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David Huzzard: Nats bullpen needs fixing, but don't expect many changes soon

June 23, 2016, 6:19am

They are riding a five-game losing streak and in need of bullpen help. That is the current state of your Washington Nationals. A five-game losing streak is nothing to worry about. It happens. The fact that the Nationals have avoided a prolonged losing streak for this long is a miracle. It's the way the Nationals have been losing. Jonathan Papelbon wasn't the best closer, but the bullpen was built to have him as the closer. Shawn Kelley surpassed all expectations, but he works much better as...

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Charlie Fliegel: Roark remains underrated in Nationals rotation

June 22, 2016, 5:53am

Nationals

The season is nearly 45 percent complete, and the Nationals are leading their division by 4 1/2 games. Sure, the season is far from over, but they've got the fourth- best record in the league, and they look strong. Individual players that usually come to mind as the reasons for this are probably Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Wilson Ramos, Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer. And those guys are a huge part of it. But there's one player who doesn't get enough credit for what he's done for this...

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Dillon Atkinson: O's not as defensively savvy as in years past

June 22, 2016, 5:29am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: O's not as defensively savvy as in years past

In 2013, the Orioles wanted to make defense a priority, ranking ninth in the majors in Defensive Runs Saved with plus-24 DRS, and third in Ultimate Zone Rating with plus-39.9 UZR. They kept the trend in 2014, in which the club recorded a plus-57 DRS, good for third in the major leagues, and plus-54.8 UZR, which was second-highest in the majors. However, in 2015, the club took steps in the wrong direction defensively, and has continued to do so in 2016. This year, the club ranks 20th in both DRS...

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Ryan Romano: Tyler Wilson needs to improve his fastballs or changeup

June 21, 2016, 5:33am

Orioles

Ryan Romano: Tyler Wilson needs to improve his fastballs or changeup

Tyler Wilson has one great pitch, but the rest need work The Orioles direly need starting pitchers. Both Ubaldo Jimenez and Mike Wright have struggled as of late, and Yovani Gallardo's first start post-disabled list didn't inspire much confidence. Their play has inflated the rotation's ERA to 4.94, the fourth-highest in baseball. Amid this uncertainty, Wilson has done well enough, notching a 4.16 ERA and 4.17 FIP in 63 innings. That's happened on the back of one pitch in particular; his...

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Steve Mears: Looking at Nats' other options for replacement starter

June 21, 2016, 5:21am

Nationals

Steve Mears: Looking at Nats' other options for replacement starter

The Nationals got all the way to June 20 before they needed a sixth starter, as Stephen Strasburg was scratched from his start with an upper back strain and replaced by Yusmeiro Petit. The Nats were fortunate earlier in the season when Joe Ross had a blister and with days off they could skip his start. Not so lucky this time, and that begs the question as to who would be the Nats' replacement starter if they needed one again? Taylor Jordan is out for the season, and A.J. Cole is really the...

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Marty Niland: Plenty of All-Star talent on this year's Nats roster

June 20, 2016, 5:06am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Plenty of All-Star talent on this year's Nats roster

Time is running out to cast All-Star ballots, and for the first time in several years, more than one member of the Nationals deserves consideration for a starting spot. The National League team has included two Nats in each of the last three seasons, as well as in 2005, the Nats' first season in Washington. In their breakout 2012 season, four Nationals were selected to the team. In every other season since moving from Montreal, the Nats have had the requisite one player on the squad. Only...

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Matthew Taylor: Fulfilling a Father's Day promise through baseball

June 17, 2016, 4:58am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Fulfilling a Father's Day promise through baseball

I promised my dad, as he laid on what could have been his death bed some 18 months ago, that we would do the Father's Day Catch on the Field if he survived his cardiac arrest. I wrote about it back then. This Sunday, I'll make good on that promise as my dad and I will join several other fathers and sons with stories of their own to have a catch at Camden Yards. Dad got a second chance at life. Now I have a chance to make it right with what would have been a missed opportunity. I've...

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David Huzzard: 2016 version of Nationals comes with grit

June 16, 2016, 5:37am

Nationals

Ty Cobb once said, "Baseball is something like a war," and the Nationals' seven games against the Chicago Cubs were exactly that. They were brutal, back-and-forth affairs often coming down to who had the last at-bat. Every game was decided by three runs or less, and featured several lead changes. Every time one team answered the other would answer right back. They truly felt like playoff games and there is a chance that we see this showdown again in October. And while that is an important...

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Zach Wilt: Can O's bullpen continue to mask starting pitching woes?

June 16, 2016, 6:14am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Can O's bullpen continue to mask starting pitching woes?

Last night, the Orioles offense rallied late with four runs split between the seventh and eighth innings, but ultimately weren't able to overcome a short outing from their starting pitcher. Stop me if you've heard that sentence before. Kevin Gausman, who despite his winless record, has been right behind Chris Tillman as the Birds' best starter, and entered the contest with a 3.45 ERA. Unfortunately, he scattered six runs over seven hits in just three innings of work against the Boston Red...

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Dillon Atkinson: Who will represent O's in All-Star Game?

June 15, 2016, 5:25am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: Who will represent O's in All-Star Game?

Following a 3-2 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday night, the Orioles have sole possession of first place in the AL East, leading Boston by one game. The team should have multiple players representing the club in San Diego for the All-Star Game, but who will it be? Here are eight O's players who I think have a chance at taking the trip next month. I have ranked them from who I believe is most likely to go to who is least likely. First on my list is Manny Machado. He's currently leading American...

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adam jones all-star game brad brach chris davis chris tillman dillon atkinson guest blogger guestblogger manny machado mark trumbo matt wieters orioles orioles buzz zach britton

Charlie Fliegel: Nationals need to fill void at closer position

June 15, 2016, 4:40am

Nationals

It's one thing to lose a reliever, it's another to lose a closer. The Nationals' relatively effective closer, Jonathan Papelbon, went on the disabled list yesterday, and this is an issue for the team. Despite the fact that almost everyone in the bullpen has outperformed Papelbon, almost anyone else would have been easier to lose for 15 days (or more), because of the ripple effect of losing a closer. First, to finish off games, Dusty Baker and Mike Maddux will have to decide if they want to...

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Steve Mears: It can take years to analyze the success of a draft

June 14, 2016, 8:53am

Nationals

Steve Mears: It can take years to analyze the success of a draft

Another First-Year Player Draft is in the books, and it sometimes takes years to analyze the impact of a draft class. The Nationals used to always pick high in the draft when the team was bad. With the success in the standings the last few years, the Nats are now getting draft picks at the lower end of each round. It makes the trades, international signings and other creative acquisitions even more strategic to the on-going future progression of this franchise. Ryan Zimmerman clearly had the...

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Marty Niland: Strasburg's winning streak parallels that of Walter Johnson

June 13, 2016, 4:28am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Strasburg's winning streak parallels that of Walter Johnson

Stephen Strasburg has been in great company while streaking through this season, blowing past franchise marks for consecutive victories set by Pedro Martinez, Dennis Martinez and Livan Hernandez, and matching Jake Arietta for the major league lead in wins. If that's not enough, the Nationals star now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with arguably the greatest pitcher of all time, Walter Johnson. No one wearing a Washington uniform has won 13 consecutive decisions since the legendary,...

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Andrew Stetka: O's can't afford to wait on decision regarding Jimenez's future

June 13, 2016, 4:15am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: O's can't afford to wait on decision regarding Jimenez's future

After his latest debacle in Toronto, Ubaldo Jimenez is right on the edge of falling off the cliff. The Orioles have few options when it comes to moving forward with Jimenez, but if they want to keep up their chances of competing in the American League East, it might be time to cut bait. Six out of his last seven starts could be slotted into the "miserable" category. In the one that wasn't, he lasted just five innings while allowing one run. The Orioles would obviously be required to eat...

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Matthew Taylor: Getting ready for a division race as an Orioles fan

June 10, 2016, 6:59am

Orioles

What kind of Orioles fan are you? Optimistic or pessimistic? Do you enjoy the ride throughout the season or constantly fret about the end result? Do you live game-by-game or operate with the big picture in mind? Your answers may vary by season, or even within the same season. My approach has varied greatly since the O's starting winning again, and the 2016 season is unlike any one before. Fourteen seasons of losing inevitably affected my outlook on the Orioles. It made me a pessimist who...

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David Huzzard: No early pick for Nationals, but Murphy good consolation prize

June 09, 2016, 5:18am

Nationals

Unlike years past, and by now I mean years passed, the Washington Nationals do not hold the first overall pick in tonight's MLB First-Year Player Draft. They don't even have a top-10 pick. They do, however, have two picks in the first round, but will have to be a little patient. The Nationals currently hold the 28th and 29th overall selections in this year's draft. But despite the lack of an "early pick" in the sport's yearly mid-season opportunity to improve an organization, the...

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Zach Wilt: Did O's, Wieters make the right call in offseason?

June 09, 2016, 5:01am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Did O's, Wieters make the right call in offseason?

Back in November, Matt Wieters and the Baltimore Orioles made baseball history. The Birds catcher became one of the first players to accept a team's qualifying offer when he agreed to sign back with the O's on a one-year, $15.8 million deal. Prior to last offseason, all 34 players who were extended a qualifying offer turned it down in favor of hitting the open market. Sometimes it worked in their favor, sometimes it didn't. Looking at you, Nelson Cruz. Wieters, along with Brett Anderson and...

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Dillon Atkinson: Beanball isn't baseball

June 08, 2016, 5:33am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: Beanball isn't baseball

In baseball, there are too many incidents that result in a pitcher intentionally throwing a 90-plus mph fastball into the back - and sometimes, even the head - of defenseless hitters. Another case of this happened in Tuesday night's Royals-Orioles game. In case you missed it, the Orioles beat up on Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura with the bats early in the game. Manny Machado stepped to the plate for the second time in the game in the second inning and immediately got brushed back with a...

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Charlie Fliegel: LASIK isn't the only reason Ramos has improved at the plate

June 07, 2016, 8:23pm

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: LASIK isn't the only reason Ramos has improved at the plate

You'd be forgiven if, before this season started, you were concerned with the Nationals' catching situation and really wanted them to address it. At least I'd forgive you because I certainly felt that way. In 2014 and 2015, Wilson Ramos managed a sub-100 OPS+ and wRC+, hitting below the league average. 2015 was especially tough for him. But he wasn't always that bad. From 2011-2013, he hit a very respectable .269/.327/.449. He was a promising young hitter, then it seemed to all go away....

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Steve Mears: Turner matching all-time hits leader in hustle category

June 07, 2016, 8:22am

Nationals

Steve Mears: Turner matching all-time hits leader in hustle category

Friday night in Cincinnati, Ohio was the setting for the 2016 debut of possibly the most exciting player in baseball, and his name is Trea Turner. He is not a home run hitter and he doesn't crow-hop throwing 97-mph darts across the diamond. Turner is the true throwback to a simpler game to the bygone years of "Charlie Hustle," who is still loved in Cincinnati. Pete Rose was not particularly fast, as he only averaged nine stolen bases a year against seven caught stealing, which surprises most...