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Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg Makes Fourth Triple-A Start
Posted: 25th May 2010 by Dave Nichols in MLB
In his first three Triple-A starts, Stephen Strasburg did not allow a run—earned or otherwise—while blowing away the more seasoned hitters in the highest minor league.
Monday night, in what promises to be one of his last tune-ups for his major league duty, Strasburg got into trouble in two straight innings, allowing a pair of runs, including the first earned run against him in Triple-A.He ended up going just five innings ...
Washington Capitals Right the Ship, Beat Thrashers 2-1
Posted: 2nd April 2010 by Dave Nichols in NHL
During their now-concluded three-game losing streak, Caps players, media, fans and Coach Bruce Boudreau all spoke often about the need for the club to play a full 60-minute game, something they all freely admitted they were not doing.
Thursday night, against a scrappy Atlanta team trying to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals got that 60-minute effort, defeating the Thrashers 2-1 before a frenzied capacity crowd at Verizon ...
For Nationals, Spring Record Means Little, Attitude Says a Lot
Posted: 15th March 2010 by Dave Nichols in MLB
0-10 through 10 games.
Stinks, right?
To hear the Nationals' players talk about it, fans and writers should disregard the club's spring training record. They have a list of reasons and excuses to forget about the record.
"We're just getting our work in."
"We aren't playing with our regular players."
"I just want to stay healthy for the season."
"I'm working on some new thing/adjustment."
For the most part, spring training records don't mean squat. Several writers ...
Alex Ovechkin Suspended Two Games for Hit on Brian Campbell
Posted: 15th March 2010 by Dave Nichols in NHL
Washington Capitals star forward Alex Ovechkin was given a two-game suspension by NHL discipline czar Collin Campbell today, according to reports, for his hit on Brian Campbell in Sunday's nationally televised game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Reports out of Chicago indicate Campbell has a broken clavicle and ribs.
In the crazy, mixed up world of hockey justice, hits like those meted out by Mike Richards, Matt Cooke, and most recently, Steve ...
Washington Capitals Win in OT; Alex Ovechkin Headed for Discipline?
Posted: 14th March 2010 by Dave Nichols in NHL
Nicklas Backstrom scored on an end-to-end rush, before getting creamed in the slot, in overtime to finish off a tremendous comeback for the Washington Capitals. The 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks gives the Caps 46 wins and 101 points for the season.
Trailing 3-0 at the start of the third period, Washington scored three times in 2:16, as Chicago coughed up its second three-goal third period lead in as many ...
Is it better to be optimistic and be disappointed by the results, or pessimistic and be pleasantly surprised?
I find myself asking that question a lot these days, and not just about the Washington Nationals.
There is an awful lot of optimistic talk coming out of Viera right now, and on the interwebs, about the prospects of significant improvement for the upcoming Nationals season.
Optimists are pointing to the offseason acquisitions and "youth" of ...
Nicklas Backstrom Leads Washington Capitals Past Ottawa Senators, 5-2
Posted: 8th January 2010 by Dave Nichols in NHL
Nicklas Backstrom is going a long way to prove that he is more than just Alex Ovechkin's caddy.áHe had a two-goal nightùhis fifth of the seasonùto lead the Washington Captials to a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators before a sold out Verizon Center.
Backstrom added an assist as well on Mike Knuble's first-period goal and was simply dominant.á In addition to the scoring, heáwas 53 per centáin the dot on ...
Hardball Times Ranks Washington Nationals’ Top 10 Prospects
Posted: 7th January 2010 by Dave Nichols in MLB
The Hardball Times released their Top 10 prospects list for the Washington Nationals today.á Not much surprise, however, only three of their top ten were arms, the rest position players.
1. Stephen Strasburg: Perhaps the best college pitcher of all time, Strasburg brings unheralded hype and ability to a Washington organization desperate for a shot in the arm. He is the best pitching prospect in baseball and will challenge Atlanta's ...
The Washington Nationals, over the last few weeks, have made a series of significant moves to try bolster the 2010 team in advance ofásome home-grown talent arriving in 2011 or 2012.
Stephen Strasburg. Drew Storen. Derek Norris. Danny Espinosa. Chris Marrero. Brad Meyers. Definitely some upside there.
Maybe by then this organization will actually be in a position to compete within the division, something they haven't been able to accomplish since Frank ...
After Surprise Trade, Washington Capitals Lose To Carolina 6-3
Posted: 28th December 2009 by Dave Nichols in NHL
Most of the Washington Capitals didn't hear about their captain being traded away until they reached Verizon Center for Monday night's game against theálast-place Carolina Hurricanes.á
Once they took the ice, they played exactly like a team that had their heart ripped out, as they played sloppy, mistake-filled hockey for much of the first half of the game.á
Carolina (10-22-7) scored the first three goals of the game en route to a ...