Nationals’ injuries hampering their championship hopes

It has been a rough year for the Nationals. The days when they were declaring “world series or bust” now seem like a lifetime ago. The Nationals currently ‘boast’ a record of 29-29, 7.5 games behind Atlanta for the division lead.

Not the start most people had in mind.

Bad fielding and a weak bullpen have unquestionably played a role in the team’s struggles, but the biggest reason is the laundry list of injuries they have suffered.

Danny Espinosa was added to the DL on Tuesday, joining Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos, Ross Detwiler, and Ryan Mattheus. Stephen Strasburg was placed on the DL today after the team initially hoped he would not have to miss a start.

With all these injuries, the Nationals have held players out a day or two in the hopes that they would not have to be put on the DL. That, more than anything else, is what makes these injuries so troubling. Every team gets hit with injuries; some teams get hit harder than others. The Nationals have had their share of injuries, but have they made things worse on themselves by not shutting down players immediately?

Harper was placed on the DL due to knee bursitis. The Washington Post reports he first injured it in Atlanta about a month ago. Of course, running full speed into the wall in Los Angeles likely made things worse. Harper was not placed on the DL after that game, however. In fact, he appeared in nine more games before he was finally shutdown.

Detwiler was not expected to go on the DL after being pulled May 15 against the Dodgers. The team decided to hold him out of his next start, but he continued throwing and ended up aggravating the injury.

Do you see a pattern developing here?

Espinosa came into the season declaring he had a torn rotator cuff, but that he would be able to play through it. Guess what happened. He did not allow himself to heal by continuing to play and has looked awful all season long.

Why are players being allowed to talk their way out of the DL only to end up on it later?

When players do not allow injuries to heal, they can often get worse or at least fail to get better. That is especially true in a sport like baseball with so many games almost every day. It is up to the manager and training staff to determine when a player needs to sit.

The Nationals had no problem with this last year when they sat a seemingly healthy Strasburg once he reached his innings limit. Yet, this season they have not exercised the same amount of discretion.

Harper pinch-hit two days after running into the wall in Los Angeles. Where was the caution? Why not sit him a few more days? He may have said he was fine, but that’s what players do. Heck, Harper tried to convince Johnson he could stay in that game in Los Angeles. Why not give arguably your best player a couple extra days off to make sure he is ok or immediately place him on the DL?

The Nationals mercifully put Espinosa out of his misery Tuesday by placing him on the DL. His season has been a disaster from the word go. He announced before the season that he had a torn rotator cuff, but that he would play through it. He was terrible. Then it came out on May 24 that he was also dealing with a fractured right wrist.

Espinosa has insisted his injuries were not affecting his play. I sure hope they were because it would explain why he has been one of the worst hitters in the league. That’s no exaggeration; he has literally been one of the worst hitters in MLB this season with a .158 average and a .193 OBP.

Why the Nationals allowed this train-wreck to continue for as long as they did is baffling. The highest Espinosa’s average has been this season is .200. He reached it once on April 10 and again on May 8. His average has been below .200 for the rest of the season.

Even if you argue that Espinosa is one of the best defensive players on the team, which both Johnson and Rizzo believe, you cannot afford to carry this hole in your lineup for over two months. How could they not see that Espinosa trying to play through his injuries just wasn’t working? How could the Nationals have made this same mistake multiple times this season?

The only reason I can think of is desperation. This team has pushed all the chips into the middle and gone all-in. They declared openly this spring that they were the team to beat. With the team already struggling they suddenly faced decisions on whether to put Harper, Epsinosa, Ramos, Detwiler, and Strasburg on the DL. Hoping everyone just ‘plays through it’ and then deciding whether to put them on the DL is a terrible strategy. Had the Nationals been cautious with their star players from the start, had they listened to the doctors and trainers instead of the players and the standings, then I think we would be a lot closer to seeing the full lineup than we are right now.

Hopefully the Nationals did not gamble their season along with the health of their players.

For the latest DC sports news, check out CSNWashington.com and follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Is Zimmermann the best pitcher on the Nationals?

Expectations were high for the Nationals’ rotation heading into the season. The team boasts three ace-caliber pitchers and, based on their performance last year, starting pitching was thought of as a strength. With no innings-limit hovering over Stephen Strasburg’s head and Gio Gonzalez coming off a 21 win season, it was not hard to imagine a pitcher establishing himself as a Cy Young contender.

Thirty-five games into the season, one pitcher has indeed established himself, but not the one you may have thought.

Jordan Zimmermann is the often-overlooked star of this rotation. He has been the most consistent pitcher by far this season and is arguably responsible for bringing the Nationals out of their recent slump.

That’s quite an accomplishment for a player who only plays once every five games.

Zimmermann was drafted by the Nationals in 2007 and made his major league debut April 20, 2009. In August of that year, however, he underwent Tommy John surgery and thus fell under the radar.

Zimmermann returned on August 26, 2010, but his return was also over-shadowed. On that same day, the Nationals learned that their new phenom, Strasburg, would be undergoing Tommy John surgery as well.

The return of a relatively unknown pitcher did not seem to matter.

Since that time, however, Zimmermann has established himself as one of the league’s best pitchers.

With no innings limit, Strasburg was expected to pitch like the ace we all know he can be. In his seven starts this season, he has a 1-4 record with a 3.45 ERA and five homeruns allowed.

Gio has struggled even more than Strasburg. He has gotten better run support than Strasburg, helping him reach a 3-2 record, but he has a 4.97 ERA and has also allowed five homeruns.

Zimmermann on the other hand, continues to dominate. He leads the team with a 6-1 record and a 1.59 ERA. He has allowed only two homeruns and a WHIP of 0.82. He pitched eight scoreless innings in Atlanta to help the Nationals earn their first win of the season against their divisional rivals. Since that game, the Nationals have won five of their next six, pulling the team out of its slump.

Strasburg is one of the best pitching talents in the league and I have no doubt he will play better as the season goes along. Likewise, I expect Gio to rebound as well. But the Nationals currently have a record of 20-15. Imagine where they would be without Zimmermann.

Zimmermann is eligible for arbitration in 2015. It will be hard for the Nationals to keep him, as it is hard to pay three aces to remain in your rotation. He is arguably the best pitcher in baseball right now and he is third in this rotation.

The point is that with Strasburg and Gio, it appeared Zimmermann would be expendable and too expensive to keep. No doubt it will be hard to pay him what he is worth while keeping him at third in the rotation, but do not dismiss how important he is to this team right now. He may not be as expendable as many have assumed.

Nationals Preview: Can the Nationals handle the expectations?

The Nationals came into last season declaring that the rebuild was over, that they were going to raise eyebrows around the league. Few expected them to be the best team in baseball.

Despite all their success however, their season came to an end in devastating fashion as they gave up a massive lead to St. Louis to lose in game five. This year, they are a little older, a little wiser, and a lot better. They boast what many believe to be the best roster in the MLB. Given last season’s success and the players acquired in the offseason, the expectations for this team have skyrocketed.

The Nationals will open the season Monday against the Miami Marlins. Here are the questions facing this team headed into what many believe could be a World Series season.

Will the Nationals’ rotation remain as dominant on the mound?

The Nationals are returning four of their five starters from last season’s rotation with Edwin Jackson the only defector. Jackson was the weakest link in what was arguably the best rotation in baseball. Dan Haren was brought in to replace him, but he has struggled this spring giving up an ERA of 6.39 in only six games. You cannot read too much into spring training, but his inability to control his pitches and his injury history definitely are causes for concern.

Still, Haren is expected to be the team’s fifth starter so even if he does not play well he will not drag the team down too far. The team’s plan last year was for Chien Ming-Wang to be the team’s fifth starter and it would be hard for Haren to do much worse. If Haren can return to form, he can be an upgrade from Jackson.

There is no reason to doubt that Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, and Ross Detwieler will not be able to pick up where they left off last season. Strasburg will also be entering this season with no limitations. As unbelievable as it may seem, this rotation could actually be better than last year.

The wildcard of course is injuries. The rotation was remarkably healthy last year as none of their five starters missed a single start due to injury. Statistically speaking, that is not likely to happen again, but if they can stay healthy they will continue to frustrate batters around the league.

How will the new additions fit into the team?

In addition to Haren, the Nationals also added OF Denard Span and closer Rafael Soriano. Span will be the leadoff hitter the team desperately missed last season. While his acquisition ultimately led to the trade of Michael Morse, the Nationals needed a leadoff hitter more than they needed Morse’s power. Span fills one of the few holes that still remained from last season’s team.

Soriano was an unexpected, but welcome addition. The Nationals did not have a single designated closer last season choosing instead to have more of a closer by committee approach and as a result were sent packing when they needed a save the most. Drew Storen is a good pitcher, but it will take a long time for Nationals’ fans to forget last season’s game five collapse.

It was with that game in mind no doubt that led Rizzo to sign Soriano.

Soriano has 132 career saves, while Storen has only 52. He is an established closer who can finish games in pressure situations. With a deep playoff run being the goal, a strong closer could be an invaluable addition to the team.

How good will Bryce Harper be?

It is important to remember that Spring Training stats do not matter and do not always indicate what will happen in the regular season. Having said that, if Harper hits anything close to what he’s done this spring, he will be one of the most dangerous hitters in the MLB.

Harper has a .478 AVG, .500 OBP, .716 SLG, and 1.216 OPS this spring. Those are some impressive numbers, especially when you consider the fact that he is still 20 years old.

It will be interesting to see how pitchers pitch to him this year. The normal progression for young batters is that pitchers through a lot of fast balls at them to start. Once they adjust to the speed of the majors, pitchers begin using off-speed pitches instead. Once they adjust to that, pitchers usually will have a blueprint of where batters struggle the most.

Harper has already gone through this progression with pitchers and he’s still getting better. I’ve heard a lot of analysts say he should be an MVP candidate this season and why not? Mike Trout was a legitimate MVP candidate last year when he was 20. Harper certainly has the skill set to be a dynamic player.

Perhaps that is expecting a bit too much from Harper and not giving enough credit to Trout’s remarkable season, but I think it would be a disappointment to both fans and Harper himself if he was not the Nationals’ best player this season.

Is the lack of left-handed relievers a cause for concern?

The Nationals have said they are comfortable with their relievers’ abilities against left-handed batters, but I am skeptical.

Teams are going to throw every lefty pinch hitter they have in the dugout in every tight, late game situation and force the Nationals to justify their faith in their bullpen.

The good news is that we will know in a month or so whether there’s a problem. If the team has struggled against lefties, Rizzo will undoubtedly seek out a trade. He has shown that he is all in on this season and will do what he can to make this team playoff-ready.

Even with the bullpen the team has, they will remain the best team in the league. The problem is what happens in the playoffs when the stakes are higher, and the Nationals have no left-handed relievers?

This is the only real weakness I see on this team and I hope it does not end of hurting them when it matters most.

Predictions?

The Nationals were the best team in baseball last season and they got even better in the offseason. The Braves improved considerably as well, but the Nationals are still the front-runners in the NL East leading into the season.

The only thing that makes me nervous is that history tells you the best team on paper frequently does not turn out to be the best team on the field. Injuries could pop up as the Nationals remained remarkably healthy last year and the strength of the bullpen is a question mark.

Sometimes, good teams just do not live up to expectations. The mental strain of being the best team may get the best of the Nats, but that’s why having Davey Johnson at the helm for one more year is crucial. If anyone can keep tabs on the Nationals’ mentality, it’s him.

The Braves will be good, but not as good as the Nationals who will end up winning the division. If they do not, it will be a huge disappointment.

But this season will not be about regular season accolades, it will be about the playoffs. The Nationals appear to be capable of winning the World Series and probably anything short of an NL pennant will be looked at as a failure.

The only weakness this team may potentially have is the bullpen, but the addition of Soriano allows for greater flexibility and if need be, Rizzo will add a left-handed reliever some time during the season. I believe the Nationals will win the division and the NL pennant, but will come up short in the World Series.

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DC Sports 2012 Year in Review

For the Redskins, 2012 was the year of RG3.  In March, the team decided to go all-in on Robert Griffin III, trading three first round picks and a second round pick to St. Louis in order to move up to number two in the draft.

Additionally, the NFL fined the Redskins $36 million in cap space because of contract structures during the uncapped season.  With less cap space and no top draft picks for the next two seasons, Griffin’s success became paramount for the Redskins to become competitive in the near future.

He did not disappoint.

Griffin finished with 3,200 yards, a 65.6 completion percentage, and 27 total touchdowns. He also threw for only five interceptions, displaying accuracy and decision making capabilities well beyond his years. Both he and surprise running back Alfred Morris transformed the offense this season and everyone bought in on the feeling that this team had the makings of something special.

The season did not start out as many had hoped, as the team dropped to 3-6 heading into the bye week. Mike Shanahan then made his now famous comments about how it was time to evaluate his players to determine who would remain in the years to come, making everyone believe he had given up hope on the season.

The team, however, did not. They returned from the bye and proceeded to win the remaining seven games on the schedule, including a 28-18 win over Dallas in the season finale to earn their first NFC East division championship since 1999.

The Redskins now prepare for a wildcard matchup with Seattle as they hope to extend their storybook season.

New Year’s Resolution:  Keep RG3 healthy and get defensive personnel to match the talent on offense.

The Nationals also saw their team carried into the postseason by their young talent. After a much improved 2011 season in which the team finished with a 80-81 record, the Nationals compiled a roster with the expectations of competing for the division in 2012.

In addition to the return of ace Stephen Strasburg, the team also debuted a rotation featuring Gio Gonzalez, mainstay Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson, and the surprising Ross Detwiler. The rotation quickly became the most dominant in the MLB.

Though the Nationals were hoping to further develop Bryce Harper in AAA, injuries forced him into the lineup and he made his MLB debut on April 28 against the Dodgers. Did he prove he belonged in the majors?  “That’s a clown question, bro.”

The Nationals compiled a record of 98-64, finishing with their first ever NL East division title.  In addition, Davey Johnson was named NL manager of the year and Harper was named NL rookie of the year.  Strasburg, Gonzalez, Harper, and Ian Desmond were all named NL All-Stars, the most since the team moved to DC.

The Nationals met the St. Louis Cardinals in the divisional series, where Jayson Werth provided perhaps the biggest moment in the history of the Nationals, a walk-off homerun in game four to force a decisive game five.

Game five of course had a very different outcome.  After jumping out to a 6-0 lead, the Nationals watched as the Cardinals chipped away until finally taking the lead with a four-run ninth inning. It was a bitter end to a fantastic season.

Perhaps the biggest story of all for the Nationals did not even take place on the field.  General Manager Mike Rizzo adamantly declared that Strasburg would be kept on an innings limit after returning from Tommy John surgery.  Rizzo was mostly ignored as no one expected the Nationals to be a legitimate World Series contender, but his decision sparked weeks of debate as the shutdown approached and the team sat atop the standings.  In the end, Rizzo stuck to his guns and Strasburg was pulled.

Clearly hoping for another postseason run, the Nationals brought in Denard Span and Dan Haren. They are also continuing their negotiations with Adam LaRoche in the hopes of retaining him.

New Year’s Resolution: Sign LaRoche, repeat as NL East champs, play Strasburg for a full season including postseason, and make a deep playoff run.

While 2012 featured dream seasons for the Redskins and Nationals, the Wizards year has been a nightmare.

The end of the 2011-2012 season saw the Wizards in yet another lottery season, but Ernie Grunfeld decided not to wait until the offseason to address some of the team’s problems. In a three team trade, Grunfeld sent off locker room headaches JaVale McGee and Nick Young and brought in Nene and Brian Cook. The move seemed to work as the Wizards finished the season winning six straight.

In July, the team also released Andray Blatche and brought in Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza in a trade for Rashard Lewis.  The organization declared loudly that they were no longer a lottery team, largely based on the team’s assumption that Wall would be playing.

In September, the team announced that Wall had suffered a stress injury to his knee and he would not be able to start the season.  Without the key player the team had been built around, the Wizards didn’t stand a chance and finished out 2012 with the worst record in the NBA at 4-24.

New Year’s Resolution: Get Wall back, avoid the worst record in NBA history, bring in talent in the offseason.

The Wizards might not be having a good season, but the Capitals haven’t had any season at all. The NHL lockout has now stretched on at ridiculous length, forcing the cancellation of all games from October through December and into January.

As slow as things may be now, the beginning of 2012 was very eventful. The Caps found themselves struggling to transition from an offensive mentality to a defensive one under new coach Dale Hunter. The team did manage to claw its way to a seventh place finish and a matchup with Boston.  Thanks to the emergence of young Braden Holtby in goal, the Caps and Bruins played the closest playoff series in NHL history.  Game seven went to overtime where Joel Ward knocked in a rebound in one of the most exciting games in the history of the organization.

The Caps met an even tougher matchup in round two against the New York Rangers and Ward went from hero to goat.  In game five with the series tied at two and the Caps holding onto a two-goal lead, Ward was called for a double-minor high sticking penalty.  The Rangers scored on both, including the game-tying goal with 6.1 seconds left, and won in overtime.  The Caps forced a game seven yet again, but fell in Madison Square Garden.

At the end of the season, Hunter decided to return to Ontario, so the reins were passed to another former Caps’ captain, Adam Oates, who by now must be dying to prove himself.

New Year’s Resolution: PLAY!!!

In another mad dash to the playoffs, DC United suddenly found themselves in dire straits as leading scorer Dwayne De Rosario went down with a knee injury. United led by head coach Ben Olsen, however, did not lose again for the rest of the season and clinched their first playoff berth in five years. After a thrilling victory over rival New York, United’s season came to an end in the conference finals against Houston.

New Year’s Resolution: Find consistency and return to the playoffs.

For the latest DC sports news, follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

National's Dream Season Has Nightmare Ending

The Nationals were one strike away from their first every playoff series win.  One more strike would send them to the NLCS.  Then it all came crashing down.

Washington fans were dealt another heartbreak last Friday as they witnessed one of the most spectacular collapses in sports history.  Up 6-0 in a series-clinching game five, the Nationals fell 9-7 after four allowed runs in the ninth inning.

The inevitable question being asked of course is if the Nationals could have won this series with Stephen Strasburg.  Strasburg would have pitched games one and five as the team’s ace.  Surely in a series that came down to game five, two games from Strasburg could have given the Nationals that one extra win?

I will say the same thing I said when Strasburg was shut down: we will never know.  All you pro-Strasburg critics do not have a crystal ball and have no idea how Strasburg would have pitched if given the chance.  Starting pitching was a major problem this series.  In two games, Gio Gonzalez walked 11 batters and gave up 5 runs.  Jordan Zimmermann allowed five runs and lasted only three innings in his one start.  Edwin Jackson, the only starter with postseason experience, lasted five innings while giving up five runs.  In fact, the only starter who did pitch well was the one who replaced Strasburg, Ross Detwiler.  While some would argue that adding Strasburg would have helped a rotation that struggled so much this series, there’s no guarantee he would not have struggled too.

Even if they had, it would not have mattered.  The Cardinals have been in pressure situations before.  After Friday’s win, the Cardinals have won six straight elimination games.  The Nationals, meanwhile, came into this series young and inexperienced.  If the Nationals learn one thing from this experience, it should be this: experience matters.

In June, the Nationals were one of the hottest teams in baseball.  The young team rode a six game winning streak into a series against the Yankees.  The series was the closest thing to a playoff atmosphere most of the players had experienced.  The Nationals were hot and the Yankees were the Yankees.  The national media and sold out crowds flocked to DC in anticipation.

The result?  The Nationals were swept.  Only one game was close, a marathon game that went 14 innings before the Yankees pulled away.  At that point it became clear; the Nationals were not yet ready for the playoffs.  They were not ready for that type of attention and pressure.

The Cardinals seemed like a good matchup when comparing rosters, but you cannot discount experience.  It takes a mentally strong team to battle back from a 6-0 deficit in the playoffs and an inexperienced one to lose it.

Heads up though, the future is bright in DC.  This team has a young core that will continue to grow and that Mike Rizzo can continue to build around.  Next season Strasburg will have no limitations, the team will have more experience, and the majority of the 98-game winning roster will return.  This one may hurt, but there are good times ahead for the Nationals.

For the latest DC sports news and updates you can follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy

Things to Remember about Strasburg's Shutdown

At the beginning of the season, general manager Mike Rizzo was adamant: Stephen Strasburg would be kept on a strict innings limit.  At the time, it raised a few eyebrows, but he was largely dismissed.  The Nationals had never been in playoff contention, their best record was the .500 record they accumulated in 2005, who cared if they wanted to sit their best pitcher?

One hundred and twenty-two games later, the Nationals have the best record in baseball and are poised to make a World Series run.  Yet, Rizzo’s tune hasn’t changed.  When Strasburg hits his limit, he will be shut down.

By now, most people know both sides of the debate.  With the innings limit rapidly approaching, there are a few things fans should keep in mind.  First, this is going to happen.  Regardless of where you stand on this argument, regardless of how many former players, managers, analysts come out and say the Nationals are crazy, Strasburg is going to be shut down.  Rizzo has been adamant since the season began and he has not backed off of his comments.  The decision has been made.

Why not hold Strasburg out at the beginning of the season and save him for the playoffs?  No one knew the Nationals were going to be the best team in baseball.  There would be no point in saving him for the last half of another .500 season.  Why didn’t the Nationals play a six-man rotation or shut him down midway through the season when it became apparent the Nationals were going to be a playoff contender?  The Nationals wanted Strasburg to acclimate fully to a normal rotation.  They wanted him to play on four days rest and they wanted him used to a regular MLB workload.  You can agree or disagree with their reasoning, but that’s how they’ve approached this season.

Even if Rizzo wanted to change his mind, at this point it would probably be too late.  He would be going against the mountain of medical evidence he has pushed to the media in order to justify his decision, meaning if anything were to happen to Strasburg ever, the blame would be placed solely on Rizzo’s door.

He would also be snubbing Strasburg’s agent, Scott Boras.  Boras strongly supported the Nationals’ decision and has made his support known among the various media outlets.  Boras is the most powerful agent in the MLB and also represents Danny Espinosa, Bryce Harper, Edwin Jackson, Xavier Nady, and Jayson Werth on the Nationals, as well as several other MLB stars.  If the Nationals were to publicly humiliate him and potentially endanger the career of one of his most prominent clients, why would he encourage any of his clients to play for the Nationals ever again?  The Nationals cannot make decisions based solely on the opinions of an agent, but it does not hurt to have a good relationship with him.

We will never know if shutting down Strasburg was the right move or not.  Jason Stark of ESPN went into great detail on this in his article and he is absolutely correct.  Whatever may happen to Strasburg in the future, we will never know for sure if shutting him down ultimately helped or hurt him.  The medical community may applaud the decision, but they can never definitively determine if this helped him.

We also will never know if shutting down Strasburg hurt the team in the playoffs.  If the Nationals collapse in the postseason, many will speculate that it was because of the absence of their ace, but there is no way to prove that.  The Nationals would have to figure out a way to win without him even if he does pitch.  Strasburg is a pitcher, not an everyday player.  In a best of seven series, the Nationals can only count on their ace for two games.  Some teams try to push their best pitcher in a game seven on three days rest, but if the Nationals are considering sitting him when nothing appears to be wrong, then they won’t risk pitching him on three days rest.  So in a best of seven series, Strasburg would only pitch twice and neither of those games is a guaranteed win.  Of course having your best pitcher on the mound helps, but the Nationals would still need offense and strong outings from the rest of their rotation in order to win.  Strasburg’s absence may not be the major loss everyone has made it out to be.

The biggest hurdle for the Nationals may perhaps be mental.  There are some who would interpret Strasburg’s shutdown as a sign that management does not believe in their chances to win this year.  This may be a valid criticism, but the Nationals did the same thing with Jordan Zimmermann last season and have been consistent on their feelings on Strasburg since day one.  Whether they had the best record or worst record in baseball, they were going to sit him.

Among the heated debate and harsh criticisms coming from all over the nation, much of this debate is moot because Strasburg will be shut down.  The important thing to remember is that there are many reasons to shut him down apart from the medical debate.  Free agents will see that this team takes care of their players and Boras and other agents will be more open to working with the Nationals in the future.  The team has a fantastic rotation even without Strasburg and his absence will be felt only twice a series.  One final thing to keep in mind, Strasburg has never pitched a full MLB season in his career.  He was brought up from the minors in 2010, went down with the injury, and returned late in 2011.  If medical evidence suggests it would be better he not pitch a full season, does it behoove the Nationals to push him through a full MLB season and the playoffs?  Not to me and not to Mike Rizzo.

Nationals Looking Good Going into the All-Star Break

We have reached the midway point of another MLB season, but things feel remarkably different in DC.  The Nationals have the best record in the National League and is sending three players to the all-star game.  The team has not been in this position since 2005, but while most felt that team was destined to fall, now the team has its sights on a strong finish and their first playoff berth in the Nation’s Capital.

“I mean, we should make the playoffs. There’s no doubt in my mind,” said manager Davey Johnson.  With a four game lead in the division, the Nationals are not looking at merely being a wild card team, but division champions; no small feat for a team that has never finished with a winning record.  But the Nationals currently find themselves atop the standings with a four game lead in a division that includes perennial powerhouse Philadelphia, consistently formidable Atlanta, the surprisingly resilient Mets, and the high-spending Florida Marlins.  So far, against the stiff NL East competition, the Nationals are the only team surpassing their own expectations.

How have the Nationals managed such an impressive turnaround?  One need look no further than the team’s all-star representatives for the answer:  homegrown young talent, and formidable pitching.  Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper were both drafted by the Nationals and are making a splash in the majors.  Strasburg is quickly becoming one of the best pitchers in the MLB and Harper the most electrifying.  Gio Gonzalez was brought in during the offseason, as well as Edwin Jackson, to help the rotation along, but it’s hard to deny how well the Nationals have drafted.

Amid all the losing seasons, the Nationals did their homework and brought in the best prospects out there.  Now, we are beginning to see the results.  The Nationals drafted Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, and Ross Detwiler, all currently part of the Nationals’ dominant rotation.  In addition, the Nationals drafted position players Harper, Jesus Flores, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa, Tyler Moore, Ryan Zimmerman, and Stephen Lombardozzi.  Any of these guys sound familiar?  They should, they all play on DC’s NL-leading roster and only one, Desmond, was drafted before the team moved to DC.  The Nationals have built this team into a contender with young talent, meaning they are only going to get better.

This year, while watching the all-star game in Kansas City, you will see the Nationals’ players in the spotlight with the other stars, rather than dismissed as merely token representatives of their struggling franchise.  Even with Strasburg’s looming innings count, there is a lot to be optimistic about.  Will this team finish better than the 2005 team that yielded first place and fell to a .500?

That’s a clown question, bro.

Should the Nationals Bench Stephen Strasburg?

There’s a new feeling coming from DC and Nationals’ Park this spring, something we haven’t felt since the team first arrived from Montreal: optimism.  The Nationals are off to their best start since coming to DC with a 12-4 record.  They currently sit atop the NL East and the whole baseball world is starting to take notice.  This team is not a joke anymore and the major reason is their pitching.

The Nationals currently lead the league in ERA with 2.34, BAA with .202, and are tied for first in strikeouts with 144.  The pitching has had to carry the team somewhat as they rank only 21^st in runs scored with 58, but so far they have been up to the task.

The Nationals’ rotation is led by young ace Stephen Strasburg, who at 23 years old can already be considered one of the best pitchers in baseball.  Through four games he has a 1.08 ERA with 25 strikeouts.  A lot of fans are beginning to breathe a little easier believing that his Tommy John surgery from September 2010 is now fully behind him, but the Nationals have committed to limiting Strasburg to 160 innings this season.  They were up front about this limit before the season even began, but at the time it did not create much of a stir because the team was thought to be a year from contention.  Sixteen games in, the Nationals have a lot of people declaring that they have arrived a year early.  If the Nationals continue to play this well and remain in the pennant race, can the Nationals afford to sit Strasburg?

Strasburg’s innings limit will shadow the Nationals’ success all season long like a looming storm cloud.  As long as they stay in contention, this question will continue to surround the team.  Regardless of how much pressure the team may feel, the Nationals will have to sit him once he reaches his limit.

Let’s be honest, this is far too early to be talking about this.  The Nationals have played only 16 games, a shade under 10% of their regular season schedule.  There is a long way to go.  The Nationals could start tanking tomorrow and this would become a moot point.  For the team to begin wavering now on their plans for Strasburg would be foolish.  There’s no debate if the Nationals are basement dwellers yet again, you have very little to gain and everything to lose at that point.  This only becomes a question if the Nationals can continue their early season success.

Why did the Nationals draft Strasburg?  What did they hope to gain from him?  If the answer is one successful, competitive season, then by all means keep playing him.  But that isn’t why he was brought here.  He was brought in to be a long-term starting pitcher.  He was brought in to be a long-term ace.  Now I’m not going to say that the team should have Strasburg’s best interest at heart and nothing else.  That’s completely naïve.  If Strasbrug were 39, the team would and should run him into the ground because the window would be rapidly closing on his career.  At 23 years old, however, Strasburg’s career is still largely in front of him.  Why would you risk that for one playoff run?  Granted, success is never guaranteed and every team’s goal should be to win, but the Nationals can help set themselves up for long-term future success or they can risk that for one playoff run.  Seems like a no-brainer to me.

The Nationals also have great pitching depth.  It would be one thing if you had no one to replace Strasburg, but the Nationals have plenty of other options.  Chien-Ming Wang is expected to recover soon from a hamstring injury and he will replace Ross Detweiler.  It is hard to put much faith in Wang, however, to call him injury prone would be an understatement.  He is a walking china-cabinet, but the Nationals still seem confident in his abilities.  If he gets injured again, Detweiler has shown thus far he can be a dependable starter.  The Nationals also have another option in John Lannan, who was sent to the minor leagues prior to the beginning of the season.  Lannan led the team in wins last season with 10 and carries with him a high salary so the Nationals would not hesitate to bring him back into the rotation if they needed to.  There is a chance he could be traded before he is brought up, but his demotion has thus far generated little interest from other teams.

Every player and every injury is unique so it is impossible to predict how Strasburg’s arm will hold up, but based on recent history, limiting innings is the best way to treat someone recovering from Tommy John.  Strasburg has adjusted his pitching style in order to lower his pitch count and his arm may in fact be 100% healthy.  His arm may stay strong no matter how many pitches he throws this season, but in truth we cannot know for sure.  There have been numerous pitchers who have seen their career’s shortened by injuries.  If this were to happen to Strasburg it would be a devastating blow to the organization.  Ace’s are hard to come by, and the Nationals have to do what they can to protect their investment.

The Nationals Look to Make a Post Season Push

The flowers are blooming, the air is turning warmer, and the Redskins are making blockbuster trades. Yes, truly spring is in the air and with it comes a new baseball season. But, unlike in most seasons, Nationals fans can look at this season with a true sense of optimism thanks to the team GM Mike Rizzo has assembled.

The biggest improvement for this team is their rotation. For the past four seasons, John Lannan has been a regular starter and this year he is not even in the bullpen. What does that tell you about the strength of this lineup? Instead, Lannan was optioned to AAA thanks to the Nats' pitching upgrades. After a successful return at the end of last season, it was no surprise when manager Davey Johnson named Stephen Strasburg the team's ace. Scouts report that he has tweaked his technique in order to become a more efficient pitcher this year. We may not see him throw the heat as much, but if he can retire more batters with fewer pitches it will ease some of the fears people may have about his durability after Tommy John surgery. The team will also have Edwin Jackson and Gio Gonzalez, both of whom were traded for in the offseason. Add them to the mix with a healthy Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman and the team boasts a surprisingly strong top 4. Chien-Ming Wang is expected back soon from yet another injury, so the Nationals' rotation will make them incredibly formidable. The pitching, however, doesn't stop there.

With the season only three games old, the Nationals have already called upon their bullpen for support and they have delivered. Tyler Clippard looks to build upon his all-star season and earned the win on opening day. The Nationals also acquired Brad Lidge in the offseason as their closer and he impressed early throwing his first save for the team in the opener. Ross Detweiler is right now the team's fifth starter, but he'll return to the bullpen once Wang is healthy. Pitching will not be a problem for this team.

Pitching, however, was not the real problem for them last year either. The Nationals hit only .242 last year and already they seem incapable of hitting anything in the first 7 innings. They have had to rely on late comebacks in order to keep things close. They really did not upgrade their offense in the offseason at all. Prospect Bryce Harper carries a large bat with him, and while most scouts believe he will be called up at some point this season, we're still probably a few months away from that happening. Still, the Nationals played without the help of Adam LaRoche for much of last season and so far we have seen the kind of impact he can have on this team. In the team's second game, LaRoche went 4 for 5 with 2 RBIs and a home run and he followed that up with another home run the next day. If he can remain healthy and keep playing at this level, he can give the Nationals some desperately needed hits. Ryan Zimmerman looks to rebound from an injury riddled year as well. And don't forget about John Lannan. No, he's not likely to get a call up for his batting skills, but Rizzo's reluctance to trade him after he was optioned may end up helping the team out down the line. Lannan comes with a high price tag that is keeping him here for the moment, but as the season progresses and injuries mount or teams find out their pitching isn't as strong as they perhaps thought, GMs will come calling. Don't be surprised if the Nationals pick up a bat in exchange for Lannan.

Last year the Nationals went 80-81 even with key injuries to Adam LaRoche, Stephen Strasburg, and Ryan Zimmerman. The team managed to avoid a collapse after the drama of Jim Riggleman's hasty exit and now look poised to finish with their first winning record in DC. And with the added wild card spot, it's not outlandish to think the Nationals could challenge for the playoffs this season. There's finally reason for some optimism for Nationals' fans this spring.