The amazing run of the Washington Nationals in 2019 is made even more amazing when one looks back at the state of the standings May 23. The Nats trailed the Brewers by 9 1/2 games for a National League wild card spot and the Marlins, winners of six in a row, had crept with 1 1/2 games of their 19-31 record. But with persistence, belief and a slow return of their starting lineup to full health, the Nats turned their season around and found a way to grab the top wild card spot for home field...

The Orioles had a pretty solid year on the farm in 2019. Orioles' affiliates finished with a .517 win percentage, to rank 10th among all 30 Major League Baseball organizations. They sent two teams to the playoffs, three really, but the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League postseason was cancelled due to Hurricane Dorian. Baseball America rated the Orioles ninth in organizational rankings. But it was on the pitching side where some special progress was made. Of the Orioles' top six farm teams, four...

Another important offseason date that doesn't really impact the Orioles arrives on Monday. Teams no longer will have exclusive negotiating rights with their own free agents. Other executives can start courting them. The Orioles won't attempt to re-sign Mark Trumbo, so it doesn't matter to them. Monday also marks the deadline for teams to issue the $17.8 million qualifying offer to free agents. The Orioles obviously won't do it with Trumbo. And teams can exercise or decline options and...

The Orioles are continuing to clear space on their 40-man roster for future moves. Outfielder Mason Williams was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk after clearing waivers and declined the assignment, electing free agency rather than staying in the organization. He could be re-signed later in the winter, but will explore other opportunities. Williams already was eligible to become a minor league free agent if he hadn't been placed on the 25-man roster. The outright assignment was listed yesterday...

The Nationals won their first world championship Wednesday night, coming back from an early deficit to stun the Astros and their fans in a 6-2 victory in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Some 1,413 miles away in rainy Nationals Park, an a crowd estimated at more than 30,000 watched the game on the big screen and cheered for their team so everyone in the state of Texas could hear. The rain intensified as the night wore on, but so did the noise when Anthony Rendon...

HOUSTON - It would be easy to look at the 2019 Washington Nationals as a good team that went on a great October run to win the World Series. Really, it's one of the great October runs (12-5 to topple the Brewers, Dodgers, Cardinals and Astros) in baseball's wild card era. But that's still not entirely fair to this team. It seems to minimize the big picture and label the Nats as a team that simply got red-hot at the right time and rode the wave all the way to a championship. Here's how they...

HOUSTON - It had to happen this way. It could not have happened any other way. If the Nationals were going to win the World Series, if they were going to deliver Washington its first Major League Baseball championship in 95 years, they were going to have to do it the same way they had done it all season long - and especially all postseason long. Th

The 2019 Major League Baseball season is over. The Washington Nationals beat the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game 7 last night to take the Series, four wins to three. The visiting team won every game of the Series. On their way to their first championship, the Nationals beat a 106-win Dodgers team and a 107-win Houston club. They played in five elimination games in the playoffs, trailed in each, and won all five. The Nationals lost Bryce Harper via free agency to Philly. They were 19-31 after 50...

HOUSTON - Much as he hoped to be behind the plate one more time in 2019, Kurt Suzuki instead will have to watch Game 7 of the World Series from the bench, with perhaps a chance he comes off the bench at some point. Suzuki, who hasn't played since injuring his right hip flexor in Game 3 on Friday, was initially included in tonight's starting lineup, batting eighth and catching Max Scherzer. But he was scratched by the Nationals about 2 1/2 hours before first pitch, with Yan Gomes taking his...

The World Series is over and the 2019 season officially has been put to bed. Long past a reasonable hour. Players will begin hitting the free agent market instead of fastballs. It's one of the most important early developments of the offseason. The list of Orioles pending free agents usually has more meat on it. Mark Trumbo stands alone this year unless the club decides later to non-tender players who remain eligible for arbitration. The discussion over which free agents could be re-signed is...