Desmond takes questions at ESPN Zone

Desmond takes questions at ESPN Zone
Every year when Ian Desmond blew out the candles on his birthday cake, he closed his eyes and wished one day he would make it to the big leagues. Drafted out of high school by the Expos in 2004, it took six years in the minors for Desmond to make his dream come true. On Thursday afternoon, Desmond talked about his baseball journey in taking questions from fans at the ESPN Zone in downtown Washington during the first Nats Q&A of the season. After the talk, Desmond signed autographs and...

Nationals Team Up with Paula Deen

Nationals Team Up with Paula Deen
Food Network star and paid Smithfield spokeswoman Paula Deen visited Nationals Park on Wednesday afternoon to raise awareness about hunger in our communities. Deen joined Sean and Jessica Burnett, John Lannan, Maryanne Gerry and Rachel Dunn to help the Nationals, Harris Teeter and Smithfield donate 100,000 servings of ham to the Capital Area Food Bank. "From my standpoint, I just have this love of feeding people," Deen said. "I can't stand the thought of anybody being hungry. So it's...

Baseball for a good cause

Baseball for a good cause
Talk about a win/win for Nationals fans. As you may know, Nats PR pro Lisa Pagano is running a campaign to raise $75,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) in 10 weeks. Two great events are approaching quickly and both will be very rewarding for Nationals fans. This Thursday, you can purchase a ticket for the Mets vs. Nationals game at Nationals Park and $8 will be donated to LLS, the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to blood cancer research, education and patient...

Paula Deen to visit Nationals Park

Paula Deen to visit Nationals Park
Food Network star Paula Deen will attend two events at Nationals Park on Wednesday, May 19th prior to the Nationals game against the Mets that evening. With Deen's help, Sean and Jessica Burnett, Adam and Rachel Dunn, Wil and Yormarie Nieves, and John Lannan and Maryanne Garry will help to deliver more than 100,000 servings of donated food to the Capital Area Food Bank as part of Smithfield's Helping Hungry Homes initiative. The event will promote the Nationals' Annual Food Drive. Fans...

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)
Happy Monday! I hope that you all had a relaxing weekend. Are you ready for another homestand? This week's challenge: Where is this photo on display at Nationals Park? Bonus points if you tell us something interesting about the subject of the photo. The answer will be posted on Wednesday. Answer: Actually, it's Thursday! So you had an extra day. The answer is on the new pennants outside of the PNC Diamond Club on the concourse level.

Wired Wednesday and Covering the Bases (Updated)

Wired Wednesday and Covering the Bases (Updated)
This week, MASN will wire Willie Harris for the rubber match against the Mets. Full of personality, Harris is always entertaining when wired, so don't miss this special feature. Nats Xtra begins at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. On Thursday, MASN will Cover the Bases with veteran catcher Iván Rodriguez. Bob, Rob and Debbi will review Pudge's phenomenal career and talk to coaches and players about his hot start to the 2010 season. The Nationals take on the Rockies at 8:40...

ESPN Zone Q&A: Ian Desmond

ESPN Zone Q&A:  Ian Desmond
Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 20th for the first ESPN Zone Q&A of the season. Nats shortstop Ian Desmond will be the first guest of the season for the hugely popular lunch-time sessions. Desmond will take questions about his impressive defensive play, the team's hot start to the season and life in the Nats' clubhouse. Doors usually open at 11 a.m. for these 12 p.m. events, but we'll have more details next week. After the Q&A, Desmond will take pictures with fans and sign...

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)
In honor of the Nats' hot start to the season and the cold, windy game yesterday, here's this week's Where at Nats Park. Can you guess what this is? Do you know where it's located at Nationals Park? Answers will be posted on Wednesday. Good luck! Answer: Mayorga Coffee Stand in 111 and 129...great for those real cold nights at the ballpark. You can also feel good about your purchase as Mayorga believes in sustainable practices and "shade grown," pesticide and herbicide-free...

Dream Foundation Hosts 5th Annual Gala

Dream Foundation Hosts 5th Annual Gala
For the fifth time since baseball returned to the nation's capital, Nationals players and coaches put on their tuxedos to raise money for the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation at the organization's annual gala. Held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, the gala is the biggest fundraising event of the year for the foundation. "It really helps when they win because people are so much more enthusiastic about the team, so it's been nice," said Marla Lerner Tanenbaum,...

To Raise a Closer

To Raise a Closer
It's one of the most difficult roles in baseball. Closers need a short memory, a lot of confidence, composure and nasty stuff. They must channel their adrenaline, turn it into a positive force and ultimately shut down the opponent. It's a unique role only suited to certain pitchers. One of those special players is Drew Storen, currently closing games for the Syracuse Chiefs. Storen's been effective and impressive since signing with the Nationals last June. After seven appearances with...

Nats Players, Wives Visit the Capital Area Food Bank

Nats Players, Wives Visit the Capital Area Food Bank
On Thursday afternoon, Nationals players Willie Harris, Wil Nieves and Alberto Gonzalez visited the Capital Area Food Bank to help with meal preparation for hungry families in Washington D.C. They were joined by their wives, Trey Harris, Yormarie Nieves and Elaine Gonzalez. Founded in 1980, the Food Bank is the largest supplier of food to those suffering from hunger in the Washington metro area. With a network of over 700 feeding programs and direct service programs, the Capital Area Food...

Remembering Ernie Harwell

Remembering Ernie Harwell
It was a sad Tuesday evening at Nationals Park as broadcasters, players, writers and coaches reflected on the passing of legendary Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell. For nearly 50 years, Harwell was the voice of the Tigers cementing his place in baseball history and earning the esteemed Ford C. Frick Award in 1981. Harwell, a soft spoken story-teller, was truly one of a kind. Though the Georgia native possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of the game, he impressed fans, players, coaches...

This Week in NatsTown

This Week in NatsTown
The Nats are home for a short homestand against NL East opponents this week. Of course, today is T-Shirt Tuesday, so get to the park early. On Friday, Miller Lite will give away coolers to the first 10,000 adult fans. It will also be the team's first Tweetup of the season. Join Twitter friends at the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk for just $14: www.nationals.com/tweetup. The popular Pups in the Park promotion returns on Saturday afternoon, welcoming four-legged Nationals fans to come cheer...

Beisbol Words

Beisbol Words
In class, we've focused on past tense phrases and verbs for the past few weeks so we weren't able to choose our own (baseball-themed) words. But, here is this week's set of words. Yeah, I'm being a little bit glass half full, but you have to enjoy it while it lasts! wildcard: comodín win: ganado, triunfo to win: ganar, triunfar winner: ganador to shut out: blanquear a shut out: argollada, blanqueada, lechada no hitter: juego sin hits grand slam: ...

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)
Changing it up this week, we have a reader submitted photo. Can you guess where this is? This photo is from C Tatem. If you have a photo you'd like to submit to the contest, leave a comment here and I'll be in touch! Answers on Wednesday. Good luck! Answer: Red Porch If you haven't been out there yet this season, check it out. There are lots of renovations and new menu items!

Weekend Odds and Ends

Weekend Odds and Ends
Please come join us at Crystal City Sports Pub on Saturday evening as we watch the Nationals take on the Marlins from Miami. Ben Goessling is hosting his first get-together to talk to fans this weekend and you don't want to miss it. Meet us at Sports Pub (in Arlington, accessible my Metro) at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Make sure to go RSVP! Nationals PR pro Lisa Pagano, who is also running for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Woman of the Year, is hosting a Kentucky Derby Party at Sports Pub...

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)
Happy Monday! How's everybody doing? Ready for tonight's game at Wrigley Field? Have you checked the NL East standings lately? Here's this week's Where at Nats Park contest: Do you know where it is? Leave your guesses in the comment section below (and try not to look at other answers). With our new auto approved comments, it's hard to hide correct answers until Wednesday. Good luck! Answer: It's the baseball in Red Porch sign! Good try, folks!

Children's Day at Nationals Park

Children's Day at Nationals Park
On Sunday, the Nationals hosted the Children's National Medical Center for the third annual Children's Day at Nationals Park. The event honors the Nationals' partnership with Children's Hospital and the team's ongoing commitment to building a pediatric diabetes care complex. Children who receive treatment at the facility enjoyed pre-game activities, delivered the ceremonial first pitch and line-up card, took the field for the "starting 9" and announced "play ball." Special tickets...

Ronnie Remembers

Ronnie Remembers
A versatile infielder and veteran presence, Ronnie Belliard played an important role during three tough seasons in Washington. Traded to the Dodgers in late August 2009, Belliard found himself moving cross-country from a team pushing toward a 100 loss season to a team destined for postseason play. Added as a utilityman and bat on the bench, Belliard impressed the Dodgers quickly with his hot hitting and ended the season as an everyday player. This April, Belliard continues to impress. The...

How to wait out a rain delay

How to wait out a rain delay
Last night, Jordan Zimmermann made his Major League debut and Joel Hanrahan recorded his first save of the season in front of just a few dedicated fans. If you were watching on MASN or listening to the radio, you probably saw a few dozen people gathered near the two dugouts. You may have been thinking, "those people are crazy." And, well, we probably were. But there is perhaps nothing better than winning a game after a long rain delay. The crowds clear out and everyone moves in close...