This HAS been awhile, hasn't it?

Wow. 9 months since I last wrote a blog here? Amazing...lol
Anyway, nice to see the Nats pull one out today against the Mets.
And only 161 more games to go...
So, I'm trying something new--from here on out, these entries get posted on Facebook as well as Twitter and/or Google+. Which means I can't use bad words (like I used to...lol) any more.
So if you read this on FB, make the attempt to follow me on Twitter. Really.
I'll do this whenever I get a chance. For some reason I can't put up pictures here (like I once did), but otherwise I'll try to give you my take on the Nats...lol
Bye for now...

Can this season be salvaged?

It's only the end of June, but any shot the Nats have of making and/or winning a World Series...has to begin tonight.
And maybe, Anthony Rendon is the key. More in the coming days on all this.
I guarantee it. LMAO

Can't wait...

And we wait for the Nats for begin their World Series Natitude run...oh, and also defending their NL East Championship.
This'll be fun...lol
More extensive blog entry, the closer we get to Opening Day. Till then...World Series Natitude!!

Small compensation for not making a World Series, but...

Now that we're almost two weeks removed from the Giants winning the World Series (which, by all rights, should be the Nats' trophy...but that's another story)...the major awards are being handed out this week.
And so far, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) has gotten it right. Bryce Harper won NL Rookie of the Year, and Davey Johnson took NL Manager of the Year. Mike Trout and Bob Melvin took the AL honors, respectively. (Buck Martinez should've won MOY, in my view.)
So tonight (Wednesday), it's Gio Gonzalez's turn to take the NL Cy Young award. If he doesn't, a Congressional investigation is needed. Seriously. (Yeah, like R.A. Dickey really has a shot...LMAO)
At any rate, that's all I need to talk about right now. Maybe later, I'll get around to what the Nats need to address in the offseason.

This is NOT a collapse, I tell you...

Okay, so the Nats salvaged something out of this series with the Phillies. It's not the end of the world, you know.
But what pisses me off, is the absolute arrogance and piety of these so-called Philadelphia sports "fans" on Twitter. So I said last night, "You're in LAST place. STFU." Whereupon...
They come after me with a vengeance. And no originality, either...you know, typical "hey yo, living at home, etc." Trolls.
(Thankfully it didn't show up in my timeline...but it did in a few of my followers' lines. Que sera, sera...)
At any rate, to the game itself last night. Anyone doubt Jayson Werth didn't want payback, after how Phillies fans laughed at his hurting his wrist back in May?
He contributed, as did Adam LaRoche by smacking a homer. And who the fuck was Michael Martinez trying to impress, thinking he could run on Bryce Harper? Bro threw you out, clown!!
Ah, it's great to be in 1st. Yet the front office sticks to the plan to shut  down Stephen Strasburg after 160 IP. I got mixed feelings on this, but...I look at it as being on the safe side.
Still, there's this twinbill today w/the Marlins. Yes kids, a real honest-to-God twi-night doubleheader. Game 1 at 4, Game 2 around 7.
Fire sale Phillies and Marlins. And now Cliff Lee is on waivers. Mike Rizzo, are you listening? Make sure he doesn't go to Atlanta or the Mets...all right? ROFL
OK, done here. God, why aren't people following this blog? Come September this may be the only place to find out about the Nats...lol

A little late, but...

In case some of you may not have read the piece I wrote earlier this week about my trip to Boston--you can find it here, btw--I'll hit the high moments for you.
For starters, the trip up (via Amtrak) was nice for the scenery...though seeing all the boats around CT and MA almost made me want to break out into the "Gilligan's Island" theme. Still, it made the time whizz by...7+ hours worth from DC to Boston.
After taking time out at our hotel room to rest--and by "we", I mean my brother Larry and me--it was time for the game.
(And yes, the seats were uncomfortable...but that didn't matter. Being at Fenway Park made up for it.)
As always, Stephen Strasburg put on a show. But Bryce Harper upstaged everyone by hitting one out to deep center to insure the Nats would win the game. 7-3 was the final.
Next day, back on the train bound for DC. 8 hours later, and after a subway ride to bro's SUV, we made it back to Luray before 8 p.m. Saturday night.
Scratch this off his (and my) "bucket list"...lol
Now, the pictures that accompany this piece:
1) I'm on the right, and Larry in the center, in a pic from July of 2010 @ Nats Park.
2) The skyline of NYC, as we were coming up.
3) Selected pics of Fenway Park...including the Green Monster.
4) Strasburg on the mound. (This was as close as my cell phone camera could get.)
Up until this weekend w/the Yankees, the Nats were 6-0 on their road trip by sweeping the Red Sox and Blue Jays. These last 2 games, however, have been losing efforts. Not the way to show the baseball world you're serious about being a contender...though we're still your first place Nats.
Just so you know...lol

And the "Battle Of The Beltways" is underway...

What with the Nats and O's playing above expectations, it looks like this year's installment just might be fun to watch.
O's take it tonight in 11 innings, 2-1. Edwin Jackson gets a no-decision after 8 IP...because Ian Desmond tied it up in the 6th with a jack in the LF seats.
So there's the next 2 games for the Nats to take the series. Natitude lives
here...and everywhere. (Hey, I have to find some way to work this blog's name in...lol)

Mike Rizzo, "junkyard dog"

And now, a few words about the "Take Back Our Park" campaign this past weekend.
SUCCESS!
Okay, so Sunday night was a letdown...even if you do include Jayson Werth's injury. But you have to admit Bryce Harper has become a breath of fresh air for the Nats (and MLB, I might add).
Stealing home will do that for you. Still think it's "old school", Cole Hamels? You fucking pussy. ADMITTING you hit Bryce on purpose? It shouldn't be 5 games, but 5 starts you should be suspended for this.
And Mike Rizzo is right in calling it a "chickenshit move". (Oh, the title? Credit Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post in today's cover story for Rizzo's secretary referring to him as a "junkyard dog".) I love this man.
Incidentally, for you lowlife Phillies fans taunting J-Dub after his injury...all you've done is prove why you have the (richly deserved, I may add) reputation of being the absolute scum of the sports fan world.
Enjoy last place, suckers...oh, and,also enjoy your 2012 NL East champion Washington Nationals!!
Natitude RULES...

So, wadda ya think?

Curt Schilling said it himself on ESPN earlier tonight..."The kid can play".
Need I say any more?
Two days of Bryce Harper, and two days of memorable moments. Starting with when he showed up in Dodger Stadium on Saturday...after getting notified of his callup from Syracuse. Bryce in LF, and batting 7th...with Strasburg on the mound.
And for 7 innings, it was memorable. Strasmas striking out Dodgers at will, and Bryce getting his 1st MLB hit...and later his 1st RBI on a sac fly.
(Oh, and about the idiot behind home plate who mooned when Bryce got his hit...dude, you're not in Boston. Have better class, douchebag.)
Unfortunately, on Saturday night, we saw the Henry Rodriguez of 2011 rear his ugly head. It was not pretty...or "Pretty Fricking Bueno", as it were.
No, sad to say, he couldn't find the plate...and got pulled in the 8th. Leave it to Tom Gorzelanny to give up the walkout HR to Matt Kemp in the 10th for the 4-3 loss.
Today (Sunday)? More of the same...though the one bright spot was seeing Tyler Moore make his debut (and get his 1st MLB hit). 2-0 Dodgers win.
But, as I hashtagged on Twitter today, "The Future Is Now And Loving Every Minute of It". Enough said.

To "Begin the Beguine" for another year

So now spring training is done for 2012. Good.
Come Thursday, the Nats launch an assault on the wildcard in the NL...which means it's time to give my prediction on how (and where) the Nats will finish.
Last year I said it would be 77-85...and it wound up 80-81. So I'll just reverse those numbers, and say 85-77 (and contend for the wildcard).
Oh, and 2nd or 3rd in the NL East, too. Meaning, ahead of the Mets and Marlins...again!! (Just like last year...lol)
This year I can honestly say the Nats are a playoff-caliber team...provided everything falls in place. And by that I mean Stephen Strasburg fully recovers from Tommy John surgery (just as Jordan Zimmermann did last year).
Now add Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson to this rotation, and there's no telling what'll go down. Plus, I can say I have no reservations about Henry Rodriguez sharing the closer duties w/ Brad Lidge (until Drew Storen comes off the DL) at the start of the season.
All this, and Bryce Harper, too...
What, you didn't think I was leaving him out of this piece? Personally, I'm holding out for seeing him up w/ the big club by the time my brother and me go to Boston on June 8 to watch the Nats take on the Red Sox.
(His "bucket list" deal...before he retires from the government...and truthfully my only chance to see Fenway Park. I may never get this chance again.)
So that's it. Have at me, people...lol

STAY focused, Bryce! We're counting on you!

In the meantime, follow the link and read...
RT @Nationals Harper focused on breaking camp with #Nationals ... http://t.co/0BRYzzRU
Personally, I'm hoping Bryce makes it to the big club by the time I see the Nats at Fenway Park on June 8th.

Does this ROCK, or what?

http://t.co/1GFcPekK
Just HAD to pass this along. It looks SO DAMN COOL!!
No bullshit, either. I should add at this point that Bryce was named top prospect in both the South Atlantic and Eastern League(s) in 2011. Not too shabby, if you ask me...
BTW, I got that last tidbit of info courtesy of the Baseball America 2012 Almanac...which the lovely people @ MLB Insiders Club sent me in the mail today. (One of the perks of having a life membership...lol) Anyway, just finished reading it before I hit the 'puter tonight.
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A short note on Livan Hernandez:
He signed a minor league deal with the Astros yesterday (Tuesday), so his dream of finishing his career in the Nats' bullpen goes bye-bye. But there's always the possibility he could be back in D.C. in time for Opening Day...who knows?
At any rate, since I tried to post this last night (via my cell phone, using Bloggeroid)--and failedI'll just say this, and move on.
Adios, Livo. You made it fun (and aggravating) for us Nats fans while you were here...BOTH go-rounds!! I don't know what we'll miss more, the slow deliberate windup or laying down sac bunts.Either way, we'll remember you as...a Nat always!!Gary

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