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ACC preview: game of the century

The ACC's game of the century is finally here! The No. 5 Florida State heads to Clemson to face the No. 3 Tigers. The Seminoles chances in this game and for the national title likely rests on the shoulders of freshman quarterback Jameis Winston. Also, can Wake Forest pull off the upset over Maryland? Who will finally earn their first ACC win between Duke and UVa? Can Pitt rebound against Old Dominion? For a preview of all the ACC action, click here.

For all the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

CAA preview: Villanova looking for second big win

Villanova established itself as the team to beat, but now must stay hot in a trip to New Hampshire. Terrance West looks to lead Towson back into the win column and Maine faces a suprisingly tough matchup with William and Mary. For a full preview of this weekend's CAA action, click here.

For all the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Special Teams Issues Highlight Dysfunction Plaguing the Washington Redskins

What was it that doomed the Redskins Sunday night in Dallas? Was it the much maligned defense that ranked last in yards allowed per game heading into Sunday? Was it the offense that had yet to put together a complete four quarters of solid play? No, what ultimately doomed the Redskins Sunday night was the oft overlooked special teams.

Click here to read the full analysis.

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Adam Oates' Line Combinations Contributing to the Washington Capitals' Struggles

Despite having a full offseason and training camp, it has been another slow start for the Washington Capitals. A major reason for their 1-4 record are the mistakes head coach Adam Oates is making with his line combinations. To read a full analysis on these lines, click here.

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Five Reasons Why the Washington Redskins Can Beat the Dallas Cowboys

The Washington Redskins head to Dallas Sunday night after the Cowboys' impressive showing last week, but there is still plenty of reason for Redskins fans to be optimistic. For the full story, click here.

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ACC preview: head games

Virginia Tech meets old conference foe Pitt in their new conference and C.J. Brown's status remains uncertain. For a the full ACC preview, click here.

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CAA preview: two teams in need of a win

Delaware will host Albany as both teams look desperate for a rebound. Click here for the full Week 7 CAA preview.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

With Jarvis Jenkins and Rob Jackson, the Washington Redskins Defense Will Still Be Terrible

Jarvis Jenkins and Rob Jackson return from a four game suspension this week, but how much will their return really help the Redskins? They may add depth, but the defense is still going to be terrible. Click here for the full story.

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Time for Braden Holtby to Get Past His Mistakes

Braden Holtby has had another rough start this season. Will he ever get past the mistakes to become one of the NHL's elite? Click here for the full story.

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ACC preview: Maryland heads to Tallahassee

Click here for a preview of all this weekend's ACC action.

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CAA preview: Towson still undefeated

For a preview of this weekend's CAA action, click here.

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For the Washington Redskins it is Hardly Mission Accomplished

How satisfied can the Redskins really be with a win over Oakland? They may have gotten their first win, but this team still has a long way to go. Click here for the full story.

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ACC preview: Hokies and UVA meet conference foes

For a Week 5 preview of all the ACC action, click here.

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CAA preview: Dukes head to Delaware

For a Week 5 preview of all the CAA action, click here.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Time for the Washington Redskins to Stop Talking About How Good They Are and Prove It

We have heard a lot of talk about the Redskins and how good they are, but we have yet to see it on the field. Click here for a story on why it is time for the Redskins to put up, or shut up.

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Tom Wilson is Quickly Earning a Shot with the Washington Capitals

Tom Wilson is making a name for himself in camp this summer. Will he make the roster? Click here for the whole story.

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ACC preview: Terps look to end WVU's streak

Click here for a Week 4 preview of all the ACC action!

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CAA preview: Tribe hosts Rhode Island

Click here for a Week 4 preview of CAA action.

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Operation Patience Part 2: Why Benching RG3 for Kirk Cousins is a Really Bad Idea

An 0-2 start for the Redskins has some people calling for Kirk Cousins. Click here to find out why that would be a really bad idea.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Redskins Need to Accept Life Without Meriweather

Brandon Meriweather made his 2013 debut on Sunday, but left in the second quarter with a concussion. It is time for the Redskins to look elsewhere for help with their secondary. For the full story, click here.

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Why RG3 needs to keep playing

The Washington Redskins meet the Green Bay Packers this Sunday and the question on everyone’s mind is whether Robert Griffin III will be back to normal.

After Week 1, it was clear he was playing with full confidence. Numerous replays showed he was not following through on his throws or putting on weight on his front leg. Many have argued that this performance showed he came back too early and should not have played. I think it shows exactly the opposite.

What’s holding Griffin back now is his own confidence. He has been medically cleared, but still does not have confidence in his knee. That is a mental hurdle, not a physical one. Griffin has to play because that is the only way he can overcome that.

Compare his first half performance to his second half. In the first half, he threw two interceptions, botched a toss to Alfred Morris, and the offense was completely out of sync. In the second half, he did not turn the ball over at all and threw for two touchdowns.

Griffin will begin to play like his old self when he overcomes the mental hurdle that is holding him back. The solution is to keep playing, not to continue hiding him away.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Redskins Need to Avoid Same Offensive Mistakes to Beat the Packers

The Washington Redskins will meet the Green Bay Packers this Sunday and if they hope to win, they'll have to do fix some problems on offense. Click here to read more.

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Oklahoma State, SEC player scandals reveal state of college football

Amid all the allegations against Oklahoma State and the new allegations against several former SEC player, I have noticed a very sad prevailing feeling among fans: who cares?

So the players were paid, you think this doesn’t happen at other schools? So they players smoked marijuana, they’re in college. So the players were given easy classes and easy grades, most of the stars get that.

What a devastating commentary this is on the state of college football.

When someone breaks the rules, the fact that others are breaking the rules as well does not does not justify the person or institution that was caught.

Let me preface this by saying none of this has been investigated by the NCAA and we essentially are taking several former players at their word. These allegations may not be true. Having said that, if it turns out that these things did happen, it is further evidence of how broken the NCAA system is.

College football is not minor league football. It may be the closest thing there is to minor league football, but a college institution does not work for the NFL. Its purpose is to educate and prepare its students for adult life. Its priority should be towards education and not football.

Regardless of whether or not you believe the players should be paid, as of right now it is against the rules. For a program to turn a blind eye when these things happen, to implicitly teach their students that they do not need to follow the rules is just plain wrong.

Schools cannot turn a blind eye to players accepting money, doing drugs, or blowing off their academics and they certainly cannot do so because they think it is happening at other schools.

I am shocked that everyone is simply looking at these allegations and dismissing them as business as usual. Where is the outrage? Oklahoma State, again allegedly, is recruiting kids, kids by having young women in their hostess program have sex with recruits. That’s not ok regardless of whether you think this is widespread.

It is not ok for schools to cheapen their degrees by bumping up grades or putting players in fake classes.

I am sure these problems are widespread. I am sure that agents and boosters are throwing money around trying to manipulate the players like the leeches that they are, I am sure teaches give players better grades, and I am sure coaches turn a blind eye to a lot of the things their players do, but that does not make it ok.

The fact that the NCAA seems more concerned with what kind of jam schools put on their bagels and better equipped to punish these infractions than the very real and serious violations brought to light by these investigations is further evidence that the NCAA is broken.

The answer is to fix it, not ignore it.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

ACC preview: Edsall faces former team

Randy Edsall will return to UConn for the first time since leaving to coach the Terps. Also, can Boston College pull off the upset, can Virginia Tech avoid the upset, and can Brandon Connette handle the starting job at Duke? Click here for my Week 3 ACC preview.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWasington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

CAA preview: Blue Hens headed to Annapolis

The Blue Hens head to Annapolis and Albany gets its CAA debut. For the Week 3 CAA football, click here.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Washington Redskins: RG3 Shows Us Why the Preseason Matters

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-rg3-shows-us-why-preseason-matters-144400716--nfl.html

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Should the Nationals sit Bryce Harper?

Bryce Harper was sent home from Miami to receive further tests on an injured hip, the latest injury on a laundry list of ailments he has suffered in 2013. With only 20 games remaining in the Nationals’ season, should the Nationals sit Harper for the remainder of the season?

Many analysts are asking that question today, but it strikes me as a bit hasty. The mere fact that Harper was sent home shows that the injury is not nothing, but we still do not know exactly how serious it is. It would be a mistake for the team to prematurely shut him down only for a doctor to declare that there is nothing significantly wrong.

Being the competitor that he is, Harper obviously will not like being shut down for any period of time. He will take issue if he feels he can play but is forced to sit.

The Nationals also want to be careful about developing a reputation. With last year’s shutdown of Stephen Strasburg, if the team were to shutdown Harper they may start to be seen around the league as overprotective.

The fact that the Nationals want to protect their players is great, but being overprotective could be detrimental.  Older players could be hesitant to sign if they have an injury history and eager young players could worry about being held back for a title run that may never come.

The Nationals may not be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but they trail Cincinnati by eight games with only 20 remaining. There will be no postseason baseball in DC. Playing it safe with Harper is smart, but only if he risks further injury.

Let’s wait to see what the doctors say before we start screaming for Harper to sit. No point in angering one of the team’s young stars or developing a reputation before we even know how serious this injury is.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Washington Redskins: Three Things RG3 Must Do in Week 1

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-three-things-rg3-must-week-1-221900474--nfl.html

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ACC preview: Oregon comes to visit

http://www.csnwashington.com/ncaa/acc-preview-oregon-comes-visit

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CAA preview: more FBS upsets on the horizon?

http://www.csnwashington.com/ncaa/caa-preview-more-fbs-upsets-horizon

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Pat White for the scout team?

The Redskins took the unusual step of keeping four quarterbacks on their 53 man roster and that has lead to plenty of speculation as to why. An interesting theory is that the team kept Pat White to simulate Michael Vick on the scout team. White is a speedy, mobile quarterback that can simulate Vick in practice and help the team prepare for the Eagles in Week 1.

Is that enough to keep him on the final roster? No.

The fact that White can run the scout team offense is a benefit, but Mike Shanahan would not keep him just for a Week 1 matchup with Philadelphia. The Redskins faced Vick and the Eagles twice last season and won both games. Even though this is Chip Kelly's first year as head coach, worry over a Week 1 matchup would not justify keeping an extra quarterback.

If the Redskins knew for sure that Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins were 100% healthy, would White still be on the roster? Definitely not.

Vick and Kelly present a tough challenge for Week 1, but not tough enough to keep a quarterback for the sole purpose of running the scout team.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Washington Redskins Offer Some Surprises With Their Final 53

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-offer-surprises-final-53-173900203--nfl.html

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Too little too late for the Nationals?

Just when the season seemed lost, the Washington Nationals have finally started winning. The Nationals have won eight of their last ten games and face a very favorable schedule to close out the season. But is there enough time for them to climb back into the playoff race?

All season long amidst the Nationals’ struggles, we have heard the same refrain over and over again: all they need is a win streak. The baseball season is full of ups and downs, and every team goes on a run. Once the Nationals hit theirs, they would be fine.

It was that mentality that perhaps got them into this predicament.

The Nationals refused to panic as the team continued to play .500 ball, feeling everything would be ok when they hit the inevitable run that never came. Suddenly, it was August, the Nationals still hovered around .500, and the Braves were firmly entrenched in the top of the division.

Whether the Nationals finally realized the season was slipping away or no longer played under the pressure they felt to start the season, the team is suddenly hot.

Just to keep things in perspective, the playoffs are still a long shot. The Nationals trail Atlanta by a whopping 14 games in the division despite being in second place and they trail Cincinnati for the final wild card spot by 6.5 games.

They are not going to catch the Braves. That leaves the wild card. The Reds are on pace for 90 wins. To match that, the Nationals would have to win 22 of their remaining 28 games. That’s a tall order.

It is good to see the Nationals finally string some wins together in an attempt to make things interesting. If they can continue then perhaps they will play some meaningful games in September as they fight for the playoffs. For a team with such high hopes, it is hard to see this season ending in anything other than disappointment. There is still enough time though to make it a little interesting.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Concussion settlement may relieve harsh penalties in NFL

Today was a big day for the future of the NFL as the league reached a settlement in the concussion lawsuit brought against it by retirees. The settlement will hopefully slow down the NFL's march towards flag football.

As our knowledge of concussions has grown, the NFL has worked very hard to stop head injuries. Cynics will claim the league was more concerned with the pending lawsuit by retirees than it was with they safety of their players, but I think we can all agree trying to reduce injuries is a good thing.

The problem is that the league has gone too far.

For a long time, I dismissed the doom and gloom predictions that likened the NFL to boxing. Many argued the new rules and fears over concussions would end up ruining the NFL's popularity and that it would subsequently fade into obscurity just as boxing did. I refuesed to believe that a multi-billion dollar industry would simply fall apart. From what I have seen this preseason, however, I have become legitimately concerned.

EVERYTHING has become a penalty. Every time you touch a quarterback, every big hit, everything is flagged. I was especially bothered when the leauge fined Jon Bostic for his hit on Mattie Willie. Willie catches the ball, takes two steps up field and is blasted. Bostic was fined as Willie was deemed a 'defenseless' receiver. If that qualifies as a defenseless receiver, then every receiver is defenseless. It's ridiculous.

I applaud the league's efforts in trying to prvent head injuries. Players should not aim for other players' heads, nor should they lower their own head when trying to make a tackle. When players like Bostic get fined, however, that changes the game because it takes awy some of the LEGAL plays and hits that make the game great. When you start talking abot taking away kickoffs, you are changing the game. When you begin contemplating taking away lower body hits to prevent injuries like we saw happen to Dustin Keller, you change the game. There is simply no way to prevent injuries like that in a tackling league. Today's NFL is the most popular sport in America. At this rate, however, tomorrow's NFL is going to look very different.

The problem is that the lawsuit caused a disconnect between the league, the players, and the fans. Usually when there is a massive outcry following a rule change or a blown call, the league hears and responds. Last season, a labor dispute between the league and the referees forced the NFL to use replacement officials to start the season. When the debacle in Green Bay happened, the outcry forced the NFL's hand and by Thursday, the regular referees were back. The threat of this lawsuit, however, has deafened the NFL's ears to complaints from the fans and the players. Even when replays show one hit was actually to the shoulder rather than the head, or a roughing the passer call was actually the quarterback tripping over his own feet, the NFL continues to encourage the referees to continue making those calls. Rather than listening to the fan base that has made the NFL what it is, they ignore bad call after bad call all in the name of safety.

The stupidity of this is that it could all be fixed so easily. Do you think the player's union is not just as concerned over head injuries? Players these days are aware of the health risks associated with football, risks that former players may not have fully understood, and they still choose to play. The NFL should start a dialog with the union. They need to discuss what the league needs to do to keep the players safe, but also what risks the players are accepting by playing in the NFL. Make them sign a waiver saying they accept those risks so long as the NFL fulfills its obligations to keep them safe. Done. Problem solved. Maybe it is a bit more complicated than that, but I know the league and players could come to an agreement that acknowledges the inherent risk of playing football.

The league's tough stance on big hits stems from its fear over this concussion lawsuit. Now that it has been settled, I hope an actual solution can be reached because what I've seen in this preseason is not NFL football.

ACC preview: opening kickoff

http://www.csnwashington.com/ncaa/acc-preview-opening-kickoff

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CAA football preview: kickoff weekend

http://www.csnwashington.com/ncaa/caa-football-preview-kickoff-weekend

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Washington Redskins: Five players who need a big performance Thursday

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-five-players-big-performance-thursday-174900334.html

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Do the Washington Redskins Need Tanard Jackson?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-tanard-jackson-182000679.html

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Bayhawks win second consecutive title

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/bayhawks/bayhawks-win-second-consecutive-title

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Robert Griffin III and Tom Brady: Two Quarterbacks, Only One Controversy

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/robert-griffin-iii-tom-brady-two-quarterbacks-only-192200433.html

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Injuries to Washington Redskins' Rookies Starting to Mount

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/injuries-washington-redskins-rookies-starting-mount-164400621.html

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Fred Davis: Player With the Most to Prove for the Washington Redskins

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/fred-davis-player-most-prove-washington-redskins-225300241.html

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Former Terp Pete White transferring to Temple

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/ncaa-maryland-terps/former-terp-pete-white-transferring-temple

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Five Burning Questions for the Washington Redskins

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/five-burning-questions-washington-redskins-211400385.html

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Should the Washington Redskins Keep Three Quarterbacks?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-keep-three-quarterbacks-174600415.html

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The Washington Redskins: Three Things to Watch for in Training Camp

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-three-things-watch-training-camp-150900482.html

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Time for RG3 and the Redskins to just stop talking

The most talked about knee in America continues to draw comments from every corner of the Redskins organization. This time, former Redskins’ quarterback Joe Theismann decided he needed to voice his opinion on whether he felt Robert Griffin III would be ready for the opener against Philadelphia.

“If you ask Robert, he says he’s right on schedule,” Theismann said. “I fully expect him to be dressed on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles when the Redskins open their season. I would be very, very surprised if he’s not.”

Why, oh why do people continue adding fuel to this fire?

When Griffin went down on that fateful night in January, Daniel Snyder, Mike Shanahan, and Bruce Allen all saw their football futures flash before their eyes. So much had been put on their young quarterback, the thought of having to start over without their budding superstar would have been an unbelievable blow to the team and franchise.

Whether or not Shanahan should have kept Griffin in that game against the Seahawks has been exhaustively debated. At this point, you’ve chosen which side of the fence you stand on. What I think we can all agree on is that everyone needs to be extremely cautious when it comes to the Griffin’s recovery.

Yet, every single person close to Griffin runs to the media as fast as they can and declares how far ahead of schedule he is.

Dr. James Andrews got the parade started when he took off his bauble hat and declared that Griffin seemed “superhuman”. Then Griffin got in on the act himself with his All in for Week 1 Adidas campaign. Shanahan even said that Griffin would “set a record for coming back”.

STOP!

By constantly hyping Griffin’s recovery, the team is setting expectations that Griffin may not be able to meet. The question of whether Griffin will be ready for the season has shifted to whether Griffin will be ready for training camp. This is crazy.

The problem with constantly talking about how great Griffin looks and how fast the knee is healing is that it puts pressure on Griffin over something he has no control over. Granted, there are things he can do to help his recovery, but at the end of the day the body will heal at its own pace.

From the several projected recovery times I’ve seen, his recovery could take anywhere from six months to a year. It is great that Griffin seems to be recovering so well, but there is still a chance he will not be ready for the opener.

Is there any reason to try and rush Griffin back for camp? No. That’s not to say that camp is not important, but it is simply not worth risking any sort of setback only six months removed from the injury.

After all the superhuman talk, how will fans react if he is held out of camp? How will Griffin react? This is a quarterback who tried to hide the fact he was hurt in the playoffs, who has been declaring he is ‘all in’ for Week 1. Now everyone is telling him that he is superhuman and ahead of schedule. If Dr. Andrews thinks Griffin is not ready to play for camp or if, Heaven forbid, he is not ready for the start of the season, then what?

The Redskins have painted themselves into a corner.

At the beginning of the offseason they needed to decide as an organization to play this close to the vest. Sure, the media would get their glimpses at OTAs and ask their questions, but ultimately, if the team kept expectations low, so much the better.

If Griffin is not ready to play by training camp or by the season opener, the team risks angering their young star who suddenly is not living up to the pressure and expectations put on him by their own glowing praise.

Please, just stop talking.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Michael Holmes expelled from Virginia Tech

http://www.csnwashington.com/ncaa/michael-holmes-expelled-virginia-tech

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Cards stacked against teams like Wizards in NBA

When the Wizards were selected third in the NBA Draft Lottery, excitement grew at the prospect of adding another key piece to the team. After the team’s dramatic turnaround with the return of John Wall from injury last season, the Wizards already look poised to challenge for a playoff spot. Adding the number three overall pick will be a major asset to this team.

But will it be enough in today’s NBA?

Miami’s second straight NBA championship underscores the uphill battle the Wizards face. Even the most casual of basketball fans know the story of ‘The Big 3’ coming together in Miami. Since that time, the Heat have gone to the finals three straight years and have won it the last two. Now, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul are reportedly talking about playing together next season.

Do you think the Wizards are on their list of teams they would play for?

In this era of the NBA, free agency is being driven by superstars planning coming together and picking where they want to go. The problem is, none of those superstars are picking places like Toronto, Milwaukee, Washington, etc.

Sure, there are smaller market teams that have found some success, such as Oklahoma City, but they hit the draft jackpot with Kevin Durant. Not every team can rely on finding a Lebron or a Durant in the draft.

There are only two formulas for success in the NBA. Either a team drafts a superstar who can recruit others or traditional basketball powers (Celtics, Lakers) or popular cities attract superstars in free agency. The last team to win the championship that did not fit this mold was the 2004 Detroit Pistons.

What really makes this unfair is that for those teams without a superstar, making the playoffs can actually hurt your chances of eventually building a championship team.

Making the playoffs in the NBA is different than in the other sports where every year each team has a chance to win regardless of the seeding. In the history of the NBA, the lowest ever seed to win the championship was the 6^th seeded Houston Rockets in 1995. Upsets are always possible from series to series, but for the most part only a handful of teams have a real shot at winning the championship.

Milwaukee made the playoffs this year, but they had no shot of winning and were swept in the first round by Miami. How are they supposed to get better? Do you think they can get Chris Paul? Of course not. The Bucks, however, will not get a lottery pick because they made the playoffs. Unless they find a real steal in the draft, the Bucks will not be able to lure superstar players to Milwaukee in free agency.

What about Memphis or Indiana who made it to the conference finals? Don’t  these smaller market teams prove every team has a chance? Not really. Both these teams will be competing with the Lakers, Heat, Spurs, and Celtics for the same free agents. I seriously doubt we will see Howard in Memphis or Paul in Indiana any time soon.

Getting back to the Wizards, they have the chance to add another weapon, but with the relative weakness of the draft, they are unlikely to add a Durant-level star. Barring another injury-plagued season, the Wizards will likely make the playoffs in 2014.

It will be exciting to see playoff basketball in DC again, but Otto Porter Jr. or Anthony Bennett or whomever they take in the draft will not make them a championship team. The only real way to continue building is through free agency.

Are John Wall and Bradley Beal enough of a draw to bring in big time free agents? Probably not.

As unbelievable and unfair as it may be, the Wizards are rapidly approaching the ceiling of the Wall era. In five years, Wall will be 28 and at best the Wizards will be a middle of the pack playoff team, capable of playing their way to the conference championship, but no further. Then, the team will have to start over.

Unless they can find that big time star in the draft, the cards will always be stacked against teams like the Wizards. That is, until the NBA institutes a hard salary cap.

For the latest sports news, check out CSNWashington.com or follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Chris Wright hosts 1st MS Basketball Jamboree

http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball-washington-wizards/talk/chris-wright-hosts-1st-ms-basketball-jamboree

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Nats' bats going silent

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before. The Nationals get great pitching from their starter, hold the opposing team to two or three runs, and still lose.

Sound familiar?

The Nationals have been unable to replicate their offensive success from last season, despite the addition of Denard Span and continued development of Bryce Harper. Last season, the Nationals had the ninth best batting average in the MLB. This year, they are currently ranked 28^th. They are also 28^th in runs scored, 29^th in hits, and 23^rd in home runs.

The fact that the Nationals have a .500 record is a testament to how good the pitching (except from poor Dan Haren) has been. With that sort of offensive futility, their record could easily be worse.

Obviously the team's injuries have taken their toll on the offense. Harper is still recovering from running into the wall in Los Angeles and Werth has returned to the lineup only recently.

Danny Espinosa was pretty much a guaranteed out every time he stepped up to the plate. He has been dealing with a torn rotator cuff and fractured wrist, though he stated neither injury was contributing to his struggles at the plate. With a .158 batting average, however, I think you can safely assume it was affecting him more than he was letting on.

The Nationals also continue to struggle with leadoff hitting. Span teased fans with what he could contribute at the start the season, but he has since struggled to get on base. He currently has an OBP of only .307. Not only is that low among other leadoff hitters, its low among the Nationals. He’s behind Harper, Werth, Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche, and Ian Desmond. It is hard to score runs if your leadoff hitter cannot even get on base.

Pinch-hitting is an often-overlooked aspect of the game unless you are not getting any production. Clearly that is the case for the Nationals. Steve Lombardozzi leads the reserve corps with a .227 batting average. Chad Tracy was a major weapon last season and he is hitting only .149 with 5 RBIs. Tyler Moore struggled so much that he was optioned to AAA Syracuse. There just has not been enough production to help out the starting nine.

There is still hope for the Nationals. Harper is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday or Thursday and will likely return one or two weeks after that. Desmond has returned to all-star form as well and has been unstoppable of late and Rendon has played very well in place of Espinosa. Harper’s return will make this lineup much deeper than it has been all season.

As of now, the Nationals are one game over .500 despite being one of the worst offensive teams in the league. They currently sit five games behind the Braves, by no means an insurmountable hole. Even if they get average offensive production for the rest of the season, they should shoot up the standings.

There is still time for the Nationals to wake up some offense and plenty of reasons to expect them to do so.

For the latests sports news, check out CSNWashington.com or follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

NFC East preview

The Redskins may be the defending NFC East champions, but the uncertainty of Robert Griffin III’s health has left experts scratching their heads as to who may emerge as champions for the 2013-14 season. No one seems to know just quite what to expect from the division this season. Here’s a quick synopsis of the other NFC East teams to try and give you a better idea of what the division has in store for 2013.

 

The Dallas Cowboys

 

The Cowboys every year seem to assemble plenty of talent but are never able to live up to their potential. The main problem has been the constant meddling of owner Jerry Jones. As owner of the team, he is well within his rights to run things however he sees fit. What he fails to realize, however, is that the Cowboys would be better off if he left the decision making to people who actually know about football (sound familiar Redskins’ fans?).

 

The drama started early this year when it was found that offensive coordinator Bill Callahan would take over the offensive play calling duties for head coach Jason Garrett. As Jones was the first to announce it to the media, I have to believe he had something to do with it. I'm also pretty confident this was not Garrett's idea.

 

So Garrett, who was originally brought in because of his offensive acumen, will not be calling the offensive plays? Doesn’t sound like Jones trusts him anymore. Publicly undermining the head coach does not really sit well with a locker room.

 

The Cowboys also re-signed the widely mocked Tony Romo for $108 million. While he has not been able to win when it matters most, I do understand the signing. Good quarterbacks are hard to find. Without Romo, the Cowboys would have found themselves overpaying for Matt Flynn or putting their hopes in a rookie. Judging by this year's draft class, Romo was definitely the best option.

 

Coming out and saying that he needs to work harder, however, is not exactly a confidence booster.

 

Yes, Jones threw both his head coach and quarterback under the bus this off-season. If the Cowboys struggle at any point this season, then these stories will pop back up. Did Romo really deserve that huge contract extension? Does Jones really believe in his head coach?

 

The moment this team starts to struggle, things will fall apart. I think they win eight games based on talent alone, but they have too many issues to overcome to actually challenge for the division.

 

Philadelphia Eagles

 

The Eagles proclaimed themselves the‘dream team’ two years ago, but failed to make the playoffs either season and really hit rock bottom last year with only four wins. With a talented, but under-achieving roster and a new head coach straight out of the college ranks, it is hard to really know what to expect from the Eagles. They could really turn things around this season or they could be a complete disaster.

 

Chip Kelly was the head coach at Oregon from 2009 to 2012 and compiled an impressive record of 46-7. Success in college has not always translated to success in the NFL, but given the recent success of college coaches in the pros (Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll) the Eagles decided to roll the dice.

 

Big mistake; Kelly will be remembered as Philadelphia’s Steve Spurrier.

 

When Spurrier came into the NFL, he went with what he knew without any real plan of how to adapt his coaching style to the NFL. This was evident when he brought in both Danny Wuerffel and Shane Matthews. Both were quarterbacks for Spurrier in Florida and both were terrible in the NFL. They were the embodiment of everything that was wrong with Spurrier as an NFL coach; ultimately he just could not separate himself from the college mentality.

 

Kelly has never coached in the NFL at any level. His offensive system relied heavily on his team’s advantage in speed. The Eagles have fast players, but talent at the NFL level is much more even. Kelly will not enjoy such a large advantage.

 

What really screams ‘Spurrier’ to me though is that the Eagles traded up to draft quarterback Matt Barkley. Barkley is not a particularly mobile quarterback which means unless Kelly dramatically changes his offense, he will not be a great fit.

 

So why draft him?

 

Barkley was the starting quarterback at USC for four years, so he is someone Kelly is very familiar with. There is nothing wrong with bringing in players you know and Kelly's past with Barkley gives him insight as to what type of NFL player he could be. Only going with what you know, however, and not adapting to a very different NFL style of football is not a recipe for success.

 

Kelly traded up for a quarterback he was familiar with who probably will not fit the type of offense he wants to run. That’s not a good start.

 

The Eagles have undoubtedly underachieved the past few years with a roster filled with talented, speedy players. Desean Jacskon, Jeremy Maclin, and LeSean Mccoy could all potentially thrive under Kelly so it is hard to gauge what they will do this year. This team is too good to win only four games and with a new coach, I expect they will play much better though it is only a mirage. Kelly will not last long, but for at least one year things will look much better for Philly. They will win seven games.

 

The New York Giants

 

The 2011 Super Bowl Champions failed to make the playoffs in 2012, going only 9-7. With the dysfunction of Dallas and Philadelphia, the Giants are the Redskins’ biggest challenge to repeating as division champs. The good news is that the despite the Giants’ playoff success, they seem to struggle in the regular season.

 

Since 2007, they have won 10, 12, 8, 10, 9, and 9 games in the regular season missing the playoffs three times and winning the Super Bowl twice. While the Giants are probably the best team in the division, they will remain very catchable through out the season.

 

The Giants have had the quietest off-season of any of the NFC East teams and look to be about as good as they were last season. There was some talk that Victor Cruz would not sign his RFA tender which would have been a major loss, but he ended up signing it Friday.

 

How well they do will depend on how they respond to not making the playoffs last season. Either they come back with a strong effort or they blow off the regular season once again and we will be treated to the yearly speculation over Tom Caughlin’s job security. Either way the Giants will win ten games and either just miss the playoffs or barely sneak in.

 

There is a lot of dysfunction in the NFC East, but there is also a lot of talent. Still, with no one poised to run away with it, the division looks to be up for grabs. With a healthy Griffin, the Redskins can definitely repeat as champions.

Should RG3 play in training camp or the preseason?

All the football talk in DC seems to be focused on Robert Griffin III, not surprisingly. Fans got their first look at Griffin on the field since last season during the Redskins’ OTAs.

He looked great.

He sprinted, threw the football, ran drills, and it did not appear that the knee was bothering him at all. Though he was working with the other injured players and was not taking snaps with the first team offense, one could not help but be impressed with how good he looks only five months removed from suffering the injury.

It’s that kind of optimism that scares me.

When asked if he would be practicing with the team at the start of training camp, Griffin told reporters “Without a doubt”. You can already see the coming storm.

While Griffin may be optimistic, it is up to Mike Shanahan and Dr. James Andrews to figure out if training camp is a good idea regardless of what Griffin may think or say.

Training camp is very important, especially for a player in only his second year in the league. He will practice in a non-contact jersey as all quarterbacks do and no one on defense will even think about tackling him. If he is healthy, he would definitely benefit from practicing. Most likely, he will be fine, but he also would not be the first quarterback to suffer an injury in camp.

The preseason is another story. While no one will be allowed near him in camp, everyone will be gunning for him in the preseason. Few players ever approach a situation with the intention of injuring a player, but that does not mean defenses won’t be trying to hit Griffin as hard as they can. There will be opposing players competing for jobs on the field. What better way to make an impression than smashing one of the most electrifying quarterbacks into the ground?

I’m not advocating locking him in armored truck until opening day, but the Redskins must be careful with Griffin even if feels healthy in time for camp. If Dr. Andrews thinks he needs more time, sit him.

If he is cleared to play, I think you still have to sit him for the preseason. The Redskins went to great lengths to re-sign 21 of their 22 starters from last season. Griffin does not need to get used to a new offense, new coaching staff, new center, new receivers, etc. At most, he should play only a handful of series and then should be taken off the field. I don’t know that the Redskins would gain anything by putting him at risk in a meaningless game situation.

The point is, let’s tamper down the optimism. Griffin looks great, but despite what he says the Redskins still need to determine for themselves just how much to push him in camp and in the preseason. It makes sense to play him with the first team offense at camp, but not so much during the preseason. Even if he is healthy and cleared to play, that does not mean he needs to go 100% until the start of the season. There is still need for caution.

Griffin looks to be on track to start the season opener vs. Philadelphia, but only if both he and the team continue to handle his recovery responsibly.

Nationals’ injuries hampering their championship hopes

It has been a rough year for the Nationals. The days when they were declaring “world series or bust” now seem like a lifetime ago. The Nationals currently ‘boast’ a record of 29-29, 7.5 games behind Atlanta for the division lead.

Not the start most people had in mind.

Bad fielding and a weak bullpen have unquestionably played a role in the team’s struggles, but the biggest reason is the laundry list of injuries they have suffered.

Danny Espinosa was added to the DL on Tuesday, joining Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos, Ross Detwiler, and Ryan Mattheus. Stephen Strasburg was placed on the DL today after the team initially hoped he would not have to miss a start.

With all these injuries, the Nationals have held players out a day or two in the hopes that they would not have to be put on the DL. That, more than anything else, is what makes these injuries so troubling. Every team gets hit with injuries; some teams get hit harder than others. The Nationals have had their share of injuries, but have they made things worse on themselves by not shutting down players immediately?

Harper was placed on the DL due to knee bursitis. The Washington Post reports he first injured it in Atlanta about a month ago. Of course, running full speed into the wall in Los Angeles likely made things worse. Harper was not placed on the DL after that game, however. In fact, he appeared in nine more games before he was finally shutdown.

Detwiler was not expected to go on the DL after being pulled May 15 against the Dodgers. The team decided to hold him out of his next start, but he continued throwing and ended up aggravating the injury.

Do you see a pattern developing here?

Espinosa came into the season declaring he had a torn rotator cuff, but that he would be able to play through it. Guess what happened. He did not allow himself to heal by continuing to play and has looked awful all season long.

Why are players being allowed to talk their way out of the DL only to end up on it later?

When players do not allow injuries to heal, they can often get worse or at least fail to get better. That is especially true in a sport like baseball with so many games almost every day. It is up to the manager and training staff to determine when a player needs to sit.

The Nationals had no problem with this last year when they sat a seemingly healthy Strasburg once he reached his innings limit. Yet, this season they have not exercised the same amount of discretion.

Harper pinch-hit two days after running into the wall in Los Angeles. Where was the caution? Why not sit him a few more days? He may have said he was fine, but that’s what players do. Heck, Harper tried to convince Johnson he could stay in that game in Los Angeles. Why not give arguably your best player a couple extra days off to make sure he is ok or immediately place him on the DL?

The Nationals mercifully put Espinosa out of his misery Tuesday by placing him on the DL. His season has been a disaster from the word go. He announced before the season that he had a torn rotator cuff, but that he would play through it. He was terrible. Then it came out on May 24 that he was also dealing with a fractured right wrist.

Espinosa has insisted his injuries were not affecting his play. I sure hope they were because it would explain why he has been one of the worst hitters in the league. That’s no exaggeration; he has literally been one of the worst hitters in MLB this season with a .158 average and a .193 OBP.

Why the Nationals allowed this train-wreck to continue for as long as they did is baffling. The highest Espinosa’s average has been this season is .200. He reached it once on April 10 and again on May 8. His average has been below .200 for the rest of the season.

Even if you argue that Espinosa is one of the best defensive players on the team, which both Johnson and Rizzo believe, you cannot afford to carry this hole in your lineup for over two months. How could they not see that Espinosa trying to play through his injuries just wasn’t working? How could the Nationals have made this same mistake multiple times this season?

The only reason I can think of is desperation. This team has pushed all the chips into the middle and gone all-in. They declared openly this spring that they were the team to beat. With the team already struggling they suddenly faced decisions on whether to put Harper, Epsinosa, Ramos, Detwiler, and Strasburg on the DL. Hoping everyone just ‘plays through it’ and then deciding whether to put them on the DL is a terrible strategy. Had the Nationals been cautious with their star players from the start, had they listened to the doctors and trainers instead of the players and the standings, then I think we would be a lot closer to seeing the full lineup than we are right now.

Hopefully the Nationals did not gamble their season along with the health of their players.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Chesapeake falls 12-11 in overtime to Hamilton

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/bayhawks/chesapeake-falls-12-11-overtime-hamilton

For the latest DC sports news, check out csnwashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

WIzards poised to add key piece after climbing draft board

The Wizards’ draft outlook changed drastically when the team shot all the way from eighth to third in the draft.

The Wizards have six players with less than four years of NBA experience. Because of this, it was widely expected that the Wizards would trade their first round pick if they had stayed in the eighth spot. Having moved up to the third, however, their situation has changed.

Even in a subpar draft, the Wizards should be able to find some prime talent with the third overall pick.

John Wall and Bradley Beal are expected to be the team’s long-term starters at point guard and shooting guard. Every other position is a position of need. Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza are on the last years of their contracts and Nene’s health is always a question. Every other player still on the roster is a depth player.

While coach Randy Wittman has come out and said he always drafts for talent rather than for need, I think we can safely assume the Wizards will draft either a center, power forward, or small forward, who will fit easily into the roster.

The two names most experts keep listing are PF Anthony Bennett out of UNLV and SF Otto Porter Jr. out of Georgetown.

Conventional wisdom says that Nerlens Noel is likely to go first or second, meaning at least one of these players will fall to the Wizards and I would be shocked if they decided to look elsewhere.

What does each one bring to the table? Bennett is a dangerous scorer, especially from the paint. He has tremendous potential and the skill-set to play either PF or SF in the NBA. The Wizards were one of the league’s best defensive teams and one of the worst offensively. If you were to sit down and list everything the Wizards needed, Bennett would cross just about every box on that list. He has not been able to work out for teams because he just underwent shoulder surgery, but most analysts do not see this as any a cause for concern.

Porter is a hometown hero who the Wizards probably know very well as he played college basketball for Georgetown. He has a great mid-range game with a high basketball IQ. He is a great facilitator that would work well with Wall and Beal in the backcourt. He lacks power and his prospect as a top 3-5 pick are more a reflection of the draft than of his NBA potential. Still, Washington has a roster in which Porter could potentially thrive.

If given a choice between the two, I think the Wizards would take Bennett. Shoulder surgery notwithstanding, Bennett is seen as having the higher ceiling. The flexibility of his game would serve the Wizards well as they have so many potential holes on their roster.

Still, the Wizards will be satisfied should Porter fall to them as well. Either way, the Wizards stand to gain a major piece to their postseason puzzle on June 27.

Lewis Neal undergoes surgery

http://www.csnwashington.com/blog/dc-united-talk/lewis-neal-undergoes-surgery

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Caps have work to do this offseason

Though the sting of the Capitals’ latest playoff collapse may still be fresh, the team must look beyond this season and determine what they need to do to finally bring the Stanley Cup to Washington.

Next season’s salary cap will actually be lower due to the new CBA. As of now, the Caps are about $5.6 million under the $64.3 million cap with eight free agents, five unrestricted, on the roster.

The Caps already had holes in their roster; $5.6 million is not a lot of money to re-sign their key FAs and fill those holes. They will, however, be able to add a little more room with an amnesty buyout.

As part of the new CBA, the Caps are allowed two amnesty buyouts, meaning they can buy out a player’s contract and not have it count towards the salary cap. I expect the Caps will buyout Jeff Schultz. According to Capgeek.com, Schultz will have a cap hit of $2.75 million for next season. That is far too high for a player who does not receive regular playing time, especially when there are several other defensemen to replace him.

The biggest question facing the Caps is whether or not to re-sign Mike Ribeiro. Every other move the Caps make this offseason will be tied to their decision on Ribeiro. The Caps have searched for a second line center for many years, and Ribeiro fit that role nicely with 13 goals and 36 assists in 48 games.

The Caps must also keep in mind prospect center Evgeny Kuznetsov in Russia. The 21 year-old phenom is widely considered one of the best players in the world not currently in the NHL. His contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL will expire in 2014 and he has said many times he will play for Washington after that.

With Kuznetsov slated to be the team’s long-term solution on the second line, it would be ideal for the Caps to re-sign Ribeiro for only one or two years, but he has been firm in his stance that he wants a contract of four or five years so as not to move his family again. At 33 years old, he can expect a pay cut from the $5 million he made last season and has said he would be willing to accept less money to stay in DC, but he will still be expensive to sign. Four years and around $3 million is a fairly large gamble for a team that presumably will only need him for one or two years.

Having said that, I would love to see Ribeiro back. After how long it took the Caps to find a second line center, I am reluctant to let him walk away. I am also skeptical of Kuznetsov who has been teasing us for years. If the Caps do buyout Schultz, then they can easily afford to re-sign Ribeiro, but it will depend on the specifics of the contract. He is likely to ask for a no-trade clause which may be a deal breaker for the Caps. I do not anticipate the two sides being able to reach a mutually beneficial agreement and the Caps will once again be in need of a second line center.

Karl Alzner and Marcus Johansson are both restricted free agents. I would expect both to return. Alzner may be a bit more expensive than the Caps would like, but Johansson can be signed relatively cheaply. Both are young and part of the Caps’ long-term plan, especially Alzner as he is one of the team’s best defensemen.

Tomas Kundratek is also a restricted free agent. He provides the team with more defensive depth and I expect him to return as well so long as there is room for him.

Of the team’s four remaining unrestricted free agents, two have already made it clear they will not return. Tom Poti told reporters he would be moving on and Wojtek Wolski signed with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Kontinental Hockey League. Joey Crabb was sent down to the AHL Hershey midway through last season in order to make room for Mike Green's return from injury. If he were willing to accept a two-way contract, the Caps may consider bringing him back, but I doubt he would. There just is not enough room for him.

The Caps face a much tougher decision with Matt Hendricks. Hendricks is a gritty forward and locker room leader. He made only $800,000 last season, but based on his impact could expect a slight raise as other teams will be willing to pay him more to try and coax him out of Washington.

Should the Caps re-sign Ribeiro, the Caps may not have enough cap room to commit $1 million to a 31 year-old Hendricks. These are the types of players that George McPhee seems to value, however, and I assume he will be re-signed. The only thing that gives me pause is the Caps’ re-signing of Aaron Volpatti. He is younger than Hendricks and is a similar type of player. His extension was a surprise to me and could signal that the team is prepared to move on without Hendricks.

The Rangers revealed two major weaknesses in he Caps. First, they have no scoring depth, and second, they have no mid-level defensive depth.

When Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom produce, the Caps win. When Ovechkin surged in the second half of the season, he brought the team with him all the way to a Southeast Division championship. The top line stopped producing in the playoffs and the Caps were sent packing. To say they simply ran into a hot goalie is an over-simplification of what happened. The Caps have more offensive depth than the Bruins, yet the Bruins have scored ten goals in the first three games of their series with the Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist has looked fantastic and the Bruins are still managing to score.

The problem is that the Caps do not have enough scoring weapons on the top two lines and depend far too much on Ovechkin and Backstrom. The Caps do not have a top line left wing or a secondary scoring threat. They used to depend on Alex Semin on the second line and his departure has left a clear hole in the lineup. George McPhee’s acquisition of Martin Erat was an attempt to fix the problem. The Caps need to decide if Erat can become a legitimate second line weapon and, with Erat’s $4.5 million cap hit, McPhee better hope he can.

Defensively, Alzner, Green, and John Carlson have shown they are a solid top three. Steve Oleksy looks like he can contribute as a four or five, but after him there are not a lot of guys you can depend on as a full-time blue liner. The Caps are defensively top heavy.

John Erskine, Jack Hillen, Tomas Kundratek, and Schultz can all contribute as a six or seven; meaning they provide flexibility in case of injury, but are not dependable as full-time defensemen. Having four of them is too many, especially when there are few players to plug into the four or five spot.

The Caps will hope that Dmitry Orlov will continue to develop and fit into one of those middle spots, but they have too many players who contribute the same thing. Erskine and Hillen are likely not going anywhere. The team likes Kundratek and I expect they will re-sign him. Schutlz, as I explained earlier, is out. Even with Orlov, this team needs mid-level depth.

This is the team’s first offseason with Adam Oates as the head coach so McPhee should make a few moves to bring in players better suited for Oates’ system. Still, I do not see any major free agent signings. I expect the Caps will sign a mid-level defenseman and a veteran center to plug into the second or third line. The Caps trust Brooks Laich will be healthy for next season and they can plug him into the second line if need be, but they will need to bring in another if they do in fact let Ribeiro walk.

If both Schultz and Ribeiro are gone, however, the Caps may have enough room to address the left hole in the top line. Johnasson is good but, let’s be honest, he’s not a top line talent.

The Caps have their work cut out for them this offseason.

For the latest DC sports news, check out csnwashington.com or follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Does Bryce Harper need to change the way he plays?

Last Monday at Dodger Stadium, Bryce Harper showed just how hard he plays the game when he collided full-speed into the outfield wall while chasing a fly ball. Luckily he did not suffer a concussion, but the violent hit left him hurting in many other areas.

"Both legs, (left) shoulder, ribs, hand, wrist, chin of course," Harper told the media. He has been day-to-day since then, missing a few games over the course of the week.

While it appears Harper will be none the worse for wear, the incident has sparked an interesting debate over whether Harper will have to change the way he plays or risk serious injuries that could potentially shorten his career.

Since the injury, people have described Harper as ‘negligent’, a ‘daredevil’, ‘irresponsible’, etc. The vast majority of this criticism is overblown. I took much greater issue when Harper hit the wall with a bat and it bounced back and hit him in the head. In that case, he let his emotions get the best of him and it led to an easily avoidable injury. In LA, Harper was just trying to make a play.

With a 162 game season and 27 outs per game, is it smart for Harper to play so hard for each and every out? Perhaps not, but determining when making a play is not worth it is a very grey area as a manager cannot tell his players in the outfield not to play hard to make every catch. Let’s not forget what it was like to watch Barry Bonds in the outfield. When he was not sleeping in the grass or picking flowers, he was trotting after balls like he was just playing catch in his backyard. Nobody wants to see that.

I feel with all this ‘daredevil’rhetoric, people are missing the problem with what happened in LA; Harper misplayed the ball.

When playing the outfield, players need to realize when they can and cannot make a catch so they can position themselves to quickly grab the ball when it hits the ground or the wall. Harper was close to the ball, but as it began to fall he needed to realize he was too close to the wall and would not make the catch. What he should have done was stop and position himself to grab the ball off the wall.

Harper is not being irresponsible in his play. It would be more irrseponsible for him to not try and put himself before the team. What he is guilty of is not knowing where he was on the field. Yes, there is a warning track, but remember that the setup of every MLB field is different. Even with the warning track, it is easy to understand how a 20 year-old can get lost in an unfamiliar park. Field awareness is something Harper will continue to learn.

Harper plays the game hard and he should be commended for that, not criticized. The incident in LA is the result of him playing at 100% and losing track of where he was on the field. Harper is not a daredevil or irresponsible, he’s a young competitor who is still learning to play the outfield. And if you remain unconvinced and still think Harper needs to do more to protect himself, that’s an easy fix. All Davey Johnson needs to do is sit him down and point out the time he misses when he does get injured. If playing means so much to you, don’t hit yourself in the head with a bat or you’ll miss time. Don’t hit the wall or you’ll miss time. With how much Harper loves to play each and every night, he’ll get the message.

For the latest DC sports news, check out csnwashington.com or follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy