2012 schedule

[Lintyfresh85]

Because we'd be getting pissed and vomited on inbetween booing in our home stadium? 

This.

Glad it'll be against the Reds. Plenty of seating to stretch out, relax, and enjoy the game.

Sure hope it's a bit warmer than this year was!

[Frau Mau]

I don't think they'll use Stras on the home opener because OD will have a good crowd anyway. Use him on a weeknight game when you need to get some butts in the seats. Forgive me if Spider has already said this. 

[hammondsnats]

Lots of good weekend series. Philthies, Boreoles, Yanks, Cards...

maybe we've become so used to be losers, that i have a developed a douchery attitude, but i hate phillies weekend series.  it's so much better when we play them on weeknights.  that way the crowds won't be as bad. 

hopefully our owners decide it's okay to spend more than $60 million dollars on your payroll and we get some more major league talent in here and stick it to the phils and their fan base.

as far as orioles, they always play weekend series.

[PowerBoater69]

I don't think they'll use Stras on the home opener because OD will have a good crowd anyway. Use him on a weeknight game when you need to get some butts in the seats. Forgive me if Spider has already said this. 

I thought the same thing until I saw that they have eleven games in eleven days as their first home stand, so Stras can pitch three straight home games.  He'll pitch on the 2s and 7s for April.

[DPMOmaha]

I don't think they'll use Stras on the home opener because OD will have a good crowd anyway. Use him on a weeknight game when you need to get some butts in the seats. Forgive me if Spider has already said this. 

Nah, you want the home opener to be a spectacle.  Bring out the big guns on opening day.  He'll get plenty of mid week games throughout the season.

[DPMOmaha]

Well, we've got 7 games on the road to start with an off day, so he could be third or conceivably 4th out of the gate. 

I was wrong in my math on this.  I do think that they might want to have him pitch the home opener and have him pitch game 2 and JZim pitch the opener.  We'll see.  A lot of time between now and then.

[Tyler Durden]

I like the idea of having JZ start the opener and then have Stras for the home opener. 

Looks like a relatively easy first month or so.  Hopefully they get off to a quick start.

[CALSGR8]

The Os schedule is out too.  Anyone else notice that the Os play Boston at Fenway the same week the Nationals are at Fenway?  Anyone up for a week's trip to see both series?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I have not been to a game at Fenway since 8/06.

[RL04]

Going to be a tough wait for that home opener.

So, is it too early for total-win predictions?   

Looks like those of us who predicted in the mid 70s for this year will be right on the money.

I'm gonna shoot (hope) for at least .500 next year and a possible WC chase, at least until August.

[Mathguy]

After today's win over the Mets, the Nats records will be 71 - 77.  That's 148 games and 14 games short of a 162 game season.  But the schedule says there are only 12 games left (FL - 3, Phi - 3, AtL - 3, and Fl - 3).  So we are short 2 games.  One game is the rainout with the Dodgers.  What is the other game ?

[DPMOmaha]

After today's win over the Mets, the Nats records will be 71 - 77.  That's 148 games and 14 games short of a 162 game season.  But the schedule says there are only 12 games left (FL - 3, Phi - 3, AtL - 3, and Fl - 3).  So we are short 2 games.  One game is the rainout with the Dodgers.  What is the other game ?

Double header with the phils.  We've got 4 left with them.

[imref]

So, is it too early for total-win predictions?   

Looks like those of us who predicted in the mid 70s for this year will be right on the money.

I'm gonna shoot (hope) for at least .500 next year and a possible WC chase, at least until August.

i had 75 this year.  I think 85-90 is reachable for next year.  Anything other than being within 5 games of the wild card at season's end is going to be a disappointment.

[PowerBoater69]

Let's hope that this schedule leads to a return of FanFest to the Sunday before the Super Bowl rather than between spring training and opening day.  With the opener on the road I doubt if the team really wants to fly from Florida to DC for a fan event then fly to Chicago for an afternoon game.

[aussienatsfan]

gee we really have got some high profile games during interleague play, hopefully we might be on ESPN for like the first time ever

[OldChelsea]

gee we really have got some high profile games during interleague play, hopefully we might be on ESPN for like the first time ever

If we get picked for Sunday Night Baseball I think it'd be the first time since the Nats Park premiere in 2008.

[Coladar]

If we get picked for Sunday Night Baseball I think it'd be the first time since the Nats Park premiere in 2008.

And only the second time overall, home games at least. We also had one against the Cubs in April 2005, the last weekend. It might even have been May 1-2. I hope we get another... Going to the ballpark on a Sunday night is just a totally surreal experience considering how rare it is. I really, really, really want another Sunday night home game.

[OldChelsea]

And only the second time overall, home games at least. We also had one against the Cubs in April 2005, the last weekend. It might even have been May 1-2. I hope we get another... Going to the ballpark on a Sunday night is just a totally surreal experience considering how rare it is. I really, really, really want another Sunday night home game.

It was actually against the Mets that year, 1st May (per ESPN.com - the Cubs visit two weeks later was a regular 13.05 start - http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/schedule/_/name/wsh/year/2005/half/1/washington-nationals, click on score of specific match for details) - in fact I recall leaving during the fourth inning of that match.

[PowerBoater69]

next year they will have an exhibition game at Nats park before heading to Chicago,  that might be the fanfest date.

[heeman82]

Going to take a week off from work and go to Boston and Toronto.  Never been to Canada and I'll be able to check out the Cheers bar.  Pretty psyched

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

I don't know if you follow hockey at all, but the Hockey Hall of Fame and Wayne Gretzky's restaurant are smack downtown in TO.

Going to take a week off from work and go to Boston and Toronto.  Never been to Canada and I'll be able to check out the Cheers bar.  Pretty psyched

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Going to take a week off from work and go to Boston and Toronto.  Never been to Canada and I'll be able to check out the Cheers bar.  Pretty psyched

You'll probably check out a lot of stuff, but since you are ex-military, you might want to catch Old Ironsides.  There is a pretty good walking trail (side walks) of revolutionary war era sites called the Freedom Trail.  It stops by there, the Old North  Church, the site of Boston Massacre (which is really just a marker now), the Old Granary Burial ground (where Franklin and others are buried), and other sites.  I've never done the Duck Boat tour, but I think Boston was one of the first to set those up.  For drinks, there are some bars around Quincy Market that really do go back - the Green Dragon and the Union Oyster House - as well as the Black Rose, a reputed hang out for IRA gun smugglers.  Even though it is near Quincy Market, it is a real Irish bar.  North End is great Italian eats, and Mike's Pastry and Modern Pastry (it might be Mike's Bakery and Modern Bakery, but I always just called them Mike's and Modern's) have a heck of a competition for best cannoli and other Italian pastry.  The "Lobster Tail" at Mike's might kill you - a flaky elongated triangular shell stuff with ricotta.  Have fun.

[CALSGR8]

I really want to spend aweek in Boston during the Os and Nats series if i can afford it!

[RL04]

I think 85-90 is reachable for next year.  Anything other than being within 5 games of the wild card at season's end is going to be a disappointment.

I'd pretty much agree with that.

[Baseball is Life]

I would be content with any record above .500 next year. If they get close to 90 wins and contend for a wild card, I would be more than content.

I think 2013 is when we can really expect them to contend.