D.C. Sports Dish: 1/14/13

This is a new weekly segment I'm trying out. Hope you enjoy!

DC Diggs: Caps Gear Up, Fletcher Talks Future

-It wouldn't really feel like the Washington Redskins if London Fletcher wasn't there, but the linebacker will take some time to consider his football future. [Redskins]

-And because you can't get enough #RGKnee, the NFLPA is close to deciding whether or not to open an investigation into the injury. WHY IS THE WHITE HOUSE SO SILENT ON THIS MATTER?! DODGING THE IMPORTANT ISSUES?! ...can you tell I'm over it? [The Insider]

-Brooks Laich is one of the few in the NHL actually addressing how the lockout hurt the growth of the game. [Caps Insider]

-And the fun has officially started, since Alex Ovechkin has a new Gillette commercial out. [Alex Ovetjkin]

-Don't look now, but the Wizards are getting healthy. [Wizards Insider]

-That health (and play style) could be what the team needs to turn the corner the fan base has been waiting for since John Wall came aboard. [Truth About It]

-We look at Bryce Harper's INTENSE campaign to get on the cover of MLB The Show. [KG's District]

-The Nats are also spending more than they ever have before. Will it pay off? [Hardball Talk]

Bryce Harper Really REALLY Wants the Cover

A preview of what the cover will
look like with Harper.

In case you haven't heard, Bryce Harper is up for the cover of the video game MLB Th Show 2013.  There is an open vote to see who gets the cover, and one way you can vote is through Twitter.

Remember, there was a time when Bryce Harper went off Twitter for fear of saying something actually interesting and therefore detrimental to his brand and career.  But he is back on social media and making a strong push for his candidacy for the cover.

Harper has been campaigning hard.  Nearly every tweet he has sent since it was announced January 6 contains the hashtag "mlb13harper," which is what fans can use to vote for Harper to make the cover.  How bad does he want it, exactly? He's tweeted the hashtag 145 times in three days. Yeah, 145 times.

Here are some of examples:

 @Bharper3407: Are we trending yet!? Let's get it all day! #mlb13harper

@Bharper3407: I'm probably really annoying right now, but that's okay! I won't tweet for a while after this is over!hah #mlb13harper

DC Diggs: RGKnee, Caps Trickling In

-In case you were curious, everything bad that's ever happened has to do with the Redskins' name. [Wash Post]

-There has been lots of discussion about RGIII's recovery time from the surgery he is having this morning to repair his ACL and LCL. Really, that's only because random people with no knowledge of the case keep weighing in. [Pro Football Talk]

-Nicklas Backstrom may have come back from Russia with a souvenir injury that could affect his season. [CSN Washington]

-Alex Ovechkin showed up in a pretty fantastic shirt. [DC Sports Bog]

-Looking at how free agents for the Wizards have delivered. [Bullets Forever]

-Bradley Beal has been gaining confidence in his rookie season. That's usually what a game-winning shot with 0.3 secs left against the best team in the league will do for you. [Wizards Insider]

-From us yesterday, the Nats have signed Adam LaRoche on for two more years. [KG's District]

-With the signing of LaRoche and Michael Morse's probably move, he does NOT was to be a DH. Because, you know, he's an actual baseball player. [Hardball Talk]

Nats Ink LaRoche for 2 More Years; Trade for Morse?

LaRoche will be in D.C. 2 more years. (NESN)

The Nationals made another big move of the offseason, locking up first baseman Adam LaRoche for two more years.  The Golden Glove and Sliver Slugger winner hit 33 home runs and had a .271 batting average last season.

Last year, LaRoche was responding to a 2011 season that saw him produce very little before being shut down for the year with a shoulder injury.  In 2012, he bounced back to show Nats fans why the team signed him to such a hefty contract in the first place.  LaRoche was a major part of the Nats playoff run this past fall.

Talks had been slow, but LaRoche is happy to be staying in the District.

LaRoche told the Washington Times' Amanda Comak:

"You know me, I wasn't stressing a lot. But I'm glad it's with Washington and not somewhere else."

DC Digs: Wiz Beat OKC, RGIII Knee Talk

-Bradley Beal knocked Kevin Durant and the Thunder with this buzzer-beater. The Wizards are now 5-28 [Wash Post]

-All those rumors about RGIII's knee? ALL FRED SMOOT'S FAULT. [Deadspin]

-The official non-Fred Smoot diagnosis right now is partial ACL and LCL tears, but a second opinion is scheduled. [Pro Football Talk]

-Ovi's back (and more photos of the players returning) [Caps Overtime]

-Giving Jordan Zimmermann some much-deserved credit. [Federal Baseball]

-Bryce Harper is up for being on the cover of MLB Showdown. [Nats Enquirer]

-From the way-back file, everyone remember Caps defenseman Tom Poti? He is hoping to be healthy and ready to go for training camp. [Wash Times]

From us...

-Finding blame for the Redskins loss to the Seahawks.

-A reminder of what the Caps did last offseason.

NHL Lockout is Over, In Case You Forgot What the Caps Did...

Alex Ovechkin will be in his 4th season as captain
of the Capitals. (Backhand Shelf/The Score)

Early yesterday morning, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to a framework for their a new CBA after nearly 4 months of a lockout.  It's been about six months since hockey's offseason, and the sports world has kept on turning.  That's six months of little to no hockey news outside of the CBA negotiations.

In case you forgot what the Caps did, here's a refresher...

New Man at the Helm

Despite a two round-deep playoff run, Dale Hunter will not be back to coach the Capitals.  The organization is now in the hands of another Caps alum: Adam Oates.  Oates came as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils.  This will be his first season as a head coach.

The players who have spoken with him (including Alex Ovechkin) have said that he has a more offensive mentality, something the Caps have missed since Bruce Boudreau was fired.  No one knows quite what to expect, but Oates has been preparing for his debut by serving as co-head coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears (the Caps affiliate).