Tag: MLB

Fried Fish and Crab Cakes

Thursday, May 31st

While definite favorites of this Maryland girl, today’s post is about how the Nats are now the hottest team in Major League Baseball!

No kidding!

The Nationals have gone 21-6 in the past 27 games and are now 1st in the NL East. Talk about comeback kids!

You’re probably scratching your head wondering how this happened considering we have 11 of some of our best men on the disabled list. Additionally, 10 currently active players…weren’t even with us at the start of the season!

Following a homestead against the Yankees, Dodgers, and Padres (and in that order), we hit South to Miami to take on the Marlins in a 3 game series. The Nationals filleted and fried those fish! 9-5, 4-1, and 5-2. After which, my guys came back to the DMV for the (in my opinion) much anticipated Battle of the Beltways. Perhaps it’s not the big deal some of us hype it up to be, but it makes for a good time when I can troll my brother on social media who happens to be an Oriole fan. 

We went on to blank the Os in 2 games out of three, 6-0, 3-2, 2-0 and swept the series. Can I just say how AWESOME Max Scherzer is?! I mean your fave could never pitch 8 solid innings without breaking a sweat!

Although Baltimore doesn’t appear to be much of a contender this season, the National’s series win in Baltimore was the first since 2015…enough to put the Nationals back where they should be: 1st in the NL East! It only took 57 days. This is the first time we’ve been in first place since April 3rd (when we were 4-1) in the grand scheme of the season… a millisecond after opening day.

Wednesday’s win against the Orioles was the Nat’s 6th straight win, 9th straight win on the road (20-8). Home is a different story where we are currently 12-14. However, I’m sure the energy and momentum will translate well at Nationals Park when the guys come back from Atlanta to face the Tampa Bay Rays (FYI – Denard Span is now with the Seattle Mariners).

Of course because in baseball much like in life…one day you’re up, the next you’re down.

And this blog post couldn’t keep the pace.

On Thursday night, the Braves jumped back to 1st with the Nats loss in Atlanta 4-2. This put us a half game behind the Braves. Record: 32-23

As of the time I am still writing this…Friday, June 1st at 11:07p EST…the Nats have dropped to 3rd. THIRD! Braves completely shut us out tonight 4-0. Our loss, a Phillies win knocks us back 1.5 games from 1st. Record 32-24 (OTR 20-10).

That’s baseball for ya!

We’re halfway through this series with the Braves, so let’s see if we can get back on top by winning the next 2 games and split the series.

-Nika

Cranking Out Losses and Home Runs

The post I had planned for today was supposed to be about my favorite Nationals things but after seeing today’s word prompt, “Crank”…I was inspired to pause and instead write about these losses my guys have been cranking out and where this fan’s feelings currently reside on the Nats Fan Spectrum.

It’s been a little over two weeks since the baseball season officially started and while my guys opened the season strong…it’s been a LONG two weeks. During this time, the Nats have played 16 games, lost 9 of those, and fell from 1st to 4th place in the in NL East. Fourth ya’ll! Just 2.5 games behind the Marlins aka…LAST PLACE! It’s a slippery slope! They’re in Queens for the next 3 games playing the New York Mets and they to LA for 3 game series against the Dodgers. But guys, we played the Mets during our home opener series and they swept us! If home field advantage didn’t work then…dare I say?

True, it’s still early in the season. There are still about 146 games left to play. But I wonder, with the consistent losses, have we passed the “it’s still early” point in baseball? Have the last 2 weeks been indication of how the rest of the season will likely go? Are major adjustments needed? Or are we still “warming up”? Either way…this string of losses sucks @$$! I’m ride or die…I’m rooting for the Nats no matter what!

On a more positive note, Bryce Harper currently leads all of Major League Baseball in Home Runs with SEVEN so far this season. So there’s that but Bryce can’t carry team. We need to make plays and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves or it’s going to be an even longer season. Like that whole time on Game of Thrones we were waiting for winter to come.

-Nika

via Daily Prompt: Crank

It WAS Lit…And Then We Lost

Hey guys! Sorry for the delay. Full plate but without further ado…here’s my rundown of Opening Day at Nationals Park:

In Rizzo We Trust! The energy for the day started with the early morning announcement hit that our GM Mike Rizzo would be sticking around for another two years.

I arrived at the park around 11:15a, not long after the gates opened and the lines were long as f*ck. The Season Ticket Holder line…you know the line with the red carpet that I should’ve taken…was super long so I opted for a shorter elsewhere. I got in, grabbed my Geico sponsored t-shirt featuring this year’s game schedule, and relished in the fact that baseball is officially back! There were things going on at every corner of the ballpark. DJs Flexx and Chris Styles were indeed spinning on the 1s and 2s which totally added to the hype of the day. The energy was live…red was EVERYWHERE! There were a few Mets fans sprinkled in but it was clearly our ballpark. You know…I love Opening Day for many reasons but the number of adults opting out of work and opting their children out of school for the experience just warmed my heart.

Team Store Finds

The fanatic that I am…I headed right to the Team Store to checkout what was new. That place is always a problem. However, this time I was prepared with budgeted cash (best way to stay on track with your financial goals IMO). But OMG! I was able to pick up what I feel is the perfect abbreviated version of my Nationals Hershel Supply Co backpack…THE HIP PACK!!! That thing had been sold out for most of the MLB teams online for a while now but the team store had it!!! I also picked up an Opening Series lapel pin for my lanyard and a pink toddler-grade bat/ball set for my bestie’s little girl…you have to start them early 🙂

Good EatsIMG_9955

After the team store, my next stop was food because…although I enjoy and appreciate the socialization around the game…I do go to watch the game. So once I get to my seat…I usually don’t get up again. I’m that person.

Jammin Island BBQ! Man…the jerk chicken and ribs combo was SO good! Warning…it’s a lot of food but this is probably the best value in the park. For $17, you get jerk ribs, jerk chicken, and your choice of two sides. You can choose between plantains, rice and beans, coleslaw, and fried yucca. My recommendation: GET IT! But ask for extra jerk sauce and enjoy! Locations: Section 141 and Red Loft 244

Ceremonial Things

Awards were on deck:

  • Max received the 2017 NL Cy Young Award. Max is now a back-to-back Cy Young winner in the NL. He also earned the Cy Young Award in 2013 while playing with the Detroit Tigers in the American League.
  • Murph received the Silver Slugger Award…again. That would be his 2nd consecutive.
  • Mr. Washington National himself…the Face of the Franchise, Ryan Zimmerman, received the NL Comeback Player of the Year. In 2017, Zim was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time since 2009, hit the longest hit homer in Nationals Park, set a new Nationals/Expos franchise record with his 235th career home run, and set the Nationals’ franchise record for most runs batted in!

Heart-warming special guests were there too:

  • Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and Great Mills High School threw out the ceremonial first pitch to a standing ovation.
  • Serving us Black Girl Magic, Maame Biney (Olympic short track speedskater) and uber cool Noah Groves (sled hockey gold medalist) delivered the lineup card.
  • The U.S. Army Chorus Quartet performed the National Anthem. There was no flyover though. Perhaps something more critical came up and they had to abort? Like impending travel that made the area restricted airspace? I dunno…there was never any mention of it after that terrible awkward silence following the last lined belt of The Star-Spangled Banner. Everyone I saw just looked around (and up in the sky) waiting…some took guesses at other opportunities for the flyover to occur as the game progressed. We’re still waiting.
  • Mayor Bowser and cute little Parker Curry gave us the green light to “Play Ball!”

The Game

Did I mention how dynamic the game of baseball is?

We started off good. Stras did Stras things. We had a 1-run lead…and then entered Jay Bruce. To speed things up a bit…Stras balked, Eaton left early on a minor injury sliding into home, the home base ump was on some bs (that whole crew can kick rocks btw), Trea was ejected (1st career), Cespedes homered on a 95 mph fast ball (gotta give credit), we loaded the bases but came up empty, Stras would end after 6 innings, and the Mets went on to earn a grand slam on Kintzler. That energy I spoke of earlier? Yeah…that faded and the reality of a loss on Opening Day and the fact that I had been outside in 42° weather hit…HARD.

Two hours and 57 minutes with 42,477 in attendance…we lost 8-2 and dropped to 3rd in the NL East behind the Braves and the Mets.

Although the Nats were never able to catch up…

I was able to catch up with Stephen! (See what I did there? lol) Stephen and I met last year at the Nationals Crab Feast and made it a point to stay in touch. We were passing ships during Spring Training but met up on Opening Day for a brief chat and of course…a pic!

Despite the loss(es) it was still a good day for baseball. It’s still early in the season. We have a long way to go but I’m excited to see how the season unfolds.

#onepursuit #ibackthenats

-Nika

Nationals Home Opener + Survival Checklist

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

We’re on the eve of the Nationals home opener against the New York Mets. First pitch is set for 1:05p but gates open at 11a for all of the festivities in and around the ballpark before the game.

Here’s a rundown of the day’s promos and events:

Promotions

  • The first 25,000 fans to enter the ballpark through ALL GATES will receive a 2018 Schedule T-shirt presented by GEICO.
  • DJ Flexx will perform in Center Field Plaza from gate opening until a 30 minutes prior to first pitch.
  • Jeff From Accounting will perform at the Budweiser Terrace from the time gates open until a half hour prior to first pitch.
  •  DJ Chris Styles will perform at the First Base Gate from the time gates open until a half hour prior to first pitch.
  • Nationals Park Organist Matthew Van Hoose will perform from the NatMobile on the timeline walk outside Home Plate Gate, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
  • The Family Picnic Area will feature caricature artists, face painters, and balloon twisters from the time gates open until 1:30 p.m.
  • Coca-Cola will provide complimentary samples as fans exit the ballpark through the Center Field Gate, while supplies last. I don’t particularly subscribe to soft drinks, even if they are free, but I don’t want to make it about me. Get your free Coke! 🙂

Events

  • Let’s start with the AWARDS! Award presentations including the Baseball Writers’ Association of America 2017 National League Cy Young Award presented to RHP Max Scherzer, the 2017 Silver Slugger Award presented to 2B Daniel Murphy, and the 2017 Players Choice Award for NL Comeback Player of the Year presented to 1B Ryan Zimmerman.
  • Ceremonial first pitch thrown by Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and Great Mills High School. If you recall, Gaskill brought the March 20th active shooter incident to a quick end.
  • U.S. Armed Forces Color Guard from the Military District of Washington and Drummers from the U.S. Navy Band, Washington Navy Yard present our nation’s colors.
  • The National Anthem will be performed by the U.S. Army Chorus Quartet.
  • Flyover by the VFA-32 Swordsmen from Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, Va., in F/18 Super Hornet Jets
  • Lineup card delivery by Maame Biney, the Olympic short track speedskater who competed in the 500m and 1500m events at the 2018 PyeongChang Games and was raised in Reston, Va., and Noah Grove, a Frederick, Md., native and gold medalist in sled hockey at the 2018 Paralympic Games in PyeongChang
  • “Let’s Play Ball!” announced by The Honorable Muriel Bowser, Mayor of DC, she’ll be joined by Parker Curry (she was the little girl smitten by National Gallery Portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama that subsequently got the chance to meet and dance with her).
  • Sophia Nadder will perform God Bless America

As you can tell, it’s going to be a long day away from home and I want to be prepared, so I’m packing some essentials.  Lately, my go-to game bag has been my Hershel Supply Co. Heritage Backpack. I believe I purchased it from the team store some time last year. I’ve found it to be super spacious, durable, and the interior detail….woooo! It’s all in the details. Everything I plan to take will fit perfectly inside.

Hershel 1
Herschel Supply Co. Heritage Backpack

As of the time I am writing this, the forecast for tomorrow is mostly sunny skies with a high of 54°.  With that in mind, here’s what I’m packing:

  • Layers
  • Wallet (including cash for the 50/50 raffle and ID for beeeeeeeer)
  • Sunscreen (especially for those midday games)
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat or visor
  • Rally towel (hopefully you won’t need it but just in case. Plus it’ll come in handy to wipe off sweat, food, etc.)
  • Lucky jewelry, socks, jersey, underwear (put these on before the game), etc.
  • Absorbent microfiber towel to absorb moisture on seat…it WILL rain eventually.
  • Umbrella and/or poncho
  • An empty water bottle to fill at the ballpark or 1L bottled water (NatsPark permits one bottle, up to 1L, per person but it has to maintain factory seal)
  • Food (individually wrapped (no glass). I tend to bring healthy snacks/salads/sandwiches but it’s Opening Day at the park so I’ll be scoping out the new/good eats.
  • Hand sanitizer and/or wipes
  • Phone (for obvious reasons but also, the Nats are killing the social media game so be sure to follow and tag @nationals across all social media platforms and use hashtags like #onepursuit, #nats, #CurlyW and #ibackthenats
  • Portable phone charger. The ballpark does have phone charging stations but who wants to be tethered to a wall…FOMO much?!
  • VERY IMPORTANT: Hard copy or electronic tickets or your…NATS PLUS CARD!

See. You. There!

-Nika

Back In The Swing Of Things

Man have the boys been busy and off to a GREAT start!

The last time we spoke it was officially Opening Day for the Nationals. Nats played the Reds in Cinci and beat them 2-0.  After that the Nats went on to sweep the series against the Reds (13-7 and 6-5) before heading to Atlanta for a 3-game series against the Braves.

Adam Eaton is back in the lineup (following surgery on his ACL) and doing Adam Eaton things! There’s a reason why they call him Mighty Mouse. And ICYMI…he was voted NL Player of the Week!

Bryce Harper is also killing the game and proving his haters wrong….AGAIN. While in Cincy, he hit a home run. Then a Reds’ fan called him “overrated”, to which he answered with what?!? ANOTHER HOME RUN!

Also, Bryce hit a 3-run home run against the Braves yesterday. That makes his 3rd in 2 days.

Although Catcher Matt Weiters (shout out to the Os) was placed on the 10-Day DL for an oblique strain, 24 year-old Pedro Severino was called up from Triple-A Syracuse and opened yesterday’s game against the Braves.

Nats over the Braves 8-1.

I’m getting ready for our home opener on Thursday. Yes, there is fan preparation for any game but ESPECIALLY Opening Day AT HOME! Think Opening Day Survival List….I’ll talk more about it in my next post.

*UPDATE* The wins just keep coming. I came across 1,000 Red Carpet Rewards points in my account. I’ll trade those in on Thursday for Curly W earrings and a Nationals umbrella.

Record: 4-0

NL East Standing: 1st!

-Nika

Game #1

OMG! OMG! OMG! Guys! It’s about to go down!

The lineup has been set and oh baby what a lineup it is!

Lineup

Social media hae been abuzz all day with excitement for the Nationals first game of the season and it has done nothing but feed the fire already burning inside!

It’s showtime!

Go Nats!

-Nika

It’s Opening Day 2018…for real this time!

And yes, I am way too excited to sleep!

Of course my countdown to Opening Day was solely based on when the Nationals would open the season. That day has FINALLY arrived!!!

True…we’ve only waited one additional day while the other teams started their season yesterday. But it kinda sucked watching your friends play outside while you’re stuck inside the house. You want to be happy for them for having fun but you’re also a little salty.

I think F.P. captured yesterday’s feels perfectly:

But it was Opening Day and some pretty awesome stuff happened. Here are some of my favorite highlights:

First of all, off the VERY FIRST pitch of the season, Cubs’ Ian Happ, a 95 mph fast ball thrown by the Marlins’ Jose Urena, blasts a home run (first run of the season) out to right field!

Cubs won 8-4.

Former Nationals outfielder Denard Span (we miss you in DC!), opened the day back in his hometown of Tampa and playing for the Rays, with what I perceived to be a heart pumping-anxiety laden-bases loaded-no doubt about it-best career moment!

The Rays took the lead, rallying from behind to win against the Red Sox 6-4.

And we cannot forget about Giancarlo Stanton! Aside from the fact that this man is beautiful, in his first at-bat with the Yankees, he hits a home run! And then another. Making him the 7th Yankee to have multiple home runs on Opening Day.

I must say…I’ll miss seeing him in the Marlins uniform but Yankee blue and pinstripes is not a bad look. AT ALL!

Yankees beat the Blue Jays 6-1.

Today is March 30th. There’s no more waiting. Today is OUR Opening Day!

LET’S GO NATS!

-Nika

Days until Opening Day: ZERO

 

Yep…Rain Will Do It!

I received the alert from WTOP not long ago that tomorrow’s Opening Day game between the Nationals and Reds in Cincy has been postponed due to inclement weather.

Instead, the game will be played and all of the Opening Day festivities held, on Friday 3/31 at 4:05p.

Scherzer is still expected to take the mound.

I just hope the boys bring back plenty of Curly Ws from this upcoming run on the road.

-Nika

Days until Opening Day: 12

3 More Days! But Who’s Counting?

I AM!

Ladies and Gentlemen!

We are Michael A. Taylor (he’s #3 guys) days away from the earliest Opening Day in history! That’s right, we are only 3 days away from the official start of the 2018 MLB regular season.

Today is also his birthday.

Happy Birthday MAT!

But if you’re wondering why the season is starting in March, it’s due to the recent CBA. The current CBA creates 3 to 4 additional days off for teams throughout the season.

So for the first time since 1968 (I wasn’t even born yet), each team will open on the same day…March 29th. The 2019 season will start on March 31st.

The Nationals will open the 2018 season playing away, against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, with the heterochromia iridum bandit Max Scherzer projected as the probable pitcher. This will be followed by a 6-game road trip until my guys come back home to Nats Park.

The Nationals will open at home on Thursday, April 5th against the Mets. This will be the 85th home opener in DC since 1901!

I’m so hype I can hardly contain it!

See. You. There!

-Nika

Wheels up! West Palm Beach Here I Come!

Reesie, my good friend and colleague, and I are headed to West Palm Beach, FL for a quick getaway from the erratic DC weather and of course…Nationals Spring Training games!!!

With NATS Plus, 4 tickets to a single Spring Training game are included in the membership. So of course we pooled resources to get the best experience. We’ll have a chance to catch some batting practice (BP) and the games against the Marlins and Astros home at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

Ironically, it’s a pretty mild day here in the District, but winter weather is headed this way, so this trip couldn’t be more timely.

I’m excited to see Adam Eaton and the rest of the guys back in action, as well as the new additions to the team!

See you in WPB!

-Nika

Days until Opening Day: 11

%d bloggers like this: