Battle of the Beltwayzzzzzzzzz....

 

(Despite what Nationals.com would tell you, The Battle of the Beltways returns to Baltimore this weekend. Photo by brianmka via flickr.)

"It's an overall confluence of mediocrity. You keep thinking it's going to change, but it doesn't."
(Jim Palmer, via Washington Post, 6/25/2010)

ZZZZZZZZZZZ....

Everything you need to know about the latest installment of the Battle of the Beltways you can learn by reading Capitol Punishment.

Or consider the following:

• The dreadful 2009 Washington Nationals woke up on June 25, 2009 with a 21-49 record.

• The 2010 Orioles are worse. They wake up this morning with a 20-52 record, and a legitimate shot of catching some of the historically bad teams in MLB history.

• The 2010 Nationals had more wins than both of the aforementioned trainwrecks a month ago, the last time the two "rivals" met back in May at Nationals Park.

• In the last Beltways series, Nyjer Morgan threw a temper tantrum which pretty much epitomizes his season in Washington, and the Nationals took 2-out-of-3 games from the Birds thanks to Josh Willingham.

Anonymous sources with no knowledge of the situation report that Orioles principal owner Peter Angelos will be decked out in his Curly W cap and big Nationals #1 foam finger tonight at Camden Yards, as a sign of appreciation for the ratings bump on MASN courtesy of the Nationals and Stephen Strasburg

The Baltimore Sun reports that Angelos met with O's right fielder Nick Markakis at a restaurant in Little Italy in Baltimore on Thursday to talk about the state of the franchise. O's president of baseball operations Andy McPhail seemed pleased about the meeting. Sounds like Peter has been spending too much time watching the Nats this year:

"Frankly, I wish Peter spent more time around the team."
(Andy MacPhail, via Baltimore Sun, 6/25/2010)

Careful what you wish for, Andy.

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Comments

[bdrube]

I've trekked up to Crabtown three times in past season to catch this series, but in the absence of Stasburg pitching I wouldn't go this year if you gave me a free ticket and gave me gas money. The Nats offense is about as much fun to watch right now as paint drying on growing grass.

[james]

Couldn't pay me to go to Charm City, game or not. I hear you can catch an STD just driving through. Plus, the thought of being surrounded by 15,000 hicks discrespecting the National Anthem by yelling "O!" is too much. Charlie & Dave on the radio is a safer bet, thank you.

[cadeck13]

bdrube - I agree wholeheartedly - the disrepecting of the National Anthem bothers me a great deal. Charlie & Dave a much better choice, I can't stand the MASN teaming on air either. Dibble & Palmer never shut up, constantly trying to outdo each other.