#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...
Keith Law on O's pick and a take on Austin Martin (with video)
Keith Law on O's pick and a take on Austin Martin (with video)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
While pointing out that the Orioles could go underslot with their No. 2 draft pick to go over at No. 30 and/or No. 39, The Athletic's Keith Law still has the club taking Vanderbilt's Austin Martin with its first pick. The draft begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night with coverage on both ESPN and MLB Network. That night, the first round features picks No. 1 through No. 29 and then the competitive balance round with selections Nos. 30 through 37. So the O's will have two picks Wednesday. Draft...
Wondering how the Nats' season might have been playing out
Wondering how the Nats' season might have been playing out
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals are wrapping up a homestand this afternoon, with the fourth and final game of their series against the Mets on tap, a marquee pitching matchup between Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom set for this warm afternoon on South Capitol Street. This is an important stretch of the season to date for the Nats, who through 64 games find themselves in the driver's seat of a competitive race in the National League East. They're in first place at 39-25, with the Braves trying to catch them at...
A look at O's potential pursuit of undrafted players
A look at O's potential pursuit of undrafted players
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Over the years, there have certainly not been many players signed after the First-Year Player Draft. Not when it was 40 rounds - or before that, 50 rounds. All the good talent was long since scooped up. But this year is very different. The draft is just five rounds. There will be 160 players drafted, or 13 percent of the 1,217 taken in 2019. Some real good talent will be available that won't be taken. But teams will have only a max bonus of $20,000 to offer. Will players that would have...
Nats hope Georgia's Wilcox is around again in this draft
Nats hope Georgia's Wilcox is around again in this draft
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The No. 23-rated prospect in the MLBPipeline.com top 200 is a familiar name to the Nationals. The club drafted right-hander Cole Wilcox out of high school in the 37th round in 2018. Wilcox comes at you with a fastball that can reach 100 mph and has the potential to get to 102 mph. University of Georgia baseball coach Scott Stricklin said that fastball has been the lethal pitch that has got everyone talking about Wilcox. "Obviously, he is very talented," Stricklin said. "He is a big, strong...
A closer look at the O's draft preparations (with video)
A closer look at the O's draft preparations (with video)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Hired by the Orioles in 2013, Brad Ciolek is a young talent in the front office who has had to do some improvising the last couple of months. Ciolek is supervisor, domestic scouting operations for the Orioles, who have the No. 2 pick in the First-Year Player Draft this Wednesday night. They have three of the first 39 picks and six selections in the five-round draft. Time to add to that elite talent pipeline. The O's could take Vanderbilt's Austin Martin or Texas A&M pitcher Asa Lacy with...
Friday morning Nats Q&A
Friday morning Nats Q&A
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
And so the end of another week is upon us, the 12th such week since we last had baseball players doing baseball things on a baseball field. It's hard to believe that much time has passed, and it's hard to believe there is still no agreed-upon plan for bringing the sport back. Obviously, there are more important issues in the world right now than baseball, and our heads and our hearts need to remain focused on those issues. But it's also OK to care about baseball right now. It's what...
Draft preview: South Carolina righty Carmen Mlodzinski
Draft preview: South Carolina righty Carmen Mlodzinski
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Carmen Mlodzinski is a 6-foot-2, 231-lb. right-hander out of South Carolina who is ranked as the No. 21 prospect in the MLBPipeline.com top 200 list. The Nationals, who select at No. 22 in the first round, could have a very good shot at choosing this talented pitcher in the June 10 First-Year Player Draft. His college coach believes Mlodzinski has the tools and the makeup to become a solid starter in the major leagues. Mark Kingston has been the coach at South Carolina for three seasons after...