Introducing "My First Game"

Introducing "My First Game"
When was your first game? What do you remember? Was it magical? Maybe it wasn't your first game, but it's the first one you remember. Something stuck out -- a crazy play, a star performance or maybe just the color of the grass? As MASN continues to celebrate defining moments, Nats Buzz brings you a new weekly feature, "My First Game." It grew out of a piece I wrote for another publication about first baseball memories and I quickly realized (after an experiment on Twitter) that many...

A Day in the Life of Riggleman

A Day in the Life of Riggleman
Though the skipper maintains a blog here at MASNsports.com which provides some insight about his day to day duties, there's still plenty more that you may be curious about from time to time. When does he fill out his line-up card? What meetings does he participate in each day? Tune in to Nats Xtra tonight at 6:30 p.m. as the crew goes behind the scenes with Jim through a typical day on the job. The cameras start rolling as soon as Riggleman arrives at the ballpark. GM Mike Rizzo is also...

Where at Nats Park (Updated)

Where at Nats Park (Updated)
Happy Opening Day! Kicking off a new chapter of Where at Nats Park, can you figure out where this photo was taken? Good luck! Answers will be posted on Wednesday. Answer: Good work, folks. This is a Curly W on top of the Capitol dome hanging in the Stars and Stripes Club.

Nats React to President Obama's Visit

Nats React to President Obama's Visit
In a bright red Nationals jacket with a White Sox cap tucked inside his glove, President Barack Obama made his first appearance at a Nationals game to honor the 100 year anniversary of the ceremonial first pitch by an American president. Before the game, he met with the team to wish them luck. He also threw five to six warm up pitches to Pudge Rodriguez. "He was afraid to throw the ball on the ground, but I told him just grab the four seams and just throw it as hard as he [could],"...

Morgan excited to meet Obama

Morgan excited to meet Obama
For all the energy and enthusiasm Nyjer Morgan adds to the team, he brings something else as well. The fun-loving outfielder has a big heart and he wants to do his part to be a positive influence on the African American community, especially in the nation's capital. Morgan was involved with Kidney Foundation awareness events and fundraising throughout the winter. The speedster hopes to start another campaign to donate money for each of stolen bases this season, but it's still in the works....

Pups in the Park

Pups in the Park
The dog days of summer are coming to a close, but not before the Nationals welcome our four-legged friends to Nationals Park to enjoy the national pastime for a weekend. Today and tomorrow, fans can bring their furry friends to watch the Nats take on the Marlins from the Left Field Mezzanine. The team has set up a relief station with water and pet sitters near Section 201. MASN's Rob Dibble wished he could have brought his three dogs -- Kobe, Samson and Delila -- to the Nats inaugural...

Nats Honor Virginia Cavaliers

Nats Honor Virginia Cavaliers
Today, the University of Virginia Cavaliers traveled to Nationals Park to be honored by the Nats. The team met with Ryan Zimmerman on the field and watched the game from the PNC Diamond Club. And leave it to Ryan to send them home happy with a walk off home run against the Marlins. Last spring, Virginia competed in their first College World Series and captured the school's third ACC championship. They were 49-15-1 for the season. Much of their recent success has been attributed to...

Dukes, Desmond Share Debut History

Dukes, Desmond Share Debut History
Elijah Dukes knows a little something about hitting a home run during a Major League debut. In April of 2007, in the fifth inning of the Rays season opener, a then 23 year old Dukes took Yankees starter Carl Pavano deep in his first official at bat. Fortunately, the ball lodged itself in Yankee Stadium's center field wall and Dukes had no trouble recovering it as a keepsake. "Nothing can compare to that [experience]," Dukes said tonight after watching his 23 year old teammate accomplish...

Learn Spanish with Flores

Learn Spanish with Flores
Before receiving his recent injury news, catcher Jesus Flores agreed to help Nationals Buzz readers learn some basic Spanish words about baseball. The young catcher grew up in Venezuela and signed with the Mets in 2002. The Mets organization provided regular classes to the Hispanic players to help them learn the new language. Since arriving in Washington, Flores has worked hard to improve his speaking and writing ability in English, seeking out both a private tutor and opportunities to...

Josh and Ginger Willingham Launch Foundation

Josh and Ginger Willingham Launch Foundation
Josh Willingham and his wife Ginger have launched an important foundation dedicated to serving children and families in need in Alabama. The first project of the Josh Willingham Foundation will be building a playground for under-served children in their hometown of Florence, Alabama, but they also hope to help families in need around the holidays. "We started the foundation because we've had so much support from our family, our hometown and our friends back home," said Ginger Willingham. ...

Checking in with Church

Checking in with Church
A fan favorite player during his time in Washington, Ryan Church talked before Sunday's game about missing his teammates and fans in the nation's capital, but being thrilled to be part of the Braves organization. "Words can't describe it," Chuch said of playing for a franchise steeped in history and tradition with legendary manager Bobby Cox at the helm. Church described the Braves organization as low-key and very different from the high-pressure atmosphere in New York. "They have the...

And that's a wrap

And that's a wrap
We did it, NatsTown. Together, we survived another difficult season while miraculously watching our team somehow end up with 59 wins again. We lost a GM, a manager and several players but we gained exciting new players, a young pitching phenom, a talented new GM and another first round draft pick in 2010. Despite the challenges this season brought, we still witnessed some very good baseball from time to time. Adam Dunn, Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham provided plenty of moments to...

Nats Promote Reading to USO Students and Families

Nats Promote Reading to USO Students and Families
The Nationals' community service initiatives take no off-season, as evidenced by Thursday's gathering of nearly 300 children at Nationals Park to participate in Jump Start's Read for the Record program. USO volunteers, students and families joined the Washington Nationals, the Pearson Foundation and United Through Reading for a special bilingual reading of Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar on Thursday morning. Nationals president Stan Kasten welcomed the children to Nationals...

Lannan and Stammen Visit the Children's Inn at NIH

Lannan and Stammen Visit the Children's Inn at NIH
Nearly a dozen children gathered near the fireplace at the cozy Children's Inn at NIH in Bethesda to hear John Lannan read "Casey at the Bat" on Thursday afternoon. It was Lannan's first visit to the Children's Inn, a residential "place like home" for sick children and their families seeking treatment at NIH. But Thursday's visit wasn't about treatment or discussing hardship. It was an afternoon escape from the routine, complete with a special visit from two big league baseball...

Storen and Strasburg on Saturday (Updated)

Storen and Strasburg on Saturday (Updated)
Update: Stephen Strasburg has been scratched for precautionary reasons from his scheduled start in the Rising Stars Game due to a muscle strain in his neck. He is listed as day-to-day. Both Drew Storen and Stephen Strasburg have been selected to play in the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Showcase on Saturday evening at Surprise Stadium. In fact, Strasburg is expected to start the game for the AFL East Division team. The great news for Nats fans is that MLB Network will carry a live...

Lannan and Stammen Support Bethesda Big Train Baseball

Lannan and Stammen Support Bethesda Big Train Baseball
On Sunday evening, Nationals pitchers John Lannan and Craig Stammen will make another community appearance - this time in support of Bethesda Big Train. The team plays in the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League each summer and won the Championship this season. The 11th Annual Big Train Base Ball & Auction will take place on Sunday evening from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Pooks Hill Marriott in Bethesda. ESPN's Tim Kurkjian will be the featured guest speaker with special appearances by...

Riggleman Meets with MASN Fantasy Baseball Winners

Riggleman Meets with MASN Fantasy Baseball Winners
It was a crowded night at the ESPN Zone. With various games on television including the big ECU vs. Virginia Tech match-up, the place was filled with enthusiastic fans supporting their football and hockey teams. But a day after the World Series, the sports world was on break from baseball - except for a few lucky Nationals fans. Near the front of the room, MASN's Fantasy Baseball winners gathered at a large table and enjoyed appetizers, dinner, drinks and a long, casual conversation with...

Men About Town

Men About Town
It sure is nice to have some players staying in Washington during this offseason. Both John Lannan and Craig Stammen opted to spend time in the nation's capital this winter while training with strength and conditioning coach John Philbin in Gaithersburg, MD. Staying in the area has allowed both players to make additional community service appearances and to interact with fans on a regular basis. Over the weekend, the teammates showed up at Bethesda Big Train's annual Base Ball & Auction...

Lucky #11 on 11/11

Lucky #11 on 11/11
Actually, it has nothing to do with luck... Ryan Zimmerman is a deserving recipient of his first Rawlings Gold Glove award, which was announced by Major League Baseball on Wednesday afternoon. The first National to win the award, Zimmerman is the second Washington based player to win. Senators catcher Earl Battey earned one in 1960. "Winning the Rawlings Gold Glove has always been important to me, as I take a lot of pride in my defense," Zimmerman said in a prepared statement. "When I...

Winter Coat Drive at Nats Park

Winter Coat Drive at Nats Park
While it sure feels like winter might never arrive (no complaints here!), eventually we'll have to drag out the winter coats, scarves and mittens while we wait for baseball to resume in the spring. This year, when you begin to sort through your winter apparel, you might want to consider setting aside an extra coat. Through December 11th, the Nationals are collecting clean, re-useable coats and jackets for DC adults and children during the One Warm Coat Drive at Nationals Park. ...