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Jon Shepherd: The first half does not matter

July 29, 2014, 5:35am

Orioles

Jon Shepherd: The first half does not matter

It is natural to think of the most recent occurrences to be the product of a new realization. That is, if a player all of a sudden has a monster first half or a terrible first half, then that player is defined by that play. However, if the only bits of information you have are projections from the beginning of the year and how a player has performed so far, then you can ignore the latter and focus solely on the former. In other words, it is more likely that Nelson Cruz's preseason projection...

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Dave Nichols: With Zimmerman out, Nats should deal for infielder

July 29, 2014, 4:58am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: With Zimmerman out, Nats should deal for infielder

The major league trade deadline is Thursday. The Nationals have won eight of their last 12 games and 15 of the last 23. But with Ryan Zimmerman's hamstring injury reportedly keeping him out of the lineup for six to eight weeks, most folks around baseball think the Nats will be active in the trade market for an infielder - either second base or third - to help the team with its pursuit of a division title. In this space a week ago, I came to the conclusion that the Nats were as healthy as...

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Marty Niland: History shows Rizzo deals for difference-makers

July 28, 2014, 5:27am

Nationals

Marty Niland: History shows Rizzo deals for difference-makers

Aside from President Obama's golf scores, the most closely held secrets in Washington these days are how long Ryan Zimmerman's hamstring injury will keep him sidelined and whether the Nationals will make a trade to replace Zimmerman's potent bat if his absence is a long one. General manager Mike Rizzo has said publicly that he likes the current roster, and that he has confidence that Danny Espinosa, Kevin Frandsen and recent call-up Zach Walters will collectively fill the void. Perhaps he's...

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Andrew Stetka: Road success shows O's postseason dreams are a reality

July 28, 2014, 5:13am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Road success shows O's postseason dreams are a reality

There's previously been some doubt surrounding the Orioles' ability to hang with the upper class of the American League. After a 6-4 road trip against the three best teams in the AL West, there's no longer any doubt that they have that ability. The O's have carried the third-best record in the AL since the end of May and the pitching of late has been spectacular. Everyone on the outside looks at the Orioles and sees an offensive juggernaut that lacks the arms to succeed in October, but if...

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Matthew Taylor: Random acts of ballpark kindness

July 25, 2014, 4:56am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Random acts of ballpark kindness

Have you experienced a random act of ballpark kindness? Better yet, have you performed one? It seems we've heard much in recent years about boorish ballpark behavior. The most publicized incidents have involved fights between opposing fans that resulted in serious injuries. It's enough to make even the most dedicated fan consider passing up on the peanuts and Cracker Jack and decide to never go back. Less publicized are the simple kindnesses shared between strangers that add to the fun of...

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David Huzzard: The Nationals and offense through the years

July 24, 2014, 5:05am

Nationals

If Nationals fans were polled on which area of the team needed to improve during the stretch run, most of them would say the offense. It would come as a surprising fact to those fans that the Nationals are third in the National League in runs per game at 4.24, but their answer isn't the least bit surprising. With the strike in 1994, baseball lost a good many fans, and in 1998, the home run chase between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire brought in new fans. Those fans that watched baseball in the...

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Zach Wilt: J.J. Hardy's puzzling season

July 24, 2014, 4:53am

Orioles

While Adam Jones, Nelson Cruz and even Steve Pearce have deservedly been credited with leading the Orioles' march to the top of the American League East, it's important to recognize the role that J.J. Hardy has played this season. If you glance quickly at the power numbers, Hardy's season may appear to be a disappointment. The Orioles shortstop has hit four home runs this year and is on pace to finish 2014 with seven. Hardy has averaged 25 homers a season since joining the O's in 2011,...

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Rachel Levitin: Will Zimmerman's injury put a strain on Nats?

July 23, 2014, 5:14am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Will Zimmerman's injury put a strain on Nats?

The unfortunate bout of luck that befell a hustling Ryan Zimmerman is sure to put a slight strain on the post-All-Star break Nationals. A strained right hamstring is Zimmerman's injury and the Nats will now press onward, hoping that this setback is nothing more than a minor one. There is good news, though: The Nats sit in first place among their National League East brethren and lead Atlanta by two games. Washington has won four straight games, which is a nice tone to set while the final...

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Daniel Clark: Through adversity, Machado shows he's gaining maturity

July 22, 2014, 6:41pm

Orioles

Daniel Clark: Through adversity, Machado shows he's gaining maturity

At times, it's very easy to forget that Manny Machado is just 22. The 2014 season has presented a number of significant challenges for the talented young third baseman, but despite the troubles, it appears that he has come through it for the better. Starting the season on the sidelines after a horrific knee injury last September, Machado's rehab took slightly longer than Orioles fans had originally hoped. When the 2013 Platinum Glove winner wasn't ready for opening day, it gave yet another...

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Dave Nichols: Will Nationals be active at trade deadline?

July 22, 2014, 5:11am

Nationals

The non-waiver trade deadline is 10 days away, but there has been very little mention of the Nationals in the national media with regard to being a player in the annual talent swap. Perhaps that's a good thing. With Monday night's 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies, coupled with the Braves' loss to Miami, the Nats took over the lead in the National League East yet again. Their 54-43 record is good for first overall in the NL, percentage points better than Milwaukee (whom the Nats just took...

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Marty Niland: Nats hit milestones on a historic day

July 21, 2014, 5:13am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Nats hit milestones on a historic day

As America commemorated 45 years since the first human steps on the moon Sunday, the Nationals were celebrating some milestones and anniversaries of their own on the way to their 53rd victory of 2013, a 5-4 walk-off win over Milwaukee. Gio Gonzalez labored through one of his more difficult starts of the season, but he collected five strikeouts in his 3 1/3-inning stint. The last of those, dealt to Rickie Weeks leading off the third, was the 1,000th of Gonzalez's career. In his seventh...

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Andrew Stetka: Time for trade rumors to fly

July 21, 2014, 4:41am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Time for trade rumors to fly

A quick check of your calendar will serve as a simple reminder that this is the season of the rumor in baseball. Sure, there's that little period in December called the Winter Meetings, but in terms of in-season action, this is when it starts to get good. Everything is leading up to about 11 days from now when the non-waiver trade deadline hits and we really see what teams are contenders and which ones are pretenders. For the Orioles, it's pretty clear they are the former. The Birds find...

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Matthew Taylor: Where O's record is concerned, no apologies necessary

July 18, 2014, 6:21am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Where O's record is concerned, no apologies necessary

Baseball's intermission is over. The second act of the 2014 season is about to get under way. Before we dim the house lights and take in the rest of the show, let's be clear about one thing: Orioles fans don't need to apologize for the team's success. The Orioles have their share of critics despite leading the American League East at the All-Star break for the first time since 1997. I was reminded of that reality by a fellow baseball fan this week when he commented of the O's first-place...

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Matthew Taylor: The hits just keep coming

July 11, 2014, 5:34am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: The hits just keep coming

The Orioles had two batters log five hits in a game within the course of two days this past week. Nelson Cruz went 5-for-5 in a 7-4 win against the Red Sox. Manny Machado then followed suit with a 5-for-6 night at the plate in Monday's 8-2 win against the Nationals. Both players fell one hit short of the team record, which Cal Ripken Jr. established on June 13, 1999 at Atlanta. Had Cruz and Machado been playing at home, they would have matched the team record for most hits in a home game,...

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David Huzzard: The Desmond dilemma

July 10, 2014, 5:56am

Nationals

With the news that the Nationals are looking for a young shortstop to be included in a deadline deal, the Ian Desmond contract situation has come back into the news. Desmond is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the 2015 season, and over the last three years, he's been one of the Nationals' best offensive players. In fact, if we rank all Nationals from 2005 to present by fWAR, Desmond is the second-best Nationals position player, behind only Ryan Zimmerman. Desmond's rise up these...

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Zach Wilt: Machado heating up for first-place Orioles

July 10, 2014, 5:44am

Orioles

Make no mistake about it, with the American League East wide open for the taking, I fully expect that the Orioles will be aggressive at the trade deadline. Despite falling 6-2 to the Nationals on Wednesday night, the O's still find themselves in first place in the American League East, 2 1/2 games ahead of the free-falling Toronto Blue Jays, who have lost six of seven games. The defending world champion Boston Red Sox are now 11 games below .500 and in last place, the Tampa Bay Rays appear to...

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Rachel Levitin: Thrilled to see how far D.C. baseball has come

July 09, 2014, 5:21am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Thrilled to see how far D.C. baseball has come

When Tuesday night's game between the Nationals and Baltimore Orioles kicked off the evening with a delayed start, there was still a chance for baseball to be played. Or so we thought. The delay started early on in the 6 o'clock hour before a rush of approaching inclement weather forced fans and ballpark staff to head for cover under the Nats Park concourse. Once the storm swept through the Navy Yard and the ominous winds took flight, it sounded as if that very storm had come along to carry...

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Daniel Clark: Bottom of O's lineup providing a spark

July 09, 2014, 5:00am

Orioles

Daniel Clark: Bottom of O's lineup providing a spark

The Orioles have had a successful past nine days, winning seven of eight games and moving themselves into first place in the American League East, 2 1/2 games clear of the Toronto Blue Jays. As with any wining period, there have been a number of elements working well for the Birds and one of them has been the extremely impressive performances from the bottom third of the lineup. Since the start of the Texas series last week, the Orioles' bottom three have hit to a .309 average (29-for-94) and...

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Stuart Wallace: The scoop on LaRoche's stellar glove work

July 08, 2014, 4:47am

Nationals

Stuart Wallace: The scoop on LaRoche's stellar glove work

Playing a position known more for offensive contributions from players who often lack the defensive skills to play elsewhere, Adam LaRoche has become a unique commodity for his glove work. While no slouch at the plate, as his .385 weighted on-base average (wOBA) and 148 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) - ranking second and third among National League first basemen, respectively - can attest, it's LaRoche's ability to deftly corral balls screaming off of opponents' bats or out of teammates'...

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Andrew Stetka: Time to let Gausman pitch uninterrupted

July 07, 2014, 4:59am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Time to let Gausman pitch uninterrupted

It's no secret that the Orioles' Achilles heel this season has been starting pitching. It's a team with flaws, but more than anything, you can point to an inability to have starters go deep enough in games as one of the biggest reasons for a struggle. The offense has sputtered at times, the bullpen has seen its hiccups (like blowing a large lead on Sunday in Boston), but deep down starting pitching has been the big issue. This is why the Orioles' treatment of Kevin Gausman over the past...