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Daniel Clark: As magic number shrinks, confidence grows

September 03, 2014, 4:53am

Orioles

Daniel Clark: As magic number shrinks, confidence grows

As each week passes by, I can't help but feel increasingly excited and more confident about what awaits this magical Orioles team. As is so often the case when your team has held a division lead for a significant period of time, the pessimist inside can't help but worry that they could slip up down the stretch and allow the unthinkable to occur. At the conclusion of play last Wednesday night, the Orioles held a six-game division lead over the Yankees - a figure that had shrunk from a...

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Dave Nichols: What do the Nats do when - or if - Zimmerman returns?

September 02, 2014, 5:53am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: What do the Nats do when - or if - Zimmerman returns?

The Nationals have taken their lead in the National League East and run with it. At the start of play Tuesday, they enjoy a seven-game lead over the Atlanta Braves, who have been mired in mediocrity for weeks now - and were no-hit Monday afternoon by a group of Philadelphia Phillies pitchers. Additionally, with Monday's 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Nats have wrested the mantle of winningest team in the entire NL, owning one more victory than their hosts for the next two days. Of...

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Jon Shepherd: It will take history for the O's to lose the AL East

September 02, 2014, 5:41am

Orioles

Jon Shepherd: It will take history for the O's to lose the AL East

When it comes to data scientists trying to mainstream the thoughts they have, there can be some misunderstandings. A major topic is how exactly to treat uncertainty or a relatively minimal probability. Three years ago, the Boston Red Sox led a journey starting on Sept. 3 when they reached a 99.6 percent chance of making the playoffs when Carl Crawford mashed a home run and a double, notching four RBIs, to when Carl Crawford feebly dove for a duck snort off of the bat of Oriole Robert Andino and...

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Andrew Stetka: Appreciating what we're seeing with the Orioles

September 01, 2014, 5:07am

Orioles

We've finally reached that point in the season. It's the first day of September and there's only four more weeks of regular season baseball left. It's been a long road to get to this point and the finish line is in sight. Baseball players, managers and coaches all view the season as a marathon. The fans hanging on to every pitch during the season mostly do the same, though overreactions happen. Take the Orioles' trip to Wrigley Field two weekends ago as an example. Some fans would have...

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Marty Niland: Seattle slugfest shows Nats can beat anyone, anywhere

September 01, 2014, 5:17am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Seattle slugfest shows Nats can beat anyone, anywhere

The Nationals and their fans bid a reluctant farewell to Seattle after the team pounded a Mariners staff with the lowest ERA in baseball for 10 home runs over three days in pitcher-friendly Safeco Field. Manager Matt Williams told reporters before the series that it was not necessarily a measuring stick for a team that has struggled against top competition. Even so, it was a huge confidence-builder for the Nats, who can now head into the stretch run feeling that they are currently capable of...

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Zach Wilt: Quantifying Steve Pearce's value to O's

August 28, 2014, 5:24am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Quantifying Steve Pearce's value to O's

I think it's safe to say that most of Baltimore is in agreement: Adam Jones is the club's Most Valuable Oriole. In fact, I believe that Jones will seriously compete for the American League's Most Valuable Player honor. He's the pulse of the AL East-leading Orioles, a guy who defends his position at a Gold Glove-caliber level and he's on pace for another 30-home run season. There aren't many players in the game that are more valuable to their clubs than Jones is to the O's. Now that...

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David Huzzard: Changing the Nationals' narrative

August 28, 2014, 5:12am

Nationals

Way back on May 28, the Nationals were 25-27, averaging 3.9 runs a game and allowing 3.9 runs a game. The Nationals were two games under .500 and playing like they were a .500 team. The narrative at that time was that they were one of the most disappointing teams in baseball and the hangover from Game 5 in the 2012 National League Division Series and a mediocre 2013 had continued into 2014. Concurrent injuries to star players was once again taking their toil, the Nationals' window was already...

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Rachel Levitin: Keeping score enriches the experience of baseball

August 27, 2014, 5:18am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Keeping score enriches the experience of baseball

It's safe to say at this point that this year's Nationals are pretty good at baseball. They've been a thrill to watch, especially the last couple of weeks. Close games turned nail-biters turned walk-off wins - that's a few of the ways the 2014 Nats will be remembered. And the good news is there's several ways to commemorate a good season of well-played baseball. Today, I'll share one of my favorite ways to commemorate a season with you - keeping score. I didn't actively keep score on a...

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Daniel Clark: Checking in with the Tides before the September call-ups

August 27, 2014, 4:50am

Orioles

Daniel Clark: Checking in with the Tides before the September call-ups

As the end of August approaches and the Orioles continue to hold onto a seven-game division lead, the September call-ups this year will be of increased importance. When September arrives, the Orioles' roster can expand from the current 25-man group to the entire 40-man roster, with additions providing reinforcements down the stretch. Some of these key additions are having strong seasons with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, who are currently sitting in second place in the International League...

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Andrew Stetka: Machado's injury creates a ripple effect for Orioles

August 25, 2014, 5:46am

Orioles

For a moment last week in Chicago, it looked like the Orioles were going to be able to salvage a nice road trip despite dropping a series in Cleveland to start the swing. The White Sox had just been swept and the lowly Cubs were on the horizon. Then it all came crashing down - hard. One sweep (in part because of Jake Arrieta and Tsuyoshi Wada) later, no one feels quite as confident in the O's as they did a week ago. The division lead has shrunk from nine to six games, and there's still plenty...

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Marty Niland: Homestand for the ages shows Nats have character

August 25, 2014, 5:08am

Nationals

Marty Niland: 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. This one wasn't quite as successful as the 12-1 run in 2005 that included the team's last 10-game winning streak. But it will take some doing to match the drama at Nationals Park in the past 10 days: five...

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Matthew Taylor: Orioles' road attendance and why it matters

August 22, 2014, 4:54am

Orioles

I'm jealous of Orioles fans who are visiting Wrigley Field this weekend. I love Wrigley and wish that I had been able to make the trip out there. If the Baltimore chatter amounts to anything, there will be a lot of orange in them thar stands as fans take advantage of a golden opportunity to experience one of baseball's historic gems. The draw of Wrigley Field is obvious; you can understand why fans would make a weekend of it. Perhaps it's not only about the ballpark, though. O's fans seem...

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David Huzzard: Remembering the Nationals' 10-game winning streak in 2005

August 21, 2014, 5:56am

Nationals

With their 3-2 defeat of the Arizona Diamondbacks last evening, the Nationals became the second Nationals team to win nine games in a row. The 2009, 2011 and 2012 Nationals all won eight in a row, but only the 2005 team won as many as nine in a row when they won 10 in a row from June 2 to June 12. That Nationals team sat 2 1/2 games out of first place on June 2 and by the end of the streak had a 1 1/2-game lead in the division. The 2005 Nationals would hold onto first place all the way until...

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Zach Wilt: O's have ignored adversity and still thrived

August 20, 2014, 8:12pm

Orioles

Zach Wilt: O's have ignored adversity and still thrived

Let's be honest, the Orioles are running away with the American League East. A few years ago, I never thought I would get to say those words, but here in 2014, it's totally true. The O's are 21 games over .500 and have a nine-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays. Their postseason odds have now soared as high at 97.1 percent, according to Baseball Prospectus, with a 96 percent chance of winning the division. Baseball in October is almost a certainty in Baltimore this year. There's even a...

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Daniel Clark: What stands between the Orioles and playoff success?

August 20, 2014, 4:30am

Orioles

Barring a complete meltdown in the remaining six weeks of the season, the Orioles look certain to make a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and will hope to do so by winning the American League East title for the first time since 1997. With just 38 games now remaining in the regular season, the O's hold an 8 1/2 game division lead and look forward to a favorable schedule over the next few weeks, which includes the completion of the current series against the White Sox, a...

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Rachel Levitin: Nats handling Zimmerman's absence well

August 20, 2014, 4:38am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Nats handling Zimmerman's absence well

The Nationals are riding an eight-game winning streak with last night's 8-1 victory over the Diamondbacks in D.C. And while I wasn't going to bring it up until closer to the end of the season, I find it interesting to take a look at what's happened due to Ryan Zimmerman being sidelined for most of 2014. After breaking his thumb early in the season, Zimmerman missed 44 games. This allowed Anthony Rendon to move from starting at second base to his native third base, creating opportunities for...

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Dave Nichols: Walk-off wins spur talks of destiny, but Nats are plain old good

August 19, 2014, 5:06am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Walk-off wins spur talks of destiny, but Nats are plain old good

The Nationals have been involved in some crazy games the past few days. Like, nuts. Three walk-off wins in a row, back-to-back sweeps and a seven-game winning streak in total. It's enough for some to start believing in destiny. But don't let the gauzy, misty-eyed baseball romantics sucker you in though. This team is good. How good? Well for starters, let's look at the won-loss record. It doesn't get much simpler than that. The Nats currently have the highest winning percentage in the...

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Jon Shepherd: On horses, zebras and why projections matter (unless they don't)

August 18, 2014, 6:23am

Orioles

Jon Shepherd: On horses, zebras and why projections matter (unless they don't)

When I was earning my doctorate, a professor wished to explain the difference between us research-based toxicologists and the resident physicians who were sitting in on our lectures. She told us the difference between our groups is that physicians look for horses while researchers go on safari for zebras. What she meant was that for physicians to do the job they do, they need to diagnose based on what is most probable. For researchers, our own nature is to press the boundary and to find the...

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Marty Niland: Exacting some revenge on Tigers, 34 years later

August 18, 2014, 5:49am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Exacting some revenge on Tigers, 34 years later

If Washington baseball fans know the value of anything, it's patience. Fans who were abandoned by two big league franchises and endured 34 years without a team of their own, then witnessed and seven seasons of futility, must feel thrilled to have the Nationals making a run for their second division title in three years. If that's not enough, the leader of this year's pitching staff, Doug Fister, who came in a trade from Detroit, is helping D.C. baseball lovers feel a measure of revenge for...

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Andrew Stetka: Who is the Least Valuable Oriole?

August 18, 2014, 5:36am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Who is the Least Valuable Oriole?

At the end of each season, members of the media who cover the Orioles on a regular basis will reflect on the campaign and turn in votes for the Most Valuable Oriole of the year. It's typically a pretty clear-cut race, but can provide some good debate among the masses. What normally isn't discussed is the opposite end of the spectrum. I can't for the life of me remember more discussion or chatter about who the "Least Valuable Oriole" would be than I've seen this season, and that's for a...