The Morning Briefing: Washington Nationals drop series opener with New York Mets, 3-2 final: David Peterson outduels Patrick Corbin
Good morning, Nationals Fans,
TGIF, it's the last weekend of the 2020 Season and the New York Mets are still in town.
Here is the latest Washington Nationals headlines and news from around the web.
Washington Nationals Headlines
2020: The Lost Year For The Nationals?
What was supposed to be a victory lap after the Washington Nationals won the World Series last year, 2020, can now be officially considered a lost year for the Nationals since they have officially eliminated from the postseason in the wee hours of Thursday morning.
Read the full article via The Nats Report
GAME RECAP: Washington Nationals drop series opener with New York Mets, 3-2 final: David Peterson outduels Patrick Corbin...
New York Mets’ rookie David Peterson outdueled Patrick Corbin in battle of lefties in the series opener in Nationals Park, and New York’s Mets took the first of four in the season-ending series in D.C. by a final score of 3-2.
Read the full article via Federal Baseball
The Nats were built for marathons and short sprints; Officially eliminated, what’s next?
You probably heard that the Washington Nationals were officially eliminated from the postseason late last night. Not a shocker at all when you start a 60-game season at 19-31. The next time you see the Washington Nationals after Sunday, it will probably be Mike Rizzo and his manager standing behind a batting cage at one of the practice fields at the FITTEAM spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida. While we expect that manager to be Dave Martinez — it is not official at this point in time.
Read the full article via Talk Nats
Which surprise Nationals from 2020 could be in future plans?
The Nationals brought in a variety of young, old, outside and in-house players to make it through the 2020 season. Some were full-on prospects. Others were veteran grabs midway through the season. Others still were new players to the organization who would receive a shot. So, who will be where next year
Read the full article via NBC Sports Washington
Kieboom on adjustments at the plate and at third base
Third baseman Carter Kieboom was disappointed that a left wrist injury ended his season prematurely. The 23-year-old felt like he made several strides forward in the field and in the batter’s box, especially over the last couple of weeks. Kieboom knows his numbers at the plate did not jump out, but that doesn’t mean those at-bats weren’t extremely valuable.
Read the full article via MASN Sports Washington
Washington Nationals: Spoiling Phillies playoff hopes may be silver lining
The 2020 season has not gone how the Washington Nationals would have liked it to. Were they to ruin the Philadelphia Phillies playoff chances, things would get better.
Read the full article via District on Deck
Why the Nationals are testing out Juan Soto in right field
As far as experiments go, the Washington Nationals testing Juan Soto in right field isn’t too unusual. He played there throughout three minor league seasons. The switch from left field to right can be a natural one. And since his debut in the majors at 19, Soto has shown a knack for learning very quickly, no matter the task.
Read the full article via the Washington Post
Around the Horn: News from Around the League
Long Before WAR, Nobody Knew What MLB Players Were Worth
A brief history of how baseball minds misunderstood a player’s true value before the sport largely adopted the all-inclusive stat
Read the full article via The Ringer
Yankees giving Clarke Schmidt audition for MLB playoffs start
Clarke Schmidt is being lined up to start the Yankees’ regular-season finale and that could be an audition for him being part of the postseason roster if the Yanks advance beyond the first round.
Schmidt would start Sunday against the Marlins. If that goes well, the Yankees would think about adding him to the roster for the division series if they are able to win the best-of-three wild-card round.
Read the full article via New York Post
Turner Sports expands its deal with Major League Baseball through 2028
Turner Sports will continue broadcasting Major League Baseball after agreeing to an extension of rights through the 2028 season.
The seven-year agreement will take effect in 2022 and includes a Tuesday night game as well as additional postseason games. It also includes expanded digital rights for Bleacher Report and other WarnerMedia platforms.
This is the second of the three rights deals that MLB has extended. It reached an extension with Fox two years ago that also runs through 2028. Manfred said negotiations with ESPN are ongoing about renewing that network's deal beyond the 2021 season.
Read the full article via Fortune Magaizine
MLB moving amateur draft to All-Star week in July
Major League Baseball is moving its amateur draft to the All-Star break beginning next season.
A three-day draft of at least 20 rounds will begin Sunday, July 11 as part of All-Star week in Atlanta, the league announced today. The first night, which has traditionally included only the first round, will take place before the All-Star Futures Game.
Read the full article via Fox Sports
Home-Field Advantage Won’t Matter This October. Did It Ever?
With Major League Baseball holding the postseason at neutral sites, the games will lack their usual raucous atmosphere. But recent history suggests playing at home doesn’t make much of a difference, anyway.
The last baseball postseason began with a stirring comeback and a sudsy celebration. Down to their last few outs in the National League wild-card game, the Washington Nationals rallied to stun the Milwaukee Brewers on their way to a championship. The party was on in the bleachers.
“The amount of beer that was thrown in the air in left field was unbelievable,” Dave Martinez, the Nationals’ manager, recalled a few days ago. “That will always stick in my mind. It was crazy. The players just fed off it, they loved it. Not having fans in the stands, it’s going to be difficult.”
Read the full article via the New York Times
'Don't want anybody panicking': White Sox, Yankees among MLB teams limping towards postseason
They were celebrating just a few days ago.
Well, as much as you can revel in a pandemic.
There were no champagne baths or dog-piles on the mound, rather handshakes and quiet toasts to success in Major League Baseball's postseason, which starts next week.
But even without the excuse of a hangover, there are suddenly a number of playoff teams performing like they could have an early October exit.
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