All the ballplayers whose careers ended in D.C.

All the ballplayers whose careers ended in D.C.
A total of 370 players have appeared in at least one game for the Nationals since 2005. Some of them were longtime stalwarts who are forever associated fondly with this franchise. Some were only here for a year or two as part of successful careers with multiple clubs. And some of them played for a while in Washington and then never played in the big leagues again. Actually, more than some of them fit that last description. Would you believe at least 127 of the 370 players in Nationals history...

Rodríguez and Raines proud of Nats Ring of Honor induction

Rodríguez and Raines proud of Nats Ring of Honor induction
The Nationals honored two of baseball's newest Hall of Famers, former Nationals catcher Iván "Pudge" Rodríguez and longtime Expos left fielder Tim Raines, by inducting them into the Nationals Park Ring of Honor on Monday night. Rodríguez was also honored by the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation earlier Monday when they named the renovated Mason District Little League Park in Annandale, Va., as Iván "Pudge" Rodríguez Field. "For me, it's just an honor to be back in...

Annandale Little League field named for Rodríguez

Annandale Little League field named for Rodríguez
The Nationals Dream Foundation dedicated its second Legacy Field on Monday, introducing Iván "Pudge" Rodríguez Field at the newly renovated Little League diamond at Mason District Park in Annandale, Va. The first Legacy Field, in Washington, D.C, was named Ryan Zimmerman Field. Zimmerman brought his wife Heather and their daughter to Monday's ribbon-cutting event to honor Rodríguez. "You see the kids. My wife actually grew up right down the street. Her parents still live here,"...

A few thoughts on Rodriguez and the Hall of Fame

A few thoughts on Rodriguez and the Hall of Fame
Let's start off with a show of hands: Anyone else out there long for the days when we didn't have two-plus months of endless debate over who should be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame? Remember when the discussion period was only a couple of weeks, roughly right after the new year and up to the mid-January announcement of election results? Now we've moprhed from good-natured discussion and disagreement to animated sniping between writers and broadcasters, who debate a list of...

Nationals salute Rodriguez, their first Hall of Fame player

Nationals salute Rodriguez, their first Hall of Fame player
The first image of Ivan Rodriguez for everyone will not include him wearing a Nationals uniform. Rodriguez will forever be known as a Ranger, and surely his plaque in Cooperstown will feature that logo on his cap. Pudge also will be remembered fondly by many for helping the Marlins win the 2003 World Series and for helping the Tigers reach the 2006 World Series. He wound up getting traded from Detroit to New York in 2008, then signed with Houston in 2009, so that's two more franchises on his...

Raines, Bagwell and Rodriguez voted into Hall of Fame

Raines, Bagwell and Rodriguez voted into Hall of Fame
One player with thin ties to the Orioles will be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame later this year in Cooperstown, N.Y. Tim Raines received 86.2 percent of the votes in his final year on the ballot, an increase from 69.8 percent in 2016. A player must garner at least 75 percent to be inducted. First baseman Jeff Bagwell and catcher Ivan Rodriguez will join Raines. Bagwell received 86 percent, an increase from 71.6 percent last year. Rodriguez received 76 percent and joined Bench as the...

My 2017 Hall of Fame ballot (Rodriguez among trio elected)

My 2017 Hall of Fame ballot (Rodriguez among trio elected)
There is no greater responsibility in this job than serving as a Hall of Fame voter. In the seven years since I first qualified, once I had been a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America for 10 consecutive years, I have put a whole lot of time and energy into this. And I'm not alone in that regard. Every fellow voter I've ever discussed this with feels the same way and puts the same time and effort into voting for the Hall of Fame. Now it's a cardinal rule of journalism that...

What to watch for in tonight's Hall of Fame election results

What to watch for in tonight's Hall of Fame election results
For lifelong baseball fans, few days on the calendar compare to Hall of Fame election day. It's a day to celebrate some of the greatest players in the game's history, not to mention fiercely debate the credentials of those who either just squeaked in or missed out. Shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern time, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson will make the official announcement, revealing who received at least 75 percent of the vote from tenured members of the Baseball Writers' Association of...

A few thoughts on the Hall of Fame balloting

A few thoughts on the Hall of Fame balloting
The Hall of Fame inductions are fuel for discussion and debate. The ballots from the Baseball Writers' Association were due on Dec. 31. The new inductees will be announced Jan. 18. Early vote totals say that Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are going to make huge jumps in voter percentage this year, and each could finish with more than 70 percent of the vote. It takes 75 percent to get into Cooperstown. Both Clemens and Bonds are connected to steroids, so I don't see the logic in a huge upturn...

Former Nat Ivan Rodriguez among 34 Hall of Fame candidates

Former Nat Ivan Rodriguez among 34 Hall of Fame candidates
There are a number of Hall of Famers who played at least a portion of their careers in Washington, but none played for this incarnation of the Nationals, and none sports a plaque that includes the words: "Washington, N.L." That could change next summer if Ivan Rodriguez is inducted to the Hall in his first year of eligibility. Rodriguez, who caught for the Nationals in 2010-11 to wrap up a remarkable career, officially became a candidate today when the Hall of Fame released its 2017 ballot....

A catching demonstration from a future Hall of Famer

A catching demonstration from a future Hall of Famer
Ivan Rodriguez is off to a great start at the plate with the Nats, hitting .367 with 15 RBI. But the job Pudge has done behind the plate has been just as impressive. The future Hall of Fame catcher gives Rob Dibble a demonstration of how body positioning plays a major role in his defensive success, and talks about how important it is for a catcher to be able to manage a pitching staff.

A catching demonstration from a future Hall of Famer

A catching demonstration from a future Hall of Famer
Ivan Rodriguez is off to a great start at the plate with the Nats, hitting .367 with 15 RBI. But the job Pudge has done behind the plate has been just as impressive. The future Hall of Fame catcher gives Rob Dibble a demonstration of how body positioning plays a major role in his defensive success, and talks about how important it is for a catcher to be able to manage a pitching staff.

Rachel Levitin: The shirts on fans' backs tell a story

Rachel Levitin: The shirts on fans' backs tell a story
There was a time back in 2005 when I worked at a Major League Baseball team apparel store for extra money before leaving for college. This store specialized in Chicago Cubs gear, but it was that store that garnered my appreciation for team logos and memorabilia from the past. Numerous retailers attempt to recreate some of the most unique logos in baseball history on caps, t-shirts, jerseys, plaques, and just about anything you can think of - and the novelty to that is the fact that baseball is...

Boras: I. Rodriguez not returning to D.C. (and lobby leftovers)

Boras: I. Rodriguez not returning to D.C. (and lobby leftovers)
DALLAS - Apparently, the Winter Meetings must, by decree of longstanding baseball law, include at least one full-out media scrum with super agent Scott Boras, a guy who frustrates the other 29 clubs that do not have a curly W on their caps. This year's happened last night, while Nats general manager Mike Rizzo was pondering exactly what Plan B - and the B doesn't stand for Buehrle - means for his team. Boras held court for a smaller-than-usual number of reporters, who still thrust tape...

Milone selected, LaRoche to 60-day, Rodriguez returns

Milone selected, LaRoche to 60-day, Rodriguez returns
The Nationals announced they have selected the contract of left-hander Tommy Milone from Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs and he will start Saturday night in his major league debut against the New York Mets. The 24-year old Milone went 12-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 24 starts this season with Syracuse. He struck out a league-best 155 batters and yielded only 16 walks in 148 1/3 innings. To make room for Milone on the 40-man roster, first baseman Adam LaRoche, recovering from shoulder surgery, was...

Jenn Jenson: If you're really lucky, you can play baseball for a living

Jenn Jenson: If you're really lucky, you can play baseball for a living
One of the things I like about baseball is the opportunity to watch people who are living their dream. It makes me happy, and on some days it also reminds me to count my blessings and focus what I might achieve in my own life. Of course, there's more than one professional baseball dream, from being drafted, to stepping on the field for a major league debut, to winning the World Series and everything in-between. I'm sure a lot of major league players pinch themselves every day and say,...

Rodriguez likely headed to disabled list with strained oblique

Rodriguez likely headed to disabled list with strained oblique
Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez suffered a strained right oblique during batting practice Thursday against the Chicago Cub, and the injury is likely to send the veteran backstop on the 15-day disabled list. "Those things happen just like this and got me today," Rodriguez said. "I have never experienced this kind of injury. It never happens to me. We will see what happens tomorrow. We will take it day to day. If tomorrow is not better, (then) we will need a catcher." Rodriguez said...

Lannan's long outing provides opportunity Nationals needed to split

Lannan's long outing provides opportunity Nationals needed to split
The Nationals split a doubleheader with the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday, 4-3, on an RBI base hit from Ivan Rodriguez. But the reason the Nationals were in the game again for some late inning magic was the starting pitching. Lefty John Lannan went seven strong innings on only 80 pitches, scattering six hits, allowing three runs and allowing no walks with one strikeout. It is the fourth consecutive game a Nationals starter has gone at least seven innings. "That is the starter's goal is to...

Rodriguez, Ramos catching runners at high percentage

Rodriguez, Ramos catching runners at high percentage
There are many factors to explain why a team goes on a roll. The big reasons usually center around timely hits, solid defense and quality pitching. Two other factors are veteran leadership and a bench that contributes. The Nationals are in the midst of an eight-game winning streak, the longest streak in almost two seasons, dating to an eight-game streak in August 2009. In Saturday's 4-2 victory over the Orioles, Washington displayed one of those key ingredients in successful teams: a...

Patience at the plate has fueled Nationals' win streak

Patience at the plate has fueled Nationals' win streak
Earlier this season I was talking to a writer of a struggling opposing team and I asked him why they were losing. He said it was because they were not being patient at the plate. They were going after the first pitch. They weren't taxing the pitcher. They were going for bad pitches and innings were short and uneventful. While watching the Nationals during this current win streak, you can see one of the reasons the team is playing well. They are waiting for their pitch and fighting through...