Five-year celebration brings smiles, memories of 2019 title

Most members of the 2019 Nationals enjoyed long, distinguished careers, playing for multiple franchises and experiencing personal highs and lows along the way. None of them, though, ever played for a team quite like that one.

Because of how the season ended, yes. But also because of the bond they all created along the way.

“I’d still be playing if we had that group in 2019 over and over again,” said Brian Dozier, who retired in 2021. “It was a great group.”

The members of the franchise’s first World Series roster are forever connected, and when they gathered back at Nationals Park this weekend for the five-year celebration of that achievement, they were instantly transported back to the greatest season of their lives.

Twelve players from that roster were in attendance, including alumni Ryan Zimmerman, Howie Kendrick, Adam Eaton, Kurt Suzuki, Aníbal Sánchez, Sean Doolittle, Gerardo Parra, Javy Guerra and Dozier. Many of the 10 players still actively playing elsewhere sent in video messages. All received rousing ovations from the crowd that assembled to celebrate a championship in a way that wasn’t possible in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Nats' most significant moves in January

Nats' most significant moves in January
As the calendar turns to a new year this January, a new baseball season is on the horizon. When it will actually begin, however, remains to be seen. The lockout is currently keeping teams from making any major league roster moves, which is a shame because Mike Rizzo is usually very busy during the year's first month. No matter the pace of an offseason's free agent market, we have seen the Nationals general manager put together a competitive roster well before the start of spring training year...

Nats have solutions all over lineup to replace Rendon

Nats have solutions all over lineup to replace Rendon
The Nationals will need to replace the bat of third baseman Anthony Rendon in 2020. Rendon was able to come through in the clutch for the Nats time and time again, especially in the postseason, and potential third base replacement Carter Kieboom is not expected to have to shoulder the responsibility for that run production all by himself. So who can help in the Nats lineup? Looking around the clubhouse, could Trea Turner, Victor Robles, Juan Soto, Eric Thames, Starlin Castro and others pick up...

Zimmerman's take on the Zoom video call to celebrate Game 7

Zimmerman's take on the Zoom video call to celebrate Game 7
During a conference call Monday on the launch of the Pros for Heroes charity campaign, Ryan Zimmerman provided more insight into last week's Zoom video call with his teammates and coaching staff as they watching MASN's rebroadcast of Game 7 of the 2019 World Series. Zimmerman had a really good time that night, reminiscing with his buddies on the historic franchise win in Houston. So much so he joked at a reporter's query: "How did I feel right afterwards or the morning when I woke up after...

Only two members of World Series roster remain unsigned

Only two members of World Series roster remain unsigned
As the clock ticks down to the start of spring training, so does the scramble for the remaining unsigned free agents out there to find jobs. One member of the Nationals' World Series-winning roster found a job Friday: Matt Adams, who agreed to a minor league deal with the Mets. Adams, the left-handed half of the Nats' first base platoon for most of the last two seasons, will get an invitation to big league camp in Port St. Lucie and have a chance to make the Mets' opening day roster. But...

Could the Nats re-sign any more of their remaining free agents?

Could the Nats re-sign any more of their remaining free agents?
The Nationals had an usually large number of players become free agents off their championship roster: 12 in total, including those who either opted out of the rest of their contracts or had options declined by the club after the season. To their credit, they've managed to re-signed five of those free agents so far (Stephen Strasburg, Howie Kendrick, Yan Gomes, Asdrúbal Cabrera, Javy Guerra) while losing only two (Anthony Rendon, Gerardo Parra). But that still leaves five more players from...

What are the Nationals' positions of need this winter?

What are the Nationals' positions of need this winter?
As stated over the last couple of days, the fun is now over and it's time to start looking ahead to 2020. Not that the Nationals wouldn't love to just freeze time for a while and keep celebrating their championship. Unfortunately, the rest of the baseball world doesn't care about that and has already proceeded into the hot stove league. Thus, the Nats have no choice but to start making plans for next season. Which means we have no choice but to start looking at what they need for next...

Why Cabrera's at second and Ross is in the 'pen (Nats win 5-4)

Why Cabrera's at second and Ross is in the 'pen (Nats win 5-4)
HOUSTON - For the first time in a while, Davey Martinez had a lineup decision to make today. With Howie Kendrick serving as designated hitter for Games 1 and 2 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park, the Nationals manager needed to choose between Asdrúbal Cabrera or Brian Dozier to start at second base. He chose Cabrera, opting for a more consistently productive bat over a more consistently effective defensive player. "I like the left-handed bat, obviously today," Martinez said. "And...

Nats must decide who starts Game 3, who starts at second base

Nats must decide who starts Game 3, who starts at second base
HOUSTON - The decision to start Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg in Games 1 and 2 of the World Series was easy for Davey Martinez and the Nationals. The tougher decision is how to line up Patrick Corbin and Aníbal Sánchez after that, not to mention how to assemble a lineup for these games in an American League ballpark. Martinez didn't reveal the rotation plan beyond Game 2, and it sounds like the Nationals genuinely don't know yet who they'll give the ball to for Game 3 in D.C. on...

How the 2001 D-backs served as a model for the 2019 Nats

How the 2001 D-backs served as a model for the 2019 Nats
Mike Rizzo has worked in professional baseball for 36 seasons, and until this current campaign he had worked for a team that reached the World Series only once. That was in 2001 with the Diamondbacks, for whom Rizzo served as scouting director. It's Rizzo's favorite team, from a professional standpoint, and for good reason. It provided him his lone World Series ring, which he wears in public only one day a year: Draft day, to remind him what the whole point of this crazy endeavor is. That...

Game 159 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

Game 159 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies
Nationals manager Davey Martinez rested stars Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon on Wednesday and the Nats still won 5-2 over the Phillies. Second baseman Brian Dozier led off for the first time this season and delivered a late homer in the win. Now the Nats go for a five-game series sweep of the Phillies with the idea of resting another one or two players as Tuesday's wild card game draws near. The Nats (89-69) want to keep winning to make sure they host that game. They lead the Brewers (88-70)...

Sánchez solid part of the Nats' big four after his third straight win

Sánchez solid part of the Nats' big four after his third straight win
It is easy to see why fans go back and forth about which Nationals pitcher should start the upcoming wild card game Tuesday night. Max Scherzer? Most likely. Stephen Strasburg? Solid choice. Patrick Corbin? Very effective. But Aníbal Sánchez has also demonstrated he can keep the score down and go long into games. The right-hander did that again Wednesday night with seven strong innings in the Nats' 5-2 win over the Phillies. The Nats have won nine of their last 10 games against the...

Nats keep home field hopes alive with another win (updated)

Nats keep home field hopes alive with another win (updated)
The day-after-clinch game is always a tricky matter. All the moreso when the team in question still has something left to play for over the season's final few days. The Nationals wanted to take it easy tonight, less than 24 hours after they clinched a spot in next week's wild card game. They also wanted to maintain their slim lead over the Brewers for home field advantage next Tuesday night. They found a way to accomplish both during a 5-2 victory over the Phillies. A game that started off...

Game 158 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

Game 158 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies
It's the day after a clinch, and that always makes for some, uh, interesting lineup decisions. Like Brian Dozier leading off. Or Asdrúbal Cabrera playing third base. Or Wilmer Difo starting at shortstop. All of those are true of the Nationals lineup tonight, and understandably so. Anthony Rendon and Trea Turner can definitely benefit from at least one (if not more) days off. Truth be told, this lineup has more regulars in it than you might expect under the circumstances. Including all three...

Cabrera sits with sore ankle, could come off bench (Nats up 3-1)

Cabrera sits with sore ankle, could come off bench (Nats up 3-1)
MIAMI - Asdrúbal Cabrera is out of today's lineup, the veteran second baseman dealing with a sore right ankle after he was thrown out at the plate during Saturday night's 10-4 10-inning win over the Marlins. Manager Davey Martinez said Cabrera is not scheduled to undergo an MRI and doesn't believe the injury is serious enough to prevent him from playing altogether, but he wanted to give the 33-year-old a chance to rest today. "I haven't talked to (director of athletic training Paul...

Game 154 lineups: Nats at Marlins

Game 154 lineups: Nats at Marlins
MIAMI - Hello one last time from Marlins Park, where the Nationals will look to continue their utter dominance of the local ballclub. The Nats are 15-3 vs. the Marlins this season - they actually lost the first two games way back in April! - and carry an 11-game winning streak into today's series finale. I don't care how large the disparity in talent is between teams, that's really hard to do. The Nationals sure could use one more win this afternoon, though, because with the Brewers doing...

More on Saturday night's wild win in Miami

More on Saturday night's wild win in Miami
MIAMI - A lot happened during the course of the Nationals' 10-4 10-inning win over the Marlins on Saturday night, and much of it was covered in the game story. But let's make sure we give a few more significant moments and developments from the game their just due. ... * Asdrúbal Cabrera injured his right ankle. He hurt himself sliding while getting tagged out at the plate on a fourth-inning play that had plenty of folks up in arms, with third base coach Bob Henley waving the veteran...

Cabrera keeps hitting, keeps getting starts

Cabrera keeps hitting, keeps getting starts
MINNEAPOLIS - The Nationals signed Asdrúbal Cabrera to a league minimum deal on Aug. 6 because they needed some short-term help on the right side of the infield. Ryan Zimmerman and Howie Kendrick were both hurt, so the presence of a veteran switch-hitter who could come off the bench and make a start or two at second base and first base was needed. One month later, Cabrera has turned into a vital part of the Nationals' daily lineup, one of the hottest hitters in the league and suddenly their...

Game 144 lineups: Nats at Twins

Game 144 lineups: Nats at Twins
MINNEAPOLIS - The Nationals really need a win tonight. Which means they need to score runs. Preferably early in the game. For what it's worth, this appears to be a favorable matchup against Twins left-hander Martín Pérez. The Nats tend to hit lefties well (aside from last weekend's struggles against Max Fried and Dallas Keuchel). Pérez has a 4.75 ERA and 1.463 WHIP. And a few Nats who have faced him before have good numbers, including Brian Dozier (5-for-12, two homers) and Adam...

Soto getting X-rays, Cabrera getting starts over Dozier (down 7-4)

Soto getting X-rays, Cabrera getting starts over Dozier (down 7-4)
Lost in the shuffle of Tuesday night's record-breaking comeback win was the fact Juan Soto took a fastball off his right elbow in the sixth inning and was in serious pain. Not serious enough to prevent Soto from playing a big role in the Nationals' late comeback, but serious enough to necessitate an X-ray this morning. The club is awaiting word of that test, but Soto is in the lineup for today's series finale against the Mets. And even if he is hurt, it didn't prevent him from delivering...