{"id":18674,"date":"2012-10-02T13:24:35","date_gmt":"2012-10-02T17:24:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yurasko.net\/wfy\/?p=18674"},"modified":"2012-10-02T13:24:35","modified_gmt":"2012-10-02T17:24:35","slug":"nats-nl-east-title-is-the-best-story-in-baseball-a-long-time-coming-and-an-irritant-to-philly-columnists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yurasko.net\/wfy\/2012\/10\/nats-nl-east-title-is-the-best-story-in-baseball-a-long-time-coming-and-an-irritant-to-philly-columnists\/","title":{"rendered":"Nats NL East title is the best story in baseball, a long time coming and an irritant to Philly columnists"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’re about 15 hours away from the Washington Nationals clinching the first division title in D.C. history. I thought I’d add more to my initial thoughts from last night, “I don\u2019t think the Nats should permanently fly the 2012 NL East flag<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

Thomas Boswell <\/strong>got the A1 column on The Post: Washington Nationals win National League East title that may be first of many<\/a> | He chatted too<\/a> (lots of RGIII talk) | The Post cover and sports section today<\/a> via DC Sports Bog.<\/p>\n

Over at Sports on Earth<\/em> (National Spotlight<\/a>), Joe Posnanski<\/strong> acknowledges what I have been saying for some time: <\/p>\n

the Nationals are the story of the 2012 regular season<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now we just need to get him to write about the Nats TV rights being used to subsidize Peter Angelos<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Thom Loverro had a pretty good column today too: Toasting a division title for the Nationals<\/a> – The Wash. Examiner<\/em><\/p>\n

ESPN The Magazine’s DC sports issue<\/a> (DC Sports Bog<\/em>, The Post<\/em>) is clearly going to be better than Sports Illustrated<\/em>‘s. ESPN appears to be keeping the focus on D.C. teams and not tacking on some subsidized team from another city.<\/p>\n

Some long-time D.C. baseball fans including Mark Hornbaker of D.C. Baseball History<\/a> and Charlie Brotman<\/strong> are quoted in The Wash. Times<\/em>: Nationals write new chapter in D.C. baseball history with NL East crown<\/a><\/p>\n

Over at Federal Baseball, Patrick Reddington<\/strong> looks back on the season: Who Saw This Coming? Washington Nationals Celebrate NL East Championship At Home In D.C.<\/a><\/p>\n

The last week was a stress test for the Nats and their fans. SNYDER: Finally, Nationals can pop the cork as division champ<\/a> – The Wash. Times<\/em><\/p>\n

Tom Bridge<\/strong> called it “The Happiest Loss<\/a>”<\/p>\n

Philly columnists are not happy, I’m crying all the way to the playoffs (so is Jayson Werth) – David Murphy: Washington not used to baseball celebrations<\/a> – The Inky<\/em> & Phillies’ Manuel ‘mad’ after watching Nats clinch<\/a> – CSN Philly<\/em><\/p>\n

And so they went down to D.C. to play the final series of the season \u2013 three games against the Washington Nationals, who have been perched atop the NL East almost all year long, like some strange gargoyle that was unexpectedly added to the top of a previously beautiful building.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

By the way, I kind of like Cholly.<\/p>\n

I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY FOR A PITTSBURGH WIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think I forgot this last night:<\/p>\n

\n

Adam LaRoche: “Think that was the first time in my life I rooted for the #Pirates<\/a>.” Wait..he PLAYED for the Pirates. Didn’t end well though<\/p>\n

— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) October 2, 2012<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n