October baseball is different, but not in the way most think. This isn't about the added pressure, how much brighter the spotlight is, or how some players can dig deep and find a special clutch ability they lacked all regular season. This isn't about the age old clichés. As The Boss will tell you on the commercials, October is the land of hope and dreams, but it is also the land of small sample sizes. There are a few weaknesses with the Nationals that can be exploited. First off,...

This is uncharted territory for the Washington Nationals. They've played 162 games, yet their season isn't over. The goodbyes, tee times and trips to tropical locations will have to wait. For the first time in team history, there's postseason baseball to be played. With yesterday's action in the books,

Don't panic, O's fans, but the Orioles' stats against Texas are just not good this year. Keep in mind they got blown out a few times to skew those stats, but the facts are the Orioles went 2-5 against the Rangers this year and were outscored 56-24. The Rangers had games of 10, 12 and 14 runs in the season series. They took three of four in a series in early May in Baltimore. On May 8, Josh Hamilton went 5-for-5 with four homers, eight RBIs and an American League-record 18 total bases. He...

TAMPA - The Orioles really wanted a home game. Flying to Dallas wasn't their first or second choice. They'll have to win a wild card game before they can get back to Camden Yards. If it's any consolation, the Rangers aren't thrilled about it, either. Jim Thome actually appeared in the last playoff game at Camden Yards as a member of the 1997 Cleveland Indians. He knows all about the electric atmosphere. "Fun," he said. "Baltimore is a great baseball town and I've experienced it from...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Tillman couldn't locate his fastball to right-handed hitters tonight, which Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria - a right-handed hitter who feasts on misplaced fastballs - could easily attest. Tillman served up two home runs to Longoria and another to Ryan Roberts in a 4-1 loss to the Rays. "I didn't make my pitches," Tillman said. "I was trying to go away on him with all of them and just couldn't locate the ball to my glove side. I left the ball up in the zone....

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter had a few words for his players tonight before leaving the clubhouse to do his postgame interview on MASN and meet with reporters. "I told our guys how proud I am, and just to be associated with this bunch," he said following a 4-1 loss to the Rays that forced the Orioles onto the road for Friday night's wild card game. "They're a baseball-playing bunch of guys. They'll let it rip in Texas and it won't be from timidness. I can tell you...

The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation is excited to announce that The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation has committed $250,000 in support of the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. In appreciation of this gift, the Marriott Foundation will be recognized as a Founding Partner of the Youth Baseball Academy and will receive naming rights for one of the facility's three new baseball fields. In addition, the Foundation will receive prominent recognition throughout the...

The Orioles needed a win tonight to gain a home playoff game in Friday's wild card round of the postseason. But they didn't get it, as Evan Longoria homered three times and Jeremy Hellickson was the third straight Rays starter to shut down the Orioles in Tampa's 4-1 victory. With the loss, the Orioles now must play on the road Friday night at Texas in the AL Wild Card game at 8:37 p.m. Eastern time. Yu Darvish is expected to start that game for Texas. The Orioles could possibly go with Joe...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The playoff picture became a lot clearer this afternoon with the Athletics completing their improbable run toward the American League West title. The A's have been in first place for one day - today. They fell behind, 5-1, and stormed back for a 12-5 win that pushed the Rangers into the wild card and a possible matchup with the Orioles. To review: If the Orioles and Yankees win tonight, the Orioles would host the Rangers in the one-game wild card. If the Orioles lose,...

Teddy Roosevelt winning the Presidents' Race was the highlight of the afternoon for many Nationals fans. Ryan Zimmerman does not fit into that group of people. "I am so glad Teddy won so we can stop talking about Teddy," an exasperated Zimmerman said after today's 5-1 Nats win. "People get more excited for a mascot race than a game." Zimmerman then gave a massive eye-roll and cranked the sarcasm meter to the limit. "Yes, I'm excited Teddy won," he said. "I'm ecstatic." Jayson...