Just How Likely Is The Beltways World Series Between The Nationals And Orioles?

 

photo(16)

38 miles separate Nationals Park and Camden Yards; this past Tuesday 21 minutes separated the final outs that would clinch the NL East and the AL East for the Nationals and Orioles respectively. Not since 2004 when the Dodgers and Angels clinched on the same night, had two teams in the same metro area locked up their divisions within a couple commercial breaks of each other. It made for great television, as MASN and MASN2 featured extended post game shows that covered both celebrations.

photo(3)

The Washington Nationals Went Streaking, Now What?

Last night, the Washington Nationals had an impressive 10 game win streak finally halted by the San Francisco Giants. What looked like another game destined for a dramatic finish became a lifeless rout, as the Giants lineup chased Doug Fister and feasted on lefty relievers Jerry Blevins and Ross Detwiler. San Francisco landed at Dulles Airport at 4am after a long and bizarre day at Wrigley Field, in which they finished a suspended game after winning a protest with MLB, and then played their regularly scheduled game with the Cubs later that night. On very little sleep, they coasted to a 10-3 win in Southeast DC.

MLB Trade Deadline: A Flurry of Activity

As the transactions mounted today, with the MLB trade deadline looming at 4pm, it was tough to tell if this was fantasy or reality. With a transaction page that reads like your average week in your work rotisserie league, big names were traded for major league ballplayers. This is a departure, for the typical swap of big names on losing teams for prospects out of a contenders farm system.

The Zimmerman Situation

Ryan Zimmerman has the bat that makes the Nats offense kick into high gear and the arm that can single-handedly sabotage a game.

He’s won two Silver Sluggers, a Gold Glove and been named an All Star. He’s missed 158 games since the start of the 2010 season, including 45 this year.

He’s a selfless teammate, who transitioned to LF for 26 games this season after never playing the position professionally. He’s also the reluctant 3rd baseman who may be trusted upon in crucial October moments at a position he seems ready to leave permanently