LATEST STORIES FROM THE NATIONALS INTEREST
When the Audacity of Hope Fades
March 13, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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2007 will go down as the year that the Lerner/Kasten Regime began its top-to-bottom review of what the organization has today and what it needs to be successful next year and beyond. With 40 games under its belt, we now know the Washington Nationals to be a .350 team, despite their...
Just how bad is the Nationals' offense?
March 10, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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Pretty bad.We've talked a lot about how this season has produced a few pleasant surprises on the Nationals' pitching staff. We haven't talked much about any pleasant surprises among Nationals hitters. There is a good reason for that--there aren't any.Think about it...
Further Adventures with Trivia
February 04, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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Last week's visit by the Dodgers has conspired with the previous post to create treacly feelings within regarding the career of Don Sutton. For those of you too young to remember Sutton was Tom Delay to Steve Garvey's Mitt Romney. Sutton's career was not without significance...
A star emerges? How about a good pitcher?
January 28, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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We said yesterday that we would learn a lot about Jason Bergmann in games like last night's game against the Braves. Bergmann has pitched well this season, but he needs to be consistently good against good teams before he can assume the mantle of a #4 or #3 starter.Well, we learned...
Jekyll and Bowden
January 26, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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We just got finished saying that Jim Bowden made a great trade in getting Austin Kearns, Felipe LOpez, and Ryan Wagner from the Reds for Gary Majewski. Now that we've let that linger for a few hours, it's time to bring our views of Bowden back down to earth.On Saturday Darrell...
What does Jimbo have up his sleeve?
January 26, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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From Bill Ladson's chat:Do the Nats regret not re-signing Alfonso Soriano? Soriano is a five-tool player. -- David M., Washington, D.C.I don't think they regret it at all. There was no way they were going to sign Soriano to an eight-year, $136 million deal. I agree with "...
You can't stop us, you can only hope to contain us...
January 25, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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The Nationals did something they haven't done all season and may not do again: they swept a series, this time against the Florida Marlins. As amazing as it is to say, the Nationals' starting pitching is the best thing about this team right now, even though John Patterson and...
Nat's lose to Pirates 7-6
January 25, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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The nationals lost last night to the pirates 7-6. The nationals had help from Ryan Church who had 3 hits and 2 runs. Felipe Lopez drove in 2 runs and Mike Bacsik gave up 6 hits/6 runs in 6 innings. It's funny because Mike Bacsik woke up with a stomach ailment. This brings me back...
In appreciation of Ken Griffey Jr.
January 25, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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Here's what Manny Acta says in today's Post about Ken Griffey Jr.:"He's just amazing. He's a guy that, no contest, if he wouldn't have gotten hurt and lost all those games, he probably would be chasing 800 home runs now."Acta seems to be saying that had...
John Smoltz: Baseball Elder
January 25, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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You have to check out this interview with John Smoltz. The interview begins at the 9:28 mark. His comments about the Nationals, the Braves' transformation from a bad to a great team, and Ryan Zimmerman's development are remarkably interesting and insightful. Smoltz will make...
You think?
January 25, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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The Post reports today that the Nationals fleeced the Reds in the Kearns/Majewski trade. That is the understatement of the century. Gary Majewski is mired in the minors and shoulder tendinitis may keep him and his now underperforming fastball there for a long time. So, in exchange...
A Fate Worse Than Death?
January 25, 2008 by
The Nationals Interest
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In a development overshadowed by last night's stunning episode of the Sopranos, we learn here that the sore elbow of the Nationals' leading All-Star candidate, Shawn Hill, will likely send him to the DL. Hill described his elbow as "tender" but "not too bad,...
We know, we know--we're bad!
November 20, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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Two depressing facts from the Elias Sports Bureau:• Ryan Church's three-run double was the key hit in Washington's 6-4 victory over Atlanta. Entering the game, the Nationals were batting .135 with the bases loaded this season, the second-lowest average in the major leagues...
Whither Ryan Zimmerman?
November 19, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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Yes, we know, that it's only May, but it's time to start thinking about a sophomore slump for Ryan Zimmerman. His line has dropped 50 points. Last year, his line was .287/.351/.471. This year it has dropped to .250/.305/.417. Especially troubling is the 50 point drop in OBP...
Is this all $28 million buys you?
November 19, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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The $28 million man isn't going to earn his keep at this pace.
Expect an expectations problem...
November 19, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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The Nationals lost 8-7 to the Reds last night, blowing leads of 6-0, 6-2, and 7-5. There is a lot of criticism to be levied for that, and much of it has rightly been aimed at Jon Rauch. Rauch gave up the ghost in the eighth when Javier Valentin, a .239 hitter with 40 career home runs...
When billionaires go bad...
November 19, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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There probably isn't enough attention paid to the quality of an ownership group and its effect on a franchise. As we consider the quality of the Lerner group, we were struck yesterday by a public spat that hinted at what a disaster we would have if the ownership hunt had gone bad...
Here's an idea...
June 06, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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If the Nationals had any marketing prowess, they would buy Walter Johnson's former house in Bethesda at the corner of Old Georgetown and Cedar Lane and turn it into a museum. We've said this before, but it's a shame that the Nationals don't do more to embrace the history...
Blockbuster Wizards Trade?
June 06, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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Ethan's post about a Wizards/Lakers trade got me to thinking about some moves the Wizards might want to make. How about this: Arenas, their first round pick, and maybe a guy like Haywood for the Blazers' first pick and some stiffs? Arenas is undoubtedly the Wizards best player...
Nat's new stadium
June 05, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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I was biking with my family once and we found out like the Anacostia River, I think. So, we got there and we couldn't find how to get to the bike path. (The bike path was on the other side of the river) So we were just biking around town when my dad and I found out that we were...
But What Does He Know About Basketball?
June 04, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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Erik's recent musings have inspired me to play GM: would the fans of the Wizards be willing to trade Gilbert Arenas for Andrew Bynum? The salaries don't fit is an unacceptable response.I digress. Erik's appreciation for all things Lebron is echoed here on the Left Coast...
A digression from baseball...
June 03, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 98-82 last night. Daniel Gibson had a great game, especially 19 points in the 4th quarter, 31 points on the night. I'm not really a fan of the Cavaliers; I like the Wizards and Lakers. I am rooting for the the Cavs after the Wizards...
Trivia Answer
May 31, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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Most Career Games Started by a Pitcher (at the end of last season):815 Cy Young773 Nolan Ryan756 Don Sutton716 Phil Niekro709 Steve Carlton700 Tommy John690 Gaylord Perry685 Bert Blyleven681 Jim Galvin673 Greg Maddux666 Walter Johnson665 Warren Spahn647 Tom Seaver635 Tom GlavineLeiv
Trivia
May 30, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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Most trivia regarding career numbers for a right-handed pitcher is dominated by Cy Young, so most everything is a race for second place. And most of these stats are dominated by pitchers who threw in the dead ball era. Most career games started by a pitcher is a surprising exception...
What Do Brad Penny and Andrew Bynum Have in Common?
May 30, 2007 by
The Nationals Interest
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Brad Penny shut down the Nats last night. No great revelation there. However, Penny's success this season mirrors that of another outstanding power pitcher in the NL West, Jake Peavy.Devoted readers of this blog will no doubt recall that Penny was acquired by the Dodgers to fulfill...
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