The baseball Winter Meetings begin today in Las Vegas! Rizzo has his shopping list!

Posted on December 9, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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The #Nats aren’t done shopping yet!

Posted on December 8, 2018 by SaoMagnifico

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The Nationals could still sign Bryce Harper and stay under the CBT cap!

Posted on December 7, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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The analytics of starting pitching has been trending to fewer innings

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo By Andrew Lang for TalkNats

It was a generation ago when Kerry Wood and Mark Prior burned-out their golden arms due to extreme overuse. Baseball set a line of demarcation where going over 120 pitches was taboo. Few pitchers reach that mark these days. In 2000, there were 24 pitchers who pitched over 210 innings. This past season, only 5 pitchers went over the 210 inning mark. What we have learned since then is pitch counts and innings are like a car’s odometer. If you throw too many, your arm breaks down like a piston in an engine. Continue reading →

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Nationals go quick strike again and snag Patrick Corbin and what will be a key relationship with his catcher(s)!

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Smile Mike Rizzo, you have earned it. The Washington Nationals snagged the number one pitcher in the free agent pool signing Patrick Corbin to a six-year $140 million deal which will also cost the Nats a million dollars of international draft money plus forfeiting a 2nd round pick and a lower level pick (5th overall) as compensation penalty since Corbin was protected by the Qualifying Offer. As we reported on November 21st, the Nationals were “in” on Corbin and entered an aggressive market against the Yankees who were the early odds-on favorite along with the Phillies who vowed to outbid everyone.  In the end, it “supposedly” was not just all about the money, but rather a confluence of factors that included family, stability, and a strong fit with the Nationals and the catcher(s) he would be pitching to.

Continue reading →

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Winter Meetings begin on Sunday in Las Vegas

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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Day two of Nats Winterfest!

Posted on December 2, 2018 by ArVaFan aka Laura Peebles

Nationals Winterfest 2018—Day 2 Report

Well, if I had to grade Winterfest just on today, I’d give it a B-. There were more players (hello, Kiebooms!) and the weather was less bad (albeit still cold and damp) so the kids’ activities outside were available. I would say the fan attendance was actually less than yesterday, just based on the number of fans in the State of the Nats session. Of course, since it wasn’t raining, people could spread out more: eating at the tables they set up on the plaza vs. hiding under the concourse and worshiping the heatlamps, and the centerfield plaza infield was in use for the kids/players interaction. Continue reading →

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Nationals Winterfest first day (Saturday)

Posted on December 1, 2018 by ArVaFan aka Laura Peebles

Nationals Winterfest Report (card) Day One

Overall, I give them a C+.  Yes, it was nice to be able to tour the clubhouse, bullpen and batting cages. But that was more than offset by the cold, rain, and logistics of having to go in, out, around, up and down to get between venues and get food in the rain. Little chance to run into someone you knew because (1) a lot of folks didn’t show up even if they bought tickets due to the rain/Metro and (2) of necessity the events were in different places so everyone was dashing from point to point in the cold and rain (unlike the Convention Center where you could actually spot people sauntering from place to place.) They did put out radiant heaters by some tables—people were so cold they were standing under the heaters holding up their hands as if they were worshiping the light. Continue reading →

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#Nats increase their title chances by one Brazilian!

Posted on November 30, 2018 by SaoMagnifico

After a topsy-turvy afternoon of trade rumors today, the Washington Nationals emerged with sought-after catcher Yan Gomes, formerly of the Cleveland Indians. Reports had linked both the division-rival New York Mets and former playoff nemeses the Los Angeles Dodgers to Gomes in trade talks, but it was the Nats who were able to seal the deal.

Gomes was one of the Indians’ numerous representatives on the American League All-Stars this past season, hitting .247/.744 in the first half. He actually turned on the afterburners and had a stronger second half, unlike some other “he was an All-Star!?” All-Stars, as he hit .295/.791 the rest of the way. It was a big rebound year for Gomes, who famously sacrificed a rotisserie chicken in the clubhouse to try to get himself out of a 2016 slump. He was decent in 2017 but still only managed a .232 average (.708 OPS). All told, in 2018, he turned in a .266/.762 line. Continue reading →

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Decision day on arbitration eligible players. Tender or non-tender?

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Normally, tendering arbitration eligible players is a no-brainer on the deadline day. Today is that day for all MLB teams that will have to formally make decisions on tender/non-tender for 2019 contracts to unsigned players who are not signed to set contracts and this includes arbitration eligible players. The Nationals have seven players who are arbitration eligible, and here are their projected arbitration values via MLBTR: Anthony Rendon – $17.6 million , Tanner Roark – $9.8 million, Trea Turner – $5.3 million, Michael Taylor – $3.2 million. Kyle Barraclough — $1.9 million, Joe Ross – $1.5 million, and Sammy Solis – $900,000.  Continue reading →

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