I promised to do a better job at updating this but since I haven't really told anyone about this blog, it really doesn't matter.  Should probably change that right?

Well the dog days of August are here and my annual dismay over the NFL pre-season getting more time than the baseball stretch run is officially here too.  There are always great story lines this time of year in MLB but the lack luster play of a fifth string football player who will never make the team seems to be more important.

With that said, there is nothing better than being in a baseball market with a team who has something to play for in September and the Nats, along with Baltimore, are both in the hunt.  I have never been able to get into the O's broadcast as I just can't stand their announcers plus they are a long time A.L. East rival of the Sox.  But since we moved to D.C. I have enjoyed the Nats broadcasts (radio and t.v.) especially since I have connection to a couple of them, so I tend to know more about the Nats and their trials and tribulations.  Because of those tough seasons, it is fun to see Nats fans enjoying this season so much, as well they should.  Hopefully it will last for a couple of years for them, as that tends to be the cycle of MLB teams lately that don't have the endless payrolls. 

In the last couple of weeks the Nats have had three signature moments that they should be able to look back upon and realize that things finally went their way instead the way it has been the last six seasons.  First in Milwaukee battling back constantly to finally win, then again against the Marlins and finally Roger Bernadina's remarkable catch to end the game in Houston last night.  Every successful season has them and the Nats are filling up their end of season DVD with some memorable moments.  I remember those moments with banner Red Sox years and I know that Nats fans are storing these away in their own memory bank.

As Sam gets older we continue to enjoy those father/son sports memories and hopefully Grayson will start to be able to enjoy them as well with age.  This year we have been to five Nats games, here in D.C. and a trip to Boston to catch the Sox while they were playing the Nats.  We have watched some of those signature moments with three Strasburg wins and his first home run, Edwin Jackson making Cincy look like a minor league team and the emergence of Bryce Harper into the line up as a nineteen year old.  Not to mention the fun of just being at the ballpark and teaching Sam to keep score and the little things that make baseball what it is.  And as always I try to capture these moments with my camera and even used some of the Strasburg pics to make a cool poster for Sam (Thanks Kodie Hayes for the graphic help!) Combine all of that with great memories at Fenway during it's historic 100th season and now with a consistently filled Nats Stadium with fans excited about their home team, it has been a fun summer regardless of how bad Bobby Valentine continues to screw up things in Beantown.

Being a Sox fan is never easy, but it an odd way, that is part of the fun.  Watching the Nats has taken a little bit of that sting away from a frustrating season that has seen Lester and Beckett pitch with no passion, Youk traded to a contender, Bobby V continue to stick his foot in his mouth and a massive amount of injuries players like Big Papi, Pedroia, Ells, etc. 

So Nats fans, enjoy the ride, continue to keep Phillies fans out of your stadium, and don't fret too much if they do shut Strasburg down as you have four quality starters behind him that can handle the job. 

That's what it is in the world of the Sports Grapevine.......