Washington Nationals News: Nats know it’s time to play the field

Today’s District Daily features stories on the Washington Nationals’ defense and Dusty Baker being reunited with Barry Bonds.

Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.

In today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes discusses the importance of good defense for the Nationals in 2016. As Janes notes in her article, defense let the Nationals down several times last season.

While they weren’t awful, the Nationals made several costly miscues in the field in 2015. It isn’t what eliminated them from playoff contention, but poor defense certainly played a role in the team’s overall struggles last year.

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This year the Nationals will have a new look defense. With Ian Desmond gone, Danny Espinosa and Trea Turner will likely man shortstop for the most part this season. Newly acquired infielder Daniel Murphy will play second, and new outfielder Ben Revere will play center.

It’ll be interesting to see how this year’s defense compares to last season’s. One thing’s for certain, the Nationals will need the defense on its toes all season long if they want to fight their way back to the postseason.

Also in today’s Daily, MLB.com’s Jamal Collier discusses how Baker was reunited with home run king Barry Bonds, whom he managed for 10 seasons.

Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.

Nationals know it’s time to play the field

(Chelsea Janes, Washington Post)

VIERA, Fla. — Danny Espinosa, who likely will be a significant part of the Washington Nationals’ middle infield this season, explained the key to good team defense this way: Good defenses make routine plays look like routine plays. And they make all of them.

“If you don’t make that play, give them the extra out, that loses ballgames,” Espinosa said. “The diving play, the jump-throw play, those won’t win you games. They might save the game, but that’s not what wins or loses. That’s not the expected play.” Read full article here.

Baker, Bonds reunited on the field

(Jamal Collier, MLB.com)

JUPITER, Fla. — Even though Dusty Baker managed Barry Bonds for 10 seasons in San Francisco from 1993-2002, he never considered Bonds as a future hitting coach, although he knew he had the ability.

Fast forward 14 years, and there they were, embracing each other on the field prior to the Friday afternoon’s Grapefruit League game between the Nationals and Marlins. Both back in baseball again after time away from the game — Baker in his first season as Washington’s manager and Bonds as Miami’s hitting coach — preparing for their first of many meetings in opposite dugouts. Read full article here.

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