James Baker: Wieters on the perpetual cusp

James Baker: Wieters on the perpetual cusp
Is there a more aggravating player than Matt Wieters on the Orioles right now? He is so good, and it appears that he is on the verge of breaking his season, and career, open at any second, but he never seems to take that final step. As of this morning Wieters' slash-line looks like this: .262 /.323 /.449 /.772 That .772 OPS is good enough for third in the American League among catchers. Detroit's Alex Avila is having a ridiculous season, but Wieters has hit more homers and has struck out 30...
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Ted Youngling: MLB releases 2012 schedule, but was timing right?

Ted Youngling: MLB releases 2012 schedule, but was timing right?
It's never too early to think about next season, especially if you're a Washington Nationals fan. Major League Baseball released its 2012 schedule Wednesday morning to the delight and disdain of several fans across the country. Of course, it seems a little odd that the league would release next year's schedule when this season is still happening, but for the 20 or so teams who are out of contention, this means they are one step closer towards the hope and optimism spring training and April...
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Heath Bintliff: Lose, baby, lose

Heath Bintliff: Lose, baby, lose
With the recently concluded series with Tampa Bay and seven games with the Boston Red Sox over a two-week span in such close proximity to one another, it has led some Oriole fans to root against their own team. For some reason, the O's laying down for the Rays and playing tough against the Red Sox is the desired outcome, hopefully allowing the Tampa Bay to catch Boston and claim the American League wild card lead. Why would I ever root against the Orioles? So that one division rival can oust...
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Alex Ovechkin to Throw Out Ceremonial First Pitch on Friday, Sept. 16

Alex Ovechkin to Throw Out Ceremonial First Pitch on Friday, Sept. 16
ARLINGTON, Va. - Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch at the Baltimore Orioles game at Camden Yards on Friday, Sept. 16. Ovechkin will throw the first pitch prior to the Orioles game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, which is slated to begin at 7:05 p.m. Ovechkin will be available for interviews on the field prior to the game at 5:30 p.m. Media interested in obtaining credentials for this game are advised to contact Orioles public...
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Rachel Levitin: A look back before NatsTown becomes a ghost town

Rachel Levitin: A look back before NatsTown becomes a ghost town
We're about halfway through September now, which means baseball in Washington is nearing an end for 2011. Things will start to quiet down around the Navy Yard. Patrons' use of the Green Line Metro Station near the ballpark will decline. Street vendors won't be trying to handout hats during the evening hours and no one will be out on Half Street selling cheap water and peanuts. Live music won't wail from the tiny corridor of The Bullpen beer garden. In short: NatsTown will become a ghost...
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Daniel Moroz: Johnson's new role can't save O's from ill-advised signing of Gregg

Daniel Moroz: Johnson's new role can't save O's from ill-advised signing of Gregg
Jim Johnson now has as many saves in the last week as Kevin Gregg has since the beginning of August. That gives me a great excuse to bring out two of my favorite hobby horses: Despite what many people say (including some allusions by the Orioles themselves), Johnson is perfectly capable of being the team's closer, and signing Gregg was not a good move. Johnson once blew a save (or two), which resulted in some people deciding that he didn't have the mentality of a closer, or something like...
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Just a little friendly hazing for the Nats rookies

Just a little friendly hazing for the Nats rookies
It's no secret the bonds of a major league baseball team can closely resemble those of a fraternity. Twenty-five guys, living in and out of suitcases, spending virtually every minute together for an entire season. Ah yes, the brotherhood of baseball. So what would the spirit of a fraternity be without a little good ole' fashioned hazing, right? As it so happens, pictures, like the one seen below, recently made their way onto Nationals catcher Jesus Flores' Twitter account, showing the...
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Mark Hornbaker: A game to remember during Washington's last pennant race

Mark Hornbaker: A game to remember during Washington's last pennant race
On this day in 1945, a large crowd of more than 24,000 fans turned out to Griffith Stadium to watch the visiting Cleveland Indians play the red-hot Washington Senators. The Senators went into the game having won eight of 10 games and found themselves only one game behind the American League-leading Detroit Tigers. With such a big game in the nation's capital, it would only be fitting that both teams would be starting pitchers who were World War II veterans. The Cleveland Indians' started...
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Lauren Tilley: Rooting against the O's?

Lauren Tilley: Rooting against the O's?
This is a very rare and difficult blog for me to write. I had a discussion with some friends today asking what in the world I should write about. I've discussed the endless pitching problems in many articles, as well as my problems with the management and entire front office, coaching, and training staff. What's next to complain about? As James Baker discussed in his recent guest blog, why do we even watch anymore? I've never thought of that question, just like many of the people he...
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Sept. 16-18 Social Media Weekend will give Nats fans a chance to win

Sept. 16-18 Social Media Weekend will give Nats fans a chance to win
This season, MASNsports.com has seen tremendous growth, thanks in large part to its ability to interact with fans through social media. With in-game alerts via text message, breaking news broadcast through the @masnNationals Twitter account and the MASN Nationals Facebook page, which has created a daily forum for fans to gather together to discuss and cheer for the Nationals, social media has become our best tool when it comes to delivering the latest information to you, the fans. So, as a...
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Dave Nichols: Strasburg's shortened start the prudent course of action

Dave Nichols: Strasburg's shortened start the prudent course of action
Stephen Strasburg made his second big league start of the season for the Washington Nationals on Sunday. The big righty struggled a bit with his normally pinpoint control and saw a drop in velocity on most his pitches, but he gutted out a 57-pitch, three-inning start, giving up one earned run on three hits. He did not walk a batter for his second consecutive start and struck out four Houston Astros, three on his devastating changeup and one on a biting two-seam fastball. Manager Davey Johnson...
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Weekend security measures at Nationals Park

Weekend security measures at Nationals Park
Washington Nationals Observe 9/11 Remembrance Day Fans should expect enhanced security procedures throughout the weekend Due to heightened security precautions surrounding 9/11 Remembrance Day, the Washington Nationals encourage fans to arrive earlier than normal and leave backpacks, bags and extra items at home throughout the weekend. Enhanced security procedures at Nationals Park may slow entry into the ballpark on both Saturday and Sunday. Fans should prepare for the following safety...
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Nationals to increase security at Nationals Park this weekend

Nationals to increase security at Nationals Park this weekend
The 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, is coming up this weekend and the Washington Nationals are making sure their fans are safe with increased security around the stadium. The Nationals are taking the following measures this weekend: Due to heightened security precautions surrounding 9/11 Remembrance Day, the Washington Nationals encourage fans to arrive earlier than normal and leave backpacks, bags and extra items at home throughout the weekend. Enhanced security procedures at Nationals...
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James Baker: As fall slowly starts to arrive ...

James Baker: As fall slowly starts to arrive ...
As the rain continues to fall here in Charm City, it is hard to believe that the season is coming to an end. Some would say a merciful one. With the Ravens about to kick off the NFL season against the hated Pittsburgh Steelers, the Orioles are about to be, once again, relegated to second-team status here in our fair community. And they deserve to be. Getting two come-from-behind, extra-inning wins from the Yankees is great, watching Nick Markakis lay out Francisco Cervelli is awesome, but...
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Jenn Jenson: Rain, rain, rain delay

Jenn Jenson: Rain, rain, rain delay
So, how 'bout that weather? Yesterday, the second game of a doubleheader with the Los Angeles Dodgers was rained out. The day before yesterday, the game was postponed by rain. And the day before that? Still more rain that first threatened to put off Stephen Strasburg's return to the mound and later created a mid-game delay. This week brought a crazy amount of rain to the Washington area, with important consequences that include three deaths in Maryland and Virginia, property damage from...
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Should the Nationals retire Hernandez's No. 61?

Should the Nationals retire Hernandez's No. 61?
After a mutual agreement between Livan Hernandez and the Washington Nationals, the 245-lb. right-hander will be shut down for the rest of the season to make room for the excess of young pitching talent making their auditions for the 2012 season. It was a classy move by the man who threw the first pitch in Nationals history way back in 2005. I know most of you are thinking: Why would the Nationals retire the number of a guy who went 70-72 with the Expos/Nationals franchise? This is a fair...
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Heath Bintliff: Should the O's have traded Jeremy Guthrie?

Heath Bintliff: Should the O's have traded Jeremy Guthrie?
As the Orioles move forward into 2012, one thing they definitely need to take a hard look at is shedding veteran players and getting younger, yet again. After all, Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and even Matt Wieters are veteran players at this point, and with J.J. Hardy and Mark Reynolds under contract, the team could use some young talent. And one way to get some of that talent is to trade useful vets for promising kids. The front office has already made one move in that direction, trading...
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Orioles aid Hurricane Irene efforts

Orioles aid Hurricane Irene efforts
The Orioles will assist with Hurricane Irene relief efforts by teaming up with the American Red Cross Greater Chesapeake and Potomac (GC&P) Blood Services Region for a series of blood drives this week in an effort to help rebuild the local blood supplies following Hurricane Irene. All donors will receive a complimentary ticket to the Orioles' game against the New York Yankees tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 8 at 1:05 p.m. The club is also working with the Maryland National Guard, Baltimore City...
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Daniel Moroz: Lumber numbers of struggling O's hurlers are surprisingly impressive

Daniel Moroz: Lumber numbers of struggling O's hurlers are surprisingly impressive
The Orioles have had a tough season in many respects. Many, many respects. But there is one area in which they've been not only the best team in baseball, but the best team in baseball by far. It's their pitchers - when they're hitters. The best-hitting pitching staff in the National League belongs to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have a collective .190/.230/.257 line. That's obviously awful by regular standards (and one of the main reasons why I think the DH should be universal), but on...
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Experiencing the press box for the first time

Experiencing the press box for the first time
I can certainly remember my first time in a major league press box. It was back on May 25, 2009, my first assignment as an intern with MLB.com. I was assigned to cover the Orioles for the rest of the season (or until I found a full-time gig somewhere) and had the rare privilege of spending my summer among the fans at Camden Yards. A sweet gig, it was. It's been more than two years since my first experience, and meanwhile I've spent countless days and eaten too many luke warm hot dogs to...
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