We're inching closer (16 days, 12 hours, 59 minutes, 32 seconds, 31, 30...) to pitchers and catchers reporting for the start of Spring Training, and now that pointy ball is over it's really starting to feel like baseball's return is imminent. So, just a few weeks to go until there is actual baseball news. New storylines. New players in Viera. Matt Williams running things for the second season. This weekend, Williams hosted a pre-Super Bowl party that reportedly raised $1M+ for charity. Bryce Harper was there (see pictures below). Jayson Werth... was not. [ed. note - "This is so TMZ. Or so I'm told, I don't watch or read TMZ."]
Watch #Nats OF Jayson Werth arrive at jail to begin his sentence (VIDEO) http://t.co/Bi9g9gmkJr #NationalsTalk pic.twitter.com/0dOgSuzo4J
— CSN Nationals (@CSNNationals) January 31, 2015
But Werth did make one fan happy this weekend... um... allegedly...
Please let this Jayson Werth autograph be real (via @coach_tommyg) http://t.co/AgdY5ShQru pic.twitter.com/baxESeN1Tb
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) January 31, 2015
While you're on your lunch break, or when you get back from lunch, let's catch up on a weekend's worth of Nationals news and try to start preparing ourselves for the Nats' defense of their second NL East crown in the last three years.
Links and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:
Williams has a luxurious home and Mark Wahlberg was there:
• "Washington Nationals manager and former Diamondback Matt Williams and his wife, Erika, hosted the event at their 20,000-square-foot Paradise Valley home." - "Matt Williams Super Bowl party raises more than $1 million" - Megan Finnerty, The Arizona Republic
Nationals OF @Bharper3407 has arrived at Matt Williams' Big Game Big Give charity event. @sportscronkite #CNsports pic.twitter.com/pArjL3od4D
— Miranda Perez (@MirandaPerez22) February 1, 2015
• "'Transformers' star Mark Wahlberg and director Michael Bay reunited Saturday night for a charity event that organizers said raised more than $1 million. The pair served as celebrity hosts for the Big Game Big Give event held at the luxurious home of Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams on the eve of the Super Bowl." - "Daily Dish: 2/2/2015" - Sentinel & Enterprise
NATS BEAT: Zuckerman anniversary; New MASN beat writer + more
• "Little could I have known what this would become. Five years later, Nats Insider has ballooned into something far greater than I ever envisioned." - "Celebrating 5 years of Nats Insider" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
Launched Nats Insider exactly five years ago. Thanks to everyone who has helped make it what it is today! http://t.co/CzEFO6TJuS
— Mark Zuckerman (@ZuckermanCSN) February 1, 2015
• "Two weeks ago, the Nationals had the second-best odds to win it all at 10/1. Then a sly Mike Rizzo pulled a trick from his sleeve and signed Scherzer..." - "Nationals Pastime: A February call-up (or please allow me to introduce myself)" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com
Welcome @masnCJ as our new #Nats writer! Give him a follow and read his intro blog: http://t.co/mwBNN6mScH pic.twitter.com/D2nfURLUZ9
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) February 1, 2015
• "It’s not too early to think about it anymore, if it ever was, because baseball is almost back again. The calendar reads February, and football’s reign is over." - "Breaking down the Nationals’ roster, position by position" - Chelsea Janes, The Washington Post
• "After a disappointing first season in Washington, Nate McLouth returns in 2015 hoping for better health and better results as the Nationals’ fourth outfielder." - "Washington Nationals 2015 roster preview: Nate McLouth" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
• "There are legitimate reasons to believe Scherzer will be even better in his first season in D.C." - "Nationals roster preview: Max Scherzer" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
My story on best individual tools from @MLBPipeline Top 100, including @OfficialBuck103, @KrisBryant_23, @LGio27: http://t.co/vq3Lygkb9c
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) February 2, 2015
• "Will this Nats team be better or worse defensively this upcoming season? There will be some familiar faces occupying new positions when they take the field on opening day against the New York Mets." - "Nationals Pastime: Defense is trending" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com
• "Fedde threw 76.2 innings in 11 starts during his junior season at UNLV before being shut down with the elbow injury. He allowed 58 hits, struck out 82, walked 21 and posted a 1.76 ERA." - "Five Things To Know About Nationals Prospect Erick Fedde" - Luke Jackson, Pressbox DC
Janssen passed physical with #Nationals; deal now official. Includes $500K in performance bonuses that previously were unreported.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 2, 2015
Didn't he run down a catcher in an All-Star Game once?:
Pete Rose hasn't updated his "playing recklessly" boilerplate response to Bryce Harper questions in a year and a half http://t.co/7YptksSLHa
— Chris Lingebach (@BlueShortsLIFE) January 31, 2015
• "And there’s a difference in playing hard and playing recklessly. And Bryce plays recklessly. And there’s a reason for that." - Pete Rose - "Pete Rose Still Thinks Bryce Harper Plays ‘Recklessly’" - Chris Lingebach, CBS DC
NL EAST UPDATES: Phillies' prospect; Braves in on Olivera?; Fish prospects
The Braves are showing strong signs of interest in Cuban infielder Hector Olivera: http://t.co/6vWQzr8x8a
— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) February 1, 2015
• Braves: "There is more evidence that the Braves are interested in 29-year-old Cuban second baseman Hector Olivera." - "Hector Olivera Works Out For Top Braves Officials" - Ben Badler, BaseballAmerica.com
• Phillies: "Giolito was an elbow sprain away from being a serious No. 1 pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, so his top-10 status is not shattering anyone’s world." - "Phillies have plenty of NL East prospects to dread in the coming years" - Justin Klugh, Philly.com
• "Maikel Franco, who eight days ago drove in seven runs to lead his team to a winter ball championship, continues his stint with Gigantes del Cibao in the Caribbean Series..." - "Maikel Franco playing in this week's Caribbean Series" - Jake Kaplan, Philadelphia Inquirer
• Marlins: "A projected future ace and the anticipated catcher of the future represent the Marlins on MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list, which was announced Friday night on MLB Network." - "Kolek, Realmuto make MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list" - Joe Frisaro, marlins.com
Football is over. On deck: #Mets #SpringTraining! Pitchers and catchers report on 2.19.15. #BaseballBegins pic.twitter.com/pjoJUrs0Qo
— New York Mets (@Mets) February 2, 2015
• Mets: "If you believed the Nationals were the team to beat in the NL East before they added Max Scherzer, then it shouldn’t matter that the stud right-hander landed in Washington on a seven-year deal worth $210 million." - "How inactive Mets have lost ground to NL rivals" - Mike Puma, New York Post