Jordan off to rough start (Zimmerman removed, Nats lose 6-3)

Jordan off to rough start (Zimmerman removed, Nats lose 6-3)
The Upton brothers have struck again. Taylor Jordan gave up an early 1-0 Nats lead in the first inning after allowing a solo homer to Braves outfielder B.J. Upton. Jordan then allowed a single to Freddie Freeman. One out later, Justin Upton doubled home Freeman to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. Dan Uggla and Evan Gattis then followed with doubles of their own. The Braves lead 4-1 after one inning. The game got off to a promising start for the Nats as second baseman Anthony Rendon led off the...

Williams on Span, Barrett and Werth

Williams on Span, Barrett and Werth
The Nationals revealed before Saturday's game that outfielder Denard Span is dealing with concussion symptoms. Span collided with Braves second baseman Dan Uggla late in Friday's game and has been dealing with a mild headache since, according to manager Matt Williams. "Given his history we thought certainly erring on the side of caution to go ahead and get him on the seven-day concussion disabled list," Williams said before Saturday's game in Atlanta. The Nats center fielder has...

Bird Talk: Machado extension speculation, more on Meek, Hunter, Britton and others

Bird Talk: Machado extension speculation, more on Meek, Hunter, Britton and others
The Orioles opened the first week of the season with series against two American League offensive powerhouses: the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. While the club only came away with two wins during the first week, the offense seemed to come alive on Tuesday against the Yankees. Here are some stories you may have missed about the Orioles from other media outlets. * In the wake of Mike Trout's six-year contract extension with the Angels, former Nationals general manager Jim Bowden, now...

Nationals Chatter: Zimmerman fantasy tips, Rendon feature and more on Harper

Nationals Chatter: Zimmerman fantasy tips, Rendon feature and more on Harper
The Nationals made it through the first week with a 4-2 record. The Nats swept the Mets in New York, but then dropped their first series to the Braves at Nats Park. The team was bit by the injury bug several times in the first week, losing catcher Wilson Ramos and outfielder Scott Hairston while third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's status is in limbo for the time being. Here are some stories you may have missed about the Nationals from other media outlets during the first week of the season. *...

Zimmerman frustrated with latest shoulder setback

Zimmerman frustrated with latest shoulder setback
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is clearly frustrated after his latest shoulder setback. Zimmerman was forced to leave Saturday's game at the end the fifth inning after experiencing right shoulder soreness. He felt it after committing a throwing error in the fourth inning, which led to the Braves scoring two runs. "It's just more sore than it usually it is," Zimmerman said at Nats Park prior to Sunday's game. "For the last how many years, I've played when it felt good and I played when...

Bird Talk: World Series prediction, Lombardozzi trade, Clevenger returns home

Bird Talk: World Series prediction, Lombardozzi trade, Clevenger returns home
Baseball is back. Finally, all 30 major league clubs are playing meaningful baseball games. And how nice of Mother Nature to cooperate with us. The Orioles got their first win of the 2014 season on opening day, defeating the defending World Champions, the Boston Red Sox. With all of the hype surrounding opening day, you may have missed some stories from other media outlets. Keep reading for more. * Last week, I included a column from the New York Times' Tyler Kepner. His love for the Orioles...

Nationals Chatter: Recovery comparisons, Williams and Desmond profiles

Nationals Chatter: Recovery comparisons, Williams and Desmond profiles
Happy new year, baseball fans! I know 2014 technically started in January, so I guess I should be more specific. Happy baseball new year! The Nationals kicked off the 2014 season in dramatic, extra-inning fashion on Monday. With the excitement of opening day, you may have missed some stories about the team from other media outlets. * Back in 2012 the Nats were in the midst of a division race with the Atlanta Braves. In early September, the team decided to shutdown ace Stephen Strasburg because...

Bird Talk: Duquette building winner, spring questions answered, impact prospect

Bird Talk: Duquette building winner, spring questions answered, impact prospect
Five days. We will have regular season baseball starting on Monday, which is five days away. But before the Orioles open against the World Series champions the Boston Red Sox, make sure you catch up on any stories you might have missed on the Orioles from National writers. * Toward the end of last week, one of my favorite baseball writers Tyler Kepner of The New York Times, wrote a really nice column on the 2014 Orioles. Kepner starts his column by detailing executive vice president Dan...

#masnFirstPitch update

#masnFirstPitch update
It has been five days since we launched our #masnFirstPitch contest, which will give one lucky fan the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at the Nationals game on April 5. Have you tweeted your submission yet? If you haven't, don't worry. You still have eight more days to send a tweet to our @masnNationals account using #masnFirstPitch and tell us why you should throw out the first pitch. We've compiled some of our favorite tweets below: @masnNationals #masnFirstPitch I've...

Want the chance to throw out the first pitch at Nats Park?

Want the chance to throw out the first pitch at Nats Park?
From watching hundreds of baseball games, I've seen some amazing first pitches. I also know that you've seen a fair share of bad ones... Have you ever been watching a first pitch and thought to yourself: "I could throw a better pitch than that." Well, now you have a chance to show off your first pitch skills! MASN is giving you a chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Nats Park on Saturday, April 5, during the Nats' first homestand of the season! How can you win this...

Bird Talk: Hunter profile, Hardy's defensive praise, Duquette succeeding and more

Bird Talk: Hunter profile, Hardy's defensive praise, Duquette succeeding and more
We are so close to the regular season starting. Now, if only this pesky snow would leave us so the spring temperatures can come to Baltimore. While we wait for the season to begin, make sure you're up to date with all the latest on the Birds. Here are a few stories from around the nation that you may have missed about the Orioles. * Tommy Hunter, the favorite to be the O's new closer, has an interesting take on the game he plays for a living. "Baseball is failing man's sport and...

Nationals Chatter: Harper feature, drone issues, spring training facility update and more

Nationals Chatter: Harper feature, drone issues, spring training facility update and more
Friday marks the 10-day countdown until the start of the season. We've all missed seeing the boys in red play some meaningful baseball. Don't worry, the Nationals will be playing the Mets very soon. We'll just have to wait a few more days to see the team at Nats Park. Here are a few stories about the Nationals you may have missed from other media outlets. * Nobody can argue that left fielder Bryce Harper is one of the most exciting young talents currently taking the majors by storm....

Bird Talk: Looking at prospects, an old Bundy trade rumor and roster advice

Bird Talk: Looking at prospects, an old Bundy trade rumor and roster advice
The Orioles' are off to one of the hottest starts in spring training. The club has won nine Grapefruit League games and has looked impressive while doing so. I know MASNsports.com has loyal readers, but you may have missed other stories from national outlets. Don't worry, I have you covered. * MLB.com's Bernie Pleskoff took a deeper look at the Orioles' top prospects and how they could benefit the big league club. Kevin Gausman and Jonathan Schoop are two players who could help out the...

Nationals Chatter: Rendon spotlight, Williams' lineup, autographed Harper gear

Nationals Chatter: Rendon spotlight, Williams' lineup, autographed Harper gear
Spring is in the air. Everywhere I look around. Just ignore that chance of snow in the forecast. You may have missed what some other media outlets are saying about the Nationals. Don't worry, I have you covered. * Infielders Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa are competing to win the starting job at second base. CBS St Louis' Rich Arleo is taking the time to profile one young player from each of the 30 major league clubs. Arleo's pick for the Nats is Rendon. Arleo believes the second...

Bird Talk: O's could contend in AL East, Barlow tribute and more

Bird Talk: O's could contend in AL East, Barlow tribute and more
Live baseball is back and the Orioles are still making headlines. The Orioles made another splash Tuesday by signing Johan Santana to a minor league deal. Several national writers have weighed in on the Orioles' offseason. Read below for the latest. * The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo said other teams in the AL East should be looking out for the Orioles after their February roster additions. By adding Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz, the team has improved itself significantly. By drafting...

Nationals Chatter: Strasburg offers advice, Zimmerman talks fatherhood, and more

Nationals Chatter: Strasburg offers advice, Zimmerman talks fatherhood, and more
Baseball games are being played. I repeat. Baseball games are being played. Who cares if the games are relatively meaningless? It's baseball and I'm happy. Check out below what other outlets are saying about the Nationals. * As everyone knows, Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg underwent Tommy John surgery in 2010. The Nats then placed Strasburg on an innings limit in 2012, the first full season he pitched since having the procedure. The New York Post's Kevin Kernan recently...

Bird Talk: Wieters weighs in on rule change, fantasy tips, and more

Bird Talk: Wieters weighs in on rule change, fantasy tips, and more
The Orioles silenced their critics this past week by signing not one or two free agents, but three. A quiet offseason suddenly became very busy in the last 10 days with the additions of Ubaldo Jimenez, Suk-min Yoon and Nelson Cruz. But that's not the only thing that happened in baseball. Read more for what those in the national media are saying about the Orioles. * The new catcher collision rule will go into effect this season. Many have dubbed the rule "The Buster Posey Rule" after...

Nationals Chatter: Praise for Fister and Williams, spring training facility update and more

Nationals Chatter: Praise for Fister and Williams, spring training facility update and more
Spring is (almost) in the air. That tease of warm weather we had last week was cruel and unusual punishment, Mother Nature. It got me in the mood to go to a baseball game, but instead we're dealing with frigid temperatures. How many more days until opening day? With the Nationals officially in the second week of spring training, several national outlets made a trip to Viera. Read all the latest stories on the Nats below. * USA TODAY's Paul White stopped by Nationals camp a few days ago and...

Nationals Chatter: Searching for a new spring training complex, use of a drone and fantasy outlook

Nationals Chatter: Searching for a new spring training complex, use of a drone and fantasy outlook
Ah, springtime has arrived. Well, not here in the D.C. area, but in Viera, Fla. The Nationals began spring training last week, giving us baseball in our lives once again. Several publications have written about the Nationals over the last week. Read below for a national roundup. * The Nationals' search for a new spring training home as taken another turn. The Nats have asked former congressman Mark Foley of Florida to serve as a lobbyist for the Nationals. The team is said to be interested...

Bird Talk: Ubaldo, Ubaldo, Ubaldo

Bird Talk: Ubaldo, Ubaldo, Ubaldo
The Orioles' offseason heated up right around the time Baltimore was receiving a foot of snow. No, not all of us could be so lucky to go to Sarasota, Fla., and experience warm weather. The Orioles dominated headlines by signing not one, but two free agent pitchers. The first: Korean right-hander Suk-min Yoon. The second: right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. Let's take a look at some national headlines about the Birds. * Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote two days before the Yoon and Jimenez...