Hi, and welcome back to our weekly live chat, which unfortunately was called off last week due to unforseen circumstances (me getting food poisoning in New York). But we're back this week, feeling strong and ready to tackle all your Nats and baseball questions. As always, click on the above link to submit a question, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. Let's get started...

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman: May 21, 2008" »

Good afternoon from Houston, where the Nats dropped a tough one last night to the Astros, 6-5. Shoddy defense. Poor relief pitching. A game that should have been won instead turned into one of the toughest losses of the year. I'm sure you've got plenty of questions about this team, so let's get going. As always, click on the above link to submit a question, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com...

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman -- May 7, 2008" »

Good afternoon everyone, and thanks for joining us a little earlier than usual. The Nats have the odd 4:35 p.m. start today against the Braves, so that changes our pregame schedule. Plenty, as always, to talk about. Ryan Zimmerman busted out of his slump last night. The Nats have won four of five and five of seven. And then there's Chad Cordero, who appears headed back to the DL.

Let's get to your questions. Click on the above link to submit yours, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com.

Continue reading "Live chat with Mark Zuckerman: April 30, 2008" »

Hi everyone, glad to be back in the fray after a little, five-day respite. Rest assured, I've been following things closely (Goessling was on top of everything in Florida and Atlanta) and am reasonably up to speed on everything involving the Nats, who return home tonght for the start of an 11-game homestand (longest of the season). The Mets, featuring Johan Santana, Brian Schneider and Ryan Church, kick things off tonight. Plenty of topics to cover, so let's get to your questions. As always, click on the above link to submit one, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. ...

Continue reading "Live chat with Mark Zuckerman: April 23, 2008" »

Hi everyone, thanks for joining in for another weekly Nats live chat. I'm in New York, where the Nats were quite thoroughly squashed last night by the Mets, 6-0. Nice to see Brian Schneider and Ryan Church, though they still look strange to me in blue pinstripes. Plenty to discuss, and I have a hunch there will be several questions about the Nats' lack of offense. If you've got something you'd like to ask, click on the above link or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. Let's get started...

Continue reading "Live chat with Mark Zuckerman: April 16, 2008" »

Hi everyone, welcome back for another weekly chat on the Nats. As always, plenty to discuss with this team, from Dmitri Young's back injury to Shawn Hill's potential return to the rotation to the team's stunning ability to strand the bases loaded (nine times in eight games already). I'll do my best to answer everyone's questions -- please send them to natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com, or click on the above link to submit it directly through the website. Let's get started...

Continue reading "Live chat with Mark Zuckerman: 4/9/08" »

Hello from Philadelphia, where the Nats (following a day off) return to the field tonight, looking to improve to 3-0. Tim Redding on the hill against Cole Hamels. We should also get an update on the status of Chad Cordero's right shoulder, which has now had three days to rest and recover from the cortisone shot he received on Sunday. Plenty to talk about, so let's get right to your questions. As always, click on the above link to submit something, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. ...

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman -- 4/2/08" »

Hello Nats fans,

I just got back from Nationals Park, where the city and team held ceremonies to honor all the people associated with building the ballpark and getting it ready for this weekend. They announced that the ballpark will be LEED certified, making it the first-ever "green" ballpark. Also, the newly expanded Navy Yard Metro station opened this morning.

I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about the stadium or anything else sports biz related. So fire away.

Continue reading "Live Chat with Tim Lemke -- today at 1 p.m." »

Good afternoon from Disney World. Not the amusement park. The baseball park next door. The Nats and Braves are about to get going with their second-to-last Grapefruit League game of the spring. Plenty of stuff about to happen -- the Nats will make their final roster cuts following the game today and announce their 25-man roster. And following tomorrow's game against the Orioles, they'll fly up to D.C. and make a quick stop at Nationals Park tomorrow night so players can see their new home. So there's no shortage of topics to discuss here. Send in your questions to natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com, or click on the above link. Let's get going...

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman -- 3/26/08" »

Hi everyone. It's the Nats' one and only off day of the spring, but that doesn't mean it's an off day for us. Plenty to discuss with eight days remaining until the team breaks camp and heads north. There's the matter of the top of the starting rotation (Shawn Hill and John Patterson), the battle at first base between Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young, the battle at second base between Felipe Lopez and Ronnie Belliard (and did you read Felipe's remarks from yesterday?) and plenty of other items. As always, click on the above link to submit a question, or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. Let's get started...

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman: Wednesday, March 19" »

Hello from Vero Beach, where the Nats and Dodgers are about to get things going. This is our only trip to Dodgertown this spring, and it may be our last ever. The Dodgers are moving to Arizona next year after six decades here. There's a chance another team (like the Orioles) could take over, but it just wouldn't be the same.

I'll provide some game updates throughout, but you can also go to our blog, Chatter, where Ben Goessling is providing more details. Let's get to your questions, and as always, to send one in just click on the above link or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com...

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman: Wednesday, March 12" »

Hello everyone from Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, where the Nats and Cardinals are about to get started. I'll provide some game updates as we move along, but let's first get started with your questions. It appears the link to send questions is malfunctioning, so if you have something for me, please email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com.

Here we go...

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman -- 3/5/08" »

Sorry, folks. Due to technical difficulties, we won't be able to hold today's scheduled live chat. We'll give it another try next week.

Hello, Nats fans and greetings from sunny Viera, Fla., where pitchers and catchers have been working out for five days now and position players reported today. Well, one of them hasn't exactly made it here yet. Elijah Dukes, the oft-discussed, troubled outfielder acquired from Tampa Bay this winter, was supposed to be arriving today and holding a 3 p.m. news conference. But within the last hour, we were told that the situation had become "fluid" and that it may not be happening today or at all.

I'll keep you posted as we move along with this chat, and I may have to bolt early if we suddenly get word he is coming after all. In the meantime, I'm sure you've got plenty of questions about the Nats, so let's get started. To submit a question, either click on the above link or email me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com.

And away we go...

Continue reading "Live chat with Mark Zuckerman (Feb. 20, 2008)" »

Hiya, everyone, and greetings from Boston, where the World Series starts tonight. Yes, as only Dr. Seuss could have foreseen, it's the Rox and Sox on Fox! We've still got more than six hours til first pitch at Fenway Park, but I'm sure there are plenty of questions about the upcoming series. If you have something to ask, just click on the above link to submit your query, or e-mail me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. Let's get started! ...

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman -- 10/24/07" »

Hello everyone from Shea Stadium, where it's far too hot and muggy to be Sept. 26. Feels like mid-July. Wild ballgame last night, with the Nats nearly blowing a 7-run lead in the bottom of the ninth before hanging on to win, 10-9. They've now matched their 71-win total from last season. Impressive. OK, let's get on to your questions. As always, click on the above link to send one in, or e-mail me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. ...

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman -- 9/26/07" »

Howdy folks!

Mark Z. will be here soon -- he's lunching with Nationals president Stan Kasten and the rest of the media horde right now. But today's chat will go on as scheduled.

Got a question you want to send in early? Send it to natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com or click the link at the top of the page.

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman today: Wednesday, Sept. 19" »

Today's live chat with Mark Zuckerman has been called off. Sorry for the inconvenience. We'll return next Wednesday at 2 p.m.

Greetings, Nats fans, and welcome to another live chat, coming to you live from RFK Stadium (where the big sign in LF says there's only 11 remaining games). Try not to shed too many tears. Plenty of questions to get to, so let's get going. As always, click on the link at the top of the screen to submit yours, or e-mail me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. Here we go...

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman -- 9/6/07" »

Good morning (yes, morning) from sunny Southern California! Another beautiful day here in La-La Land. We're chatting live from Dodger Stadium, where the Nats and Dodgers will conclude their series in one hour. Good pitching matchup today with Shawn Hill facing Brad Penny. Nats need to win to avoid heading home on a six-game losing streak. My esteemed competitor from the other paper happens to be sitting three feet to my left live-chatting at the same time (doesn't he know I've had the 2 p.m. EST window locked up all season?). So if any of you can manage to tear yourself away from his chat for a minute to two and supply me with some questions, I'll do my best to offer different-sounding answers. I kid, I kid. We're all friends here.

OK, let's get started. Click on the above link to send your questions in, or e-mail me directly at natsmailbag@washingtontimes.com...

Continue reading "Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman -- 8/29/07" »