Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
Nationals give the fans history, joy, a World Series
"We're not here solving the world's problems. We're here playing a baseball game. Some of you guys have done it since you were 3, 4 years old. So just go out there and have fun." That was Dave Martinez, telling his players to enjoy the moment. Players heard him, and so, for that matter, did Nationals fans. Published October 15, 2019
Alex Smith had multiple leg surgeries
The last count we got on surgeries for Redskins quarterback Alex Smith was six -- an alarming amount of operations on the broken leg he suffered on Nov. 18, 2018, against the Houston Texans. But what if I told you that wasn't even close to the count? Published October 15, 2019
Stephen Strasburg’s tenacity, brilliance now define legacy
Monday night before a packed and raucous sold-out Nationals Park crowd of 43,675 energized by their team's first NL Championship Series home game, Stephen Strasburg focused on what he could control -- and he controlled the St. Louis Cardinals for seven innings of one-run baseball. Published October 14, 2019
Dave Martinez and the win-from-behind edge
Now we will see how the Washington Adversities deal with success. Published October 13, 2019
Nationals exorcise their demons in the City of Angels
This 2019 team has a personality the others did not -- one built for adversity. Those previous four Nationals postseason teams coasted to division titles. This team, as Martinez has said so often, has essentially played a wild card game every day since that 19-31 start. Published October 10, 2019
Redskins’ brass may be dangerous to team’s health
In 2019, it may be time for the media to require this warning with all references to the Washington Redskins: "Warning -- the Washington Redskins are not a real NFL franchise. It doesn't matter who plays quarterback. It doesn't matter who coaches. Nothing matters as long as Dan Snyder owns the team." Published October 7, 2019
Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman night to remember
It's not quite time for Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman to say goodbye yet. They have business still ahead in Nationals uniforms. Published October 7, 2019
Patrick Corbin relief stint goes off the rails
Sunday night's Game 3 loss pours a little cold water on the idea that the Nationals can paper over the holes in their bullpen by slipping in starters like Strasburg, Scherzer and Corbin as relief pitchers. Published October 6, 2019
Stephen Strasburg wills Nationals to win
Postseason brilliance answers skeptics who've questioned the pitcher's heart and competitive spirit. Published October 5, 2019
LOVERRO: Game 1 dominated by Dodgers
Patrick Corbin said he signed with Washington because he wanted the ball on the mound in a playoff game. On Thursday, though, it looked, early, as though he would have rather been just about anywhere else. Published October 4, 2019
NFL teams fight for place in saturated L.A. market
The Los Angeles Dodgers' real competition isn't the NFL. It's the Los Angeles Lakers. No one else matters, really, which makes the city atypical of most sports markets, where NFL franchises reign. Published October 3, 2019
Anthony Rendon-Cody Bellinger MVP debate to be part of NLDS narrative
A sideshow to the Washington Nationals-Los Angeles Dodgers National League Division Series beginning Thursday night at Dodger Stadium will likely be the battle of the Most Valuable Player candidates -- or, more accurately, their home crowd backers. Published October 2, 2019
Stan Kasten has golden touch for Dodgers
Since Stan Kasten joined with Mark Walter to purchase the Dodgers in 2012, the franchise has won seven straight National League West division titles and the last two NL pennants. This year they finished 106-54. Published October 2, 2019
Juan Soto gets biggest dance in Nationals’ wild card party
Soto wants to dance -- and dance he did Tuesday night, leading the Nationals to a dramatic comeback 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers to win the National League Wild Card Game and sending his team into the NL Division Series, where they will face the Los Angeles Dodgers. Published October 2, 2019
Dwayne Haskins cannot cure Redskins’ sickness
Coaches, quarterbacks and players come and go -- and none of them can fix a poisonous culture in which a rookie is inexplicably empowered before he ever steps foot at Redskins Park. Published October 1, 2019
Max Scherzer the Nationals’ pick for winner-take-all moment
Inside the Nationals clubhouse, there was no debate over the decision: If Scherzer is healthy enough to pitch, he gets the ball for the biggest game Washington has played so far this season. Published September 30, 2019
LOVERRO: Wild card mindset saved Nationals’ season
The Washington Nationals have been in must-win, wild card mode for months -- ever since getting swept in late May by the Mets. Published September 29, 2019
Dave Martinez at heart of Nationals turnaround
Give Dave Martinez his due -- the Nationals came back from the dead after the first two months of the season to play the best baseball in the National League. Published September 26, 2019
Redskins quarterback argument could be epic
Here we are, three weeks into the NFL season, and we've got chaos and carnage surrounding the Washington Redskins already -- and we haven't even gotten to the signature Redskins controversy yet. The quarterback argument. Published September 24, 2019
How could things get worse for Redskins? Monday night was how
The Washington Redskins' latest loss was not rock bottom, but just another rock to put in the sea of rock bottom that this franchise has filled over the last 20 years that Dan Snyder has owned the team. Published September 24, 2019