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WTOPspin Live
The official blog of WTOP Sports.
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Extra hour, until 12:20. MT @WTOP: Metro to stay open late for #Redskins game Thursday bit.ly/1qRRkHBby Noah Frank via twitter 8/5/2014 5:27:55 PM -
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No need to roam for this gnome
Jayson Werth Garden Gnome (Instagram/@Nationals)The Nationals will be giving away Jayson Werth Garden Gnomes
to the first 25,000 fans at Tuesday night’s game. If you’re still
looking for a ticket, you’d better hurry.Despite being a midweek game against the lowly New York
Mets, a huge crowd is expected. Center field gates open at 4:30 for the 7:05
p.m. game, so you’ll want to arrive early. -
Catch up on Monday's action before practice begins Tuesday:
George Wallace recaps the day with quotes from both sides: www.wtop.com
And Noah Frank highlights the difference in approach between the two teams, and wonders what the Redskins learned from Day 1 with the Pats: www.wtop.com -
That's it for us from Redskins Training Camp today. Stay tuned for George Wallace's blog coming up a little later, and check out photos from today's action here:
Redskins Training Camp
The Washington Redskins Training Camp is underway in Richmond, Virginia. -
Lions QB's to wear green jerseys at practice made out of plastic bottles by REPREVE, highlight recycling commitment http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BuNikIcIcAAAu-D.jpg
by darren rovell via twitter 8/4/2014 7:43:26 PM -
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What did Jay Gruden think of this mornings practice? He'll tell us in a few minutes.by George Wallace via twitter 8/4/2014 7:35:55 PM
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"It's almost like a game...it's game speed," Revis after #Patriots -#Redskins scrimmage http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BuNcl1wIYAId05S.jpg
by Noah Frank via twitter 8/4/2014 5:09:36 PM -
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It's Roark, not Roark RT @WTOP : Tanner Roark: The Nats' anti-superstar
bit.ly/1s57Wjx http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BuNHvAqIgAAYTvy.jpgby Noah Frank via twitter 8/4/2014 4:20:37 PM -
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*Non-#Redskins tweet alert*
It's Roark, not Roark. A look at the quiet rise of the #Nats anti-superstar: bit.ly/WWb6sXby Noah Frank via twitter 8/4/2014 3:42:14 PM -
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Practice done. Time for @RGIII autographs http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BuNEKUMIcAEtrsD.jpg
by Noah Frank via twitter 8/4/2014 3:36:09 PM -
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So, I'm obviously a big sports fan...but it's weird to hear big cheers for completions. As AI said, we're talking about practiceby Noah Frank via twitter 8/4/2014 1:42:59 PM
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Tom Brady play fake #Patriots #Redskins vine.co/v/M9rvKiVBhhu
by Noah Frank via twitter 8/4/2014 1:11:50 PM -
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The biggest early question of the day - hoodie or no hoodie - has been answered (no hoodie) #Belichick http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BuMdUZjIQAAUGgy.jpg
by Noah Frank via twitter 8/4/2014 12:34:28 PM -
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#Patriots coach Bill Belichick at the podium before practice. "You guys have a nice setup here." #Redskins http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BuMbdEQCAAAOM90.jpg
by George Wallace via twitter 8/4/2014 12:30:55 PM -
Texas A&M unveils gaudy new football complex
WASHINGTON -- Texas A&M University is making its pitch to the top recruits in Texas and around the country by showing off its new facilities on Twitter.
Each player’s locker includes an LED screen showing the student-athlete’s name, position, hometown and yes, even Twitter handle.
Here's a look at an individual locker. Room for shoes in the bottom drawer, helmet sits on top: http://t.co/YxpS3zp4tY
Jul. 31, 2014- Reply
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But wait, there’s more. Here are a couple more shots of the facilities, which are part of a $20.8 million renovation project. That, of course, comes in addition to the $450 million worth of upgrades to Kyle Field, the home of A&M Football.
Jul. 31, 2014- Reply
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Jul. 31, 2014- Reply
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As to whether any of this money could be spent simply paying student-athletes, well…
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Full list of trades on busy deadline day
WASHINGTON -- On the busiest trade deadline day in recent memory, it was hard to keep every deal straight. In case you missed anything, here’s a comprehensive list of every trade reported on Thursday. Local deals are listed first, with the others following in the order in which they were reported.
Nationals acquire INF Asdrubal Cabrera and cash from Indians for infielder Zach Walters
Orioles acquire P Andrew Miller from Red Sox for P Eduardo Rodriguez (minors)
Athletics acquire P Jon Lester, OF Jonny Gomes and cash from Red Sox for OF Yoenis Cespedes and a 2015 competitive balance pick
Athletics acquire OF Sam Fuld from Minnesota Twins for P Tommy Milone (minors)
Cardinals acquire P John Lackey and P Corey Littrell (minors) from Red Sox for 1B/OF Allen Craig and P Joe Kelly
Brewers acquire OF Gerardo Parra from Diamondbacks for OF Mitch Haniger (minors) and P Anthony Banda (minors)
Mariners acquire OF Chris Denorfia from Padres for OF Abraham Almonte and P Stephen Kohlscheen (minors)
Yankees acquire INF Stephen Drew from Red Sox for INF Kelly Johnson and cash
Yankees acquire INF/OF Martin Prado from Diamondbacks for C Peter O’Brien (minors) and cash/PTBNL
Tigers acquire P David Price from Rays; Mariners acquire OF Austin Jackson from Tigers; Rays acquire INF Nick Franklin from Mariners, P Drew Smyly and INF Willy Adames (minors) from Tigers
Braves acquire P James Russell, INF/OF Emilio Bonifacio and cash from Cubs for C Victor Caratini (minors)
Marlins acquire P Jarred Cosart, SS Enrique Hernandez (minors) and OF Austin Wates (minors) from Astros for INF/OF Jake Marisnick, INF Colin Moran (minors) P Francis Martes (minors) and a 2015 competitive balance pick
List updated as of 6 p.m. ET -
Orioles acquire left-handed reliever Andrew Miller
WASHINGTON -- The Baltimore Orioles made a late splash in the trade market, acquiring prized left-handed reliever Andrew Miller from the division-rival Boston Red Sox, the club has confirmed.
Miller has been one of the best relievers in baseball this year, posting a 2.34 ERA and striking out 69 batters while allowing just 38 baserunners 42.1 innings of work.
In exchange, Baltimore sent minor league lefty Eduardo Rodriguez to Boston. The 21-year-old was 3-7 with a 4.79 ERA in 16 starts at Double-A Bowie this season. -
The Orioles have acquired LHP Andrew Miller from Boston in exchange for minor league LHP Eduardo Rodriguez.by Baltimore Orioles via twitter 7/31/2014 7:21:58 PM -
Nats acquire shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera
WASHINGTON -- In the final hour before the non-waiver trade deadline Thursday, the Washington Nationals acquired shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for infielder Zach Walters. The trade was first reported by Indians beat writer Jordan Bastian, while Paul Hoynes had the Nats’ return in the trade.
The 28-year-old Cabrera, who also played second base earlier in his career, owns a career .270/.331/.410 slash line, but has seen that drop to .246/.305/.386 this season.
Walters, 24, has played in just 40 Major League games, but hit 29 home runs in just 134 Triple-A games last season.
UPDATED: The Nationals also received cash considerations as part of the deal. The Indians will pay the remainder of Cabrera's $10 million contract. -
No skit? Have a haircut, kid
That's...a haircut. (WTOP/George Wallace)Oh. Oh no.How did this happen to poor rookie kicker Zach Hocker at Redskins Training Camp? WTOP's George Wallace has the full story. -
Billy Beane, Athletics re-raise all in
i.kinja-img.com
WASHINGTON -- The Oakland Athletics had already made the biggest trade of the baseball season, acquiring starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Chicago Cubs shortly before the All-Star break. On Thursday, just hours before the non-waiver trade deadline, they went all-in.
The Athletics traded star outfielder and back-to-back Home Run Derby champ Yoenis Cespedes to Boston along with a competitive draft pick in exchange for star pitcher Jon Lester, outfielder Jonny Gomes and cash.
The trade gives the Athletics arguably the best playoff rotation in baseball, featuring Lester, Samardzija, Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir. Lester owns the lowest World Series ERA MLB history (min. 20 IP) at 0.43. Samardzija has posted a combined ERA under 3.00 in 17 starts between the Cubs and A’s. Kazmir owns the third-best ERA in the American League at 2.37, with a 1.02 WHIP. Gray’s 2.65 ERA ranks seventh in the AL, and is 5-0 with a 1.03 mark in his last five outings.
Gomes provides the A’s an adequate replacement for Cespedes against left-handed pitching, against whom he owns a .279/.379/.495 split against them, actually slightly better than Cespedes’ .275/.348/.496. Oakland will likely platoon Gomes, possibly with their other Thursday acquisition, outfielder Sam Fuld, who was acquired from Minnesota for the suddenly expendable starter Tommy Milone.
Lester is a free agent at the end of the season, while Cespedes is under contract through the 2015 season for the Red Sox. We’ll have more on trade deadline deals as they come together.by WTOP Sports via I.kinja-img 7/31/2014 3:58:55 PM -
Who is behind redskinsfacts.com?
WASHINGTON -- A new website, registered roughly one month ago, purports to be “a growing online community of passionate Washington Redskins fans and others who support the team’s use of its name and logo.”
The graphic-heavy, burgundy and gold site is supported by a Twitter account of the same name, but who is really behind the effort?
Slate editors Josh Levin and Jeremy Stahl dug into the site’s back end source code to try to figure that out. Stahl joined WTOP on the air on Wednesday to explain the results of what they found.
“If you look at the source code on the website and you look at the original followers on the Twitter account, there are clear links to this site,” said Stahl. “It’s a very clear indication that was a Burson-Marsteller project.”
The first three and five of the first six followers of the account were Burson-Marsteller employees. That crisis management firm was hired by the Redskins recently to help the team in its public relations battle over its nickname.
After initially issuing vague statements about the connection between the team and the site, Stahl says the team has been more forthcoming recently.
“After having originally given press quotes that they know of the site and completely support the effort, to make it seem a little bit, you know, like they weren’t involved, they’ve conceded that, yes, they are backing the site,” said Stahl.
Slate said they reached out to the Redskins for comment regarding Burson-Marsteller’s involvement in building the site, but had not heard back at the time of publication. Burson-Marsteller also has yet to respond, they said.
Editor’s Note: Redskinsfacts.com has purchased advertising on this site, and others including The Washington Post, Washington Times and Sports Illustrated. -
Baker has historical night for Cubs
You probably don’t know who John Baker is. But the backup catcher for the Chicago Cubs had an historical night at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.
As the Cubs-Rockies game dragged into extra innings tied at 3-3, the Cubs ran out of pitchers. As a result, they summoned Baker to come on to pitch the 16th frame. He tossed a scoreless inning, issuing a one-out walk, but inducing a 4-6-3 double play to escape unscathed. In so doing, he became the first player to pitch and catch for the Cubs in the same season since 1896.
But Baker was just getting started. Due to lead off the bottom half of the frame, he drew a walk. Chicago would go on to load the bases with one out for Starlin Castro, who hit a liner to medium-deep right field. Baker tagged at third and scampered home with the winning run, becoming the first big leaguer to score the winning run and earn the win on the mound since 1968.
Not bad for a guy who hadn’t pitched since the Cape Cod League, while in college. Baker is 33.
He also ended a game that set its own record, as the longest in either club’s history in terms of time at six hours and 17 minutes. -
Scully to return; Dodger Stadium approves
Few players in sports achieve legendary status. Even fewer broadcasters ascend to such a plateau.
But if the game of baseball has a living legend in the booth, it’s unquestionably Vin Scully. On Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, players worked together to deliver a multi-lingual, between-innings piece of news to the crowd: Scully will be returning for his 66th (!) season of Dodger baseball in the booth next year.
