Video: “Best Presidents Race of the Year” as Teddy dives to rob George Washington

Best Washington Nationals presidents race of 2013 Teddy wins photo finishIn what Nationals play-by-play announcer Bob Carpenter said “might be the best GEICO presidents race of the year,” the Nationals racing presidents ran neck and neck for a breakneck 25 second pace Sunday after noon at Nationals Park.

In the home stretch, it appeared that George Washington had victory at hand, but Teddy Roosevelt charged from behind and dove for the finish line, falling over the tape as George stretched out his hands in apparent victory.

Race judge Screech awarded the photo finish victory to Roosevelt, keeping Washington’s magic number stuck at three.

Here’s the call by Bob Carpenter and FP Santangelo from Sunday’s broadcast:

Video: Teddy’s victory inning as called on MASN

With Teddy Roosevelt’s historic win coming on a weekday afternoon, it’s likely most fans at home found out via social media, highlight shows, and websites such as this, and not the live game broadcast.

Turns out that’s a shame, because MASN broadcasters Bob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo sure enjoyed the moment, along with the offensive barrage that immediately followed Teddy’s victory. In fact, they talked about it for nearly 20 minutes, but we’ve abridged the highlights for you here:

The team speculates about what happens with the Let Teddy Win website, and at one point Santangelo calls for the Nats to prevent further victories by Teddy, allowing him to enjoy only the one victory in honor of the team’s special 2012 season. Here’s hoping the team takes the opposite approach, allowing Teddy’s continued victories to carry the Nats through the World Series.

Some highlights:

F.P.: “He might have to pass a drug test to make it official”
Carp: “Do I hear horns honking on 395? Is the word getting out?”

And after Zimmerman’s home run:

Carp: “Teddy Wins! Zimmerman goes deep! And the game is tied!”
F.P.: “Is this a movie? Unbelievable.”
F.P.: “Just think of how many home runs the Nats would hit if Teddy would have won sooner.”

After Morse doubles, MASN puts up a graphic on total bases since Teddy’s win:

F.P. “They are such a better ball club since Teddy won. Way better.”
Carp: “If he’d have won on opening day they’d be 161-0 right now.”
F.P.: “How do you think Teddy winning affected Cliff Lee? That’s got to rattle him.”

After Tyler Moore doubles, Santangelo goes on through the end of the inning:

F.P.: “If Teddy doesn’t win, that ball’s foul. Teddy’s 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored, a home run, and 2 doubles… Think Teddy’s pounding some champagne right now?… I just want to find out where Teddy’s going after the game and I want to party with him all night. He’s got to have a table somewhere. VIP, bottle service. I mean, he’s got to celebrate. Maybe he’s going to the White House. Yeah. Party at the White House with Teddy tonight, everybody. Let’s all go.”

And finally:

Carp: “Thanks to Teddy, Nats 2, Phils 1″

Video: Did George Win? Jefferson handed controversial presidents race victory

Did Screech blow the call?

Washington Nationals Presidents Race Photo FinishWednesday night’s presidents race at Nationals Park may have been the closest in racing president history, with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson hitting the finish line at precisely the same time.

With NASCAR champion Austin Dillon on hand to wave the checkered flag Wednesday, race judge Screech was unusually liberated to focus on making the correct call.

Yet many on hand, including the MASN play-by-play team of Bob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo, felt that George Washington was robbed when Screech awarded the ‘W’ to Thomas Jefferson.

George reached out and grabbed the tape as he fell forward across the finish line, but even the slo-mo replay below is inconclusive as to whether Jefferson had already touched the tape.

Video #2 courtesy of YouTube member lfahome

Video: Racing presidents perform rhythmic gymnastics in Olympic tribute

Nationals racing presidents Olympic rhythmic gymnastics Teddy gets airNationals racing presidents Olympic rhythmic gymnasticsNationals racing presidents Olympic rhythmic gymnastics George Washington posesIf you’ve ever wondered what rhythmic gymnastics would look like if Olympic athletes had to wear 10 foot high, 45 pound costumes, the answer arrived with gusto Thursday night at Nationals Park.

After race walking and fencing through the first two matches of the series, the Rushmore Four continued to push the envelope with their week of Olympic tributes, entering the field carrying ribbons and performing a presidential rendition of rhythmic gymnastics.

“Good form and execution by George,” intoned Nationals P.A. announcer Jerome Hruska. “Wonderful control of the apparatus by Teddy.”

The presidents then paused in front of the visitors bullpen for invidual displays. “That’s a 10 for George,” Hruska continued as Washington twirled from the ground. Teddy received “a slight deduction,” but the reasons weren’t clear.

The presidents then took off towards the finish line, but Teddy, Abe, and Tom got tangled up in ribbons, and George Washington leapt to victory.

“George gets the gold,” added Nationals broadcaster Bob Carpenter
on the MASN broadcast. “My greatest challenge as the Nationals TV announcer doing play by play is making sense of the presidents race,” he added. “Baseball is a simple game compared to that.”

Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome

Video: Thomas Jefferson whacks George, Abe and Teddy, but is not disqualified. Bob Carpenter calls for an inquiry.

Nationals Presidents Race Thomas Jefferson CheatsNationals Presidents race Thomas Jefferson Cheats Shoves Teddy RooseveltNationals presidents race Teddy Roosevelt LosesPresidents Race Teddy Roosevelt finish line Amanda RykoffThe Nationals’ conspiracy against Teddy Roosevelt was on full display Sunday at Nationals Park, as Thomas Jefferson flaunted the rules to steal a race from our favorite president, yet avoided disqualification.

Over the years, it’s been president #16 Abe Lincoln who has built up a reputation for cheating, but something got into Jefferson Sunday, as the Sage of Monticello went on a rampage, first slamming George Washington into the outfield wall, then pushing aside Abe Lincoln in the corner.

That left only Roosevelt to beat, and the crowd roared with anticipation as Teddy surged ahead in the home stretch, but just before the finish line, Jefferson reached out and shoved Teddy to the ground. There was nothing subtle about it, yet Screech declared Jefferson the winner.

The double standard was not lost on MASN play-by-play announcer Bob Carpenter. “I think we should find out why Screech did not disqualify Tom Jefferson,” he said on the broadcast, “because Teddy, in my opinion, won that race. Inquiry!”

Inquiry indeed. Here’s Carpenter’s call of the race, followed by the finish line video. Note that’s espnW’s Amanda Rykoff holding the sign at Sunday’s finish line.

Finish line video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome

MASN pulls a racing president bobblehead switcheroo

The MASN Broadcast truckBob and F.P. in the MASN Broadcast BoothRacing President Bobblehead SurgeryMASN's Byron Kerr and Ray KnightAstute watchers of Nationals broadcasts on MASN know that since the opening of Nationals Park in 2008, play-by-play man Bob Carpenter has displayed bobbleheads of the Nationals’ four racing presidents on a shelf behind him in the booth. What they may not have noticed is that just yesterday, the bodies changed.

MASN hosted a small group of Nationals bloggers at Nationals Park on Monday night, providing a behind-the-scenes tour and a chance to meet both players on the field and the team’s on-air personalities in the booth.

For this uniquely obsessed blogger, one thing immediately stood out on entering the MASN booth: The presidents had new bodies.

After this weekend’s Jason Werth bobblehead giveaway, MASN stage manager Joe Delpo decided to perform a little bobblehead surgery, taking the heads of the presidents and placing them on the more active bodies of Jayson Werth, Chad Cordero, Jose Guillen, and Nyjer Morgan.

In a bit of irony, Roosevelt’s head now sits on the body of Teddy-critic Jayson Werth.

Honestly, it’s a good look. Next season will have been 5 years since the Nationals gave away presidents bobbleheads (which now command a hefty premium on ebay). Perhaps it’s time to issue updated versions of the presidents in uniform, inspired by MASN.

Thanks to Jim Buckle of MASN, Chad Kurz of the Nationals, and the entire MASN crew for embracing the Nationals blogging community.

Running of the Bulls video: George Washington attacks Thomas Jefferson

Presidents Race - Photo by Cheryl NicholsOn Sunday, George Washington donned
bull horns and rammed into Thomas Jefferson
, sending him diving over the railing (and practically into a fan holding a Let Teddy Win sign).

We didn’t get our usual video from Sunday’s contest, but we thought we’d provide the next best thing.

Highlights from Sunday’s MASN game broadcast:

Photos by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network

Presidents to race during Stephen Strasburg’s start in Syracuse Wednesday night

The Washington Nationals’ racing presidents will take their show on the road Wednesday for Stephen Strasburg’s second start with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs.

George, Tom, Abe, and Teddy will greet fans at the main gates of Alliance Bank Stadium, then run a presidents race following the 5th inning of the game vs. Norfolk. Nationals Mascot and race judge Screech will also make the trip.

Nats Entertainment Coordinator Tom Davis noted that “sending the Racing Presidents up to Syracuse for a night is another way to let Chiefs fans experience Nationals baseball.”

The game will be carried locally in DC on tape delay by MASN at approximately 10:30pm.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user dougtone

Phil Wood Joins MASN Pre- and Post-Game Team

DCRTV reports that Phil Wood has been hired by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network to replace Don Baylor as Ray Knight’s back-up on the Nationals pre and postgame shows.

Congratulations, Phil, and may I say this is great news for Nationals fans. Not only does Phil know the game as well as anybody in town, he is actually from the area and is a Nationals fan. Imagine that!

Phil, just promise me you’ll root for Teddy!

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