Author Archives: Section222

8th 18-gamer: Feasting on the NL East and Tuning Up for the NLDS

For previous 18-gamers, click here. As the last 18 game set came to a close, the Nats had lost three straight to the Orioles. In the third loss, Daniel Murphy hit his first career grand slam in the 9th inning … Continue reading

Posted in 18GameRecap, Analysis, DL, Harper, Kelley, Murphy, NLEast, Ramos, Recap, Rendon, Roark, Scherzer, Strasburg, Turner | Leave a comment

7th 18-gamer: Up and Down, but Reason for Hope

For previous 18-gamers, click here. After the Nats’ third straight loss to the O’s on Wednesday night, if you asked just about any fan about how the last 18 games have gone, the answer would likely have been “not very … Continue reading

Posted in 18GameRecap, Analysis, DL, Harper, Murphy, Papelbon, Ramos, Roark, Scherzer, Strasburg, Turner | Leave a comment

6th 18-gamer: With Just 54 Games to Go, Things are Still Looking Up

For previous 18-gamers, click here. The last 18-game set conveniently concluded at the All Star break. As the baseball world’s attention turned to the mid-summer classic in San Diego, the Nats were 18 games over .500 and six games ahead … Continue reading

Posted in 18GameRecap, Analysis, Harper, Kelley, MikeRizzo, Murphy, OliverPerez, Papelbon, Ramos, Roark, Scherzer, Strasburg, Turner | Leave a comment

Fifth 18-gamer: A breakout for the Nats?

Fortuitously for your faithful contributor who needed a little more time to pull together a post, the Nats 90th game of the season was last Sunday, with five days before the next game.  So this 5th 18-gamer of the year … Continue reading

Posted in 18GameRecap, Analysis, CRob, DL, Espinosa, Giolito, Harper, JRoss, Kelley, Lobaton, Murphy, NLEast, Ramos, Roark, Schedule, Strasburg, Taylor, Turner | Leave a comment

The Fourth 18-gamer — Steady as she goes.

The Nats finished the first third of the season with a record of 33-21, and a three game lead over the New York Mets. They continued to play solid baseball in the most recent 18 game set, finishing 10-8. Even … Continue reading

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It’s time for the third 18-gamer so we’re a third through the season

When we left the Nats after game 36, they were 23-13, having followed a scorching 14-4 start by going 9-9 in their next 18 games. But .500 didn’t look too bad considering the tough opposition they faced (Cardinals, Royals, Cubs, … Continue reading

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The Second 18 — 9-9 is OK

Sure would be nice if we could just forget the last two games of the Marlins series, wouldn’t it? Well, since the second 18 games of the season ended with the front end of Saturday’s doubleheader, let’s do that. For … Continue reading

Posted in 18GameRecap, Analysis, Games, Harper, Murphy, NLEast, Recap, Schedule, Scherzer, Strasburg | Leave a comment

The future of shortstop for the #Nats

There’s been some discussion recently of the earliest date that Trea Turner could be called up and not reach a full year of service time (172 days) by the end of this season.  The various people who have weighed in … Continue reading

Posted in Analysis, Espinosa, RizzoForADay, Turner | Leave a comment

The 18-Game Posts Return

I’ve been doing so-called 18-game posts since June 2012. The idea was inspired by that MASN call-in show that Phil Wood and two other guys whose names I can never remember are on. I don’t know the name of the … Continue reading

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“Strategy” With the Rotation: Dusty and His Staff Have Some Interesting Options in the First Two Weeks

Although it doesn’t sound like it’s official yet, Dusty seems to have decided that Max will pitch on Opening Day against the Braves in Atlanta, and Stras will get the home opener on April 7 against the Marlins.  That means Gio … Continue reading

Posted in CoachingStaff, Dusty, MikeRizzo, Roster | Leave a comment