Bobby Blanco

District 34: About last night ...

District 34: About last night ...
So last night's end to the Nationals-Dodgers series was less than ideal ... Plain and simple: Michael A. Taylor had a bad night at Dodger Stadium (0-for-5, five strikeouts and a three-base error in the ninth inning). But those days happen, and he's not the only one to struggle over this five-game losing streak on the West Coast. Alas, the Nationals must press on ... Meanwhile, Byron Kerr and I get to look back at last night's crazy and unfortunate finish for this week's episode of District...
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Josh Land

David Huzzard: Nats bullpen needs fixing, but don't expect many changes soon

David Huzzard: Nats bullpen needs fixing, but don't expect many changes soon
They are riding a five-game losing streak and in need of bullpen help. That is the current state of your Washington Nationals. A five-game losing streak is nothing to worry about. It happens. The fact that the Nationals have avoided a prolonged losing streak for this long is a miracle. It's the way the Nationals have been losing. Jonathan Papelbon wasn't the best closer, but the bullpen was built to have him as the closer. Shawn Kelley surpassed all expectations, but he works much better as...
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Josh Land

Charlie Fliegel: Roark remains underrated in Nationals rotation

Charlie Fliegel: Roark remains underrated in Nationals rotation
The season is nearly 45 percent complete, and the Nationals are leading their division by 4 1/2 games. Sure, the season is far from over, but they've got the fourth- best record in the league, and they look strong. Individual players that usually come to mind as the reasons for this are probably Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Wilson Ramos, Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer. And those guys are a huge part of it. But there's one player who doesn't get enough credit for what he's done for this...
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Josh Land

Steve Mears: Looking at Nats' other options for replacement starter

Steve Mears: Looking at Nats' other options for replacement starter
The Nationals got all the way to June 20 before they needed a sixth starter, as Stephen Strasburg was scratched from his start with an upper back strain and replaced by Yusmeiro Petit. The Nats were fortunate earlier in the season when Joe Ross had a blister and with days off they could skip his start. Not so lucky this time, and that begs the question as to who would be the Nats' replacement starter if they needed one again? Taylor Jordan is out for the season, and A.J. Cole is really the...
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Bobby Blanco

Opposite dugout: Strasburg vs. Kershaw highlights Nats-Dodgers in L.A.

Opposite dugout: Strasburg vs. Kershaw highlights Nats-Dodgers in L.A.
Manager: Dave Roberts (1st season) Record: 38-33 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: SS Corey Seager (.280/.342/.502 with 15 HR, 36 RBIs), 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.274 with 32 RBIs), CF Joc Pederson (12 HR, 31 RBIs), LHP Clayton Kershaw (10-1, 1.58 ERA), RHP Kenley Jansen (1.59 ERA with 19 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (4-2 in 2015) Pitching probables: June 20: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw, 10:10 p.m., MASN2 June 21: RHP Tanner Roark vs. LHP Scott Kazmir, 10:10...
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Josh Land

Marty Niland: Plenty of All-Star talent on this year's Nats roster

Marty Niland: Plenty of All-Star talent on this year's Nats roster
Time is running out to cast All-Star ballots, and for the first time in several years, more than one member of the Nationals deserves consideration for a starting spot. The National League team has included two Nats in each of the last three seasons, as well as in 2005, the Nats' first season in Washington. In their breakout 2012 season, four Nationals were selected to the team. In every other season since moving from Montreal, the Nats have had the requisite one player on the squad. Only...
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Josh Land

Patrick Reddington: Baker uses personal history for anecdotes on his current team

Patrick Reddington: Baker uses personal history for anecdotes on his current team
Drafted by Atlanta in the 26th round of the 1967 draft, Dusty Baker played eight seasons with the Braves and 19 total in the majors before he started coaching and began his second career in the game. Twenty-one seasons in as a major league manager, Baker has seen some things. He's got stories, and he's willing to share them, which he does on an almost-daily basis, dipping into his personal history with some of the all-time greats to explain his thinking or offer anecdotes or explanations for...
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Josh Land

David Huzzard: 2016 version of Nationals comes with grit

David Huzzard: 2016 version of Nationals comes with grit
Ty Cobb once said, "Baseball is something like a war," and the Nationals' seven games against the Chicago Cubs were exactly that. They were brutal, back-and-forth affairs often coming down to who had the last at-bat. Every game was decided by three runs or less, and featured several lead changes. Every time one team answered the other would answer right back. They truly felt like playoff games and there is a chance that we see this showdown again in October. And while that is an important...
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Pete Kerzel

Opposite dugout: Padres stuck in NL West cellar, may soon be sellers

Opposite dugout: Padres stuck in NL West cellar, may soon be sellers
Manager: Andy Green (1st season) Record: 27-40 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 1B Wil Myers (.281 with 14 HR, 39 RBIs), RF Matt Kemp (15 HR, 43 RBIs), CF Melvin Upton Jr. (9 HR, 30 RBIS, 13 SB), LHP Christian Freidrich (3-1, 2.12 ERA), LHP Drew Pomeranz (57, 2.88 ERA), RHP Fernando Rodney (13 saves, 0.00 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-5 in 2015) Pitching probables: June 16: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Erik Johnson, 10:10 p.m., MASN2 June 17: RHP Joe Ross vs. LHP Christian...
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Bobby Blanco

District 34 podcast: Wrapping up Cubs series and previewing West Coast trip

District 34 podcast: Wrapping up Cubs series and previewing West Coast trip
We've got a quick episode for you today, as the Nationals finish their three-game series with the Cubs. Byron and I recorded the fourth episode of District 34 leading up to Stephen Strasburg's first pitch at Nats Park. During this brief episode, we wrap up this Cubs-Nats series ahead of the rubber match and look at Strasburg's start. He is the only undefeated starting pitcher left in Major League Baseball as he looks to improve his 10-0 record against the Cubs' Jason Hammel, who has never...
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Josh Land

Charlie Fliegel: Nationals need to fill void at closer position

Charlie Fliegel: Nationals need to fill void at closer position
It's one thing to lose a reliever, it's another to lose a closer. The Nationals' relatively effective closer, Jonathan Papelbon, went on the disabled list yesterday, and this is an issue for the team. Despite the fact that almost everyone in the bullpen has outperformed Papelbon, almost anyone else would have been easier to lose for 15 days (or more), because of the ripple effect of losing a closer. First, to finish off games, Dusty Baker and Mike Maddux will have to decide if they want to...
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Josh Land

Steve Mears: It can take years to analyze the success of a draft

Steve Mears: It can take years to analyze the success of a draft
Another First-Year Player Draft is in the books, and it sometimes takes years to analyze the impact of a draft class. The Nationals used to always pick high in the draft when the team was bad. With the success in the standings the last few years, the Nats are now getting draft picks at the lower end of each round. It makes the trades, international signings and other creative acquisitions even more strategic to the on-going future progression of this franchise. Ryan Zimmerman clearly had the...
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Josh Land

Marty Niland: Strasburg's winning streak parallels that of Walter Johnson

Marty Niland: Strasburg's winning streak parallels that of Walter Johnson
Stephen Strasburg has been in great company while streaking through this season, blowing past franchise marks for consecutive victories set by Pedro Martinez, Dennis Martinez and Livan Hernandez, and matching Jake Arietta for the major league lead in wins. If that's not enough, the Nationals star now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with arguably the greatest pitcher of all time, Walter Johnson. No one wearing a Washington uniform has won 13 consecutive decisions since the legendary,...
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Josh Land

Opposite dugout: Cubs continue winning ways at record pace

Opposite dugout: Cubs continue winning ways at record pace
Manager: Joe Maddon (2nd season) Record: 43-18 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 2B Ben Zobrist (.324 average, 66 hits); 3B Kris Bryant (15 HR, 45 RBIs); 1B Anthony Rizzo (14 HR, .264 average); RHP Jake Arrieta (10-1, 1.86 ERA); RHP John Lackey (7-2, 2.63 ERA); RHP Jason Hammel (7-2, 2.36 ERA). Season series vs. Nationals: 4-0 Pitching probables: June 13: RHP Kyle Hendricks vs. RHP Max Schezer, 7:05 p.m., MASNJune 14: RHP John Lackey vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASNJune 15: RHP Jason...
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Josh Land

Patrick Reddington: Nats rewarded for drafting Rendon despite injury concerns

Patrick Reddington: Nats rewarded for drafting Rendon despite injury concerns
Anthony Rendon fell to the Washington Nationals at No. 6 overall in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft at least in part because of injury concerns after the Rice University third baseman dealt with a shoulder issue that limited him to mostly designated hitter duties in his draft year. In spite of the injury, Rendon, then 21, managed to hit .327 for the Owls, with 20 doubles and an NCAA-leading 80 walks in 63 games that season. "We were pleasantly surprised that he got to us at six," Nationals...
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Bobby Blanco

Opposite dugout: Phillies starting to fade after hot start

Opposite dugout: Phillies starting to fade after hot start
Manager: Pete Mackanin (2nd season) Record: 29-31 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: CF Odubel Herrera (.318/.422/.431), 3B Maikel Franco (10 HR, 32 RBIs), SS Freddy Galvis (6 HR, 22 RBIs), RHP Aaron Nola (5-4, 2.65 ERA), RHP Jeanmar Gomez (2.61 ERA with 19 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-5 Pitching probables: June 10: RHP Jeremy Hellickson vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN June 11: RHP Aaron Nola vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 12:05 p.m., MASN June 12: LHP Adam Morgan vs. RHP Joe Ross,...
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Bobby Blanco

District 34 podcast: Turner, Papelbon and the draft

District 34 podcast: Turner, Papelbon and the draft
The Nationals offense is hot coming into the summer months! After their third straight 10-run game and victory, the Nats are looking to close out this 11-day road trip with a sweep of the White Sox before returning home. It's an exciting and eventful time in the baseball calendar with the First-Year Player Draft starting tonight. The Nationals hold the 28th, 29th and 58th overall picks in the first two rounds, so Byron Kerr and I give you a brief preview of the possible areas general manager...
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Josh Land

David Huzzard: No early pick for Nationals, but Murphy good consolation prize

David Huzzard: No early pick for Nationals, but Murphy good consolation prize
Unlike years past, and by now I mean years passed, the Washington Nationals do not hold the first overall pick in tonight's MLB First-Year Player Draft. They don't even have a top-10 pick. They do, however, have two picks in the first round, but will have to be a little patient. The Nationals currently hold the 28th and 29th overall selections in this year's draft. But despite the lack of an "early pick" in the sport's yearly mid-season opportunity to improve an organization, the...
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Josh Land

Charlie Fliegel: LASIK isn't the only reason Ramos has improved at the plate

Charlie Fliegel: LASIK isn't the only reason Ramos has improved at the plate
You'd be forgiven if, before this season started, you were concerned with the Nationals' catching situation and really wanted them to address it. At least I'd forgive you because I certainly felt that way. In 2014 and 2015, Wilson Ramos managed a sub-100 OPS+ and wRC+, hitting below the league average. 2015 was especially tough for him. But he wasn't always that bad. From 2011-2013, he hit a very respectable .269/.327/.449. He was a promising young hitter, then it seemed to all go away....
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Josh Land

Steve Mears: Turner matching all-time hits leader in hustle category

Steve Mears: Turner matching all-time hits leader in hustle category
Friday night in Cincinnati, Ohio was the setting for the 2016 debut of possibly the most exciting player in baseball, and his name is Trea Turner. He is not a home run hitter and he doesn't crow-hop throwing 97-mph darts across the diamond. Turner is the true throwback to a simpler game to the bygone years of "Charlie Hustle," who is still loved in Cincinnati. Pete Rose was not particularly fast, as he only averaged nine stolen bases a year against seven caught stealing, which surprises most...
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