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Off-The-Field Recap: Love Is in the Air

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The first games after the All Star break are the equivalent of jumping into a pool after spending all day in the scorching sun. The feeling is amplified by a series win, and even more so when it’s accompanied by a flurry off-field fun:

1. As would be expected, it seems Max Scherzer missed playing games that counted toward the possibility of a playoff run. It’s no surprise the fiery pitcher is pumped to play, but Scherzer doesn’t frequent an instagram feed like Jose Lobaton or Bryce Harper, which made his posts a rarity.

This is how excited I am to get the second half of the season going! See everyone at @nationals Park tonight! #GoNats

A photo posted by Max Scherzer (@maxscherzer31) on

Ready to get back to work against the @dodgers! Rooting my teammates on today! #GoNats

A photo posted by Max Scherzer (@maxscherzer31) on


2. While Kayla Varner has taken the spotlight in terms of (in her case, soon to be) Nationals wives due to her recent re engagement to Bryce Harper, Brianna Norwood deserves some recognition too. Norwood isn’t Michael A. Taylor’s fiancee or wife, but she is his girlfriend who is consistent in tweeting her support for Taylor and the rest of the Nationals. Actually, most of her tweets are related to the team as a whole or non-Taylor players, but sometimes you gotta comment on a “I hit a two-run bomb after days of not playing baseball” smile.

3. Not many would turn down fresh made pastries, honey, or produce and neither would Stephen Strasburg. Stras was spotted at the Del Ray Farmers’ Market in Alexandria, Virginia as early as 7 a.m. Based on a tweet from “The Dairy Godmother,” Saturday wasn’t Strasburg’s first visit. I won’t look down on Stephen for his love of early morning corn, and neither should you.

4. Bryce Harper is known for his hair, his swing, and his hair. Lesser known, but still widely circulated information, is his religious affiliation with the Mormon church. Harper has never shied away from claiming his religion, which remained true when he posted a personalized copy of the Book of Mormon he was sent.

The best package I’ve got in a long time!🙏🏻 #LDS

A photo posted by Bryce Harper (@bharper3407) on


5. Bryce Harper is a wish granter in that when he’s coming up to throw with a runner headed for third, and you’re repeating over and over in your head “get him Bryce, get him Bryce, get him Bryce,” he usually comes through. Harper switched it up to grant another kind of wish a few weeks ago for a Maryland teen. Bryce met up with Kaylan, the recent recipient of a kidney transplant, and they were both charming and adorable, though Kaylan may have stolen the show.

Make-A-Wish with this beautiful girl Kaylan tonight on @espn! What a blast we had🙌🏼 #makeawish

A photo posted by Bryce Harper (@bharper3407) on

6. Bryce Harper has struggled to find his swing in the recent months, sweetening the sound when he does connect with a pitch. On Tuesday, he connected, and it was a borderline cosmic event, as the ball traveled 451 ft. halfway up the third deck at Nationals Park. Harper, who doesn’t always let on that baseball isn’t the most serious thing in the world, did so postgame by sharing a photo of himself admiring his handy work and tagging “the best beisbol player u ever seen” Domingo Ayala.

As the @therealdomingo would say, “this is how you impress the scouts” I love this game! #CurlyW

A photo posted by Bryce Harper (@bharper3407) on


7. On Monday, Kayla Varner posted an up-close shot of her engagement ring from Harper, revealing the sign for “I love you” detailed underneath the stone setting. Harper uses the sign after every home run, lifting his hand to the section Varner (and other family) usually sits in as he crosses home plate.

8. Sometimes baseball makes you forget why you ever missed it during the All Star Break and sometimes it makes you have to reschedule your charity event benefiting the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. Gio Gonzalez was set to host such an event at Claudia’s Steakhouse before Daniel Murphy, a pinch hit home run, and an 18 inning game got in the way. The event was originally set for Sunday, but took place on Monday instead. The resulting pictures were lovely nonetheless.


9. Trea Turner was called up after the All Star break, and with evidence of a District Taco instagram post, is assimilating right back into D.C. life. The picture serves a dual purpose as it also proves that tacos are the perfect fuel for stealing home.

Round two! 🔥 #DistrictTacos

A photo posted by Trea Turner (@tvturner) on


Last and least, the Tweets of the Week:

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About Author

Mina Dunn

I watched the Orioles until I was ten when I realized that (most) fans at RFK didn’t shout letters during the National Anthem. I’m a Public Relations and Economics major at VCU, the associate managing editor at TNB, and a sports columnist for a student newspaper. Be my friend on Twitter dot com: @maddc8.

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