Feb 26, 2025 · 46 min
NC
Sports
Nats Chat
Mark Zuckerman & Al Galdi, Blue Wire
A Washington Nationals podcast offering recap and analysis after every game, plus all the breaking news throughout the year. Hosted by Mark Zuckerman of natsjournal.com & Al Galdi, host of "The Al Galdi Podcast". For sponsorship opportunities, contact Tim Shovers at natschatpodcast@gmail.com.
- 980 episodes
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Episodes980
- NCFeb 21, 2025 · 48 min
Veteran 3B Option Added + Talking $$$
Grapefruit League play has yet to start, but the Nats have been down in West Palm Beach for over a week. Mark (Live from Florida) & Al begin with the recent signing of veteran infielder Paul DeJong, who might end up being the team's Opening Day 3B. DeJong hit 24 homers last season while playing for both the White Sox & Royals. (14:00) Washington added right-handed relief pitcher Lucas Sims, who is coming off a down season. Sims did however have a solid 2023 season for the Reds that saw his ERA f
- NCFeb 14, 2025 · 42 min
Pitchers, Catchers, and CJ Abrams Report to Camp
The Nationals opened up camp this week in Florida as Davey Martinez begins his 8th season at the helm. Mark (Live from West Palm) & Al open with how 2025 might have elevated pressure for Martinez compared to recent seasons. (05:40) CJ Abrams reported early to camp after his 2024 ended on a very sour note. Abrams was demoted to AAA the final week of the season after being out late at a Chicago casino just a few hours before an afternoon game. Abrams made the All-Star Game last summer and led the
- NCJan 6, 2025 · 37 min
Josh Bell's Return Among the Recent Moves
Al & Mark convene during the early January snow storm to discuss the roster moves that were made in late December. The Nationals recently acquired 1B Nathaniel Lowe from Texas in exchange for Robert Garcia and also signed Josh Bell. Will there be more moves to address offense for the 2025 season? Bell was previously with Washington and was part of the Juan Soto trade to San Diego in 2022. (14:50) The Nats inked a pair of pitchers in Trevor Williams & Mike Soroka. Williams returns for his 3rd sea
- NCDec 12, 2024 · 52 min
Nats Win the #1 Overall Pick During A Quiet Winter
The MLB Winter Meetings just wrapped up in Texas and the Nationals have not yet made an offseason splash. Mark & Al begin with the pleasant surprise that Washington won the lottery and will have the top pick in next summer's Draft. (05:30) Mike Rizzo said on TV that it is time "hit the gas" despite the team not signing anyone thus far. Is it too early to panic and think it will be another quiet winter? (09:00) Juan Soto signed a massive contract with the Mets, but it seems like the Nationals wer
- NCNov 2, 2024 · 47 min
Juan Soto is Now a Free Agent
The World Series is now behind us and Juan Soto's Free Agency has arrived. Mark & Al begin with a nod to Nationals October legend Daniel Hudson, who announced his retirement shortly after the Dodgers won the title, Hudson was warming up in the bullpen when Walker Buehler closed out Game 5. (05:00) Will the Nats be active on the Free Agency market for the first time in awhile? Will it be a Buyer's Market for the non elite players? (14:10) We give an early handicap of the Soto Sweepstakes now that
- NCSep 30, 2024 · 40 min
Season Ends With a Loss
The Nats lost 6-3 on Sunday afternoon to the Phillies to finish the season at 71-91 overall. Mark & Al bridge the end of 2024 to the outlook of the 2025 season. (16:10) Dylan Crews closed out his season on a high note with a triple, two singles, and a stolen base. Crews ended up with 119 Big League at-bats after getting called up in late August. (19:30) Luis Garcia Jr. homered on Sunday to fittingly wrap-up his best season so far. Al points out that he was Washington's best 2B this year since pe
- NCSep 29, 2024 · 40 min
Gore & Wood Lead the Way Over Philly
The Nats topped the Phillies 6-3 on Saturday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd for their 71st victory; tying last year's total. Mark & Al recap MacKenzie Gore's stellar final outing of the season where he tossed six shutout frames. Gore's season ends with a 3.90 ERA, a stark improvement from where he began September (4.45). It is the best end of season ERA for a Nats starter with 20+ starts since... 2019. (16:45) James Wood had a big day as he tripled and homered in the win. Wood has nine ho
- NCSep 28, 2024 · 36 min
Stone Garrett Immediately Homers in Easy Win
The Nats clubbed the Phillies 9-1 on Friday night to end their four game skid. Mark & Al recap Stone Garrett's "too good to be true" evening as he fell a triple shy of the cycle in his first Big League game since August of last season. Garrett broke his leg last year and spent the bulk of this season with AAA-Rochester. (13:30) Trevor Williams tossed five shutout innings in his 2nd start since returning from the IL. The hosts look at what the chances are that he is back in the team's rotation ne
- NCSep 27, 2024 · 23 min
Corbin's Final Start
The Nats were swept on Thursday afternoon by the Royals in a 7-4 loss. Al hosts solo to send off Patrick Corbin after his final start in a Washington uniform. Corbin gave up four runs, but did retire the final 10 batters he faced before Davey Martinez lifted him in the top of the 6th. The crowd applauded and Corbin tipped his cap back as a way to wrap up his six year tenure in D.C. (16:00) Kyle Finnegan took the loss after allowing three runs in the top of the 9th. Al looks back at the recent de
- NCSep 26, 2024 · 34 min
Shutout for the 18th Time
For the third straight game the Nationals couldn't plate a run in their 3-0 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday night. Mark & Al dive into the continuing offensive ineptitude as the team is now 8-14 in September. (07:00) The lack of runs leads to re-visiting the conversation about the decision in August to bring back the entire coaching staff in 2025. (14:10) DJ Herz only allowed one run in his start of the season. Herz was called up in early June to replace the injured Trevor Williams and ended th
- NCSep 25, 2024 · 34 min
Shutout for the 17th Time
The Nats rough September continued on Tuesday night as they were blanked 1-0 by the visiting Royals in extra innings. Mark & Al convene after back to back shutout defeats and the team has now lost seven of their past eight games. (07:10) Dylan Crews went 0 for 4 and struck out 3 times. Crews' average is now down to .196 after his first month in the majors. (15:30) Stone Garrett was called up from Rochester to replace Andres Chaparro, who was placed on the Paternity List. Over a year ago Garrett
- NCSep 23, 2024 · 26 min
Shutout for the 16th Time
Following a two hour rain delay, the Nats were blanked 5-0 on Sunday afternoon in Chicago. Before we get into the show, we are excited to announce that WE WILL BE RETURNING FOR A 5TH SEASON AT NATS CHAT in 2025. (06:00) Jake Irvin allowed a trio of early Cubs homers and he has now given up 29 of them this season. Irvin is now at 10-13 with an ERA at 4.22 and afterwards was critical of how mentally handled the delay start to the game. (16:30) The offense outhit Chicago, but yet again did not scor
- NCSep 22, 2024 · 34 min
Abrams Stunningly Demoted Prior to Gore's Gem
The Nats ended their five game skid on Saturday afternoon, but the major news of the day came beforehand. Mark (From Wrigley Field) & Al dive into the shocking news that CJ Abrams was optioned to the minors and will not play the rest of the season. There were reports that Abrams was out at a Chicago casino until 8AM on Friday morning, just a handful hours prior to 1st Pitch. Abrams will spend the next week at the team's facility in West Palm Beach since AAA-Rochester's season ends on Sunday. (24
- NCSep 21, 2024 · 32 min
Williams Pitches Well in Defeat
The Nats lost their fifth in a row on Friday afternoon, but there were positive items to focus on amid defeat. Mark (From Chicago) & Al gather after the Nationals 3-1 loss at Wrigley Field that keeps the team stuck at 68 wins. Trevor Williams had a solid outing after returning from a long stint on the IL; he only allowed one run in five frames in his first appearance since May 30th. Williams has one start remaining and these outings might serve as a de facto tryout for 2025. (17:00) The only Was
- NCSep 20, 2024 · 33 min
Skid Extends to 4
The Nats lost 7-6 on Thursday night in Chicago for their 4th consecutive defeat. Mark (From Wrigley Field) & Al react to Washington falling to 17 games below .500 for the first time this season. (05:00) CJ Abrams had a magnificent game as he had four hits, two of which were doubles, and a pair of stolen bases. (12:45) Darren Baker got his first career start at a stadium that he grew up at and he responded with a trio of hits. Baker sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at The Friendly Confines whe
- NCSep 19, 2024 · 32 min
Swept & Shutout
The Nats were pummeled 10-0 on Wednesday night to conclude the sweep at the hands of the Mets. Mark (From Citi Field) & Al convene after Washington finished a paltry 2-11 vs. New York this season and the Mets maintain a two game lead over the Braves from the NL's Wild Card spot. The Nationals remain stuck at 68 wins and need to go 4-6 the rest of the way to exceed last season's win total. (14:00) DJ Herz was cruising through the initial innings, but the wheels came off in the bottom of the 4th.
- NCSep 18, 2024 · 30 min
Crushed in Queens
The Nats were blown out 10-1 on Tuesday night at the Mets. Mark (From NYC) & Al react to Mitchell Parker's rough outing, that saw him allow five runs in under four innings of work and make yet another mental error in the field. Parker did not properly cover 1st base on a grounder to the right side and Mark explains the severity of this deficiency for Parker's long term career outlook. Parker's ERA is up to 4.44 after making 28 starts in his rookie season. (16:00) Zach Brzykcy was one of the call
- NCSep 17, 2024 · 33 min
Irvin's Gem Gets Spoiled Late
The Nats lost 2-1 at the Mets in ten innings on Monday evening to begin their final road trip of the season. Mark (From Citi Field) & Al react to the splendid start by Jake Irvin, who brought a shutout into the bottom of the 8th. Irvin made a spectacular defensive play to end the 4th inning and had a memorable reaction afterwards. (13:10) Kyle Finnegan was not used, but did warm up in the bullpen in case the Nationals took the lead in top of the 10th. Why didn't he pitch the bottom of the 10th r
- NCSep 16, 2024 · 34 min
Wood Leaves the Yard Twice in Victory
The Nats held off the Marlins 4-3 on Sunday afternoon to close the season series with a dominant 11-2 record against Miami. Al & Tim put in perspective how many positives emerged from the victory; that showed the potential for the near future. (04:00) James Wood crushed a pair of homers and now has seven in his rookie season. Both of the blasts had exit velocities that exceeded 100 MPH. (12:10) CJ Abrams missed a third straight game due to a shoulder impingement. Nasim Nunez got the start again