Nats Chat
555 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 494 ratingsA Washington Nationals podcast offering recap and analysis after every game, plus all the breaking news throughout the year. Hosted by Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com & Al Galdi, host of "The Al Galdi Podcast". For sponsorship opportunities, contact Tim Shovers at [email protected].
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Episodes
Game 45: Furious Rally Comes Up Short
May 20, 2023 05:54 - 37 minutesThe Nats lost 8-6 on Friday to visiting Detroit after trailing 8-0 in the 6th inning. Mark & Al break down Jake Irvin's short outing and wonder how much this affects his future status in the rotation. Luis Garcia committed a costly throwing error in the 3rd inning which led to 3 more Tigers runs (It should be noted that this was his 1st error of the season). (14:30) Matthew Boyd, the Tigers starting pitcher, took a no hitter into the 6th until Keibert Ruiz connected on lead-off double (or sho...
Game 44: Swept in Miami + Answering Strasburg Email
May 19, 2023 00:16 - 44 minutesThe Nats suffered a disappointing sweep in Miami as they lost 5-3 on Thursday afternoon. Al & Mark scratch their heads at how the Marlins have absolutely dominated Washington in the past few years; to the tune of Miami having won 18 of the past 22 meetings. (06:20) Jeimer Candelario's bat was not the problem this week in Florida as he homered and doubled on Thursday. He totaled 8 hits in the 3 game series and Mark points out the sneaky solid stats he is on pace for. This came on a day where D...
Game 43: Another One Run Loss in Miami
May 18, 2023 04:16 - 31 minutesThe Nats came up just short again in Miami as they lost 4-3 on Wednesday evening. Mark & Al dissect MacKenzie Gore's outing that lasted just a shade over 5 innings. His ERA currently sits at 3.69. (11:00) Corey Dickerson hit a 2 run HR in his first swing after missing the past month due to injury. Dickerson got the nod at DH as Joey Meneses is on Paternity Leave. Dickerson is a well traveled veteran with a career OPS at .806. (20:45) Alex Call was involved in a bizarre play in the bottom of t...
Game 42: Gray's Gem Wasted After Soler's Walk-off HR
May 17, 2023 05:13 - 34 minutesThe Nats suffered a gut punch loss in Miami on Tuesday night as their comeback efforts resulted in a 5-4 loss after Jorge Soler homered off of Hunter Harvey in the bottom of the 9th. Al & Tim run through the decision to have Kyle Finnegan pitch in the 8th and to give Harvey the opportunity to close it out. (10:45) Josiah Gray pitched very well and was in line for the victory until the blown save. Gray lasted 7 IP and wiggled his way out of a bases loaded jam on his final pitch of the evening....
Game 41: Meneses & the Nats Smash the Mets
May 16, 2023 04:41 - 42 minutesThe Nats split the series against New York as they routed the Mets 10-3 on Monday afternoon in D.C.. Mark & Al tip their caps to Joey Meneses who had a menacing day at the plate with 4 RBI hits to squarely put his average at .300. (07:35) Lane Thomas had a big afternoon as well as he had 3 hits out of the lead-off spot. Thomas leads the team in OPS at .761. The lineup beat up New York pitching on Monday to the point that they scored in 7 of the 8 innings. (13:25) CJ Abrams had an adventurous ...
Games 39 & 40: Mother's Day Split
May 15, 2023 03:48 - 42 minutesThe Nats & Mets split the pair of games concluded on Mother's Day Sunday in D.C. (Nats won 3-2 & later lost 8-2). Mark & Al begin though with reaction to how logistics were handled on Saturday night during the roughly four hour rain delay. Those negatively affected by this were ticket holders to both Saturday and Sunday due to the decision to resume the suspended game at 12:35pm on Sunday. (21:40) Jake Irvin pitched well in Game 2 on Sunday, but the wheels completely fell off in the 5th innin...
Rain Delay Quick Edition
May 14, 2023 01:49 - 4 minutesSaturday was a long day at the ballpark, but not much baseball was played as the game was suspended until Sunday afternoon. Tim Shovers quick a very update on where things stand between the Nats the Mets, who only played two innings on Saturday. Mark & Al will be back Monday morning to recap Sunday's now doubleheader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Game 38: Gore's High Pitch Count Ends His Night Early
May 14, 2023 00:16 - 20 minutesThe Nats could not hold onto their early lead and lost 3-2 to the Mets on Friday evening. Al recaps MacKenzie Gore's laborious yet scoreless outing that only lasted 4 innings. Gore's evening was truncated due to his high pitch count of 96. (09:00) The offense only scored a pair of runs while mustering just four hits. Alex Call had two of the hits himself on the evening and Jake Alu came up with his first career MLB hit in his 2nd career game. (12:15) Al runs through all the latest updates in ...
Game 37: Gray & the Offense Carry the Day
May 11, 2023 02:12 - 37 minutesThe Nationals cruised Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco 11-6 in the series rubber match. Mark (Live from Oracle Park) & Al start with Josiah Gray's victory; where he lasted seven innings and struck out three Giants in the process. Gray continues to pitch well and his ERA sits at 2.96 for this season. The Nats so far in the month of May are 6-4 and have a chance to leapfrog the Mets this weekend in the standings. (14:30) The offense had huge game as they scored eight runs by the 3rd inning....
Game 36: Nats Fall Behind Right Away in Defeat
May 10, 2023 07:42 - 35 minutesThe Nats lost 4-1 on Tuesday evening to even the series as the Giants scored two runs in the 1st inning and never looked back. Al & Mark (Live from San Francisco) begin with CJ Abrams, who struggled in the field and committed a 1st inning error. He had a rough night at the plate as well as he went 0 for 4 with a pair of K's. (06:15) Jake Alu did not have a memorable MLB debut after going 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. Alu got the start in LF; a position that has seen musical chairs as of late. (1...
Game 35: Irvin Shines in San Fran Victory
May 09, 2023 07:34 - 33 minutesThis time the Nats offense delivered in the 1st inning and gave Jake Irvin a lead he would never relinquish in Monday evening's 5-1 victory at the Giants. Mark (Live from San Francisco) & Al dissect Irvin's first career MLB win; that saw him throw just over six scoreless frames. Where might Irvin fit in long term? (13:10) The lineup gave Irvin a 5-0 lead before he even took the rubber. CJ Abrams continued his hot stretch (10 for 18 on the road trip) with a 2 run single to gave Washington a bi...
Game 34: "Joey Four Bags" Comes Through in the 9th
May 08, 2023 03:17 - 35 minutesThe Nationals rallied again in the 9th in Arizona and this time they were rewarded with a 9-8 victory. Mark (Live from Phoenix) & Al have another comeback to discuss; with Joey "Four Bags" Meneses being the hero this time around by connecting on a 3 run HR. Washington is now 10-9 since the 4-11 start to the season. Chase Field is also the venue where Meneses hit two HRs vs. USA in the World Baseball Classic in March FWIW. (9:00) Luis Garcia had a solid series and hit 2nd in the lineup all wee...
Game 33: Finnegan's Blown Save Negates Late Comeback
May 07, 2023 06:59 - 35 minutesThe Nats lost 8-7 in heartbreaking fashion in Arizona as the 9th inning saw the lead change hands multiple times. Al & Mark (Live from Phoenix) do their best to sort through everything, but begin with a recap of MacKenzie Gore's outing. Gore allowed a pair of runs in six innings, but struck out nine in the process. (09:20) The Nationals staged a furious five run rally in the top of the 9th; capped by Lane Thomas' 2 run HR to temporarily give Washington the lead. This all began when Keibert Ru...
Game 32: Quiet Night for the Bats in Arizona
May 06, 2023 15:24 - 27 minutesThe Nats lost 3-1 in Arizona to open up their two city/ six game road trip. Mark (Live from Phoenix) & Al discuss how the offense was no match for Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly. The lineup only mustered four hits and Luis Garcia had two of them (including a Solo HR). (06:15) Keibert Ruiz is mired in a slump as he struck out three times and has not yet had a hit in May. Joey Meneses went 0 for 4 and his average has dropped .267. (12:45) Josiah Gray had a so-so outing as he allowed three r...
Game 31: Call Dials Up a Walk-Off HR to Cap Corbin's Gem
May 05, 2023 00:50 - 36 minutesThursday was an exciting day for the Nationals for many reasons, but with the most important being Alex Call's Walk-off HR to lead-off the 9th inning and give them a 4-3 victory over the Cubs. Al & Tim run through all the positives which include the game finishing under two hours, the Nats winning a series, and a 9-7 stretch in the past 16 games. (06:10) Kyle Finnegan came through with an incredible escape in the top of the 9th after putting the first two hitters in scoring position. Davey Ma...
Game 30: Abrams the Hero in Irvin's Debut
May 04, 2023 05:11 - 32 minutesThe Nats defeated the Cubs 2-1 on an evening where Jake Irvin made his Major League debut on the mound. Mark & Al analyze the right hander's first Big League start, which had an inauspicious beginning as he hit Nico Hoerner with the first pitch he threw. Washington is 3-3 on this home stand with the rubber match on Thursday afternoon. (10:00) The bullpen was outstanding as they combined for nearly five scoreless innings. Andres Machado, just promoted from Rochester, came through with clutch o...
Game 29: Abrams Has 3 Hits in Victory
May 03, 2023 05:36 - 39 minutesThe Nats beat the Cubs 4-1 on Tuesday night as the offense broke the tie open in the 7th with a trio of runs. Al & Mark start though by breaking down the curious continued calls for bunting; highlighted by Alex Call's 5th inning bunt that blew up on Washington. This conversation is the definition of "Inside Baseball". (15:30) The bottom of the order came through with five hits between Victor Robles and CJ Abrams. Robles surprisingly leads the team with a .732 OPS. (18:00) Trevor Williams pitc...
Game 28: Gore Struggles vs. the Cubs
May 02, 2023 05:05 - 31 minutesMacKenzie Gore was dealt a loss by the visiting Cubs as he was not able to make it through five innings. Al & Mark examine the left hander's difficult outing as opposed to recent starts by Gore. His ERA currently sits at 3.77 on the season. (09:15) Lane Thomas homered, but that was the only offense in the 5-1 defeat. It is surprisingly his firs homer of the year after he slugged 17 of them in 2022. Dominic Smith had two hits on the evening; including a double in the 7th. (15:00) Chad Kuhl was...
Game 27: Gray Beats the Pirates
May 01, 2023 02:52 - 38 minutesThe Nats ended April on a high note as they handled the Pirates 7-2 following a lengthy rain delay. Mark & Al begin with praise for Josiah Gray who only allowed one run in six innings. Gray closes out the opening month with a ERA at 2.67 and has thrown five consecutive solid starts. (14:00) The offense came alive early in the game as it was a quickly 5-0 lead. Al points out some surprising numbers regarding the lineup, especially in the category of team batting average. Joey Meneses did not h...
Games 25 & 26: Swept in the Doubleheader
April 30, 2023 06:01 - 36 minutesThe Nationals were no match for visiting Pittsburgh on Saturday in the twin bill. They lost the opener 6-3 and then were clobbered 16-1 in the nightcap. Al & Mark point out just how poorly the Nats have played at home this season despite their recent winning road trip. Chad Kuhl did not pitch well on Saturday evening and his future with the organization is respectfully brought into question. (11:30) The bullpen did not have a banner day and it was so bad that Lane Thomas had to pitch in Game ...
Game 24: Abrams' Grand Slam Not Enough in NY
April 28, 2023 05:36 - 39 minutesThe Nationals were six outs away from a series sweep, but the Mets got to Mason Thompson in the bottom of the 8th and New York prevailed 9-8. Mark & Al start with the top of the 8th where the Nats turned a 7-3 deficit into a brief 8-7 edge as CJ Abrams hit his first career Grand Slam. Does this qualify as a "Good Loss" considering the circumstances? (07:00) Leadoff hitter Alex Call also homered for Washington and Al points out the positive contributions from Call this season in that role. (14...
Game 23: Gore Dazzles in New York
April 27, 2023 04:38 - 24 minutesThe Nats continued their hot road trip as they beat the Mets 4-1 for their fourth victory in the past five games. Al begins with high praise for MacKenzie Gore who struck out a career high matching 10 hitters; and his quest to become a true ace. (10:45) The bullpen kept their slate clean in this New York series and the bulk of the workload fell to Hunter Harvey, who put on a dominant performance. Did you know his father Bryan was also a Major League reliever? (16:00) The Nationals collected e...
Game 22: Gray Strikes Out Nine in Shutout Win
April 26, 2023 04:58 - 28 minutesThe Nationals shutout the Mets 5-0 in New York as Josiah Gray earned his first victory of the season. Al examines Gray's excellent outing where he struck nine batters and saw his ERA dip below 3.00. Mason Thompson picked up the slack for the late innings as he tossed three blank frames to finish out the win. (08:30) Keibert Ruiz homered for the second time this season to put the Nats on the board. It shockingly was the first bit of run support for Gray since Opening Day. Joey Meneses continue...
Game 21: "Sweep Dreams" Dusted Away
April 24, 2023 02:30 - 32 minutes**This episode is sponsored by shirtgoodhq.com - Custom DC novelty shirts** The Nationals were not able to complete the sweep as they lost 3-1 on Sunday afternoon in Minnesota. Al & Mark (Live from Target Field) get very into weeds right away as they examine the bunt attempt in the top of the 5th by Victor Robles. Later in the game; Robles then made an incredible throw in the bottom of the 8th to complete a fantastic double play. It is always a roller coaster ride with Victor. (21:00) Patrick...
Game 20: Abrams Goes Deep in Chilly Win
April 23, 2023 00:37 - 31 minutesThe Nationals won their second straight in frigid Minnesota as they handled the Twins 10-4 on Saturday afternoon. Mark (From Target Field) & Al start with CJ Abrams who hit his first HR with the organization and also made a beautiful 9th inning catch. (08:15) Joey Meneses had himself a four hit game on Saturday; continuing his momentum from the series opener. His OPS so far is still a cause for concern as it sits at .664. (16:45) Chad Kuhl was gifted a lot of help from his offense, but still ...
Game 19: "Joey Four Bags" Sparks The Victorious Rally
April 22, 2023 06:41 - 37 minutesThe Nationals staged a late inning comeback in Minnesota to win 3-2 on Friday evening. Mark (Live from a very cold Target Field) & Al give props to Joey Meneses for hitting his first HR of the season in the 7th, which ended a startling drought for the franchise of 24 consecutive innings without scoring a run. (14:00) Keibert Ruiz was slotted 2nd in the batting order and delivered with the game winning RBI in the top of the 8th. This being part of a new look order that saw Dominic Smith droppe...
Game 18: Shutout Again by Baltimore
April 20, 2023 05:41 - 41 minutesThe Nats were shutout yet again from the Orioles in a 4-0 loss that resulted in them being swept at home in the short series. Al & Mark focus on how the offense was helpless against a Baltimore pitching staff that typically does not dominate its opponents. It is already the fourth game this season in which Washington was unable to score. (05:00) CJ Abrams was 0 for 4 with 3 Ks and had a 9th inning throwing error. Abrams has struggled at the plate this year and is barely hitting above the "Men...
Game 17: Offense Lets Down Gray Again + Soto Eyebrow Raising Comments to SI
April 19, 2023 05:27 - 38 minutesThe Nats were shutout 1-0 by the visiting Orioles and Josiah Gray yet again was given absolutely zero run support. Mark & Al run through another poor evening by the offense and pinpoint just how many things went wrong in the bottom of the 3rd when they had many chances to bring home a run. (14:00) Gray only allowed one run in five innings, but now is 0-4 on the season as the team has only scored one run in his four outings. His ERA is under 4.00 and has pitched well in the past three starts. ...
Game 16: Garrett Leaves His Mark in Comeback Win
April 17, 2023 02:27 - 34 minutesThe Nats held an exciting 8th inning rally to defeat Cleveland 7-6 on Sunday afternoon in D.C. Mark & Al run through all the major moments from the Washington victory; which at one saw them trailing by three runs in the 7th. Stone Garrett, who many fans had been clamoring for on the lineup card, scored the tying run in dramatic fashion; which did not become official until after a lengthy replay review. (08:00) The Nationals hit a pair of HRs in the series finale and they came from Jeimer Cand...
Game 15: Bats Go Quiet Again in Late Innings
April 16, 2023 04:42 - 37 minutesThe Nats lost their fourth in a row on Saturday; a 6-4 defeat at the hands of visiting Cleveland, that began late after a nearly two hour rain delay on Jackie Robinson Day. Mark & Al discuss how the lineup gave Chad Kuhl an early 3-0 1st inning lead, but that did not last. Hear the gruesome stats of how much the offense has struggled this season as the game reaches the later frames. (08:00) Many fans have been upset that Stone Garrett has disappeared from recent lineup cards. Mark asked Davey...
Game 14: Bell Leads Cleveland Rally + Nats Perspective on Commanders Sale
April 15, 2023 05:12 - 35 minutesThe Nats couldn't keep their early lead and lost 4-3 to visiting Cleveland on Friday night. Al & Tim Shovers begin with the bullpen who for a third time in less than two weeks could not deliver a victory. Hunter Harvey and Carl Edwards Jr each struggled as an early 3-0 Washington lead became no more. Josh Bell played a big part of it in his return to Navy Yard; as he homered and doubled in the later innings. (08:00) Trevor Williams was in line for his 2nd victory of the season, but ended up w...
Game 13: Gore Doesn't Last 4 Innings in Narrow Loss
April 13, 2023 06:55 - 33 minutesThe Nats lost the series rubber match in Anaheim 3-2 and came up short for the first time when MacKenzie Gore took the mound. Al & Mark (Live from Angels Stadium) examine the decision by Davey Martinez to remove the young left hander after 88 pitches. Gore still did manage six strikeouts in 3.2 IP. (11:40) The bullpen only gave up one run in 4+ frames and Mason Thompson had himself a very solid series. A well deserved and needed day off awaits for the relief pitching staff. (16:00) The bats w...
Game 12: Shutout by Ohtani
April 12, 2023 07:18 - 30 minutesThe Nats were no match for the right arm of Shohei Ohtani as they were blanked 2-0 by the Angels on Tuesday night. Mark (Live from Anaheim) & Al tip their caps to the marvel that is Ohtani, who only allowed one hit in seven innings. CJ Abrams had the lone hit on the evening, coming in the 4th inning. (06:00) Keibert Ruiz is just hitting .216 so far on the season and Mark assesses what he has been seeing from the catcher's approach at the plate. (11:00) Josiah Gray took a hard luck loss as he ...
Game 11: Bullpen Bounces Back in Anaheim
April 11, 2023 07:34 - 33 minutesThe Nats ralled in California to beat the Angels 6-4 on Monday evening after trailing early on by three runs. Al & Mark (Live from Anaheim) begin with the bullpen's sterling effort, as the staff combined for four shutout frames. Hunter Harvey really came through as he struck out both Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. This was the opposite of Sunday in Colorado where the 'pen couldn't hang on to the three run lead. (10:30) Patrick Corbin lasted five innings and ended on a high note as he retired e...
Game 10: Fatigued Bullpen Can't Keep the Lead
April 10, 2023 04:31 - 37 minutesThe Nats had to settle for a series split in Colorado as the bullpen could not maintain a 6-3 lead and ultimately Washington lost 7-6. Mark (Live from Coors Field) & Al dive into Erasmo Ramirez's tough afternoon while Davey Martinez was limited in his options. Will Erasmo return to his 2022 form? (12:00) Victor Robles was positioned in right CF as opposed to straightaway CF on Elias Diaz's RBI double to trim the lead to 6-5. Mark explains all the "Inside Baseball" that went into Robles defens...
Game 9: Nats Hang On For Stone Garrett's Big Night
April 09, 2023 06:32 - 36 minutesThe Nats have won two in a row for the first time in 2023 as they held off the rallying Rockies 7-6 on Saturday evening. Mark (Live from Coors Field) & Al discuss the roller coaster bottom of the 9th where the fatigued bullpen eked out a narrow victory despite being given a five run lead. Did Davey Martinez make the right decisions with his 'pen? (09:45) Stone Garrett hit 2nd and rewarded his trusting manager with a career evening. Garrett raked four hits and was a triple shy of the cycle, in...
Game 8: Gore Moves to 2-0
April 08, 2023 06:50 - 34 minutesThe Nationals doubled up the Rockies 10-5 as MacKenzie Gore improved to 2-0 in as many starts. Al & Mark (Live from Denver) examine the lefty's strong start that last six innings. Gore was given a lead before he even took the mound as Alex Call and Jeimer Candelario went Back to Back right off the bat. (13:00) CJ Abrams had quite the evening as well as he tripled TWICE as part of his three hit night. He is only the fifth player in franchise history to triple twice in a game; can you name the ...
Game 1: Abrams Commits a Trio of Errors in Opening Day Defeat
April 08, 2023 03:53 - 42 minutesThe Nats lost 7-2 to the Braves on a beautiful but cold Opening Day in D.C. Mark & Al recap the sloppy defensive effort as the young SS CJ Abrams had three errors on his scorecard. How much of a factor did the sun monster play in the afternoon game? (12:30) The lineup only scored a pair of runs, but no surprise one of the RBIs came from Joey Meneses. The Nationals recorded eight hits, but only one was for extra bases. Keibert Ruiz and Dominic Smith had bright days, as they both registered two...
Game 7: Gray's Gem Wasted in Coors Field
April 07, 2023 04:29 - 34 minutesThe Nationals skid extended to four games in a 1-0 loss in Colorado. Mark (Live for Coors Field) & Al balance the negative of the lineup with the big picture positive of Josiah Gray only allowing one run in six innings. Yet again a Nats outfielder lost a ball in the sun (Lane Thomas), and it was a very costly one that led to the lone run. (15:40) Washington was shutout and only had one runner reach scoring position. The troubles aren't only with the bats, they surprisingly are only 1 for 4 in...
Game 6: Swept by the Rays
April 06, 2023 03:32 - 26 minutesThe Nationals were swept by the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 7-2 as Patrick Corbin is now 0-2 on the season. Al Galdi solo hosts this edition and recap the lefty's outing; which did include a string of retiring 11 straight, but also plenty of runs allowed. (09:00) The Nats stranded the bases loaded in the 4th when trailing 3-2. Hear what Davey Martinez said about his young nucleus and their evolving plate approaches. (12:45) Al discusses why Luis Garcia sat for a 2nd straight game and what went in...
Game 5: Finnegan Implodes in the 9th
April 05, 2023 05:51 - 35 minutesKyle Finnegan inherited a ninth inning one run lead, but after a trio of 9th inning Tampa homers, Tuesday became a 10-6 loss for the Nationals in D.C. Mark & Al discuss Davey Martinez's decision to keep his closer on the mound after surrendering back to back homers to lose the lead. (15:30) Chad Kuhl made his franchise debut on the mound and settled down after giving up four runs right away. Kuhl became a member of the rotation after Cade Cavalli was ruled out for the season. (19:00) In addit...
Game 4: Offense Only Collects 4 Hits in Defeat
April 04, 2023 05:15 - 38 minutesThe Nats lost the series opener to the visiting Rays 6-2 as the offense only mustered four hits. Al & Mark begin with the struggling lineup and wonder... is that what to mostly expect all season? Washington has only totaled nine runs in four games so far. (12:20) Trevor Williams' Nationals debut resulted in a loss as he gave up four runs in his outing. Adding to the bad fortune of the evening, runner interference yet again did not go the franchise's way. (24:00) Ildemaro Vargas got the nod to...
Game 3: Gore Impresses and Wins in Nats Debut
April 03, 2023 01:36 - 44 minutesThe Nationals defeated Atlanta 4-1 on Sunday afternoon for their first victory of 2023. Mark & Al examine MacKenzie Gore's solid 1st outing in Washington as he struck out six and allowed only one run in just over five frames. This was his first start since late July last year while still with the Padres. (14:20) The offense struggled again, but did come through with four runs in the opening inning. No homers have yet been hit this season and they only have two hits with runners in scoring pos...
Game 2: Gray Allows 3 Homers in Season Debut
April 02, 2023 02:52 - 40 minutesThe Nats lost 7-1 on Saturday afternoon to visiting Atlanta as the Braves went "Back to Back" right off the bat against Josiah Gray. Al & Mark wonder why the right hander's struggles immediately carried over into 2023. Gray led the Majors in HRs allowed last season with a dubious mark of 38. (15:30) The Nationals lineup was no match for Braves starter Spencer Strider as he struck out nine in six scoreless innings. Keibert Ruiz was the lone source of offense; as he slugged an upper deck Solo H...
2023 Nationals Season Preview
March 28, 2023 04:25 - 43 minutesThis week the Nationals will begin their 19th season of play when they welcome Atlanta to D.C. on Thursday afternoon. Mark & Al get you set for the Podcast's 3rd campaign with the disappointing news that Our Guy Paolo Espino will begin the season in AAA Rochester. (06:45) Learn about reliever Hobie Harris. He had an impressive Spring and is expected to be part of this year's bullpen. (15:20) Patrick Corbin has received the nod for the second straight season as the Opening Day starter. Why was...
Cavalli Out for the Year
March 20, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutesThe Nationals were dealt a terrible blow last week as it was announced that Cade Cavalli will have "Tommy John" surgery in his right elbow and will miss the entire 2023 season. Mark tells Al what he saw from Cade's fateful outing in Port St. Lucie, FL. What are realistic chances for his return in 2024? (18:15) The spotlight on MacKenzie Gore got a lot brighter after the Cavalli news. He has has struggled this Spring as his ERA is over 7.00. Does it matter at all as he rehabs form last season'...
Ruiz & Nats Surprisingly Agree to an Extension
March 13, 2023 04:03 - 41 minutesNats fans were caught off-guard by the news that the organization and catcher Keibert Ruiz agreed to an 8 year/ $50M extension last week. Al & Mark (Live from West Palm Beach, FL) react to the Nationals officially locking up their franchise catcher. How does this relate to the ownership situation? (09:15) Ruiz recently switched his representation and it involves a name that Washington fans are quite familiar with over the years. How much does it matter that he now longer has Scott Boras as hi...
Kieboom Setback + Soto Extension Talks with Padres Brass
March 06, 2023 05:50 - 45 minutesWe are under a month until Opening Day as Spring Training is in full swing. Mark & Al begin with wondering when the Nats will begin making cuts down in Florida. They then focus on another setback for Carter Kieboom, who missed all of 2022 due to Tommy John surgery. (17:30) Over the weekend, Josiah Gray and Cade Cavalli each took the mound. Mark explains what Davey Martinez is looking for when the young pitchers have spring outings. (22:45) James Wood, one of the top prospects acquired in the ...
Pitch Clock Era Has Arrived
February 27, 2023 05:00 - 44 minutesThe Nationals began their Grapefruit League slate over the weekend and we finally had a chance to see the new rules on display. Mark, who is live in West Palm Beach, gives Al his initial impressions of the Pitch Clock. So far, every game has been completed under three hours. (13:50) MacKenzie Gore threw an inning on Saturday, thus making his organizational debut after last summer's blockbuster trade. This leads to a discussion on how the starting rotation is shaping up so far. Who is the fron...
Nats Begin 2023 Spring Training
February 20, 2023 05:01 - 55 minutes"Pitchers & Catchers" have reported to West Palm, FL and Mark Zuckerman has as well. Mark and Al begin with the not so surprising bad news that Stephen Strasburg has no timetable to return. Minor setback or is the final time we will go down the Strasburg road? (19:00) We start to set the 2023 table and let you know who "The Big Six" are to keep your eye on for this season. This includes Josiah Gray, who is aiming to give up far fewer home runs this year. What is the ceiling for Keibert Ruiz b...