Finishing in last place in the National League East, the Nats had the worst record in baseball. 

Last season, the Nationals ended with a 73 win, 89 loss season, finishing in 4th place in the East division.

But if you can’t bare another five months without watching a Nat’s game, your final chance to see the National play at home is Thursday, September 25th.

Washington Nationals Baseball
Nationals Park
1500 South Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003 (map it)

Date and Time – Thursday, September 25, 2008, 7:10 p.m.

Tickets – $10.00 – $67.00 and are available online or by phone at 202-675-NATS.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Navy Yard – Green line , then a 2-block walk.

Parking – Parking and free shuttle bus is offered from RFK Stadium.

Images – Teddy – Scott Ableman, ballpark,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The Blue Crabs are the sixth non-MLB pro baseball team in the Washington, DC area, for baseball fans to follow.

The others include the Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, Frederick Keys, the Hagerstown Suns, and Bowie Baysox.

Owned by Orioles Hall of Famer, Brooks Robinson, the Blue Crabs are one of the eight teams in the independent Atlantic League. Other teams include:

• Bridgeport Bluefish
• Camden Riversharks
• Lancaster Barnstormers
• Long Island Ducks
• Newark Bears
• Somerset Patriots
• York Revolution

Playing at the new Regency Furniture Stadium, with a seating capacity of 4,500 plus lots of outfield lawn seating, should make a Crab’s game an relaxing baseball experience.

Managed by Butch Hobson, who spent three seasons managing the Boston Red Sox (1992-94), the team will play 70 home games.

And attention all sports junkies – check out Gossip on Sports for all the latest rumors, antics and player scandals, on and off the field.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Minor League Baseball
Regency Furniture Stadium
11765 St. Linus Drive
Waldorf, MD 20602

Dates and Times – 70 home games through Sept. 21, 2008

Tickets – Outfield lawn seats $6.00 (blankets and chairs allowed, but no outside food), reserved seating – $13.00, and are available online.

Parking – FREE

Images – baseball, plaque,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Besides the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles, and 5 other mionor league teams, the Potomac Nationals, of the Carolina League, play home games in nearby Woodbridge, Virginia, just 40 minutes from Washington, DC.

The Carolina League formed in 1945 with just a couple of games in southern Virginia. Currently it has seven other A-level minor league teams, besides the Potomac Nationals, representing the Orioles, Pirates, Royals, Indians, Braves, White Sox, and Astros.

A few Hall of Famers have come out the Carolina leaguers, including Johnny Bench, Wade Boggs, Barry “steriod” Bonds, Darryl Strawberry and Carl Yastrzemski.

The movie “Bull Durham”, staring Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins was about a factious Caroline League team, the Durham Bulls.

The P-Nats play in the 24-year-old Pfitzner Stadium, which has a seating capacity of around 6,000 fans.  The stadium is nothing like a “bigs” ball park but looks as if it would be very enjoyable as you get an upclose look at the players and great opportunities for autographs of future Nationals players.

Tickets are cheap compared to Washington Nationals game, as low as $7.00 for an unreserved grandstand seat. 

Every Monday night when the Potomac Nationals are playing at home, you can buy an unreserved grandstand seat for only $1.00.  Hot dogs are only a buck as well.  Tickets for Monday night games are only available at the box office, the night of the game.

You can listen live to games on the web. 

Potomac Nationals
Pfitzner Stadium
7 County Complex Ct., off of Prince William Parkway
Woodbridge, VA 22192  (map it)

Dates and Times – Most evening games start around 7:00 p.m., with some afternoon games starting at 1:05 p.m.  Click here for the Potomac Nationals schedule. Gates open one hour before game time.

Tickets - single-game tickets are available online or by calling 703-590-2311 ext. 215.

• Field Box Seats – $13.00
• Box Seats – $11.00
• Reserved Seats – $10.00, $1.00 Military discount
  Senior Citizens (62 & older) – $9.00
• Grandstand Seats: Adults – $8.00, Kids 6-12 – $7.00, Seniors and Military w/ID – $7.00

Handicapped parking and seating is available.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – line, then a  block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – $4.00 per car.

Image – Uncle Sam mascot

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The Washington Nationals won their season opener last night at their new ballpark, Nationals Park, against the Atlanta Braves, 3 to 2. 

The win came with a classic two out, bottom of the ninth solo homer by third baseman, Ryan Zimmerman.

Perhaps the Nat’s should just hang up their gloves and spikes and declare victory. 

Nah…. As Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks used to say, “It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame… Let’s play two!”

Go Nats!!!

Image – standing from the Washington Post, celebration photo Flickr   

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Post from: The DC Traveler

In Spring training, the Nats were 6 and 6 with 2 ties. And after a fifth-place finish last year, and some serious questions about team unity, the Nats have high hopes for this year’s season. With a new manager and a few new players, DC baseball fans are hoping for a great season.

Unfortunately, the Nats lost their home opener 9 to 2.

The Nats currently play at RFK Stadium and after the 2007 season, a new ballpark, with 41,000 seats is scheduled to be ready for the National’s opening day in 2008.

Some rule changes for the 2007 season

• To help speed the game, where there are no runners on base, the pitcher has 12 seconds to pitch to the batter after the batter is in the batter’s box.
• After some ball scuffing controversy last season,any player who scuffs or defaces a baseball would be ejected and receive an automatic 10-game suspension.
• Pitchers will be allowed to wear a multicolored glove if the umpire determines it isn’t distracting.
• In the stretch position, a pitcher instead of a windup with no runners on base will no longer have to come to a complete stop. 
• A player may no longer step into the dugout to catch a foul ball, but can reach into a dugout.
• A batter running to first base will be allowed to exit the 3-foot lane in foul territory “for the sole purpose of touching first base”. 
• A batter will lose the ability to run to first base on a dropped third strike if he leaves the dirt circle around home plate unless he does so while trying to reach first base.

Washington Nationals Baseball
RFK Stadium
2400 East Capitol Street, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003

Tickets – Tickets range from $5.00 to $55.00 and are available online, as well as through various ticket brokers and Craig’s list.

Home games during the Nat’s 74 game schedule run from April 2nd until Sept. 23rd  and start at 1:05, 1:35 or 7:05 p.m.

Nearest Metro subway station – Stadium-Armory Station – Blue or Orange lines  

Parking – there are numerous paid parking lots at RFK Stadium

Photo credits: Flickr
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Post from: The DC Traveler