You wouldn’t have known it was the most highly anticipated home debut since Stephen Strasburg in 2010, but tonight was Bryce Harper’s home debut.  It was probably partially because he had already debuted in the league, but a 22,000+ attendance saw the Nats lose their fifth straight game.

Lack of offense continued to be a problem for the Nats, who lost 5-1 to the Diamondbacks.  This recent string of losses is bringing the Nats crashing back down to earth after and impressive start to the season that saw them hold the best record in baseball for a big chunk of April.

The Nats still hold first place in the division with the Braves slumping as well, but what is concerning isn’t the losses or even how they are coming about, but it is the change in play with the change in competition.

» Continue reading “Harper Home Debut Not Enough To Lift Nats”

Bryce Harper’s debut was solid, and will be talked about for years to come.  Maybe one day we’ll have a commemorative DVD like we do of Stephen Strasburg’s. For now, however, we have Twitter.  Here’s what the internet is saying about the debut of the newest National.

@jonmorosi: On BryceHarper: The best player in baseball (Kemp) was a 6th-round pick. The former best player in baseball (Pujols) was a 13th round pick.

@Buccigross: MLB debut of BryceHarper. He went 1-3, with a double and RBI. Harper is the 4th teenager with a extra-base hit in his MLB debut since 1969

@AdamKilgoreWP: It’s the ninth inning, the game is tied, there’s a man on third, one out, and BryceHarper is at bat. Where are we again? Hollywood?

@dcsportsbog: Ankiel takes a sure RBI away from BryceHarper by leading off the second with a strikeout.

@sbnation: This is BryceHarper‘s first hit. In the background is a guy mooning the camera. GIF: http://sbn.to/JiC0vW

» Continue reading “Harper’s Debut Through Twitter”

What, the Nationals had one run all game and thought they’d be able to come out on top over the Padres? I’M SHOCKED!

Edwin Jackson did a good job, the offense didn’t, and it seems to be a growing theme this season.  Tyler Clippard let that precious one run lead slip away in heartbreaking fashion in the bottom of the 8th, also letting slip the Nats four game winning streak.

Now the NAts head down the state to L.A. to face off against the Dodgers.  Their right behind the 14-5 Nationals’ heels at 13-6, another team that no one expected to be first in their division.

The Dodgers post an impressive starting rotation of their own, led by reigning Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw.  We were going to get to see a Strasburg vs Kershaw game this series, but it got thrown off with the rain postponement with the Marlins.

Ryan Zimmerman is also going to see a specialist while the team is in L.A.  Hopefully he can find some answers for his shoulder soreness and move forward.  The Nats don’t want to lose him for an extended period of time like last season.

» Continue reading “What, 1 Run For Nats Won’t Win A Baseball Game?”

In reality, most of the baseball world probably forgets that D.C. has a baseball team unless Stephen Strasburg is starting or Bryce Harper blows someone a kiss.  Seven years has apparently not been enough to get the Nats recognition, and not without reason: they spent a lot of that time in the basement.

But his year is different.  The Nats are first in the NL East, leading both the Phillies and the Braves, two teams many expected to be formidable.  Not only are the Nats leading their division, but they also hold the second best record in Major League Baseball at 12-4.

Many have cast this early success aside.  Some are categorizing it as a small sample size, inflated numbers that will regress back to the mean in a month.  They look at the opponents the Nats have faced so far and have yet to see a challenging opposition.

The Nats have taken all 5 of their series so far in 2012.  Sure, they may have been against the Cubs, Reds, Mets, Marlins, and Astros, (only the Mets are above .500) but there are characteristics in the play of the Nats that implies that this isn’t just a fluke.

First of all, there is the pitching.  The Nats and the Cardinals are the only two teams with 3 pitchers in the top 10 in the MLB in OPS.  Jordan Zimmerman comes in at 5th, Strasburg at 7th, and Gio Gonzalez at 8th.  Ross Detwiler comes in at 20th, and Edwin Jackson comes in at 33rd.

» Continue reading “Nats In 1st, Not Just A Fluke”

The Dodgers have had a bit of a dramatic year.  It finally came to an end last night, with a group buying them for $2 billion.  Part of that group? Magic Johnson and…ex-Nationals president Stan Kasten? You betcha.

Kasten was the president under the Lerner’s ownership from 2006 to 2010, when he eventually stepped down.  He saw the Nats through their leanest years, and really through most of their existence.

He saw them through back-to-back terrible seasons that led the Nats to receiving back-to-back first round draft picks.

Kasten’s most lasting legacy with the Nationals comes from a move he didn’t make until just before he left: hiring Mike Rizzo as general manager.  Since he took over in 2009, the Nats have steadily improved with the help of Rizzo’s calculated moves.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig was a big part in Kasten becoming part of the Nats in 2006.  He wanted to sell to the Lerners, but the league wanted someone they knew and trusted as a “baseball man” to fully hand it over.  Enter: Stan Kasten.

It may have taken longer than the typical D.C. sports fan’s patience (but then you get the Redskins), but the success we are seeing now is due, in large part, to the foundation Kasten gave the franchise when it first came from Montreal.

» Continue reading “Stan Kasten Buys Dodgers…A Look At His Nats History”

Unless you literally live under a rock, you are aware Stephen Strasburg made his return to the major leagues last night in D.C. against the Dodgers.  He pitched 5 scoreless innings using only 56 pitches, and easily put to rest any worry anyone had about him losing his arm (he hit 99 on the radar gun).

The circumstances surrounding the game were odd.  With a storm coming into the nation’s capital, there were doubts about whether Strasburg would pitch.  The consensus was that if there was any kind of delay, he would sit this one out and start on Wednesday.  In that case, Brad Peacock would make his major league debut with a start.  If there was no delay, Strasburg would start and Peacock would relieve him.

The rain came later than expected and Strasburg took the mound.  His five innings were reminiscent of his originial debut, when he dominate the Pirates in an eventual 4-2 win.  He only allowed two hits while walking none and striking out four.  This game wouldn’t end in quite the same fashion.

» Continue reading “Two Debuts, Odd Circustances”