Pretty cool: When Stephen Strasburg made his MLB debut 14 years ago, the Pirates’ leadoff hitter was Andrew McCutchen. When Paul Skenes makes his MLB debut today, the Pirates’ leadoff hitter will be Andrew McCutchen.
So to recap: The Nationals lead 5-2 in the bottom of the 7th on homers by Eaton, Soto and Rendon. Strasburg is still on the mound. Scherzer was warming in the pen. Martinez has been ejected. If you think baseball is boring ... I got nothing for you.
Max Scherzer, asked about Rangers allowing 100% capacity on Opening Day, and if he's optimistic for some fans in D.C.: "I really like to defer to the experts on this and listen to what Dr. Fauci has to say. As much as I think I know stuff, I think he knows a little bit more."
Scherzer vs. Verlander (ex-teammates)
Strasburg vs. Cole (No. 1 draft picks)
Corbin vs. Greinke (ex-teammates)
Rendon vs. Bregman (MVP third basemen)
Soto vs. Correa (young studs)
Zimmerman vs. Altuve (longtime faces of franchise)
This is a great World Series matchup.
Unreal that Daniel Hudson is on paternity list and missing game 1 of
#NLCS
. Only excuse would be a problem with the birth or health of baby or mother. If all is well, he needs to get to St. Louis. Inexcusable. Will it matter?
#waittosee
ESPN announces its Sunday Night Baseball schedule for the first half of the 2020 season. The World Series champion Washington Nationals have zero appearances.
The Nationals have won Game 1 of the World Series. They've won 7 in a row this postseason and 17 of 19 dating back to the final homestand of the regular season. Guess what, folks? They're really good.
James Wood was a 10-year-old living in Olney, MD when Jayson Werth homered off Lance Lynn to win Game 4 of the 2012 NLDS. Twelve years later, he just homered off Lynn in the same ballpark.
MLB will have 9 different champs in 10 years. 14 teams have reached the World Series in that span. I don’t care about national TV ratings. More markets winning, more fans falling in love with their local teams is good for baseball.
Max Scherzer: "I swear I woke up this morning with an extra bounce in my step. The way the Caps played, the fans, the energy at that stadium, everyone here in D.C. ... how could you not wake up with an extra bounce in your step?"
Eaton opens up “the hotline,” allowing everyone to speak freely.
Turner: “Can we bring Anthony Rendon back?”
Eaton: “I’ll second that motion. All in favor?”
Crowd: “Aye!”
Scherzer on this maybe being the end in D.C.: "I don't want to look at this as a negative thing, I really look at it as positive thing. I signed a 7-year deal here to win a World Series. And we won. We won a World Series. That's a lifelong dream come true."
The entire Nats roster, at Ryan Zimmerman's request, stayed in the dugout through the 5th inning last night so they could celebrate Aaron Barrett's first big league appearance in 3 1/2 years. "I can't really explain to you how much that means to me."
The Astros scandal was bad for baseball, really bad. But it could’ve been even worse. Which is why everyone today should have the same thought: Thank god the Nationals won the World Series.
The Nationals indeed are bringing Gerardo Parra back on a minor-league deal, source confirms. He'll have a chance to make the club out of spring training. (First reported by
@chelsea_janes
, who I'm now wishing was still covering politics.)
If that is indeed the last time Max Scherzer pitches in a Nationals uniform, his final totals over nearly 7 seasons could be: 92-47, 2.80 ERA in 188 starts, 0.962 WHIP, 1,610 K in 1,229 innings. (Plus, of course, the postseason. And so many other great memories.)
By the way, the Pirates are missing a golden opportunity to sign outfielder Jose Constanza, pitcher Andy Benes and 1890s infielder Harry Steinfeldt for the rest of the season ...
The field has been cleared and some fans are running out the left field concourse toward the exit after what sounded like several gun shots shortly after the top of the 6th ended. Don't know for sure that's what it was, but it certainly sounded like it.
No easy way to put this: Keibert Ruiz was sent to the hospital with swollen testicles after getting hit with a foul ball. Nationals are waiting for him to return before they all leave for Philly.
Juan Soto has played 162 games over the last 2 seasons. His totals: .315 AVG, .457 OBP, .562 SLG, 1.019 OPS, 123 R, 29 2B, 34 HR, 106 RBI, 141 BB, 104 SO, 12 SB
Kyle Schwarber said Kris Bryant left him a Twix bar in left field between innings. Schwarber admitted to eating it, then homered in his next AB, so he may have to make this a new thing.
Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Juan Soto and Josh Bell won Silver Slugger Awards tonight. All played for the Nationals at the start of the 2021 season. None played for the Nationals at the end of the 2022 season.
Juan Soto not only hit .351 this season. He finishes with a .490 on-base percentage, .695 slugging percentage and 1.185 OPS. Those are the highest OBP, SLG and OPS for any major leaguer with at least 195 plate appearances since Barry Bonds in 2004.
Remember where you are, so you'll remember where you were, at 10:16 p.m. on Aug. 25, 2023, when the Washington Nationals moved ahead of the New York Mets for fourth place in the NL East.
Hudson said being there for Millie’s birth - sorry, no Annabella Sean - was everything he could’ve imagined. Said the top three moments of his life, without question, were the births of his three daughters. As someone once told him: “Baseball is what I do. It’s not who I am.”
Strasburg on the now-regular dugout hugs from Parra and Sanchez: "You just have to embrace it. They start squeezing me a little bit harder every time, but that's OK."
Time to update this one: Juan Soto has now reached base 4 times in 24 games this season. The only players ever to do it in more games in a season are Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams and Barry Bonds.
The Nationals and Ryan Zimmerman have a deal on a 1-year contract. Per source, he’ll make $2 million salary, plus up to $3 million in incentives based on games and plate appearances. Also includes a no-trade clause. (First reported by
@barrysvrluga
)
Max Scherzer, on what to expect Monday night in DC: "I mean, the atmosphere in the playoffs at Nationals Park has been incredible. They come out and they go nuts from the first pitch. So I have a feeling it's even going to be more crazy, given what we have done."
I also can't help but think of all the ancillary folks who are negatively impacted by this, people whose livelihoods depend on MLB games being played and who have suffered enough the last 2 years. Stadium workers. Restaurant/bar owners and employees. Broadcast crew members. Etc.
The Nationals are coming home, folks, up 2 games to none, needing to win 2 of 3 this weekend not only to capture Washington’s first World Series title in 95 years but to do it on South Capitol Street in front of their own fans.
Strasburg said he just finally watched the World Series documentary a few days ago and said it was clear in his mind the producers expected the Astros would win.
Here it is: On a warm February morning in West Palm Beach, Davey Martinez brought camels to spring training. On a cool October evening in L.A., the Nationals finally got over the hump. They did it, of course, on a Wednesday.
I will admit to having this thought on Jan. 18, 2015: "Why give $210 million to Max Scherzer when you could've just re-signed Jordan Zimmermann for half as much?" This is why Mike Rizzo is a World Series-winning GM and I'm not.
Strasburg's new deal is 7 years for $245 million, source confirms. So that's 3 extra years and $145 million extra dollars beyond the old contract he opted out from. It also means he'll be 38 when it expires.
After spending the last 15 minutes on a conference call with Eric Thames, I think it’s safe to say Nats fans are going to like him. Lots of personality. Longtime friend of Howie Kendrick. Jacked up to play in D.C.
For the 32nd consecutive year, Washington will not win at least 11 regular season games. Barring a December collapse by Detroit, every other NFL franchise will have done it at least twice in that span.
The Washington Nationals are going to play the Houston Astros one more time to decide the winner of the 2019 World Series. We will see you tomorrow night.
Lane Thomas: "It would fun to see this thing through with a lot of these young guys, but they're going to be fine. The talent you've seen from James and CJ and MacKenzie and all the guys who have so much time to improve. It'll be fun to watch. I'll be rooting for them for sure."
Both Rizzo and Boras suggest that Strasburg’s willingness to defer money in this contract keeps foot open for Nats to sign other big-name players (ie. Rendon).
Final: Nationals 8, Indians 2. They went 8-0 on the final homestand to finish 93-69. Thus, they are the first MLB club in 105 years to go from 12 games under .500 to 24 games over .500. Quite a turnaround.
Ryan Zimmerman, officially a free agent for the first time, reiterated that he’s not worried about his situation and that he doesn’t plan to ever play anywhere but Washington.
The Washington Nationals are going home in command of the NLCS. They are up 2-0 and need to win 2 of their next 5 games to win the pennant and go to the World Series. As Daniel Hudson said earlier today (on a very different subject): "Hey, life comes at you fast, man."
Gonna be quite a scene at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Feb. 13, when the severely punished Astros and the World Series champion Nationals both report for spring training.
Ted Lerner: “From now on, you can call me Grandpa Shark.”
Davey Martinez: “The mayor said let’s go back to back. Hey, I’m all in. But let me enjoy this first!”
Ryan Zimmerman: Tears up talking about his teammates.
Nationals are wearing the navy blue jerseys again. They’re 2-0 this postseason in them. As Davey Martinez said earlier this year: “I’m not superstitious. I’m a little stitious.”