Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
Howie Kendrick was most valuable player for the Nationals
You could make the case that Kendrick, one of the Nationals postseason stars and the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, was an MVP candidate for the regular season as well, if we are to accept the meaning of the word "valuable." No Washington National may have been more valuable to this team this season than Kendrick. Published November 10, 2019
Dwayne Haskins being named Redskins starter anything but simple
Somebody at Redskins Park seems to be scared to death to name rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins the 1-8 team's starting quarterback. Published November 7, 2019
Redskins missed lesson in Nationals’ handling of Stephen Strasburg
There is no shortage of material to contrast the way the Nationals and the Redskins do business -- in case you missed the World Series trophy the Nationals held high during their celebration parade on Saturday -- but nothing illustrates the difference between the two organizations more starkly than the treatment of their two star players, Strasburg and Williams. Published November 5, 2019
A celebration fans, city will cherish for generations
The memories made in this town, awash in a sea of red on Saturday, will last lifetimes. Published November 3, 2019
Dave Martinez planted seeds that grew into Series title
This group of players never stopped believing in themselves, even when everyone else had seemed to give up on them. Published October 31, 2019
Stephen Strasburg turns in all-time Series performance
Rain, snow, sleet, hail or the Houston Astros hitters -- Strasburg stands tall. Published October 30, 2019
Muhammad Ali - George Foreman ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ still as great as it gets 45 years later
So boys and girls, gather around, and let me tell you a story about one of the greatest sporting events of the 20th century that took place in the heart of Africa -- a battle between the greatest sports icon of the century and a fearsome opponent who would later become the greatest television pitch man of all time. That's a lot of great, I know. But the "Rumble in the Jungle" 45 years ago Wednesday -- Oct. 30, 1974 -- was as great as it gets. There has not been another like it since. Published October 29, 2019
Joe Ross was World Series reality fans did not expect
This was it, Nationals fans. No more baseball this season in Washington. You paid thousands of dollars to watch a World Series in this city for the first time in 86 years, and you got just that -- the World Series. Published October 27, 2019
Joe Ross was World Series reality fans didn’t expect
This was it, Nationals fans. No more baseball this season in Washington. You paid thousands of dollars to watch a World Series in this city for the first time in 86 years, and you got just that -- the World Series. Published October 27, 2019
Dwayne Haskins should study Book of RGIII for blueprint to future
Questions are swirling around the team's reluctance to put Haskins on the field. Typically, quarterbacks who are first-round picks are ready to at least try to compete on an NFL field, particularly those selected at No. 15. The Redskins appear afraid to put Haskins on the field. Published October 27, 2019
Patrick Corbin puts up another meager playoff performance
Washington Nationals starter Patrick Corbin keeps saying how much he looks forward to pitching in these postseason games. But his professed love for playoff pitching belies his record. Published October 27, 2019
LOVERRO: Nationals meet the real Astros in Game 3 loss
Only three other teams have won eight straight postseason games besides the Washington Nationals. None have won nine straight. After Friday night, it's still none. Published October 26, 2019
Nationals’ old-school ‘putting-the-ball-in-play’ mantra part of identity
Strikeouts have gone up every year for at least a decade, as players are being taught to try to drive the ball out of the park, even at the cost of striking out. They have been taught the risk is worth the reward, part of the analytics movement. Not in Washington, where the value of putting the ball in play is still paramount. The players believe it is part of this team's comeback identity. Published October 24, 2019
Kurt Suzuki extinguishes Astros
Kurt Suzuki took the Astros' heart with his solo home run in the top of the seventh, breaking a 2-2 tie and sending a signal to his Nationals teammates that it was time to dance. Published October 24, 2019
Juan Soto star turn gives Nationals win
Juan Soto continued to write his name in the 21st-century record book by driving in three runs Monday night and leading the Washington Nationals to a 5-4 Game 1 World Series win over the Astros before a silenced crowd of 43,339. Published October 23, 2019
D.C.’s hunger for baseball helped build Astros’ home
If the bring-baseball-back-to-Washington movement had been successful sooner, the Astros might be just a memory for Houston. Published October 22, 2019
Juan Soto stakes Nationals to 1-0 Series lead
Nationals take Game 1 behind Soto, Scherzer Published October 22, 2019
Nationals see D.C.’s first World Series opener in 86 years
When the Nationals come back to host Games 3 and 4, and possibly Game 5, it will be something unprecedented that fans here will witness. No, the Capitals' Stanley Cup doesn't measure up. No, the Bullets 1978 NBA championship isn't comparable. Published October 21, 2019
Kyle Shanahan gets revenge on Redskins
A 9-0 shutout Sunday of Washington at the annual Alumni Homecoming game may not have been the way that San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan envisioned. But a win is a win. Published October 20, 2019
Dave Martinez’s message, style have not changed since day he took Nationals manager job
Martinez -- with zero managing experience -- went beyond all his predecessors' boasts and excitement and formulas for success and put himself out there with his testimony that nothing less than a World Series title would do. And now, here he is, farther than anyone who came before him, on the brink of talking his goals into existence. Published October 17, 2019
