Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
LOVERRO: Ned Yost, Royals might have last laugh as ALCS managers match wits
Ned Yost — a manager perceived to be so clueless that sportswriter Joe Posnanski came up with the term "Yostify" to define illogical decisions followed by illogical explanation — may be on the verge of being Kansas City's Joe Torre. Published October 12, 2014
LOVERRO: Plan on Matt Williams, Nats being back in playoffs — then ditch the plan
The best Nationals fans can hope for is that this was a learning experience for the rookie manager moving forward. Published October 9, 2014
LOVERRO: Redskins mired in identity crisis even after coaching change
A sense of identity. The Redskins talk about it like it is some holy grail, as if they will one day stand in front of a mirror and see a champion. Published October 7, 2014
LOVERRO: A tale of Redskins quarterbacks past, present and pretend
The scene at FedEx Field Monday night while the Washington Redskins were struggling nobly in a 27-17 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks was a variation on Charles Dickens' holiday tale, "A Christmas Carol." Published October 7, 2014
LOVERRO: Matt Williams’ best-laid plans could put Nationals in ground
So, the Nats have a plan for when a starting pitcher coming off a no-hitter has shut out the opposing team in a postseason game, allowing just three hits in his last 18 innings, with two outs, still throwing 94 miles per hour, after retiring 20 straight hitters, walks his first batter after getting squeezed by the home plate umpire? Published October 5, 2014
LOVERRO: Stephen Strasburg settles for ‘fine’ in long-awaited postseason debut
Jake Peavy — who no-hit the Nationals through the first four innings and left after 5 2/3 innings pitched having allowed no runs on two hits and three walks — is not supposed to be better than Stephen Strasburg at this stage in their respective careers. Published October 3, 2014
LOVERRO: Denard Span is difference-maker from Nats’ last playoff team
The 2012 series-opening lineup led off with Jayson Werth. This year's version will lead off with center fielder Denard Span. We can stop right there. Published October 2, 2014
LOVERRO: Jordan Zimmermann to join Nats famous and forgotten in Hall of Fame
Zimmermann will take his place alongside Terrmel Sledge, Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Zimmerman and Stephen Strasburg — memorable and forgettable Washington Nationals — in Cooperstown after Sunday's no-hit feat. Published September 30, 2014
LOVERRO: As Derek Jeter departs, Yankees now A-Rod’s team
As baseball says goodbye to the good king, the evil king still lurks in the shadows — banished and broken, but, from all accounts, expected to return next season. Published September 28, 2014
LOVERRO: Jay Gruden faces Redskins’ reality, and it isn’t pretty
After this 45-14 beat-down on national television by a team that seemed to destined to be an NFC East bottom feeder this season, Gruden's team is not just behind the 8-ball — it is broke, busted. Published September 26, 2014
LOVERRO: Randy Knorr comfortable as guy beside the guy in Nationals’ dugout
Knorr is Matt Williams' bench coach, his consigliere, so to speak, his dugout adviser on baseball matters. But if Knorr, 45, had his way, he would have been the boss, not the adviser. This would be his championship team, not Williams' squad. Published September 25, 2014
LOVERRO: Empty statements, transparent motives mark NFL’s response to crisis
It really doesn't matter anymore who is lying. We're at the point where you have to assume they all are. Add truth and the NFL's credibility to the growing list of victims here. Published September 23, 2014
LOVERRO: Redskins, Eagles ready for more after Thrilla in Phila
Sunday's 37-34 Eagles win over the Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field was everything you would want in an NFC East rivalry game. Frustration, exhilaration, desperation, retribution, confrontations, altercations, ejections — all of it adding up to one of the more hard-fought games between these two division rivals in recent years. Published September 21, 2014
LOVERRO: Mike Rizzo truly the architect of NL East champion Washington Nationals
The Nats won the division title going away without a .300 hitter, a 15-game winner, a 25-home run hitter or a 100-RBI man. They won it with a rookie manager who lost his biggest bats in the opening weeks of the season, and has been without one of the team's best players for much of the year. They won because of a group of Mike Rizzo moments. Published September 18, 2014
LOVERRO: A Redskins QB controversy worth cheering for
Three years ago, the quarterback controversy was Rex Grossman vs. John Beck. Think about that one. What other town could possibly get worked up about Rex Grossman vs. John Beck? At least now the debate is about better quarterbacks. Published September 16, 2014
LOVERRO: With Robert Griffin III injury, mixed emotions for Redskins
It was almost like an Irish wake Sunday at FedEx Field. Everyone was celebrating and hugging each other — on the Redskins sideline and in the stands — as the clock wound down on Washington's impressive 41-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yet perhaps we had witnessed the end of Robert Griffin III's career as a Redskin. Published September 14, 2014
LOVERRO: Why is Roger Goodell still employed? He always makes money for his partners
Why else would this guy — the face of your business, who can't even be seen in public now (he canceled an appearance Wednesday night at an event honoring Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson) — keep his job? Published September 11, 2014
LOVERRO: A year ago, NFL used Ray Rice jersey to market apparel to women
In a seemingly bottomless pit of shame for the league, following the release of the TMZ video and the NFL and Ravens backtracking to cut their ties with Rice, its advertising campaign launched in September 2013 to sell product to women is particularly disgusting for the message that it delivered. Published September 9, 2014
LOVERRO: NFL, Ravens felled by Ray Rice punch we shouldn’t have had to see
The NFL — which now has suspended Rice "indefinitely" — is claiming that Rice wasn't honest with them about the details surrounding the incident, but what exactly did it think happened when the initial video showed him dragging his fiance out of the elevator? Published September 8, 2014
LOVERRO: For Robert Griffin III, Redskins, something is missing in rough opener
Is this what it has come to for Griffin — not losing the game instead of trying to win it? One of the problems in Griffin's so-called development is his mentality of trying to win the game on every play. Well, they drummed that out of him. Published September 7, 2014
