washington-nationals Page 29 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Scott Olsen: The Nationals' Front-Line Smoker
Interesting story from Wednesday's Washington Post about hot-headed pitcher Scott Olsen, who the Nats acquired from the Marlins over the winter. It turns out Olsen's a pretty committed smoker. 12 cigarettes a day, actually....

The Nationals' Mascot Has A New Look! (Oh, Heavens)
This photo was taken a couple of hours ago at ESPN Zone in D.C., and should have been immediately destroyed. Presenting the new look for Screech the Eagle ... it's The Island of Dr. Moreau!...

Nationals GM Jim Bowden Resigns
Isn't it funny how simply adding a hyphen to "resign" gives you "re-sign," which means the exact opposite thing? So who gets the bonus money for running Jim Bowden out of town?...

Come Mock The Annoying Guy In The Bird Suit On Monday
The Nationals will unveil a "new look" for their mascot, Screech, at the ESPN Zone in Washington DC on Monday. Any Deadspin reader who attends with a camera will attain hero status. [MASN]...

Bless Me Father, For I Have Sinned
Got an image you'd like to see in here first thing in the morning? Send it to [email protected]. Subject: Morning crap....

Nationals' Prize Prospect Is At That Awkward Age
Remember when the Washington Nationals' biggest problem was the Pope commandeering Ronnie Belliard's cubicle? Now they discover that their top young prospect has been lying about his name and his age....

Adam Dunn Goes To Washington
They did it! The Nationals signed a free agent! Two-years, $20 million for long-time Red/short-time Diamondback Adam Dunn. It's almost like they're a real baseball team! [SI]...

That's Just Scott Boras Being Scott Boras
Manny Ramirez turns down Dodgers' offer of $25 million over one season, leaving the door open for ... the Washington Nationals? [The Nationals Enquirer]...

Garrett Mock Teaches With Love, Compassion, Occasional Swelling And Bruising
Washington Nationals pitcher Garrett Mock has a simple philosophy when it comes to coaching his youth baseball team in the off-season. Wear a cup....

Teixeira Announcement May Be Just Minutes, Or Seconds, Away
Well it was fun pretending that Mark Teixeira had chosen the Mets. But the Washington Times is reporting that a real announcement is close — like today close — and that the choice is ......

HOLY CRAP! Phillies Win NL East On An Incredible Double Play
Jesus. Brad Lidge tried to give the entire city of Philadelphia a heart attack. In the top of the 9th with a two run lead, Lidge allowed a run to score and proceeded to load the bases. Jimmy Fucking Rollins made a ridiculous double play to clinch the National League East for the second straight year...

Mets 3 1/2 Up With 17 To Play. I See No Way This Ends Badly
So things seem to be lining up nicely for the Mets in the stretch run, as evidenced on Wednesday with a 13-10 win over the Nationals. David Wright had himself a nice little 4-for-4 outing, New York took a 3 1/2-game lead over the Phillies, and the schedule looks promising, with 10 of their remaining...

Jim Edmonds Jogs La Russa's Memory
Cubs outfielder Jim Edmonds has gotten past the drama of being traded from the Cardinals in the offseason. Or maybe not. After refusing to discuss his former manager, Tony La Russa, with the media, Edmonds proceeded to go two for four, both hits going yard in a 3-2 win over his ex-team. The game str...

Sir Sidney Gives Up No Runs; Probably Ate Them All
Sidney Ponson made his unceremonious (only to Ponson, as ceremonious occasions usually have bacon gravy) return to the Yankees in the second half of a two-ballpark doubleheader yesterday with the cross-Gotham Mets. And he laid into them like they were an Aruban judge, tossing six shutout innings in ...

Shirtless Nationals' Fans Are Put On Notice By Team Reps
There are usually three types of people who take their shirts off at ballparks:...

Elijah Dukes Has Been Quiet Long Enough
Last week, Elijah Dukes hit a walk-off two-run homer to beat the Cardinals in the second game of a doubleheader. (It really was an awesome game.) Elijah, as Elijah is wont to do, celebrated a bit too vigorously, upsetting an umpire and his manager, Manny Acta. Thus was the fuse lit....

The Briny Ballers Achieve A Left-Columner
Slate's Robert Weintraub, like many of us, loves the old purple prose of early 1900s sportswriting, the Grantland Rices, the men who painted epic tales of warriors, grizzled combatants and lardywarks too manly to wear gloves. In an occasional series, Weintraub writes about the week's best baseball g...

Teddy Wins His First Presidents Race!
Only to get disqualified by Screech, the world's most useless mascot, for cutting a corner of the warning track. He was just following Cartman's advice! That's okay, because I found Frank Robinson sitting with me in the bleeds down the right field line. As for the game, the Nats jumped to a lead wi...

Pope Benedict XVI Needs To Borrow Your Cup
Close observers of the Catholic religion know that the Pope will always come up throwing after a diving catch; unless it's the final out of an inning, of course. In that case, His Most Holy Father will make sure that the umpire sees the ball in his mitt. Another Papal web gem! I can't count the numb...