Going Deep with The Nats

Photo by Laura Peebles for TalkNats

In July 2016, Theo Epstein of the Cubs pulled off what can universally be accepted as one of the worst trades of all time; he obtained a rental relief pitcher, Aroldis Chapman (albeit the best in the business), for a generational talent, Gleyber Torres, who remains under Yankees team control for five more years. In a vacuum, that’s the kind of trade that gets GM’s fired, but of course there is a rub in the “Prospects are cool, parades are cooler” concept as the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016, and they probably would not have done it without acquiring Aroldis Chapman. The point of this anecdote is that winning the World Series changes everything, and there is usually no such thing as a bad trade if it leads directly to a championship particularly if your team has not won one in decades. Continue reading →

Some players from the World Championship roster will not return for 2020

The “Hot Stove” fully lit up the second after Daniel Hudson struck out Michael Brantley for the final out of the World Series. Prior to that there were 28 teams that were early entries into the offseason, and now it is official. Free agents have been declared, and options are being picked up and turned down. Opt-outs have been used in a variety of ways. The exclusive period is still open for teams to negotiate with their own free agents, and then qualified offers will be issued before free agents can officially sign with other teams.  Continue reading →

Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner looks on as his son Mark Lerner embraces Jayson Werth in a RIng of Honor ceremony; Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

Usually nothing good comes easy. The path of least resistance is usually that bumpy ride that leads to beautiful places. There are few Washingtonians who were alive 95 years ago when D.C. held its last World Series parade before the Great Depression. For the 94-year-old owner of the Washington Nationals, Ted Lerner was just a gleam in his father’s eye when the 1924 World Series parade was held. Lerner was born the next year and grew up in upper NW D.C. in his youth, and while he could have been a toddler at a game to watch Walter Johnson pitch, he did experience the 1933 World Series as an 8-year-old at DC’s last bit of October glory before this year. Separated by 86 years between October classics, you have to savor what has happened this week and this year and even the road to glory.

Mr. Lerner’s love of baseball inspired him to purchase the Washington Nationals in 2006 and restore that glory of his early youth. Maybe Lerner was the owner the Nats needed among the many suitors because you never know how the alternatives would have turned out. Savor the triumph and all the glory because World Series wins are rare indeed.  D.C. waited longer than the Red Sox for another parade in fact. Continue reading →

FOCO is excited to introduce a new line of officially licensed products commemorating the Washington Nationals’ 2019 World Series victory over the Houston Astros. Every item in the collection of Washington Nationals championship products features the official 2019 World Series Champions logo.
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Anthony Rendon underneath Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX; Photo by Paul Kim

Before Game 6, I started on my customary report card for the 2019 Washington Nationals. And after handing out some A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s, etc., I ended up getting caught up in the drama and excitement of the game. The Nats won. Then on Wednesday, the Nats won again.

Sure, some players did better than others. There are some players I definitely want to see more of in 2020, and some players I could do without. But man, I’m high on this team. They’re having a parade this Saturday. Why would I want to, proverbially, rain on that parade? How can I give any 2019 National a failing grade when they collectively aced the year? Continue reading →

The Game 7 “Watch Party” at Nats Park erupts in the rain after Daniel Hudson gets the final out; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

When the movie is made about these miracle 2019 Nats, the beginnings started in Montreal and all of the trials and tribulations of a rocky start in 2005 with a team that was stripped almost bare in the minor leagues except for Ian Desmond and Roger Bernadina were little help until the Nats were six years old. The Expos made a trade for Bartolo Colon in 2002 that depleted the farm system of their top prospects when they sent future stars away in Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips, Grady Sizemore and Lee Stevens for Colon. The Expos then got rid of Colon a few months later for almost nothing. Two draft picks that worked early on were Ryan Zimmerman in 2005 and Jordan Zimmermann in 2007 as key building blocks for the future of what would be part of the core of the 2012 playoff team. Continue reading →