Wire Taps: World Series champions return to Washington, D.C.; Nationals parade Saturday at 2:00 PM; + more Nats links...

“Honestly, it still hasn’t hit me yet, but I can tell you I’ll wake up tomorrow feeling a whole lot different,” Davey Martinez told reporters in the immediate aftermath of the Nationals’ World Series win. Martinez’s club returned to Washington, D.C. last night, with a trophy that was a little bit worse for wear, but they’ll bring it to the parade tomorrow afternoon in the nation’s capital...

NATS BEAT:

Nationals appear to break World Series trophy while partying after Game 7 win - (CBSSports.com)
"The Washington Nationals' first-ever World Series celebration seems to be getting quite out-of-hand after just one night."

Nationals return to Washington with Commissioner's Trophy - (WaPost)
"The World Series champion Washington Nationals landed at Dulles International Airport with the Commissioner’s Trophy on Thursday at 6:25 p.m...."

In Nationals, Mike Rizzo finally builds a World Series champion - The Washington Post
“'Personally, I needed to get here,' Rizzo said. 'And I needed to win the World Series.'"

Nationals' upset run to World Series title greatest in MLB history - (WaPost)
"The Nationals just pulled off the greatest postseason upset run in the history of baseball. And I doubt it’s even a close call."

Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals return to jubilant city - (Washington Times)
"The airplane door cracked open and the Washington Nationals’ Dave Martinez and Ryan Zimmerman emerged."

Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg cement playoff legacies - (MLB.com)
"The Nats showed how random October can be in our game. But we saw something else over the remarkable month..."

Nationals promise ‘absolutely bananas’ World Series celebration in D.C. - (WaPost)
“'I hope you’re ready for us to come home,' Zimmerman said, 'because it’s going to be absolutely bananas.'"

FAQs: What to know about the Nationals’ championship celebration - (WTOP)
"The Washington Nationals won the World Series! Now what? Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming celebrations."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Considering Bryce Harper’s Place in the 'Ewing Theory' Pantheon - (The Ringer)
"From the contours of his hair to the sweep of his career, Harper is a walking broad brushstroke: the wannabe hero, the natural villain, the guy who left a team that immediately went on to win the freaking World Series."

Bullpens Helped Decide the World Series - (FanGraphs Baseball)
"The Nationals' bullpen was bad. That’s no shock — they were bad all year, and they were facing one of the best hitting teams of all time."

The Washington Nationals won the World Series because... - (Beyond the Box Score)
"The Nationals didn’t win just because Howie Kendrick threw his barrel at an a 0-1 pitch down and away, just barely thwapping it off the foul pole screen."

The Washington Nationals: A Case Study In Resilient Teaming - (Forbes)
"The Nationals were a paragon of resilience this year, but I know that they created resilience within the team in a very intentional way."

Nationals Win: The Ultimate Washington Baseball Fan - (The Atlantic)
"When I was a boy, there was no baseball in Washington, except in our minds."

A Defining Moment Slips Away From Zack Greinke - (FanGraphs Baseball)
"It is not an indictment of a pitcher to allow a home run to Anthony Rendon. He hit 34 of those this season, and 104 over the past four seasons combined."

Howie Kendrick HR ball, Stephen Strasburg jersey head to Hall of Fame for exhibit - (ESPN)
"Artifacts from the World Series are headed to the Baseball Hall of Fame, including the ball hit by the Washington Nationals' Howie Kendrick off the right-field foul pole for the go-ahead home run in Game 7."

Nationals' Anthony Rendon tops list of 131 free agents on market - (ESPN)
"Washington third baseman Anthony Rendon became a free agent Thursday, a day after homering to spark the Nationals' seventh-inning comeback in Game 7 of the World Series."