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Washington Nationals News: Why Wilson Ramos has excelled this season

By Pablo Roa |
May 14, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (40) gestures to the stands after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins in the sixth inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (40) gestures to the stands after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins in the sixth inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Today’s District Daily features stories on why Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos has excelled this season and the whereabouts of former-Nat Steve Lombardozzi.

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.

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In today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes discusses why Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos is having a career year in 2016. As Janes writes, there are several factors that have turned Ramos from an oft-injured, sometimes reliable hitter into one of the best-hitting catchers the game has seen in recent years.

As Janes notes, Ramos has dominated at the plate this season — batting .338 with seven homers and 29 RBIs. The catcher has stayed healthy this season, and he’s suddenly become one of the team’s most important hitters.

By now, it’s clear that the Lasik surgery that Ramos underwent during Spring Training has helped him see the ball better at the plate. He’s also changed his approach at the plate and has been judging balls in the strike zone much better.

Here’s what Ramos said about his improvement, via Janes’ article:

“Overall, I think what I’m more impressed about and taken back by is the judgment in the strike zone that I’ve taken,” Ramos said through team interpreter Octavio Martinez. “It’s been a lot better. I’ve been more patient with my at-bats, and I’ve been able to handle the strike zone much, much more this season. I think that’s what I’m actually the happiest about.”

Also in today’s Daily, the Post’s Dan Steinberg writes an interesting piece on the whereabouts of former Nationals infielder and fan-favorite Steve Lombardozzi.

As Steinberg writes in his article, Lombardozzi — who played a key role in the Nationals’ 2012 NL East championship, is playing for the Atlantic League’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in Waldorf. He’s the Atlantic League’s top-hitter, and he’s working hard to make it back to the big leagues.

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.

Have you ever seen a skinny buffalo?

(Chelsea Janes, Washington Post)

PHILADELPHIA — After Wilson Ramos hit an opposite-field, three-run home run in the Nationals’ win over the Phillies on Wednesday night, he was leading all major league catchers, hitting .338. The catcher otherwise known as “Big Ramos” to his manager pushed his home run total to seven, third-most at his position. His .919 OPS is best among catchers, too. What’s the secret to Ramos’s offensive production this season?

“He’s not called the buffalo for nothing,” Nationals Manager Dusty Baker said. “I’ve never seen a skinny buffalo. Unless he’s real sick. It’s not surpising. This guy’s strong. We give him enough rest, we think, to keep him strong. … He’s quietly having an outstanding year, and just going about his business.” Read full article here.

Steve Lombardozzi’s journey from the Washington Nationals to Crustacean Nation

(Dan Steinberg, Washington Post)

About five hours before the first pitch one day this week, the Atlantic League’s leading hitter walked into the modest home clubhouse at Regency Furniture Stadium. Some teammates had recently lunched on Burger King and Subway — “anyone need anything from the store: Walmart, Costco?” someone shouted out — but Steve Lombardozzi brought his meal in tupperware: chicken with pasta.

The 27-year-old would soon begin the same routine he used in the big leagues: hitting in the cage from the right side and then the left, moving on to a focused batting practice, taking infield not in turf shoes (like some teammates) but in cleats, stretching by himself and also with the rest of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Read full article here.

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