Thom Loverro

Thom Loverro: Newcomer Plackemeier gets his kicks

Ryan Plackemeier was up to the task.

Thom Loverro: Another bout for ‘back pay’

You'll have to forgive Bernard Hopkins if, at 43, he refuses to leave the ring.

Thom Loverro: Big risk for Rays

Rolling dice with rotation.

Thom Loverro: Awful week takes a turn for the worse

Not on a roll.

Theodore recognizes his purpose

Thom Loverro: You can't have too many results like the seven goals the Capitals allowed against the Thrashers, or else it defeats the purpose of having a goalie

Thom Loverro: Bad memories bring hopes back to earth

The Washington Capitals in December will retire the No. 11 of Hall of Famer Mike Gartner and hang it from the Verizon Center rafters.

The Torre factor

Thom Loverro: Dodgers have big advantage in manager.

LOVERRO: Embrace FedEx for all its foibles

Stop complaining about the high-priced tickets, the traffic and everything else that has made FedEx Field a less-than-ideal fan experience. You'd better give the hated stadium a warm embrace and love it.

Thom Loverro: Hamels fires the first salvo in arms race

The Phillies got the luck of the rotation, throwing out their ace in a mismatch against Yovani Gallardo. The Brewers had to use theirs just to get to Philadelphia.

Thom Loverro: Dodgers have the right mix

Let's apply the Washington Nationals test to pick the favorites in the National League division series.

Showing appreciation — one fan at a time

Thom Loverro: Rain saves the District some embarrassment

The Washington Nationals' fan appreciation night - the final home game in the inaugural season at Nationals Park - was rained out Thursday night, an appropriate close to a season that started with so much promise yet ended in gloom and doom.

Thom Loverro: Just hanging on by a thread

Juan Carlos Robles doesn't need any additional advertisements to convey the message he's a tough guy.

Thom Loverro: Nats franchise is no jewel

More than two years after the Lerners took ownership of the team, the Washington Nationals don't even qualify as cubic zirconia.

THOM LOVERRO: Ballpark a success to savor

No one in Washington has had a better view of the first season of baseball at Nationals Park than Bill Hall.

Thom Loverro: Receiving some help to justify a gamble

Vinny Cerrato's top three picks all saw playing time in the Washington Redskins' victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, perhaps providing a sign his gamble in the draft will pay off.

Thom Loverro: Gibbs’ example allows lenience

Among the three Super Bowl trophies at Redskin Park and all the other symbols of the glory days, there should be some sort of trophy or banner or something that symbolizes the gift Joe Gibbs left behind for all coaches who follow him.

The best adjustment? Just not needing one

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. The only thing different about the Washington Redskins' season opener Thursday night against the New York Giants with Jim Zorn on the sideline - as opposed to having Joe Gibbs there for the last four years - was, well, you tell me.

Thom Loverro: Subtracting and adding to avoid 100

It's September, and baseball is all about numbers in September - how many games ahead, how many games behind, how many games separating the wild card teams, how many games left at home, how many on the road and on and on.

Thom Loverro: Zorn made it matter when it shouldn’t have

That certainly turned out to be a good idea, didn't it?