We’ve reached the final week of the year, so it’s time to look back at the Nationals’ most significant stories of 2023. We continue the series today with the on-field highlight of the season: the team’s extended run of success in July and August … For 3 1/2 seasons, the Nationals hadn’t enjoyed any kind of sustained run like this. Yes, there were a

The Orioles had 36 players on their 40-man roster when the Winter Meetings began in Nashville and they made two moves with the free-agent signing of closer Craig Kimbrel and trade with Kansas City for pitcher Jonathan Heasley. Kimbrel is a veteran of 14 major league seasons and the Orioles are his eighth team. He’s a former Rookie of the Year and a

We’ve reached the final week of the year, so it’s time to look back at the Nationals’ most significant stories of 2023. We begin the series today with the team’s approach to this season’s trade deadline … Some of the most significant days of the 2021 and 2022 calendar years for the Nationals came at the trade deadline, when Mike Rizzo made franchis

Made a rare appearance at a trivia night last week at Hoco Brew Hive in Ellicott City, where I learned that Santa’s reindeer are females. Had a 50-50 chance at getting it right and I blew it. Male reindeer shed their antlers in November. Females keep theirs throughout the winter. How have I gone through life without knowing this? Really makes you r

Just a short entry today to wish all the readers at Steve’s blog and all of Birdland a wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season. Enjoy your time with family and friends and I hope it’s your best Christmas yet. A few quick thoughts on things in the news the last few days ... Yamamoto signs: The Dodgers signed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year de

It’s Christmas Eve in Washington and we are fewer than 100 days from Opening Day 2024. This offseason is progressing rapidly. Before we check to see what Santa Claus left under our trees tomorrow morning and ring in the new year next week, let’s look at what remains on the Nationals’ offseason wish list, in hopes that some could be crossed off soon

Baseball can experience an unofficial shutdown during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. However, there are some notable exceptions. The Cubs traded starter Yu Darvish to the Padres on Dec. 28, 2020 for a package that included former Orioles minor league pitcher Zach Davies. A day earlier, the Rays traded starter Blake Snell to the Padres,

Time today for a few more facts and opinions about the 2023 Orioles and the Birds who will take the field in 2024. Fact: The Orioles’ team ERA for last season was 3.89 which ranked fifth-best in the American League and seventh-best in the majors. In the second half, their team ERA of 3.58 ranked first in the AL and third in the majors. Opinion: Is

Recovery from major injuries like the one Stone Garrett sustained this summer requires patience and the willingness to focus on each individual milestone reached without focusing too much on the big picture. Garrett, who fractured his left fibula trying to make a leaping catch at the wall in right field Aug. 23, can’t think about playing Opening Da

Further details on the Birdland Caravan, which is attaining annual status after Orioles players and front office staff traveled 703.7 miles across the state last year and made 15 stops in 12 cities, should become available in a few weeks. It runs from Jan. 25-28. Can’t be much longer before the sharing starts. We’ll get a full roster of participant