nationals buzz

Marty Niland: Hall of Stars induction finally shines spotlight on Buddy Myer

May 07, 2018, 5:21am

Sunday was a great day for Washington sports. Before celebrating the Nationals' first walk-off victory of 2018, fans at Nationals Park got to see another set of local heroes inducted to the Washington Hall of Stars. In addition to fairly recent greats, like basketball stars Len Bias, Grant Hill and Walt Williams, came Buddy Myer, a baseball star from the distant past. His induction to the local hall was a step toward righting what his fans feel is the injustice of Myer's exclusion from the...

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Opposite dugout: Padres once again scuffling in NL West

May 06, 2018, 3:35pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Padres once again scuffling in NL West

Manager: Andy Green (3rd season) Record: 13-22 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 1B Eric Hosmer (.297 with 5 HR, 12 RBIs), 3B Christian Villanueva (.265 with 9 HR, 20 RBIs), LF Jose Pirela (.250 with 35 hits, 11 RBIs), RHP Tyson Ross (2-2, 3.28 ERA); LHP Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 3:13 ERA), LHP Brad Hand (8 saves, 2.70 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-5 in 2017) Pitching probables: May 7: RHP Stephen Strasburg (3-3) vs. RHP Tyson Ross (2-2), 10:10 p.m., MASNMay 8: RHP Jeremy...

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Ryan Sullivan: Soto's blasts are burned in memory

May 04, 2018, 6:41am

Nationals

Ryan Sullivan: Soto's blasts are burned in memory

On Thursday evening, I drove to Woodbridge, Va., to see the Single-A Potomac Nationals, primarily to watch Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon's first game on his minor league rehab assignment for the purposes of this guest blog. Rendon injured his big toe by fouling a ball off his foot and has not played since April 13, leaving a mammoth hole in Washington's lineup in recent weeks. Rendon batted third and served as the designated hitter for the P-Nats, unfortunately keeping me from seeing...

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Liz Barr: Who should stay in Nats' revolving bullpen?

May 01, 2018, 8:23pm

Nationals

Liz Barr: Who should stay in Nats' revolving bullpen?

Sammy SolÃs and the Law Firm have been able to sit back with their shades on while the rest of the Nationals bullpen has been in and out of a revolving door. The bullpen has been less than consistent this year, not just in its performance, but in its personnel. Due to injuries, call-ups, and players being designated for assignment, the supporting cast has been changing all year. The question is, after everyone is properly healthy, who should stay? Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and Brandon...

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Opposite dugout: Pirates riding rollercoaster season to top of NL Central

April 29, 2018, 5:18pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Pirates riding rollercoaster season to top of NL Central

Manager: Clint Hurdle (8th season) Record: 17-11 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: LF Corey Dickerson (.316 with 30 hits, 15 RBIs); CF Starling Marte (.288 with 3 HR, 8 SB); 1B Josh Bell (.241 with 26 hits, 16 RBIs); RHP Jameson Taillon (2-2, 4.91 ERA); RHP Ivan Nova (2-1, 3.32 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (4-3 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 30: RHP Chad Kuhl (2-2) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (1-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 1: RHP Jameson Taillon (2-2)vs. RHP Max Scherzer (5-1), 7:05...

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"MASN All Access" podcast: Jamal Collier on road trip and homestand

April 27, 2018, 2:24pm

Nationals

"MASN All Access" podcast: Jamal Collier on road trip and homestand

The Nationals are back after their nine-game road trip and we're back at Nats Park! Paul and I are joined by Jamal Collier of MLB.com on a new episode of the "MASN All Access" podcast to recap the road trip and preview the 10-game homestand, which starts tonight against the Diamondbacks. Ending on a high note with a 15-run barrage in San Francisco, did the Nationals show signs of things to come out west? And what went wrong to lead the team to a 4-5 record this time out? Will this homestand...

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Ryan Sullivan: Promising prospects aplenty for Potomac

April 27, 2018, 5:43am

Nationals

Ryan Sullivan: Promising prospects aplenty for Potomac

On Wednesday evening, I made the drive to Wilmington, Del., in order to get my first look at the 2018 Potomac Nationals. In spite of the drizzle and cold temperatures, I came away quite impressed with the collection of talent the Nationals have assembled at their high Single-A affiliate, not to mention the beginnings of a head cold. Right-hander Wil Crowe, Washington's second-round pick last summer and a top 10 prospect, started Wednesday's contest and pitched well despite the conditions,...

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Opposite dugout: Arms have positioned Diamondbacks atop NL West

April 25, 2018, 9:08am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Arms have positioned Diamondbacks atop NL West

Manager: Torey Lovullo (2nd season) Record: 17-7 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: LF David Peralta (.317 with 3 HR, 14 RBIs), CF A.J. Pollock (5 HR, 17 RBIs), 1B Paul Goldschmidt (4 HR, 11 RBIs), LHP Patrick Corbin (4-0, 1,89 ERA), RHP Zack Godley (3-1, 3.09 ERA), RHP Brad Boxberger (3.00 ERA, 6 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-4 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 27: RHP Zack Godley (3-1) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (2-2), 7:05 p.m., MASN2 April 28: LHP Patrick Corbin (4-0)...

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Join Gio Gonzalez, Nats teammates for Uncork for a Cause on May 3

April 25, 2018, 10:02am

Nationals

Join Gio Gonzalez, Nats teammates for Uncork for a Cause on May 3

If you've ever dreamed of sipping wine while discussing the intricacies of the curveball with Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez, mark Thursday, May 3 on your calendar and get out your checkbooks. That's the night Gonzalez will host his third annual Uncork for a Cause, when the pitcher, his teammates and special guests will gather from 6-9 p.m. at The Rooftop at F1RST Residences, a new rooftop entertainment space across from Nationals Park. The event will raise funds and awareness for The...

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Liz Barr: Nationals fans need to calm down for a moment

April 25, 2018, 4:57am

Nationals

The Nationals, needless to say, are not having a stellar start. For Nationals fans, it's like the world is ending. Twitter has been a tire fire in recent weeks, and all of the bad takes I've seen are astounding. I've seen calls to pack it up and go home, they're done. Trade away all the players. Burn it to the ground and start all over again. Admittedly, the Nationals have been pretty bad to start off the year. They've gone 10-14, hitting .230 overall and .218 with runners in scoring...

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Opposite dugout: Free agent acquisitions might not help Giants contend

April 19, 2018, 2:04pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Free agent acquisitions might not help Giants contend

Manager: Bruce Bochy (12th season) Record: 9-12 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: C Buster Posey, (.265, 8 RBIs), 1B Brandon Belt (10 RBIs, 5 HR), 3B Evan Longoria (7 doubles, 9 RBIs), RF Andrew McCutchen (11 RBIs), RHP Jeff Samardzija (1-0, 0.00 ERA), RHP Hunter Strickland (2.00 ERA, 3 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (1-5 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 23: LHP Gio Gonzalez (2-1) vs. RHP Chris Stratton (1-1), 10:15 p.m., MASN2April 24: RHP Tanner Roark (1-1) vs. LHP Ty...

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Marty Niland: Rickey's reports set the stage for historic summer in D.C.

April 22, 2018, 7:47pm

Nationals

Marty Niland: Rickey's reports set the stage for historic summer in D.C.

Former Senators outfielder Curt Flood "approach(ed) perfection" with St. Louis in 1963. That same year, former Washington slugger Harmon Killebrew was described as strikeout-prone and overpriced as a Minnesota Twin. Former Nationals manager Frank Robinson was "upset" by the changeup as a Cincinnati Red in the spring of 1964. Those are the professional opinions of Branch Rickey, whose more than 1,750 scouting reports and other baseball-related papers and correspondence have been digitized by...

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Opposite dugout: Dodgers ride winning streak into series vs. Nats

April 18, 2018, 11:44am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Dodgers ride winning streak into series vs. Nats

Manager: Dave Roberts (3rd season) Record: 8-9 Who to watch: 1B Cody Bellinger (.304/.342/.464), SS Corey Seager (7 RBIs), C Yasmani Grandal (.352/.435/.611with 3 HR, 13 RBIs), LF Matt Kemp (.347/.389/.592, 10 RBI, 3 HR) , LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-2, 1.33 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 1st meeting (3-3 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 20: RHP Max Scherzer (3-1) vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-2), 10:10 p.m., MASN2April 21: RHP Stephen Strasburg (2-1) vs. LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-0), 9:10 p.m.,...

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Ryan Sullivan: Struggling Cole needs a change of scenery

April 20, 2018, 5:44am

Nationals

Ryan Sullivan: Struggling Cole needs a change of scenery

On Wednesday evening, the weary Nationals bullpen suffered a collapse and got smoked like a Willie Nelson cigarette, to the tune of nine runs in the eighth inning. The dagger came when A.J Cole, now pitching in relief after losing the fifth starter role to Jeremy Hellickson, served up a mammoth grand slam home run to Yoenis CÃ©spedes. This elevated Cole's ERA this season to 13.06 and left many Nationals fans, myself included, wondering what the next step is for Cole's career in...

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Liz Barr: Bench pieces coming through big for Nationals

April 18, 2018, 5:30am

Nationals

It's not that the Nationals have been burdened with major injuries. But they have been plagued by a couple of nagging minor injuries at once. Daniel Murphy, the big injury, is still recovering from offseason surgery. Adam Eaton, after coming back from a grisly ACL tear, tweaked his ankle and is on the disabled list. Anthony Rendon fouled a ball off his toe and has sat the last few games. Brian Goodwin just went on the DL for a wrist injury. None of these three injuries will likely keep players...

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"MASN All Access" podcast: Breaking down Nats' comeback win over Mets

April 17, 2018, 11:47am

Nationals

"MASN All Access" podcast: Breaking down Nats' comeback win over Mets

"Fire Davey Martinez. It's because they brought camels to spring training." "This is just like 2013 and 2015. They're not that good." "Blow it up! Trade everyone! The season's over!" I'm so sure. Can we all relax now? Can we take our fingers off the panic button for the time being? Paul and I certainly are for this "MASN All Access" podcast after the Nationals completed an 8-6 comeback win over the Mets at Citi Field on Monday night. Just how big was this win? We hear what Martinez...

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Marty Niland: Recalling Washington's struggles with baseball integration

April 16, 2018, 6:47am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Recalling Washington's struggles with baseball integration

It was great to be at the Nationals Park on Jackie Robinson Day. Even if the crowd was sparse in the cool, wet weather, it was heartwarming to see all of the players wearing No. 42 in honor of the man who broke baseball's color barrier. Reflecting on the legacy of Robinson and those who followed him, it's appropriate to look back at the Washington's history of civil rights and baseball as examples of how far sport and society have come, and to see how far we still have to go. Washington was...

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Ryan Sullivan: Zimmerman deserves criticism for Nats' early struggles

April 13, 2018, 5:56am

Nationals

Ryan Sullivan: Zimmerman deserves criticism for Nats' early struggles

In a rather quiet spring training for the Nationals, one of the biggest storylines for the team in West Palm Beach was the unique decision by Ryan Zimmerman to play only in one spring training game. Zimmerman instead preferred to get his work accomplished on the back fields, in games consisting of predominantly minor leaguers. Certainly, the fans that traveled to watch the team were disappointed to miss seeing the face of the franchise, but also were questioning the wisdom of this...

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"MASN All Access" podcast: Byron Kerr on Nats' rebound

April 12, 2018, 12:09pm

Nationals

"MASN All Access" podcast: Byron Kerr on Nats' rebound

The Nationals are back on track and Byron Kerr of MASNsports.com is back on your airwaves! The Nationals were able to take two of three from the Braves to rebound from getting swept at home by the Mets. Byron, formally of the late "District 34" podcast, joins Paul and I to discuss how the Nats turned things around this week with stellar outings from Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. We first touch on Byron's recent story on Matt Adams' value to his new team after the left-handed backup...

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Opposite Dugout: Up-and-down Rockies awaiting word on brawl-related discipline

April 11, 2018, 2:43pm

Nationals

Opposite Dugout: Up-and-down Rockies awaiting word on brawl-related discipline

Manager: Bud Black (3rd year) Record: 6-7 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Charlie Blackmon (4 HR, 6 RBIs), 3B Nolan Arenado (.311 with 1 HR, 6 RBIs), SS Trevor Story (3 HR, 6 RBIs), 2B DJ LeMahieu (.308 with 2 HR, 4 RBIs), RF Carlos GonzÃ¡lez (2 HR, 6 RBIs), RHP Chad Bettis (1-0, 2.53 ERA), RHP Wade Davis (3.38 ERA, 5 saves) â€‹ Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-4 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 12: RHP Chad Bettis (1-0) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (1-0) 7:05 p.m., MASN...