nationals

Notes on Will Harris and proposed new division alignment

April 29, 2020, 3:51am

In a possible three-division realignment for an abbreviated and rescheduled 2020 campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Nationals would be placed in the East alongside the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Orioles, Phillies, Pirates, Blue Jays, Rays and Marlins. Breaking down the teams in this potential division for 2020, the Yankees and Rays made the postseason last year. The Nats, Yankees, Rays, Red Sox and Mets all had winning records. The East division would include every member of the...

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Will Nats fans be denied a proper goodbye for Zimmerman?

April 30, 2020, 4:04am

Nationals

Will Nats fans be denied a proper goodbye for Zimmerman?

OK let's get selfish, Nationals fans. Yes, we absolutely want 100 games of Nats baseball this year. A recent proposal provides a glimmer of hope that the 2020 season might be played in some way after all. And if that proposal comes to fruition, that means that the coronavirus shutdown might be slowly coming to an end, with baseball starting in late June or early July. That is the hope, anyway. Then we all can get back to enjoying baseball again, which Nats fans, especially, have reason to be...

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Martinez enjoying time at home, but pining for chance to get back to Nats Park

May 01, 2020, 9:51am

Nationals

Martinez enjoying time at home, but pining for chance to get back to Nats Park

Nationals manager Davey Martinez is in the final year of a three-year deal that runs through the 2020 season. The contract, singed in October 2017, has a club option for 2021. Martinez was hired to replace Dusty Baker on a deal worth $2.8 million. The club option for 2021 is worth $1.2 million. During a Zoom video conference call Friday, Martinez said here have been no official talks yet on a contract extension. "Nothing, no. Right now, I'm pretty much self-isolated here," Martinez said from...

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Martinez says games without fans won't deplete drive to win

May 02, 2020, 3:03am

Nationals

Martinez says games without fans won't deplete drive to win

One scenario that could take place if games return in late June or early July would be stadiums without fans in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic. This dynamic would completely change the mood and tempo of games. Home field advantage could be taken out of the equation with no crowd to stand up and cheer at two strikes in an at-bat or get pumped up at the sight of a three-run homer. Nationals manager Davey Martinez believes his players will be able to generate their own energy and...

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"Dream Team" includes Zimmerman, Scherzer, Strasburg

May 03, 2020, 3:37am

Nationals

"Dream Team" includes Zimmerman, Scherzer, Strasburg

A new book out on baseball puts together an all-time "Dream Team" for all 30 franchises in Major League Baseball. Tom Stone wrote the book in 2019, so it does not include the Nationals' run to a World Series title. But it is interesting to see how he stacks up current Nationals with Expos players from 1969-2004. Stone's outfield consists of Tim Raines, Andre Dawson and Vladimir Guerrero. The author lists Bryce Harper as the backup in left field and right field. You can imagine that...

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Mendoza enjoyed switch to first base, eager to get back to baseball

May 03, 2020, 12:41pm

Nationals

Mendoza enjoyed switch to first base, eager to get back to baseball

I got the opportunity to catch up with Nationals prospect Drew Mendoza recently to see how it has been for him since spring training was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mendoza returned to Tallahassee, Fla., to continue his workouts in hopes that the baseball season can be saved. Normally this time of year, the former Florida State star is deep into a baseball regular season, so the shutdown required him to make some adjustments in his preparation. He is ranked as the No. 11...

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Kendrick's dramatic homer ranks near top of change-of-fortune hits in baseball history

May 05, 2020, 3:44am

Nationals

Kendrick's dramatic homer ranks near top of change-of-fortune hits in baseball history

All Nationals fans would admit that Howie Kendrick's two-run homer in the World Series Game 7 was a big moment in franchise history. But fans probably do not realize the homer ranks as the 10th best change-of-fortune hit in Major League Baseball postseason history, dating to 1903, according to a metric developed by The Baseball Gauge. The Baseball Gauge tracks a metric known as Change in World Series Win Probability (cWPA), based off every World Series (and postseason) game played the past 115...

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Shortstop Cluff has experience coming back from time away from the game

May 06, 2020, 3:48am

Nationals

Shortstop Cluff has experience coming back from time away from the game

We spoke about Nationals prospect Jackson Cluff last month with Troy Gingrich. The Nats hitting coordinator was impressed with the shortstop's ability at the plate, showcasing outstanding bat speed and approach. Cluff's college coach, BYU's Mike Littlewood, knows Cluff's swing very well, and likes the youngster's "quick twitch" ability. "He's got tremendous bat speed," Littlewood said. "He's got good plate discipline. He knows what's a strike and what's a ball. For the most part,...

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Thames staying in shape, rekindling hobby during shutdown

May 06, 2020, 10:21am

Nationals

Thames staying in shape, rekindling hobby during shutdown

New Nationals backup first baseman Eric Thames has been taking care of himself, working out and staying safe at his home in Las Vegas since spring training was shut down in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 33-year-old slugger has had the Nats coaching, training, and strength and conditioning staffs check in to see how he was coming along over the past seven weeks. "In terms of the coaching, everybody is waiting to see what's going to happen once they announce the date (for...

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Read makes defensive adjustment behind plate to help pitcher

May 09, 2020, 3:03am

Nationals

Read makes defensive adjustment behind plate to help pitcher

The Nationals have a plethora of quality catchers in their system and have made a point to stockpile the position. One of their catchers with a ton of experience is Raudy Read, who played 14 games with the Nationals between 2017 and 2019. The Nats signed the 26-year-old in 2011 out of the Dominican Republic. Even a catcher who has logged 632 minor league games - from the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League to Triple-A Syracuse and Fresno - looks to improve and refine his game each season....

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How Kendrick's grand slam changed Nats' fortunes in 2019 playoffs

May 10, 2020, 3:30am

Nationals

How Kendrick's grand slam changed Nats' fortunes in 2019 playoffs

I had a question last week regarding the cWPA (change in World Series win probability) as it pertained to Howie Kendrick's grand slam in the top of the 10th inning in National League Division Series Game 5. Moving away from cWPA for a moment, I studied how The Baseball Gauge displayed the NLDS win probability for the entire series between the Nationals and the Dodgers last October, won by Washington, three games to two. Prior to that 10th inning, the Nationals had better than a 50 percent...

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Flashback: Parra's grand slam a nice introduction to Nats a year ago

May 12, 2020, 2:53am

Nationals

Flashback: Parra's grand slam a nice introduction to Nats a year ago

Flash back to May 9-12, 2019, as the Nationals continued their long road trip with a four-game set against the defending National League champion Dodgers at Chavez Ravine. Today marks the anniversary to the end of that series, with the Nats coming home with some added confidence that they could hang with the big boys in the NL, even though they were not at full strength. It was the introduction of veteran Gerardo Parra as a member of the Nationals. His grand slam on May 11, 2019, propelled the...

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Porter excited for season proposal, offers schedule tweak

May 14, 2020, 4:13am

Nationals

Porter excited for season proposal, offers schedule tweak

The proposal for finding a way to start the baseball season around the July All-Star break carried with it the potential of 80 or so games, or half a season. One solution that has been brought forth is three 10-team divisions across both leagues, based on geography. From the Nationals' point of view, that would mean playing all teams in the National League East and the American League East, plus Pittsburgh. MASN broadcaster Bo Porter, a former big league manager, coach and player, likes the...

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Thames embraced Korean culture, food and how game was played

May 15, 2020, 3:25am

Nationals

Thames embraced Korean culture, food and how game was played

Nationals first baseman Eric Thames did not play Major League Baseball from 2013 to 2016. In 2013, he worked his way through the minor leagues and played in the Venezuelan Winter League. Then, from 2014 to 2016, he took a chance and accepted a contract to play in the Korea Baseball Organization for the NC Dinos. The move paid off. Thames rediscovered his game with the Dinos, crushing 124 homers with 382 RBIs in 390 games. With the KBO games being televised for audiences in the United States,...

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Corbin echoes Doolittle's concerns; Keister on at-bats

May 16, 2020, 2:43am

Nationals

Corbin echoes Doolittle's concerns; Keister on at-bats

With regard to the potential return of baseball in July, Nationals closer Sean Doolittle expressed concern on Twitter about the health and safety of himself and his fellow players on the field as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Doolittle expressed through Twitter that he is concerned about working with others indoors. If a player or staff member gets the virus, does the entire team need to be tested? How long will the quarantine continue? What safety protocols will be in place when a person...

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Nationals coaches boast more than 4,600 big league games of catching experience

May 18, 2020, 2:53am

Nationals

It is a baseball development fact that catchers make good coaches. They are the coordinators behind the plate, they call the plays for the defense, they run the game for the pitcher. Backstops are truly the beginning and the last line of defense in every game, plus they can also contribute on offense. There's a tremendous amount of responsibility on the shoulders of a big league catcher. So from their first days in pro baseball, they must know the game inside and out. The Nationals coaching...

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Defense and team speed cornerstones to Nationals' success

May 19, 2020, 2:14am

Nationals

Defense and speed are cornerstones of good teams, and they were important parts why the Nationals were so good in 2019. The Nats outfield was the best in baseball, based in Runs Prevented (26) and Outs Above Average (29) last season during their run to a first World Series title for the franchise. This combined total of 55 beat out the Houston Astros for the top spot by a wide margin. Houston had 12 Runs Prevented and 14 Outs Above Average last season as a team for a total of 26. Here's is the...

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In transition to television, Porter had great appreciation for Nats' title run

May 20, 2020, 3:08am

Nationals

In transition to television, Porter had great appreciation for Nats' title run

MASN broadcaster Bo Porter really enjoyed his first season as a co-host on the "Nats Xtra" pregame and postgame shows. And he could not have asked for a better ending, as the Nationals went all the way to win the 2019 World Series. Porter knew it was a big step to go from being a player to a coach to a manager and now to broadcaster in a matter of a couple of seasons. But he said feeling comfortable and respected by the people he worked with made all the difference. "It was great," Porter...

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A look back to one year ago, when the Nats were 19-31

May 23, 2020, 3:06am

Nationals

A look back to one year ago, when the Nats were 19-31

This was the day it all came to an end, the last day of a rough streak for the Nationals. From this date onward, the Nats turned it around. One year ago today. Following a 19-31 start in 2019, the Nats went 86-43 the rest of the way. That is right, the Nats played .667 baseball from May 24 to Oct. 30 in coming away with their first World Series title. Up to May 23, 2019, they posted a record of 19-31, the second-worst in the National League at the time, third worst in all of baseball. Be...

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A rundown of nicknames for Nationals players

May 24, 2020, 5:23pm

Nationals

I was reading my Twitter timeline during Saturday's "Improbable" documentary on the Nationals' run to a World Series ring and I saw a lot of mentions of Michael A. Taylor's play in the postseason and how important that has been over the years. Fans refer to Taylor as "MAT" because of his initials. It got me thinking what other players call Taylor for a nickname? Like "Mikey" or "Matty." Checking some of the official nicknames from MLB.com, I have never heard other players call them...