Nats to reveal Fan Choice Bobblehead opening day on MASN

Nats to reveal Fan Choice Bobblehead opening day on MASN
Nod your head if you're ready to see the new Nationals Fan Choice Bobblehead! While you continue your countdown to opening day in Atlanta, you'll also be counting down until the big reveal. On March 10, the Nationals announced during a spring training game airing on MASN that the Fan Choice Bobblehead would be decided in a one-day vote. Any player currently on the roster and who had not previously had a Nationals bobblehead or other figurine was eligible, so it was game on. Over the 24-hour...
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Orioles showcase commitment to Sarasota, arts at charity event

Orioles showcase commitment to Sarasota, arts at charity event
Following a long day of baseball complete with a 16-8 Orioles win over the Red Sox, players, coaches and members of the Orioles front office gathered for a night of entertainment on the field at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday. Top songwriters from Nashville performed a roundtable-style concert for those in the audience, which included manager Buck Showalter, first baseman Chris Davis and closer Zach Britton. Broadcaster Jim Hunter served as the emcee at the event and noted "how well the concept...
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Top songwriters, athletes to come together for "Nashville's Music Row Comes to the Ballpark" at Ed Smith Stadium

Top songwriters, athletes to come together for "Nashville's Music Row Comes to the Ballpark" at Ed Smith Stadium
The stage is set. The spotlights turn on. The audience's murmuring dies down and all heads turn, everyone in the stands awaiting a performance that will fill them with emotion, happiness and excitement. And the show begins! Like sports, music evokes emotion and helps bring people together. Now the best of both worlds will come together for a special night of music at Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium, spring training home of the Orioles. On Saturday, March 26, the Orioles will host "Nashville's...
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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Les Miserables"

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Les Miserables"
Hello, readers. Time to crack the covers again in the name of reading and all the joys it can bring! This is the second year for the "Hitting the Books" blog and we are back because you good people took kindly to our efforts. Here are some reminders: This is not a typical book review space. This is for fun. The idea was to share with you books I enjoy reading with all the travel time I have to fill. We expanded our reach last year to hear from managers, players, coaches, broadcasters and...
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Fan Choice Bobblehead, presented by MASN, to be decided in one-day vote

Fan Choice Bobblehead, presented by MASN, to be decided in one-day vote
The Nationals Fan Choice Bobblehead is back, and once again, the power is in fans' hands! Which player will be the latest to have his likeness translated into a bobblehead? It's up to you. All players who are currently on the Nationals active roster and who have never had a Nats bobblehead/figurine before will be eligible. But don't hesitate! This year's voting lasts just 24 hours. On Thursday, March 10 (also the Nats' first spring game airing on MASN), you'll have the chance to cast your...
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#TBT: Ian Desmond receives ovation in last home start in D.C.

#TBT: Ian Desmond receives ovation in last home start in D.C.
Drafted by the Expos in 2004, longtime National Ian Desmond was a staple in the infield. Over seven big league seasons with the Nationals, Desmond earned three Silver Slugger Awards and was named an All-Star in 2012. In 2015, as the Nats' season began to wind down, Desmond and fans knew that the shortstop's time in D.C. was likely coming to an end. In Desmond's last home game of the season, Trea Turner entered the game at shortstop in the ninth inning as manager Matt Williams allowed fans to...
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#TBT: Schoop corrals Joseph's throw, puts tag on Duda

#TBT: Schoop corrals Joseph's throw, puts tag on Duda
The first spring training game on MASN is around the corner and baseball in Baltimore is right on its heels! In just a few days, I'll be heading down to sunny Sarasota, Fla., to see games with my own two eyes for the first time in 2016. It's so close I can almost hear the sound of bats cracking and balls popping into mitts! While real games are a month and a day away, there are still many questions that need to be answered, including: * With Matt Wieters returning, how much time will Caleb...
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#TBT: Nationals pull off circus play against Giants

#TBT: Nationals pull off circus play against Giants
One player who has made an early impression in spring training is flamethrower Felipe Rivero. "Boy, that lefty out there throwing 100 mph, he's got a pretty good chance," manager Dusty Baker said earlier this week. Last season, over 49 appearances, Rivero pitched to a 2.79 ERA. Headed into his sophomore season, will the 24-year-old be able to keep up his reputation as a staple in the bullpen? Leave a comment with your predictions and check out one of the Nationals' best plays from last...
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#TBT: Rookie Mychal Givens snags scorching liner

#TBT: Rookie Mychal Givens snags scorching liner
Reliever Mychal Givens made quite the impression in his rookie season. The shortstop-turned-pitcher appeared in 22 games for the Orioles in 2015 and pitched to a stellar 1.80 ERA. Now heading into his sophomore campaign, there are many questions surrounding Givens. Although the 25-year-old is expected to break camp with the team, he is one of the few optionable pieces that make up the Orioles bullpen. Will he be with the O's to begin the 2016 regular season or will he be shuttled back and...
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Adam Jones, Jim Hunter featured guests at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield event

Adam Jones, Jim Hunter featured guests at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield event
One of Baltimore's favorite boys of summer highlighted CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield's annual wintertime event to honor its nonprofit health partners in Maryland. Orioles outfielder Adam Jones was the featured guest of the company's CareFirst Commitment reception in Annapolis on Feb. 2. The five-time Major League Baseball All-Star spoke with elected officials and legislative leaders and visited representatives of the more than 20 nonprofit organizations that attended the event designed to...
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#TBT: Joe Ross strikes out 11 in third career start

#TBT: Joe Ross strikes out 11 in third career start
BASEBALL. IS. BACK. Pitchers and catchers report today, which means that Nationals baseball is officially here for the 2016 season! Spring training will answer a lot of questions surrounding the Nationals, including how the bullpen and starting rotation will shape up. Tanner Roark is likely to rejoin the rotation since he had an impressive 2014 campaign as a starter, posting a 15-10 record and a 2.85 ERA. Pitching out of the bullpen last season, he pitched to a 4.38 ERA. Another pitcher likely...
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#TBT: Kevin Gausman ends season on high note

#TBT: Kevin Gausman ends season on high note
BASEBALL IS BACK! Orioles pitchers and catchers report today, officially signifying the start of the 2016 season! While dreaming of warm weather and baseball games under the lights, we're looking back at a player who will be heavily looked at this season: pitcher Kevin Gausman. The right-hander shuttled back and forth between Triple-A Norfolk and Baltimore last season. However, this season, he's expected to be a staple in the rotation. Will he fare better with stability this season? For this...
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Hello and goodbye

Hello and goodbye
It seems like just yesterday that Stephen Strasburg made one of the most anticipated professional sports debuts in history. But in a couple of days, the 27-year-old may be approaching his final spring training with the Nationals. Strasburg avoided arbitration with the Nats last month, agreeing to play the final year of his contract in Washington for a reported $10.4 million. At the Winter Meetings in December, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was asked about the possibility of signing...
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A few spring training storylines to watch

A few spring training storylines to watch
The countdown is on, with Nationals pitchers and catchers reporting to Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla., on Thursday. So here are a few storylines to watch throughout spring training: * Can Tanner Roark re-establish himself as a permanent member of the Nationals starting rotation? Many pitchers would have thrown a fit or even demanded a trade after being bumped from the rotation to the bullpen following a 15-win campaign with a sub-3.00 ERA. Though Roark handled the demotion with...
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Bryce Harper has big goals for Jonathan Papelbon in 2016

Bryce Harper has big goals for Jonathan Papelbon in 2016
On Sept. 27, Jonathan Papelbon barked at Bryce Harper from the dugout railing, instigating a fight which left the veteran closer's hands clasped around the young slugger's throat before players and coaches ripped the two apart. A day later - after serving a baffling one-game suspension - Harper brushed off the scrum with Papelbon, saying he hoped they could win a World Series together in 2016. Nobody believed it at the time, as the sure bet had general manager Mike Rizzo dumping Papelbon this...
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If Bryce Harper keeps pace, his price will go up

If Bryce Harper keeps pace, his price will go up
Speculation regarding Bryce Harper's long-term future in Washington isn't anything new. Heck, it began as soon as the Nationals made a 17-year-old Harper the most-hyped No. 1 overall pick in 2009 since, well, Stephen Strasburg the year before. But as Harper entered the conversation in 2015 as arguably the game's best all-around player, questions started to swell about how long he'll remain in a curly-W cap. "I'm definitely excited about the upcoming years and very excited to further my...
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Which newcomer will have the biggest impact for the Nats in 2016?

Which newcomer will have the biggest impact for the Nats in 2016?
Although he never owned the headlines with a splashy move this offseason, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo significantly altered the complexion of his team's roster. With the new additions, the Nationals should be a more consistent hitting team that fills bases along with a crew of veteran relievers who hopefully can secure leads. So which Nationals newcomer will have the biggest impact in 2016? Daniel Murphy was Rizzo's biggest free agent acquisition this past winter. A 2006 13th-round...
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#TBT: Max Scherzer strikes out 16 in dominant performance

#TBT: Max Scherzer strikes out 16 in dominant performance
When reflecting on Max Scherzer's 2015 season, two no-hitters immediately come to mind - and rightfully so. However, I could argue that a performance that wasn't a no-hitter may have been his best start of the season. This game is a standout, as the Nationals ace simply made Brewer after Brewer look silly. In the shutout victory, Scherzer allowed just one bloop single and one walk while striking out 16. Yes, 16 batters! While he went on to record a nearly perfect no-hitter in his next start,...
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#TBT: Henry Urrutia smacks walk-off homer for first career longball

#TBT: Henry Urrutia smacks walk-off homer for first career longball
This spring training will be a big one for outfielder Henry Urrutia, who will try to show that he deserves a spot on the Orioles' 25-man roster. While O's fans have only seen Urrutia in two short stints in the big leagues - one in 2013 and one in 2015 - he has made an impact. Last season, he hit .265 (9-for-34) in 10 games with the Orioles. Of those nine hits, none topped the throwback moment we're looking at today. The Orioles and Mets were tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth when...
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A lot riding for the Nationals on Stephen Strasburg in 2016

A lot riding for the Nationals on Stephen Strasburg in 2016
There is a lot riding on this season for Stephen Strasburg as he enters the final year of his contract with the Nationals. Few players in recent memory have arrived in baseball with as much hype as Strasburg did after Washington made him the first overall pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. Of course, we all remember his stunning 14-strikeout debut against the Pirates on that gorgeous night in June 2010. But then Tommy John surgery shelved the right-hander, and when he returned,...
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