Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ top moments; Will it be 2020*? Drive-in Nats?

Baseball is still not there. MLB and the MLBPA’s recent positive back and forth has devolved once again and COVID-19 is still an issue.

All this talk, as many have noted in recent days, of a 2020 MLB season might not amount to anything if it ends up that it still isn’t safe, in terms of the health concerns of players, all the coaches, staff, and everyone who is needed to pull off major league games, even without a single fan in the stands. So, yeah. Enjoy your weekend, we’ll let you know if anything that is actually significant happens. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

With no fans at Nationals Park, could drive-in watch parties be a solution? - (NBC Sports Washington)
"The Nationals have five parking lots across Navy Yard, three of which—Lots T, U and W—would be large enough to fit a substantial number of cars."

The Nationals top moments in team history, according to play-by-play announcer Charlie Slowes - (NBC Sports Washington)
"While Slowes believes that may be the next best moment following the World Series, he couldn't stop the trip down memory lane right there."

Progress in latest round of talks, but no deal quite yet - (MASN)
"Is it possible? Is it possible Rob Manfred and Tony Clark are close to a deal and the 2020 season is nearly upon us at ..."

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred's goal was to make a deal during meeting with MLBPA's Tony Clark - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Manfred believed the reason for the meeting was to get a deal done to bring baseball back right then and there, USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale and others reported on Thursday."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Does A Short-Season MLB Champ Deserve An Asterisk? - (FiveThirtyEight)
"A season so truncated — regardless of how many games end up getting played — will be deemed by some to be illegitimate."

If MLB Cancels the 2020 Season, What Happens to Baseball? - (The Ringer)
"But now, in the middle of June, it seems possible that MLB might not have a 2020 season at all."

Report: Brian Klein signs with the Washington Nationals - (KLBK)
"Texas Tech senior infielder Brian Klein will sign as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Nationals, according to Kendall Rogers of D1 Baseball."

Bacus prepared, ready for baseball's return - (qconline.com)
"Whenever the first pitch of the major-league baseball season is thrown, Dakota Bacus expects to be ready to take the mound."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Several key Phillies won't have time to start as slowly as they did in 2019 - (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
"Last season, Aaron Nola had a 4.63 ERA through 13 starts. It wasn't until his 16th start that he went on an extended stretch of excellence, posting a 3.19 ERA the rest of the way."

Mets' Pete Alonso part of sports' growing vulgarity problem - (NY Post)
"The Mets and MLB seem to have no problem with the team’s traditional marketing slogan, 'Let’s go Mets!' having added a vulgarity. Now, cued by young Pete Alonso, it’s 'LFGM.'"

Marlins agree with two non-drafted free agents - (MLB.com)
"The organization has reached agreements with Air Force Academy outfielder/pitcher Ashton Easley and Virginia Commonwealth University infielder Brett Norwood as non-drafted free agents."

Braves agree with 1st-rounder Shuster, 2 others - (MLB.com)
"The Braves have signed first-round pick Jared Shuster and two of the three other players they selected in last week’s MLB Draft."