nationals buzz

David Huzzard: David DeJesus and the Nats' 2014 bench

August 21, 2013, 5:26am

Sometimes the best moves a general manager can make are the ones that look confusing at first. Keep in mind general managers are allegedly smarter than the media and bloggers, and should be a couple of steps ahead of us. One the surface, the David DeJesus trade looks weird. The Nats don't need him for this season and his $6.5 million option is a lot to pay for a bench player for 2014, but let's look at the Nationals bench, or let's not because H.P. Lovecraft couldn't describe a monster as...

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What's next in the Nats' long search for a new spring home? (updated)

August 20, 2013, 4:55pm

Nationals

What's next in the Nats' long search for a new spring home? (updated)

So Kissimmee, Fla., is out as a possible spring training base for the Nationals. Where does that leave the Nats in terms of their longstanding desire to relocate spring camp to a location that offers both a new stadium and more teams closer by? For the time being, they'll stay in Viera, Space Coast Stadium and the adjacent minor league complex. Though it's not their preference, the Nationals at least have a functional facility at their disposal - at least until their lease runs out at the...

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Ted Leavengood: Can Nats compete without more international signings?

August 20, 2013, 5:50am

Nationals

As an organization, the Washington Nationals have largely eschewed big international signings. Last week, they paid $900,000 for Anderson Franco and the front office has said it will be more aggressive in international markets moving forward. Prior forays have been disappointing at best. They got nothing except legal fees for the $1.4 million they paid to Dominican phenom Smiley Gonzalez in 2006. They tried again in 2009 when they landed Cuban emigre, Yunesky Maya, who commanded a four-year, $8...

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Osceola County rejects plans for Nationals' spring training complex

August 20, 2013, 5:30am

Nationals

The Nationals won't be moving their spring training headquarters to Kissimmee, Fla. Last night, Osceola County commissioners voted 4-1 against constructing a new complex and stadium for the Nationals, who want to move their Grapefruit League operations out of Viera, Fla. Those commissioners voting against the $98 million deal said that any potential benefits from the project were outweighed by the county's investment in it. Monday's vote followed last month's 3-2 rejection of the team's...

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Dave Nichols: Strasburg shows backbone standing up for Harper

August 19, 2013, 5:56am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Strasburg shows backbone standing up for Harper

It was a wild weekend in Atlanta. Not so much for the actual baseball content, as the Nationals dropped another series to the Braves, setting their season record against the division leaders at 4-12. Rather, after Bryce Harper was hit by pitches twice Friday night, the Nationals - at least their top starting pitcher - decided enough was enough. Harper, a player who will forevermore wear a target on his back with the Braves, was hit twice Friday night by two different pitchers, the second time...

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Rachel Levitin: That pesky thing called perspective

August 15, 2013, 5:33am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: That pesky thing called perspective

When it comes time to reflect on the Nationals' 2013 season, my thought is that this one will be all about managing expectations. After last night's victory against the San Francisco Giants - the Nats' fifth win in a row - I found myself on the Metro amid the postgame foot traffic. While sitting there, I gathered nuggets from people's conversations and took notice of those who were wearing curly W attire. The general consensus, as far as I was able to infer, is that the big issue people...

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David Huzzard: A few thoughts on hope

August 14, 2013, 5:32am

Nationals

The Nationals' four-game winning streak is a small glimmer of hope, faint light from a far off place. In "The Dark Knight Rises," Bane shows Batman the means to escape his prison. It is a one-in-a-million shot. One person out of all the prisoners had done it and it was a mystery as to if that were fact or fiction. It is the nature of hope. Hope cannot exist without despair. The 2013 Nationals have been full of despair and this small glimmer of hope shouldn't excite anyone. The Nationals...

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Ted Leavengood: Playing for pride

August 13, 2013, 4:53am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg's complete-game shutout on Sunday was an exclamation point at the end of a weekend statement that the Nationals have found their sense of pride. It was the best game of Strasburg's young career. He has said many times that he wants to go deeper into seasons, deeper into games and it doesn't get much deeper than a complete-game shutout. Coming at the end of the weekend sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, it emphasized Davey Johnson's assertion that the team needed to play...

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David Nichols: Werth's resurgence provides some fun down the stretch

August 12, 2013, 5:51am

Nationals

David Nichols: Werth's resurgence provides some fun down the stretch

The Nationals swept the Phillies over the weekend. That always feels good. But the Nats are still eight games out of a wild card spot with just 45 games to play. It's not an impossibility, but the odds of making the postseason sure aren't great. What is great, though, is the way Jayson Werth has been playing this summer. The veteran outfielder is in the midst of what could possibly be his finest season at the plate as a big leaguer. Due to the hamstring injury that caused him to miss a...

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Social Media Weekend continues Saturday at Nats Park

August 09, 2013, 6:27pm

Nationals

Social Media Weekend continues Saturday at Nats Park

One day of Social Media Weekend is in the books. We rewarded fans for their social media usage Friday, providing people who tweeted at us and tagged their Instagram photos with signed gear, seat upgrades and more. And we're at it again Saturday. Check out what's on deck by looking at the schedule below. Even if you can't make it to Nats Park, we're offering chances to win some great prizes for all of our social media followers. You can enter to win lunch with Gio Gonzalez here....

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Social Media Weekend set to kick off Friday

August 02, 2013, 3:37pm

Nationals

Social Media Weekend set to kick off Friday

We're getting close to one of the best times of the year around the MASN headquarters: Social Media Weekend. Thanks to Hair Cuttery, kicking off Friday, Aug. 9 at Nationals Park, we'll be offering fans exclusive prizes and experiences. Each season, particularly in 2013, we have seen our loyal fans tweeting at us, chatting on our Facebook threads and sending us Instagram pictures. And we want to reward you for it. From Friday to Sunday, we'll be live on location at Nats Park, giving away...

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Meet Denard Span this Saturday, presented by Cox

August 08, 2013, 9:56am

Nationals

Meet Denard Span this Saturday, presented by Cox

For Nationals fans, one of the most exciting parts about last offseason was the acquisition of Denard Span. The center fielder livened up the Nats lineup, bringing speed to both the outfield and the basepaths. Well, thanks to Cox Communications, you have the chance to meet Span this Saturday, August 10! From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Span will be taking pictures with fans at the Cox Solutions Store in Fairfax, Va. Be sure to RSVP today; however, the event is open to all on a first-come,...

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Rachel Levitin: Where's the sustained fire and passion in 2013 Nats?

August 08, 2013, 5:17am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Where's the sustained fire and passion in 2013 Nats?

While I'll admit I wasn't present for the actual bench-clearing brouhaha that went down at Nats Park on Tuesday night, I have to say I for one am glad it happened. Just a couple of weeks ago on this very blog, I was commenting about how this Nationals team doesn't seem to be fighting for their wins this season. Granted, I went on to explain that I don't have clubhouse access so there's no way for me to actually ask the players what their feelings are on how the season's playing out or...

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David Huzzard: What to do with Adam LaRoche

August 07, 2013, 4:45am

Nationals

David Huzzard: What to do with Adam LaRoche

Adam LaRoche's offensive numbers are better than a league average hitter, and only the second-worst among Nats regulars, but he ranks 22nd in the league among qualified first basemen in OPS. The problem isn't that the Nationals are locked into one more year of LaRoche. They faced the same issue in the 2012 offseason when they went after Prince Fielder. It is that there isn't a Fielder on the free agent market this offseason. The best available free-agent first baseman is Mike Napoli, who...

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Ted Leavengood: Seeking 2.75 million heroes for 2013

August 06, 2013, 4:48am

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: Seeking 2.75 million heroes for 2013

There was a point several months ago, before games against Atlanta became object lessons in what the Washington Nationals have failed to master. It was opening day, when last night's game was projected to be a key matchup between the key contenders for the NL East title. On that cool April day, Stephen Strasburg pitched seven shutout innings and Bryce Harper hit two home runs as the Nationals started the season with a 2-0 win against the Marlins. The beginnings seemed auspicious enough and...

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Dave Nichols: With playoff hopes slipping this season, will Nationals make big changes for next year?

August 05, 2013, 7:34am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals are 12 1/2 games out of first place at 54-57, three games below .500, with a three-game series against the division-leading Atlanta Braves looming this week. The Nats and Braves have nine such games to play before the end of the season, so each of these games count doubly in the standings. But with the Braves playing as well as they have lately, the Nationals lost three games in the standings in the past week. But a division title, at this point, is all but...

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MASN's "Touch 'Em All" Rewards Program continues with more exclusive giveaways

August 04, 2013, 12:13pm

Nationals

A month of MASN's "Touch 'Em All" Nationals Rewards Program is in the books. During the launch, we saw fans sign up and then fervently take to their social media accounts to earn exclusive prizes. During July, we saw so many great Facebook shares, tweets, Instagram pictures and more. After rewarding five engaged fans with autographed Ryan Zimmerman gear last month, we're at it again! We'll be giving away signed baseballs and a jersey from Gio Gonzalez this August. If you haven't done...

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Rachel Levitin: Maybe making no moves was the right move

August 01, 2013, 4:51am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Maybe making no moves was the right move

The non-waiver trade deadline has passed and it appears the Nationals are staying intact. Given the team's performance this summer, there were times in which I thought there might be a few more mumblings on the rumor mill followed by a few changes come the end of July. But as I've continued to watch this team over the course of season, this might be the best thing for them. Washington is quiet clearly invested in maintaining its core group players who they'll continue to develop over time....

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David Huzzard: A dichotomy of maddening inconsistency

July 31, 2013, 5:32am

Nationals

David Huzzard: A dichotomy of maddening inconsistency

A team doesn't end up in the position of the Nationals without more than one problem, and while most of the focus has been on an offense that has scored the second-fewest runs in the National League, there are other problems. For the month of July, the Nats offense was what most expected it to be: an offense full of streaky hitters that scored the sixth-most runs in the NL, scoring five or more runs nine times and two or fewer 12. The Nationals have been prone to these strange...

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Ted Leavengood: A bull market analysis

July 30, 2013, 5:40am

Nationals

The weather has been remarkably cool and crisp for late July, as if a hand reached out and parted the humid air to allow fans a better ending to the last homestand of July. On Sunday, before the team went to Detroit, there were little kids running the bases. Surprisingly, there were Nationals running them as well, and with almost as much joy and abandon. It was a perfect day in D.C., almost too perfect, like one of those television shows that paints a Washington political scene so much more...