Archive: Nats
Giant President Heads Invade Inner Harbor
My only regret about today's scheduled Inner Harbor Invasion by Screech, the Giant Racing Presidents and the Nat Pack--in which the invaders promised to hand out Nats promotional material to unsuspecting Baltimoreans--was the scheduled time of 11:30-12:30. I figure the chances of Giant Abe being beheaded by a giant...
By Dan Steinberg | May 15, 2008; 01:26 PM ET | Comments (10)
LoDuca: Anti-Softball Cheers
(By Toni L. Sandys - TWP) I had a brief conversation with a veteran baseball writer yesterday, in which we both agreed on the following: that veteran baseball writers would not approve of softball-style dugout cheers emanating from Major League dugouts, that non-veteran sports bloggers would approve of such...
By Dan Steinberg | May 14, 2008; 05:29 PM ET | Comments (14)
Washington Softball Girls Shirts
Ripped from the comments. I'll take 12, please. Go here to buy. Actually, I'm grateful to the Mostly Full Nelson (who has since been demoted). Last night, I had no problem at all watching Cavs-Celtics in its entirety, merely to root against LeBron James and to hope against hope...
By Dan Steinberg | May 13, 2008; 05:40 PM ET | Comments (4)
Mets Act Like Little Boys
(By Jonathan Newton - TWP) So let me get this straight. Baseball's much-bandied-about "Code" allows for the strategic placement of baseball bats around blow-up dolls, but not for players to cheer on the bench? Because the business of pulling on tight pants and bright socks and belly-accentuating tops and...
By Dan Steinberg | May 13, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (12)
Ryan Zimmerman's Got a Blog
(AP Photo) Look, I gladly cash my Comcast SportsNet paychecks whenever they show up at the front door. I watch Sports Rise every morning. I keep meaning to get Buckhantz's "Dagger!" as my cell phone ring tone, and I nearly fell over myself sprinting to greet the great Michael...
By Dan Steinberg | May 8, 2008; 03:25 PM ET | Comments (5)
A Nationals Musical Interlude
Tunes to hum while waiting for Pro'Verb's new hit to drop.... Listen to "Nuts About the Nats," Charlie Brotman's more-than-fantastic ode to Washington Nationals Baseball. (why.i.hate.d.c. via Deadspin) Help the Nats choose their Seventh Inning Stretch singer. Watch Screech's Best Friend Jeff from Nats 320 as he auditions! (MLB.com via...
By Dan Steinberg | May 1, 2008; 03:22 PM ET | Comments (2)
Today's Top Five: Soulja Boy Reps LeBron
Photo yanked from Ohio.com. 1) Soulja Boy is actually a LeBron fan? Sigh. That's not so great. Well, he has a plane ticket here for tomorrow, anyhow. (Brian Windhorst) 2) A cartoon summary of Game 2. Hint: it doesn't end well. (Waiting for Next Year) 3) Gilbert Arenas "needs...
By Dan Steinberg | April 23, 2008; 05:18 PM ET | Comments (9)
Nats Beer Story Grows Sadder
Capitol City's sad absence from Nats Park actually contained a bit of intrigue, as detailed this week by colleague Greg Kitsock in the Food Section. There were at one time plans for Cap City to control 16 taps in the stadium, including eight in a left-field beer garden, Kitsock...
By Dan Steinberg | April 11, 2008; 04:24 PM ET | Comments (10)
Nats Fans Crash Opening Night
In the clubhouse. Just when I was beginning to get down on Nats fan, this blog saved the day. It's called "Crashing the Nats New Stadium on Opening Night," and it has just one entry plus a lot of Photobucket shots, but it's easily the best thing I've seen...
By Dan Steinberg | April 10, 2008; 11:56 AM ET | Comments (7)
Peter Angelos Doesn't Hate the Nats
(By Joel Richardson - TWP) The Orioles are in first place but are drawing flies. Like, not even healthy flies: just those decrepit flies that can no longer fly but can't stop breathing so they just walk around sadly and buzz a little bit until you hit them with...
By Dan Steinberg | April 10, 2008; 11:27 AM ET | Comments (9)
Nats Set a (Non)Attendance Record
Metro reported a "typical" rush hour last night. Typical. (Nikki Kahn - TWP) I can say for sure that I've been burned too many times by anti-bandwagon behavior to start that again. I though the Wiz were done at 0-5; they're now fighting for home-court advantage in the playoffs....
By Dan Steinberg | April 8, 2008; 04:21 PM ET | Comments (23)
PETA Wants Nats Naming Rights
I'd like to see it called "Tofurkey Park." Not content with veggie chili at the ballpark, PETA sent a letter to Stan Kasten asking to "rent the right to call Nationals Park 'GoVeg.com Field' until a permanent sponsor is found." The chances of this happening are about the same...
By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2008; 10:53 AM ET | Comments (13)
Nats Have a Uniform Glitch
You're gonna have to stare awhile. (Drew Hallowell/Getty) Only the truly deranged could have noticed this, but the letter "I" in the middle of Matt Chico's uniform did, in fact, appear to be upside-down last night. An old image search reveals that Chico's road jersey last year was like...
By Dan Steinberg | April 1, 2008; 04:11 PM ET | Comments (5)
Nats Park Reviews
Yup, it's a baseball stadium. A new one, too. Obviously, the most important review in the history of the world--from an architectural critic who believes the new stadium offers "a great experience but, alas, a lousy building"--was exceedingly negative. Not being an officially licensed critic, here were my thoughts:...
By Dan Steinberg | March 31, 2008; 04:10 PM ET | Comments (9)
Giant Racing Teddy Attacks the Braves
As previously mentioned, I thought Giant Racing Teddy might win yesterday, because if the opening of a new stadium isn't the right occasion, there might never be a right occasion. The fans would have gone berserk with happiness. Instead, Teddy ran into center field and cavorted with the confused-looking Braves,...
By Dan Steinberg | March 31, 2008; 03:01 PM ET | Comments (3)
The Best Sports Weekend in D.C. History*
This photo sums up the past weekend perfectly. (Courtsey of Under the Shell). Due to daddy day care demands, I did not post a word between Thursday late afternoon and Monday late morning. The three days I skipped just happened to form one of the most amazing three-day periods...
By Dan Steinberg | March 31, 2008; 12:46 PM ET | Comments (18)
The Nats Free Food Tour
Taking money shots of free food. It was impossible to count the media members at today's Nats Park Free Food Tour. Suffice it to say, the mob was large enough to make the mayor's introductory remarks nearly inaudible for latecomers. There were, I suppose, two minds as to whether...
By Dan Steinberg | March 27, 2008; 06:16 PM ET | Comments (14)
Nats Park Beer Options
Your Opening Night local beer lineup. What beers will be available at Nationals Park? Having asked this question about 4,000 times--"you've got a one-track mind," Stan Kasten told me this afternoon--I finally got the answer today, during the free-food tour of Nats concessionaires. No, there were no beer samples....
By Dan Steinberg | March 27, 2008; 03:53 PM ET | Comments (51)
Odalis Perez and Lo Duca Have a Past
Guts, Guts, Guts, No Guts (not pictured). (By Ricky Carioti - TWP) You know how Odalis Perez, the new Nationals Opening Day starter, spent four season with the Dodgers? And you know how new Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca also spent a lot of time with the Dodgers? That...
By Dan Steinberg | March 27, 2008; 12:08 PM ET | Comments (2)
Five Guys Confirmed at New Park
(By Dayna Smith/TWP). As a heathen lowlife vegetarian, I've been more concerned with making sure that the new ballpark would have veggie dogs and veggie burgers (yes and yes), but since the Nats first announced the local vendors, I've heard from people who wanted to know where things stand...
By Dan Steinberg | March 27, 2008; 10:03 AM ET | Comments (23)
Opening Night Celebrities: Horses, Elliot Yamin
Competing with Elliot Yamin for biggest opening night celeb. Let's hope the list keeps growing, but as of now we have, according mostly to this Nats release: The Budweiser Clydesdales. Denyce Graves (singing the National Anthem) Elliot Yamin (singing God Bless America) A variety of local musicians, including the...
By Dan Steinberg | March 26, 2008; 10:24 AM ET | Comments (5)
Nats Pick Stadium Music (Updated)
Yes please. (Photo by Sam Kittner) Mea major culpa, full list of song choices below, Chuck Brown is indeed included, apologies to the Nats. This asking-the-fans-to-pick-the-music trend has been percolating for a few years--remember last spring, when fans were allowed to pick David Wright's at-bat music--but the Nationals have...
By Dan Steinberg | March 12, 2008; 11:29 AM ET | Comments (34)
Nats Plant Trees
One mayor and two presidents. The Nationals' brain trust gathered beyond the left field fence at Nats Stadium this morning to plant the 13th 14th of 14 cherry trees that will adorn the plaza. The ceremony began once Mayor Adrian Fenty arrived. Giant Racing President Head George Washington immediately...
By Dan Steinberg | March 6, 2008; 02:17 PM ET | Comments (9)
Screech Loves Him Some Home Plate
Screech and his plate. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Had I not gone to watch Gilbert not be funny after Wiz practice yesterday, I would have been riding in the back of a truck with Nats mascot Screech and home plate. RFK home plate, as you no doubt realize, is a...
By Dan Steinberg | March 5, 2008; 11:14 AM ET | Comments (10)
Ronnie Said Knock You Out
"Mama Said Knock You Out" was recorded in 1990 and released in 1991, when Ronnie Belliard was but a teenager, no doubt a bit more svelte around the waist, perhaps of an age when teenagers would go to the high school dance and gesture awkwardly but forcefully at members of...
By Dan Steinberg | March 3, 2008; 10:20 AM ET | Comments (5)
Bret Boone = The Boone
The Boone family, including The Boone. (AP Photo). Bret Boone has dropped some revealing details from his past in recent days, the most notable being his brush with alcohol problems. And that's obviously not all that funny, and good luck to him dealing with that. What is funny? The...
By Dan Steinberg | February 27, 2008; 01:24 PM ET | Comments (10)
Bowden Segwaying: the Video
Dmitri Young singing the Toys R Us theme song + Ray King talking about his GM's flapping hair + Jim Bowden conducting interviews while on two wheels + John Patterson talking about SoulWays + Bowden swooping in majestic two-wheeled arcs = the definition of the good stuff. Washingtonpost.com's Jonathan Forsythe,...
By Dan Steinberg | February 26, 2008; 06:53 PM ET | Comments (2)
Nats Park: $309,445 Tix and Eight Facades
Can't quite see the facades. (AP Photo) There has been such a rush of Nats Park stories in recent weeks that I have trouble remembering any more which details are new and which details are old, but the Washingtonian throws all of 'em into its massive profile of the...
By Dan Steinberg | February 26, 2008; 12:13 PM ET | Comments (5)
Ben's at the Ballpark
(Bill O'Leary - TWP) The most important news of the month has finally arrived, with the Nats announcing the complete list of their local food vendors a few minutes ago. Here they are: Ben's Chili Bowl, Boardwalk Fries, Cantina Marina, Gifford's Ice Cream, Krazee Ice, Kosher Sports, Hard Times...
By Dan Steinberg | February 25, 2008; 01:11 PM ET | Comments (31)
Elijah Dukes Tees Off
Around 7 p.m. on Friday night, Washingtonpost.com master videographer Jon Forsythe, in Viera for Spring Training, went to a local driving range to blow off some steam, or whatever one does at a driving range. And who should he spot in a nearby stall, taking some of the more massive...
By Dan Steinberg | February 25, 2008; 12:29 PM ET | Comments (11)
Nats Flush: The Video
Still no Nats Flush t-shirts on the eBays, but the videographic evidence of Saturday's great toilet testing is now all over the YouTubes. Some noble flusher named MikeHill33 posted at least 12 toilet-related videos from Nats Park, including this one, in which the person in charge (no, not Jim Bowden,...
By Dan Steinberg | February 25, 2008; 12:14 PM ET | Comments (2)
Nats Have Toilets and Half-Dressed Women
Flush with optimism. (By Bill O'leary -- TWP) The message I got Saturday afternoon--"please tell me you're at the toilet flushing"--was highly distressing. Not only was I not at the Nats' giant toilet-flushing event--I was instead at a Cal Davis-Loyola basketball game, and more on that later--I hadn't even...
By Dan Steinberg | February 25, 2008; 08:44 AM ET | Comments (3)
Nats Group House
Seriously, whose belly is this? (Florida Today photo) Last week Barry Svrluga told us that Matt Chico is now, as he put it, "shacking up at the home of Shawn Hill." Left unsaid was the fact that Chico's wife is also "shacking up" at Hill's House. From Florida Today:...
By Dan Steinberg | February 20, 2008; 03:14 PM ET | Comments (3)
More Nats Job Openings
New jobs: Screech builders, Screech keepers. (Toni Sandys - TWP) There were two big Nats job auditions this week: Monday's Racing Presidents Head tryouts and Bret Boone's acquisition, which led to jokes about Herman Boone, Pat Boone and Boonedoggles. But there are other Nats-related job openings (and no, I'm...
By Dan Steinberg | February 20, 2008; 09:26 AM ET | Comments (7)
Racing President Falls, Tragically
As previously mentioned, yesterday was Nats Racing President Head Tryout Day, and I didn't go. Lots of other people did, though, and you can read lots about it in the Washington Times or a little about it at WTOP. NBC4 also has a video. But the clear highlight is provided...
By Dan Steinberg | February 19, 2008; 02:03 PM ET | Comments (10)
Dmitri Young Bobblehead Night
Hopefully ours is a bit pudgier. The other day, good friend and Official Caps Beat Writer Tarik El-Bashir caused a major stir in the WaPo sports department by bringing his Caps toothless Potato Head and Rod Langway Bobblehead through the office. Seeing the frenzy, Tarik pointed out that were...
By Dan Steinberg | February 13, 2008; 09:27 AM ET | Comments (9)
Nats Introduce the Dinger
This will all come together at some point. I love Barry Svrluga as much as the next stark raving mad Barry Svrluga fan, but how could he write an 814-word blog post today without mentioning the "Dinger"? I know you all are well acquainted with the "Dinger," but just...
By Dan Steinberg | January 24, 2008; 11:21 AM ET | Comments (4)
Top 11 D.C. Sports Moments of 2007
Sadly, this is what we'll all remember first from 2007. (By Tracy A. Woodward -- The Washington Post) One year ago tomorrow, I published the Top 11 D.C. Sports Moments of 2006. This year, I had hoped to actually publish my list in 2007, which seems to be the...
By Dan Steinberg | January 2, 2008; 11:46 AM ET | Comments (23)
Paul Lo Duca Misses Paul Lo Duca Camp
(Mark Avery - AP) Well, look, if I were implicated in a bad public relations story involving Congress, drugs, personal checks and the FBI, and I just happened to have a Youth Bloggers Camp scheduled at the same time, perhaps I would bail too. Perhaps I would leave my...
By Dan Steinberg | December 20, 2007; 10:24 AM ET | Comments (1)
Paul Lo Duca Says "Get Over It"
(By Pablo Martinez Monsivais -- Associated Press) This extensive radio interview was conducted the day before the Mitchell Report dropped, and so, after lots and lots and lots of talk about the Mets, the hosts asked Lo Duca whether MLB players were nervous about what was to come in...
By Dan Steinberg | December 18, 2007; 02:28 PM ET | Comments (8)
Paul Lo Duca's in the Report
Getty Images. "He's a winner. He's always won. It's what he does....That's what this game is about. It's not about statistics, this isn't fantasy baseball, it's about winning baseball games." Etc. Although I suppose there's no point in pointing fingers on a nasty day like this. And I guess...
By Dan Steinberg | December 13, 2007; 02:19 PM ET | Comments (13)
Lastings's Watch and Lo Duca's Girlfriend
As mentioned yesterday, the Nats press conference wasn't exactly a laff riot. Sample question: "Paul, I spoke to Todd Jones, who you played with in Florida, and he talked about how great you were in your game-calling. Could you talk about your plan to help this young pitching staff, that's...
By Dan Steinberg | December 12, 2007; 12:31 PM ET | Comments (17)
Lo Duca and Milledge Are Introduced
Paul Lo Duca and Lastings Milledge were introduced to the D.C. media this afternoon. The fun bits, which apparently seemed fun to me and no one else, will have to wait till later. For now, here are the key points. * Jim Bowden left no doubt that Lo Duca is...
By Dan Steinberg | December 11, 2007; 06:08 PM ET | Comments (7)
Giant Presidents and Gil's Constipation
This is Sway the Irishman, the winner of last year's Nick Rimando hunt. He was the game last night, with a mohawk. Much of this was written while in a car with Mike Wise, on our way to FedEx Field last night for the beginning of Washington's glorious march...
By Dan Steinberg | December 7, 2007; 09:17 AM ET | Comments (11)
Welcome L.Millz
Manny D and L Millz. I have to say, Barry Svrluga's indomitable Nashville blogging has intimidated me away from touching the Nats this week, but there are a few things that need to be said concerning the new additions. 1) Who benefits? UmpBump said it best: Jim Bowden, you...
By Dan Steinberg | December 6, 2007; 11:58 AM ET | Comments (9)
D.C. Attendance Rankings
Metro columnist/blogger Marc Fisher and I have had a running dialogue about the attendance for local sports teams over many months. The latest skirmish came when Fisher included this line in a recent column: The Washington Diplomats of the North American Soccer League -- their cheerleaders were the Honeydips --...
By Dan Steinberg | October 3, 2007; 11:37 AM ET | Comments (37)
Goodbye to RFK?
Fans who evidently decided to say goodbye to RFK by not leaving. I thought Tom Boswell's column about saying goodbye to RFK yesterday was really sweet, an homage to a stadium that has been so much a part of our D.C. sports-obsessed lives, a stadium whose imperfections and blackened...
By Dan Steinberg | September 21, 2007; 11:14 AM ET | Comments (32)
Bob Carpenter Leaves, Ron Darling Remembers
At least we'll still have DS. From the Wash Times this AM: Washington Nationals television announcer Bob Carpenter has been told by the club his contract will not be extended when it expires after the season, sources with knowledge of the situation said yesterday.' Barry is more measured in...
By Dan Steinberg | September 20, 2007; 10:14 AM ET | Comments (10)
Nats Sold Out, Due to Dogs
Urgent phone call from Barry Svrluga in Atlanta. The Nats will play in front of a sold-out Turner Field on Sunday. Why? The club hosts the season's second "Bark in the Park." The event offers Braves fans a chance to bring their dog out to the game. WAG-A-LOT will help...
By Dan Steinberg | September 7, 2007; 02:47 PM ET | Comments (12)
Da Meat Hook's Da Vorce
Forced out at second despite being significantly lighter in the pocket.(Chris Carlson - AP) Via the Miami Herald comes this news about Dmitri Young's divorce agreement, which was signed before Dmitri's contract extension: Rebecca, 35, walks with nearly $3.2 million. That includes $1.6 million that Dmitri had given her...
By Dan Steinberg | August 29, 2007; 02:02 PM ET | Comments (2)
Nats Raps
As we continue the most ruthlessly thrilling baseball campaign in recent memory, I bring you the Nats in Song, in three parts. Part I: In which a group of civilians head to RFK Stadium to perform a hip-hop number about That Fitted is Hot, Son Washington Nationals caps, complete with...
By Dan Steinberg | August 27, 2007; 01:53 PM ET | Comments (5)
The Nats Make Concessions
Svrluga dropped an important word in his notes column today: Centerplate. As in, the new concessionaire at the Nats' new stadium. As in, the outfit responsible for the food at AT&T, which, as we all know, has finished first or second in the most-vegetarian friendly park standings three years in...
By Dan Steinberg | August 27, 2007; 12:04 PM ET | Comments (10)
Mini Meat Hook's Mohawk
Damon Young and his mohawk, striking a pose. Dmitri Young's two sons were all over the field before gametime yesterday. That's nothing new. You often hear tales of young lads growing up in the clubhouse; these boys are proof that such a phrase is no mere rhetorical riff. What...
By Dan Steinberg | August 17, 2007; 10:18 AM ET | Comments (9)
The Washington Nationals' General Manager
(By John McDonnell - TWP) This is a picture of the Washington Nationals' general manager. He is excitedly pointing at the shoes of his new left-handed pitcher while telling the assembled crowd that they're Prada. This is a photo that makes me very very happy every time I look...
By Dan Steinberg | August 17, 2007; 09:43 AM ET | Comments (6)
The National Wears Prada
You knew it was going to be a good press conference when Manny Acta walked in, sat down at the table, looked to his left, and noticed a door. "First time I've seen that door," he mused. "It probably goes to rats." Probably, but this was not a day for...
By Dan Steinberg | August 16, 2007; 07:04 PM ET | Comments (5)
Tim Redding Golfs 200 Times a Year
The First Tee is a World Golf Foundation initiative dedicated to providing young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship, and also, with luck, the ability to notice minute rules infractions during televised golf broadcasts and...
By Dan Steinberg | August 14, 2007; 05:08 PM ET | Comments (3)
Sneaking Into the Nats' Stadium
(Photo by Arjewtino) My wife and I drove past the Nats' new stadium a few weeks back, and I noticed that the gates were open and no security were to be seen, unless they were hiding behind dirt-moving machines. I remarked upon this fact to several people, that if...
By Dan Steinberg | August 13, 2007; 12:01 PM ET | Comments (2)
Batting Music
Somewhat bizarrely, I had two different people e-mail me variations on the same question in recent days. From Reader Brian: I have a beer-league softball tournament in two weeks and need help picking my intro music. What do you think the best intro song would be? From Reader Laura: My...
By Dan Steinberg | August 9, 2007; 11:57 AM ET | Comments (14)
Was Mike Bacsik Showboating?
As Mike Bacsik became a nationally known name, at least for an hour or two this morning--Svrluga: "I have to tell you at this point that Mike Bacsik is about to become a national media darling"--many people (read: me) seemed to overlook the fact that Bacsik perhaps foretold the fateful...
By Dan Steinberg | August 8, 2007; 11:29 AM ET | Email a Comment
Dmitri Young: Whoop-dee-whoo?
This week suddenly shapes up as a magical one for the Nats. Six straight wins, and now a trip to San Fran for an audience before national television viewers and bored national baseball writers. Barry Svrluga quoted Dmitri Young's reaction in today's paper as "Whoop-dee-doo," but watching the clip below,...
By Dan Steinberg | August 6, 2007; 11:14 AM ET | Comments (1)
Phillies Fans Are the Greatest
Since my previous video of Phillies Fans proved so popular (sample comment: you should stay home... just like every other night in your parents basement), and since I was unable to go to Philly yesterday, and since right this second I happen to be in my car, here are some...
By Dan Steinberg | July 27, 2007; 11:39 AM ET | Comments (1)
This Day in Meathook: Yes! Nooooo!
The thing about this imminent Dmitri Young re-signing (has it happened yet? Now, has it happened? Now?) is that Mr. Hook has the chance to retire as the most popular player in Washington Nationals history, and that is in no way an exaggeration. The team's best player, Zimmerman, remains cool...
By Dan Steinberg | July 27, 2007; 09:13 AM ET | Comments (16)
Lannan Ejected? Any Precedent?
Give peace a chance, fellas. Jeez. First big-league start, 40 family and friends in the crowd, stories in papers from Vermont to Albany to Long Island to D.C. to Philly, an extra special Bog post, and this is the result? Washington's John Lannan was thrown out in his major league...
By Dan Steinberg | July 26, 2007; 03:35 PM ET | Comments (7)
Dmitri Young and Svrluga
Chronology: 1) Dmitri Young is close to signing a two-year extension with the Nats, reports MLB.com. 2) "Huh?" asks a concerned Capitol Punishment. 3) I get ready to post my thoughts, but just then the tireless Barry Svrluga--whom the Washington Post actually pays to be smart about the Nats--posts his....
By Dan Steinberg | July 26, 2007; 01:54 PM ET | Comments (6)
John Lannan: Yanks and Mets Fan
Today's Nationals starter is 22-year-old lefty John "Imagine" Lannan. He may not have a fan club blog like fellow young lefty Matt Chico, but he is apparently something of a media darling. And, in an attempt to make two bad puns within one paragraph, I present Today in Lannangrad: *...
By Dan Steinberg | July 26, 2007; 10:59 AM ET | Comments (1)
This Day in Meathook: Major Sacrilege
The nation's Dmitri Young trade reportage is sadly lacking (as is this area's Kenner League reportage---why in the world didn't I go last night????), but I'll bring you several tid-bits nonetheless. * The Sun-Sentinel reports that Dmitri Young helped originate "The Bounce," that joyous post-home-run celebration that is now de...
By Dan Steinberg | July 26, 2007; 09:59 AM ET | Email a Comment
Phillies Fans Celebrate National Destruction
From last night's Phillies-Nats game. The first few moments are unwatchable. As are the last few moments, I suppose. The favored celebration move for an important late-July home run is apparently the pelvic thrust. I've been thinking about trying to go to tomorrow's day game, just to say hey to...
By Dan Steinberg | July 25, 2007; 12:14 PM ET | Comments (15)
Today in Meathook: There is a Ceiling
I'm hoping like heck Da Meat Hook doesn't get traded, because for three months I've been planning on writing an item about his $3 million baseball card collection, and I just haven't done it, and the team doesn't return home before the trading deadline. You can view some of his...
By Dan Steinberg | July 25, 2007; 10:01 AM ET | Comments (1)
D.C.-Baltimore Rivalry: Ridiculous
Dan Steinberg is on vacation. Despite his massive photo above, this was not written by him. It was written by Neal Shaffer, editor of The Loss Column, which is not technically about D.C. sports but is close enough. Dan will theoretically be back tomorrow. Anyhow, TLC writes below, and please...
By Dan Steinberg | July 24, 2007; 02:12 PM ET | Comments (18)
Bobby Boswell's Famous Friends
Dan Steinberg is on vacation. Despite his massive photo above, this was not written by him. It was written by professional soccer player Bobby Boswell, the author of the cleverly named BobbyBoswell.com. Other guest bloggers will check in later today. Dan will theoretically be back tomorrow. Anyhow, BB writes below,...
By Dan Steinberg | July 24, 2007; 09:54 AM ET | Comments (9)
Worst Mascot in Baseball? You Betcha
Dan Steinberg is on vacation. Despite his massive photo above, this was not written by him. It was written by the fine optimist over at The Nationals Enquirer, which you must read. Other guest bloggers will check in later today, and all week. Anyhow, TNE writes below, and please provide...
By Dan Steinberg | July 20, 2007; 11:59 AM ET | Comments (39)
Telling the Whole Story*
Dan Steinberg is on vacation. Despite his massive photo above, this was not written by him. It was written by the gents over at D.C. Optimist, which you must read. Other guest bloggers will check in later today, and all week. Anyhow, the Optimists write below, and please provide extra...
By Dan Steinberg | July 20, 2007; 08:45 AM ET | Comments (7)
Nats-Orioles World Series
Dan Steinberg is on vacation. Despite his massive photo above, this was not written by him. It was written by the bizarre individual behind The Wayward Oriole, which you must read. Other guest bloggers will check in all week. Also, tomorrow, Thursday, will be one of the most magical days...
By Dan Steinberg | July 18, 2007; 01:45 PM ET | Comments (12)
A Fat Pitcher and a Poll
Dan Steinberg is on vacation. Despite his massive photo above, this was not written by him. It was written by Chris Needham of the blog Capitol Punishment, which you must read. Other guest bloggers will check in later today, and all week. Also, tomorrow, Thursday, will be one of the...
By Dan Steinberg | July 18, 2007; 08:34 AM ET | Comments (13)
A Shirtless Dmitri Young Greets Caron
Apologies for being late to the game on this one, but the Wizards' always brilliant multimedia team put together a video of Caron's trip to RFK, a video that contains highlights almost too numerous to mention here. First and foremost, there is the image of Caron greeting a shirtless Dmitri...
By Dan Steinberg | July 12, 2007; 03:43 PM ET | Comments (5)
Ronnie Belliard Sends a Man to Prison
Continuing with the "tremendous D.C.-oriented weekend stories," we have Ronnie Belliard's glorious court victory, although apparently the judge did not see the whole thing as glorious. If you've forgotten, some dude claimed his daughter was pregnant with Belliard's child, and there were various demands for money or offers to pay...
By Dan Steinberg | July 9, 2007; 12:43 PM ET | Email a Comment
Washington Misses Gooz
But first, some words from Jim Bowden. "It's a serious situation," Bowden said of Jesus Colome. "We pray for his buttocks and his family." The thing is, it actually is a serious situation, and yet it has generated possibly the best quote in sports history. Anyhow, I have to go...
By Dan Steinberg | July 3, 2007; 09:39 AM ET | Comments (4)
Caron's First Pitch
I didn't see Caron's first pitch at Sunday's Nats game. But others did. All that really needs to be said is, Caron throws like [someone who isn't very good at throwing a baseball], and if you want to substitute a particular noun in place of the bracket, be my guest....
By Dan Steinberg | June 26, 2007; 10:52 AM ET | Comments (2)
Are Washington Sports Pitiful?
Because I was off counting daisies last week, I never managed to reply to this CBS SportsLine column claiming D.C. to be "the most pitiful sports town in the country." Now, there are three ways to measure something like this: results, fandom and enfo'tainment. 1) Our results have been undoubtedly...
By Dan Steinberg | June 25, 2007; 09:16 AM ET | Comments (29)
D.C.'s Top Six Athletes
Someone asked me the other day to name the Top Five Big-Name Athletes in D.C. No qualifications for judging were given. The point of the exercise was to determine where exactly Caron Butler fits into such a list. Because I can't post much today, I figured this would be the...
By Dan Steinberg | June 14, 2007; 01:14 PM ET | Comments (57)
Notes From the Nats Clubhouse: Dmitri = Pro Wrestler
Things you should know from yesterday's Nats' clubhouse. 1) The deeply superstitious Dmitri Young, who at the age of 33 has a .329 batting average (which would be the best of his career) is not talking about hitting right now, for obvious reasons. So I had to ask some teammates...
By Dan Steinberg | June 8, 2007; 11:31 AM ET | Comments (6)
Nats Pitcher Aspires to SportsTalk Career
I suppose I should have known this, but I didn't. Nats starter Mike Bacsik spent his offseason in 2005 as an intern with Dallas sports talk radio station 1310 The Ticket in Dallas. He would like this to be his career one day. He considers himself especially expert in, you...
By Dan Steinberg | June 7, 2007; 03:22 PM ET | Email a Comment
The Nats Pick Up Trash, Part II
So let me set the scene at Anacostia Park this morning. Across the river, the new ballpark rises artfully as a backdrop, complete with authentic, if muted, construction noise. From out of the river, interesting odors waft over our party. A smattering of trash flits about on the surface of...
By Dan Steinberg | June 5, 2007; 04:42 PM ET | Comments (6)
The Nats Pick Up Trash, Part I
When I got to the Nats Great Trash Pick-Up by the Anacostia River, two things were immediately evident. 1) It smelled like the Anacostia River. ("Pretty intense right here; it's downwind," joked Nats Principal Owner Mark Lerner.) 2) There were no Nats. Lots of kids, mind you. The kiddies of...
By Dan Steinberg | June 5, 2007; 03:41 PM ET | Comments (5)
Manny Acta Gets Mad
Ok, ok, it's not exactly Joe Mikulik last year, when the Asheville Tourists skipper engaged in a real freak-out freak-out. Nor is it Phillip Wellman, who I really thought was on hallucinogens or something when he started crawling along the ground. It's not even Lou Piniella, not close. Still, it's...
By Dan Steinberg | June 5, 2007; 11:05 AM ET | Comments (2)
Ryan Wagner Looks for Cows on the Intertubes
As noted below, Stuart Scott does not care at which restaurants professional athletes dine. As should be abundantly clear, I do. Which is why, I now present 12 meaningless facts about injured Nats reliever Ryan Wagner, who is visiting with Dr. James Andrews next week, which isn't a great sign....
By Dan Steinberg | June 1, 2007; 02:35 PM ET | Comments (5)
Nats Ban Skittles
Two extremely important Nats stories 1) Chris from Capitol Punishment has the requisite amount of fun with the crazed story coming out of RFK that the team has axed its supplies of such essential treats as Milky Ways, Twinkies and Skittles. These are poison. Avoid them. In are fruits, walnuts,...
By Dan Steinberg | May 31, 2007; 10:14 AM ET | Comments (7)
Get Ready for the Correction
When I read Boswell's sunshine-and-daffodils homage to the Nats and the Plan this AM, the first thing I thought was: "hmmm, I'll betcha the bloggers are going to have something to say about this." As our caption in the paper said, "Things were just out of reach last night for...
By Dan Steinberg | May 30, 2007; 12:24 PM ET | Comments (5)
Give Us Our Stadium Art
When I read in January that the smart people had figured out a loophole that would allow for a public art showcase at the Nats' new ballpark, I happily anticipated the flowering of creativity this would yield. In terms of artistic styles, I was guessing the Lerners were into Minimalism....
By Dan Steinberg | May 29, 2007; 10:14 AM ET | Comments (1)
The Nats Are Hopelessly Mediocre
This series with the Reds is the final straw for me. All my hopes and dreams of a season to remember, a season of historical wretchedness...out the window. No chance. Statistically impossible. To get back on 121-loss pace, the Nats would have to lose between 24 and 25 consecutive games....
By Dan Steinberg | May 24, 2007; 10:01 AM ET | Comments (6)
The Secret to the Nats' Success (Rhymes with Anger Mans)
[Actually, we're not 100 percent sure on the pronunciation here, so possibly "Anger Mans" is incorrect.] Anyhow, another day, another win for the Nats. That's six out of seven, as the long climb back to a division title continues. I attempted to be a real reporter and figure out what...
By Dan Steinberg | May 17, 2007; 05:06 PM ET | Comments (4)
The Nats on American Idol
Remember earlier today, when I asked Robert Fick for his take on the sporting issues of the day? Well, I also asked about last night's "American Idol" results, figuring he would not be a fan. "I just think it's the way she looks," he said of Melinda and her untimely...
By Dan Steinberg | May 17, 2007; 03:25 PM ET | Comments (3)
Robert Fick on the Sporting Issues of the Day
Day game today. The regular beat writers were all sitting in the dugout talking baseball this morning. Suckers. Me, I went into the locker room after Robert Fick, who showed up at the park wearing a Randy Moss Oakland Raiders jersey. I wanted to know why he chose Moss, and...
By Dan Steinberg | May 17, 2007; 01:21 PM ET | Comments (3)
Nats Launch New Batting Songs
This, sadly, is a woefully incomplete story. The final chapter will be told. Tomorrow, maybe. Anyhow, when I was at Monday's Nats game, I heard some rumblings of several Nats choosing new songs for their plate appearances. In fact, Robert Fick was spotted, CD in hand, in some back tunnel....
By Dan Steinberg | May 16, 2007; 02:47 PM ET | Comments (13)
Ryan Wagner Gets Creamed
You know how during Wizards season I kept wondering whether the team was winning because the locker room was fun, or whether the locker room was fun because the team was winning? Well, I have no idea what the answer is. All's I know is, on the heels of a...
By Dan Steinberg | May 16, 2007; 11:29 AM ET | Comments (1)
Catch Dmitri Young for $100
The lead-up to a baseball game is so long. There are hours and hours to pass. That allows the following two things to happen on a night like last night. 1) Mike Wise can discover that he and Nats starter Jerome Williams went to rival high schools in Hawaii. Williams's...
By Dan Steinberg | May 16, 2007; 10:18 AM ET | Comments (6)
A Near No-Knitter
I spent the first inning of Monday's near no-hitter wandering through the 500 section and hanging out with the arts-and-crafts set, who had descended with their yarn and their needles and their crochet hooks for Stitch N' Pitch night. I wasn't sure whether this would be interesting or not. The...
By Dan Steinberg | May 15, 2007; 02:33 PM ET | Comments (6)
J-Lo's Tattoos and Daughters
Jen Lopez, the wife of the Nats' Felipe, was helping promote last night's Stitch N' Pitch event, which will be discussed in this space later today. Anyhow, as part of this promotion, Jen was appearing on Washington Post Live, a television show on Comcast SportsyNet with which I used to...
By Dan Steinberg | May 15, 2007; 11:57 AM ET | Comments (1)
Nats Win, Stands Empty, Blogger Remains
I still regret not heading for RFK last fall to watch that bizarre midnight game with the Phillies. Once the newspaper presses have shut down for the night, the reign of the bloggers begins. Or the rain of bloggers. Or something. The sun always shines in Kastenville. Anyhow, we had...
By Dan Steinberg | May 14, 2007; 09:46 AM ET | Comments (3)
The Nats Are Patching Holes
Yes, that's right, Stitch N' Pitch is coming to RFK. Stitch N' Pitch, of course, is the wildly popular, variously apostrophed Zanesville, Ohio-based program that brings together America's love for baseball with America's love of the NeedleArts. [Note to MLB: As others have said, maybe you don't want to be...
By Dan Steinberg | May 11, 2007; 11:29 AM ET | Comments (3)
Nats Cookies: Not the Cheapest
A reader points out that Adam Archuleta jerseys aren't the only sort-of D.C. sports items for sale. Washington Nationals cookies are currently available at a major discount on Amazon.com: 24 cookies for $24.00. In fact, so are Orioles cookies. In fact, so are the cookies of virtually every Major League...
By Dan Steinberg | May 4, 2007; 10:56 AM ET | Comments (6)
Austin Kearns and John Deere Hats
I went to yesterday's Nats game. Basically, I was there to try to find something quirky enough for my appearance on Washington Post Live. Which is why my heart fluttered when I saw Austin Kearns walking off the field following batting practice, with two vibrant green John Deere baseball caps...
By Dan Steinberg | April 19, 2007; 02:35 PM ET | Comments (8)
Punching Bagginess Continues
Baltimore Sun columnist Rick Maese, throwing haymaker after haymaker in our direction this AM. I mean, at least our badness is now a topic of regional discussion. Like I've said many times, better to be truly wretched than merely mediocre. Truly wretched will yield national coverage. Mediocre will be quickly...
By Dan Steinberg | April 13, 2007; 10:47 AM ET | Comments (26)
Seeking Korean Speakers, and Looking at the O's
Have you ever listened to a Jim Bowden sound bite and got the sense that he was saying something really important, but you just didn't understand what it was? Never have I had that sense more acutely than when viewing Distinguished Senators today. DS found Nats-related cartoons from his absolute...
By Dan Steinberg | April 12, 2007; 03:52 PM ET | Comments (8)
The Quiz of Desperation
I mean, what am I supposed to say? Every team I could conceivably write about today is soul shreddingly terrible. So instead of some vain effort to be happy, I will present The Washington D.C. Quiz of Desperation. The first two people to respond correctly in the comments will get...
By Dan Steinberg | April 12, 2007; 02:19 PM ET | Comments (24)
Um
Wizards, awesome. Nats, awesome. Everyone's awesome. Kids, start a blog about D.C. sports, right away. There will never be a better time. I'm trying to compose myself. Since this video was unearthed by the Wizznutzz during my hiatus, I'd urge you, in the meantime, to watch an animated college-aged Calvin...
By Dan Steinberg | April 12, 2007; 09:57 AM ET | Comments (3)
Finding the Negative
Like I said, spin the wheel, Nats, Caps, Wiz, which dose of daily depression do you want? For now, we'll go Nats, a team which, somewhat improbably, has at once scored the fewest runs in the National League, and allowed the most runs in the National League. On the list...
By Dan Steinberg | April 11, 2007; 12:51 PM ET | Comments (10)
Ron Darling Finally Gets Animated
I continue to be interested in Ron Darling's New York resurgence, which follows on the heels of his D.C. desurgence. The fans here, it would seem, didn't like him all that much. Not much at all. Really. But now he's a NY Emmy winner and a cartoon superstar. When do...
By Dan Steinberg | April 10, 2007; 10:15 AM ET | Comments (1)
The Nats Bad Blog
See, I knew there was a blog for everything, and while I probably should have known this, I did not know there was an official "Nats Bad" blog. Here's the Subhed: "Potential to be the worst team in the history of baseball. Let's follow their ineptitude together!" Here here. [Other...
By Dan Steinberg | April 9, 2007; 04:24 PM ET | Comments (8)
NAAATS: Solid Weekend
Those of us with immortality on the brain have to be moderately pleased with the weekend that was. [I have this biting fear that the Nats will turn things around, go on a late spring bonanza, contend briefly for the wild card, and make it a point to dog all...
By Dan Steinberg | April 9, 2007; 10:03 AM ET | Comments (3)
The Nats and Immortality
Watching these first four games really makes you appreciate just how hard it is to be historically awful. I'm starting to doubt whether the Nats have it in them, for any of these records. Everything has to go perfectly. One lockdown effort from the bullpen, and your per-game-runs-allowed average plummets....
By Dan Steinberg | April 6, 2007; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (5)
Who Can Be Most Pessimistic, Day Two
All sports edition: Dan Steinberg: Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot. Barry Svrluga: A crowd of 20,894 had hardly gathered at RFK Stadium by the time the Nationals trailed by four runs in the first, and there was little remaining to do but...
By Dan Steinberg | April 4, 2007; 11:06 AM ET | Comments (7)
The Nats Give Us Something to Smile About
So it's raining, DCU blew a golden chance in Mexico, the Wiz blew a golden chance to gain on Toronto against a bad Charlotte team, and the Nats blew. It could be an awkward next month or so, in terms of cheerful blogging opportunities. The Chesapeake Tide is 1-0 and...
By Dan Steinberg | April 4, 2007; 09:44 AM ET | Comments (8)
Flying Teddy
In case there are any questions about the item below, and whether or not Flying Teddy won the Prez Race, as Boz claimed, this video should answer them. 1) Thomas Jefferson did indeed win yesterday's race. You can see his little small-d democratic self scooting across the finish line in...
By Dan Steinberg | April 3, 2007; 09:39 AM ET | Comments (7)
Who Can Be Most Pessimistic?
This ought to be a fun game, a game to be played daily from now until October or so, a game whose participants will include paid beat writers, paid columnists, and 8,201 unpaid Nats bloggers, all vying to be the grumpiest McSurlypants on the block. (In happier news, if you...
By Dan Steinberg | April 3, 2007; 09:01 AM ET | Comments (2)
From the Clubhouse
1) This morning, Dmitri Young's son Owen predicted his dad would double in his first at-bat. He didn't, but he doubled in his second and third at-bats. I mistakenly thought he had a single and a double, which I told to Owen, but Owen corrected me, and I was later...
By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2007; 05:16 PM ET | Comments (3)
Rugby Refs and D.C. United Fans at Nats Game
So I'm sitting here in the press box thinking about what sort of blogging I can offer the world, since Barry's blogging the actual baseball game, and I'm not sure how many people care about the name of Kelli Johnson's fantasy baseball team, so instead I decide I'll go wander...
By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2007; 03:53 PM ET | Comments (9)
Giant-Headed Presidential Mayhem
See, I was looking forward to this all day, but it lasted but a few seconds, and now what? The three active-duty presidents come out slowly, the lead is passed back and forth, then Teddy aka Hamburger Head comes flying in on some sort of high wire, soars past the...
By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2007; 02:28 PM ET | Comments (6)
Nook Logan Goes Down
Top of the fourth. Four-Nil, Marlins. Bog friend Nook Logan drifts back, makes a nice catch aginst the wall, right by the "410." Nook (named after "Nuk" pacifiers) takes a step, grimaces badly, throws the ball into the infield, then jogs awkwardly for a bit, then collapses. Training personnel sprint...
By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2007; 02:19 PM ET | Comments (1)
GW Fans Take Note
The Lerners have brought Hippo Madness to RFK. Already today, they ran a 'Tron Quiz on which animal is GW's secondary mascot: the Rhino, the Hippo, the Parrot or the Dogg. Yes, the Dogg, unless my eyes have been ruined by the persistent glow emanating from red hats atop orange...
By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2007; 02:10 PM ET | Comments (3)
Guzmania, From Lot 8
In Lot 8 this morning, there were a lot of people drinking beer, a guy wearing a Gilbert Arenas jersey, a mohawked guy wearing a Randle El jersey, two mysterious men with polo shirts and clipboards who claimed that they were doing a marketing survey for Miller on what beers...
By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2007; 01:49 PM ET | Comments (3)
Meet Your Nationals
So around 11:40 this morning, the Nats came to RFK's gates to hand out red Nats hats to fans. And I saw my chance to take a mild cheap shot at the team. Look, it's no secret that this team has a lot of unfamiliar faces, but that didn't stop...
By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2007; 12:10 PM ET | Comments (3)
At the front gate
Free red hats, free pocket schedules, a jazz combo, lots of people with video cameras and Stan Kasten. "What's up, dude," he said, marking the first time an MLB exec has ever said that particular phrase in my presence. He's been up since 5 a.m. Incidentally, it's worth noting that...
By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2007; 11:28 AM ET | Comments (3)
Dmitri Young's Kids
Owen is 9 and has braces. Damon is 7 and is, um, a bit pudgy. Both have the run of the field. They spent a long time hanging on Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star beat guyTodd Jacobson, and then left to hang out with Miguel Cabrera. Frankly, I would have bailed on...
By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2007; 11:21 AM ET | Comments (1)
Live From RFK
Dan Steinberg here. Not sure how many WaPo staffers are live blogging this Nats game. Probably several dozen. Here's my contribution thus far: Capitals D John Erskine walking into an office building on K Street, Marlins opening day starter Dontrelle Willis wandering through the parking lot wearing headphones and signing...
By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2007; 10:29 AM ET | Comments (3)
Nats Fans Have Swag
Because I've been accused on many fronts of having an excessive focus on Gilbert Arenas, I thought I should attempt to prove that my audience is with me on this. I received the following e-mail from Bog commenter and Local Poll voter Bryc3: Nats Swag. (Courtesy Bryc3) i couldn't make...
By Dan Steinberg | February 16, 2007; 11:48 AM ET | Comments (16)
Tony Batista On Board
Actually, I have nothing to say about Tony Batista joining the Nats, except to note that Nationals Enquirer takes the perfect approach to this signing. In fact, with every new Nats signing, I'd like to see someone find a YouTube clip of said signee wearing a jersey that says Soft...
By Dan Steinberg | February 15, 2007; 11:14 AM ET | Comments (3)
Hope and Las Vegas
Spring Training. It sounds like perpetual hope, and universal optimism. It smells like fresh pine tar, and champagne-soaked dreams. Here there is snow and ice, but in Florida it's warm and sunny, and there are berries on every corner, and kids selling lemonade, and a chicken in every pot. There...
By Dan Steinberg | February 13, 2007; 06:14 PM ET | Comments (7)
Nats Spring News
I was supposed to go to Florida. But I'm not. So, instead, I'll just steal content from Nats bloggers. 1) Via Banks of the Anacostia, I was reminded of The Nook Logan Chronicles ("It's All About Nook," apparently). I sort of get why Gilbert Arenas has his own blog. The...
By Dan Steinberg | February 13, 2007; 10:41 AM ET | Comments (11)
Ball-Wonk Returns
As a space filler while I drive to D.C. United training, let me note that Ball-Wonk has returned. And in the best possible manner; refusing even to acknowledge its disappearance of five months, and immediately jumping into the fray by noting the following: Speaking before a joint session of Congress...
By Dan Steinberg | February 1, 2007; 12:29 PM ET | Comments (12)
Nats Enter Hot Stove League
Ok, so the video didn't work yesterday. It was my fault. I'm trying again, to satisfy both of you who complained. To repeat: Let's be honest, not my finest interviewing work. In fact, it was a pretty rotten performance. I think the ESPN Zone cheese fries had scrambled my brain....
By Dan Steinberg | January 31, 2007; 01:13 PM ET | Comments (3)
Nats Enter Hot Stove League
Let's be honest, not my finest interviewing work. In fact, it was a pretty rotten performance. I think the ESPN Zone cheese fries had scrambled my brain. var movieSrc = "http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/player/player2.swf?whichMode=normal&justify=center&playad=yes&mediatype=stream&postdir=sports&postvideo='013007-1v&cuesfile=none&autoplay=no&starttime=0&endtime=0&largerver=none&image='013007-1v_427&playlistxml=none";//URL OF WHERE .SWF MOVIE IS PUBLISHED var movieWidth="427";//FLASH MOVIE AND BACK-UP GRAPHIC WIDTH var movieHeight="300";//FLASH MOVIE AND BACK-UP GRAPHIC...
By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 04:17 PM ET | Comments (3)
Giant Death Skullz of Doom with Creole Pasta
I swear, I saw Giant Death Skullz of Doom throughout last night's Nats Winter Caravan finale. The finale took place at the ESPN Zone. It was emceed by radio man Charlie Slowes. It featured Nook Logan, Mike O'Connor and Ryan Zimmerman in a baseball cook-off. It featured about 45 fans,...
By Dan Steinberg | January 30, 2007; 01:13 PM ET | Comments (4)
Nats Are Cold, Stadium Is Mostly Empty
Ha ha. Just joking, Nats persons. We all know you're undefeated this year. Anyhow, a media contingent 20-strong gathered outside the Nats' glittering new stadium this afternoon, and by "glittering" I mean "muddy." They were handing out hard-hats, so I took photos of hard-hatted Official Nats Beat Writer Barry Svrluga...
By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 03:53 PM ET | Comments (3)
Bog Adrift in SE
It seems our D.C. professional sports teams have decided to coordinate their bloggable activities today. A Caron Butler coat drive event at Moten Elementary was scheduled to end just a few minutes before and a few blocks away from a Nats Caravan stop at the new stadium site. (Note to...
By Dan Steinberg | January 29, 2007; 02:27 PM ET | Comments (6)
Abe at the Safeway
By popular demand..... This is just a sampling. I have many, many more. I have never taken more photos at a single sporting event in my life, assuming that watching an in-game entertainment personality push a shopping cart in a Safeway counts as a sporting event. Bagging groceries. (By Sports...
By Dan Steinberg | January 25, 2007; 04:14 PM ET | Comments (7)
Manny Acta Gets a New Jacket
Towards the end of the autograph session at the Bowie Town Center Safeway, a fan came through the line with great quantities of Nats gear: hats, shirts, a jacket, etc. Now, somehow at the end of this Caravan event, the fan in question disappeared before I could interview her, so...
By Dan Steinberg | January 24, 2007; 04:36 PM ET | Comments (5)
Nats Caravan Hits the Bowie Safeway
So the festivities were already underway by the time I reached the Bowie Town Center Safeway this afternoon. Manny Acta, Mike O'Connor and Nook Logan were signing autographs, passing out Nats visors, passing out WTWP chapstick, etc. They were positioned next to the Starbucks and in front of the Signature...
By Dan Steinberg | January 24, 2007; 03:42 PM ET | Comments (10)
Manny Acta's Salary: Tied for Last
So the NY Daily News's Bill Madden posted the full list of 2007 MLB skipper salaries yesterday, as part of his argument that managers are underpaid. Stan Kasten would apparently disagree: And yet at the winter meetings in Orlando last month, Nationals president Stan Kasten was telling anyone who would...
By Dan Steinberg | January 22, 2007; 04:36 PM ET | Comments (1)
On Manny Acta's Prospects as an Elementary School Teacher
I tried my theory out on a few people, to see what they thought. The theory being that you either know how to talk to kids, or you don't, and that Manny Acta does, and that he therefore could be an elementary school teacher if he wanted, calming down kids...
By Dan Steinberg | January 22, 2007; 01:27 PM ET | Email a Comment
Nook Logan Likes the Cowboys
Nook Logan, making an early bid to become a Bog favorite, tells us the following things: 1) His favorite NBA team is "wherever Iverson is. That's my dude. He's been my dude since he played at Georgetown, even though I was a Carolina basketball fan. Iverson's always been my dude."...
By Dan Steinberg | January 22, 2007; 01:09 PM ET | Comments (5)
Manny Acta For Second Grade Teacher of the Year
He knows how to speak to kids. Immediately obvious. More so than radio guys Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler, no offense. Or Nook Logan. Manny commands the stage. By the way, Jageler just introduced "one of the most exciting players in baseball," and it turned out to be Nook Logan....
By Dan Steinberg | January 22, 2007; 11:29 AM ET | Comments (5)
Nats Caravan Kicks Off
So when I got to Kimball Elementary in Southeast, Manny Acta and Nook Logan were already here. They weren't being mobbed by the kids. Neither were Official Nats Beat Writer Barry Svrluga, Wash Times columnist Thom Loverro, or NBC's Tom Sherwood. Then Screech and Giant Teddy Roosevelt arrived. They were...
By Dan Steinberg | January 22, 2007; 10:57 AM ET | Comments (4)
Meet Your New Nats: Tony Womack
For whatever reason (possibly related to his career .317 OBP), the signing of Tony Womack did not bring joy to the land of Nats bloggers. Capitol Punishment uses 26 question marks to discuss the move. Federal Baseball notes that "while Womack is a pretty bad baseball player, at least he...
By Dan Steinberg | January 19, 2007; 10:41 AM ET | Comments (12)
Manny Acta, Meet Brian Davis
I noted this above, but I thought it needed special emphasis. There's a very nice Baseball America interview with Manny Acta and Fredi Gonazlez in which they talk about being first-time MLB managers. Acta has obviously already shown that he doesn't mince words about very serious stuff, and this isn't...
By Dan Steinberg | January 12, 2007; 10:39 AM ET | Comments (4)
Vegas Chooses Michigan!!!!!!!!!!!
Big day in Bogland. 1) We appear to have gotten our first blog comment from a Nats prospect. (Or at least someone claiming to be a Nats prospect. Please reassure the possibly real Collin that we need more of these antics, not less.) 2) We'll debut our area top 25...
By Dan Steinberg | December 4, 2006; 09:46 AM ET | Comments (45)
Nats Pawn Off Their Junk on Fans
No offseason for Nats bloggers. Tadcranky did something I should have done; he stopped by the new Nats store at Connectictut and L, where the team is also opening some offices. Anyhow, this is what Tad found: When you walk in, the first thing that you see is a display...
By Dan Steinberg | December 1, 2006; 10:59 AM ET | Comments (5)
Please Call This Guy up to the Nats
I guess the day will come when every player in the Nats minor league organization doesn't have his own myspace page, but thankfully, that day isn't here yet. By far the myspace MVP is major pitching prospect Collin Balester, who by one measure is the team's second-rated prospect (well, top...
By Dan Steinberg | November 22, 2006; 03:35 PM ET | Comments (9)
Wonder Twin Powers, Acta-vate
The Post Office is closed. So is the Atrium Cafe. Jim Bowden and Zim and Manny Acta and Stan Kasten are making the rounds to all of the TV cameras and shaking hands. Manny Acta is still wearing his white Nats jersey and red Nats cap over his dark suit....
By Dan Steinberg | November 14, 2006; 05:27 PM ET | Comments (2)