nationals buzz

David Huzzard: Nats' early-season bullpen struggles can be fixed

April 16, 2015, 6:36am

The Nationals' 3-6 record is not the fast start that fans wanted and experts expected, and the early struggles have been three-pronged. The offense took the first five games off, the defense has had issues catching and throwing the ball, and the bullpen has given away leads. Of the three, the offense has already started to turn with Jayson Werth off the disabled list, and Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper's bats coming to life. The Nats' fielders are better players than they've shown so far...

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MASN airing special on baseball's return to D.C. tonight (updated with rebroadcast dates)

April 14, 2015, 9:04am

Nationals

MASN airing special on baseball's return to D.C. tonight (updated with rebroadcast dates)

If a full evening of programming centering on Nationals baseball sounds like paradise, you're in luck. Not only will fans have the opportunity to watch full coverage of tonight's game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park beginning at 5:30 p.m., but once "Nats Xtra" postgame wraps up, MASN will air "National Pastime: Baseball's Return to Washington," an hour-long special in celebration of the club's 10th anniversary. Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the Nats' first opening day, in...

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Rachel Levitin: Nationals still searching for rhythm and momentum

April 15, 2015, 5:58am

Nationals

If spring training is the warm-up for the start of the season, I think it's safe to say April is the warm-up for the rest of baseball's marathon run from spring to fall. The Nationals are 2-6 to start their 2015 run and there have already been mumblings from various sources around Twitter and otherwise that have people begging the question: Is it time to start worrying? Let's just put this out there now and put that to rest: No, it's not time to start worrying. To be honest, I feel like...

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Matt of Matt's Bats: Despite issues in field and at plate, Nats should come around

April 14, 2015, 5:01am

Nationals

Matt of Matt's Bats: Despite issues in field and at plate, Nats should come around

The Nationals have played seven games so far and have an unimpressive record of 2-5. When everyone is excited for baseball season to begin and expectations are so high that this team could win the division and even go to the World Series, it's disappointing that there have been so many sloppy plays and bad losses. However, there are also bright spots that people may not be noticing. Let's start by looking at what's going wrong, because that's what people are talking about. If Ian Desmond...

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Matt of Matt's Bats: The Nationals through the eyes of a 10-year-old

April 08, 2015, 4:31pm

Nationals

Hello, Nationals fans! Aren't you happy baseball is back? My name is Matt, a 10-year-old kid from the D.C. suburbs. I am a huge Nats fan, so I am so excited to be writing for MASNsports.com this season. I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the readers who may not know me. In July 2012, I started a blog called Matt's Bats, which you can find here. I started writing Matt's Bats because I became a huge fan of baseball after going to my first Nationals game in 2009. When I...

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Marty Niland: Three reasons Nats fans should remain optimistic

April 13, 2015, 4:59am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Three reasons Nats fans should remain optimistic

Repeat after me: "It's still early. ... It's a marathon, not a sprint. ... Nobody ever won a pennant in April. ... Three of our best hitters haven't played yet." Can we think of any other worn-out clichÃ©s to perk up the spirits of Nationals fans expecting more after a 2-4 first week? There are probably plenty. Quite a few have appeared on Nats message boards and discussion groups this year, almost as many as the number of posts pointing out mistakes the Washington fielders, hitters,...

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David Huzzard: Baseball is a simple game ...

April 09, 2015, 5:37am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Baseball is a simple game ...

I'm certain that you've heard the saying that baseball is a simple game a number of times in your life as a sports fan. But a startling number of people don't seem to understand how simple it is. Broadcasters and hot-take journalists are always talking about players knowing or not knowing how to win. The highest level of baseball I played was t-ball, and even as a wee lad, I knew how to win. Baseball is not complicated in this regard and it is, in fact, one of the things that make it the...

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Rachel Levitin: Considering Ryan Zimmerman's legacy

April 08, 2015, 5:33am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Considering Ryan Zimmerman's legacy

When baseball moved back to Washington, D.C., a decade ago, I also moved to town right around the same time. My dad used to joke with me back then, saying, "Good thing D.C. got a baseball team! They must've known you'd be coming!" He was kidding, of course, but I liked to think that it was somewhat true. The 18-year-old kid headed off to college needed some comfort moving to a new city and knowing that there'd be baseball to watch across town was extremely helpful since I was struggling to...

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Fans encouraged to show off must-see moments with MLB's THIS campaign

April 07, 2015, 1:33pm

Nationals

Fans encouraged to show off must-see moments with MLB's THIS campaign

Local and national media alike had been talking about Stephen Strasburg for a long time. The hard-throwing right-hander was set to make his major league debut against the Pirates. And he did not disappoint. He struck out 14 Bucs over seven innings en route to his first win. THIS electric stuff was even greater than what many expected. While celebrating the Nationals' 10th season, new commissioner Rob Manfred headed to D.C. to announce the exciting news that Nats Park will host the 2018...

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Marty Niland: Five things that must go right for the Nats to succeed in 2015

April 06, 2015, 4:36am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Five things that must go right for the Nats to succeed in 2015

How can a team that hasn't even competed in a league championship series be a favorite to win the World Series? It may seem odd, but that's the predicament the Nationals find themselves in as they enter the 2015 season. Experts nationwide have pegged a team with a bullpen full of question marks, Denard Span, Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Casey Janssen on the disabled list, and an 0-for-2 mark in the postseason since moving to Washington 10 years ago as the team to beat. The expectations...

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Win big with MASN at NatsFest on Saturday

December 11, 2014, 8:22pm

Nationals

Win big with MASN at NatsFest on Saturday

Still craving Nationals baseball after the Winter Meetings wrapped up in San Diego? Well, you're in luck. It's once again time to break out the Natitude on Saturday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for NatsFest! You know the drill: MASN will be on-site all afternoon hooking you up with Nats gear, autographed memorabilia, and chances to rub elbows with your favorite players and on-air personalities. For all of the NatsFest veterans out there, you'll notice some changes to...

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Starting five MASNsports.com guest bloggers revealed for 2015

March 13, 2015, 12:51pm

Nationals

Starting five MASNsports.com guest bloggers revealed for 2015

When the Nationals came to D.C. from Montreal for the 2015 season, they created a lot of buzz in the nation's capital. One of the interesting offshoots of their arrival was the plethora of fan blogs that were quickly established. These folks were the ones who created the Natosphere, the wonderful Internet gathering place for new Nats fans and baseball-starved denizens of the District and the surrounding area. Well, we noticed. And in 2011, MASNsports.com started offering daily in-season...

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P-Nats invite Will Ferrell to play all nine positions in a single game

March 12, 2015, 1:00pm

Nationals

P-Nats invite Will Ferrell to play all nine positions in a single game

Funnyman Will Ferrell has played a variety of roles - from his spot-on impressions on "Saturday Night Live" to news anchor and ladies man Ron Burgundy to former president George W. Bush in a one-man show. Now the Single-A Potomac Nationals want Ferrell to play a new role. Nine of them, to be exact. With Ferrell spending this afternoon playing all nine field positions and designated hitter while appearing for 10 different teams in five Cactus League games, the P-Nats have invited him to come...

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Gio Gonzalez works word "meow" into hilarious interview 11 times

March 11, 2015, 12:52pm

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez works word "meow" into hilarious interview 11 times

"2015 looks great right meow." This quote was the insightful information that Gio Gonzalez offered Dan Kolko during today's Nationals broadcast on MASN HD. Before going on-air, it appeared as if Gonzalez was dared by Max Scherzer to integrate the word "meow" into his interview. And he succeeded. The lefty managed to work "meow" into his interview 11 times, and after it was all said and done, he was pumped. The result is an absolutely hilarious video. Check it out below, and then see...

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Catch four "Nationals Classics" on MASN HD this week

March 02, 2015, 5:29am

Nationals

Start spreading the news ... Grapefruit League action begins this week! The first Nationals spring training game will be played Thursday, March 5 at 1:30 p.m. MASN HD will air its first spring training game of the season on Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m. While we await live Grapefruit League baseball, catch five "Nationals Classics" this week on MASN HD. Here's what's on deck: Monday, March 2, 10 p.m.: Games played between the Orioles and Nationals usually have a flair for the dramatic. May...

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Think warm thoughts with three "Nationals Classics" this week

February 23, 2015, 4:44am

Nationals

The Washington, D.C., area experienced another five-plus inches of snow this past weekend. Uncle. Between the frigid cold weather and the recent snowstorms, I think we're all counting down the days until opening day. While Nationals pitchers and catchers, and almost all of the position players, have reported to spring training, we still can't watch live baseball. To get your baseball fix, enjoy three "Nationals Classics" this week on MASN HD. Here's what's on deck: Tuesday,...

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Happy (Racing) Presidents Day!

February 16, 2015, 8:37am

Nationals

While today is a federal holiday, for those in the D.C. region, it's so much more than that. When Nationals fans hear the word "presidents," they naturally think of George, Tom, Abe, Teddy and Bill racing around the warning track of Nationals Park. Whether they're racing giant pierogies, being taken out by D-backs legends or getting chased by sharks, the racing presidents are just another reason why you should be counting down the days until the return of baseball season. Here are some...

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Werth Chia Pet, Rendon garden gnome, historical bobbleheads highlight 2015 Nationals promotional schedule

February 13, 2015, 11:03am

Nationals

The Nationals are rolling out a slew of interesting promotional giveaways to mark their 10th anniversary season, including an array of historical mementos to celebrate their first decade in D.C. On the heels of last year's successful Jayson Werth garden gnome, the Nats will offer an Anthony Rendon garden gnome to the first 25,000 fans through the turnstiles on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Werth fans shouldn't be worried, as their favorite bearded player will be celebrated in a unique Chia Pet to be...

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Watch history happen on this week's "Nationals Classics"

February 09, 2015, 6:48am

Nationals

This week, we're digging a little deeper to bring you a couple of "Nationals Classics" on MASN HD. First, don't miss a grand finale from Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond against the Phillies. Second, you can re-watch Barry Bonds record-breaking home run from 2007. Don't worry, despite the history, the Nationals still got the win on the road against the Giants. Here's what's on deck on MASN HD: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 11:30 a.m.: Who doesn't love a battle with the Phillies? On June 19, 2013,...

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Palm Beach County joins West Palm Beach in approving land swap for new spring training facility (with teams' statement)

February 03, 2015, 6:45am

Nationals

Palm Beach County joins West Palm Beach in approving land swap for new spring training facility (with teams' statement)

Palm Beach County commissioners voted 6-1 this morning to OK a land swap with the City of West Palm Beach and the conceptual plan for a new spring training complex in West Palm Beach that would be shared by the Astros and Nationals. The move means the teams will move a step closer to building a new spring training facility on 160 acres at the southeast corner of Haverhill Road and 45th Street on the site of a former landfill. In exchange for the city-owned parcel, West Palm Beach will receive...