Tag Archives: Washington Nationals

Special Events, The Daily Feed
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The Nationals Team-Up With The Cherry Blossom Crew To Welcome Spring

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‘Washington Nationals Game’
courtesy of ‘acaben’

The Nationals are teaming up with the Official Cherry Blossom Festival crew to celebrate the beginning of Spring this April. Festivities include an appearance by Screech and the GEICO Racing Presidents in the National Cherry Blossom Parade on Saturday, April 10 in addition to on-site events at Nationals Park.

Cherry Blossom Festival representatives will be present at the April 3 exhibition game vs. the Boston Red Sox and two games vs. the Phillies on April 7 & 8.

We’ll keep you posted as more details become available.

The Daily Feed
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Breast Cancer Survivors And Advocates To Be Honored On Mother’s Day At Ballparks Nation-Wide

Photo courtesy of
‘Life’s a bitch !’
courtesy of ‘pfala’

Major League Baseball and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer organization,  have teamed up to launch the 2010 Honorary Bat Girl contest. The contest was created to recognize the women who have fought hard to battle breast cancer. For the next six weeks, women are encouraged to share their inspirational stories.

Men and women over the age of 18 will be able to read these stories and vote for who they think should be this year’s Honorary Bat Girl. The woman chosen will receive two tickets to the Nationals game vs. the Florida Marlins on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 9) where they will take part in the pre-game activities which include being honored with a pink ribbon during an on-field ceremony.

“The Nationals are excited to participate in the Honorary Bat Girl program as it allows us to reach our fans on a personal level,” Nationals Vice President of Communications and Community Relations Chartese Burnett said. “We encourage our fans to share their triumphant stories at mlb.com and we look forward to hosting the winner at Nationals Park.”

All testimonials must be entered online and can be submitted by breast cancer survivors or advocates of the cause.

The contest ends April 13.

Sports Fix, The Features
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The 2010 Washington Nationals: A Chance To Finish Above .500

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Spring Training games start today. The Washington Nationals are in Viera, Florida and ready to play the best the Grapefruit League has to offer. Opening Day is 33 days away. Here’s your sneak peak into what you have to look forward to this season.

It’s safe to assume that 2010 will not be the year the Washington Nationals win a World Series. They’re still building a franchise and are mere youngins when compared to the veteran clubs in the Major Leagues today.

The Nationals haven’t had a winning season since moving to the District. They came close in 2005 by going 81-81, but since then they have finished last in their division (National League East) every year except 2007 when they finished second to last. So – it’s easy to understand if you haven’t made your way to the ballpark these past few years.

If you wanted to see a team win, a trip to Baltimore, dare I say … Philly, might be a better idea. Not this year though. The 2010 season has the potential to be different for the Nationals. And no – that’s not a joke. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Ballpark Tours Are Back This Season At Nationals Park

Photo courtesy of
‘Nationals vs Mets – Field of Dreams – 9-29-09’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Looking for another excuse to make it to the ball park this summer? There’s more to the game than sitting back and watching the players at work. The Washington Nationals resumed their behind-the-scenes tours of Nationals Park this weekend.

The one-hour-and-fifteen minute tours include the opportunity to step inside the Nationals Dugout, see where the guys hang their hats in the Clubhouse, step on the mound and throw a pitch in the home team bullpen, access to the Lexus Presidents Club and PNC Diamond Club, a chance to feel like a big-league reporter from inside The Shirley Povich Media Center, and visits to the Nationals batting cages to hit a couple balls.

Tickets are available online or at the Nationals Park Box Office and are $15 for adults and $12 for children under 12. Seniors and military will receive a $3 discount with a valid I.D.

Additionally,  proceeds from the tours benefit the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. So get outside, see the park, and support a good cause this season!

Tours will run until November 13.

The Daily Feed
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The Olympics Are Over, Time To Play Ball

Photo courtesy of
‘Nyjer Morgan makes a great catch’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Now that the Olympics are over we can all breathe a collective “sigh” and get back to our regularly scheduled programming. With that said, guess what the end of the Olympics means? Time for beer, hots dogs, and the 7th inning stretch!

ESPN.com Senior Baseball writer Jayson Stark puts it best (via Twitter), “Here’s a thought that ought to warm you up out there. This was the last Sunday without a baseball game to watch until Nov. 7. Play ball!”

Riggleman is forced to split the squad for the Nationals TWO (yes, two) first games of the season since the Florida Grapefruit League doesn’t start playing until Thursday. One half of the team will be facing the Astros in Kissimmee and the other half face the Marlins in Jupiter. For now, the team is scheduled for three more days of full-squad workouts.

The Daily Feed
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Positive Attitude Makes Marquis A Leader

Photo courtesy of
‘Jason Marquis’
courtesy of ‘MissChatter’

Baseball – like any sport – is a mental game. Attitude is everything. Jason Marquis is a firm believer of that fact.

He is the projected starter for Opening Day, bringing 231 starts over 10 major league seasons, and his head is in it to win it.

“I feel like you play 162 games, to win 162 games,” Marquis told Florida Today. “You don’t put expectations like, ‘Oh, I hope we get to .500 this year.’ I hope we win 162 games.

“Now, obviously has it ever been done? No. But that’s the mentality you should take. Treat each and every day as an individual, treat each game as its own and try to win one game at a time, get an out at a time, make plays and execute, and I think it will lead to a good season.”

Marquis’ guidance and leadership as a veteran could prove to be a moral boost for a team that’s trying to carve a new, winning path this season.

The Daily Feed
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Riggleman Forces The Fundamentals, Nyjer Morgan Learns How To Slide Feet-First

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‘first run’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Injuries in Major League Baseball are inevitable. This year – the Nationals are trying to limit the amount of times their players take a trip to the disabled list. How? By going over base sliding fundamentals.

“I’ve always slid feet-first,” the 29-year-old Nyjer Morgan told the Associated Press. “But I guess I’m getting a little older and I’m getting a little wiser.”

Getting a little older and a little wiser? A headfirst slide is the sole reason Morgan was left sidelined after fracturing his left hand while sliding into third base last August in Chicago – less than two months after being traded from Pittsburgh to Washington.

Sure, Nyjer – it does look like you’re working harder if you slide head-first into the bases (the Nationals outfielder says he likes to get dirty while playing ball because it looks like “you’ve been playing harder”, no pun intended … please feel free to let your mind wander into gutter territory with that one), but the injuries aren’t worth it if you want to play for a team who has a winning record at the end of the 2010 season.

Riggleman’s also got the entire roster working on the feet-first approach to sliding in order to cut down on hand/finger/wrist related injuries. Good thinking.

ALSO – THIS JUST IN – there’s a new guy in town by the name of Adam Kilgore. He’ll be the voice of WaPo’s Nationals Journal/the new Nationals beat writer this season. Welcome to town, Adam!

The Daily Feed
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He’s Baaaaack: Livan Hernandez Signs A Minor League Contract

Photo courtesy of
‘Liván Hernández back pitching for the Nats’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

The most wins any Nationals pitcher has under his belt is 26. That record is held by right-handed pitcher Livan Hernandez who signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals today, which includes an invitation to Spring Training.

Hernandez is back in Washington after going 9-12 with a 5.44 ERA in 31 starts last season (having split his time between DC and New York with the Mets).

Word on the street (aka MLB.com) is the Nats have been looking for a second veteran starter since they signed right-hander Jason Marquis to a two-year deal in December.

Hernandez now enters the competition to fill the final two starting spots in Riggleman’s 2010 rotation.

The Daily Feed
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Strasburg Scheduled To Start March 9th

Photo courtesy of
‘Stephen Strasburg’
courtesy of ‘jpangan3’

It looks like Jesus will be taking the mound pretty soon. It’s been put in ink, so it must be true — Stephen Strasburg will be making his first start with the Nationals at Spring Training on March 9 against the Detroit Tigers.

At this point, he’s expected to pitch a couple innings.

“This will be my first chance to see him face hitters. Everybody is really excited,” Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty told MLB.com. “We’ll see how it goes. Who knows what’s going to happen after that. We are just going to go and see how it’s going to works out. We are going to have a rain day every once in a while, so everything is always done in pencil.”

The Daily Feed
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Strasburg: The New Jesus

Photo courtesy of
‘redneck_jesus’
courtesy of ‘Steve Riley SEA’

It looks like the Nats have gone all religious on us after just one day in Florida. They’ve seen the light … and that light is Stephen Strasburg’s pitching ability.

Centerfielder Nyjer Morgan and the rest of Strasburg’s teammates have given the rookie a new nickname — Jesus. Why Jesus?  “‘Cause what’s the first thing you say when you see him pitch?”  Morgan told the Washington Post, “Jeee-sus!”

For now, Strasburg will be starting the season in the minors. “I wouldn’t really want to say that he’s competing for a spot in the rotation,” Riggleman told the Post. “I think we’re open-minded, but… he could pitch real well down here, but we still might feel like the development, the process is to be respected of going through the system and getting really used to the rigors of throwing every fifth day [in the minor leagues].”

All signs point toward things starting off on the right foot this season. Now we have to wait and see what happens when the rest of the team reports in a week and a half.

The Daily Feed
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Pitchers And Catchers Have Reported: Let The Games Begin!

Photo courtesy of
‘Liván Hernández back pitching for the Nats’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

It’s official — we’re just 11 days away from the start of Spring Training! What does that mean? Manager Jim Riggleman and his staff of pitchers and catchers are on the field at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida RIGHT NOW playing “catch” for the first time as a team this season.

First-round draft pick Stephen Strasburg and the other newly acquired pitching talent including Matt Capps, Jason Marquis, Brian Bruney and Chien-Ming Wang are all in attendance and ready to go. Let’s get this season started!

Entertainment, The Features
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What It Takes To Be An American President In NatsTown

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It takes more than the promise of hope and change to become an American President in NatsTown. Over 40 guys and gals reported to Nationals Park Saturday afternoon as “presidential candidates” for the 2010 Racing Presidents. Their goal — prove they’ve got the stamina, strength, and charisma to be an acting Racing President from April to September.

DC isn’t the first or only baseball town to have a mascot run a race in between innings down the warning track. In fact, baseball mascot races are part of what make the teams that have the races even more fun to watch!

Milwaukee beat every other team to it in the 1990’s when they created “The Sausage Race”. And yes – it is what it sounds like – four types of sausage, one prize … the glory of winning an in-between inning novelty racing game from inside a giant physics problem of a costume.

The Sausage Race became an instant fan favorite before the bottom of the sixth inning at every home game for the Brewers at Miller Park. The mascots are now known as “Klement’s Racing Sausages” (Klement’s Sausage Company is located in Milwaukee and provides the Brewers with their products). To top it off, there are five of them: Brett Wurst (a bratwurst), Stosh (a Polish sausage), Guido (an Italian sausage), Frankie Furter (a hot dog), and Cinco (a chorizo). Continue reading →

Entertainment, The Daily Feed
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Exclusive Shots From The 2010 Geico President’s Race Auditions At Nationals Park!

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The Washington Nationals hosted invite-only auditions for the 2010 Geico President’s Race yesterday afternoon at Nationals Park. Over forty hopefuls competed for the chance to become one of four great American Presidents for all home games this season. Check out a few exclusive shots of all those George, Tom and Abe’s (this is the fourth year that the twelve foot Teddy costume was not used during the auditions) running through an untouched, snow covered warning track after the page jump. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Get Your Paws On Nationals Opening Day Tickets While You Can

Photo courtesy of
‘Nationals Park Ticket Window’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

Want in on all the awesome glory that IS baseball’s Opening Day? The party starts on Monday April 5th but you need a ticket to get in.

You can secure your seat in Nationals Park for opening day NOW if you choose to purchase one of the multi-game Grand Slam Flex Plan ticketing packages. Whichever package you choose guarantees tickets to Opening Day against our division rivals — the Philadelphia Phillies. Go get ’em while you still can!

The Daily Feed
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Strong Pitching Cultivates Promise From Within The Nationals Clubhouse

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Strong pitching is what will make this year’s Washington Nationals a fierce competitor from within their division. They are backed by newly acquired veteran starter Jason Marquis and fellow veteran Pudge Rodriguez from behind the plate. But what about the rest of the rotation?

The Washington Nationals are coming off of a 2009 season in which they posted the worst ERA in all of the National League (5.00). This year, they’re all about changing that.

Bill Ladson of MLB.com says that if the Nats don’t acquire a veteran starter, fans better be on the look  out for Collin Balester, Matt Chico, Ross Detwiler, J.D. Martin, Garrett Mock, Scott Olsen and Stephen Strasburg to fill the final two rotation spots. Then Marquis will maintain the role as ace, leaving John Lannan and Craig Stammen in the top-half of Riggleman’s 2010 pitcher’s line-up. That combination is enough to motivate a young team ripe and ready for success. Continue reading →

Essential DC, Special Events, Sports Fix, The Features
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NatsFest 2010: If You Build It, They Will Come

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Imagine a quiet Sunday morning. The city is silent from the few inches of snow that stuck to the ground yesterday. Most everyone’s either still asleep or in the comfort of their own homes trying to keep warm. It’s the last day of the first month of 2010. So, you choose to lounge around. Huge mistake. Why? You’re missing out on the most pristine, once in a lifetime moment baseball fans in DC have had since the game’s big move back to town.

NatsFest 2010 was — in a word — awesome. Although it’s easy to doubt their dedication during the season, fans turned out in the hundreds (and early!) for a fun-filled fan fest hosted by their favorite men in red. Nationals fans of all-ages wrapped themselves around the park entrance for close to an hour before the 11 a.m. start time of NatsFest. Their devotion was somewhat shocking considering their team’s losing for the past five years, but let us all  remember that the Nationals are still teenagers by baseball standards. They’re new. They’re in their awkward, “growing-up” phase. Can you really blame them for trying to find out who they are among all of the other big kids playing the game?

Continue reading →

Sports Fix
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Sports Fix: The Heat Is On

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‘DSC_4085’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

It’s been a busy and eventful last two weeks in the Washington DC sports world.   The Caps are ON FIRE!!!  The Wizards might be getting there. And we’ve had  some solid developments for those out-of-season teams, some expected, some not so much.

Capitals
Record: 37-12
Last Two Weeks: 7-0
Place:1st in the Eastern Conference

With yesterday’s win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Capitals are on a 10 game wining streak tying their 1984 franchise record.

Defender Mike Green will be out for the next two games for an elbow to the head of Michael Frolik during Friday night’s game. Green’s absence yesterday was a huge disadvantage for Washington, as Green is the league’s leading defensive scorer. However, with Ovechkin’s third period goal, they managed to pull out the victory.

Over the next two weeks, the Caps are out of town quite a bit, traveling to Boston, Ottawa and Atlanta. Look for a solid match against the Penguins at the Verizon Center on February 7th.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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NatsFest Tickets Still Available For Sunday

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‘out to the ball game’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’

Nats fans and baseball enthusiasts alike would be silly to miss the 2nd annual NatsFest this Sunday. What could be better than filling into the park during the off-season? Sure … the there’s no fresh-cut grass to smell or draft beers to drink but members of the Nats management team and 40-man roster will be there to answer your questions, sign autographs, take pictures, and schmooze about America’s past-time.

Hell, you can even try your luck at slugging a homer in the fan batting cage! I can’t think of any better way to get out your post-season aggression against a team that hasn’t really had too much to brag about since their inaugural season in 2005.

Get your RED ON DC!!!! It’ll feel good!

$10 adult/$5 kid tickets are still available. Snatch ’em up before they’re gone!

Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Nationals Kick-Off Winter Caravan Today

Photo courtesy of
‘Nationals Park Ticket Window’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

The Washington Nationals kick-off their four-day Winter Caravan tour of the DC area today. Events include an afternoon meeting with fans at two public locations in Northern Virginia.

The first stop of the day is 11 a.m. visit to Unity Health Care’s Southwest Heath Center. The players will greet staff and patients at the clinic while delivering waiting room books donated by The Heart of America Foundation.

Autographs will be signed at the Hard Times Cafe in Arlington starting at 1 p.m. followed by a trip to the Build-A-Bear at Tyson’s Corner for a chance to bond with some of the team’s younger fan base from 6 to 7 p.m.

Fans can expect to see MASN Analyst Rob Dibble, Nationals Prospects Danny Espinosa and Drew Storen, Manager Jim Riggleman,  and Pitcher Ryan Speier.

Here are the addresses of all the locations just in case you want to stop by and don’t have time to Google it:

South West Health Center
850 Delaware Avenue, SW
Washington, DC

Build-A-Bear Workshop
Tyson’s Corner
8026 Tyson’s Corner Center
Suite H3U
McLean, VA

Hard Times Cafe
3028 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA

Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Tickets On-Sale For 2nd Annual NatsFest Today

Photo courtesy of
‘Nationals Park – Magic of Summer – 9-20-08’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Get ready Nats fans! The 2nd annual NatsFest is scheduled for Sunday, January 31st and the team is ready to show their fans and their city some love before taking the field at Spring Traning 2010.

Fans will get the chance to take pictures with their favorite sluggers, fielders, pitchers and catchers and even get a few autographs in the process. And, for the older fans with a few more thoughts on their mind, there’s a Q&A with the Nationals Executives (and few TBA special guests).

NatsFest will be in the Lexus Presidents Club, Red Porch, Stars & Stripes Club and in the Nationals Park Conference.

General sale tickets go on sale TODAY (Wednesday, January 20) at 10 a.m. and are $10 for adults and $5 for kids. There are also ticketing options for season ticket holders here but will need to use a password provided to them via e-mail to redeem or purchase additional tickets.