Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
Miguel Montero gets fresh start with Nationals
Miguel Montero was asked what went wrong in Chicago with Jake Arrieta when he met with reporters at the start of spring training. "You can't live in the past, so you've got to move on," Montero said. Still, it ought to be interesting if Arrieta -- Scott Boras' prize free agent pitcher -- arrives in the Nationals clubhouse. Published March 5, 2018
LOVERRO: You don’t want to be one of the boys on the bus
Sunday was one of those unique spring training creations -- the team playing two games at the same time, known as "split squad" games. Published March 4, 2018
No one wants to talk about rules changes during Spring Training
And no one seems to care, because everybody is happy when it's 83 degrees without a cloud in the sky. So sure, let's talk about changing a game that treats change like you're tinkering with the Bill of Rights. Published March 3, 2018
Mets-Nationals spring training game both a novelty and pilgrimage
It was the kind of novelty act you'll see from time to time in spring training baseball - one that has star power, even if those stars are crossed. It was Max Scherzer vs. Tim Tebow - power vs. pious. Published March 2, 2018
NFL Scouting Combine a reminder of Redskins’ dysfunction
The NFL scouting combine -- the Washington Redskins' time to shine -- is upon us. Last year, the franchise glowed. Published March 1, 2018
Shoe companies and the 3-point line killing the game
While much of the attention in basketball is being paid right now to the college basketball payment and corruption scandal, there's another crisis facing the game -- one far more complicated, but perhaps sharing the same disease -- the quality of the game itself. Published February 27, 2018
LOVERRO: Nothing will change after NCAA scandal
CBS and Turner Broadcasting are about to begin broadcasting their Super Bowl: March Madness, the NCAA tournament that consumes much of the country for three weeks. And nothing -- certainly not some little scandal that involves up to 20 Division I schools -- is going to get in the way of their television show. Published February 25, 2018
Dave Martinez has learned from game’s best skippers
Few rookie baseball managers have had as much on-the-job training, from so many mentors, as new Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez. Published February 22, 2018
Max Scherzer says Rizzo deserves long-term deal
The Washington Nationals have a lot invested in Max Scherzer -- a seven-year, $210 million contract signed two years ago -- but Scherzer had a lot invested in the Nationals' future as well. Published February 21, 2018
Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper fueled rebirth of baseball in D.C.
Six years after they first took the field together, it appears this may be the final year of the Nationals' Strasburg-Harper tag team of dreams -- and their last chance together to fulfill what at one time seemed to be their destiny. Published February 20, 2018
Bryce Harper tells media: No questions about contract
The Washington Nationals superstar, entering his final contract year, met with those he wants to wall off -- the media -- on Monday at Nationals spring training and declared that he would only be answering questions related to the 2018 season. Published February 19, 2018
Jim Bouton, ‘Ball Four’ lost on new generation
Once a must-read, "Ball Four" is little more than a curiosity these days. Published February 18, 2018
Adam Eaton says lower gear may be key
Adam Eaton says Washington fans ill see a smarter, better version this season. Published February 17, 2018
Dave Martinez dips into Dusty Baker’s human resources playbook
It's still hard to believe that the manager who led that team to those 97 wins --Dusty Baker -- is gone, replaced by a rookie skipper in Dave Martinez, who would be hailed as a great manager if he can match those victories. Published February 16, 2018
Max Scherzer needs to end as dominant as he begins
It was the first team workout of spring training for the Washington Nationals -- a voluntary one, pitchers and catchers -- but Max Scherzer was in midseason form. Published February 15, 2018
Matt Wieters has no time to dwell in the past
There was a lot that went wrong for the Nationals in Game 5 of last October's National League Division Series loss to the Cubs. It was a team meltdown. But Matt Wieters' fifth-inning contribution was a big part of it. Published February 14, 2018
Nationals carry the burden of Lerner expectations
Good news for Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner. When he gets to West Palm Beach for spring training, he'll find the World Series trophy there. Granted, it will be on the Houston Astros' side of the training facility they share with the Nationals, but at least he can get close to it. Published February 13, 2018
Ted Leonsis signals new direction
Was last week's announcement of $40 million in renovations at Capital One Arena an indication that building owner Ted Leonsis has given up his quest for a new arena at the RFK site? Published February 11, 2018
Olympics as sleazy as sports get
We are about to be subjected to two weeks of television -- the 2018 Winter Olympics -- that is as fraudulent as any reality program you can find. Published February 8, 2018
Vince McMahon’s white whale is the XFL
Two years from now, perhaps shortly after the final gun of Super Bowl 54, Vince McMahon will set sail on the sports media sea in his quest to hunt down his white whale -- the XFL, resurrecting the body of his failed football league. Published February 6, 2018
