Game #161 Nats performance today impacts the playoffs!

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

The Washington Nationals will not be playing in the 2018 postseason, however, their results from today’s game could determine who wins the NL West. If the Rockies beat the Nats today, they would at worst clinch a tie for the NL West crown which would require a 163rd “play-in” game between the Rockies and Dodgers to determine who wins the NL West. If the Rockies win today and tomorrow, they win the NL West at least a game ahead of the Dodgers. For the Nationals, they want to win today to guarantee a winning season. The Nats record today is 81-79. While they have already guaranteed themselves sole possession of 2nd Place in the NL East, a winning record would feel better than finishing at 81-81. Continue reading →

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Game #160 The final weekend of the season for the #Nats

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by ConatsGuy for TalkNats; Bryce Harper‘s 8th HR of 2017

We all expected this weekend series between the Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies would be sending one team to the post-season — but it is not the Nationals, it is possibly the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies control their own fate as they have a 1.0 game lead atop the NL West division over the Los Angeles Dodgers. If the Rockies sweep the Nationals, they win the NL West and head to the NLDS. If the Rockies win 2-of-3 this weekend, they know that worst case they would get a Wild Card spot or they could finish in a tie for the NL West. The three teams alive and in the hunt are Colorado, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the St. Louis Cardinals. For the Nationals, they are front and center with a chance to play spoiler. The Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants who are sending Madison Bumgarner to the mound. Continue reading →

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2019 – Preview — The Catchers #Nats

Posted on September 28, 2018 by 2019Nats

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

If there is one position where opinion is near unanimous among Washington Nationals fans, it’s that the catcher position needs to be upgraded. It hasn’t been good since Wilson Ramos tore up his knee 2 years ago. Mike Rizzo made an effort to resolve the situation last year with Derek Norris which was a dubious choice to start with and ended up with a DFA when domestic issues and poor performance forced Norris out of the majors. The Nats ultimately settled on Matt Wieters who was always injury prone, had mediocre receiving skills, and wasn’t much of a threat offensively. Wieters reputation was that he was a good game caller, and the Nats starting pitchers supported that view. But for $21 mil over 2 years, Wieters simply never delivered the goods. Continue reading →

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The Davey Maneuver #Nats

Posted on September 27, 2018 by Ray Wyvill

One of the most discussed topics around Nationals’ baseball all year has been first-year manager Dave Martinez.  Much of the dialog has closely resembled a scene from old black-and-white horror movies where the villagers gather near the castle with torches and pitchforks. Some of it has gone far over what little is left of the line demarcating common decency.   Passion works both ways within a fan base.  But, the fact remains that he was hired.  There are reasons for that beyond the obvious.  If Davey induces indigestion then stock up on antacids.  There are reasons that in all likelihood he will be retained as well. Continue reading →

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Nationals guarantee themselves for the 7th year in a row — no losing seasons! Bryce Harper got plenty of applause!

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Mike Rizzo is never far from his phone. Photo by Andrew Lang for TalkNats

With today’s 9-3 win to sweep the Marlins in this series, the Washington Nationals have at least guaranteed that they cannot have a losing season. The last losing season for the Nationals was back in 2011 when they finished at 80-81, and the Nationals streak is now at 7-years and counting without a losing season.

The team will finish this season this weekend in Colorado with a 3-game series against the Rockies. The bigger story of course is Bryce Harper might have played his final game in a Nats home uniform in Washington, D.C. which will be mentioned daily by Nats media outlets until Harper is signed on his next contract. Nationals fans gave him several standing ovations today — they wanted to cheer him one last time with a possible send-off, but the game was cancelled after the 7th inning due to rain. Continue reading →

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Game #159 Season finale in Nats Park; Is this goodbye to Bryce Harper?

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

Is this the last time Washington Nationals fans will see Bryce Harper, “The Chosen One”, in his home white uniform? Will Mother Nature even cooperate to get this game in? Then there is the question of what has happened to Tanner Roark? The Nationals are starting rookie Kyle McGowin today and the team has skipped Roark twice now in the rotation. With expanded rosters, Roark has been away from the team twice. His son, Eli, was born 10-days ago, and Roark was back in Atlanta for a few days for his birth. The Nationals skipped his start, and rescheduled him to pitch today. Roark reportedly headed back to Atlanta a few days ago and has not returned to the team adding that extra layer of mystery to the situation. First and foremost we hope everything is fine with his family. Continue reading →

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Nats win their 80th behind a gem from Max Scherzer who pitches his 300th strikeout of the season!

Posted on September 25, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

While this season for the Washington Nationals will not produce a post-season team, there have been plenty of highlights from the season like we saw tonight in the Nats 80th win of the season in this 9-4 game that featured Max Scherzer‘s 300th strikeout of the season which is a first for a Nationals pitcher as he joins Walter Johnson as the only pitchers in Washington, D.C. baseball history to accomplish that feat. Scherzer reached the 300 strikeout level giving up only 150 hits in the season which is a record for the fewest hits for a 300 K pitcher. Scherzer also racked up his 18th win of the season and with 1 earned run he also lowered his ERA to 2.53. Continue reading →

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Game #158 It’s #Scherzday on Tuesday

Posted on September 25, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

The Nationals have Max Scherzer on the mound tonight against the Marlins as Max goes for history to join an elite club of pitchers in the 300 strikeout club for a season. Scherzer has 290 strikeouts in the books right now on the season and needs 10 more tonight to reach 300. If he reaches the 300 K Club, he would be the 17th pitcher to ever do it, and he would join Walter Johnson as the only other Washington baseball pitcher in the club.  Continue reading →

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Nats win and most likely will be in 2nd Place tonight!

Posted on September 24, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

For everything that has gone wrong for the Nationals this season, a few things have gone right, and that is a credit to several players who are putting up some monster numbers on the season. For the first time in his career, Bryce Harper has reached the 100 RBI mark in a season, and Juan Soto hit his 21st home run on the season giving him 66 RBIs on the season which is the 4th most ever in a season for a teenager, and that moved Soto past the legend Mickey Mantle. Soto now only trails Phil Cavarretta (82),  Mel Ott  (77), and George Davis (73) on that list. Other players with significant accomplishments tonight were Anthony Rendon who hit his 24th home run which pushed him over the .900 OPS mark while also setting a career high in doubles, and Trea Turner had another multi-hit night which gave him a 12-game hitting streak and a 24-game on-base streak and his 101st run scored. Continue reading →

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Game #157 Nationals start their final homestand of 2018

Posted on September 24, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

The Nationals are set to open their final homestand of the 2018 season, and you better hurry it up and get to Nationals Park just in case this is Bryce Harper‘s final games in a Nationals uniform. The superstar outfielder could say goodbye on Wednesday to Nats Park and the fans, and no matter how you feel about Harper, he will leave an indelible mark on Washington, D.C. baseball. Of course, Harper could return to the Nationals for the foreseeable future if the two sides can come to terms. Continue reading →

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