Steve Thomas

Steve Thomas

Articles by Steve Thomas

Patriot League Rundown: Week 1

Patriot League Rundown: Week 1 With all the fine FCS play against the big boys this opening weekend, we wanted to pay tribute by shining a spotlight on one of the fine FCS conferences: the Patriot League, which had a

Patriot League Rundown: Week 1

The Contenders: AL Wild Card, post-All Star edition

As with the National League, the number of American League Wild Card contenders shrunk by several teams, leaving a tight and crowded race for the two playoff spots. Lopsided teams with either pitching or hitting but not both dominate this

The Contenders: AL Wild Card, post-All Star edition

The Contenders: NL Wild Card

Since we last visited the Wild Card race, there has been a noted shrinking of the contenders for the two spots. With the Braves firmly ensconced as NL East champs, and great races shaping up in the NL Central and

The Contenders: NL Wild Card

PANIC: Nats Drop Eckstein, Lose Game to Pirates

The Washington Nationals, fresh off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers, fired their longtime hitting coach, Rick Eckstein, in hopes of awaking their dormant bats and saving their season. For one night at least, it

PANIC: Nats Drop Eckstein, Lose Game to Pirates

NL East Rundown: All Star Break Edition

It has been an entertaining first half in the division at the All-Star Break, with the Braves’ offseason moves paying dividends with a six game lead–even as they have not run away with the division. The Nationals suffered through an injury-plagued

NL East Rundown: All Star Break Edition

At the Half: Buyers and Sellers, AL Edition

Just as in the NL, the AL has a large number of teams in contention and very few sellers. While the trade deadline cometh, these teams may still trade after–though it is much more difficult. It involves a process of

At the Half: Buyers and Sellers, AL Edition

NL East Rundown: Here Come the Nationals

The Washington Nationals put eight more runs on the board Friday and received some help from the Philadelphia Phillies to pull within five games of first place in the NL East going into Saturday’s games. The help came from Cliff

NL East Rundown: Here Come the Nationals

NL East Rundown: Break up the Marlins

Miami 4, Atlanta 3 The Miami Marlins got a rare series win in Atlanta, coming back in the ninth inning against Craig Kimbrel to beat the Braves, 4-3. AJ Ramos pitched two scoreless innings for the win, Steve Cishek got

NL East Rundown: Break up the Marlins

At the Half: Buyers and Sellers, NL Edition

One of the oddities of this season is a great number of teams are “in contention”–either over .500 or within four games in the standings. In the NL, that’s ten teams–not counting the Phillies, who were at .500 but have

At the Half: Buyers and Sellers, NL Edition

Mets Squander Another Dominant Matt Harvey Outing

The Washington Nationals couldn’t get the big hit on Matt Harvey, so they patiently waited until he was out of the game to score. The Nationals scored five in the 8th and 9th to come back and beat the New

Mets Squander Another Dominant Matt Harvey Outing

NL East Rundown: The Division Gains on the Braves

Kansas City 4, Atlanta 3 (10 innings) Alex Gordon singled home David Lough for the winning run as the Royals beat the Braves, 4-3 in extra innings Wednesday night. Alex Wood (0-2) took the loss for Atlanta, while Aaron Crow

NL East Rundown: The Division Gains on the Braves

NL East Rundown: Mets Lone Losers

Atlanta 4, Kansas City 3 The Braves pulled ahead on a Jason Hayward home run in the 7th inning and hung on to beat the Royals, 4-3, in Kansas City. Kris Medlen (5-7) got the win to improve to 4-1

NL East Rundown: Mets Lone Losers

The Contenders: AL Wild Card edition

Baseball has indeed reached a state of competitive balance when the AL can boast 8 teams within 6 games of the Wild Card. This isn’t the Yankees and a bunch of also-rans anymore; it will be an entertaining dogfight to

The Contenders: AL Wild Card edition

The Contenders: NL Wild Card edition

For as competitive as the NL is this year, the most competitive division is going to be the Wild Card Division. Seven NL teams are realistically vying for two spots, and with so many buyers and so few sellers (Cubs,

The Contenders: NL Wild Card edition

Atlanta walks off over Giants, evens series

The Braves completed a come from behind win over the Giants Saturday with a dramatic 9th inning win over Giants closer Sergio Romo. Freddie Freeman singled in Andrelton Simmons with the bases loaded for the game winning hit. The Giants

Atlanta walks off over Giants, evens series

Cleveland Gets Walk-Off Win Against Nats

Cleveland won its third straight, beating the Washington Nationals in dramatic fashion 2-1 with a walk-off fielder’s choice in the bottom of the 9th. Joe Smith (3-0) got the win for the Indians by pitching a perfect top of the

Cleveland Gets Walk-Off Win Against Nats

NL East Rundown: Miami gains a game on the Division

San Diego 3, Atlanta 2 Andrew Cashner (5-3) pitched eight strong innings, striking out five and outdueling Tim Hudson (4-6) on the way to a 3-2 win over the NL East leaders. Cashner has now gone six-plus innings in seven

NL East Rundown: Miami gains a game on the Division

Twin Killing: Nats sweep Minnesota

The Washington Nationals swept the Minnesota Twins in a day-night doubleheader, beating the Twins 5-4 in the nightcap and reaching .500 again. The Nats pounded out 10 hits, chasing Twins starter Deduno, who had a sub-1.00 ERA over his last

Twin Killing: Nats sweep Minnesota

Third longest game of Saturday sees Nats loss

Minnesota 4, Washington 3 (11 innings) The Twins beat the Nationals in only the third-longest game of the day, 4-3, in 11 innings Saturday night. Nationals reliever Craig Stammen (3-2) yielded the winning run in the top of the 11th

Third longest game of Saturday sees Nats loss

Washington Makes Roster Moves, Notches First Walk-Off Win of Year

The Washington Nationals, in the midst of a disappointing season that started with World Series hopes but has seen the team fall below .500, decided to revamp their bullpen, pull Danny Espinosa, and notch their first 9th-inning, come-from-behind win of

Washington Makes Roster Moves, Notches First Walk-Off Win of Year

NL Central Rundown: Pirates in second

San Francisco 4, St. Louis 2 Chad Gaudin (1-1) started for the first time in over three years, pitching six strong innings, allowing a two-run home run to the Cardinals’ David Freese, as the Giants rallied in the seventh to

NL Central Rundown: Pirates in second

NL East Rundown: No Stras, no problem

Washington 3, Atlanta 2 Stephen Strasburg left the game in the 2nd inning with a strained oblique, but his teammate Craig Stammen (3-1) picked up the slack out of the bullpen, pitching four perfect innings to defeat Julio Teheran (3-2) and

NL East Rundown: No Stras, no problem

NL East Rundown: Braves gain on Nats; Ellsbury steals the day

Atlanta 11, Toronto 3 Mike Minor (7-2) pitched seven innings, giving up three runs, as the Braves beat RA Dickey (4-7) and the Jays, 11-3. Dickey pitched six innings but gave up six runs, raising his ERA to 5.18. Freddie

NL East Rundown: Braves gain on Nats; Ellsbury steals the day

NL East Rundown: Homer-fest in Baltimore

Toronto 3, Braves 0 The Blue Jays notched a four-hit shutout in the most improbable way Wednesday night, starting reliever Esmil Rogers and bringing in two minor-league callups to blank the Braves, 3-0. Kris Medlen (1-6) did not last even

NL East Rundown: Homer-fest in Baltimore

NL East Rundown: Mets Only Team to Win Against AL East

Toronto 9, Atlanta 3 Mark Buehrle got his second win of the year, beating Tim Hudson and the Braves 9-3 Monday night. The Blue Jays improved to only 14-15 at home with the win. Edwin Encarnacion homered and drove in

NL East Rundown: Mets Only Team to Win Against AL East

NL East Rundown: Mets Snap Losing Streak

NY Mets 4, Atlanta 2 The Mets snapped an eight-game home losing skid, beating the Braves 4-2 Sunday night on the strength of an Ike Davis 8th inning, RBI single. LaTroy Hawkins (1-0) got the win, Shaun Marcum struck out

NL East Rundown: Mets Snap Losing Streak

NL East Rundown: Friday's Results

Washington 5, Philadelphia 2 Jordan Zimmermann pitched seven innings, giving up two runs, and winning his eighth game as the Nationals opened their series with a 5-2 win over the Phillies. The Nats found out that starting second baseman Danny

NL East Rundown: Friday's Results

What's wrong with the contenders?

One quarter of the way through the season, few would have predicted the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Toronto Blue Jays would have struggled the way they have. These underperforming clubs still have

What's wrong with the contenders?

ACC to MSG? Not so Fast.

Anonymous sources within the Atlantic Coast Conference are telling ESPN that the conference is “thoroughly investigating” playing its men’s basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim are the

ACC to MSG? Not so Fast.

NL East Rundown

Arizona 5, Atlanta 3 Paul Goldschmidt hit three double to knock out Tim Hudson and beat the Braves, 5-3 Wednesday night. Eric Chavez also drove in three runs as Ian Kennedy (2-3) won his first since opening day. LA Dodgers

NL East Rundown

NL East Rundown: Good pitching stymies division leaders

Arizona 2, Atlanta 0 Patrick Corbin ran his record to 6-0 despite walking five batters as the Diamondbacks beat the Braves with the help of an infield double. Julio Teheran took the tough luck loss for the Braves, who remained

NL East Rundown: Good pitching stymies division leaders

NL East Rundown: the Division gets bludgeoned

Giants 10, Braves 1 Madison Bumgarner (4-1) struck out 11 in limiting the Braves lineup to four hits, as San Francisco put themselves in position to win the four game series with a 10-1 rout of Atlanta Saturday. Braves starter

NL East Rundown: the Division gets bludgeoned

NL East 5/7/13 Rundown: Something for Everyone

Detroit at Washington, postponed Rain postponed the Nats-Tigers game, a potential World Series preview, until Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Cincinnati 5, Atlanta 4 Shin-Soo Choo blasted two home runs, including a walk-off game winner in the ninth, as the Reds

NL East 5/7/13 Rundown: Something for Everyone

NL East rundown: Tight at the top following Sunday's action

Nationals 6, Pirates 2 Gio Gonzalez overcame a rocky start, including a home run to Starling Marte, to beat the Pirates and ensure Washington a winning road trip to Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Gonzalez (3-2) pitched six innings, allowing two runs.

NL East rundown: Tight at the top following Sunday's action

Nats beat Pirates, pull within two games of idle Braves

Stephen Strasburg was not on his game tonight, but his teammates had his back, coming from a 4-2 deficit to beat the Pirates in the ninth inning on Tyler Moore’s sac fly to score Ryan Zimmerman. Strasburg went seven innings

Nats beat Pirates, pull within two games of idle Braves

National Comeback? Nats Beat Braves behind Haren

For much of the young season, the Washington Nationals have been falling behind early and staying behind late. The last two games against the division-leading Atlanta Braves, the Nationals bucked that trend – and came away with two needed victories

National Comeback? Nats Beat Braves behind Haren