District Daily: Nats Look to Build on Momentum, Radio Ratings Surging
By Pablo Roa
Jul 13, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Ryan Zimmerman (11) and left fielder Bryce Harper (34) celebrate win against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals defeated the Phillies, 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Checkout some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web:
Nats look to build on momentum coming out of break
WASHINGTON — Before the 2014 season started, the Nationals were heavily favored to win the National League East. But the first half wasn’t that easy. On May 24, the Nationals were 24-25 and sputtering. It didn’t help that they had to deal with a lot of injuries.
But the Nationals were able to turn it around and ended the first half with a 51-42 record and in a first-place tie with the Braves in the National League East.
Nationals manager Matt Williams came away satisfied with what his team was able to accomplish during the first half and was pleased to be in a first-place tie.
“Considering everything that is going on, we are OK,” Williams said. “We are right in the thick of our division. We have a chance. That’s all we could ask for … I’m happy about it.” Read full article here.
Rights fee dispute between Nationals, Orioles could be resolved by 2015
The four-year battle over right fees from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network between the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles could be resolved by early next year, MLB commissioner Bud Selig said at the annual BBWAA luncheon Tuesday.
Selig is set to retire in January 2015 and said he was optimistic a deal could be struck before then to avoid a court battle. Read full article here.
Nationals’ radio ratings are surging this season
(Dan Steinberg, Washington Post)
Since this is the slowest week of the sports calendar, the news that the Nats local television ratings are down 34 percent this season — one of the biggest drops in all of baseball — has gotten a lot of attention on local sports-radio programs and internet Web logs.
And plenty of people have theories. I’ve heard radio hosts argue that this might be because Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman — the team’s two most prominent hitters — missed tons of time. I’ve heard hosts argue that this is about fewer kids playing baseball, or fewer kids appreciating televised baseball’s slow pace. I’ve heard hosts wonder — as I did — whether the local attention on the World Cup, or on the Wizards playoff run, could have been responsible for less attention paid to baseball. I’ve heard hosts suggest Washington’s slow start was to blame, or maybe the lack of “World Series or Bust” buzz, or possibly lingering pessimism from 2013. Read full article here.