DCSN - Woeful Nats

Gio Gonzalez Hugs Kurt Suzuki, Loving Natitude

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:47:00 +0000

Gio Gonzalez was one strike away from completing 7 strong innings on Friday night against the San Diego Padres. But the lefty held on to his last pitch a little too long and his nasty curve hit the Padres batter right in the foot, ending Gio's night at 115 pitches.

After the ball hit the player's foot, Nats catcher Kurt Suzuki pounded the dirt. He knew his buddy Gio had thrown his last pitch, and was so close to ending on a high note. Suzuki walked out to the mound as Davey Johnson made the pitching change and he gave Gio a little head rub to show that he felt his pain. Later when the inning was over, Suzuki and Gio smiled at each other and gave each other a hug Check out the GIF.

Last season the Nats were hugging more. If they keep playing strong they will be hugging much more.

Astros Lose To Pirates On Error

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:02:00 +0000

Since nobody else seems to be doing this well, here's the Astros colliding on an easy popup, dropping the ball, and losing the game:

Kind of reminds you of the time the Astros lost to the Nats last year...

Cool Nats Fan Baby

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:03:00 +0000

Meet Isaiah. Possibly the cutest/coolest Nats fan ever. That is all. (via @Gene_Sellers)

Strasburg Picks Up Zimmerman, Serious Natitude

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:35:00 +0000

On Thursday night, Ryan Zimmerman committed his 8th error of the season, a bad throw to 2nd base that allowed a runner safe and loaded the bases with Stephen Strasburg on the mound. In Strasburg's previous start, a Zimmerman error visibly rattled Strasburg who went on to allow 4 unearned runs after the E5. The fans & media crushed Strasburg for his "mental" flaws.

Thursday's result was different. After the error, Strasburg looked over and nodded at Zimmerman who nodded back telling Zim not to worry about the error because he would pick him up. And Strasburg did just that. While one Padres run did score, Strasburg escaped the jam, and went on to pitch his longest outing of his career in his first win since opening day. The Split Screen GIF of the exchange below.

OK, maybe he doesn't say "I Got You" Like FP & Suzuki said he did, but that was the gist

Its hard to see with the shaky camera, but Zim looked to nod back. Here's what Kurt Suzuki had to say about the incident via Sarah Kogod of the Washington Post

“I was thinking about going out there and talking to [Strasburg]. Once he got the ball back, he looked at Zim and said, ‘I got you.’ Once he did that, I turned around and went back to home plate. Because I knew he was going to do it.”

Nationals announcer FP Santangelo suggested that this moment was a turning point in the Nats season:

"you might want to circle that moment for the rest of the season"

Circled...

More Nats:

I didn't do any timecode, I'm just assuming when Stras nodded, Zim nodded back

Party At FP Santangelo's House!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:51:00 +0000

On Thursday night during the broadcast of the Washington Nationals vs the San Diego Padres, Bob and FP were hyping up the big Blues Traveller concert that will take place at Nats Park on June 8th after the game (included with ticket)

Late in the broadcast, when most Nats fans were sleeping comfortably in their beds, Fp said the following about the concert:

"Free post game post concert at my house after, we're gonna have a party and everybody is invited, come on over"

Well, that was a funny statement. Funny...but according to several Nats fans watching the game, an open invitation. Bob Carpenter said FP opened his "big yapper" after FP was bombarded with tweets...see you June 8th FP!!!

"It's amazing how many Nats fans are still up going to my party"

@fightinhydrant I'll be at the house party FP. No worries. #NATITUDE
— Eric Rupprecht (@RickRupprecht) May 17, 2013

@davidmorris9656 @fightinhydrant I'm in
— Carrie Chops (@cchops) May 17, 2013

@fightinhydrant party at fp's? I'll bring some wings up from Justin's
— Andrew (@vaderstg) May 17, 2013

ok @fightinhydrant, what do you need us to bring? #nats
— Josh Lipsky (@joshualipsky) May 17, 2013

@fightinhydrant Still awake and I will be at your party! #severejammage #Nats
— Jeremy Guerin (@jeguerin2) May 17, 2013

@fightinhydrant party at F.P.'s house on June 8th. #NATITUDE.
— Andrew Beeman (@chefbeeman) May 17, 2013

@fightinhydrant can't wait to go to the after party #fpgetsitdone
— Big Foges (@Big_Foges) May 17, 2013

Sweet, I'll go to the party at @fightinhydrant's house.I'll get some pizzas - with #steak topping?
— Christopher Nahlik (@nahlikcj) May 17, 2013

@fightinhydrant see after Blues Traveler
— Thaddeus (@ThadRuszkowski) May 17, 2013

@fightinhydrant any time. We're there.
— Let Teddy Win! (@LetTeddyWin) May 17, 2013

@fightinhydrant I'm coming to your party#fileit
— Theo (@Theo_Rioles) May 17, 2013

@fightinhydrant in like Flynn
— JoeyNats (@MorseCode38) May 17, 2013

@fightinhydrant Boom!At tha party yo!
— James R. West (@bzoom311) May 17, 2013

ill be at the blues traveler post party with my mans @fightinhydrant #Nationals #NATITUDE
— Gerald (@SlimSwagner) May 17, 2013

Im coming over to your house, @fightinhydrant
— matt rinella (@TheMrinella) May 17, 2013

Series Preview: Nationals @ Padres

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Craig) — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:48:00 +0000

Pitching Matchups, Times, & TV Listings

Thursday, May 16th, 10:10PM - Stephen Strasburg v. Edinson Volquez

Friday, May 17^th, 10:10PM – Gio Gonzalez v. Burch Smith

Saturday, May 18^th, 8:40PM – Jordan Zimmerman v. Eric Stults

Sunday, May 19^th, 4:10PM – Dan Haren v. Andrew Cashner

The Nationals are continuing their West Coast swing as they now head to San Diego to face the Padres in a four game series. The Nationals are coming off a series loss to the Dodgers, and may be facing more injury problems. The offense was present in Los Angeles, as they spread out 24 hits over the course of the series. The pitching staff will also look to continue its good form, giving up only 7 runs in the previous series.

Series Preview

With more injury problems creating obstacles for the Nationals, they still have yet to be able to find their best form. They will, however, get to face a few players on the Padres that are inexperienced. This will allow the Nationals to ease their way through a tough period of injuries.

Two of the probable starters for the Padres have only started 6 combined games in this season, one of those starts only lasted an inning. Burch Smith allowed 5 hits and walked 2, which lead to the Tampa Bay Rays scoring 6 runs in the first inning off of him. The Nationals will hope they can have a similar result. Cashner has only started 5 games, after starting the season in the bullpen. Stults and Vazquez have been in the rotation for the whole season, but they have ERAs of 4.57 and 5.15 respectively.

The Nationals offense has been hot recently, which will mix well with the struggling pitching staff of San Diego. Adam LaRoche is finally swinging the bat like he knows he can, and Ian Desmond has been emerging as the leader of the team. Expect this lineup to stay hot throughout the series, making a run for a sweep.

Notes

Jayson Werth will attempt to return to the ball club on Friday, after getting a few more at-bats in a rehab start Thursday night.
Wilson Ramos is expected to be heading back to the DL, while Ross Detwiler may have to miss a start having tightness in his back during his start on Wednesday.

Song of the Series: Centerfield by John Fogerty

This is one of the classic baseball songs that is played in every stadium for every game, telling the story of a young man who just loves the game of baseball. This is a song that could be applied to many of the Nationals players, as the team is full of youth and the joy of baseball. Bryce Harper, Jordan Zimmermann, Ian Desmond, all guys that just go out there and give it 100% all the time. So listen to this American classic, and think of your Washington Nationals.

Matchup of the Series: Edinson Volquez v. Early Innings

Edinson Volquez has been notoriously bad in the early innings in his career. He has had two starts this year in which he hasn’t made it out of the fourth inning. However, in his last 2 starts he has only given up 7 hits and 3 runs in 12.2 combined innings. If the Nationals can get him off to a bad start, expect the offense to be able to stay hot throughout the rest of the game, and the rest of the series.

Video: Jayson Werth's Rehab Start For The Potomac Nationals

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:59:00 +0000

Jayson Werth started a rehab assignment after hitting the DL with a hamstring injury. Werth played for the Nats high A ball Potomac Nationals, started in right field, and took two at bats at the 2 spot before heading out early.

Werth got a hit, got in a rundown, threw out a guy at home plate, and parked his truck in a dangerous place. Meanwhile I ate free hamburgers, pizza, hot dogs, and Uncle Julio's chicken tacos and chips. Check out the video below.

A small crowd of fans gathered around the first baseline about an hour before gametime waiting for Jayson Werth to come out so they could get autographs. Werth, the crafty veteran, remained hidden back in the locker room until around 10 minutes before first pitch. He came out, warmed up for a bit, and then left about 5 minutes to sign stuff for fans.

Werth Singles Up The Middle As The Sun Sets

Werth batted second for the P-Nats and grounded out to 2nd in his first at bat. Then, when in the field, the Nats right fielder threw out a tagging up runner at home from right. Next, in his 2nd and final at bat, Werth singled up the middle and ended up getting caught in that rundown where his team somehow ended up scoring a run. Not a bad warm-up day for Werth.

Jayson Werth Takes The Field In Right As The Picnic Area Looks On

Meanwhile, outside the stadium, several fans noticed a giant white pickup truck parked on a random patch of grass next to a softball field right outside the locker room. The Illinois license plate and the souped up nature of the pickup gave away that it belonged to Werth.

Werth's truck parked about 30 feet from the locker room door, in a random non-parking spot.

Werth's choice of parking spot allowed him to get in and out quickly, but was not the greatest choice of spots. To his right, only a few feet from the truck, was a intramural softball game...right in foul territory. To his left was the P-Nats stadium, and home plate was not far away. In fact, one foul ball landed about 20 feet from the truck.

When the game was over a crowd gathered by the locker room door waiting to get Werth to sign autographs. The game was still going on, but not many people seemed to care. Eventually Werth emerged, surrounded by about 5 P-Nats employees and they rushed out the door, out the gate, and within seconds Werth was in his truck and on the road much to the dismay of the fans.

US Marines Appreciation Day At Nats Park With Bryce Harper

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:43:00 +0000

Prior to last Wednesday's May 8th rain delayed game vs the Detroit Tigers, the Washington Nationals held a Marines appreciation night at Nats Park. That night, the USMC took part in the different aspects of the game from delivering the lineup card to throwing out the first pitch to screaming "Play Ball!".

Eight Marines stood out in the field to greet the Nationals players as they took to the diamond in the top of the first inning. Each Nats starter had a chance to shake the hand of a hero, and it was a great moment as in the video below you can see Bryce Harper shaking the hand of a Marine.

One of those Marines was Gunnery Sgt. David Charlton who was paired with catcher Kurt Suzuki. From the Army coverage of the event:

"Hey, that was quite a surprise; the umpires turned around and said thank you for your sacrifice," said Charlton, who was a first-time visitor to Nationals Park. "It was an awesome experience and something I'll never forget. Meeting the catcher [Kurt Suzuki] and to see how appreciative and how sincere they were was awesome."

Here is the video of Bryce Harper running out to the field from NatsTown2k10:

Aside from having fans wave their caps, the Nats do a lot of other great things like Marine Day to help support, celebrate, and thank all the members of our Armed Services. They've even had Navy Sailors take their Oath of Enlistment right on the field.

Nats Fan Faceplants, But Gets The Foul Ball

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Wed, 15 May 2013 03:06:00 +0000

This was hilarious. A fan was going after a foul ball, jumped up to get it, and ended up landing face/chest first on the seats. It looked like it hurt pretty bad but the Natidude (as FP calls them) gets up and celebrates his new prize. One of the fans who got a bat earlier actually tries to hit the baseball with the bat too. The fan makes the catch and hangs on after his jaw smacks the seats. Check out the GIF.

Meme: Bryce Harper Crashes Into The Wall

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:41:00 +0000

Bryce Harper crashed into the wall last night, and seems to be ok, so we decided to meme-ize the crazy play from the other night. Here's a bunch of the results.

Bob & FP's Greatest Hits

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:02:00 +0000

The Caps game kept this post away an extra day, and now that we are sad about hockey we need something to cheer us up. Bob & FP to the rescue! Here are some of their key quotes from last week and a few new FP Definitions, which are always good.

Stay Tuned each week as we follow Bob & FP throughout the season!

View Each Week's Greatest Hits Here

Series Preview: Nationals @ Dodgers

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Craig) — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:36:00 +0000

Pitching Matchups, Times, & TV Listings

Monday, May 13^th, 10:10PM – Jordan Zimmermann v. Josh Beckett (MASN HD)

Tuesday, May 14^th, 10:10PM – Dan Haren v. Clayton Kershaw (MASN2 HD)

Wednesday, May 15^th, 10:10PM – Ross Detwiler v. TBA (MASN HD)

The Nationals concluded a disappointing series with the Cubs on Sunday, and will now head out to the west coast. A ten game road trip is what the Nationals have in front of them as they will get a tour of California, while playing three of the NL West’s clubs. The Nats will hope to bounce back after dropping two in a row, looking for that form that led to a five game winning streak.

Series Preview

The Nationals were swept in Los Angeles last year, and they will hope to avoid a similar result. Both of the clubs are in different positions this year than they were at this point last year. The Dodgers are in last place with many injury problems, while the Nationals have yet to catch the flow of the season, as they are still chasing the Braves.

Jordan Zimmermann and Ross Detwiler have been the best arms in the rotation so far, and both of them will take the bump against the struggling Dodgers lineup. The Dodgers have a wide array of starters, as they will throw Beckett and Kershaw, with the third starter remaining unknown. Chris Capuano, or one of the rookie sensations, Matt Magill or Hyun-Jin Ryu, could get the start.

The offense continues to struggle as many key parts are either missing, or just simply haven’t found their stride yet. Werth’s injury, Harper’s slump, Espinosa’s inability to adjust, and the bench not coming up clutch in the late innings have all led to low offensive production. The lineup will look to take advantage of the weakened Dodger pitching staff.

Notes

· With Werth going on the DL, Eury Perez is filling his roster spot. Perez brings a lot of speed and a good glove to the team, as he could be used in late inning situations.

· Perez’s teammate in Syracuse, Erik Davis, is posting good numbers in AAA. He has 4 saves and an ERA below 2. If the Nats decide to add some stability to the bullpen, he could be an option.

Song of the Series: Hotel California by Eagles

The Nationals will be staying in various hotels throughout California for the next week and a half. The song states that “this could be Heaven or this could be Hell,” and it is scary how much that applies to this series. It could be a repeat of what happened last year with the Nationals getting swept, or the Nats could find another run of good form and begin to rattle off another five game win streak.

Matchup of the Series: Good Josh Beckett v. Bad Josh Beckett

Which one will show up? This is what Dodgers fans wonder before every Josh Beckett start. He is currently 0-4 with a 5.13 ERA. In his last 2 starts he’s pitched a combined total of 10 innings, and given up 14 hits, 5 walks, and 7 earned runs. So if the same Josh Beckett appears on Monday night that has appeared his last two starts, then it’s advantage Nationals. However, don’t be stunned if he can find some form from earlier in his career, and shuts down the Nationals.

Nats Week In Review

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Mon, 13 May 2013 02:14:00 +0000

Here's what happened this week in Washington Nationals fun! All the best news, stories, GIFs, videos, photoshops, and more.

Bryce Harper Almost Kills Cubs Pitcher

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Sun, 12 May 2013 18:49:00 +0000

Bryce Harper came up to bat and hit a crazy fast line drive right up the middle that was caught by the shortstop who was shifted over towards second base. After the inning was over, the camera showed the slow motion view from the pitcher and OMG. Just a few days after JA Happ got hit in the head, it almost happened again (well depending on depth perception).

Bryce KILLED the ball. That would not have been good. Scott Feldman of the Cubs lucked out. Check out the closeness on the GIF:

Via MASN's Awesome Cameramen!

Bryce Harper Uses Miguel Cabrera Bat

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:56:00 +0000

Bryce Harper is always looking for ways to improve his game. His latest scheme is apparently using a bat that belongs to the first triple crown winner in 45 years, Miguel Cabrera. Bryce walked in his first at bat with the magical bat and Bob Carpenter put it well:

"I'm sure that bat's been pitched around before"

The bat is made by the company Sam Bat, and is a Rideau Crusher...FYI

A DC Baseball Themed Drinking Game & The Washington Nationals

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:17:00 +0000

Have you ever sat down on a summer afternoon and watched a slow playing Washington Nationals baseball game and thought, if only there was a way to make a game out of a game? Well today is your lucky day. I introduce to you the latest version of the DC baseball drinking game.

The concept is quite simple. You listen to the best announce team in baseball, Bob Carpenter & FP Santangelo, during Washington Nationals games and listen for one of their classic catch phrases. Then, follow the rules and enjoy!

If you have any other key phrases or concepts we missed, send them in on Twitter or in the comments. Also don't really play this it is for entertainment purposes only...and don't drink if you are under 21.

Last season we also created a general baseball drinking game that can be combined with the Nats specific version for extra entertainment purposes.

Ian Desmond & Steak

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:14:00 +0000

With Ian Desmond's strange new obsession with Steak (tweeting #steak, saying 'steak' at the end of postgame interviews) we figured that we needed to come up with different steak for each type of hit that Ian Desmond got. We looked no farther (or further, I hate English) than our favorite fast food restaurant, Taco Bell, whose menu is always bursting with #Steak. Here's what we came up with:

Series Preview: Chicken Fried Cubs

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:11:00 +0000

Pitching Matchups, Times, & TV Listings

Friday, May 10th, 7:05PM – Ross Detwiler v. Jeff Samardzija (MASN HD)
Saturday, May 11th, 4:35PM – Stephen Strasburg v. Edwin Jackson (MASN HD)
Sunday, May 12th, 1:35PM – Gio Gonzalez v. Scott Feldman (MASN HD)

After continuing their undefeated season in inter-league play, the Nationals return to National League action as they face the Chicago Cubs. This is the first time the teams meet this year, after the Nationals dominated the season series last year. The Nationals continue to chase the Braves and will look to take advantage of this series.

Series Preview

The Cubs and Nationals come into this series, each attempting to prove something to the baseball world. The Nationals are trying to show that they have finally hit their stride and are going to begin putting a few good wins together. The Cubs, on the other hand, are trying to prove that they will not be pushed around by the top teams of the league, and that they can compete for a playoff spot.

The Cubs will have to face a trifecta of starting pitchers that could be in the Cy Young debate, and one of them isn’t Jordan Zimmermann. Detwiler, Strasburg, and Gio will be looking to shut down a weak and inexperienced Cubs lineup, that is 22^nd in the MLB in batting average.

The Nationals impressed with the bats against the Tigers, and will hope to continue that trend against a Cubs staff that is posting an average ERA of 3.77. Adam LaRoche is beginning to produce and it is difficult to find a hole in the Nationals lineup once again.

SERIES NOTES:

Jayson Werth was aiming to return back to the lineup during this series but he will head to the DL.
Eury Perez will be called up to replace Werth
Edwin Jackson makes his return back to Washington D.C. after signing a deal with the Cubs in the offseason.

Song of the Series: Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band

This country song is all about relaxing and showing your patriotism. The Washington Nationals, who have begun to play good baseball, can now be in a somewhat relaxed state as the Braves are struggling. Playing in the capital of the United States and wearing red, white, and blue is an obvious form of showing your patriotism, which is exactly what the Nationals do every day. So sit back, listen to this song, and be proud to be a Nationals fan, and an American.

Matchup to Watch: Edwin Jackson vs His Old Friends

Edwin Jackson will be making his return to Nationals Park, after spending a season with the team in 2012. He had a successful campaign in the Nation’s capital before signing a long-term deal with the Cubs. He has had a rocky start and the currently hot Nationals lineup will get a chance to face him in a place where he has some good memories. It will be interesting to see how the crowd, and of course the Washington bats, greet Edwin in his return.

Classic Matchup Moment: The Brawl

Last season when the Nats faced the Cubs things got a little bit heated after Bryce Harper was thrown at. Tempers flared and guys like Edwin Jackson (now on the Cubs) and Michael Morse (now on the Mariners) were extra heated. (Read the story & see GIFS here)

Written By Kevin Craig

Bryce Mad Bro?

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:22:00 +0000

On Thursday night against the Detroit Tigers, Bryce Harper flied out to deep left field and went back to the dugout frustrated that he missed the pitch and his chance at a homerun. Harper did what he does when he is mad at himself, he walked into the dugout and slammed his helmet on the ground while making anger faces. Check out the GIF.

Series Preview: Tigers @ Nationals vs Rain

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:11:00 +0000

Pitching Matchups, Times, & TV Listings

Tuesday, May 7^th, 7:05PM – Jordan Zimmermann v. Anibal Sanchez (MASN HD)

Wednesday, May 8^th, 7:05PM – Dan Haren v. Doug Fister (MASN HD)

Possible rain out doubleheader tomorrow?

The Nationals have won 4 of the last 5, taking the last 2 games of their series with the Braves and Pirates. After ending their fairly successful road trip, the Nationals head back home to take on the red-hot Tigers in a two game series. The Nationals enter their second inter-league series with a lot of confidence, exactly what they need to be successful against the defending American League champions.

Series Preview

The Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers are matched up in a 2-game set in Washington, as they will match up later in the season, playing 2 games in Detroit.

Jordan Zimmermann and Dan Haren will be taking the mound for the first time since their back to back 1-hit performances in Atlanta. They will hope to continue their run of good form as they match up with the potent Detroit lineup. Anibal Sanchez has also been performing very well this year, and he was known to give the Nationals a rough time during his time with the Marlins.

The Nationals started hitting the ball well against the inexperienced Pittsburgh pitching staff, and now they get to match up against the much more reliable staff of the Tigers. Sanchez and Fister will both attempt to power through the strikeout-prone lineup of the Nationals, but if they can get through that and into the shaky bullpen, expect good results for the offense.

SERIES NOTES:

The off day Monday and a possible rain day can help Jayson Werth rest his sore hamstring as well as give Bryce a few days rest. Werth is aiming to return to the lineup tonight.

Song of the Series: Song 2 by Blur

Everybody that’s ever been to a sporting event knows this song. This is commonly played after a hockey goal, home run, or touchdown, as the crowd stands and shouts “whoohoo!” The Nationals offense has been providing some exciting moments recently, and this song could work perfectly into the Nationals Park playlist. Not to mention, the number of games in this series is in the title of the song.

Matchup to Watch: Tigers Starting Pitching v. Nationals Offense

This matchup is more than likely what will decide the series. Of course this may sound obvious, but if Sanchez and Fister can shut down the Nationals lineup and give 7 or 8 strong innings, then that gives a big advantage to the Tigers. However, if the Nationals are able to find a way to power through the starters and into the bullpen, then that gives a big advantage to the Nationals. This can work the same way for the Tigers however, due to the early season struggles of the Washington bullpen.

Written By Kevin Craig

Bryce Harper's Mothers Day Glove

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:42:00 +0000

Here is a glove tweeted by Akadema that Bryce Harper will be using (according to them) on Mother's Day, Sunday against the Cubs. (h/t @RecordsAndRadio)

Bob & FP's Greatest Hits

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:22:00 +0000

A full week of games minus a Saturday Fox game which was done by FP and some other dude who didn't know what a rowboat was. Here are our favorite Bob & FP moments from the previous week.

Stay Tuned each week as we follow Bob & FP throughout the season!

View Each Week's Greatest Hits Here

Bryce Throws His Arms Up In The Air Sometimes

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:14:00 +0000

Saying A-yo, Gotta let go...

In the bottom of the 1st inning in Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon, Bryce Harper checked his swing with two strikes. There was an appeal to third base umpire John Hirschbeck who claimed that Harper went through with the swing, and called him out.

Bryce Harper was not happy with the call believing that he did check his swing. The replay showed that the pitch should have been called a strike, but it wasn't and Harper acted out. Bryce threw his hands up in the air to which Hirschbeck took exception.

Hirschbeck threw his own arms in the air and walked towards home plate and Bryce Harper. He stopped on the way to tell Nats 3rd base coach Trent Jewett to get Bryce back to the dugout, as Bryce remained in the batters box looking down the third base line.

Haper started to walk back to the dugout but tossed his helmet behind him at home plate and that was all remaining needed for Hirschbeck to eject Harper from the game. Here's sort of how it went down, in GIF form.

Series Preview: Nats at Pirates

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Sat, 04 May 2013 01:09:00 +0000

Pitching Matchups, Times, & TV Listings

Friday, May 3rd, 7:05PM - Ross Detwiler v. A.J. Burnett (MASN HD)

Saturday, May 4th, 4:05PM - Stephen Strasburg v. Jeff Locke (FOX)

Sunday, May 5th, 1:35PM - Gio Gonzalez v. Wandy Rodriguez (MASN HD)

After splitting a 4-game set with the Atlanta Braves, the Nationals now head north to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates. The Nationals are currently 2.5 games out of first place and will hope to take this series from the upstart Pirates. The Nationals seem to have found their rhythm in Atlanta and there are many interesting aspects coming into this series, and we are here to preview all of them.

Series Preview

This is the first matchup of the season between these two squads, being pitted against each other as they are both playing good baseball as each team is currently in second place in their respective divisions.

The Nationals pitching staff got it going in the Braves series, only allowing 1 run in the last 18 innings. Of course Dan Haren and Jordan Zimmermann are responsible for this, however good results can be contagious. Last year, each starter talked about how they were motivated by the others to do better every time they stepped onto the mound, maybe the Nationals have gotten away from that this year, and a string of a few good starts is what they need in order to get on track.

The Pirates have been struggling at the plate, as they have the 6th-worst average and the 3rd-most amount of strikeouts in the league. These areas of their offense will be taken advantage of by the power arms in the Nationals' staff.

SERIES NOTES:

Ryan Zimmerman is expected to return from the DL, as Anthony Rendon will be sent down. Rendon should be proud of his results, and this experience should help him throughout the rest of his learning process.
Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, and Stephen Strasburg all bring injury concerns into this series. Three of the most important names on this roster must continue to be healthy in order to give their team the best chance at success.

Song of the Series: Better Now by Collective Soul

The Nationals are getting better, slowly but surely. They aren't making the errors they were early in the season, physical or mental. Certain players have greatly improved, as well. Dan Haren has been getting better with each start, Jordan Zimmermann has emerged as the team's ace, and Ian Desmond is beginning to come around with all aspects of his game. Hopefully this will be applicable over the course of the next few weeks, as a few of the Nationals' key players are fighting injuries.

Matchup to Watch: Washington Nationals vs Health

As stated in the Notes, the Nats have a few important question marks on their roster. Harper, Werth, and Strasburg all appeared to have injuries over the course of the Braves series, however Strasburg has thrown a bullpen and he has been cleared to start on Saturday. Harper and Werth both started last night, which is a good sign, except for the fact that Werth had to come out of the game in the 5th inning.

Ryan Zimmerman is coming off the DL and it will be interesting to see how he is able to return to every day action. And one must wonder if the torn rotator cuff in Danny Espinosa's left shoulder is what has been causing his struggles. The Nationals are known for protecting their players, so it will be interesting to see how Davey and Co. handle these situations.

Classic Matchup Moment

FP Santangelo created a new team...more here

Written By Kevin Craig

Friday Natitude!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Dugs Sports) — Fri, 03 May 2013 06:21:00 +0000

The Nats saved the series and some dude named Dan Haren pitched a Hell of a ballgame

Friday, May 3rd, 7:05PM - Ross Detwiler v. A.J. Burnett (MASN HD)

Errrrrybody Untuckin!

GAME RECAP

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From The Natosphere

Nationals 101: Rally Wu Tang Biotch!!!

I'm so tired from the big Caps win tonight, more links coming next week!

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