If you consider yourself a Nationals devotee -- or even if you just find constant amusement in the walking joke that the team has become -- this column by Mike Wise in today's Post is a must-read: in it, Wise makes the case that former manager Frank Robinson got an incredibly raw deal when he was forced out at the end of the 2006 season. more ›

Having dismissed Frank Robinson at the end of the season, the Nats are casting a wide net for possible replacements. Reports yesterday regarding the sudden firing (and availability) of four-time World Series winner Joe Torre now appear to be premature, according to the NY Post. With the nascent Torre-to-the-Nats campaign already toast, we take a look at the other candidates in the rumor mill... Lou Pinella Experience: Played briefly for O’s and Indians, but mostly... more ›

While the playoffs kick into high gear this week, the rest of the league is left wondering about what might have been this year, and what could be next year. Fans in Washington might be tempted to view 2006 as a lost season. The team struggled to 71 wins, 10 fewer than the last place ’05 squad, contributing to the team’s decision to dump Frank Robinson. Truth be told, Frank didn’t have much of a... more ›

The writing was on the wall. After weeks of speculation, the Nationals made the official announcement Saturday afternoon: Frank Robinson would not be back as manager next year. As Robinson had expressed interest in returning and had requested a three-year contract extension, the decision of the Nationals to decline his request means that, effectively, the 71-year-old was fired. He has announced that he will not be seeking further employment as a manager. To say... more ›

What a beautiful weekend, eh? Except for a bit of rain on Saturday, the weather was, if I may say so myself without sounding like my grandmother, delightful. We hope you got out during it, as the city played host to a number of activities - the National Book Festival, Crafty Bastards, and a bit outside of town, the continuation of the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Which I went to, mainly to gawk at the... more ›

Like many frustrated Nats fans, I’ve found myself cursing the in-game strategy of manager Frank Robinson fairly often. He operates impulsively, trusting his gut more often than statistics or matchups, with less than convincing results. Many of his peers are similarly critical: he’s been voted by major league players to be the worst manager in baseball two years in a row. His future in the organization after this season is uncertain. It’s clear enough that his long career is in its twilight. more ›

Livan Hernandez is Frank Robinson’s kind of player: crafty, with dogged determination and competitive fire. He wants the ball in every situation. He's eaten innings in big chunks, leading the league in IP for three years straight. He’s loyal, perhaps to a fault. He’s been one of the faces of the franchise in recent years, and was the first player to throw a pitch for the Nationals last year. Despite not having the best... more ›

With trade winds swirling, winning streaks building, and the Bobby bouncing, it’s time to take a look around at all things Nats: Soriano. Guillen. Watson. Church. Byrd. Jackson. Ward. Kearns. Matos. Escobar. Ummm… Church again. It is safe to say that GM JimBo and Frank Robinson have left no stone unturned in their search for talent to patrol the RFK outfield. Good thing, too, since Guillen has now had season-ending surgery and Soriano’s trade-watch is... more ›

The Washington Nationals arrived at this year's All-Star Break in ignominious fashion, suffering their fifth sweep of the season at RFK. This time, the Nats were victimized by the San Diego Padres. After a successful series against Florida earlier this week, the Nats could smell second place in the NL East. They now find themselves amid the musky odor of the division's basement. That they played the Padres so closely only adds to the... more ›

Incoming Nationals President Stan Kasten has made it abundantly clear that his strategy for winning in Washington begins with rebuilding the team's farm system, which is barely left intact after years of MLB ownership. On Monday night, the Nats laid a stone in the foundation, by signing 17-year-old slugger Chris Marrero of Miami. He played 3rd base in high school, but with Ryan Zimmerman projected there long-term in the big leagues, the team anticipates a... more ›

Maybe we need a diversion from the unholy beat-down the Nats took in Boston this week. Maybe the pro-Yankee chants in RFK last week are still haunting our homer hearts. Maybe we’re looking forward to Frank Robinson's official return to Baltimore just up I-95. Or maybe it’s just Friday, and we want some kind of distraction to push the clock a little closer to martini time. more ›

John Patterson may make his return by Friday of this week against the Orioles, and not a moment too soon. more ›

The following is the first in a two part point/counterpart series by DCist Sports regarding Alfsonso Soriano and his future with the Washington Nationals. Today Matthew Bourque argues for trading him. Jeff Beam will provide the case for keeping Soriano tomorrow. When Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals landed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique muscle, baseball lost its most prolific hitter. On Monday, an inconclusive MRI had experts believing that... more ›

The Nats finally enjoyed a day off yesterday after more than two weeks of consecutive gamedays. A winning May seems to have gotten the season back on track after a disasterous April, but the Nats still have to cover plenty of ground if they want to make a run at the top half of the division. Winning four out of the six remaining games on this roadtrip will be necessary to maintain some momentum heading into June. more ›

Not for the first time this year (remember that stretch back in April that got them within three of .500?) did the Nats make us think a competitive season was possible, when they ran off a 7-3 homestand to close the NL East gap to single digits. After taking bragging rights from the Orioles and a series each from the Astros and Dodgers, the Nationals headed back out on the road to face division rival... more ›

A win is a win, right? Sometimes it comes in the form of Wednesday night's gem: an outstanding pitching dual duel between Houston star Roy Oswalt and Washington rookie Mike O'Conner. O'Conner was great, allowing only a three hits over 6.0 innings and holding the Astros to one run on a Morgan Ensberg homer. Oswalt was even better, mowing down Nats for seven innings before finally allowing Damian Jackson to score on a balk that... more ›

This post was written by DCist contributor Jeff Beam. The announcement of a new owner can’t come soon enough for the reeling Nats, who lost 5-0 Wednesday afternoon to the Reds, completing the series sweep and dropping them seven games below .500 (7-14) on the young season. The Nats put themselves in early holes in all three games, and have not led since surrendering a 3-run homer in the 8th against Atlanta on Sunday –... more ›

This entry was written by DCist contributor Benjamin Kabak. more ›

This entry was written by DCist contributor Benjamin Kabak. This weekend's action for the Nationals started on Friday afternoon when Major League officials, representatives from Comcast and Mayor Anthony Williams appeared in front of Rep. Tom Davis' (R-Va.) House Government Reform Committee. Davis, in an effort to get all Nationals' games shown on DC-area cable networks, is attempting to broker a deal between Comcast and Peter Angelos that resolves a dispute that has left most... more ›

This entry was written by DCist contributor Ben Kabak. more ›

Damn it. Baseball doesn't make it easy on the Nats. Last year, the team opened their season with an extra long road trip to allow time for final RFK upgrades. This year RFK is in good shape (relatively), but Washington will still kick things off with six games on the road, beginning with three against the spend-happy Mets. In yesterday's afternoon opener at Shea, the Nats avoided Pedro and played well, but one more elbow... more ›

This entry was written by new DCist contributor Jeff Beam Away from the three ring circus created by Major League Baseball, City Council, and Mayor Williams’ office, the 2006 edition of the Nationals prepares this week to close shop in Viera, Florida and head north for another season along the Anacostia. A number of roster moves via trade, promotion, and shoulder tears have changed the look of the team, so we’ve compiled a season preview... more ›

Yesterday, it finally came to a head. The issue everyone kept putting on the backburner finally rushed to the forefront of the Washington Nationals' spring training season. Alfonso Soriano, the highest paid player of the club, refused to take the field in his assigned role of left fielder against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. Brandon Watson eventually took the field in Soriano's place, playing centerfield while moving Ryan Church... more ›

It's been a rough spring training for the Nats, particularly where pitching is concerned, and the approaching World Baseball Classic might induce some additional nervousness for Washington fans, as Nationals' arms are put to the test. Fireballing Mets reliever Billy Wagner withdrew from the U.S. roster yesterday, allowing Nats relief pitcher Gary Majewski to step into his spot. Majewski joins closer Chad Cordero on the American team, while Washington players Luis Ayala and Tony Armas... more ›

Good morning, D.C. We hope your workplace is slowing to a pleasant holiday crawl — the news certainly is. But cheer up! You might have fewer workplace distractions, but at least today's weather will include a balmy high of 45, and a pleasant absence of freezing rain. Now, who's got a good office Christmas party story?

Killer Escapes, Is Recaptured: Adrian Ashton had just been arrested for first degree murder when he escaped from the arresting officer's squad car. That happened around 5:30 pm. A manhunt was launched, and Ashton was recaptured around 2:30 a.m. , still wearing handcuffs.

Robinson To Stay With Nats: It took a while, but it's now official — the Post reports that Nats Manager Frank Robinson will be back with the ballclub next year. Robinson had expressed irritation with the Nats' ownership situation during negotiations. The seventy year-old manager's new contract commits his services to the team for one year.

Icy Roads Cause Accidents: Yesterday's snowstorm didn't produce much snow, but WTOP reports that it created plenty of slippery roads. Be careful out there. NBC4 has pictures of the ten car accident that occurred near the Greenbelt Metro station. No one was hurt, so feel free to gawk without shame.

Warner Proposes Transport Funding Increase: The Virginia Governor's latest budget proposal includes $625 million for various transportation projects. Among other earmarks, some of that money is intended to go toward widening westbound I-66 inside the Beltway.

Briefly Noted: ATM robbery suspects arrested... Maryland crabbers expect good year-end totals... 39 cars destroyed at Montgomery County impound lot... Former NSA employee convicted...

Image posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user mirrorball.

In the crush of stories about stadium financing, team ownership, and MLB's general level of Scrooge McDuck miserliness, it's been easy to forget that, had the Nats been able to put a few more runs on the board last year, Washington's inaugural baseball season would likely have included a playoff run. Washington's patchwork starting staff and heroic bullpen were ninth in the league in runs allowed, but the Nats were dead last in runs... more ›

Stick a fork in 'em? The Nationals' three game cross-country trip to San Diego, which started out on a high note with Friday night's 5-1 victory (John Patterson was brilliant - 9IP, 3H, 0BB, 1R, 6K), ended in the worst way possible: back-to-back heartbreaking losses that might have finally, quietly, snuffed out their 2005 playoff hopes. As you remember, the banged-up Nats left for the West Coast on Thursday a giddy bunch, with their... more ›

Ouch. The Nationals got pounded 12-1 by the Florida Marlins last night, a loss that, coupled with Houston's 8-6 win over Philly, drops the Nats to three and a half games behind Houston in the Wild Card standings. The score tells you pretty much all you need to know about last night's drubbing, but the game also featured a solid start by Florida's Cy Young candidate Dontrelle Willis (who improved to 20-8 on the... more ›

The Nationals missed an opportunity to overtake the Astros in the wild card chase, dropping a tough 4-3 decision against the Phillies last night. Esteban Loaiza coughed up four earned runs on 10 hits and a walk in 5.2 innings. Bright spots for the Nats included Vinny Castilla's 3rd inning homerun, and Luis Ayala, Joey Eischen, and Gary Majewski combining for 2+ innings of scoreless, hitless relief. The Nats managed to cut the Phillies'... more ›

Glass. Half. Full. more ›