Shark Pride

As Halloween approached I thought of the various Nationals symbols that bring fear- Beast Mode, the Werewerth, Bryce Harper's eye black, Air Screech, but one of the things I fear the most are sharks not named Roger, so I thought a Shark themed pumpkin would be the way to go.

I could have done a little better on the details, but it's not a real pumpkin, rather a foam one from the craft store so I can embellish a bit and keep it for years to come in celebration of the flyball-hunting skills of #2 for your Washington Nationals. I sent a picture of it via Twitter to the guys at Sharkadina and the next day they made me one of the Fans of the Month for October. That kind of instant gratification made my day.

I have been a fan of Mr. Bernadina for a while- though before the shark thing I found myself singing “Mr. Bernadina, Mr. Roger Bernadina” to the tune of “Mr. Dobalina” by Del tha Funkee Homosapien. Yes, I'm old. Now, I take my stuffed sharks to the games and wave it when Roger's at bat and it was an honor to have the big guys at Sharkadina have my work on their site.

Natitude Weekend

Saturday, May 5th, was the second game of the three-game "Our Park" series. Friday's game had resulted in a dramatic late night 11th inning win for the Nationals so the wind was taken somewhat out of the sails of the (last place) Phillies fans who traveled down for the day game on Cinco de Mayo/Kentucky Derby/Caps playoff day. A 7-1 victory is just what the Nats needed to shut up the small but loud groups in the park, especially when the first three runs came off a beautiful home run by former Phil Jayson Werth. Gio Gonzalez was smoking the ball past the hitters and with his bat- coming up with his first career double and a few more that reached the wall.

 Screech made his contribution, appearing in a video on the big screen where he drives a few fans back to Citizens Bank Park and going into the stands to taunt and apparently strip them:  

Our Park
 

Gio Slo-Mo
 

Lombo and Bryce

Just forget that these at-bats led to a double play.

Jayson Werth
 

Congratulations All Around

I admit it. I was wrong. Not only did the Capitals make the playoffs, but they won the first round. It was a bit iffy there at times, not because of Braden Holtby- that man is still rocking, but a steady lack of urgency, which gave a sense of dread in overtimes where a determination to score is kind of the point. There didn't seem to be a change of pace or confidence in Game 1 of Round 2 which took place earlier today against the NY Rangers. I have to wonder if someone has told them there's a 3-second rule in the offensive zone, as eager as they are to swipe a single shot and scurry back to defend. They also haven't gotten the memo about there being no back-door on the net. Too much time standing behind the goal and not enough in front. Their minor league affiliate, the Hershey Bears have also come back from a 0-2 deficit to tie their best of 5 series against Wilkes-Barre Scranton (if I spelled that right, I'll be amazed) Penguins. Game 3 included DJ King's first Bears goal. That was enough to make me happy; still a fangirl for ole DJ. Congrats to the Washington Wizards for their end-of-season six game winning streak. Too many people are quick to dump on them for not being very good, but as professional athletes, they should go out every night expecting to win if they do their best and they did. I hope to see more of the same next season. I'm not going to act surprised about the excellent play of the Washington Nationals. I knew they had it in them, even with the continuing domino fall of injuries (pluswhatisupwTylerClippard?). Tonight is Bryce Harper's debut. I am saddened that it had to come at the expense of Ryan Zimmerman being injured enough to sit on the DL, but now we can see if this is his time.

Opening Day, Revisited

It's been a week since the home opener, so these photos are past their relevance maybe, but since the shots from my new fancy camera came out like this-

there aren't that many of a decent quality to share.

The day was beautiful, if not a bit chilly, but compared to the drizzly damp 50s that graced last years home opener, it felt like a near paradise, at least while in the sun.

James Brown of Fox/CBS football fame emceed the affair- the first pitches, the Gary Cater memorial, and the lineups.

There was a delay in getting the massive flag in proper alignment.

But finally the anthem was played

and Old Glory was unfurled

The game was exciting, especially seeing Wilson Ramos and watching Gio Gonzalez make his first hit. Gio is a ray of sunshine and looks like he's going to be a great addition to the team in terms of talent and just joie de vivre.

Disappointed that the team shop was closed for renovations. Things like that need to be timed better. Wilson the stuffed buffalo ended up with a hat from the Build a Bear workshop.

My next game is May 5th vs. the Phillies. I've never been to a Philly series. Hopefully it won't be as bad as I'm imagining. I don't think us doing well and them doing poorly is going to create a sense of shame and deference in any of the visitors.

And here we go...

The first Nats spring game is today vs Georgetown at 12pm. The young guys are the focus of the lineup- Rendon, Harper, Purke, etc as it should be.

Also today is the introduction of the new catch phrase of the season- "Natitude." I say that with the full expectation no one will ever say "natitude" out loud, but it's a solid concept and after the Redskins and the Caps, I could use a little chest-thumping, alpha male, primal, hunt down those wins like a wounded mammoth across the windswept plains of the outfield demeanor in my life these days.

Sports Bog has the details, especially this one that made me giddy and my wallet weep silent tears:

The team has started introducing players to the new campaign, asking them to design t-shirts that express their own particular Natitude. Drew Storen has already come up with his concept, featuring the phrase “Attention fans, the bottom of the 9th has been canceled.”

LOVE. I will be saving my pennies for when that shirt becomes available, and it better be available and not like Michael Morse's last season when every game it was "I think some are coming in on Friday" in every team shop at the stadium.

It's getting closer. April 5 doesn't seem too far now.

Bookends of Awesomeness

The future is now. At least for a couple weeks, because I don't see Bryce in the Opening Day lineup just yet, but since Zim has scored his nice long contract this isn't going to be novelty for long.

Because I Can

 Happy spring feelings continue as the weather gets warmer here in DC for a spell and the Nationals PR Dept was kind enough to post these on twitpic with handy HTML embedding codes attached. The water and the trees, Tyler Clippard and Brad Lidge, Wilson Ramos and Jesus Flores (the top of his head at least). I am a glass of lemonade away from contentment.

Pitchers and Catchers Report

 "It's today! It's today!"

 I feel like running around yelling that like the kid in the Stuart Little movie. (not usually a fan of mice sailing ships but Hugh Laurie is awesome in that)

 So many have already reported early and the pictures, like this one make me giddy with springy anticipation! Drew and Clip and the backs of people's heads! The momentum that carried the fans and the team doesn't seem to have let up over the winter and now there are new pieces to fit into the system and I feel like as each new name that's announced to have arrived in Viera is like adding to a living baseball card collection- we've got Werth and the Zimmerman(n)s and Lidge and Lombardozzi and when will we get Ramos and Harper and Morse? The complete set should be in by Friday with a workout on Saturday.

Mark your favorite calendar for MASN's first TV broadcast on March 4 at 1:05pm vs. Houston.

Flipped Script was the Same Old Story

 A 2-15 record has to make any coach start jumping at sudden noises and look behind him. The hammer finally fell for Flip Saunders Tuesday afternoon as Ted Leonsis still had his firing hand still warm from November. The Wizards managed two wins against teams with impressive records but the system didn't work with skilled veterans, there was no way it was going to do much better with a young team not experienced enough to know much better than to do as they're coached to do. So they trade a coach with a 51-130 record in for one with a 100-207 record. A Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Monday stretch will show if the change made any impact.

Congrats to Matty Perreault for his first NHL hat trick. The team still looked disjointed and it was not surprising that the young guys carried the shooting/goal scoring weight in the game. I'm still not convinced that Vokoun wants to be a goalie the way he races to handle the puck, not always cleanly, behind the goal and looks skittish as he tries to find the puck at close angles, but it hits him enough that he seems to be successful.

And the best birthday present: Prince Fielder is not going to be a National. He never struck me as a good fit to the team and the though of being burdened with him and a lengthy/costly contract was taking the shine of anticipating the new season. Detroit was a smooth marketing move and they're welcome to him.

Renewal of the Jinx?

I posted positively about Tebow and then he loses three in a row. I posted positively about the Wizards and they have yet to win. The Capitals aren't much to write about, and while the Hershey Bears won the last two, they lost the high-profile Outdoor Classic. Doesn't seem to be much to write about at the time. Here's hoping that Prince Fielder doesn't come to town to rock the crowded first base boat.

WIlson Gives Out Hugs at Nats Park

Beautiful slideshow of Wilson Ramos' press conference today at Nationals Park. Looking at these just make me smile. We are so lucky to have him back safe.

Washington Times

Edited to add:

Stole this video link from Nats Inquisition because it's got the Zim/Wilson hug in action and general happiness.

AP

Wilson is Coming Home!

 I hadn't been in the door fifteen minutes back from the Wilson Ramos vigil at Nats Park before I saw the news that he had been found safe and was on his way home. I am still grinning like an idiot. I am usually not hippy dippy but I would like to think that these little lights in the darkness helped.

From earlier tonight:

Thank you to the Nationals for the excellent hot chocolate and permission to leave the signs and candles on the gate. Thanks to those who played the Wilson Ramos at-bat music, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Who's on First, and of course Take on Me through the speakers.

Thank you to Alicia @DragBallwRamos for leading the effort. Thinking positive led to positive results. Now to plan the celebration party.