As the Nationals celebrate 10 seasons in Washington, D.C., we reflect on some of the best moments since the franchise moved to the nation's capital. Each Wednesday through mid-August, check out Nationals Pastime for a remembrance of one of the watershed moments in Nationals history. Patience is rarely paid much attention in the world of sports. In the case of Bryce Harper, it never really existed. Most No. 1 overall picks in baseball aren't household names due the lack of media attention...

Baseball's intrigue is supposed to be all about being timelessness, so who would have though that a time clock could have been so valuable to a baseball event? The Home Run Derby, created in 1985 at Minnesota's Metrodome, was reborn with energy, excitement and drama Monday night in Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park. The best thing that ever happened to the derby was the buzzer-beating home runs by Todd Frazier and Albert Pujols. Frazier, the hometown hero for the Reds, won the event when...

Before heading to a much deserved break, Nationals closer Drew Storen was asked what staff ace Max Scherzer can do for an encore in the team's second half. "I think he better be better," Storen said while trying to remain straight-faced. "I'm just kidding." What's crazy is Scherzer most likely believes he can be better as well. And why not? The 30-year-old has developed into a more complete and efficient pitcher since his American League Cy Young Award winning season two years ago in...

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators have reached the All-Star break with a 45-46 record and are six games out of the first place Bowie Baysox in the Western Division. A review of the pitching staff in the first half revealed some good control from the Senators hurlers. Harrisburg has allowed only 214 walks pre-All-Star break, the lowest mark in the Eastern League. Their 3.46 team ERA is fifth in the league. They have worked, throwing 797 2/3 innings in the first 91 games, second most to Akron's...

During the most recent airing of "Wall to Wall Baseball" on MASN, the panel was asked to choose the most probable Oriole to win Most Valuable Player honors in tonight's All-Star Game. The two relievers, Zach Britton and Darren O'Day, were unanimously eliminated for the obvious reason. It's hard to win MVP after pitching one inning or less. They could strike out the side and they're still not bringing home the hardware. Or the truck. Whatever the prize. So we're down to Adam Jones and...

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was eliminated in the first round of tonight's Home Run Derby at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Machado hit 12 home runs with Orioles coach Einar Diaz pitching to him, the last two coming in the bonus round under the new format. But the Dodgers' Joc Pederson belted 13 home runs within the four-minute round and advanced against the Angels' Albert Pujols. Pederson still had a minute left when No. 13 cleared the fence. Toronto's Josh Donaldson hit...

Bryce Harper will start in right field and bat third for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game. It is the 22-year-old's third appearance in the Midsummer Classic after playing left field and going 0-for-1 with a walk in 2012 and then starting in center in 2013 while going 0-for-2. Harper will get an early chance to collect his first career All-Star hit when he faces Houston's Dallas Keuchel, who was named the American League's starter earlier today by manager Ned Yost. Harper was...

The All-Star Game may be an exhibition, but the basic rules apply, including how there's room for only one center fielder in each lineup. Adam Jones, the only starter for the Orioles, will play left field and bat sixth for the American League. Jones is replacing the Royals' Alex Gordon, who sustained a groin injury. AL manager Ned Yost is putting the Angels' Mike Trout in center field and the Royals' Lorenzo Cain in right field. All three players normally patrol center during the regular...

When your top two pitching prospects have thrown a combined 22 innings this deep into the season, that has to be a concern for any organization. Both Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey have missed time this year for the Orioles. Harvey had a PRP injection during a visit with Dr. James Andrews on May 18 and was shut down for the next six weeks after being diagnosed with a strained right flexor mass. He has just recently resumed a throwing program. Harvey was already recovering from a slight fracture...

It is a question that is debated from time to time in baseball: How important is winning in the minor leagues? Well, who doesn't like to win, but can you develop players to help your major league team without winning? Orioles director of player development Brian Graham spoke with me at length recently on this topic. He said sure you can develop players no matter a team's won-loss record, but they are also trying to develop players that understand what it takes to win. "It is a very important...