Congressional Baseball Game will go on Thursday in light of GOP shooting

The annual Congressional Baseball Game will go on as planned, Rep. Martha McSally announced in an all-member briefing after House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and four others were shot by a deranged Bernie Sanders supporter while the Republican team was practicing Wednesday morning at a Virginia ball field.

"It will be play ball tomorrow night," Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) and manager of the GOP squad, confirmed later in the day. 

Despite the cowardly armed sneak attack aimed at Republicans, it won’t stop the annual charity match-up from being played 7:05 p.m. on Thursday at Nationals Park, according to the game organizers from both parties.

During a solemn address to the chamber Wednesday afternoon, House Speaker Paul Ryan injected a moment of levity – joking that the wounded Congressman's biggest complaint will be having to spend time on the disabled list.

“Knowing Steve Scalise as we all do, he is likely really frustrated that he’s not going to be able to play in the baseball game,” Ryan said of his friend — who is still listed as in critical condition.

Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), manager of the Democrats, invited all players from both teams to dinner at Democratic headquarters on Wednesday night.

“We’re united not as Republicans and Democrats but as United States representatives,” said Barton during the joint appearance with his Democratic baseball rival Doyle.

The annual congressional baseball game dates back to 1909 and is considered a bi-partisan event open to everyone.

Every year Senate and House members of each party fortify friendships off the floor and on the field. Members usually wear the uniform of their home states and districts, and although proportional representation is not required, elected officials of many states play to bring home the victory trophy.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, (D-Calif.), who is on the Democrats’ baseball team said the Democratic team practices at a different facility than where the shooting occurred. Swalwell noted that they usually have security, but the Republicans likely had “even more” due to Scalise’s rank in the House Republican Leadership.

President Trump touted the "heroism" of Capitol Police officers, and said their presence prevented what would have been a "massacre."

There is expected to be an increased number of fans in the stands — and more security at the gates— this year as the game has now taken on national significance.

More importantly, the sportsmanship represents the hopes of an America that is striving for unity.

MLB players blame Taylor Swift for electrical problems at Nationals Park

A set of lights on the third-base line went out three times during Friday night’s Dodgers-Nationals game and, after a sequence of delays, the 3-2 game was suspended in the fifth inning.

And players, tired of the light-related problems, took to social media to pin the blame on someone — namely Taylor Swift.

Pitcher Max Scherzer started it by blaming the Shake It Off singer, who performed at the stadium earlier this week. He even used a creative hashtag.

Well who was the last one to use Nationals Park last? Taylor Swift.. I blame her for the power outs tonight. We now have #BadBlood

— Max Scherzer (@Max_Scherzer) July 18, 2015

And Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson even took a shot at the pop princess.

@taylorswift13 your concert used up all the electricity in DC..thanks for helping start the 2nd half with a bang

— Joc Pederson (@yungjoc650) July 18, 2015

Everyone knew it wasn't Swift's fault and at least one player who could relate to the preening superstar took some of the blame. Bryce Harper tweeted this tongue-in-cheek excuse for the outage.

My bad everybody..I knew I shouldn't of used that blow dryer before the game! #shortage

— Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) July 18, 2015

I think Swift's squeaky clean image just took a little hit — all in fun, of course.

The game will be resumed on Saturday starting at 2:05pm ET.

Fan catches flying bat, gets a kiss as a reward (VIDEO)

There have already been some scary incidents with flying bats at MLB ballparks this season. So when San Francisco Giants pitcher Jake Peavy lost his grip and sent his bat hurtling into the stands at a rainy Nationals Park, everyone held their collective breaths.

Not to worry because this fan made a smooth, nonchalant grab of this wood missile and saved the day.

The alert hero even got a kiss from from the damsel next to him.

Catching a bat > catching a ball. http://t.co/oQgNOjz9uq pic.twitter.com/dNtdOmyWyc

— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) July 3, 2015

Just a reminder to everyone sitting around the home plate line of fire — keep your eyes on the game and not your tweets.

MetLife Stadium must wait years to host Winter Classic, says NHL commissioner: Report

Important people surrounding MetLife Stadium fought long and hard to get a Super Bowl in the Meadowlands — and finally saw their vision come to fruition last February.

But if they were hoping for an NHL version of a wintertime event, they'll have to wait ... years.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said it would be at least that long before MetLife Stadium would get a chance to host the annual Winter Classic.

Yankee Stadium hosted games between the Devils and New York Rangers, and between the Rangers and New York Islanders, last January, and since MetLife Stadium was prepping for the Super Bowl that week, a hockey game there would have been a logistics nightmare.

Bettman made it clear that the annual event will be held around the country before returning to the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area in the near future.

"Every city, every club wants one," Bettman said at a National Press Club luncheon in Washington, where the 2015 Winter Classic will be played Jan. 1 at Nationals Park. "We're going to move things around before going back."

Because there are three New York-area hockey teams, the NHL had to hold two outdoor games last January so no one would be left out, Bettman said.

"Playing in New York and New Jersey is a unique situation,'' he said. "We have a lot of other teams and a lot of other stadiums who want a game before we can come back."

No way Commish, Devils fans do feel left out.

Teddy Roosevelt destroys Pirates Pierogi with aerial assault (VIDEO)

Mascot races are getting downright nasty these days and Friday's action at Nationals Park might have taken this feud to a new level — or leveling.

In the case of the Pirates Pierogies and their ongoing rivalry with the Nationals' Racing Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt's famous foreign policy phrase, "speak softly and carry a big stick" just became "carry a huge flying kick" when you are in his house.

Old Teddy brought the heat and wrecked Potato Pete with a devastating clothesline move after hurling himself from a fold-up table.

And it just goes to show that it's always okay to add a little assault to your food.

Teddy wins Presidents Race with head bizarrely wrapped in tinfoil (VIDEO)

President Teddy scared a lot of fans Sunday after he showed up with his head completely wrapped in tinfoil for Sunday's President Race at Nationals Park. The makeshift "space helmet" was apparently some freaky tribute to the 45th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing — or an attempt at making the world's largest ball of foil.

But either way, it didn't hinder old Teddy from winning the race.

Too bad it wasn't Mr. Potato Head. But then, there probably wouldn't be enough chives and sour cream for everyone.

Innovative beer 'Robo-Vendor' impresses Nationals Park baseball crowd (VIDEO)

This is one baseball stadium beer vendor who knows time is money — especially when the cutoff for serving suds usually comes before the seventh-inning stretch — and has done something to increase his profits.

A couple of fans videotaped this Nationals Park beer jockey with a home-made gizmo attached to his left hand that cuts the top off not just one but TWO cans of beer simultaneously making it easier and — more importantly — faster to pour the refreshing brews to thirsty fans who can't wait for it to dribble out of the standard sipping hole a single can at a time.

The impressed fans even came up with a name for the human can-opener and start chanting "Robo-Vendor Robo-Vendor" as he drains a couple of beers for them.

Coming soon to stadium near you —Robo-Vendors ... patent pending.