It's the time of year when Jerry Blevins' "Saved by the Bell" t-shirt is pretty much the most interesting Nationals-related thing on the internet. With less than two weeks before pitchers and catchers report and most of the winter storylines wrapped up, there's not too much going on right now.
The Nationals found the second baseman they were after, signed a new bullpen arm for the back end and surprised a lot of people by inking Max Scherzer to a 7-year/$210M deal. Now it's all about a little more waiting. In two weeks there will be blurry pictures of pitchers and catchers on mounds in Florida to share. Can't wait. Until then, however, it's going to be cold and slow...
Spring Training previews are coming.
There's already speculation about whether or not the Nats will keep all of the pitchers they've assembled? There aren't too many questions about the rotation, bullpen or lineup though there are still some questions about the bench. Those things will sort themselves out and before you know it, there will be baseball in the nation's capital again. For now, we have settle for whatever links we can find. We searched far and wide on the internets and this is what we found...
Seriously, that is one amazing t-shirt, Jerry:
In honor of @jimmyfallon and @FallonTonight's Saved By The Bell reunion last night I'm wearing this gem pic.twitter.com/dRYtEmH3lQ
— Jerry Blevins (@JerryBlevins_13) February 5, 2015
• "It’s now official, if it wasn’t already: Jerry Blevins has the best wardrobe in baseball." - "Nationals’ Jerry Blevins shows off ‘Saved by the Bell’ T-shirt" - Scott Allen, The Washington Post
More Mr. Manfred comes to Washington stories (Clever, right? Can't believe no one thought of that.):
• "It is clear in all his public proclamations since he took over for the retiring Bud Selig that Manfred will not stand still, even when the issues aren’t as simple as fair or foul, black or white." - "Unafraid of change, Rob Manfred steps to plate, faces pitches on pace of play, gambling" - Barry Svrluga, The Washington Post
"What the Nationals have done here is unbelievable." -- @MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred after visiting @NatsAcademy: http://t.co/yvJw09LPEO
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 5, 2015
• "The day after a visit from the commissioner of Major League Baseball, the work and progress goes on for the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in southeast D.C." - "Still reminiscing the commissioner's visit, progress continues at the Nats youth baseball academy" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred visits the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy" - Kyle Mann, Curly W Live
• "But inside that commitment is a whole other issue — bringing the game back to youths in the inner cities of America." - "To reach Rob Manfred's goal, youth baseball's structure must change first" - Thom Loverro, Washington Times
New @MLB commissioner thinks both D.C. and Baltimore can host All-Star Games http://t.co/yD9FyLekPq
— WashingtonBizJournal (@WBJonline) February 6, 2015
• "With Rob Manfred, the newly appointed Major League Baseball commissioner, in town this week, the question everyone wanted answered was what the future holds for competing markets Washington and Baltimore to ever host an All-Star Game." - "MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred thinks both D.C. and Baltimore can host All-Star Games" - Jeremy Beale, Washington Business Journal
#STOPTRADING[FILLINTHEBLANK]:
• "The smart money is on one of these pitchers being moved in Spring or early in the season in order to address other needs, or perhaps to start saving for the 20 years of salary they owe Max Scherzer." - "Washington Nationals Depth Chart: The Rotation" - Michael Barr, FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
Today is National #WearRedDay, and we're more than happy to add our red to the cause! #Nats pic.twitter.com/qPDWBYDOlh
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 6, 2015
NATS BEAT: Werth puns; Janssen speaks; Gio in '15
• "Gio Gonzalez comes back for his fourth year for the Nationals hoping to rebound from what was likely the most frustrating campaign of his MLB career." - "Washington Nationals 2015 roster preview: Gio Gonzalez" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
• "Werth's initial bit of offseason news came back in December when Nats general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed Werth would be swapping outfield positions with Bryce Harper for the coming season." - "Nationals Pastime: Werth-y options" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com
• "'I think, without saying specifically, they just said I’m going to be pitching late in games,' [Janssen] said." - "Nats’ Casey Janssen Once Lost ‘9 or 10 Pounds’ from Food Poisoning" - Chris Lingebach, CBS DC
Casey Janssen says his "little case of the food poisoning" last summer caused him to lose 9 or 10 pounds. http://t.co/bRZqWtww4z
— Chris Lingebach (@BlueShortsLIFE) February 5, 2015
• "Manager Matt Williams and pitching coach Steve McCatty will mostly rely on Wilson Ramos to handle each of them behind the plate throughout the season." - "Nationals Pastime: Nats positional preview: Catcher" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com
BEST NEWS EVER-ISH:
FOX And MLB In Talks That Could See Nearly 40% Of All Streamed Game Broadcasts Blackout Free http://t.co/RFGTCE61aH via @forbes
— Maury Brown (@BizballMaury) February 6, 2015
NATIONAL(S) BEAT: Moore, Moore Moore
• "Tyler Moore, 1st baseman for the Washington Nationals, will be the guest demonstrator." - "West Jones baseball camp" - WDAM-TV 7, Hattiesburg, MS
NL EAST UPDATES: Phils' prospects; Mets' SS; Latos loses arb
• Braves: "Five years after giving Edward Salcedo a $1.6 million signing bonus, the Braves have traded the once highly regarded prospect for a 23-year-old reliever who has not advanced past the Class A Advanced Minor League level." - "Braves get Minor League pitcher from Bucs for Salcedo" - Mark Bowman, braves.com
Pitcher (and multi-sport threat) Tyrell Jenkins is excited to join #Braves after a standout 2014 season. Our Q&A: http://t.co/G5176nOTgh
— MiLB.com (@MiLB) February 5, 2015
• Phillies: "Neither righthander Aaron Nola nor shortstop J.P. Crawford received an invitation to major league camp, team officials said yesterday." - "Prospects Nola, Crawford won't be in big-league camp" - Ryan Lawrence, Philly.com
• Mets: "The enduring plot-line of this Mets' offseason has been the ongoing search for a shortstop who could provide an upgrade over Wilmer Flores." - "Mets 2015 season preview: The case for Wilmer Flores and why Mets fans shouldn't panic" - Mike Vorkunov, NJ.com
.@MattHarvey33, @Bharper3407 and @Giancarlo818: The NL East has some serious star power. http://t.co/SgpWGJGV0R pic.twitter.com/r7zoqa3gp5
— MLB (@MLB) February 6, 2015
• Marlins: "Latos will earn $9.4 million, $1 million less than the amount he sought in his final season before free agent eligibility." - "Arbitration panel sides with Marlins over Latos" - Juan C. Rodriguez, Sun-Sentinel