What's new at Nats Park for 2017 season

What's new at Nats Park for 2017 season
I had the unenviable and difficult task of going on the annual Nationals media tour of Nats Park to see what's new for 2017. Rough assignment, I know. The tour began in the Delta Sky 360 Club. The Club is getting a new entry way as well as new carpeting and lighting. Delta branding was enhanced with Delta's signature Diamond Wall, which is seen in most Delta Club sports venues. The most obvious physical difference to Nats Park that fans will notice is the MGM National Harbor Dugout Club...

Nats to host Red Sox in newly created exhibition at Naval Academy

Nats to host Red Sox in newly created exhibition at Naval Academy
The Nationals' exhibition slate will once again conclude with a game against an American League opponent on South Capitol Street - and then a newly created final game in a unique venue: the United States Naval Academy's field. The club announced today it will host the Red Sox on March 31 at Nationals Park, then face Boston again the next day at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis. It's the first game in a three-year deal the Nationals have struck to play exhibition game at the Naval Academy,...

Nats fans respond to team's pleas with electric postseason crowd

Nats fans respond to team's pleas with electric postseason crowd
Come early. Wear red. Be loud. Stay for the whole game. That was the message the Nationals and some in the local media were trying to get across to fans before the National League Division Series against the Dodgers began Friday in D.C. Message received. Nationals fans were out in full force for Game 1 at Nats Park, and although the Dodgers jumped out to an early lead and won the game 4-3, the stadium was electric throughout, with fans standing and being loud from the start. And the Nationals...

Game 161 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

Game 161 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins
It's yet another gray, dreary, rainy day here in the nation's capital. If I didn't know any better, I would swear I've been in a coma the last 12 years and MLB actually relocated the Expos to Portland instead of Washington. As has been the case all week, the Nationals will do everything they can to try to get today's game in. The Dodgers, if you weren't up real late last night, lost 9-3 to the Giants. So the Nats still hold a two-game lead with two to play, and thus their magic number to...

MASN booth comes back to Nats Park with giveaways

MASN booth comes back to Nats Park with giveaways
Don't you hate it when you and your friends get to a game at Nats Park and the Nationals haven't even batted through the order yet and your phone starts dying? How are you supposed to stay social with the latest photos, GIFs and Tweets from the game when your battery is below 10 percent? Well, have no fear, the MASN booth is back to help you out! All season long, MASN will be hosting a booth either inside the gates or at the Fairgrounds before Nats games with free giveaways, including a...

Checking out what's new at Nationals Park in 2016

Checking out what's new at Nationals Park in 2016
Yesterday, the Nationals invited the media to take a tour of Nationals Park for a sneak peek at the new giveaways, events, food and more coming to the ballpark in the 2016 season. If what I'm about to show you doesn't get you excited for the start of a new baseball season, I don't know what will. Bear with me - this list ranges from dumplings to birthday parties to bobbleheads to Racing Presidents dressed as Wookies. But first, let's talk about some logistical new additions. If you'll...

Netting expanding to far edge of dugouts at Nationals Park

Netting expanding to far edge of dugouts at Nationals Park
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals are expanding the netting behind the plate at their ballpark this season in response to Major League Baseball's recent push for better fan safety. The netting at Nationals Park, which previously sat between the two dugouts, now will extend to the far end of each dugout. "In December, Major League Baseball released new guidelines regarding field netting," said Jennifer Giglio, Nationals vice president of communications. "An internal review of those guidelines led...

Out of the Park: The blizzard, Throwback Tuesday and new attire

Out of the Park: The blizzard, Throwback Tuesday and new attire
Well, Winter Storm Jonas came through the area last weekend and crushed D.C. like Bryce Harper crushes fastballs. It also crushed MASN broadcaster F.P. Santangelo's elbow from all the snow it left for shoveling. Is there a Tommy John for shoveling snow? #leftarmprobs -- F.P. Santangelo (@FightinHydrant) January 25, 2016 Although Jonas left everyone stuck in their houses and exhausted from shoveling almost three feet of snow, the storm also left a pretty scene at Nationals Park. A beautiful...

Dusty Baker still working to fill out coaching staff

Dusty Baker still working to fill out coaching staff
Dusty Baker's work continues to fill out his coaching staff with a few important openings remaining. Shortly after the Nationals hired Baker as manager on Nov. 3, the team announced Mike Maddux as new pitching coach and baserunning expert Davey Lopes as new first base coach. On Friday, Baker was asked on SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio about other coaches he plans to add to his staff in Washington. "I really can't let the cat out of bag," Baker joked with hosts Casey Stern and Jim Bowden....

Matt Williams hopes Jose Fernandez grows impatient at unfamiliar Nationals Park

Matt Williams hopes Jose Fernandez grows impatient at unfamiliar Nationals Park
Nationals had difficulty against Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez in their last matchup, even though he only pitched five innings. Fernandez threw 69 pitches, 43 for strikes, and did not allow a run in the Marlins' 2-0 win over the Nationals on September 12 in Miami. So manager Matt Williams believes the strategy tonight is to work the count against Fernandez. "I want us to be patient because he's still a little bit on a pitch count," Williams said. "Coming out last time it was five...

Nationals game blog: Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon look to avoid sweep

Nationals game blog: Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon look to avoid sweep
After dropping the first two in Miami, the Nationals stand at just 30-41 on the road this season. If they maintain their current .422 winning percentage away from Nationals Park, it would be Washington's lowest road mark since 2010 when they went 28-53 (.346). After excelling in the leadoff spot, Jayson Werth makes his second straight start batting cleanup. The 36-year-old picked up a walk in the first inning last night to extend his on-base streak to 21 games, the second longest in his...

Back tightness derails Stephen Strasburg's start in Nats' 7-4 win

Back tightness derails Stephen Strasburg's start in Nats' 7-4 win
The frustrations of Stephen Strasburg's season continued again today as the right-hander was forced to leave a 7-4 win over the Marlins with recurring back discomfort after throwing just 60 pitches over four innings. "It's just a little bit of back tightness," Strasburg said. "It's something that I kind of dealt with in the middle of the year. It's got some sort of little ball that's in the back there that I can't really figure out what it is. Sometimes it gets upset." Strasburg ran...

MASN's Dan Kolko runs as Tom in Presidents Race at Nationals Park

MASN's Dan Kolko runs as Tom in Presidents Race at Nationals Park
The GEICO Presidents Race at Nationals Park has been a fourth-inning staple at Nationals games since the team returned to D.C. in 2005. One of the best aspects of the race is you never quite know what, or who, you're going to get. There have been many memorable moments in the race over the years: Teddy's first victory, the Easter Bunny's unexpected entrance and the Pirates Pierogies getting a beat down from the Presidents. And last night's race marked the introduction of a new...

Power outage suspends play with Nats leading 3-2, game to resume tomorrow

Power outage suspends play with Nats leading 3-2, game to resume tomorrow
A power outage at Nationals Park provided an embarrassing and frustrating situation tonight. A bank of lights high above the third base line went dark, causing lengthy delays in the fourth and fifth innings and then eventually forcing a suspension of the game with the Nationals leading 3-2 before the start of the sixth. The two teams will pick up where they left off when the game resumes at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday. "Just unforeseen circumstances," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "You...

Best of the Decade: Zimmerman's walk-off welcomes Nats to new home

Best of the Decade: Zimmerman's walk-off welcomes Nats to new home
As the Nationals celebrate 10 seasons in Washington, D.C., we reflect on some of the best moments since the franchise moved to the nation's capital. Each Wednesday for the next 10 weeks, check out Nationals Pastime for a remembrance of one of the watershed moments in Nationals history. It was a sight seen before by Nationals fans, but not in this environment, not on this field. Ryan Zimmerman rounded first base, fist raised high in the air, after launching a walk-off homer in the inaugural...

Manfred expected to announce 2018 All-Star Game at Nats Park

Manfred expected to announce 2018 All-Star Game at Nats Park
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is expected to announce Monday that Washington, D.C., will host the 2018 All-Star Game, according to multiple reports. Manfred will be at Nats Park to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Nationals' opening day contest with the Mets tomorrow. Tampa Bay's Tropicana Field, New York's Yankee Stadium, Philadelphia's Citizen Bank Park and Nats Park are the only MLB venues that haven't been awarded All-Star Games. It's been 46 years...

Nats look to help improve Wi-Fi connections in Nationals Park

Nats look to help improve Wi-Fi connections in Nationals Park
Fan experience is important to the Nationals, especially in this day and age of mobile phone use, Wi-Fi connections and connectivity levels at the stadium. Some fans have been concerned about getting good levels on their Wi-Fi connections throughout the stadium. I had some questions on Twitter about Wi-Fi at Nationals Park. @masnKerr did they do anything to improve the wifi at the park cc @NLBeastNats -- MicheleS (@aNatsFan) April 1, 2015 I posed the concern to Nationals chief revenue and...

Meaningful home runs will be commemorated at Nationals Park

Meaningful home runs will be commemorated at Nationals Park
The Nationals will commemorate memorable home runs at Nationals Park, similar to the way Frank Howard's mammoth blasts to the upper deck at RFK Stadium were signified by seats painted white where the ball hit, according to those attending an invitation-only event at Nationals Park on Tuesday night. There will be five initial dramatic home runs that will be honored with specially painted seats in the Nationals Park outfield. They are: * March 30, 2008 - Ryan Zimmerman walk-off home run * July...

Nationals Park adds metal detectors for all events beginning April 4

Nationals Park adds metal detectors for all events beginning April 4
In conjunction with Major League baseball requirements, the Nationals have installed metal detectors at all gates at Nationals Park for the 2015 season. The new screening program will officially begin April 4 for the exhibition game against the Yankees. Prior to entering the ballpark, fans will have their bags checked and will then proceed through a metal detector. If metal is detected, there will be a secondary screening with a handheld wand-type metal detection device. Following the bag check...

The All-Star waiting game continues for D.C.

The All-Star waiting game continues for D.C.
Last Wednesday, new Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred visited the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and was quite vague when asked about the chances of an All-Star Game ending up in the nation's capital. "We're going to make some announcements about All-Star games in the relatively near future and I won't go beyond that," Manfred said. On Tuesday night, the Miami Herald reported that the 2017 All-Star Game will be played at Marlins Park, officially confirming the...