As we count down the final days of 2017, we're counting down the most significant stories of the year for the Nationals. Some are positive. Some are negative. All helped define this baseball season in Washington. We'll reveal two per day through New Year's Eve, concluding right now with ... No. 1: Another Game 5 loss It has become something of an annual ritual around here, rehashing another gut-wrenching loss in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. But until the Nationals prove...

As we count down the final days of 2017, we're counting down the most significant stories of the year for the Nationals. Some are positive. Some are negative. All helped define this baseball season in Washington. We'll reveal two per day through New Year's Eve, continuing right now with ... No. 2: Baker fired, Martinez hired The question of Dusty Baker's future with the Nationals lurked underneath the surface for most of the 2017 season, but it never truly felt like that much of a question...

Time to take a look back at the last week of stories here. Yes, of course, there was much more talk and discussion about Manny Machado. This amid some reports that indicate the Orioles, while still open to dealing their star third baseman, won't wait on offers forever. Probably time to make a deal if they are going to. On Tuesday, we looked at how Machado might bring a return to include at least one major league ready starting pitcher. He may be about the only player they could trade that...

With New Year's Eve upon us and recycled news all the rage during the hot stove season, I'm tempted to dust off my annual quip about assuring that the ball drops at midnight. You know, by putting (insert name of poor defender) underneath it. We all have our own holiday traditions. Manny Machado never will make it as the punchline. Platinum Glove winners are ineligible. (Hey, in case you hadn't heard in the last hour, the Orioles remain in touch with teams interested in trading for Machado...

As we count down the final days of 2017, we're counting down the most significant stories of the year for the Nationals. Some are positive. Some are negative. All helped define this baseball season in Washington. We'll reveal two per day through New Year's Eve, continuing right now with ... No. 3: Scherzer wins another Cy Young Seven-year contracts for pitchers are supposed to be dangerous. Few have ever worked out as initially hoped. Max Scherzer still has four years remaining on his...

Right now, the Orioles have that feel of a team between a rock and hard place. Trying to catch the Yankees and Red Sox looks like a daunting task. They have four key players entering the last years of their contracts. They are coming off their first last-place finish since 2011. There are other facts that are daunting. The 2017 Orioles finished the year going 7-22. The Orioles have had losing records in six of their last nine full months of baseball. But the Orioles also have some huge...

As we count down the final days of 2017, we're counting down the most significant stories of the year for the Nationals. Some are positive. Some are negative. All helped define this baseball season in Washington. We'll reveal two per day through New Year's Eve, continuing right now with ... No. 4: Strasburg steps up Through the first seven seasons of his big league career, Stephen Strasburg seemed to be noted more for what he hadn't accomplished than for what he had done on the mound. He...

As we count down the final days of 2017, we're counting down the most significant stories of the year for the Nationals. Some are positive. Some are negative. All helped define this baseball season in Washington. We'll reveal two per day through New Year's Eve, continuing right now with ... No. 5: Jayson Werth's farewell "LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - It's a rare day indeed, when the Washington Nationals make a move that shakes up the entire baseball world. "This is a franchise that for the...

Orioles third base coach Bobby Dickerson, regarded as one of baseball's finest infield instructors, has no idea whether Tim Beckham will open the 2018 season at shortstop, move to another position or take a seat on the bench and handle a utility role. He isn't privy to any inside information regarding the club's plans, which remain in the developmental stages as executive vice president Dan Duquette continues to hear from teams interested in trading for Manny Machado. The best that Dickerson...

As we count down the final days of 2017, we're counting down the most significant stories of the year for the Nationals. Some are positive. Some are negative. All helped define this baseball season in Washington. We'll reveal two per day through New Year's Eve, continuing right now with ... No. 6: Ryan Zimmerman's comeback It sounds a bit silly now, but one year ago a not-so-insignificant number of Nationals fans - perhaps even some folks employed by the club itself - weren't sure Ryan...