When the Nationals' team plane landed at Dulles Airport last night following the team's long 11-game road trip, there was a sign waiting for them on the tarmac. "Congrats NL East Champs," it read. When the team buses pulled up to Nationals Park about an hour later, there were a bunch of visitors waiting for them. A group of probably close to 100 fans had congregated at the park, chanting and cheering and holding up signs to welcome their ballclub home. It's good to be back in D.C., all...

The top Nationals prospects have descended on the team's practice and training facility in Viera, Fla. Joining these prospects are the club's coaching and development staff, including Single-A Carolina League champion Potomac Nationals manager Tripp Keister, as instructional league competition commences today with the first game. The season was intended to begin Saturday, but the Nationals' first game versus Houston was rained out. The instructional league squad faces New York Mets today at...

Each year, the D.C. chapter of the Internet Baseball Writers Association polls members of the Nationals blogosphere to determine its Player Achievement Awards. The voting is organized by District Sports Page editor and fellow MASNsports.com guest blogger Dave Nichols. This year's winners will be announced on Monday, Sept. 29 on the DC-IBWAA Web site. This blogger is honored to have a ballot this year. Here are the submissions in a few categories, with explanations. A player receives five...

In just over a week, the Orioles will dive into the postseason for the second time in three years. In 2012 there was a happy-to-be-here mindset, maybe not with the team, but definitely with the fan base. Things are different this time. There is an expectation. There won't be a one-game wild card playoff for the O's. They are guaranteed a five-game series in the American League Division Series and are going to have home field advantage. The only thing that remains unclear entering the final...

Manager: Joe Girardi, seventh year Record: 80-75 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: SS Derek Jeter (.255/.303/.311, 22 extra-base hits, 43 RBIs); CF Jacoby Ellsbury (.271/.328/.419, 27 doubles, 16 HR, 70 RBIs, 39 SB); RHP Michael Pineda (3-5, 2.15 ERA, 0.93 WHIP); RHP Brandon McCarthy (7-4, 2.54 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 4-11, 37 runs scored, 72 runs allowed Pitching probables Sept. 22: Michael Pineda vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 7 p.m., MASN HD Sept. 23: Brandon McCarthy vs. TBA, 7 p.m.,...

The Orioles may have lost Sunday to Boston, but they won seven of 10 games on the homestand that ended yesterday. They had two walk-off wins against New York and no one will forget the American League East clincher last Tuesday against Toronto. It was a homestand where several players did in-depth interviews to talk about a special group of players - the 2014 Orioles. Here is a collection of some of those quotes, a few that may have been published here before but several that have not. The...

The Orioles took a train to New York last night for a four-game series against the Yankees. Four more chances to talk about Derek Jeter. To think about him. To smell his scent. Buck Showalter will be asked again about his memories of Jeter, about being the shortstop's first manager with the Yankees. Showalter will praise Jeter and immediately point out that the Orioles also have statues and a proud history. Sorry to ruin the ending for you. I should have included a spoiler alert. Players were...

There were a few tense minutes while Marlins hitters were crushing balls with authority in the ninth inning, but Rafael Soriano worked his way around a leadoff pinch-hit double by Reed Johnson and finished off a 2-1 Nationals win Sunday afternoon with his 32nd save. The Nats end their final regular season road trip with a 9-2 record and have upped the win count to 91. Not too shabby. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg worked seven shutout innings today, picking up his 13th win. He had to deal with...

Miguel Gonzalez didn't have a bad outing today, but for the first time since Aug. 2, he did not record a quality start. He gave up two solo homers and three runs over 5 2/3 innings as Boston beat the Orioles 3-2. "I thought it was better than last outing," Gonzalez said. "I felt good. Couple more days of rest. Everything looked good, just a couple of bad pitches, mistakes, and they were able to capitalize on that. "I'm a flyball pitcher and that is going to happen. Wasn't truly happy...

The Orioles started slowly at home this season before finishing 50-31. The record is paired nicely with their 43-31 mark on the road. "You try to trust the people and kind of the long haul of what you think will be, but it's always something," said manager Buck Showalter following a 3-2 loss to the Red Sox. "There's always something you get a little better at and you just try to let the season play out. If I had a choice coming in that I could have a bird in hand, it would be playing well...