nationals buzz

Want the chance to throw out the first pitch at Nats Park?

March 19, 2014, 5:29am

From watching hundreds of baseball games, I've seen some amazing first pitches. I also know that you've seen a fair share of bad ones... Have you ever been watching a first pitch and thought to yourself: "I could throw a better pitch than that." Well, now you have a chance to show off your first pitch skills! MASN is giving you a chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Nats Park on Saturday, April 5, during the Nats' first homestand of the season! How can you win this...

Comments

Tags:

courtney lofgren nationals nationals buzz masn first pitch masnfirstpitch

Weekly Wrap: First pitch and the final stretch

March 20, 2014, 11:47am

Nationals

Weekly Wrap: First pitch and the final stretch

There are 10 days left until regular season baseball and just eight days until the Nationals take on the Tigers at Nats Park! Baseball in D.C. is so close I can taste it. Before the season can officially start, the Nats still have to whittle down their roster and figure out their starting rotation. In surprising news, Matt Williams announced that Ross Detwiler will start his season in the bullpen. Ross Ohlendorf was among the Nats' cuts this week, so it looks like the final spot in the...

Comments

Tags:

masn first pitch masnfirstpitch nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite weekly wrap

Weekly Wrap: Replaying a busy week

March 14, 2014, 7:00am

Nationals

Spring training gives the Nationals their first look of the year at pitchers, players rehabbing from injuries and more. Well, this year, it's also giving Major League Baseball teams their first look at instant replay. While veterans and regular starters are less likely to make road trips during spring games, this week the regulars all traveled to Kissimmee to face the Astros. It was there that the Nats were first given access to challenges and a glance at the new replay system. Beyond rule...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite weekly wrap

MASNsports.com welcomes Nationals guest bloggers for 2014 season

March 06, 2014, 6:34am

Nationals

When the Nationals open their 2014 season at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y., on Monday, March 31, MASNsports.com will kick off another season of contributions from guest bloggers on our site. The Nationals blogosphere is one of the most active in the major leagues, offering fans with Natitude the opportunity to read interesting takes on all things curly and W. This strong community was one of the reasons MASNsports.com initiated the introduction of guest bloggers in 2011, and the partnership...

Comments

Tags:

david huzzard marty niland nationals nationals buzz patrick reddington pete kerzel rachel levitin stuart wallace

Nats meet with Palm Beach County about spring training site

March 08, 2014, 8:19am

Nationals

Nats meet with Palm Beach County about spring training site

Officials from Palm Beach County met Thursday with representatives of the Nationals and Astros about relocating their spring training headquarters there. The presentation made to the two clubs - who now train in the Florida cities of Viera and Kissimmee, respectively - outlines 10 potential sites from Vero Beach to Boca Raton where they could move and share a facility, according to this story in the Palm Beach Post. Palm Beach County has focused on sites of at least 100 acres in hopes of...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_nationals2 nationals nationals buzz palm beach county pete kerzel

Weekly Wrap: Nats pitchers make spring debuts

March 06, 2014, 12:26pm

Nationals

Weekly Wrap: Nats pitchers make spring debuts

The Nationals have done many different drills this spring to perfect fundamentals. Pitchers have taken infield, shifts have been implemented in spring games and signs have been practiced. So when the Nats took the field for spring games, you may have thought that there would be clean plays, strong defense and low-scoring games. Then the Nats squeaked by the Braves in a game this week, and the final score was 16-15. #SpringTrainingProblems Yes, these games mean nothing, but that box score is...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite weekly wrap

Giveaway: Enter to win a signed Drew Storen ball and prize pack

March 04, 2014, 12:22pm

Nationals

Not that we're counting or anything, but 26 days until opening day! We know you're anticipating the return of baseball in D.C. While we wait, we're holding a giveaway. Enter to win an autographed Drew Storen baseball (pictured above) and a prize pack! When prompted, be sure to share this giveaway on Facebook and Twitter for possible bonus entries. Good luck, Nats nation! (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js =...

Comments

Tags:

drew storen giveaway nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite

Weekly Wrap: Spring training games under way

February 27, 2014, 10:59am

Nationals

Weekly Wrap: Spring training games under way

Spring training games start today! The lineup was already posted Wednesday, with Taylor Jordan penciled in to start. On Sunday, the Nationals will play their first televised game, so be sure to tune in to MASN HD! You can see the full spring training broadcast schedule here. While we were waiting around for actual games, there was a lot of news coming out of Nats camp in Viera, Fla. Many pitchers threw successful bullpen sessions this week, including Sammy Solis, Tyler Clippard and Drew...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite weekly wrap

Weekly Wrap: Full workouts under way

February 20, 2014, 1:00pm

Nationals

Following the lead of pitchers, all position players reported to Viera, Fla, this week, giving the Nationals a full camp. It's been a long winter, and nothing helps me get over the winter blues like baseball. Workouts are under way, meaning that there is a lot of news for Dan Kolko to report from sunny Florida. New manager Matt Williams has gotten his first look at the Nationals, including offseason acquisitions like Doug Fister and Jose Lobaton. He also got a look at reliever Jerry Blevins,...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite weekly wrap

Report: Nationals interested in Palm Beach County for new spring HQ

February 18, 2014, 11:00am

Nationals

The Nationals' search for a new spring training facility has led them to a new locale. According to this tweet from MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, the Astros have met with the Nationals about the possibility of sharing a new two-team spring training facility in Palm Beach County. This isn't the first time the Astros and Nationals have been linked as possible partners in a new spring headquarters. The teams were interested in working together on a facility that would have been based in...

Comments

Tags:

astros frontstory_nationals3 nationals nationals buzz palm beach county pete kerzel spring training

Nationals Chatter: Searching for a new spring training complex, use of a drone and fantasy outlook

February 18, 2014, 8:45am

Nationals

Ah, springtime has arrived. Well, not here in the D.C. area, but in Viera, Fla. The Nationals began spring training last week, giving us baseball in our lives once again. Several publications have written about the Nationals over the last week. Read below for a national roundup. * The Nationals' search for a new spring training home as taken another turn. The Nats have asked former congressman Mark Foley of Florida to serve as a lobbyist for the Nationals. The team is said to be interested...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon courtney lofgren gio gonzalez ian desmond jordan zimmermann nationals nationals buzz nationals chatter ryan zimmerman

Harper faces Kershaw in #FaceofMLB

February 17, 2014, 6:14am

Nationals

In his quest to become the #FaceofMLB, Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper needs your help. Harper destroyed Brewers' right fielder Ryan Braun in the first round of voting, by a margin of 91 percent to 9 percent. In the second round of voting, the competition is a bit tougher. Harper now faces Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in the MLB Network-sponsored contest. How can you help Harper get past the National League Cy Young winner? Simply send a tweet (or a few) using the hashtags...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper courtney lofgren nationals nationals buzz

Weekly Wrap: Back to Viera

February 14, 2014, 9:44am

Nationals

Guess what? Baseball's back! If you live in the D.C. region (or pretty much anywhere on the East Coast,) your mind may be on snow and ice versus summer nights and baseball. However, as we're stuck in the cold weather, the Nationals (and our Dan Kolko) are soaking up the spring training weather. Before spring training started, Tyler Clippard and the Nationals reached an agreement, avoiding arbitration. In addition, MASN announced that it picked up a the Nats' exhibition game against the...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite weekly wrap

Happy spring training: Enter to win a signed Drew Storen baseball

February 12, 2014, 11:49am

Nationals

Happy spring training: Enter to win a signed Drew Storen baseball

Pitchers and catchers report today, meaning baseball is back! We know that you're excited to watch a strengthened Nationals roster take the field in Viera Fla., and - in less than two months - in D.C. While we wait, we're giving our social media fans a chance to win a signed Drew Storen baseball. You can enter below. When prompted, be sure to share this giveaway on Facebook and Twitter for additional entries. Good luck, Nats fans! (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs =...

Comments

Tags:

drew storen nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite

#FeelGoodFriday: MASN showcasing inspiring sports stories

February 11, 2014, 7:50am

Nationals

#FeelGoodFriday: MASN showcasing inspiring sports stories

There are so many reasons why I love sports. Growing up, playing sports was such an amazing experience, teaching me the meaning of teamwork and bringing me so many friends. Then, as I grew out of playing sports every day, I realized how strong of an impact watching sports can have on a person's life. While athletes' drive, determination and talent are inspirational on their own, often the most uplifting stories come from off the field. From personal experience and from my time around...

Comments

Tags:

feel good friday feelgoodfriday nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite

MASN adds March 29 home exhibition game to spring training broadcast schedule

February 10, 2014, 9:32am

Nationals

MASN adds March 29 home exhibition game to spring training broadcast schedule

MASN has added the Nationals' March 29 home exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers to its spring training broadcast schedule, bringing to seven the number of spring training games that will be broadcast on MASN HD. The Tigers come to Nationals Park for a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, March 29, the Nats' last game before their March 31 season opener against the Mets at Citi Field in Flusing, N.Y. The Tigers-Nationals game will be rebroadcast at 7 p.m. that evening. With the additional game,...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz pete kerzel spring training frontstory_nationals3

Weekly Wrap: Almost to Viera

February 06, 2014, 11:06am

Nationals

Heard there was a big sporting event this past week? I'm kidding - of course, I watched the Super Bowl on Sunday, and as many have said, I found it really hard to get into. I'm sure I'd be thrilled if I were a Seahawks fan. However, at the end of the game, only one thing had me really excited, and that's that baseball is right around the corner. In less than a week, Nats spring training will be under way, with pitchers and catchers reporting Feb. 13. Recently picked up by the Nationals,...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite weekly wrap

Developer pulls out of plan to rehab Fort Myers stadium for Nats spring training

February 04, 2014, 11:24am

Nationals

Developer pulls out of plan to rehab Fort Myers stadium for Nats spring training

Stop me if you've heard this one before: The Nationals' plan to move their spring training base to Fort Myers is in jeopardy. This time, the Nats' hopes of becoming the third major league club to train in Fort Myers were dealt a blow because the developer the team and the city hoped would foot the bill for renovations at City of Palms Park has pulled out of the project, deeming it too costly. According to this article in Florida Today, Fort Meyers Mayor Randy Henderson is no longer...

Comments

Tags:

city of palms park fort myers frontstory_nationals1 nationals nationals buzz pete kerzel spring training

Counting down to opening day via Instagram

January 31, 2014, 6:55am

Nationals

Counting down to opening day via Instagram

I'm sure you're counting down the days until opening day, but if not, let me remind you there are only two more months! That's right. Just two months until the Nationals begin their season in New York. We took to Instagram yesterday, asking fans to submit their #TBT, "Throwback Thursday," pictures of their favorite memories from Nats Park. We saw awesome pictures of fans' experiences, and although it was difficult, we narrowed it down to five of our favorites. Check out the photos...

Comments

Tags:

instagram nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite

Weekly Wrap: Two more weeks

January 30, 2014, 6:26pm

Nationals

Well, now that NatsFest is over, we can officially begin our countdown to the baseball season. First step: Exactly two weeks until pitchers and catchers report. Pretty soon, Dan Kolko will be heading down to Viera, Fla., for spring training, trading in the cold for Florida weather and baseball. I'm not saying I'm jealous of the weather he'll experience, but I'm also not ruling out sneaking down to Florida by stowing away in Kolko's luggage. NatsFest was such a great event, and I had a...