District Daily: Williams on the Hook for Babe Impersonation
By Pablo Roa
Aug 18, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams (9) stands at the top of the dugout during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Checkout some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web:
Williams on the hook for Babe impersonation
(Daniel Popper and Bill Ladson, MLB.com)
WASHINGTON — Earlier this season, Nationals manager Matt Williams said that if the Nationals won 10 consecutive games, he would impersonate Babe Ruth before a game. As a member of the Giants in the early 1990s, Williams once impersonated the baseball legend’s famous stance and home-run trot.
On Thursday, the Nationals won their 10th consecutive game, but don’t look for Williams to impersonate the Babe any time soon. He tried not to talk about it with the media after the team’s 1-0 victory over the D-backs. Williams jokingly said would be the Babe in the privacy of a stadium somewhere. Read full article here.
‘Meaningful’ stolen base gives Span career high
(Daniel Popper and Bill Ladson, MLB.com)
WASHINGTON — With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday against the D-backs, Nationals leadoff man Denard Span poked a softly hit single to center field. He represented the potential winning run in a scoreless game.
After Span’s hit, Arizona manger Kirk Gibson opted to pull reliever Oliver Perez in favor of right-hander Evan Marshall. And during the ensuing warmup pitches, Span listened intently to first-base coach Tony Tarasco, who provided the speedy center fielder with Marshall’s times to home plate for both his slidestep and regular delivery.
Then it became Span’s decision. Read full article here.
For streaking Washington Nationals, runs like this don’t come around very often
(Thomas Boswell, Washington Post)
Pay attention. This doesn’t happen every decade, even every generation. Wherever you sit during Washington Nationals games, on your favorite couch in front of the TV or in the bleachers on South Capitol Street, don’t change seats. Eat the same pregame meal. Lucky charms — don’t lose ’em. How far can this thing go?
Nothing in baseball is more pure summer fun, mixed with just enough tension to be deliciously fretful, than a long winning streak. In the Washington Nationals’ case, that skein has now reached 10 victories with a 1-0 walk-off win over Arizona on Thursday. How rare is 10 wins in a row? The Cincinnati Reds have been one of the game’s great franchises since 1882. Their longest streak: 12. Read full article here.