‘Player of the Week’
courtesy of ‘jem’

In what is sure to be the first many major awards in Stephen Strasburg’s career, he got his first today when he was named the Bank of America MLB NL Player of the Week.

Why was he named the NL’s top player this week? Well, besides the obvious fact that Strasmania has hit the blogosphere, Mr. Strasburg is tied for 2^nd on the all-time list of most strikeouts recorded in first 2 big league starts at 22 K’s. Only Karl Spooner (27 in 2 starts in Sept. 1954) recorded more in first 2 big league assignments.

The San Diego native also fanned 19 before issuing first walk. The only other pitcher to do that since 1900 was Cinncinatti’s Johnny Cueto who went struck out 22 before walking someone in 2008 .

Strasburg is now 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA.

The Nationals’ new starter isn’t the only DC athlete getting nods this week. The United’s Chris Pontius was named MLS Player of the Week for Week 12 of the 2010 season. Pontius scored two goals and recorded an assist in DC United’s 3-2 victory over Seattle Sounders FC on Thursday, June 10 at Qwest Field.

This is also Pontius’ first career Player of the Week award in addition to it being the first time a DC United player was chosen as Player of the Week this season.

Congrats to both DC athletes on quite a week’s worth of achievements!

‘Stare’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

…that’s really all you need to know. At a sobriety checkpoint in Bedford County, DC resident Fiona Ann Enderdy arrived at the checkpoint, and there were… noises coming from the trunk of her car. It was a goat, bound and gagged, and of course panting because it was ungodly hot and nasty this weekend even if you were NOT covered in fur and gagged in the trunk of a car.

Enderdy was charged with animal cruelty and released, but insists that in the UK, where she’s from, transporting goats that way is perfectly acceptable.

‘Oh Boy …’
courtesy of ’emilywjones’

While I don’t remember the first time I came across the Mottram brothers’ mecca of a DMV-area sports blog, I do know this — I’ve read it every day since then and don’t foresee stopping anytime soon.

That being said, Mr. Irrelevant — the brainchild of the brothers Mottram — achieved a blogging milestone in recent weeks when their post-count reached an impressive 2,000.

Jamie and Chris have been at it for three years now, both still finding time to work full-time sports blogging gigs (Jamie is the Managing Editor for Yahoo! blogs and Chris is the Senior Editor at SB Nation) in addition to Mr. I, which is what they spend their free-time doing.

Congrats to both Mottram brothers on a successful run so far. We Love DC and I look forward to many more witty, comical, yet serious sports blog posts to come!

”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Sometimes I love DC because our political scene is so ridiculous, not despite. Kelvin Robinson, erstwhile candidate for At-Large council seat, has abruptly switched races to run for council specifically from Ward 6, challenging Tommy Wells.

He says there were a lot of factors in the decision, but Mike Debonis points out that a significant one may have been that his stack of ballot petitions was stolen out of his car. So either there’s some dirty business going on and someone is trying to keep Robinson out of the race, or some petty thief was really pissed when he opened up the bag he/she had just finished stealing.

To continue in the At-Large race, Robinson would have to get another 2,000 signatures, but to get on the ballot for Ward 6, he just has to get 250 Ward 6 registered voters to sign, which may be logistically easier.

‘2010:75’
courtesy of ‘::FiZ::’

You may recall last year’s debate between Apple and Georgetown about whose vision for the Apple storefront would win out. Now that they’ve kissed and made up and Apple has gotten to build their store, it will open this Friday. So now you can go fondle an iPad from the convenience (?) of Georgetown, instead of schlepping aaaaallll the way into Virginia on the Metro to Pentagon City or Clarendon. Just, you know, remember to bring your hand sanitizer.

‘well-dressed mayor’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Earlier this month thieves stole two mountain bikes from the Crestwood home of Mayor Adrian Fenty, according to Bill Myers at the Washington Examiner. From police reports obtained by the Examiner, the bicycles were stolen from the Mayor’s garage, while his security detail was on duty. Fenty was not home at the time, but his wife Michelle was. The bikes are valued at around $300 each, so they are not the top of the line of Fenty’s bike collection.

Detectives are investigating, and according to Police Chief Cathy Lanier, one officer may face disciplinary charges for neglect. The entire incident, which took place on June 3, was captured on security cameras. From the MPD crime reports, it appears as though the incident was written up as a theft from the “alley” in the 4700 block of 17th St NW.   Continue reading →

Drew Storen in-motion, Photo By Ian Koski/Nationals Daily News

The much hyped Stephen Strasburg road debut resulted in a 9-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians, snapping the midwesterner’s four-game win streak. Indians’ manager and ex-Nats manager Manny Acta said his team couldn’t get anything going offensively in yesterday’s day. That’s not 100% true.

Cleveland scored 33 runs during their four-game win streak, two wins against the Nationals. Acta’s Indians got a taste of Strasburg when he struggles. Strasburg walked five batters while striking out eight, but those five walks were crucial moments of the game. Those walks were the only real chance besides Travis Hafner’s solo shot over the right-field wall off a 100-mph fastball from Strasburg’s right hand to score.

All Indians runners were stranded. Strasburg got out of a couple jams, but not before coming out after 5 1/3 innings with Washington up 6-1 over Cleveland.

Strasburg left the game with the bases loaded and one out. Enter Drew Storen. Continue reading →

The new d.ish blog from DDOT brings us this morning’s video that explains the traffic pattern at the intersection of New York and Florida Avenues in Northeast DC near the ATF HQ and our friends at Pound Coffee. The traffic pattern has been changed to better increase flow through the area, which is a pretty bad hotspot, between the construction and the directional changes.

The plan, dubbed Dave Thomas Circle by our friends at Greater Greater Washington, circulates traffic around the island at First, Florida and New York, which houses a Wendy’s. If this is part of your commute each day, give it a look.

‘(158/365)’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Yesterday marked the end of an era in the DC Blog Scene, as DCist’s editrix for the last three years, Sommer Mathis, finished her stint to work for the new Albritton TBD.com, and today marks the beginning of the new, as Aaron Morrissey takes her place. I just want to take a second to thank Sommer for her many contributions to DC’s blogging scene, and to welcome Aaron to the helm of DCist.  I’ve had the pleasure of sitting side by side with Aaron for a number of D.C. United matches, and Tuesday’s Nationals game, and I’ve enjoyed talking with him, and I look forward to DCist under his watch.  Congrats, Aaron, and Congrats, Sommer, it’s been a pleasure blogging with/near you both.

‘Dandies & Quaintrelles 0863’
courtesy of ‘yospyn’

This weekend’s Seersucker Social has a bike-ride associated, and from what I understand, the directions are text-only. I’ve worked with one of the riders to do some google mapping, and I’m hopeful that this is going to work. As always, keep the directions with you, but this might do the trick, as well. Continue reading →

‘snow melter’
courtesy of ‘ann gav’

The DC DPW has a ton of awesome equipment, like this mobile snowmelter that became part of the everyday lexicon of the average DC resident during the blizzard this winter. This Saturday from 9 to 2, they’re having a “truck touch” where you can come check out 20 different vehicles that might capture your imagination, over in parking lots 6 and 7 at RFK Stadium. You can climb into the various sweet rides that DCDPW has to offer, how sweet is that?

‘2010:149’
courtesy of ‘::FiZ::’

If Capitol Hill was in fact a high school, it is definitely hitting all the marks for the end of the school year. Since the prom has already happened, that must mean it’s almost yearbook season, and the DC version of that would certainly have to be The Hill‘s 50 Most Beautiful People list. Vanity and politics meet at a fantastic intersection in this annual feature from the congressional publication, and now is the time to make sure your favorite Hill-ype gets included. As Fishbowl DC notes, nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 version of the list through June 30th.

In honor of the open nomination, The Hill is sharing redacted versions of a very of the entertaining entries. My favorite of the first group:

Besides being his lucky girlfriend and No. 1 fan, I’m nominating [NAME] because he is a specimen of all that is man. I have to fight girls/my friends/his interns/my mom off of him. It’s disgusting and awesome. He is not only the most interesting and hilarious person you’d ever meet but also an unrivaled storyteller and will surely keep you more entertained with an interview than I can in this short nomination …

I’m not always a betting man, but I would gamble that a certain junior senator from up north gets included…especially if the SNL writers get a vote.

Photo by Rachel Levitin

American University rising junior and basketball player Stephen Lumpkins achieved an athletic feat that no other Division I college basketball player in the city has this year – he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 42^nd round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.

Lumpkins, who is known for playing forward with the American Eagles, played baseball throughout high school and is on a collegiate summer league team at the moment.

Although he entered the Eagle lineup his freshman year, Lumpkins’ love for baseball did not falter. The 6’8” California native started recruiting basketball teammates to “play catch” with him last summer while at home.

“I’d like to pursue a career in professional baseball,” he told American’s Kogod News.

Lumpkins has until mid-August to make his final decision about whether or not he will return to AU and continue to play Division I basketball or join the Pirates farm system.

”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Strasburg fans: You’ve got a little present coming your way. There will be a Stephen Strasburg first-pitch poster in the Sunday edition of The Washington Post.

Posters will be available in the early Sunday edition tomorrow and in the final edition of the Sunday paper.

‘Red Shell’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

The Adolf Cluss façade of the O Street Market (aka Northern Market, as in Eastern Market) at O and 7th Streets NW in Shaw has remained a shell for several years after the roof collapsed in the 2003 blizzard. The city was able to save the façade of the market, though, and developers have been promising to turn it into something more with time. The project had stalled several times, but news came from DC Metrocentric this morning: construction at the site will begin in September, with preservation of the old structure continuing before the closing of the Giant Food in January. It will take two years or so for the Giant to reopen, and in 2014, a new hotel and new block of retail will open on the same site.

I love that they chose to keep the historic shell of the Northern Market and can’t wait to see what this looks like when they’re done.

‘Street Saxophonist’
courtesy of ‘Bogotron’

Calling all singers, dancers, musicians, poets, and any creative-minded folks in the greater DC-area! Metro’s Art in Transit program and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities are holding open auditions at Metro headquarters Saturday, June 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the MetroPerforms! series.

Artists selected to perform based on the June 19 auditions will be placed at Metro station entrances from June through September.

Those interested in auditioning can bring their artistic a-game to 600 Fifth Street NW when Metro will select the lucky few who will perform at 10 stations throughout the District through the fall.

’67A #1′
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Mayor Adrian Fenty may have $3.2M in the bank, but his challenger in his first quarter of campaigning raised over half a million dollars. Mike DeBonis has all of the council campaign reports, as well. With reports that last night’s candidate forum got a little heated, it’s going to be a long hot summer full of politics for DC.