clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Wire Taps: Nationals know time, place, wait for NLDS opponent...

Just waiting... The Washington Nationals know when they'll open the NLDS... sorta, cause it depends. More on that below. Stop smiling from Jordan Zimmermann's no-hitter yet? Is it Friday yet? Don't tell me it's only Tuesday. C'mon, FRIDAY!! Links...

By Patrick Reddington

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

There's vaseline over the lens when looking back on Jordan Zimmermann's no-hitter on Sunday. Two days removed from the Washington Nationals' right-hander's historic afternoon in the nation's capital other stories are taking hold in the baseball world, but with the Nats and their fan base waiting for another day to find out who will be coming to D.C. on Friday, Zimmermann's no-hitter is still the big story in Natstown.

The Nationals did announce the start time(s) for Friday's NLDS opener, but it depends on who wins Wednesday's Wild Card Game between the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates in PNC Park.

If the Bucs win at home, they will play the Nats on Friday at 12:07 PM EDT in the opening game of the division series.

If the Giants beat the Pirates, it's a 3:07 start on Friday afternoon.

Did you hear Kevin Frandsen's call in to Grant and Danny on Monday?

He wants you to wear red to Nats Park on Friday.

Are you going to be there? Are you going a little stir crazy waiting for the next three days to pass? How about some links to help pass the time?

Here are all the links that were fit to link...

Links and lots of them starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:

• THE BIG STORY!!! (TODAY IN TWO PARTS):

• "Instead of relentless travel and baseball, Johnson fills his time with his grandchildren, his wife, golf, real estate, chores and fishing." - "Former manager Davey Johnson settles into ‘retirement,’ but still follows his Nationals" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

• "Eight years ago, Arnieri found Jordan Zimmermann, recommended him to his bosses and ultimately signed him." - "The view from the scout who signed Jordan Zimmermann" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post

• NATS BEAT:

• "'Do I wish some of the injuries that I've had never happened so I can continue to play Gold Glove third base that I enjoy doing? Of course I do,' Zimmerman said." - "Zimmerman aware his future is likely at first base" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com

• "The Nationals would not want to go into the playoffs without the potent asset of Zimmerman's quick bat available on the 25-man roster." - "Will Ryan Zimmerman start postseason coming off the bench? (Rendon named Hank Aaron award finalist)" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "In their final trip through the rotation, the Nationals’ four projected playoff starters allowed zero runs in 31 innings with 38 strikeouts, six hits and four walks." - "Projecting the Nationals’ NLDS roster" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post

• "Span walked straight to first base coach Tony Tarasco – whom he has worked extensively with this season on baserunning – and hugged him. Then he went down the line in the Nationals dugout, hugging each of his teammates..." - "Denard Span sets Nats hits record to add to special day" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

• "I like the way everyone circled the wagons and really came through in some tough times, and the way Matt pulled these guys together through some tough times." - Mike Rizzo - "Rizzo Q&A: Nationals GM talks special team" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com

• "And in sticking with tradition — and recognizing the importance of accountability in this business — we now revisit all those Opening Day predictions those of us who cover the Nats made..." - "Revisiting Opening Day media predictions on the Nationals" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "It will be interesting to see what role Tanner Roark will play in the postseason. All indications have him coming out of the bullpen -- at least for the first round." - "Righty Roark waiting to hear on role for NLDS" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com

• "The last player to do so, Bobby Burke, no-hit the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 8, 1931 at Griffith Stadium. Longtime Washington Post sports columnist Shirley Povich wrote about the feat..." - "The time Shirley Povich wrote about the last no-hitter by a Washington player…in 1931" - Kelyn Soong, The Washington Post

• "The Nationals’ first two games in what they hope will be a lengthy postseason run will be played in the afternoon." - "NLDS Games 1 and 2 will be in the afternoon at Nationals Park" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "Regardless, it looks like anyone attending Game 1 will need to take at least a half-day off of work. It's worth it, though. Postseason baseball is back in D.C." - "Nationals Pastime: Start times announced (kind of) for NLDS" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "It’s not ideal to finish the regular season on a roll, looking like a World Series favorite, then just stop everything for over half of a week..." - "Nats’ plans for the next four days before Game 1 of the NLDS" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

• "Nationals Park will host a day game Friday for Game 1 of the National League Division Series. How early in the day will be determined by the Nationals’ opponent." - "National League Division Series start times announced" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post

• "Shoot, until yesterday afternoon the only guy in Nationals history to take the mound for the ninth inning with a no-no intact was Ramon Ortiz." - "A perfect storm for Jordan Zimmermann to make magic Sunday" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• Your Daily Message from the Dalai Lama on Twitter (@DalaiLama):

• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

• "That's why I just finished polling 15 astute baseball executives, from clubs that didn't make the postseason, to see which teams they thought were about to play in the World Series..." - "Why the Nats will win the World Series" - Jayson Stark, ESPN

• "Before we get to my ridiculously early look at 2015, let's discuss Zimmermann, because he deserves it. The 28-year-old has been one of fantasy's better options for four seasons..." - "Eric Karabell's top 20 rankings for 2015" - Eric Karabell, Fantasy Baseball - ESPN

• "It was hard not to notice who was on the mound Friday afternoon when the Washington Nationals clinched the best record in the National League." - "Tigers' Fister deal could look even worse" - Kurt Mensching, Detroit News

• "If there's one nagging issue, it has been the late-season meltdown of closer Rafael Soriano, which in more ways than one is connected to losing that '12 Division Series to the St.Louis Cardinals." - "For MLB playoff teams, which flaws will prove fatal?" - Paul White, USA TODAY Sports

• "With so many games, the MLB is practically assured of many close, dramatic games each October, and can count on interest in many cities during the postseason." - "Expanded playoffs are not improving the World Series" - David Bohr, PennLive.com

• "Central Wisconsin native Jordan Zimmermann threw his first Major League no-hitter yesterday, as the Washington Nationals beat Miami at home 1-to-nothing." - "Auburndale Native Tosses Major League No-No" - WSAU News/Talk 550AM 99.9FM

• "'The Nationals' rotation has me believing they’ll be the toughest in any series format and they deserve to be co-favorites,' says The Linemakers on Sporting News' Micah Roberts." - "World Series odds - Aces at forefront of 2014 postseason" - Craig Williams, Linemakers - Sporting News

• "One conventional baseball axiom says power pitching wins in the postseason. Think Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson dominating World Series games in the 1960s..." - "Does power pitching reign in October?" - David Schoenfield, SweetSpot Blog - ESPN

• "Zimmerman went the distance throwing only 104 pitches and dishing out 10 strikeouts, one walk in the Nationals 1-0 victory over the Marlins. It was the first no-hitter thrown in Washington Nationals history." - "UWSP Graduate Jordan Zimmerman tosses no-no" - "Dan Biertzer's Angle , SportsBlog.com

• "The richest majority owner of a Major League Baseball team is Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner, who is said to be worth $4.5 billion." - "Los Angeles Clippers' Steve Ballmer is richest sports owner at $22.5 billion, says Forbes" - Darren Rovell, ESPN New York

• "Five years later, people are still laughing at the Washington Nationals , a.k.a. Natinals, for their 2009 blunder..." - "Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele plays game with name oddly misspelled on jersey" - National Post

• "The Washington Nationals drew 2,579,389 on the season, topping the 2.5-million mark for the second consecutive season and for only the third time in club history..." - "Winners And Losers: MLB Attendance In 2014, Nearly 74 Million Through The Gate [UPDATED]" - Maury Brown, Forbes.com

• "No. 110, Ted Lerner, $4.5 billion; real estate developer and Washington Nationals owner; Chevy Chase." - "Greater Washington's wealthiest place on Forbes 400 richest peoople list" - Mark Holan, Washington Business Journal

• "Washington finished in last place in six of its first seven years of existence. Those are the Nats of the past." - "Constructing a winner: Nationals" - Jonathan Mayo, nationals.com

• "ESPN's Keith Olbermann predicts the Washington Nationals will 'blow through' the postseason en route to their first-ever World Series championship." - "Olbermann Predicts Nationals to ‘Blow Through’ Postseason, Win World Series" - CBS DC

• "Check out predictions from our experts to see who they think will be left standing when the World Series is said and done." - "2014 MLB postseason expert picks and predictions" - FOX Sports

• NL WILD CARD:

• "The Pirates who were on the team for the wild-card game last year remember the atmosphere. They remember PNC Park coming to life..." - "Bumgarner looms as Giant obstacle in Pirates' wild-card game" - Bill Brink, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

• Emily B's pick: "Do you think the Giants have another remarkable playoff run in them when all they've demonstrated this season is that they're capable of blowing a huge division lead?" - "Should the Giants even try to win the Wild Card Game?" - Bryan Murphy and Grant Brisbee, McCovey Chronicles

• NATSTOWN:

• "'Let’s make it a red-out on Friday night. Just wear red. All the red [fans] have. All the Nationals gear they have.'" - Kevin Frandsen - "Kevin Frandsen urges Nats fans to wear nothing but red during the playoffs" - Dan Steinberg, The Washington Post

• "'Be as loud as possible. Make sure to rattle everyone's cages,' Gio Gonzalez tells WTOP. 'Stay in the game. Do not lose focus. And make sure that each out counts for us. Make sure you're there. We're going to need all your help and all your support.'" - "Nats' Gonzalez asks fans to get focused and get loud" - Michelle Basch, WTOP.com

• "The bitter taste of the 2012 Game 5 meltdown is behind us now, as is the disappointment of missing the postseason in 2013." - "Nationals Buzz: Marty Niland: Five reasons the Nats will make a deep postseason run" - Marty Niland, MASNSports.com

• "One day after throwing the first no-hitter in Washington Nationals history, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was named the National League Player of the Week." - "Jordan Zimmermann named NL Player of the Week" - Amanda Comak, Curly W Live

• "To recognize the Nationals playoff run, Ulman said the North Laurel Community Center will be lit in both orange and red as a show of support for both the Orioles and Nationals." - "Howard County buildings to be illuminated in Orioles, Nationals colors" - Blair Ames, carrollcountytimes.com

• "Rotation Reviews of your 2014 Playoff Teams" - Todd Boss, Nationals Arm Race

• "As it turned out, the 'jersey off their backs' thing would not apply to Zimmermann, whose jersey — covered with shaving cream, water and who knows what else — was being authenticated by MLB." - "Nats fan didn’t get the jersey off Jordan Zimmermann’s back, but didn’t care" - Dan Steinberg, The Washington Post

• "Monday Super Quickie" - Harper, Nationals Baseball

• "Zimmermann's no-no was big news around his home town of Auburndale." - "Jordan Zimmermann bumps Packers from masthead of Wisconsin papers after no-hitter" - Scott Allen, The Washington Post

• "Souza, in speaking with 106.7 The Fan’s Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier, said he’s been inundated with text messages and Tweets in the time since making his spectacular catch..." - "Steven Souza: ‘I Would Have Broken My Neck’ to Catch that Ball for Zimmermann" - Chris Lingebach, CBS DC

• "Metro said Monday it will provide after-hours subway service from the Navy Yard-Ballpark station for fans attending late-ending Washington Nationals postseason games in October." - "Metro will provide late-night service for Nationals playoff games" - Paul Duggan, The Washington Post

• "Setting the Nationals Playoff Roster" - cfliegel, The Nationals Review

• "We had a lot of numbers floating around the office Sunday after Jordan Zimmermann’s no-hitter." - "Leftover no-hitter numbers" - Tracee Hamilton, The Washington Post

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Mets: "Sandy Alderson didn’t specifically say 90 wins, but the general manager made it clear Sunday that will be the threshold the Mets hope to reach next season." - "Mets' GM shooting for 90 wins next season" - Matt Ehalt, NorthJersey.com

• Marlins: "In their first full seasons, outfielders Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna demonstrated they'll be core pieces moving forward." - "What went right, what didn't, and where do they go from here?" - Juan C. Rodriguez, Sun Sentinel

• Braves: "Braves hitting coach Greg Walker will turn 55 next week and the Georgia native knows he might be unemployed by his birthday..." - "Walker on Braves offense: ‘Huge disappointment’ would be..." - David O'Brien, www.ajc.com

• Phillies: "Everything is possible this winter. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg, after meetings with team executives, used the word 'open-mindedness' to describe the tenor." - "Anything's possible in Phillies offseason" - Matt Gelb, Philadelphia Inquirer

More From Federal Baseball