The Washington Nationals are back in the nation's capital for the first game of the final homestand on the regular season schedule. There will be games in October, however, and the tickets for the second NLDS in D.C. in three years sold out quickly.
A total of 45,017 fans purchased tickets for Game 3 of the 2012 NLDS in Washington, D.C., the first postseason game played in the nation's capital since October 7, 1933. The crowd was the largest to attend a game in Nationals Park to that point, though Game 5 of the series on October 12, 2012 set a new mark of 45,966 which stands to this day as the largest crowd in the history of the ballpark which opened in 2008.
Tickets for the second postseason series since the original Washington Senators went to the World Series 81 years ago this fall went on sale to the "general public" on Monday morning at 10:00 AM EDT.
By 10:17 AM EDT the tickets that were available were reportedly sold out.
A message on the Nationals official site broke the news to anyone who wasn't able to secure NLDS tickets in the seventeen-minute window:
"There are currently no tickets available for NLDS home games. Fans may check inventory for these games using the links below as seats may be released for sale if they become available."
The Nats note that the, "Nationals Park Box Office will sell a limited number of Standing Room Only tickets the day of each postseason game, subject to availability. Grandstand seating will not be available for purchase day-of-game during the postseason." There's always the secondary market, of course.
But who's going to miss the Nationals' return to the postseason? Before the Nationals start their second postseason run in the last three years, however, there are seven games to be played, three with the New York Mets starting tonight and four with the Miami Marlins starting with a doubleheader on Friday.
Tonight's game starts at 7:05 PM. How big a crowd will turn out to welcome the 2014 NL East Champions home? We'll see tonight. Until then, links and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:
• THE BIG STORY!!!:
• "It took 17 minutes Monday, but the National League East Division champion Washington Nationals have sold out Nationals Park seats for their homestand in the upcoming National League Division Series playoffs." - "Nats sell out home slate of division playoffs; standing room will be limited, but available" - Bob Niedt, Washington Business Journal
Nats sell out home slate of division playoffs; standing room will be limited, but available http://t.co/4d2CY8uPTa
— WashingtonBizJournal (@WBJonline) September 22, 2014• "Playoff tickets for the Washington Nationals' National League Division Series (NLDS) home games went on sale Monday morning -- and were sold out in just 17 minutes." - "Washington Nationals Playoffs: NLDS Tickets Sell Out in 17 Minutes" - NBC4 Washington
• NATS BEAT:
• "I've felt better the last month and a half, I would think. I feel very good with my swing." - Bryce Harper - "Harper opens up in conversation with MLB.com" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com
#Harper opens up in conversation with #MLB.com http://t.co/jEOJOCNw2V#Nats#Nationals#MLB
— William Ladson (@washingnats) September 22, 2014• "Players all know the baseball novel they are living -- like LaRoche knowing it's his last time around with the Nats and thinking this is his best lifetime chance to get a ring." - "Ask Boswell: Redskins, Nationals and Washington sports" - Thomas Boswell, The Washington Post
• "Moving on to New York could give Perez a better opportunity for playing time. Though the Yankees boast Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran in their outfield, their depth at the position isn’t as strong down in the minor league ranks as it is in Washington." -"Yankees claim former Nats outfielder Eury Perez off waivers" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
• LATEST POLL: Will Rafael Soriano be a part of the Nats' bullpen in the NLDS?
• VOTE AND CHECK UPDATED RESULTS HERE.
• "We’ve barely grown accustomed to having baseball back in the nation’s capital, as the Nats are approaching the 10th anniversary of their relocation from Montreal." - "Great expectations a good thing for Nationals as playoffs approach" - Deron Snyder, Washington Times
• "You may be saying right now: 'You’re really going to waste a spot on a pinch-running specialist?” My answer: 'Absolutely.'" - "Taking a crack at the Nationals’ postseason roster" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "His slider has showed occasional flashes of its former bite, but not frequently enough to be a go-to pitch." - "Nationals Pastime: Is Soriano pitching himself off the playoff roster?" - Pete Kerzel, MASNSports.com
• "Soriano relies on location and movement to neutralize batters and has survived before with 90 mph cutting fastballs. But his fastball was between 88 and 90 mph on Sunday..." - "Rafael Soriano gets a save, but is he ready for the playoffs?" - James Wagner, Washington Post
• "With just seven games in six days left, the Nationals need to start figuring out their postseason rotation and soon. That leaves just one turn left for all but one of their pitchers..." - "State of the Nats: Final week before playoffs" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
Tomorrow is $1 Dog night! $1 hot dogs will be available at all #Nats Dogs stands 'til the 6th, while supplies last. pic.twitter.com/oR334IFro7
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 22, 2014• "When the team buses pulled up to Nationals Park about an hour later, there were a bunch of visitors waiting for them." - "Nationals Pastime: Nats return home with lots on their side (Perez assigned to Yankees)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• Your Daily Message from the Dalai Lama on Twitter (@DalaiLama):
The idea of one side suffering defeat while the other side triumphs is out of date. Instead we have to develop dialogue.
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) September 23, 2014• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
• "With a 12.6% whiff rate, the slider is at least average. Brooks has [Treinen] throwing 40 change-ups with a 15% whiff rate, which is very encouraging." - "The Change: Corcino, Treinen, Bonilla" - Eno Sarris, FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
RotoGraphs: The Change: Corcino, Treinen, Bonilla http://t.co/BvpSxlEt6c
— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) September 22, 2014• "So the National League field is set – the Pirates, Cardinals, Dodgers, Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants all have clinched or boast a better than 99% chance of qualifying." -"Pennant primer: Poor play means MLB races almost over" - Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY Sports
• "The Lerner family, owners of the National League’s Washington Nationals baseball team, announced that they will not attend any playoff games that take place next week on Yom Kippur, the Washington Post reported last week." - "Sandy Koufax, Redux: Nats Owners Swear Off Yom Kippur Playoffs" - Steve Lipman, The Jewish Week
• "Gio Gonzalez is 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA in his last six starts. He has struck out 29 and walked seven in 38 2/3 innings during that span." - "Series preview: Mets at Nationals" - Adam Rubin, Mets Blog - ESPN New York
Series preview: Mets at Nationals http://t.co/rgwYMSKMHF#NYM#Mets
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) September 23, 2014• "The Yankees added some depth to their bench on Monday by claiming outfielder Eury Perez off waivers from the Nationals." -"Yanks claim outfielder Perez from Nationals" - Bryan Hoch, yankees.com
• "'With the cooperation of all appropriate parties, we can make progress on improving the pace of play, and we will have recommendations in the very near future for the 2015 season.'" - "MLB names committee to find ways to speed up the pace of baseball games" - Marissa Payne, The Washington Post
• NATSTOWN:
• "Growing cost concerns over a proposed $140 million baseball stadium and a competing suitor for the land could scrap plans to bring spring training to West Palm Beach." -"New obstacles surface for Palm Beach County baseball stadium proposal" - Andy Reid, Sun Sentinel
• "Anyway, it should come as no surprise that the Nationals’ postseason slogan is 'Nothing But October.'" - "Nationals installing ‘Nothing But October’ banners around D.C." - Scott Allen, The Washington Post
Looks like DC is getting a few new adornments! #NothingButOctober#Nats#NLEastChampspic.twitter.com/xuS7gl5VDJ
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 22, 2014• "Predicting the Washington Nationals 25-Man Roster for the NLDS" - Ryan Sullivan, NatsGM
• "Nats Talk On The Go: Episode 87" - Joe Drugan, The Nats Blog
• "The top Nationals prospects have descended on the team's practice and training facility in Viera, Fla." - "Lucas Giolito and other top prospects begin instructional league today" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "Twenty-four hours ahead of the official announcement, it looks like the team logos for the 2015 Winter Classic have leaked." - "It looks like Capitals will have brand new logo, uniforms for 2015 Winter Classic" - Travis Hughes, SBNation.com
• NL EAST UPDATES:
•Braves: "Veteran baseball man John Hart, who was brought in by the Braves as a consultant, could take an increased role, as Peter Gammons of MLB Network first reported." - "Braves weigh changes; longtime GM Frank Wren's role appears in peril" - Jon Heyman, CBSSports.com
The Braves have dismissed general manager Frank Wren. John Hart has been named as the interim GM.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 22, 2014• Marlins: "Hechavarria's bat may never outshine his glove, but this season the Marlins' shortstop made striking strides in the batters' box." - "Miami Marlins: Adeiny Hechavarria made great offensive strides in 2014" - Juan C. Rodriguez, Sun Sentinel
• Mets: "The Mets intend to pick up general manager Sandy Alderson's option for next season and 'are working toward adding years in an extension,' according to multiple people familiar with the matter." - "Source: Mets to Bring Back Terry Collins and Sandy Alderson" - Jared Diamond, WSJ
• Phillies: "Progress is exponential. Consider how far behind the Phillies are after only three years." - "Plotting Phillies' future" - David Murphy, Philadelphia Daily News