Lots of people thought the Nationals already had the best starting pitching in the major leagues before Jan. 21, when Max Scherzer joined the team with a seven-year, $120 million free-agent deal. Some might even have thought it was a superfluous move by the Nats, an investment that might have been better made in another …
Tag: Stephen Strasburg
May 04
Pitchers take over as Nats find footing
This is the Washington Nationals’ pitching staff we’ve been waiting to see. Since coming back from 9-1 and 10-2 deficits to beat the Braves 13-12 last Tuesday, in a game that may well be remembered as the defining moment of the 2015 season, the Nats have won four of five games behind starting pitching that …
Apr 06
Five things that must break the Nats’ way in 2015
How can a team that hasn’t even competed in a league championship series be a favorite to win the World Series? It may seem odd, but that’s the predicament the Washington Nationals find themselves in as they enter the 2015 season. Experts nationwide have pegged a team with a bullpen full of question marks , …
Oct 06
In a game of inches, Nationals coming up short all around
We’ve all heard that baseball is a game of inches. It’s a seemingly small measurement that can make the difference between a ball and a strike, a hit and an out or even a win and a loss. Such measurements are also apparently important to San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Hudson, who questioned the Nationals’ …
Sep 22
One blogger’s votes for the Nats’ 2014 awards
Each year, the D.C. chapter of the Internet Baseball Writers Association polls members of the Nats blogosphere to determine its Player Achievement Awards. The voting is organized by District Sports Page Editor and fellow MASN guest blogger Dave Nichols. This year’s winners will be announced on Monday, Sept. 29 on the DC-IBWAA website. This blogger …
Aug 25
Homestand for the ages shows Nats have character
Has there ever been a better time to be a Nationals fan? A team that some baseball experts called the biggest disappointment of the season just a few weeks ago now sits atop the National League after a 9-1 homestand for the ages — the most remarkable this team has seen since moving to town. …
Aug 04
Resilience, luck have Nats in good position
We’ve all heard that it’s better to be lucky than good, but a resilient Nationals team has offered proof over the past week that it’s best to be both. The Nats were clinging to a 1 1-2 game lead over Atlanta in the National League East just a week ago. Since then, they have lost …
May 19
With rotation dinged again, Nats need quality starts – and good luck
Another week, another key injury for the Nationals. This time it’s Gio Gonzalez, who landed on the disabled list of for the first time in his seven-year career after being knocked around for a second straight start. If you’re keeping score at home, that makes eight members of the opening day roster who have been …
Apr 28
Out of nowhere guys like Roark are what’s great about baseball
The #Nats sector of the Twitterverse was abuzz Saturday as Tanner Roark stroked the canvas that was the mound at Nationals Park. When he had finished his masterpiece, a complete-game, three-hit shutout of the San Diego Padres, the accolades came quickly and lasted longer than the two hours and 19 minutes it took the 27-year-old …
Mar 30
Nationals 2014 Preview: Pitching
Monday’s 2014 season opener against the New York Mets will be another milestone for Stephen Strasburg. With his third consecutive opening day start, he will match Livan Hernandez for the most in modern Washington Nationals history, and move into a tie with Hernandez and Jeff Fassero for the third-longest opening day start streak in the …