Spencer Nusbaum
@spencernusbaum.bsky.social
Covering the Nationals ✍️ @washingtonpost.com
📧: [email protected]
📧: [email protected]
Blake Butera in 2014, h/t to Nationals Reddit:
October 30, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Blake Butera in 2014, h/t to Nationals Reddit:
The Nationals have a new president of baseball operations. Here was my biggest takeaway from his introduction.
October 1, 2025 at 5:44 PM
The Nationals have a new president of baseball operations. Here was my biggest takeaway from his introduction.
That’s a wrap on Year ✌️! Hope you all enjoyed our coverage in 2025.
I would never say it to his face but I am very grateful to do this job with @andrewgolden.bsky.social (and eternally thankful for our editor, @sarahlarimer.bsky.social)
Up next: A very important offseason!
I would never say it to his face but I am very grateful to do this job with @andrewgolden.bsky.social (and eternally thankful for our editor, @sarahlarimer.bsky.social)
Up next: A very important offseason!
September 28, 2025 at 11:21 PM
That’s a wrap on Year ✌️! Hope you all enjoyed our coverage in 2025.
I would never say it to his face but I am very grateful to do this job with @andrewgolden.bsky.social (and eternally thankful for our editor, @sarahlarimer.bsky.social)
Up next: A very important offseason!
I would never say it to his face but I am very grateful to do this job with @andrewgolden.bsky.social (and eternally thankful for our editor, @sarahlarimer.bsky.social)
Up next: A very important offseason!
And here is the aforementioned Mac, cradled by the aforementioned Bryce:
August 8, 2025 at 5:45 PM
And here is the aforementioned Mac, cradled by the aforementioned Bryce:
Also in this article: There are players who use VR goggles to help train plate discipline. That started with Alex Call.
He was very insightful on the matter. He cut his strikeout rate in half after he started using the goggles.
He was very insightful on the matter. He cut his strikeout rate in half after he started using the goggles.
June 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Also in this article: There are players who use VR goggles to help train plate discipline. That started with Alex Call.
He was very insightful on the matter. He cut his strikeout rate in half after he started using the goggles.
He was very insightful on the matter. He cut his strikeout rate in half after he started using the goggles.
Full Q & A from Nationals Manager Dave Martinez on where the blame lies for the offensive swoon. "It's never on coaching. It's never on coaching. Coaches work their asses off every single day."
June 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Full Q & A from Nationals Manager Dave Martinez on where the blame lies for the offensive swoon. "It's never on coaching. It's never on coaching. Coaches work their asses off every single day."
Gonna go out on a limb and say no
May 27, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Gonna go out on a limb and say no
I would like to thank the academy
May 26, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I would like to thank the academy
Robert Hassell III is, indeed, here in DC
May 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Robert Hassell III is, indeed, here in DC
Also thought this was an insightful quote from Michael Soroka, who is now living in the zone a preposterous near-60% of the time:
May 18, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Also thought this was an insightful quote from Michael Soroka, who is now living in the zone a preposterous near-60% of the time:
I mean, look at his smile
May 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
I mean, look at his smile
Perhaps the moment of the season: Three kids in Derek Law jerseys meeting Derek Law.
I’m not sure who was happier to see who. They started jumping up and down when he walked out. He put his cap over his heart and signed everything they owned.
I’m not sure who was happier to see who. They started jumping up and down when he walked out. He put his cap over his heart and signed everything they owned.
May 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Perhaps the moment of the season: Three kids in Derek Law jerseys meeting Derek Law.
I’m not sure who was happier to see who. They started jumping up and down when he walked out. He put his cap over his heart and signed everything they owned.
I’m not sure who was happier to see who. They started jumping up and down when he walked out. He put his cap over his heart and signed everything they owned.
It is pouring. Alex Call is signing autographs.
April 26, 2025 at 6:54 PM
It is pouring. Alex Call is signing autographs.
I think I’ve finally had enough of these emails
April 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I think I’ve finally had enough of these emails
Keibert Ruiz has been a revelation. He warns that it’s early. So… where did this hot start come from? And how sustainable is it?
I zoomed in on three plays from this week that help answer those queries. Story in the reply below! ⬇️
I zoomed in on three plays from this week that help answer those queries. Story in the reply below! ⬇️
April 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Keibert Ruiz has been a revelation. He warns that it’s early. So… where did this hot start come from? And how sustainable is it?
I zoomed in on three plays from this week that help answer those queries. Story in the reply below! ⬇️
I zoomed in on three plays from this week that help answer those queries. Story in the reply below! ⬇️
Davey said Jacob Young is sitting back-to-back days to fix his mechanics. Said he’s diving to home plate, not seeing the ball away, not catching up to the ball inside. Team wanted to address before it snowballed.
He’ll play tomorrow.
“As I told him, he’s our center fielder.”
He’ll play tomorrow.
“As I told him, he’s our center fielder.”
April 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Davey said Jacob Young is sitting back-to-back days to fix his mechanics. Said he’s diving to home plate, not seeing the ball away, not catching up to the ball inside. Team wanted to address before it snowballed.
He’ll play tomorrow.
“As I told him, he’s our center fielder.”
He’ll play tomorrow.
“As I told him, he’s our center fielder.”
The 2005 Nationals team was inducted into the Ring of Honor at Nats Park. Here’s what they had to say, and how it looked, including the old highlight packages:
April 5, 2025 at 11:49 PM
The 2005 Nationals team was inducted into the Ring of Honor at Nats Park. Here’s what they had to say, and how it looked, including the old highlight packages:
Quick thread: The Nationals are chasing the second-most pitches outside of the zone in baseball, per Statcast, at 34.5%. That's about 5% higher than league average.
April 5, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Quick thread: The Nationals are chasing the second-most pitches outside of the zone in baseball, per Statcast, at 34.5%. That's about 5% higher than league average.
And a quick take: if the velocity is going to be where it is, the command has to be otherworldly. His zone percentage was just a tick over what the MLB average is. Also, I think you’d want to see fewer waste pitches. That said, I think if you’re looking at this as step 1, it’s not discouraging.
April 1, 2025 at 11:12 PM
And a quick take: if the velocity is going to be where it is, the command has to be otherworldly. His zone percentage was just a tick over what the MLB average is. Also, I think you’d want to see fewer waste pitches. That said, I think if you’re looking at this as step 1, it’s not discouraging.
Shinnosuke Ogasawara made his first start for Class AAA Rochester today. Topped out at 89.6 mph, which was slower than this spring, but was effective. 67 pitches, 41 strikes.
Final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
April 1, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Shinnosuke Ogasawara made his first start for Class AAA Rochester today. Topped out at 89.6 mph, which was slower than this spring, but was effective. 67 pitches, 41 strikes.
Final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
MacKenzie Gore. 13 strikeouts. Most on Opening Day in franchise history.
March 27, 2025 at 9:53 PM
MacKenzie Gore. 13 strikeouts. Most on Opening Day in franchise history.
Tom Boswell: recently named to the writer’s wing in the Baseball Hall of Fame after a distinguished career with the Washington Post.
Also: Opening Day first pitch thrower.
Also: Opening Day first pitch thrower.
March 27, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Tom Boswell: recently named to the writer’s wing in the Baseball Hall of Fame after a distinguished career with the Washington Post.
Also: Opening Day first pitch thrower.
Also: Opening Day first pitch thrower.
Also: We're back.
March 27, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Also: We're back.
Really nice press row memorial for John Feinstein here at Nats Park.
March 27, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Really nice press row memorial for John Feinstein here at Nats Park.
Asked Davey what would constitute a successful 2025 for the Nationals. This was his answer:
March 27, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Asked Davey what would constitute a successful 2025 for the Nationals. This was his answer: