Eight area legends, two teams to be inducted into DC Sports Hall of Fame
Eight area legends, two teams to be inducted into DC Sports Hall of Fame
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
Four individuals whose contributions elevated basketball in distinctive ways and two legendary coaches, one immortalized in a film and one etched into history with two World Cup titles, plus two teams that each won their first-ever championship in 2019 are among those selected for induction into the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame. The formal induction into the DC Sports Hall of Fame is conducted at Nationals Park prior to a Washington Nationals game. Due to the postponement of Major League...
College players have a big decision to make as draft landscape changes
College players have a big decision to make as draft landscape changes
Byron Kerr
Orioles
Tomorrow's First-Year Player Draft will look like no other thanks to the five-round format and the $20,000 cap on free agent signings. But a couple of college coaches I spoke to believe collegiate players now have many more choices to make rather than just jumping at the first offer they receive from a major league team. This changes the free agency pool to an extent as well, not only in 2020, but also looking ahead to 2021. South Carolina coach Mark Kingston said with the NCAA granting...
Players, owners can't try to fight 2021 battle in 2020
Players, owners can't try to fight 2021 battle in 2020
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
There are problems with Major League Baseball's economics system. Big problems. Yes, the sport brings in as much as $11 billion a year, but that doesn't mean the economic state of the sport is healthy. Players have been making this argument for two years now. How can owners be making so much money while free agency remains stagnant? How can so many teams be profitable while still claiming they need to cut payroll as part of a long-term rebuilding plan? And how can the best players in this...
Another look at O's options for the No. 2 pick
Another look at O's options for the No. 2 pick
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When the First-Year Player Draft begins on Wednesday night, the Orioles will have some big decisions to make. They may well be choosing between one of three options with their No. 2 overall pick. * Take a real good hitter in Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson, if he doesn't go 1/1 to the Detroit Tigers, or add Vanderbilt's Austin Martin. He features some defensive versatility and is the best pure hitter in the draft with plus bat skills and bat speed and the potential to add...
Latest on negotiations for a 2020 season and more from Elias
Latest on negotiations for a 2020 season and more from Elias
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The latest Major League Baseball economic proposal sent yesterday to the MLB Players Association assures that the 2020 season won't start before July 10. And it heightens suspicions that we're facing a 50-game schedule that, in the immortal words of heavyweight boxer Clubber Lang in "Rocky III," is going to produce a paper champion. As first reported by ESPN's Karl Ravech, ownership is now seeking a 76-game season, concluding on Sept. 27, that pays players 75 percent of their prorated...
"Orioles Classics" #TBT: Postseason bonanza
"Orioles Classics" #TBT: Postseason bonanza
Doug Miller
Orioles
Looking ahead to the coming week's "Orioles Classics," I couldn't help but think of Jim Mora's most famous moment. Mora, then head coach of the Indianapolis (grr!) Colts, spoke with reporters following a 2001 loss that dropped the team to 4-6. One of those reporters asked Mora about the Colts' chances at making the National Football League playoffs that season, triggering the coach's now legendary reaction. "Playoffs? Don't talk about ... playoffs?" Mora screeched incredulously, his...
Elias says Orioles to choose among five players for first pick
Elias says Orioles to choose among five players for first pick
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
With two days remaining before the start of the First-Year Player Draft, the Orioles have reduced the number of possibilities with the second overall selection but aren't ready to pinpoint their preference. Speaking to the media today on a Zoom call, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said the Orioles are "actively discussing" five players and probably won't make a final decision until the day of the draft. It's a fairly typical stance for a team positioned in such a high...
#TBT to "Nationals Classics": A wild introduction to postseason run
#TBT to "Nationals Classics": A wild introduction to postseason run
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
There's no way around it. We miss baseball. We miss everything about a trip to South Capitol Street to see the Nationals play. The way the warm June breezes buffet the upper deck. The taste of a Ben's Chili Bowl half smoke when you bite into it. The taste of a cold, refreshing Budweiser. The roar of the crowd. We don't know when baseball will return, but until the owners and players can come to some sort of agreement, MASN has plenty of "Nationals Classics" to help you get your diamond...
Nationals again look to build depth through draft
Nationals again look to build depth through draft
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Sean Doolittle, Adam Eaton and Yan Gomes. All three players are prime examples of where the Nationals needed top-flight major league talent to compete for a title, but did not necessarily have that guy in their system at the time. All three made significant contributions on their road to winning the 2019 World Series. In the middle of 2019, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo brought in relievers Roenis Elías and Hunter Strickland through trade. Rizzo sent minor league left-handers Taylor...
10 years later, Strasburg's debut still leaves us in awe
10 years later, Strasburg's debut still leaves us in awe
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
It's almost impossible to refer to any game or any player in baseball history as unique. Over the last century and a half, this great sport has seen pretty much everything that can happen, happen. Yes, there have been countless remarkable, memorable, even historic moments and players. But in nearly every case, they can be compared to something or someone else. Rarely do we get to witness something and say with 100 percent conviction: "Wow, we've never seen anything like that before!" If you...