How Nats prepare young outfielders for what they will see in games
How Nats prepare young outfielders for what they will see in games
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Here is a list of the young outfielders (and their ages) that were in attendance at Nationals instructional league workouts in October: Andry Arias, 20Gage Canning, 23Justin Connell, 21 Jeremy De La Rosa, 18 Braian Fernandez, 21 Jorge Hurtado, 20 Daniel Marte, 18 Ricardo Mendez, 20 Roismar Quintana, 17 Jake Randa, 22 Cody Wilson, 24 Outfield/baserunning coordinator Gary Thurman worked with these players on the fundamentals the Nats want every outfielder to master as they make their way through...
A few more questions for O's fans
A few more questions for O's fans
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Today we revisit a few topics recently discussed on the blog. Time to address them further and discuss them further. Skipping levels on the farm: We recently looked at the possibility of players skipping levels in the farm system for the 2021 season. Without any games to track player performance or for players to use to make progress during 2020, how will the organization place minor league players next year? Do they just send them to the level they would have begun at in 2020? No, not...
Bell trade can't be Nats' only big move of the winter
Bell trade can't be Nats' only big move of the winter
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The initial reaction to the Josh Bell trade was overwhelmingly positive. A Nationals club that desperately needed to acquire a big bat did so without spending gobs of money and without dealing away top prospects. What's not to like about that? Well, as with all trades, it's best not to jump to any conclusions just yet. Let's see how this plays out. There's a good chance Bell proves to be everything the Nationals need him to be, and that neither Wil Crowe nor Eddy Yean amounts to much with...
OK, there's room for a little baseball talk on Christmas
OK, there's room for a little baseball talk on Christmas
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Well, if Santa can work on Christmas, I guess I can, too. Even though I'm writing this on Christmas Eve. But it's the thought, not the timing, that really counts. Or something like that. Can you tell I'm not sure what makes for a good Christmas Day baseball blog? So just a short note today to wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy holidays, and I hope you have a great few days with family and friends. As best as this year and a pandemic will allow. This time last year, in looking ahead to...
Nats get big bat for Christmas, acquire Josh Bell from Bucs
Nats get big bat for Christmas, acquire Josh Bell from Bucs
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
General manager Mike Rizzo found a much-desired big bat to stuff into the Nationals' stocking just hours before the sun sets on Christmas Eve: Josh Bell. The Nats have acquired Bell, an All-Star first baseman in 2019, from the Pirates in exchange for pitching prospects Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean in a rare (but not unprecedented) Dec. 24 move announced by the club this afternoon. The switch-hitting Bell, 28, clubbed 37 homers and drove in 116 runs while posting a .936 OPS and earning his first...
Nationals acquire Josh Bell from Pirats
Nationals acquire Josh Bell from Pirats
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
The Washington Nationals acquired first baseman Josh Bell from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for right-handed pitcher Wil Crowe and right-handed pitcher Eddy Yean on Thursday. Bell, 28, joins the Nationals after five seasons with the Pirates including the 2019 season in which he was named a National League All-Star. In those five seasons, he hit .261 with a .349 on-base percentage and a .466 slugging percentage with 105 doubles, 13 triples, 86 home runs and 309 RBI across 552 games. "We...
Kendrick's immeasurable impact on the Nationals
Kendrick's immeasurable impact on the Nationals
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Ask someone to create a list of the best players in Nationals history, and you're going to find plenty of consensus. Max Scherzer is on there, probably at the top, with Stephen Strasburg right behind him. Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto and Bryce Harper most likely round out the top five, in one order or another. Ryan Zimmerman certainly deserves a spot. Then you'll start getting some diverging opinions as supporters make the case for the likes of Jordan Zimmermann and Daniel Murphy and Ian Desmond...
A look at a few things that went right for the Orioles
A look at a few things that went right for the Orioles
Steve Melewski
Orioles
As the calendar year winds down, let's take another look back at the summer of 2020. Let's note a few things that went right during the shortened 60-game season for the Orioles. From Rule 5 to MVO: One of the biggest things that went right was the play of right-fielder Anthony Santander. He was a Rule 5 pick from Cleveland by the club in 2016, and by 2020 was the Most Valuable Oriole, as voted by local media. That is indeed a success story. Santander's season was a big thing that went right....
Big non-baseball news for Hays and Means
Big non-baseball news for Hays and Means
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Austin Hays would be the heavy favorite to win a footrace against John Means. However, Means beat him to the father finish line. McCoy Alan Means was born on Dec. 17. Levi Austin Jerald Hays was born on Dec. 22. Tremendous gifts to close out a very difficult year. Means and Hays will have lots to talk about in spring training besides baseball, but they're two hugely important components of the roster and rebuild. The Orioles have been envisioning Hays as their center fielder and leadoff hitter...
Orioles facts and what we learned from them
Orioles facts and what we learned from them
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. Hall of Famers John Wooden and Earl Weaver preached it. The phrase serves as the title of Weaver's autobiography. I'm using it this morning to lead everyone into my latest offseason collection of random facts. And most important, what we learned from them. No need to dig too deeply. Sometimes the answers are lying on the surface. Also, don't overlook an orchid while searching for a rose. Or something like that. * The Orioles were 18-11...