Papelbon jerseys removed from Nationals store (PHOTO)

Closer Jonathan Papelbon, who is coming under a lot of heat from fans and was suspended by the Nationals on Monday, after his dugout fight with teammate and top MVP contender Bryce Harper, apparently doesn't have much support in the team store either.

  

On Monday, Darren Rovell of ESPN tweeted photos showing that Papelbon jerseys had been conspicuously removed from the Nationals team store following the incident:

Papelbon jerseys removed from Nats team store: Before & After (via @jtshiffman, @dcsportsbog) pic.twitter.com/xUzffmjS1c

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 29, 2015

It's not a good sign for Papelbon's return to Washington — even if he is under contract for 2016 and owed $11 million.

Yoenis Cespedes error turns Michael Taylor single into Little League grand slam (VIDEO)

Tuesday night's critical NL East game at Nationals Park between the Mets and Nationals got as wild as they come, starting with Washington's Michael Taylor scoring a Little League grand slam after an error by Mets centerfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

A routine comebacker up the middle off Mets pitcher Matt Harvey with the bases loaded was misplayed by a hard-charging Cespedes. The ball got by the Mets fielder and rolled all the way to the warning track while Taylor raced around the bases behind the other three runners to give the Nats a 6–1 lead.

But the Nationals and their fans' euphoria didn't last and New York eventually rallied from six runs down for an improbable 8-7 victory.

With the victory, the Mets are now six games ahead of the Nationals in the NL East race with four head-to-head games remaining between the rivals.

The Nationals' 'bucket of filth' might the the most disgusting celebration ever (VIDEO)

On Friday night, Michael Taylor walked off the Nationals with a walk-off 10th-inning three-run homer. In accordance with baseball custom, he was greeted at home plate by a swarm of teammates and Gatorade.

Only this time the swamp came with the gator.

And that disgusting brown liquid is not your ordinary Gatorade shower — it's the "bucket of filth," and might be the grossest tradition you might start seeing in other ballparks.

According to Cut4, the bucket sits in the Nats dugout, and around the eighth or ninth inning of a close home game, it starts getting filled with just about anything players can get their hands on — water, iced coffee, sunflower seeds, Alka-Seltzer and, a concoction the Nationals broadcasters claim has, "Gatorade bars for projectiles, because you have to do some damage."



Still. It's nothing a little soap and water won't clean up. Oh wait. That stuff is probably already in the bucket too. 

Bryce Harper scores four runs without swinging bat once (VIDEO)

Bryce Harper had a very strange night on Thursday. And made MLB history while having it.

As the Nationals routed the Braves 15-1, Harper came to the plate four times, looked at 20 pitches and didn't swing at a single one. And after each time he walked, he managed to come around and score.

His final line for the night: 0-for-0, four runs, one RBI and four walks.

.@BHarper3407’s four-BB, four-run game puts him in company with the likes of Rickey Henderson: http://t.co/5ClBmOaDVL pic.twitter.com/VRHp46P0Yd

— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 4, 2015

Scoring four runs in a game without registering an official at-bat is a bizarre feat you don't see too often. In fact, it's only happened three other times since 1914. The only other players to score four runs in a game without registering an official at-bat include these guys:

And none of those three Hall of Famers had an RBI to boot.

After the game, Harper told reporters:

"I've got confidence in everybody on our team to get a job done behind me," said Harper. "I'll take my walks when I can. And when they throw the ball over the plate, I'll take my hits, too."

The Nats pulled Harper in the sixth inning because the game was out of hand. But it would have been fun to see how far the slugger could have gone without taking a cut.

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.

Bryce Harper catches fan's phone for selfie (PHOTO)

It seems like there is nothing Bryce Harper can't do on the baseball field this season.

And that includes a little good public relations.

In between the second game of a day-night double-header against the Blue Jays Tuesday, Harper spotted a fan trying to snap a photo.

"They were trying to take a selfie with me," Harper said. "I went over there and said, 'Hey, toss me the phone and I'll do it for you.'"

We are sitting front row right field and the lady behind us threw her phone down and Bryce Harper took this selfie on her phone ⚾️

A photo posted by Ashley Heberling (@aheb) on Jun 2, 2015 at 4:23pm PDT

He told AP after the game that he enjoyed the impromptu photo session.

"Just messing around a little bit with the fans," he said. "Enjoying it with them a little bit. It's always fun."

Harper leads the NL All-Star balloting with 2.3 million votes. Looks like he just got another one.

Easter Bunny wreaks havoc on Nationals' Presidents Race (VIDEO)

That Easter Bunny would be one bad dude inside a cage — an MMA cage.

In keeping with his Opening Day tradition, the long-eared basket carrier took out Teddy Roosevelt during the Washington Nationals' Presidents Race with a WWE-style slam off a table. 

Not only did the angry rabbit take out ol' Teddy, he gave him a nasty staredown afterwards.

And even George Washington wasn't adverse to getting his eggs cracked either.



Bring on Brock Lesnar.

Gio Gonzalez 'meows' 10 times during an interview (VIDEO)

Spring training. A time for stretching out those winter muscles, giving interviews and having a little fun. Did I mention giving a lot of interviews?

So a bored Gio Gonzalez, on a challenge by teammate Max Scherzer, combined two of those job descriptions Wednesday and squeezed in "meow" instead of "now" ten times during one of those interminable interviews:

Go ahead and watch this right meow. http://t.co/gvUeUDu9yD https://t.co/ONT7xS7sIr
— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 11, 2015

And Scherzer, the instigator, was there to keep track the whole time:

And another nod to "Super Troopers" never gets old.

Nationals' Doug Fister buys ev-er-y-one a cup of coffee for Christmas

Washington Nationals pitcher Doug Fister really got into the holiday spirit on Christmas Eve and wanted all of his Twitter followers to enjoy a nice warm beverage — on him.

Fister posted a barcode on his Twitter page and told followers to have a Starbucks barista scan it for a free cup of coffee. He also warned potential Grinches to only use the freebie deal once.

Merry Christmas Eve! Have a Starbucks on us! Have the barista scan the pic below. Don't be a grinch, please use for 1 pic.twitter.com/Npzh6QiyRa
— Doug Fister (@dougfister58) December 24, 2014

Of course every good thing has to come to an end and Fister later apologized for the limited time offer after it ran out.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. The gift card was meant as a first come, first serve until the amount ran out, just a little holiday gift.
— Doug Fister (@dougfister58) December 24, 2014

Although it wasn't the Beats headphones you asked Santa for, it really is the thought. Right?

[SI.com]

Adam LaRoche bags giant buck and Dan Haren isn't happy about it (PHOTO)

Free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche will be spending a lot of his offseason looking for big bucks  this winter — and not only those with dollar signs.

LaRoche tweeted a picture Wednesday of himself and a gigantic, 12-point Rocky Mountain elk he bagged this week in Wyoming.

The avid hunter posted the photo on the official Instagram account for Buck Commander, a group which LaRoche co-founded, with the caption:

“Adam LaRoche is on the board with a GIANT bull taken in the back country of WY! Congrats brother!” 

Thank you Lord for the Rocky Mountain Elk! #BuckCommander pic.twitter.com/GFJdiJhvuk
— Adam LaRoche (@e3laroche) November 5, 2014

Needless to say, not everyone thinks hunting is a good offseason activity including his Nationals' teammate from 2013, pitcher Dan Haren. Haren seems to think the only bucks LaRoche should be hunting are from a team's front office. He responded to LaRoche's picture on Twitter with this wry observation:

@e3laroche poor elk, just minding his own business eating some leaves and boom, dead. Atleast you're having fun.
— dan haren (@ithrow88) November 5, 2014

Most of Haren's tweets are in jest, so it's highly likely he's just giving LaRoche a hard time, but a lot of people might agree with the sentiments.

Although, for the record, LaRoche puts his game on the dinner table.

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.

Juan Lagares saves run with outstanding diving catch (VIDEO)

Juan Lagares was a little slow getting up after making an outstanding diving catch on a sinking liner against the Nationals Tuesday night.

The inning-ending extra effort saved a run but he was shaken up on the play.

The Mets centerfielder was OK and the Mets went on to beat the Nats 6-1. 

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.

Minor league team to give away Jayson Werth bobbleheads with real beards (PHOTO)

Bobbleheads are still one of the best sports giveaways these days, but since you can get your own bobbing replica of your grandma made on the Internet, the thrill has sort of lost its bounce.

Few are truly unique until an upcoming freebie of Jayson Werth reared its little head.

The Potomac Nationals, Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, found a way to make their upcoming bobblehead giveaway a little different. This Saturday they are giving the first 1,000 fans a Werth bobblehead with a real beard:

JAYSON WERTH BOBBLEBEARDS ARE HERE! The first 1,000 lucky fans at The Pfitz on Sat. will take one home! Gates at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/KhQDb81PLs
— Potomac Nationals (@PNats42) June 10, 2014

While Brain Wilson already had his hairy face immortalized with a real beard, Werth's bobblehead is way more hirsute. A little scary actually — with what looks like lots of reddish hair coming out of his face and back.

And if they have any left over — with a little purple paint — they could pawn them off on the Rockies as their beloved Sasquatch.

Jayson Werth's leaping catch robs Daniel Murphy of game-tying home-run (VIDEO)

Jayson Werth's leaping grab robbed Daniel Murphy of a game-tying three-run homer in the 9th-inning Friday night.

The Nationals outfielder timed his leap just in time to pull down the ball and end the game — giving the Mets their third straight loss.

"I thought it had a chance," Murphy said of his last-ditch drive. "In my heart of hearts, I knew it was going to be close."

Brian Wilson's lookalike has awesome reaction to pitcher's strikeout (VIDEO)

After a long rain delay, the Dodgers still found themselves down two runs in the late innings of Monday night's game with the Nationals. 

When the game resumed, Brian Wilson and his famous facial hair came in to pitch the bottom half of the seventh and surrendered two hits and issued a walk, but struck out the side to get out of a bases-loaded jam.

And nobody was more ramped up to see The Beard than Wilson's doppelganger sitting directly behind home plate at Dodgers Stadium.

If Brian Wilson is on the mound, then who is that behind home plate? pic.twitter.com/BecYEXAL9Y
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 6, 2014

Wilson's bearded lookalike went absolutely bonkers after the pitcher got the final strike.

Yup. The power of The Beards.

Benches empty during Nationals-Phillies game (VIDEO)

During a crucial at-bat with one out in the top of the fifth and his team down 3-1, Denard Span requested a time out from home plate umpire Jim Reynolds, but was denied. In the middle of the request, the Phillies Cliff Lee continued with his wind-up and fired an inside fastball that nearly hit the Nationals batter.

Span was upset that Lee threw inside, as he could clearly be seen saying “c’mon man” after the pitch.

Lee shrugged it off and threw a low fastball for ball two before Span slapped an RBI ground out to the right side to cut the Phillies’ lead to 3-2. As he jogged off the field, it appears Lee said something to Span, which caused Span to stop dead in his tracks and turn back towards Lee. The two exchanged words and the dugouts and bullpens emptied. No punches were thrown and the situation was defused. But, while the teams mingled, Lee seemed bemused by the whole situation.

Nats won, 5-3.

Here we go:

Mike Trout robs Bryce Harper of hit with diving catch (VIDEO)

Mike Trout and Bryce Harper have been exhaustedly linked since 2012, when both of the youthful, talented outfielders were summoned to the major leagues for good.

On Wednesday, we finally had a moment where the phenoms went head-to-head, but by the time the play was over it was Trout who came out on top.

Trout made an impressive diving catch in center field to rob Bryce Harper of an extra base hit.

Now that's hustle.

Angels' Garrett Richards catches own pitch on freak play (VIDEO)

Who needs a catcher when you have a backstop made of concrete? Garrett Richards of the Angels apparently doesn't.

On this ball-four pitch to the Nationals'  Denard Span,  Richards unintentionally went back to being a kid bouncing pitches off a garage door back to himself.

While he missed his spot on the throw, Richards' play will remind many of summer afternoons thumping a rubber ball off the door and hoping a wild pitch doesn't break a window.

Bryce Harper, Babe Ruth featured in MLB commercial (VIDEO)

Bryce Harper "already looks like a legend."

That's what the voice says in MLB's newest commercial, which features the 21-year-old Harper posing with Babe Ruth and other baseball greats. Parts of the CGIed spot also show the Nationals outfielder hanging with Ted Williams and taking Nolan Ryan deep.

It's a 30-second promo for one of baseball's youngest stars which probably couldn't have come out at a more awkward time. Harper isn't off to the best of starts and was actually  benched Saturday for loafing to first base.

Maybe they should have thrown a clip of Harp and the Babe chomping on hot dogs in the dugout.