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Archive for the ‘Washington Nationals’ Category
Condemning Them to Be Free
Growing up can be an awkward phase of physical and social development. Many parents find that enrolling their children in a sport early in life can lead to a balanced improvement in a child’s physical coordination, emotional health and mental focus. The National Alliance of Sports estimates 20 million kids in America, between the ages of 5-12 years old, register to play a competitive sport every year; most in sports such as, football, baseball, basketball and soccer. And by age of 13, the N.A.S. also estimates that 70 percent of these children will end up quitting league sports all-together, and never return to league sports again.
Most adolescents cite a loss of fun as the main reason they end up quitting their sport. The sports they enrolled in earlier in their life having evolved into a more competitive atmosphere - the focus centering more on winning than general understanding and competence. And only kids showing the competitive edge, or a sense will and passion, will usually continue to pursue their sports well their mid-teens.
Occasionally, out of these ranks a young athlete will transcend the competition around him, in every sense of ability and physical development. Options narrow, and it seems the only option for the young athlete to continue to develop would be to advance to a more competitive level. In rarest of cases that means turning pro for the growing adolescents. These young athletes that turn pro are usually buffed with choice words; such as, gifted or prodigy. The societal pressure to live up to expectation becomes immense, and many of the prodigies never live up to the lofty expectations handed down on them. Read More >>
Slow Start? What Slow Start?
OK, time to stop the MLB nonsense about whether the Indians are for real.
They’re as real as Justin Masterson’s sinker, Shin-Soo Choo’s right arm, Carlos Santana’s batting eye, Orlando Cabrera’s experience and Asdrubal Cabrera’s talent.
Try this for real: The Indians own a majors-best 66 run differential and an MLB best 18-4 home record. They’ve scored the second-most runs in the A.L. and have the fourth-best ERA. They’re 7-2 against the A.L. East with the revived Red Sox returning to Cleveland looking for revenge after that three-game sweep they absorbed in the season’s first week.
Ron Washington knows they’re for real. Asked if he knew the Indians would be in first place when in spring training he asked Manny Acta to be an MLB All-Star coach, the Rangers managed replied, “I knew the Indians would be tough. They have some talent.”
Washington might have been one of the few to believe that two months ago. But he’s no longer alone. The Indians sit atop the MLB Power Poll for the fourth consecutive week. The Poll is convinced.
1. Indians (1). You can ask the Reds if the Tribe is for real. The Indians’ weekend sweep was first over Reds since 2004.
2. Cardinals (14). When talking about N.L. MVP candidates, Matt Holliday would be the place to start. Unless you started with Lance Berkman.
3. Red Sox (13). About that 2-10 start, perhaps the Red Sox just wanted to play fair and give the rest of the league a head start.
Adrian Gonzalez has provided the offensive punch the Red Sox were hoping for when they traded for him this offseason. (AP Photo)
4. Giants (6). Latest wrist injury to Mark DeRosa could be the end, making his the saddest in a season that has seen more than its share of injuries.
5. Phillies (4). Chase Utley is back in time for rematch of last year’s divisional series against the Reds. Time for the rest of the Phillies’ offense to return, too.
6. Yankees (15). What a debut: Right-hander Hector Noesi gives Yankees four scoreless innings to win 15-inning marathon in Baltimore, providing the difference between a so-so and a good week for the club.
Strasburg All-Star Eligibility is in Question
The fact that the Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg has made just five major league starts, has the U.S. media debating whether or not he should even be chosen to appear in the All-Star game.
Mitch Williams says on MLB Network, “I don’t care if two of his first four starts were no-hitters, there is no way you can put this kid on the All-Star team after five starts. As much as he is impressive, polished, young and exciting, the All-Star game is based on the entire first half. It will do this kid a disservice and alienate other players against him if he makes the team. Pitchers will look at him and say, ‘He’s going to make the All-Star team when I’ve pitched 120 innings and have nine wins?’ If Strasburg makes the team, it hurts the credibility of the league.”
Tim McCarver, on the other hand, says on Fox’s national broadcast, “It depends on what happens over his next three starts. If he wins his next three starts, then yes. If he doesn’t win his next three and his ERA still hovers around 2.00, then probably. Aside from that, if he loses his next three starts, then no. After all, everybody knows and is in agreement that he’s got to earn it. This guy is so phenomenal and has hit the baseball scene with such an impact that it would be an injustice to America and baseball in America to not show Stephen Strasburg on its biggest inter-league play stage.” Read More >>
Stephen Strasburg Breaks One While Losing Another
Breaking records and losing, the Washington Nationals pitcher, was the victum of a bad beat.
Stephen Strasburg struck out his 41rst apponent in just his fourth start, yet was unable to walk away with a win. If the 95 pitches, Strasburg threw 75 strikes, with 9 strikeouts. However the Nationals were unable to get their bats going enough to earn a single run as he lost 1 to 0 against the Kansas City Royals.
Overall the hits were spread thoughout the game. The Royals were able to manage 9 hits against Strasburg yet only the single by Jose Guillien in the 2nd inning made the game winning difference driving in the one and only Kansas City run. Read More >>
The Audacity of Hope in the Capital
The last few seasons there has been little to nothing to cheer about as far as sports are concerned in the nation’s capital. Sure the Washington Capitals have seen a resurgence thanks to superstar Alexander Ovechkin, but who really cares about hockey in the US anymore? The Wizards have been plagued by the injuries of Gilbert Arenas, and the Redskins haven’t been a serious threat in the NFL since Daniel Snyder bought the team.
Although the Nationals have been the worst team in MLB the last few years, there is now hope and a reason for fans to buy Nationals jerseys again. Their horrendous record has finally paid dividends by landing the Nationals acclaimed pitcher Stephen Strasburg. He is touted as being the best pitching prospect in decades and hailed as the savior for the Washington sports community.
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