The Morning Briefing: Welcome to the Offseason; Juan Soto’s national stardom took off a year ago in the postseason and could Trevor Bauer fit in the Nationals’ plans?
Welcome to the offseason! There is a lot of news, headlines, and more so make sure that you keep up with the Nats Report all offseason long.
Good morning, Nationals Fans,
Welcome to the offseason! There is a lot of news, headlines, and more that is going to happen so make sure that you keep up with the Nats Report by following us on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest info.
Washington Nationals Headlines
Perspective: The Washington Nationals Should Get J.T. Realmuto
With the offseason rapidly approaching, the biggest free-agents will become the talk of the baseball world, and on that list is sitting a significant upgrade at Catcher: J.T. Realmuto and the Washington Nationals shouldn't miss out.
Read the full article via The Nats Report
Nats’ hopes for 2021 rebound start with their starters
We can talk about injuries. We can look at offensive consistency. We can point to the bullpen or poor defensive fundamentals. All played a role in theNationals’ disappointing 2020 season.
But there really is one reason above all others the Nats failed to make the playoffs this year. And it’s the same reason they failed to make the playoffs in 2013, 2015 and 2018
Read the full article via MASN Sports Washington
Based on FanGraphs original projections, how did each #Nats player do in the +/- ?
It was a good request from stever20 to produce a chart of FanGraphs pre-season WAR vs. the actual numbers for the Washington Nationals players. Some of the numbers are what you probably expected while some were very disappointing. All in all, the Nats were over -9.0 WAR below the original estimate
Read the full article via Talk Nats
Could Trevor Bauer fit in the Nationals’ plans?
Trevor Bauer walked off the mound in Atlanta on Wednesday with both layers of his makeup on display.
Bauer was leaving a dominating performance: 7 ⅔ innings, no runs, no walks, 12 strikeouts. He became the first pitcher in postseason history to amass such a line. He celebrated by slapping fives with teammates, then walking off the mound and making a mock chop motion.
Read the full article via NBC Sports Washington
Washington Nationals: Mark Melancon and his ten minutes as closer
Could you name all the closers the Washington Nationals have used the past ten years? Would you remember Mark Melancon? His time in DC was brief and his contributions meaningful, but if you had forgotten him, you’d be forgiven.
Read the full article via District on Deck
Perspective: On his 36th birthday, Ryan Zimmerman considers what he’ll be doing on his 37th
Fifteen years ago, Ryan Zimmerman celebrated his 21st birthday by going 2 for 4 with a double and a run for the fledgling Washington Nationals in a victory in Miami. It was his 17th major league game. Over the next 14 years, 1,672 more would follow.
On Monday, Zimmerman celebrated his 36th birthday just as he had spent each day the past six months: at home with his wife and three young kids. There had been no baseball the day before. There would be no baseball the day after.
Read the full article via the Washington Post
Washington Nationals’ Juan Soto could receive Super Two designation this offseason
For the last three seasons, the Washington Nationals have been the beneficiary of having one of the best value for money players in all of baseball in Juan Soto.
Since his call-up in 2018, Soto has blossomed into a franchise cornerstone for the Nationals while becoming one of the best hitters in all of baseball. Oh, and just the small matter of being a World Series champion last year.
Read the full article via Federal Baseball
Juan Soto’s national stardom took off a year ago in postseason
You have forgiven yourself by now for how you felt after the second inning. Two home runs against Max Scherzer, that postseason gut wrench back so fast, in such a jarring manner.Y
The 2019 Wild-Card Game between the Nationals and Brewers felt like another of those nights. The sighs and wonder why this team can’t get it together in the postseason pervaded the stadium. By late Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, plans for Wednesday were being made. They did not involve a flight for the home team to Los Angeles. They did not anticipate a continuation of the Nationals’ baseball season. This was the end. Again.
Read the full article via NBC Sports Washington
Will Nats try to acquire lineup protection for Soto?
Despite appearing in only 47 of the Nationals’ 60 games this season, Juan Soto reached base an astounding 96 times, fifth-most in the majors.
Soto only scored 39 runs, however, which ranked 19th in baseball.
Read the full article via MASN Sports Washington
Around the Horn: News from Around the League
MLB playoff scores, takeaways: Yankees, Astros, Rays advance to ALDS; Dodgers start postseason on right foot
The 2020 Major League Baseball postseason continued Wednesday with a packed eight-game schedule in the best-of-three Wild Card Series. The full slate saw three American League teams advance to the ALDS -- including the Yankees in a wild game vs. Cleveland -- and two road teams winning in the National League.
Read the full article via CBS Sports Washington
MLB will let 11,500 fans watch NLCS, World Series live at ballpark
As the coronavirus pandemic rages across the country, Major League Baseball has decided to let more fans watch the playoffs live.
The league will make 11,500 tickets available for each game of the National League Championship Series and the World Series, it announced Wednesday. Both series will be held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Tex., home of the Texas Rangers.
Read the full article via NY Daily News
Eight things we learned from unprecedented day of MLB playoff games
Wednesday was an unprecedented day in Major League Baseball history with eight playoff games taking place over a roughly 13-hour period.
The most die-hard baseball fans stuck around until the final out, but those who didn't could probably use a quick refresher on the most important things that transpired.
Read the full article via USA Today
No gay slurs used by MLB players on field for first time since 2016
MLB enters its playoffs after the first season since 2016 where there were no recorded gay slurs uttered by a player. The only blemish were remarks by a broadcaster.
Read the full article via Out Sports
The agreement between minor league baseball and MLB expired at midnight Wednesday. What’s next?
The pact governing Minor League Baseball’s operating agreement with Major League Baseball will expire at midnight Wednesday evening, but the once bitterly divided sides are still trying to forge a new deal.
The switch to more amicable relations came in late spring, when MiLB decided it would be unable to quell MLB’s desire to de-affiliate at least 40 teams from its stable of 160. Before the mood shift, the sides had locked horns repeatedly in loud, public forums.
