New details and full schedule released for NatsFest

New details and full schedule released for NatsFest
On Wednesday afternoon, the Nationals announced some new details about NatsFest, scheduled for Wednesday, March 30 from 4-8 p.m. at Nationals Park. According to the release, Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Derek Norris, Chien-Ming Wang and Cole Kimball are all scheduled to attend the team's third annual NatsFest celebration. Upon entering the ballpark at 4 p.m., fans can watch the Nationals take batting practice until 5:45 p.m. Following practice, at approximately 6:15 p.m., fans will be...
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Nationals set to build baseball field for special needs children

Nationals set to build baseball field for special needs children
The Nationals are hard at work creating yet another opportunity for local youth to experience the magic of baseball. In association with the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, the Nationals will partner with the Miracle League of Montgomery County and other local civic organizations to build the Washington Nationals Miracle Field in Germantown, Md., this summer. The Miracle League of Montgomery County will give children with mental or physical challenges the opportunity to play competitive...
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Guest bloggers joining Nationals Buzz

Guest bloggers joining Nationals Buzz
After a week of visiting with familiar faces in NatsTown South, I remembered how close-knit this community of baseball lovers can be at times. It certainly feels like a family - or to reach back to a favorite sitcom theme song, "a place where everybody knows your name." As you probably know, fans in this market are lucky to have so many quality fan-generated blogs covering this team and providing unique perspectives in sophisticated ways. You may already be reading the dozens of popular,...
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Getting to know new MASN broadcaster F.P. Santangelo

Getting to know new MASN broadcaster F.P. Santangelo
VIERA, Fla. - Nationals fans, please give a warm welcome to MASN's newest color analyst, F.P. Santangelo. The energetic young broadcaster shared his thoughts in this Q&A with Nats Buzz at Space Coast Stadium on Thursday afternoon. What are your thoughts about the Nationals heading into this season? "Well, I just think they are playing really good baseball. I don't really want to get caught up in wins and losses in spring training, but I think when you are coming off of a tough year, it's...
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Win front row Nationals tickets for April 30

Win front row Nationals tickets for April 30
VIERA, Fla. - Want to win eight front row tickets to watch the Nationals beat the World Series champion Giants this April? Venga, a new website and mobile phone application, is running a contest to generate buzz about their new platform. The program will allow users to track happy hours, social events and special deals in restaurants, bars and music venues with a custom-built mobile application for iPhone and Android. "It's built so you get just the information you want, and only when you...
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Strasburg, Harper on Twitter

Strasburg, Harper on Twitter
VIERA, Fla. - It's official. Fans can now follow two of the Nationals' brightest stars on the popular social networking platform, Twitter. Stephen Strasburg will be tweeting from @stras37. Bryce Harper's @BHarp34 account has also been confirmed by the Nationals. In addition, fans can follow newcomer Todd Coffey (@ToddCoffey60). Other tweeting Nationals players include Drew Storen, Craig Stammen, John Lannan and Collin Balester.
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Riggleman concerned with safety of children in stands

Riggleman concerned with safety of children in stands
VIERA, Fla. - In the wake of the news that Atlanta Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar was struck by a foul ball and hospitalized on Wednesday, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman reflected Thursday on the many hazards of baseball. Several baseball-related accidents in recent years have created a greater awareness about the safety hazards - for both team personnel and fans sitting close to the action. "You're not going to a game thinking about a foul ball," Riggleman said. "It almost...
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On the ground

On the ground
A quick update for our Nats Buzz readers. I landed in Melbourne, Fla., this afternoon along with nearly a dozen Nationals fans (including this guy) just in time to hear Shuttle Discovery's final sonic boom. Starting tomorrow, I'll be at Space Coast Stadium all week to bring you Nats Buzz, off-the-field type updates as often as I can. If you have any questions or topics you'd like me to explore, leave your suggestions in the comments. If you're down in Viera this week or for the Yankees...
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Cherry blossoms for opening day

Cherry blossoms for opening day
For some, the best sign of spring is the president of the United States throwing the first pitch at a Nationals game. Or Ryan Zimmerman's first home run of the season. Or simply the sound of "Play Ball" echoing through the ballpark. For others, it's not spring until the beautiful cherry blossoms bloom around the District and tourists from all over the world travel to the tidal basin en mass with their best photographic equipment. Ah, the joys of spring in the nation's capital. On...
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Save Nats Park on April 14

Save Nats Park on April 14
Opening day 2010 remains one of the worst, most painful memories for Nationals fans in this team's brief history. When thousands upon thousands of Phillies fans marched into Nationals Park last April and declared it their southern headquarters, Nationals fans were outraged. Phillies fans were unapologetic about their stunt, suggesting that if Nationals fans truly cared about their team, they'd show up night after night. This season, Nationals fans have an opportunity to drown out those...
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Looking for Viera suggestions

Looking for Viera suggestions
In the past few years, I've posted my recommendations for travelers heading to sunny Viera, Fla. More recently, MASNsports.com's Ben Goessling offered his suggestions, too (good reading because he's the spring training pro). But I want to hear from you. Many of you have been to Nationals spring training many times. Some of you have already returned from your first trip this season. Where do you like to go? What are your favorite restaurants? Are there any can't-miss attractions that we...
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Lerners hope to break ground on new urban baseball academy in May

Lerners hope to break ground on new urban baseball academy in May
It was a dream that always seemed far off into the future - an obscure plan to host an urban youth baseball development academy in the nation's capital. That day is arriving, or will be arriving soon, and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation is busy moving forward at a frenzied pace after overcoming complex bureaucratic obstacles. It's something the Lerner family has poured its hearts into since assuming ownership of the team in 2006. And this past winter, the final piece fell into...
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More Nats ticket plans available

More Nats ticket plans available
If full season or half season plans are too much, but you still want guaranteed tickets for a few Nationals games this season, the Nationals have more options available. In addition to the three mini-plans released last week, the Nationals will now offer five Grand Slam Flex Plans for the 2011 season. These packages, which start at $60, allow fans to select four games from one of five plans and receive a fifth game free. Fans can choose from Screech's Curly "W" Plan, the Double Play Promo...
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New Nats mini-plans on sale

New Nats mini-plans on sale
The Nationals have announced a new lineup of ticket mini-plans for fans to purchase this season. Each plan features one free game. The brand new Manager's Plan offers 15 games for the price of 14. The best part is that fans can create their own lineup of favorite games through this plan, which includes opening day, interleague games and games against National League East rivals. Ivan Rodriguez is not yet a member of baseball's Hall of Fame, but according to the Nationals, fans can watch him...
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So you want to be a Racing President?

So you want to be a Racing President?
It's time for the main event - the Geico Presidents Race. The Nationals are now accepting applicants for Racing Presidents for the 2011 season. Auditions will occur, appropriately enough, over President's Day Weekend. To be eligible, applicants must fulfill the following requirements: * Measure between 5-foot-7 and 6-foot-6 in height * Possess the ability to run from center field to home plate (approximately 200 yards) in 40 seconds * Be able to wear a costume weighing approximately 45...
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Balester participates in TwitChange campaign

Balester participates in TwitChange campaign
Professional athletes and celebrities including Nationals pitcher Collin Balester have teamed up with TwitChange, an online organizing and fundraising service to raise money for Operation Once in a Lifetime. The TwitChange campaign is led by Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, who recruited dozens of fellow athletes and celebrities on Twitter to join his cause. From today through Feb. 5, fans can bid on Twitter-inspired auctions featuring their favorite celebrities and athletes including...
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Spring training tickets on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.

Spring training tickets on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.
Sick of staring at the piles of snow, fallen trees and slushy roads? Wouldn't you rather be enjoying Florida's sunny beaches or catching rays at a Nationals spring training game? On Saturday morning, you can book your flight, get your tickets and start imagining warmer temperatures. Nationals spring training tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. You won't want to miss any of the action leading into the 2011 season. But moreover, who can resist an escape to the south? Why not go to Viera, Fla., a...
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