Three tense and tightly contested games yielded two road wins for the Nationals in Chicago, thanks to surprising late-inning magic. Call them the "Comeback Kids," the "Cardiac Kids" or whatever you will, but the Nationals scored nine times in the last two innings during the three-game set in the Windy City. The late heroics produced both wins and they almost pulled off a third Sunday for what would have been a sweep.
Keeping Kerry Wood out of Sunday's game may have been the difference...
I don't even remember a winning season.
Ever since I became a fan of the Orioles and of baseball in general, I have watched the team play to a sub-.500 record. The last time they had a winning season, it was 1997, and I was much too young to process or remember it.
However, the game is so much more than wins and losses. While obviously I will be completely enthralled when the team makes it into a pennant race, I still am just as loyal today as I will be when that day comes.
And to be an...
It wasn't just big hits and the clutch pitches that gave the Nationals a 2-1 opening day win over the Chicago Cubs. For the past six weeks, the team has focused on fundamentals - little things that translate to success or failure over the long haul. They came to fruition Thursday in Chicago, contributing to the Nats' first win and setting the stage for future success. Here are three little things that not only keyed the win, but should give Nats fans confidence that the team will come out on...
I was among the first paying customers to step inside Camden Yards, and I initially wasn't sold on the place. That's not the sort of thing you expect to read on opening day, particularly at the outset of the 20th anniversary season for "The Ballpark That Forever Changed Baseball," but to state otherwise would be dishonest.
A little background is in order. The first game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards took place April 3, 1992, an exhibition contest versus the New York Mets, and the team...
We hear his voice before and after every Nationals game.
He's previewing the day's matchup and only hours later recapping another night in baseball.
For Nationals fans, baseball season revolves around the sight and sounds of broadcaster Johnny Holliday.
Holliday, along with analyst Ray Knight, have been covering the Nationals for quite some time, a mere tip of the iceberg for Holliday, whose radio and television career has stretched more than 40 years.
Over those many decades, Holliday...
The Orioles today announced that left-handed pitcher Dana Eveland has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Eveland was designated for assignment on March 29 when the club claimed infielder Zelous Wheeler off of waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Well, here we are, at the outset of another baseball season. Only this year, for the first opening day since the franchise arrived from Montreal in 2005, there are real expectations for this team. We're not talking about pie-in-the-sky predictions of barely major league players and castoffs surprising everyone (including their mothers) and playing out of their heads, either. We're talking about real live, honest-to-goodness expectations that this, at long last, will be the first good...
"Ignite Your Natitude" during Opening Weekend and throughout the season
The Washington Nationals will celebrate Opening Day and the start of the 2012 season at Nationals Park on Thursday, April 12 when the team hosts the Cincinnati Reds at 1:05 p.m.
Though Opening Day is expected to sell out, select tickets still remain and Standing Room Only tickets are available for $15 at nationals.com/tickets. Due to the anticipated sellout, all gates will open at 10:30 a.m. to allow fans more time...
The Orioles today announced that they have placed left-handed pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada on the disabled list, retroactive to March 28, with a left elbow impingement. Catcher Taylor Teagarden was also placed on the disabled list, retroactive to March 26, with a strained back.
The club has selected the contracts of catcher Ronny Paulino and infielder Nick Johnson.
Additionally, left-handed pitcher Zach Phillips has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
With these moves, the Orioles have finalized...
The Washington Nationals today selected the contracts of outfielder Brett Carroll, outfielder/first baseman Xavier Nady and first baseman Chad Tracy. The clubs also optioned left-handed pitcher John Lannan to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League, released right-handed pitcher Chad Durbin and placed right-handed pitcher Drew Storen (15-Day, retroactive to March 26), right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang (15-Day, retroactive to March 26), outfielder Rick Ankiel (15-Day, retroactive to...
The Orioles today announced that they have assigned right-handed pitcher Pat Neshek to minor league camp. Neshek appeared in 10 games and recorded one save for the Orioles this spring, allowing three hits over nine scoreless innings. Neshek did not walk a batter and struck out eight.
The Orioles also announced that right-handed pitcher Alfredo Simon has been claimed on waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. In four seasons with the Orioles, Simon was 8-12 with a 5.18 ERA (184.1IP,...
Want to change those dull, white license plates on your car? Now you can. The Orioles and Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration are now giving you that opportunity.
Today, the Orioles announced that, in conjunction with the MVA, they have created Orioles-themed license plates.
The plates will be $50 apiece, with $25 going to the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation.
Also for charity, license plate numbers featuring the uniform jersey numbers of Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Matt...
The Orioles today announced that they, in conjunction with the Maryland MVA, have created Orioles-themed, State of Maryland license plates that feature the new cartoon bird along with a randomly assigned 4-digit number. Plates cost $50, with $25 going to the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation.
Featuring the popular cartoon bird logo, the license plate is a great way for fans to show their fandom while also supporting the many community programs funded and supported by OriolesREACH.
Fans...
The Orioles have announced plans for the first game of their 59th season and the 20th anniversary celebration of Oriole Park at Camden Yards - The Ballpark That Forever Changed Baseball. The team will face the Minnesota Twins on Friday, April 6, at 3:05 p.m., 20 years to the day that Camden Yards hosted its first regular season game in 1992.
Pregame fun around the Yard
To allow fans the opportunity to experience the excitement of opening day, the entire ballpark will open at noon on Friday....
The Washington Nationals today reassigned catcher Carlos Maldonado to minor league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
The Nationals currently have 33 players in their big league camp.
The Orioles today announced that they have optioned right-handed pitcher Chris Tillman to Triple-A Norfolk, bringing their spring roster to 33 players.
Tillman posted a 2.92 ERA (12.1IP, 4ER) in five games (one start) for the Orioles this spring.
The Washington Nationals today selected outfielder Rick Ankiel to their 40-man roster. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
The Nationals 40-man roster now includes 39 players.
The Washington Nationals today optioned left-handed pitcher Atahualpa Severino and right-handed pitcher Ryan Perry to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Additionally, the Nationals reassigned infielder Andres Blanco to minor-league camp and released outfielder Jason Michaels. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
The Orioles today announced that they have claimed infielder Zelous Wheeler off of waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk.
Wheeler, 25, is a career .271/.371/.408 hitter in 538 minor league games over five seasons. He spent last season with Double-A Huntsville (65 games) and Triple-A Nashville (17 games), hitting a combined .272/.378/.459 with 33 extra-base hits in 329 at-bats.
Wheeler was originally drafted by Milwaukee in the 19th round of the 2007 draft out...
It's been an offseason of change, both for the Nationals and our coverage here at MASNsports.com.
For the team itself, there's a slew of new faces in both the lineup and rotation, bringing along with them optimism that the Nationals can crack the postseason for the first time since moving to our nation's capital.
On our Web site, that very team poised to make a championship run has a new beat writer. You may have seen him before covering some sport the locals call football, but rest...