Scott Allen

update from the comments section: "Here's what I saw: joy."

(sometimes we read the comments.)

(like not all the time but sometimes!!!)

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What your favorite MLB player can learn from TikToks of his favorite player Can baseball players get better by watching online videos and interviews that feature other MLB stars? They think so.

Daylen Lile picked up a cricket bat. Brad Lord picked up a “Death Ball.” Jackson Rutledge saw a pitch that gave Kevin Gausman blisters and figured he would pick it up, too.

What your favorite MLB player can learn from TikToks of his favorite player:
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With Terry McLaurin watching, Commanders offense struggles in team scrimmage Coach Dan Quinn experiments with a Burgundy and Gold intrasquad game, and Jayden Daniels has perhaps his worst day of the summer.

With Terry McLaurin watching, Commanders offense struggles in team scrimmage

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

James Wood had been struggling. Then Miguel Cairo changed things up. Every major league hitter goes through slumps. And James Wood is no exception. But this weekend, Nationals’ interim manager Miguel Cairo made some adjustments.

With each passing game, James Wood is looking more and more like his old self.

Talked to Wood, his teammates and his coaches about what went wrong in July, participating in the Home Run Derby and how he’s trying to get back on track in August:

A quote about college football and how much it means to so many people.

With college football season getting closer, a newsletter on a quote I think about very often (click to find out who said it to me): collegesportsmoney.substack.com/p/football-s...

No team makes fewer moves than the Nats. That might be changing. A new regime brings a new approach to waiver claims, which sometimes yield big results — or at least nice stories, such as relief pitcher PJ Poulin’s.

During the rebuild, the Nats have been one of the least active transactional teams in baseball.

So I wrote about the marginal moves that have helped other teams — and could be coming to D.C. soon:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

So your beer league teammate is Evgeny Kuznetsov. Yes, that Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov dropped by Washington’s practice facility this summer and shared the ice with men’s league players. If he ever returns, they have but one request.

So you walk into the locker room to get dressed for your beer league game, and you recognize the guy sitting by the door.
"Oh, that's Evgeny Kuznetsov."
Wait a second...
"Oh no, that's Evgeny. Kuznetsov. And he's playing with us."
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Column | The Commanders aren’t trading Terry McLaurin, but they need to make a deal With Washington and its star wide receiver at a contract impasse, every day matters, and time is on neither party’s side.

Trade Terry McLaurin? Don't worry. That ain't happening.

On the star wideout's threat, and the ways an impasse can end.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

D.C. wants 200 events a year at its new stadium. Should bar mitzvahs count? From bar mitzvahs and weddings to board meetings and conferences, private events increasingly shape the debate over NFL stadiums.

I dug into the world of modern NFL stadium event planning to parse a heated debate:

How much are NFL stadiums used?

I found the gap between numbers used by critics (eight) and boosters (200) comes down to mostly private events — like an epic bar mitzvah.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

That time Washington went to Washington (state) for training camp In August 1939, a group of players and team officials departed Union Station for Spokane via train. The reason? Training camp, of course.

That time Washington moved its training camp to Washington (state) to escape the humidity www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Column | Trade MacKenzie Gore? The Nationals at least have to think about it. Parting with a promising young pitcher is a complicated decision, but Washington has several reasons to consider the right offer if it presents itself.

MacKenzie Gore's trade value will never be higher. It may well be in the best long-term interest of the franchise to swallow hard and deal its burgeoning ace.

Column from @barrysvrlugawp.bsky.social
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Nicklas Backstrom, who elevated the Caps and their captain, to play in Sweden Backstrom will be returning to the ice for Brynas, the team he played for before he came to the NHL.

Nicklas Backstrom is headed back to Sweden to continue his hockey career with Brynas, the team where it all started for him. He leaves the Caps and the NHL as one of Washington's all-time greats
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Thanks, Connie

Tim Strachan, star DeMatha quarterback turned Maryland broadcaster, dies at 49 Strachan, whose high school football career ended after a tragic accident, was remembered for his relentlessly upbeat personality, no matter the circumstances.

Remembering Tim Strachan, star DeMatha QB turned Maryland broadcaster and an inspiration to many www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The Caps made him a first-round pick. Now the tall order of development awaits. The Capitals drafted Lynden Lakovic, who is listed at 6-foot-4, with the No. 27 pick last month. A whirlwind welcome to Washington followed.

Lynden Lakovic is very tall. His height and shot stood out at the Caps' development camp last week, and it was easy to see why the Caps were excited he was there for them at the 27th overall pick. Now, his focus turns to development:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Washington ditched its gold pants in 1979 for burgundy pants with gold and white stripes. The Post's fashion editor, Nina Hyde, reported on the change, which was made by GM Bobby Beathard.

Commanders’ alternate uniforms take things back to the glory days Washington will be in its “Super Bowl Era” for three nationally televised home games, with a look calling back to the 1980s. No, the helmet logo isn’t coming back.

The Commanders' 'Super Bowl Era' throwbacks just dropped. Washington will wear these for three games this season. (via @nickijhabvala.bsky.social) www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Column | The Nationals need more than a new GM. They need a voice. What else do the Nationals need besides a general manager and a skipper as they remake their front office? How about a forward-facing president?

Fifteen years ago, the Nationals’ team president left, and the GM said: “We have a void to fill.”

They never filled it. It’s time.

On a new direction for a directionless franchise.

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The Nationals’ rebuild is faltering. Here’s how things got so bad. The Washington Post analyzed stats and spoke to 10 people within the game — at various franchises and levels — to compile a more complete picture of Washington’s organizational health.

The Nationals have the No. 1 pick on Sunday.

It’s a monumental draft — one that lets the team improve upon past failures to draft and develop hitters. @emilygiam.bsky.social and I looked into the Nats' drafts and why they’ve struggled since 2012.

Here's what we found:

Nationals name Miguel Cairo interim manager amid franchise shakeup The announcement came one day after Washington fired both manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo.

Nationals bench coach Miguel Cairo was elevated to interim manager on Monday.

The Nationals fired their manager and GM. What’s next? Ask us your questions. Barry Svrluga, Chelsea Janes and Spencer Nusbaum will answer your questions about the firings of Mike Rizzo and Dave Martinez Tuesday at noon.

What: A live Q&A on the future of the Nationals.
Who: Me, @chelsea_janes and @spencernusbaum_ .
When: Noon on Tuesday, but get those questions in early at the link below.

Looking forward to it!
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Column | The Lerners must make these firings a rethinking, not a reshuffling Things had become too comfortable for the Washington Nationals. Real change will require some uncomfortable changes for everyone.

The most shocking part about the Nationals’ firing of Dave Martinez and Mike Rizzo is that it represented active engagement and decision-making by the Lerner family.

Now, Barry Svrluga asks: Who’s next in each of those positions, and what do those choices say about the franchise's direction?

Last-place Nationals fire manager Dave Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo Washington’s lengthy rebuild has cost its manager and its general manager their jobs.

“The sun will come up tomorrow,” Mike Rizzo wrote in a text message to ⁦‪Barry Svrluga‬⁩. “That’s the job. I had a great run. Navigated that ownership group for almost 20 years.” www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Nationals slugger James Wood is headed to the Home Run Derby Wood, 22, announced via an Instagram post on Thursday that he would participate in the Derby, which is set for July 14 in Atlanta.

James Wood, who has hit 22 homers entering Thursday's game, is set to become the third National to participate in the Home Run Derby. The other two — Juan Soto in 2022 and Bryce Harper in 2018 — won it.

Capitals sign Martin Fehervary to seven-year, $42 million extension The Capitals knew how important Fehervary was to them, with his physical presence, defensive intensity and commitment to blocking shots.

Martin Fehervary isn't going anywhere. On the first day he was eligible to sign an extension, he and the Capitals agreed to a seven-year, $42 million contract that will kick in next year and keep him in Washington through 2033:
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As NHL free agency opens, the Caps have an eye on the forward market “We’ll see what we can add to the forward group,” Capitals General Manager Chris Patrick said Saturday, a few days before the start of NHL free agency.

Less than an hour until free agency opens. Here's a little primer on where things stand for the Caps and what they might be looking to do:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Exploring your genealogy? Ask Sally Jenkins your questions. Sports columnist Sally Jenkins will answer your questions about her new fascination, genealogy, during a live chat Tuesday at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

Anybody want to have some fun talking sports, athletes, #whatshistory, #genealogy and what makes a champion? Come join me for a live chat at 11 a.m. www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

I'm sorry to hear this, Ben. Best of luck with what's next.

With AARP deal, Washington Nationals get long-awaited jersey sponsor The Nationals will debut their AARP jersey patch Tuesday night, when they host the Detroit Tigers.

The Nationals finally have a jersey patch sponsor: AARP www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

VR training is booming in baseball. The Nats haven’t fully bought in. The majority of the Nationals’ hitters have used a virtual reality program. But Washington hasn’t invested in a more advanced pitching machine, Trajekt Arc.

Almost every team in MLB — from the Yankees and Dodgers down to the Marlins, White Sox and Rockies — has invested in the fanciest pitching machine available.

The Nats still don't have one.
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