MASN to Televise Strasburg's Next Triple-A Start

MASN to Televise Strasburg's Next Triple-A Start
MASN will televise Stephen Strasburg's next expected start at Triple-A Syracuse, the network announced today. The Nationals prospect will take on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees on Saturday, May 29th. MASN will air the game on tape delay following Nats Xtra at approximately 12:00 a.m. It will re-air on Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. MASN has televised each of his four previous starts for Syracuse. The highly touted prospect is 3-0 for Syracuse with a 0.39 ERA and 27 strike outs in just...

Strasburg, Storen Impress

Strasburg, Storen Impress
In front of a sell-out crowd of 7,887 on a beautiful Sunday in Altoona, Pa., baseball fans in small town Pennsylvania got a glimpse at the future of the Washington Nationals. Just over nine months ago, the Nationals drafted an ace and a closer, Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen, two very different young men who will, over time, be asked to accept important roles in the organization's future. On Sunday, the duo did what they hope to continue doing in Washington for years to come. Pitching...

Strasburg to work with Topps

Strasburg to work with Topps
Topps announced today that Nationals prospect Stephen Strasburg has inked an exclusive deal granting the card manufacturer exclusive rights to his autographed cards, game-used memorabilia cards and a special line of autographed memorabilia. Topps will also be permitted to use Strasburg's image for advertising. The agreement is Strasburg's first major endorsement. "I can't wait to see myself in uniform on my first Topps card," said Strasburg in the release. "That's when I know I will...

Five-game, $15-Million Strasburg Plan (Updated)

Five-game, $15-Million Strasburg Plan (Updated)
On Tuesday afternoon, the Potomac Nationals announced a special five-game ticket plan in preparation for a possible Stephen Strasburg debut at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge this season. The $15 Million Plan, named for Strasburg's contract, includes Opening Day on April 8th and four flexible games that can be used to watch possible Strasburg starts. The plan does not guarantee that Strasburg will debut at Potomac, nor stay for five starts, but the P-Nats wanted to get started early. ...

Happy Strasburg Day

Happy Strasburg Day
Just a reminder (as if you need it), to tune in to MASN and MASN HD at 1 p.m. for Stephen Strasburg's spring training debut. Bob Carpenter, Rob Dibble and Debbi Taylor will bring you all the action straight from Space Coast Stadium. MASN will also replay the game at 7 p.m. Nationally, the game will be available on MLB Network and MLB.TV. While you're waiting, check out the cool Strasburg jerseys in MLB.com's team store or join us in Ben Goessling's live game chat (the link will be live...

Random thoughts from Viera (Updated)

Random thoughts from Viera (Updated)
Greetings from Florida. I suppose you'd call this a working vacation and I've been trying to find that perfect balance during my trip to Viera this week. It is tougher than it seems. Sure it's lots of baseball, lots of sunshine (finally) and lots of fun, but never forget how hard these writers work! It has been a blast checking in with our MASN folks -- Ben Goessling, Debbi Taylor, Bob Carpenter, Rob Dibble, Phil Wood and Ray Knight. Everybody is ready for a new season and the launch of...

Strasburg Chat on Wednesday

Strasburg Chat on Wednesday
I think that St. Patrick would be happy that "Jeeeeeesus," as he's called by Tony Plush will be chatting with fans online on Wednesday afternoon. Fans can chat with superstar prospect Stephen Strasburg at 12:30 p.m. and can begin submitting questions at 10 a.m. before the chat begins. You must register as a Nationals Insider to participate in the chat.

MASN Launches in Central PA

MASN Launches in Central PA
Great news for Nationals fans in the Harrisburg, Lebanon, Elizabethtown, Hershey, Millersburg and Lykens areas of Pennsylvania. MASN announced today that it will launch all four MASN channels just in time for Opening Day in parts of central PA. Nationals fans living in these areas will finally get to watch Nats games on television, as well as Nats Xtra before and after games, and all of MASN's other programming. MASN will launch on those Comcast systems on March 31st, and the first...

Road Trip Idea: Altoona

Road Trip Idea:  Altoona
After Monday's announcement that Stephen Strasburg will make his debut with the Harrisburg Senators on Sunday, April 11th against the Altoona Curve, I imagine that many of you went searching for tickets. And if you haven't already, you should! The Nats will be out of town and Altoona is just three hours from Washington D.C. -- a perfect Sunday drive to see the star prospect in a beautiful gem of a ballpark in western Pennsylvania. "Coming up, I remember that it was the place everybody...

Ravens Players Host 4th Annual Holiday Helpers Thursday (12/4)

Ravens Players Host 4th Annual Holiday Helpers Thursday (12/4)
Ravens QB Kyle Boller, WR Derrick Mason and CB Samari Rolle will host the 4th Annual Holiday Helpers event tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Pikesville Target at 6:30 p.m. In conjunction with their nonprofit charitable foundations, the players donated a total of $15,000 and will provide 55 Baltimore-area youth with gift certificates to Target. The players will join teammates, alumni and more than 40 Ravens cheerleaders as personal shoppers for the children. In addition, several Baltimore...

Brandon Erbe on making the 40-man roster

Brandon Erbe on making the 40-man roster
Even though he has a splint on his right pinky finger that ended his time in the Arizona Fall League early, Wednesday was a good day for pitcher Brandon Erbe. The Baltimorean and life-long O's fan from McDonogh High made the Orioles' 40-man roster for the first time. "Just excitement," the 21-year-old Erbe said. "You're kind of one step closer and in the minors, that's your goal to continue to make progress. This is a step in the right direction. Being from Baltimore, now I can look...

Reimold and Pie: One year later

Reimold and Pie:  One year later
It's funny what a difference a year can make. Last March, approaching opening day, there were many O's fans angered that Felix Pie was going to be the starting left fielder while home-grown product Nolan Reimold was headed to Triple-A. Now some fans are wondering how Pie will get at bats and wondering why Reimold has been anointed the starter in left. Maybe it's the same philosophy that sometimes makes the backup quarterback the most popular guy on the team. You know, the fans want him...

A few nuggets (with Pirates lineup)

A few nuggets (with Pirates lineup)
As always, choose your favorite dipping sauce. Outfielder Kyle Hudson was supposed to travel to Fort Myers as part of the minor league contingent for today's game against the Red Sox, but Ronnie Welty is taking his place. The Orioles will wear their black batting practice jerseys for that game, in case you were wondering. Here are the pitchers for some upcoming games: Tomorrow's minor league game: David Hernandez, Mark Hendrickson, Jason Berken. Tuesday in Jupiter (Marlins): Jeremy...

Quick Koji update

Quick Koji update
Orioles pitcher Koji Uehara decided not to play catch today to test his sore left hamstring. "Maybe tomorrow," he said through interpreter Jiwon Bang. Uehara said there's "no particular reason" why he's delaying the flat-ground session for at least one more day. "I could have done it today," he said, "but I wanted to do some weight lifting on my upper body." I'll pass along some pre-game quotes from manager Dave Trembley in a few minutes.