Unfinished business motivates Werth in final year of deal

Unfinished business motivates Werth in final year of deal
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Last May 11, Jayson Werth was batting .196 and wondering whether his thrice-broken left wrist was ever going to be strong enough to help him power through his swing. Six years into the seven-year, $126 million contract he signed in December 2010, Werth often looked overmatched, and some wondered whether he'd ever be a regular contributor again. "After like the first six weeks, I was somewhat happy that Dusty (Baker) stuck with me," Werth recalled Sunday after the...

Baker could need full spring to settle on best batting order

Baker could need full spring to settle on best batting order
The final countdown to spring training has arrived, and so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We continue today with Dusty Baker's batting order decisions ... We know which eight players will be in the Nationals' opening day lineup against the Marlins come April 3 (barring injuries or other unexpected developments, of course). We don't, however, know in what order Dusty Baker will bat them. And the manager himself may...

Projection models split on Nationals and Mets in NL East

Projection models split on Nationals and Mets in NL East
As equipment trucks (not to mention a handful of early-arriving players) across America make their way to Arizona and Florida, anticipation for the 2017 baseball season perks up. As do season projections by various stat-based sites. FanGraphs.com and Baseball Prospectus have both published their 2017 projections. They do not, however, agree on the identity of the top dog in the National League East division. FanGraphs likes the Nationals, projecting 90 wins and a plus-86 run differential for...

Nats outfield has big names, but how much will they produce?

Nats outfield has big names, but how much will they produce?
As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series concludes today with the outfield ... There are no questions about the identities of the Nationals' three starting outfielders. Those jobs are locked up, two by longtime club stars and one by a high-profile newcomer. It remains to be seen, however, how those three perform, and whether this defensive alignment proves to be the best one. Everything starts, as...

Kolko/Werth bobblehead gets nod in P-Nats fan vote

Kolko/Werth bobblehead gets nod in P-Nats fan vote
Well, the people have spoken. The Single-A Potomac Nationals announced at their Hot Stove Banquet last weekend that the winner of the Loyal Hygiene Solutions Fans' Choice Bobblehead is the duo of MASN on-field reporter Dan Kolko and Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth. The winning entry was submitted by Chris Jackson. The dual bobblehead will be handed out to the first 1,250 fans through the turnstiles at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va., on Saturday, Aug. 26 before the P-Nats host the...

With Eaton added to lineup, WAR numbers for Nationals get boost

With Eaton added to lineup, WAR numbers for Nationals get boost
FanGraphs defines WAR (Wins Above Replacement) as "an attempt by the sabermetric baseball community to summarize a player's total contributions to their team in one statistic." It comes as no shock that second baseman Daniel Murphy had the highest WAR rating for the Nationals in 2016 at 5.5. Third baseman Anthony Rendon is next at 4.7. Right fielder Bryce Harper, who admittedly had a down year, still came in at 3.5 WAR. Even at just 73 games, Trea Turner's WAR was 3.3. To gauge how good a...

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...

Has the Nats lineup improved from last year?

Has the Nats lineup improved from last year?
Though the Nationals' offseason is only about two-thirds complete at this point - for these purposes we're talking about from when the postseason ended until the day pitchers and catchers report for spring training - barring a surprising turn of events, they already know who's going to be in their opening day lineup. Of course things can change between now and then, whether injuries or trades or late signings, but the Nationals by all accounts aren't actively seeking anybody at this point...

Relive "Nationals Classics": Beating up on the Phillies and Marlins

Relive "Nationals Classics": Beating up on the Phillies and Marlins
We're inching closer and closer to the arrival of spring training! Can you believe that Nationals pitchers and catchers report to The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in 37 days, with position players arriving just three days later? While you countdown the days to baseball's return, MASN continues along with our "Nationals Classics" series this week with some memorable NL East victories over the Phillies and Marlins. This would be the week to tune in if you hold special animosity to the Nats'...

Bobblehead featuring MASN's Kolko, Werth among P-Nats' Fans' Choice finalists

Bobblehead featuring MASN's Kolko, Werth among P-Nats' Fans' Choice finalists
The Single-A Potomac Nationals always put out one of the most impressive slates of giveaway items each baseball season, and we've got our eye on a possible 2017 bobblehead with a MASN connection. For a second consecutive season, the P-Nats are planning a bobblehead giveaway based on a fan vote, sponsored by Loyal Hygiene Solutions. Best of all, you don't even have to attend a game in Woodbridge, Va. (actually, the voting will be completed by the time the new season opens at Pfitzner Stadium)...

Before looking ahead to 2017, looking back on an eventful 2016

Before looking ahead to 2017, looking back on an eventful 2016
First of all, a public service announcement: I'm heading out of town (actually, out of the country) for the next week. Byron Kerr and Pete Kerzel will have you covered, though, so be sure to keep checking the site for any Nationals news over the holidays. Since you won't be hearing from me again until 2017, this seems like an appropriate time to take a step back and view 2016 in its entirety. This was an eventful year, to say the least. (And we're only talking about baseball here, let alone...

Relive "Nationals Classics": The best of the best of 2016

Relive "Nationals Classics": The best of the best of 2016
Some people consider the week between Christmas and New Year's Day to be the best of the whole year. Some time off work surrounded by friends and family. Well, if that's the case, then for Nationals fans, it will be even better because we're bringing out the best of the best from the past year for 2016's last slate of "Nationals Classics." We're packing a whole lot of baseball in this year's final week. Grand slams? Check. Extra-inning walk-offs? Got 'em. Historic feats? Of...

Nats watch as Cespedes returns to Mets for reported $110 million

Nats watch as Cespedes returns to Mets for reported $110 million
If the Nationals are going to bolster their lineup with another right-handed slugger, they'll have to find somebody other than Yoenis Cespedes. Cespedes agreed to a new deal with the Mets today, returning to New York for four years and $110 million, according to a host of reports. The 31-year-old outfielder had signed a three-year, $75 million with the Mets last winter but enacted an opt-out clause at the end of the season, making him a free agent and ultimately earning him a hefty raise. The...

Relive "Nationals Classics": Grand slams and 16-inning marathon

Relive "Nationals Classics": Grand slams and 16-inning marathon
Happy Thanksgiving! As you're enjoying spending time with friends and family, devouring a big bird on Turkey Day and hopefully watching the Redskins beat up on the Cowboys, MASN is giving Nationals fans a couple of baseball reasons to be thankful this year. Check out this holiday week's "Nationals Classics" schedule filled with grand slams and a Sunday special marathon victory: Monday, Nov. 21, 8 p.m. - Bryce Harper had reached some major accomplishments in his career before the start of...

Could the Nationals pursue another big bat this winter?

Could the Nationals pursue another big bat this winter?
The Nationals' top needs this winter are fairly clear-cut. They need a closer, whether they re-sign Mark Melancon or acquire someone else. They need a catcher, whether they bring back the rehabbing Wilson Ramos, give Pedro Severino a chance or look outside the organization. They need to decide whether Trea Turner is their center fielder or shortstop, and address any domino effects of that decision. Here, though, is a less clear-cut question currently facing the Nationals front office as the...

Relive "Nationals Classics": Extra-inning herorics and Scherzer's first no-no

Relive "Nationals Classics": Extra-inning herorics and Scherzer's first no-no
We're a little over a week away from Thanksgiving, so here are a couple of reminders that baseball is still in your life: * The GM meetings just wrapped up this past week in Scottsdale, Ariz.* The Winter Meetings are three weeks away in National Harbor, Md.* Nationals Winterfest is about a month away at the Washington Convention Center So there is still plenty of baseball to consume this offseason. And of course, MASN's "Nationals Classics" series continues this week to give you your...

Relive "Nationals Classics": Pinch-hit walk-offs and opening day stars

Relive "Nationals Classics": Pinch-hit walk-offs and opening day stars
The baseball season will officially end this week when either the Indians or Cubs end their respective longstanding World Series championship drought. Whether that happens on Tuesday or Wednesday night remains to be seen, but nonetheless, the offseason looms and the countdown to pitchers and catchers reporting will begin. Lucky for you, the diehard Nationals fan who just wants baseball year-round, MASN is giving you the chance to relive classic Nats moments without needing any of those member...

Can Werth keep it going in seventh and final year of contract?

Can Werth keep it going in seventh and final year of contract?
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Jayson Werth, who despite a slow start managed to put together another solid season even as the outfielder approaches the twilight of his career. PLAYER REVIEW: JAYSON WERTH Age on opening day 2017: 37 How acquired: Signed as free agent, December 2010 MLB service time: 13 years, 102 days 2016 salary: $21 million Contract status: Signed for $21 million in 2017, free...

Top five offseason storylines for the Nationals

Top five offseason storylines for the Nationals
It happened much sooner than anyone around here wanted, but it's now officially the offseason in D.C., and there's nothing anybody can do to change that. This figures to be quite a compelling offseason for the Nationals, who will be motivated to do what they can to put themselves in a better position to advance deeper into October in 2017 than they did in 2016. At the same time, most of the necessary pieces are already in place. General manager Mike Rizzo doesn't have to do a whole lot this...

Looking back at what went right during the NLDS

Looking back at what went right during the NLDS
There's been plenty of teeth-nashing, head-banging and face-palming in the last 36 hours over everything that went wrong for the Nationals in Games 4 and 5 of the National League Division Series. That's fine. Losses like this need to be analyzed and rehashed, with an eye on what could have been different. Let's take a moment this morning, though, to do the opposite exercise. Instead of looking at what went wrong in the NLDS, let's take a brief look at what went right. You may be surprised...