nationals buzz

Video: Nats fan's legacy impacts D.C. community

September 15, 2013, 9:51am

For me, baseball is so much more than a job or a sport that I enjoy. Of the many memories I have from watching baseball, some of the best include ones bonding with my dad or the conversations I had with friends while watching a game. About a month ago, Dan Kolko introduced us to a story of Richard and Kent Wilson, a father and son who bonded over Nationals games while Richard was battling cancer. After Richard lost his battle, Kent touched the D.C. community by giving away their season...

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Dave Nichols: No room for error

September 16, 2013, 4:54am

Nationals

It's come to this for the Nationals. They have 13 games to play in the regular season and trail the Reds by 4 1/2 games for the final wild card spot. They are close enough to taste it, yet still far enough out that they aren't much more than a mathematical possibility at this point. It's excruciating to think that if the Nats had managed to play the Braves evenly this season, this would be a completely different discussion. The Nats are 4-12 against the Braves. If they'd gone 8-8, well,...

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Rachel Levitin: Is it too little too late for the Nats?

September 12, 2013, 5:14am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Is it too little too late for the Nats?

The Nationals are now six games back in the wild card chase behind Cincinnati with 17 games left on the schedule. This is after Wednesday night's 3-0 victory against the New York Mets in which Washington notched its fifth consecutive victory. It's like MASN's Dan Kolko said yesterday: finally, it's all clicking. But is it too late? That's the question facing the Nationals. Offense has been an ongoing issue for Washington throughout the season. Batting coach Rick Eckstein was let go,...

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David Huzzard: The Nationals and international free agents

September 11, 2013, 5:56am

Nationals

List the best free agent pick-ups of this past offseason, and it will be difficult to leave off Hyun-jin Ryu or Yasiel Puig. Go back one season earlier and there is an argument to be made that the best free agent signings were once again of non-MLB players in Yoenis Cespedes and Yu Darvish. This offseason, that could be the case once again with rumors of Masahiro Tanaka being posted and Jose Abreu already a free agent. And while the Nationals made a run at Aroldis Chapman, there was never any...

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Ted Leavengood: Nationals' sun may be setting, but what a view

September 10, 2013, 6:07am

Nationals

Five home runs in a 9-0 blowout, and still Gio Gonzalez completely stole the spotlight from Rick Schu's offense. He flirted with history for six innings, taking a no-hitter into the bottom of the seventh. Then one got away. It was so close, so close to being corralled by Adam LaRoche, so close to being foul, but it was a hit. Gonzalez left the mound at the end of the inning muttering to himself, but he finished the game off as a one-hit complete-game shutout. Just that one cheap hit. Gonzalez...

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Handicapping the field as Nats prep for Johnson's exit as skipper

September 06, 2013, 3:32pm

Nationals

Handicapping the field as Nats prep for Johnson's exit as skipper

Davey Johnson's playful "World Series of bust" boast from back in spring training seems eons ago. As the Nationals try to pull off an impossible comeback and work their way back into contention for a National League wild card berth, there are already rumblings about possible successors for their lame-duck manager. Johnson announced before the season that 2013 would be his last at the helm of the Nationals. Johnson clearly didn't envision a departure so full of disappointment and...

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Rachel Levitin: Considering an early arrival

September 05, 2013, 5:20am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Considering an early arrival

It had been longer than I could remember since I last sat in the stands at Nationals Park, so on Sunday I changed that. Maybe it was the fact that it was "Sunday Night Baseball" on the eve of Labor Day or maybe it was the fact that I was feeling slightly burned out. But either way, I went to that game. The unfortunate part is that I missed the eighth-inning comeback due to having to catch the Metro in the bottom of the seventh. The superstitious voice in my head said, "You know, the second...

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David Huzzard: Where it all went wrong

September 04, 2013, 5:52am

Nationals

This is normally the time of year where I start to realize that I won't be able to watch baseball again for five or six months, depending on how you count the postseason and spring training. This season, the Nationals have failed to live up to expectations to a degree that has me glad the season is going to end. It isn't a feeling I am proud of, want to embrace or hope others feel. There was a clinical study recently that said sports can have a profound impact on our moods. It makes sense,...

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Ted Leavengood: Desmond is Nationals' rock-solid rock star

September 02, 2013, 6:38pm

Nationals

You will not find his picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated nor Rolling Stone, but Ian Desmond is a rock star. He is a rock, one of the most solid players on the Nationals roster, and he is emerging as a star who deserves to be recognized as such. Desmond's WAR rating currently stands at 5.2 for the 2013 season. Wins Above Replacement - or WAR - is the blue ribbon of baseball analytics. FanGraphs is one of two Web sites that provide ongoing WAR ratings. WAR provides one magical number...

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September calls for new prizes from MASN's "Touch 'Em All" Nationals Rewards

September 02, 2013, 10:38am

Nationals

Launched in July, MASN has been rewarding its top fans on social media with exclusive Nationals prizes. By sharing Facebook posts, retweeting our writers, tagging Instagram pictures with #masnNationals and more, fans have earned points, which at the end of the month, accumulated and earned them signed gear from their favorite Nationals. Well, this month is no different. Signed Denard Span baseballs and a bat autographed by the center fielder are on deck for September. Be sure to sign up for...

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Dave Nichols: Harper's eighth-inning sacrifice was case of results trumping process

September 02, 2013, 5:38am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Harper's eighth-inning sacrifice was case of results trumping process

The Washington Nationals salvaged the last of the three-game weekend set with the New York Mets on EPSN's Sunday Night Baseball, overcoming an early deficit with a three-run eighth inning to win 6-5, spurred by Bryce Harper's sacrifice bunt with men on first and second and no outs, trailing by two runs. The percentages say it was a bad play. Statheads throughout Natstown winced. The Nationals only had six outs left and Harper gave one away on purpose. The next batter, rookie Anthony...

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Sept. 9 meeting set between Nationals and Lee County, developer

August 29, 2013, 9:32am

Nationals

Mark Sept. 9 on your calendars - that's the day we'll get an indication about how serious officials from Lee County and Fort Myers, Fla., are about courting the Nationals across the state to conduct spring training. According to Spring Training Online, that's the day the Nationals will meet in D.C. with representatives of Rockford Construction, a developer interested in building a mixed-use development that would have City of Palms Park as its centerpiece and also include retail and office...

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Off the field, Zimmerman, Span and Gonzalez answered your questions in MASN's live chat

August 29, 2013, 8:46am

Nationals

Off the field, Zimmerman, Span and Gonzalez answered your questions in MASN's live chat

After a huge Nationals win, MASN will show you postgame interviews with players, in which reporters ask about a big inning or a huge home run. Following a loss, you will hear players being asked some tough questions, maybe about pitch selection or a costly error. Either way, you often hear players answering serious, game-related inquiries. However, we know that you have other burning questions for the players. Maybe you were curious about which National was the best golfer. Have you ever...

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Ted Leavengood: Finally making a game of it

August 26, 2013, 12:08pm

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: Finally making a game of it

The Nationals have started to dig out of the hole. The mark of the good ballplayer and the good team is competing consistently, going out and playing to win day-in and day-out. Washington has been consistently competitive in recent weeks. Even when they have been down early in games, they have punched and clawed their way back to key wins against the Royals and Phillies. Had they not lost six of seven games against the Braves during August, the Nationals would be 12 of 16 for the month,...

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David Huzzard: Impressions of Syracuse and the forgotten Danny Espinosa

August 28, 2013, 5:25am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Impressions of Syracuse and the forgotten Danny Espinosa

Last night was the first Nationals game I watched since Thursday, and that isn't because I have been so frustrated by the season I've given up on baseball. It is because I spent the last five days on a whirlwind tour of minor league ballparks. This trip was to include two of the Nationals affiliates, but short-season Single-A Auburn was rained out. Luckily for us, it was called early enough that it gave us time to make it to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in time for the second inning of the second...

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Gonzalez, Span and Zimmerman on-deck for Wednesday's tripleheader live chat

August 24, 2013, 9:58am

Nationals

Gonzalez, Span and Zimmerman on-deck for Wednesday's tripleheader live chat

This Wednesday at Nationals Park, we will be hosting our first live video chat of the season, which will stream live on the homepage of MASNsports.com. The chat will be a tripleheader as Denard Span, Ryan Zimmerman and Gio Gonzalez will be participating and answering your questions live. In order for this to be successful, we need your help. Submit your questions on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #NatsChats or leave a comment in the section below. We also want to reward our "Touch...

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Dave Nichols: A defeat emblematic of the season's struggles

August 26, 2013, 7:10am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: A defeat emblematic of the season's struggles

The Nationals took two out of three over the weekend from the Kansas City Royals to keep their dwindling playoff hopes just barely alive. Starting play Monday, the Nats sit 8 1/2 games behind Cincinnati, with just 32 games remaining, for the last invitation to the playoff party in the National League. The loss on Sunday halted a five-game winning streak, matching the longest the Nats have had all season long. If they're to get back in this thing, they are going to have to take advantage now...

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Span, Zimmerman and Gonzalez will answer your questions

August 24, 2013, 9:58am

Nationals

Span, Zimmerman and Gonzalez will answer your questions

This Wednesday, we will be hosting our first video chat of the season, live on MASNsports.com. We will be have a tripleheader as Denard Span, Ryan Zimmerman and Gio Gonzalez will all be participating and answering your questions. In order for this to be successful, we need your help. Submit your questions on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #NatsChats or leave a comment in the section below. We also want to reward our "Touch 'Em All" participants with 15 bonus points for those taking...

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Brevard County making push to retain Nationals

August 23, 2013, 3:28pm

Nationals

The decision by Osceola County commissioners to reject plans for a new $98 million spring training complex for the Nationals may have opened the door for Brevard County to retain its status as the team's Grapefruit League home. According to this story in Florida Today, Brevard County commissioner Robin Fisher says the county will go "all in" in its attempts to keep the Nationals at Space Coast Stadium for spring training. Fisher has proposed that the county make $29 million in improvements...

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Rachel Levitin: Acquiring DeJesus an example of Nats trying to maintain first-place roster

August 22, 2013, 5:48am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Acquiring DeJesus an example of Nats trying to maintain first-place roster

When I got a text message from a Cubs fan friend of mine on Monday night, I can't say I was surprised by the what he had to say: "Look for me at the game. And David DeJesus is a good pickup." While I didn't see that friend on my television set, I did shoot him a message back in agreement. It's this move - a veteran pickup for the Washington bench - that continues to demonstrate that the Nationals organization is willing to make changes when changes need to be made. They showed that when...