters for the tag and win. It preserved Zach Britton's 44th save of the season and capped a comeback from four runs down. It also ensured that the Orioles, for a fifth straight season, won't be losers. Last year, of course, it took winning the final five games of the season to accomplish this feat....

Comments

Tags:

andrew stetka guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Matthew Taylor: On the tortuous nature of September baseball

September 16, 2016, 5:15am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: On the tortuous nature of September baseball

My wife and I discussed pennant races Thursday night shortly after the Orioles dropped a disappointing 7-6 decision to the Rays. She concluded our brief conversation with this simple truth: "So they're fun when you're winning, but they stink when you're losing." Truer words were never spoken. Moments later, the Red Sox completed a ninth-inning comeback versus the Yankees with a three-run walk-off home run, and I commenced an unmitigated assault on our defenseless bedroom pillows. Grown men...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matthew taylor orioles orioles buzz

Zach Wilt: As weather cools, O's starting pitching heats up

September 15, 2016, 5:16am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: As weather cools, O's starting pitching heats up

Like most people across the country, I updated my phone's firmware to its fancy new version yesterday evening. I've gotta have those updated emojis and goofy message effects that all my friends are talking about. After it completed, I was sure that something went wrong because the calendar app read "September 14," but according to the Orioles' matchup against the Red Sox that I was watching, it was surely October. The road crowd at Fenway Park was raucous and every pitch seemed to have...

Comments

Tags:

chris tillman guest blogger guestblogger kevin gausman orioles orioles buzz ubaldo jimenez zach britton zach wilt

David Huzzard: Zimmerman aging, but deserves a championship finish

September 15, 2016, 5:02am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Zimmerman aging, but deserves a championship finish

When I think of the Nationals - not the current squad, but the franchise as a whole - the two players I view as the heart and soul of the team are Livan Hernandez and Ryan Zimmerman. The part that is sad to me is Zimmerman had the best years of his career before the Nationals were good. Shoulder injuries and age have caught up to Zimmerman much too quickly and the twilight of his career is upon him. He is a shell of his former self and the Nationals should make finding a new first baseman a...

Comments

Tags:

david huzzard guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz ryan zimmerman

Charlie Fliegel: Against Dodgers, Gonzalez should get nod over Ross

September 13, 2016, 7:42pm

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Against Dodgers, Gonzalez should get nod over Ross

The latest news on the Nationals pitching staff hopefully heralds the return of Joe Ross. It remains to be seen whether Ross will start in the playoffs, and whether he can. If Ross does indeed come back healthy and his endurance is there, it seems like a no-brainer to start him after Max Scherzer and Tanner Roark (and, if Stephen Strasburg can make it back, after him as well). And his overall numbers do suggest putting him ahead of Gio Gonzalez. In 16 games started this season, Ross has a 3.49...

Comments

Tags:

charlie fliegel gio gonzalez guest blogger guestblogger joe ross nationals nationals buzz

Dillon Atkinson: Could O's use four-man rotation in playoffs?

September 14, 2016, 5:59am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: Could O's use four-man rotation in playoffs?

Following Tuesday night's 6-3 win over the Red Sox, the Orioles are tied for the first wild card spot and second place in the American League East - being just two games back - with the Blue Jays. The Birds, 79-66, face the Red Sox again tonight in the rubber match of a three-game set at Fenway. O's young right-hander Kevin Gausman will counter Boston's Cy Young candidate Rick Porcello. With the Orioles winning the series in Detroit and winning last night's ball game, a win in Boston...

Comments

Tags:

buck showalter dillon atkinson guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Steve Mears: Is it time for the Nationals to tweak their lineup?

September 13, 2016, 9:33am

Nationals

Is it time to rearrange the lineup to thwart the competition? The Nationals have been stacking left-handed hitters Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper for months. Both players hit left-handed pitchers well. Harper actually has a higher slugging percentage (eight points) against left-handed pitchers versus the right-handed pitchers, but his on-base-percentage is 53 points lower against left-handers. Would the lineup do better putting Anthony Rendon between Murphy and Harper to take advantage of the...

Comments

Tags:

ben revere bryce harper daniel murphy guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz ryan zimmerman steve mears trea turner

Ryan Romano: What's missing in Britton's dominating campaign?

September 13, 2016, 5:24am

Orioles

Ryan Romano: What's missing in Britton's dominating campaign?

Even though Orioles fans get to watch him take the hill constantly, sometimes I think we still don't truly appreciate how great Zach Britton is. The organization developed him as a starting pitcher, but after flopping in that role, he looked like another bust. Nowadays, he never starts anything - he just finishes things. Since his move to the bullpen in 2014, he's put up an ERA of 1.45, which trails only Wade Davis among qualified relievers. Now that he leads the majors in 2016 ERA at 0.63,...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz ryan romano zach britton

Marty Niland: Nats fans can celebrate some recent milestones

September 12, 2016, 4:49am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Nats fans can celebrate some recent milestones

This past week produced a couple of milestones for the Nationals in the 2016 season, as they continued their hopeful march toward the National League East title. Their sweep of the Atlanta Braves guaranteed the Nats their fifth consecutive winning season. Does that seem pretty ho-hum for a team that's seems bound for a third postseason in that span? Ask the most experienced baseball fan you know if they can recall the last time that happened in this town. They won't be able to, because it...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger marty niland nationals nationals buzz

Andrew Stetka: O's giving fans something to cheer about in September

September 12, 2016, 4:40am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: O's giving fans something to cheer about in September

It's the middle of September and you are still watching and enjoying baseball. OK, so maybe you didn't watch much baseball yesterday with the return of the NFL to your television set. But in general, you are still watching baseball in mid-September, and you're doing it with a purpose. That's something that Orioles fans have taken for granted over the last half decade or so. It's hard to believe, but this is the fifth straight season the O's are giving fans really meaningful baseball down...

Comments

Tags:

andrew stetka buck showalter guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Matthew Taylor: Revolving rotation usually doesn't end well

September 09, 2016, 5:57am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Revolving rotation usually doesn't end well

How many starting pitchers did the Baltimore Orioles use during the 2012 season? That's the question that came to mind for me this week when I learned that the Los Angeles Dodgers are on course to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season while using 15 or more starters. This year's Dodgers would join last year's Dodgers and the 1989 San Francisco Giants as the only teams ever to use that many different starters and still qualify for the postseason. The Orioles have come to know a...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matt taylor orioles orioles buzz

Zach Wilt: Bundy's been solid, but it's time for a breather

September 08, 2016, 5:10am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Bundy's been solid, but it's time for a breather

Despite his recent struggles, Dylan Bundy is telling Orioles fans everything they want to hear. He feels fine, his arm isn't an issue and he's comfortable pitching every fifth day. Unfortunately, the results just haven't been there for Bundy of late. He's pitched to a 6.46 ERA over his last five starts and his fastball velocity has dipped from 95-96 miles per hour to 92-93. Whatever numbers Bundy finishes with in 2016, he's been a terrific story this season for the Orioles. The guy hadn't...

Comments

Tags:

dylan bundy guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz zach wilt

David Huzzard: With Strasburg in doubt, young arms must step up

September 08, 2016, 4:55am

Nationals

David Huzzard: With Strasburg in doubt, young arms must step up

Some time last season, the Washington Nationals became just another D.C. sports team to me. This doesn't mean I'm no longer a huge Nationals fan or that I'm not going to buy a 2016 division champs t-shirt, because I am and I will. It means that I watch Nationals games in much the same way as I do Wizards or Capitals games; with mild disinterest and a bonus when the team wins. Most of the time I just fall asleep before the game is over. For most of their existence the Nationals were the one...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz stephen strasburg

Dillon Atkinson: O's power bats are surging at the right time

September 07, 2016, 7:00am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: O's power bats are surging at the right time

In the month of June, the Orioles had one of the hottest, if not the hottest, offense in the big leagues. However, when the calendar flipped to July, the bats went cold and the club's top three sluggers weren't anywhere to be found. For a team that is so reliant on its offense since it has a thin pitching staff, many rightfully assumed success wouldn't be likely. And it wasn't. In July and August combined, the O's had a 25-30 record. With an inconsistent rotation and a slumping offense,...

Comments

Tags:

chris davis dillon atkinson guest blogger guestblogger manny machado mark trumbo orioles orioles buzz

Charlie Fliegel: Is this the most talented Nationals team ever?

September 07, 2016, 6:51am

Nationals

As the Nationals sit atop the National League East with the second best record in all of baseball, I got to thinking about how this team might compare to other Nats teams. So, I took a look at the best seasons (by WAR, averaging the Fangraphs and Baseball Reference numbers) to see where the guys on this team stack up. Now, there isn't a ton of history here, so being the best at a position ever for the Nats really means being the best in a decade, but that's still something. Let's start with...

Comments

Tags:

charlie fliegel guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz

Steve Mears: Lack of pitching depth has put Nats in a tough spot

September 06, 2016, 6:04am

Nationals

Steve Mears: Lack of pitching depth has put Nats in a tough spot

The Nationals' formula to success begins with great starting pitching. "You can never have enough starting pitching," general manager Mike Rizzo said in spring training. The Nationals had signed Bronson Arroyo in the offseason, and it was looking like Arroyo could make the 2016 team, allowing Rizzo to stash Joe Ross in Triple-A. The best-laid plans don't always work out, as Arroyo was injured in spring, and the Nationals' depth looked like a pick 'em from Taylor Jordan, Taylor Hill and...

Comments

Tags:

aj cole bronson arroyo gio gonzalez guest blogger guestblogger joe ross lucas giolito max scherzer nationals nationals buzz reynaldo lopez stephen strasburg steve mears tanner roark yusmeiro petit

Ryan Romano: Digging into Kevin Gausman's clutch season

September 06, 2016, 5:36am

Orioles

Ryan Romano: Digging into Kevin Gausman's clutch season

For a few years now, Chris Tillman has carried the title of Orioles ace, but someone else might have taken his throne. After his third straight shutout start, Kevin Gausman has lowered his season ERA to 3.58, the best mark among Baltimore starters. He has the peripherals to back that up, too - his FIP and xFIP both lead the team, as well. Although it took him some time to arrive at this point, the 25-year-old righty has finally broken out, and his ability to perform under pressure has...

Comments

Tags:

chris tillman guest blogger guestblogger kevin gausman orioles orioles buzz ryan romano

Marty Niland: Looking back on a classic Nats extra-inning win

September 04, 2016, 8:15pm

Nationals

Marty Niland: Looking back on a classic Nats extra-inning win

The Nationals are headed for the National League East championship with a possible division series matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are currently three games up on the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. It a little more than two years ago, as the Nats were rolling toward their most recent division title, that they clashed with the Dodgers in perhaps the two teams' most memorable regular season contest, an 8-5 Nationals victory in 14 innings. The five-hour, 31-minute marathon at...

Comments

Tags:

dodgers guest blogger guestblogger marty niland nationals nationals buzz

Andrew Stetka: Orioles' call-ups leave much to be desired

September 04, 2016, 8:02pm

Orioles

As I've watched a number of players get the call-up across baseball over the last few days, one thing continues to weigh heavily on my mind. The Orioles don't have anyone in the farm system that really excites you. Sure, there are a few players who may end up being contributors one day. But none of these players really get you excited in the way that we've seen across the league. The Orioles could use a spark from the minors right now as they push to make the playoffs, but they aren't...